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.
Born of Necessity and Innovation
Local Entrepreneurs Build Sustainable Alaskan Laundromat, Addressing Arctic Challenges and Community Needs In the heart of Fairbanks, Alaska, which is well known for evening skies painted brilliant hues by the Northern Lights and lit brightly by the midnight sun, a...
Getting Involved
Today’s Laundry Owners Are Strengthening Their Local Ties and Making a Difference Through Neighborhood Outreach and Community Engagement Initiatives As a laundromat owner, engaging with the neighborhoods you serve is not only about building a successful business, but...
Shift from Employee to Owner
Transitioning Mindsets of Laundromat Leadership When I ventured to entrepreneurship by opening a storefront business, I thought I had fully prepared as an owner. After all, I drafted a business plan that the bank accepted, I received support from the company from whom...
Headlines
Curbside.2024 Conference a Success
More than 180 attendees packed the Curbside.2024 Conference in Long Beach, Calif. This inaugural event was open to all who are interested in starting or growing a wash-dry-fold and laundry pickup-and-delivery business. The conference featured several speakers who are...
CleanCloud Now Partners with Businesses in More Than 100 Countries
Laundromat software provider CleanCloud recently announced that it now partners with businesses in more than 100 countries worldwide. The milestone “solidifies CleanCloud’s position as the largest operator in terms of absolute customers and global reach within the...
CLA’s Advocacy on Microfiber Filter Mandates Accelerates with Significant Manufacturer Support
Despite the calendar turning to a lighter legislative schedule and the majority of the focus shifting toward the November elections, CLA continues its strategic planning to battle ongoing threats from microfiber filtration requirements on commercial washers. In 2023...
CLA’s Thomas Helps Mentor the Next Generation
CLA Director of Advertising and Sponsorship Sales Nika Thomas recently became a mentor for The Annabelle Project, which is a program where seasoned event industry professionals mentor college-age applicants of color for one year. The aim of the project is to give the...
Through Your Customers’ Eyes
Taking the Mystery Out of Customer Service In a former life, I used to sell mystery shopping services. And most of the mom-and-pop entrepreneurs I approached typically had trouble understanding why they needed it. However, they heartily agreed that “large” companies...
Continental Girbau West to Host Vended Laundry Profit Symposiums
Continental Girbau West has announced two upcoming Vended Laundry Profit Symposiums – one on September 25 in Tempe, Ariz., and the other on September 28 in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. These free events – both of which will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – are open to...
Mountain Electronics Acquires Assets of Metro Laundry Tech Corp.
Mountain Electronics, headquartered in Burnsville, N.C., has acquired the assets of Metro Laundry Tech Corp., a remanufacturer of commercial laundry equipment based in New York City. All of Metro Laundry Tech’s repair services will be relocated to Mountain’s facility...
Cents Raises $40 Million Series B Funding to Support Garment-Care Industry
Laundry business management platform Cents has announced the close of a $40 million Series B funding round. The round was led by strategic venture capital firm Camber Creek, with participation from previous investors Bessemer Venture Partners and Tiger Global....
HappyNest Expands Service in Florida
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability within the Orlando, Fla., market through its new partner, Lake Eustis Laundry Inc. The facility now provides PUD laundry services to residents and businesses in Yalaha, Kissimmee, Sorrento,...
Safeguarding the Sales Tax Exemption for Self-Service Laundry in Nebraska
Earlier this year, various legislators introduced no fewer than eight bills that sought to expand the sales tax base in the state of Nebraska. If any of those bills were to pass and include self-service laundry as part of their tax expansion plans, laundromat owners...
Alliance’s ProCapture Video Wins Four Awards at Industry Event
Alliance Laundry Systems’ launch video for the company’s new lint capture system, ProCapture, recently was recognized by the video industry. The video picked up four awards at the Telly Awards, which honor excellence in video and television across all screens....
From Demographics to Dollars
Industry Experts Decode the Art and Science of Finding the Ideal Laundromat Location “Location, location, location.” You’ve heard it hundreds of times. It’s the key to retail success. It’s your magic wand to laundromat riches. Just find that ideal location. But what...
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
Southeastern Laundry Equipment Acquires Cochrane Repair Service
Southeastern Laundry Equipment Sales, headquartered in Marietta, Ga., has acquired Cochrane Repair Service, a company specializing in commercial laundry equipment repair and maintenance throughout the Carolinas. Founded in 1983, Cochrane Repair Service provides...
Alliance Adds Industry Veteran to Sales Team
Alliance Laundry Systems has added Rick Case to its sales team. “Rick has a tremendous amount of industry experience and will make an immediate impact for our Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution team,” said Mike Hand, vice president, North America Commercial Central...
Alliance Distribution Expands West Region with New Acquisition
Alliance Laundry Systems has acquired the distribution assets of Bestway Laundry Solutions, headquartered in Corona, Calif. The distributorship is a leading provider of UniMac on-premises laundry equipment. “California is an area where we see excellent potential for...
Wash-Dry-Fold POS Partners with Burq, Adds On-Demand Delivery Network
Wash-Dry-Fold POS – a provider of point-of-sale and operational management solutions for laundromats across the United States – recently partnered with on-demand delivery platform Burq, to offer laundromat owners the largest laundry delivery network in the country,...
Laundry Industry Mourns Bob Cowen
Laundry industry pioneer Robert Clifford Cowen, an ownership partner in B&C Technologies, passed away peacefully at his home on September 13 at the age of 102. Cowen began his career in 1956 as an engineer and quickly became a driving force in the commercial...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Spend Your Marketing Dollars Wisely
What Are You Getting in Return for Your Wash-Dry-Fold Promotional Budget? Business owners love to discuss and ruminate on what it costs to acquire a new customer. In the drycleaning world, the generally accepted figure is approximately $50 per customer. In the laundry...
The Business Mind
Vive La Différence
How to Use Diversity Marketing to Boost Sales and Grow Your Laundry Business For a long time, marketing efforts for companies big and small had one major common denominator. Essentially, they all targeted an older, white audience. Years ago, this strategy may have...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: How to Safely Clean Bar Towels
We have accounts with several large restaurants to wash their bar mops, towels, and rags. I’ve heard of rags and towels – even clean ones – spontaneously combusting. Is there a specific process to help guard against this, as well as a recommended timeline in which to...
Viewpoint
Anticipating the Renewal of Clean 2022
“The waiting is the hardest part.” – Tom Petty, from “The Waiting” Although many of us initially assumed this classic rock staple from Tom Petty was yet another song about pining for the return to that special someone, Petty himself actually described it as an...
Digital Marketing
Spinning Tales of Marketing Magic
How Simple Conversations and Clever Tricks Can Boost Your Business Beyond Just Clean Clothes Imagine strolling through your favorite mall. You know, the one where you always stop for a pretzel or to sneak a peek into that clothing store. As you’re wandering around,...
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.
