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.
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....
Growing Your Full-Service Laundry Business
Nine Suggestions to Help Maximize WDF and Commercial Accounts Profits The real question isn’t whether or not you should grow the full-service side of your laundromat business. It’s why wouldn’t you? Harnessing the right technology and equipment, you can enter new...
The Perfect Business Partner, Part 2
Maximizing Your Laundromat’s Vending Operation [This is the second of a two-part feature article on how to build a profitable vending operation within your laundromat. You can read Part 1 here.] Leading laundromat owners discuss the vending operations at their...
Headlines
SDA’s Cleaners Showcase Free to CLA Members
The Southwest Drycleaners Association recently announced that conference registration and housing is now open for Cleaners Showcase 2023, which will be held April 28-30 in Irving, Texas. Registration is free for Coin Laundry Association members, while non-members are...
Managing Your Fleet, Part 3
A Look at One of the Most Critical Aspects for Successfully Scaling a Pickup-and-Delivery Service [This is the third of a three-part feature article on managing a fleet of laundry delivery vehicles. Here are links to Part 1 and Part 2.] One of the main elements in the...
CLA Announces Connect LIVE Events for 2023
The Coin Laundry Association has scheduled 10 Connect LIVE events in select locations for 2023. The main purpose of the events is to provide opportunities for laundry owners to network and share ideas over dinner at a local restaurant. The events scheduled for the...
SBA Adjusts Disaster Loan Program
The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced it will waive the interest rate for the first year on new disaster loans and extend the initial payment deferment period automatically to 12 months. “We must ensure that communities struck by disaster have the help...
Managing Your Fleet, Part 2
A Look at One of the Most Critical Aspects for Successfully Scaling a Pickup-and-Delivery Service [This is the second of a three-part feature article on managing a fleet of laundry delivery vehicles. You can read Part 1 here.] Make no mistake: your delivery vans are...
Six Regulatory Issues to Watch in 2023
Human resources and payroll solutions company Paychex recently unveiled its annual list of the most prominent regulatory issues employers will need to contend with in 2023. Here’s a look at the leading compliance-related topics laundromat owners should keep an eye on:...
Clean Rite Hosts Financial Literacy Graduation
More than 50 people representing nine nationalities recently participated in a free, eight-week virtual financial education session, which was led by Qualitas of Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving Hispanic family financial security. On December 10,...
CLA Promotes Thomas
The Coin Laundry Association has named Nika Thomas as the organization’s director of advertising and sponsorship sales. Thomas, who joined the CLA in August 2013, will lead all advertising sales for PlanetLaundry, as well as all sponsorship sales for the CLA’s...
States Upping the Minimum Wage in 2023
In 2023, 27 states will increase their minimum wages – with most of these hikes taking effect on January 1. California will have the highest minimum wage rate at $15.50, up from the $15 it set in 2022. Only Washington D.C. has a higher minimum wage of $16.10. D.C.’s...
Cleantie, Paystri Announce Payments Partnership
Cleantie – a cloud-based POS system developed for the laundromat, drycleaning, clothes alteration, and shoe repair industries – recently announced a partnership with payment processing company Paystri. The integrated payments partnership makes payment acceptance...
CLA Launches Virtual ‘Marketing Bootcamp’
The Coin Laundry Association is kicking off 2023 with the launch of a virtual “marketing bootcamp,” which has been developed to help laundromat owners grow their customer base and boost their revenue. Attend both online programs in January to develop a marketing plan...
Wash with Wally: The Advantage of Hot-Water Washing
I’ve received a number of inquiries about the overall ability and effectiveness of laundry detergents to clean clothes in cold water. In other words, is there a substantial advantage to using warm or hot water when washing? There is a definite advantage to using hot...
SPONSORED CONTENT
This Month's Issue
- Tech on the Rise: How Operators Are Using Innovation to Run Smarter, Faster Laundromats: From AI phone systems to real-time data tracking, operators and suppliers share how technology is reshaping the modern laundry business and what’s coming next.
- Business Profile: Delivering a Superior
Laundry Experience - Member Spotlight: Rick Rome –
Innovating Laundry, One Customer at a Time - Guest Column: How AI Changed Google Reviews (What Laundromat Owners Need to Know)
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
CLA, Industry Leaders Meet with California Lawmaker on Microfiber Issue
Representatives from the Coin Laundry Association and its lobbyists, as well as local southern California laundromat owners, held a one-on-one meeting with California Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the sponsor of CA AB 1628, a bill that would require every washer sold...
Alliance Distribution Acquires Statewide Machinery
Alliance Laundry Systems has acquired the distribution assets of Statewide Machinery Inc., based in Batavia, N.Y. “As a family-owned company, Statewide Machinery has built a reputation for providing customers with value that extends well beyond the premier equipment...
LaundryCares Teams with Supermatt for Free Laundry and Literacy Day in Florida
The LaundryCares Foundation has announced a collaborative initiative with the Supermatt Laundry location in Kissimmee, Fla., to bring free laundry services to the neighborhood, as well as to help bridge the literacy gap within the community. On November 8, Supermatt...
CLA, Industry Leaders to Meet with California Lawmaker on Microfiber Issue
Coin Laundry Association President and CEO Brian Wallace, CLA Board Chair Brian Holland, and a group of influential Southern California laundromat owners are scheduled to meet with California State Assemblymember Tina McKinnor on November 7 at Coast Laundry in...
Star Distributing Celebrates 65 Years of Industry Service
Established in 1958 by Durwood R. Davis Jr., Star Distributing – headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. – this year celebrates 65 years of serving the laundry industry. A long-time full-service distributor, Star has provided laundromat owners in the Southeast with sales,...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Clean 2017 Targets Full-Service Laundry Model
Laundry Apps and Organizational Tools for Processed Wash-Dry-Fold Orders on Display in Las VegasThis year's Clean Show was a huge hit on so many different levels – not the least of which being the new products and technologies now available to the wash-dry-fold...
The Business Mind
The Psychology of Loyalty
How to Develop an Impactful Customer Loyalty Program for Your Laundry Business Consumer loyalty is mighty fickle these days. In fact, it’s been estimated that 77 percent of current brands could simply disappear and no one would really care. This likely applies to...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Cleaning White Dress Shirts
I recently washed and dried a load of white dress shirts. When these shirts came out of the washer, they were bright white. However, after drying them, they had all turned yellow. I’ve never had this problem before. What can I do to prevent this from reoccurring? And...
Viewpoint
Open for Business
For the grand opening of its Canadian flagship location, Lululemon – the popular yoga-inspired athletic apparel company – offered free merchandise to the first 30 people to run naked through its new retail outlet. As you can imagine, the media was all over this...
Digital Marketing
Looking Forward by Looking Back
Why Marketing Your Laundry Business is Only Going to Get Better The world has changed quite a bit over the last three decades. Heck, it has changed a lot just in 2020 alone. But let’s not go into that here. If you were to take a time machine back to 1990, you wouldn’t...
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.
