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 Profit Power of Incrementalism
Adding New Services and Customer Offerings to Your Laundry Business Can Greatly Add to Your Bottom Line In the laundromat world, as in any business venture, owners can greatly boost their profit and revenue simply by knowing what their customers want most – and then...
Laundromat, Part 2: The Curse of the Sequel
How to Avoid Common Errors and Make All the Right Moves When Adding a Second Store Years ago, I met actor Dennis Hopper, who had come to New York City on the heels of writing, directing and starring with Peter Fonda in the incredibly successful release of the 1969...
Powering Your Laundromat
A Look at What’s Ahead for Natural Gas and Electricity Prices It’s no secret that electricity and natural gas prices are rising across the board – and have been for a while. Electricity prices began rising shortly after winter storms in February 2021 and have been...
Headlines
Coin-O-Matic to Host Free Event for Laundromat Owners, Investors
Coin-O-Matic will host a free educational and networking event for laundromat owners and investors on October 18 at the company’s headquarters in Alsip, Ill. Throughout the daylong event, attendees will be able to watch live product demonstrations of Maytag laundry...
Join the Conversation, Part 2
How to Build Your Laundry’s Brand Through Social Media Marketing [This is the second of a two-part feature on how laundromat owners can use social media to market their businesses and build their brands. You can read Part 1 here.] Long-time laundromat owner Patti...
CLA Launches Initiative for Women in the Vended Laundry Industry
In 2019, the Coin Laundry Association held its first luncheon for women in vended laundry during the Clean Show in New Orleans. Nearly 80 people attended and the feedback was positive. Due to the pandemic, the next event to focus on women in the laundromat industry...
Three LaundroLab Locations Coming to Denver
Two military veterans are bringing the LaundroLab franchise concept to their Denver communities. Shannon Christianson and Evette Velez are laying the groundwork for a family venture in hopes that their 13-year-old daughter eventually can become involved in the...
HappyNest Expands PUD Service
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability to Crystal Lake, Ill., through its new partner, Kimberly’s TLC. Based in Crystal Lake, the facility now provides HappyNest laundry services to residents and businesses in the area, which...
LaundryCares to Host Free Laundry, Literacy Event in New York City
The LaundryCares Foundation has announced it will host a Free Laundry and Literacy Day event on October 10 at four Clean Rite Center laundromat locations throughout the greater New York area, encompassing the communities of Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. Local...
Join the Conversation, Part 1
How to Build Your Laundry’s Brand Through Social Media Marketing [This is the first of a two-part feature on how laundromat owners can use social media to market their businesses and build their brands.] Love it or hate it, social media is here to stay. Research shows...
EVI Reports Record Results for 2022
EVI Industries Inc. has reported record operating results for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year, ended June 30, 2022. The fourth quarter financial highlights include: Revenue increased 28 percent to a record $83 million. Gross profit increased 36 percent to a...
HappyNest Expands PUD Service to Myrtle Beach
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability to Myrtle Beach, S.C., through new partner, Sam’s Laundromat. Based in Conway, Sam’s now provides HappyNest services to residents and businesses within the greater Myrtle Beach area. “Our...
Tips for Social Media Success
When it comes to social media marketing, businesses often face a difficult decision: what type of content should they post – be it on Facebook, Instagram or somewhere else? The answer isn’t always clear-cut, as different platforms have different audiences and...
Investor to Bring LaundroLab Concept to Nashville Market
Michael Meade is a CPA and real estate investor in Nashville – and now also a laundromat owner. Meade is currently working with laundromat franchise LaundroLab to solidify plans to purchase space for his first LaundroLab location. He initially identified LaundroLab...
Eastern Funding Promotes Robles to President
Eastern Funding, LLC has named Nancy Robles the company’s new president. She previously served as Eastern’s chief operating officer. “Nancy has distinguished herself in holding our teams accountable for performance,” said Eastern Funding CEO Michael Fanger. “She has...
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
Speed Queen Spring Show Slated for June 1
Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution – South Region will host its Spring Show on June 1. The event, to be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., will be held at Victoria Palms RV Resort in Donna, Texas. The show is geared toward current and prospective laundromat owners...
Lucy Doll Retires from Mountain Electronics
After 13 years with Mountain Electronics, Customer Service Representative Lucy Doll has announced her retirement. Mountain CEO Whitney Brasington remembers hiring Doll: “The clinic she was working for was getting ready to close, so she ran a classified ad in the local...
Lavanett Named GNA’s Top Canadian Distributor for 2022
Girbau North America recently recognized Lavanett, headquartered in St. Laurent, Quebec, with its third consecutive Canadian Distributor of the Year Award for exemplary performance in the vended and on-premises laundry markets. Owned by Earl Eichen, Lavanett employs...
ACI Unveils Redesigned Website Promoting Cold-Water Washing
The American Cleaning Institute has launched a redesigned website for its Cold Water Saves initiative, which is a joint effort of ACI and The Sustainability Consortium to promote the power of cold-water washing. Originally launched in 2016, Cold Water Saves aims to...
EPA Maintains ‘Safer Choice’ Status of Chemistry Used in Detergent Packaging
The Environmental Protection Agency has rejected a petition requesting increased testing and a change to the safety status of key chemistry used to make concentrated detergent unit-dose packets and sheets from its Safer Choice program. At issue was a call from a...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Building a Winning Team, Part 3
The Right Attendants with the Proper Training Will Have Customers Viewing You and Your Staff as Their Local Laundry Experts [This is the third of a three-part series on hiring and training laundry attendants.] Last month, I discussed how to track a new attendant's...
The Business Mind
‘In the Middle of Every Difficulty Lies Opportunity’
How to Stay Wired to Successfully Deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic Can I be completely honest with you? I certainly don’t in any way mean to minimize the very real human toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacted. However, I’m finding this whole coronavirus mess to be...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Increasing Labor Costs
I own three vended laundries, and I’m quite concerned about the $15 per hour minimum wage that’s being talked about more and more these days. I have three or four employees at each of my locations, and I’m paying those attendants $10 per hour. I don’t know how I would...
Viewpoint
Out of Necessity
"Necessity is the mother of taking chances." – Mark TwainA recent visit to a laundromat in the Lower Price Hill enclave in Cincinnati got me thinking about our business and the nature of necessity. The aforementioned laundry is Washing Well community laundromat, a...
Digital Marketing
Staying Connected
The Best Way to Keep Up with Today’s Fast-Paced Online World The internet is different today than it was yesterday. And it will change again tomorrow. Just go check out your Facebook feed – or inbox! You’ve likely got a completely different look, and that’s just on...
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.
