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.

Just Who Do You Think You Are?
It’s Not a Trick Question, But the Future of Your Laundromat Business Depends on the Answer Have you been to a Dollar Tree lately? Now there’s an organization that knows exactly what it is and who they want to be – and they’re proud of it. After all, just look at the...

On the Money
An Overview of the SBA’s 504 Loan Program The Small Business Administration’s 504 Loan program is a powerful economic development program that offers small businesses, such as laundromats, another avenue for business financing, while promoting business growth and job...

The New Investors
As Interest in the Laundromat Industry Grows, Who’s Getting into the Business… and Why? Melody Fanto has never been afraid of hard work. She has been a registered dental hygienist in Long Island, N.Y., for 30 years. In addition, she previously owned an auto repair...
Headlines
Pickup-and-Delivery Pricing Done Right
Are You Charging ‘By the Bag’ or ‘By the Pound?’ I don’t think any of us would be surprised to hear that pickup and delivery is the hot topic in our industry today. In fact, this month I presented a keynote presentation on this very topic at the inaugural Laundromat...
Laundromat Contributes to Local Nonprofit
Washin’ Coin Laundry, based in Anniston, Ala., recently donated a percentage of the proceeds from its operations to 2nd Chance Inc., a local nonprofit group that provides support for the victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Laundry owner Ken Barrett presented a check...
Whirlpool Commits to ‘Low-Carbon’ Future
The U.S. Department of Energy has recognized Whirlpool Corp. for committing to reduce portfolio-wide greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent within 10 years and to work with the DOE to share successful solutions and decarbonization strategies. As a...
Smooth Operators (Part 2)
From Preventive Maintenance to Equipment Repair, Store Owners Share Key Strategies for Keeping Their Laundromats Running Smoothly and Profitably [This is the second of a two-part feature article. You can read Part One here.] In a continuation of PlanetLaundry's March...
Curbside Laundries Announces Client Appreciation Dinner
Curbside Laundries will host a dinner reception on July 29 – the day before the opening of Clean 2022 – in appreciation of the company’s clients. According to the company, more than 130 Curbside clients will be attendance at the free dinner reception in Atlanta, which...
Attendee Registration Now Open for Clean ’22
Attendee registration for this year’s Clean Show has officially opened. The four-day event – to be held from July 30 through August 2 in Atlanta – will attract thousands of laundry and textile-care industry professionals from all around the world to discover the...
Smooth Operators (Part 1)
From Preventive Maintenance to Equipment Repair, Store Owners Share Key Strategies for Keeping Their Laundromats Running Smoothly and Profitably Houston laundromat owner Rob Maes was still a newcomer to the industry when he received his first wake-up call, as to the...
Ohio Laundry Assists Locals in Need
Since opening last summer, Super Clean Laundromat in Akron, Ohio, has been working with local organizations to help those experiencing hardship access laundry services. Owners Raj and Savita Verma – a couple from Punjab, India – moved to the U.S. 12 years ago and...
What Can the CLA Do for You?
“What can Brown do for you?” That was the popular slogan for UPS from 2002 to 2010. Simple in structure yet far-reaching in scope, the slogan engaged UPS’ multi-platform customer universe to think about its relationship with the company and how it might be expanded....
CLA Announces Virtual Showcase
The Coin Laundry Association will hold its second Innovation in Laundry Virtual Showcase in March. This three-day event will provide laundromat owners and distributors an opportunity to demo the latest technology tools in the industry to help determine the best fit...
LEGO Teams with Local Artist to Transform London Laundromat
London-based artist and designer Yinka Ilori proved that – with a little imagination – there’s no limit to what one can build with LEGOs. This is evidenced by his colorful installation, called “Launderette of Dreams.” Created in collaboration with The LEGO Group as...
Miami Laundromat Reflects Local Culture
Little Havana Laundry, located in Miami, recently added unique artwork by Ivan Roque and Heps Fury Productions that represents the local culture and community. Store owner Autumn Markley is an art enthusiast whose previous professional background is in the beauty and...
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This Month's Issue
- Designing for Success: Winning Ideas for Your Next Laundromat Design, Layout, or Remodeling Project
- Guest Feature: Five Lessons I Learned from Selling My Laundry Business
- Digital Marketing: A Well-Planned Laundromat Can Boost Customer Engagement and Loyalty
- Business Profile: How Chicago’s Wash Smart Chain is Redefining the Laundry Experience
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
ZIPS Announces Two New Locations
ZIPS Cleaners has announced it will add two new locations in Washington, D.C., by the end of next year. KV Management, LLC, which currently operates two ZIPS locations in the District – as well as two in Fairfax, Va., and another in Sterling, Va. – has issued letters...
Disaster Relief in Florida
Tide’s Loads of Hope program and Matthew 25: Ministries have partnered to set up mobile laundry units for Florida residents impacted by Hurricane Ian. “Sometimes having a fresh T-shirt or a pair of pants or anything like that can really have a huge impact on people...
Laundry Tech Platform Raises $7M in Seed Funding
Tumble Smart Laundry, a smart laundry technology platform based in San Francisco, recently raised $7 million in seed funding. Founded in 2019, the company intends to use the funds to scale its proprietary software platform – powering an all-digital experience from...
RJ Kool Acquires BDS Laundry
RJ Kool – a commercial laundry distributor with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. – recently purchased BDS Laundry, a distributorship based in St. Paul, Minn. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. The sale of BDS includes its vended and on-premises laundry...
Curbside Laundries Opens New Office, Adds Key Hires
Curbside Laundries – a full-service SAAS company for laundromats specializing in wash-dry-fold and pickup and delivery – has opened a new facility in Los Alamitos, Calif. The move was required to meet the company’s business demands, as well as to help facilitate the...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Coupon Clippers Just Don’t Cut It
Coupon Discount Offers Are the Wrong Way to Try to Build Your Wash-Dry-Fold Business I don't know how many times I've been bombarded by salespeople representing Groupon or some other online coupon service, trying to cut into my wash-dry-fold revenue. In fact, I've...
The Business Mind

Head ‘Em off at the Pass
Use Preemptive Marketing to Outshine Even Your Toughest Competition Are you are sitting down? I hope so, because what I am about to relay to you may be the single most amazingly powerful marketing technique anyone could ever use. Yet… I have never seen it done in the...
Wash With Wally

Wash with Wally: Increasing Drying Capacity
I’m short on drying capacity at my store. During the weekends, I have customers waiting for the dryers. Should I add more 30-pound stack dryers, which are what I currently have? Or should I replace at least some of the 30-pounders with larger-capacity stack dryers? If...
Viewpoint
An Excellent Opportunity
Five years ago, the Coin Laundry Association launched its Excellence in Laundry Conference. This year marked the third biennial event, and plans are already in place for the 2018 event. Given that, I want to share a few of my own takeaways from this year's Excellence...
Digital Marketing
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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.