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.
‘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...
Word to the Wise, Part 2
Laundromat Owners Share Best Practices for Long-Term Success [This is the second of the two-part feature article. Read Part 1 here.] Several leading laundromat owners share their best business and operational advice, tips and strategies for new store operators and...
Headlines
Mr Jeff Expands Footprint in Miami
Miami entrepreneur Sergio Aguirre – the first U.S. franchisee of laundry pickup-and-delivery service Mr Jeff – is expanding his service territory into the Brickell neighborhood of Miami. “Since opening, our Miami franchisee has already experienced early success in...
Anger Management
Seven Psychologically Sound Ways to Deal with Angry, Irate or Emotionally Difficult Customers Every laundromat owner is going to come face to face with angry, difficult or emotionally challenging customers from time to time. After all, you can’t please everyone....
‘Cream of the Crop’
Ohio Distributor Focuses on Top-Quality Used and Reconditioned Equipment Triad Laundry Equipment isn’t your typical laundromat distributor. Unlike most companies serving the vended laundry industry, Triad has chosen to focus on the used equipment niche. “There aren’t...
Franchise Hits Major Milestone
Laundry and drycleaning franchise CD One Price Cleaners, headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., recently announced it had reached a production milestone – washing and folding five million pounds of laundry. CD One Vice President of Marketing Jonathon Reckles credited a...
HappyNest Expands Reach in Southern California
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability to Tujunga, Calif., and the surrounding region through new partner Elite Laundry Center. Based in Tujunga, Elite Laundry now offers HappyNest PUD laundry services to residents and businesses...
LaundroLab Grows Its Corporate Team
Laundromat franchise LaundroLab has announced new additions to its corporate team. They are: David Reeves, chief operating officer; Jason Carache, director of finance and accounting; and Keith Martinez, new store opening project manager. Reeves is an operations...
All You Need is ‘Luv’
Texas Laundromat Chain Champions the LaundryCares Message The LaundryCares Foundation’s early childhood literacy initiative – and its accompanying Family Read, Play & Learn Centers – seem tailor-made for Laundry Luv. In fact, the Texas-based company with...
Localize Your Message
Five Local Marketing Tactics That Can Grow Your Laundry Business Marketing can be a tricky subject to approach. On one hand, you want to attract new customers and gain business. On the other hand, you have a lot of options, information, competing ideas, and most...
Whirlpool Expands Care Counts Laundry Program
While students have been back to in-person learning for about a year, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to impact attendance rates nationwide. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 72 percent of U.S. public schools reported an increase...
Minnesota Publication Recognizes Laundromat Chain
For the second year in a row, the Star Tribune has named Tumble Fresh Coin Laundries “Minnesota’s Best” laundromat, based on the publication’s readers’ poll of top businesses throughout the state. “We got really good at what we were doing,” said Stephen Linn, chief...
2ULaundry Expands Business to Tampa
Pickup-and-delivery service 2ULaundry will open a new location on October 31 in Tampa, Fla. It will be the company’s second market after launching in Charlotte, N.C. “Tampa has always been on our roadmap for expansion,” said Dan D’Aquisto, co-founder and president of...
Laundromat Safety is No Accident, Part 2
Here’s How to Keep Your Employees and Customers Safe – And Your Business Compliant with Today’s OSHA Regulations [This is the second of a two-part feature on workplace safety in the laundromat. You can read Part 1 here.] There are some measures that don’t necessarily...
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
EVI to Acquire ALCO Washer Center
EVI Industries Inc. recently announced that it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire ALVF Inc. – dba ALCO Washer Center, a distributor of commercial laundry products and provider of related technical installation and maintenance services to the laundromat and...
Alliance Distribution Announces Fall Shows
Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution-West Region in California has released its fall show schedule, which kicks off on September 8 in San Diego and wraps up September 16 in San Francisco. The Fall Laundry Festival will feature special rebates on Speed Queen models,...
ACI Unveils Bilingual Laundry Safety Resource
The American Cleaning Institute recently convened with hundreds of top safety experts and partners at the Safe Kids Worldwide Childhood Injury Prevention Convention for four days of conversation focused on preventing unintentional childhood injuries. During the event,...
Alliance Distribution Expands West Region
Alliance Laundry Systems has acquired the distribution assets of Dynamic Sales and Service, based in Kirkland, Wash. Dynamic has more than three decades of experience providing commercial laundry solutions in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. “We remain committed to...
PayRange, Turns Announce Exclusive Partnership
PayRange Inc., a provider of mobile payments for unattended retail operations, has announced an exclusive licensing agreement with laundromat and drycleaning software provider Turnsapp Inc. “We are particularly impressed by the scope and caliber of Turn’s offerings,”...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Growing Your Business by Serving Your Community
Seniors and Other Niche Market Segments May Be Perfect Opportunities to Build Your Wash-Dry-Fold Clientele In many ways, doing wash-dry-fold laundry for seniors in your community can almost be considered a public service commitment. At my store, I have about half a...
The Business Mind
The Psychology of Risk
Mastering the Uncertainties of Laundromat Ownership “Ninety-five percent of thought, emotion and learning occur in the unconscious mind without our awareness.” – Dr. Gerald Zautman, Professor Emeritus, Harvard University It’s a well-accepted fact that all business...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Cleaning Yoga Blankets
I have been approached by a potential commercial client about cleaning yoga blankets. They are heavy wool blankets about the size of a twin bed sheet. This client doesn’t want to dryclean the blankets. What’s the best way to wash them? And how would I dry these items...
Viewpoint
Define Your Business
Of all the factors impacting the success of a laundromat, site selection is right up there with having sufficient capital to launch and operate a new business. Both affect a business' chances of succeeding to a larger degree than almost any other factors.With that...
Digital Marketing
Deconstructing the ‘App’
Three Types of Apps Any Business Can Use – Even Yours When you hear the word “app,” you probably think about something on your phone that has a pretty specific use. Something like the Facebook app or your bank app. They’re useful and handy – but, ultimately,...
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.
