PlanetLaundry Podcast
America’s #1 Resource for Vended Laundry News & Info
PlanetLaundry is the official publication of CLA and is trusted by thousands of laundry professionals to deliver the latest news and industry-specific topics.
The Best of Both Worlds
With a Few Equipment Tweaks, California Laundromat Owners Expand Their Business – Catering to Self-Service and Full-Service Clients Alike Shortly after purchasing an existing laundromat near Palm Springs, Calif., Keith and Jacqueline Reed decided to make a few...
‘Helping Youth in Need’
New York Laundry Owner Shares His Thoughts on Adding a Literacy Element to His Business Model Multi-store owner Steve Levine may be the perfect role model for the LaundryCares Foundation’s literacy programs and Family Read, Play & Learn Centers. After all, he’s...
Life of a Salesman
An Interview with Bryan Maxwell of Western State Design Bryan Maxwell is the senior laundry specialist for Western State Design, a major laundry equipment distributor, headquartered in Hayward, Calif. Maxwell began with Western State in 1988 – selling industrial OPL...
Headlines
Iowa Laundry Hosts ‘Clean for a Cause’ Event
Clean Laundry in Ottumwa, Iowa, recently partnered with Whatsoever You Do Inc., a Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the less fortunate, during one of the laundromat’s “Clean for a Cause” charitable events. Clean Laundry co-founder Phil Akin...
Texas Laundromat Holds Coat Drive for Homeless
Gr8 Laundry in College Station, Texas, has teamed up with Hope’s Locker, an organization that helps homeless children within the area, to host a coat and blanket drive. “For us to be able to reach out and help however we can makes us feel good with what little bit we...
Alliance Acquires Laundry Equipment Services
Alliance Laundry Systems has expanded its direct distribution base with the acquisition of Laundry Equipment Services. The acquisition – Alliance’s fifth distributor asset purchase in the last two years – is the company’s latest move in a strategy “to bring...
Wash with Wally: Making ‘Scents’ of WDF Laundry
My store handles a good amount of wash-dry-fold laundry, and lately I’ve been using a lot of detergent and softener. When I approached my laundry attendants about this issue, they told me that many of the customers indicated that they wanted their clothes to smell...
Going Forward… (Part 1)
Industry Insiders Recap the Past Year – And Look Closely at the Factors Shaping the Laundry Business in 2023 [This is the first of a two-part feature article reviewing the year in laundry and taking a glimpse at what 2023 and beyond might hold for store owners.] It’s...
Milnor Honors Top Distributors
At this year’s Clean Show in Atlanta, Pellerin Milnor Corp. hosted a banquet and awards ceremony to celebrate outstanding sales efforts by its distributor network. “Pellerin Laundry Machinery Sales Company had a tremendous level of sales activity for 2021,” said Rick...
Business Bio: Avenue O Laundry
Jim and Melanie Cobb Avenue O Laundry Fort Madison, Iowa Before Getting into the Laundry Business… Jim is an operations manager for a general contractor, and Melanie is a realtor and property manager. Both owners remain in those positions. Store Opening June 2022...
Clean Brands Offers Laundry Services at U.S. Military Bases
Clean Brands has begun offering an array of cleaning and garment-care services at the Exchanges at U.S. Army and Air Force bases across the U.S. As part of the agreement, Clean Brands will provide laundry and drycleaning services in several formats. Those could...
CLA Member of the Year
An Interview with Colleen Unema of Brio Laundry in Bellingham, Wash. Colleen Unema is the owner of Brio Laundry in Bellingham, Wash. She’s also a nationally certified teacher, who taught the sciences for nearly 25 years – from the high school level to college classes....
Laundry Luv, LaundryCares Team Up for Free Laundry Event in Texas
The LaundryCares Foundation will welcome the community of Abilene, Texas, to experience a Free Laundry and Literacy Day event at Laundry Luv on December 7. Guests can enjoy complimentary laundry services and cleaning products, plus free food and fun activities for...
Whirlpool Named to 2022 Seramount Inclusion Index
Whirlpool Corp. has been recognized as an inclusive workplace by Seramount’s sixth annual Inclusion Index. The Inclusion Index helps organizations understand trends and opportunities in demographic representation; creates a road map to drive internal change; and...
CLA Hosts Inaugural WDF Workshop
Trade Association Holds Two-Day Event Focused on Full-Service Laundry Operations Nearly 200 laundromat owners and garment-care professionals – as well as those simply doing their initial due diligence on the wash-dry-fold, pickup-and-delivery, and commercial accounts...
SPONSORED CONTENT
This Month's Issue
- Fast Forward: Industry Insiders Review the Past Year – And Unveil the Key Factors That Likely Will Shape the Laundromat Business in 2025
- Business Profile: The Community-Driven Mission Behind Wash Bar Laundromats
- Company Close-Up: Southeastern Laundry Equipment Sales Sets the Standard for Industry Excellence and Innovation
- Women in Vended Laundry: An Interview with Samantha Peters of Advanced Laundry Systems
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
New Ownership at Mountain Electronics
Long Brothers Holdings Inc. (RDM Industrial Electronics Inc.) has acquired the assets of laundry electronic equipment remanufacturer Mountain Electronics Inc. “Customers are guaranteed a smooth transition of ownership with no immediate changes to ordering,...
Alliance Distribution to Host Service Seminars in California
Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution-West Region in California will hold a series of educational events in July at three locations. The free technical service seminars are geared toward laundromat owners; technicians; and in-house facilities personnel serving hotels,...
2ULaundry Acquires The Folde
2ULaundry – a laundry and drycleaning service led by co-founders Alex Smereczniak and Dan Daquisto, and headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. – has announced the acquisition of The Folde, a leading competitor based in Houston and Austin, Texas. The acquisition of The Folde...
EVI Acquires Express Parts and Services
EVI Industries, Inc. has simultaneously executed a definitive asset purchase agreement and completed the acquisition of Express Parts and Services, a distributor of commercial laundry products and a provider of related technical installation and maintenance services...
Speed Queen Laundry Franchise Expands into Florida
Speed Queen has announced the continued expansion of its Speed Queen Laundry franchise with the brand’s first store in Florida. The new 2,500-square-foot Speed Queen Laundry is located in Boca Raton. “With high-performance equipment in capacities up to 80 pounds,...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
WDF 101: Back to Basics
Here's What to Consider Before Launching Your Wash-Dry-Fold Service[This is the first in a series of columns on running a successful wash-dry-fold business.]I've been receiving a lot of phone calls lately from new laundry operators just getting into the industry –...
The Business Mind
Build a Site That Sells
The Keys to Designing an Emotionally Powerful – And, Ultimately, Successful – Website for Your Laundromat Many laundromat owners love to advertise. And several of these operators use their websites for that intended purpose. However, in my estimation, most of these...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Dealing with a Dryer Fire
I recently had a dryer fire at my laundromat. A customer had placed a mix of synthetic, nylon and cotton garments into one of my dryers at the “hot” setting for more than 45 minutes. There was no type of electrical issue with the dryer. In fact, the dryer worked...
Viewpoint
Working Together for a Stronger Industry
As my chairmanship on the Coin Laundry Association Board of Directors comes to a close, I want to reflect on both my personal growth and evolution… as well as that of the CLA. The CLA, which works to grow and better the vended laundry industry, is ever-changing to...
Digital Marketing
Marketing Fads to Reconsider
When It Comes to Promoting Your Laundromat, Jumping on the Latest Marketing Bandwagon is Not a Great Idea Remember fidget spinners? It seems like 2017 was decades ago, but it’s only been a few years since the spinning fad took the world by storm – then disappeared to...
Strategic Corporate Allies Program
Our Strategic Corporate Allies support CLA’s mission through advocacy, education, and innovation to strengthen the industry, advance our members’ businesses, and prepare the next generation of laundry professionals for the future.
Interested in becoming a Strategic Corporate Ally of CLA? Contact President & CEO, Brian Wallace via email at [email protected] or call (630) 491-0499.
