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
A Lease You Can Live With
Industry Professionals Share Tips and Strategies for Successful Lease Negotiation Securing an optimal lease is crucial for laundromat owners, impacting both financial stability and operational success. In the competitive landscape of commercial real estate, especially...
Library of Congress Honors LaundryCares with 2024 Literacy Award
The LaundryCares Foundation recently announced that it has been awarded the David M. Rubenstein Prize as part of the 2024 Library of Congress Literacy Awards. This prestigious award honors the Foundation’s innovative efforts in promoting literacy by transforming...
Alliance Laundry Systems Acquires Utah Distributor
Alliance Laundry Systems recently expanded its direct distribution in the western portion of the United States with the acquisition of Alliance Laundry Equipment, headquartered in Salt Lake City. “Alliance Laundry Equipment has done an excellent job of representing...
Get Ahead of the Game
Start Your Holiday Marketing Campaigns Early I remember the feeling vividly: the first day of school after a long summer break. The excitement of new school supplies, seeing friends again, and the anticipation of a fresh start. But there was always that moment when I...
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....
SPONSORED CONTENT
This Month's Issue
- Reimagining the Laundromat Experience: Technology, Design, and a Strong Focus on the Customer Have Set a New Standard for Store Amenities
- Business Management: Building a Positive Workplace Culture
- Digital Marketing: Make Your Laundromat a Place People Love
- Company Close-Up: The Vision Behind Masters Laundry Equipment
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
Hynes & Waller Wins Top Speed Queen Honor
Speed Queen has announced Hynes & Waller as the winner of its 2023 Distributor of the Year award. The Maryland-based distributor earned Speed Queen’s top honor for exceptional sales performance last year, as well as exemplary representation of the brand in their...
EVI Acquires O’Dell Equipment and Supply
EVI Industries Inc. has completed the acquisition of O’Dell Equipment and Supply, LLC, a distributor of commercial laundry products serving the vended and on-premises laundry industries. O’Dell, based in Jeffersonville, Ind., is EVI’s 28th acquisition in the...
UniMac Honors Top Distributor
UniMac recently announced that Southeastern Laundry Equipment Sales has received the brand’s 2023 Distributor of the Year award. Southeastern, headquartered in Marietta, Ga., has been a leader in the on-premises laundry market since 1976, serving clients in a variety...
SBA Disaster Loan Funds Exhausted, Agency Hopes to Secure Additional Funding in November
On October 15, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced it hit its limit for the disaster loan program. Along with SBA disaster centers, the loan application portal will remain open, and the SBA is encouraging those impacted to continue applying for these...
LIG Health and Wellness Roundup
LIG Solutions, who CLA works with to provide members with healthcare options, has articles to help expand health and wellness awareness. • LIG Health And Wellness Round-Up – Fall 2024 Edition: a series of seasonal articles which you might find helpful • Produce You...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Ozone Examined…
A Look at What Ozone Can Do for Your Laundry Business Since the COVID-19 outbreak, laundromat owners now more than ever have focused on creating safe, clean environments for their customers. As a result, ozone as a laundry additive has been gaining a lot of industry...
The Business Mind
Are You Annoying?
Look for Small Annoyances That May Be Bugging Your Customers and Silently Destroying Your Laundromat’s Otherwise Pleasant Atmosphere Believe it or not, you may be inadvertently annoying your laundromat customers without even knowing it. And, honestly, very few of them...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: The Keys to Cleaning Cloth Restaurant Napkins
I have potential commercial account that would require us to launder cloth napkins for an Italian restaurant. The napkins are red and most certainly will have oil and other food stains. The client wants these napkins laid out flat for delivery. What are the best...
Viewpoint
Not Your Father’s Laundromat Buildout
When it comes to building a new laundromat these days, it’s a whole different ballgame that it was 35, 25 or even 15 years ago. I can remember when all I needed was a clean, hand-drawn, to-scale plan with an architect’s stamp – and I could get a building permit within...
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.
