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.
Coming Clean
Laundromat Owners Are in the ‘Business of Clean’ – Now More Than Ever, Your Facilities Must Truly Reflect This Mindset A recent survey conducted on behalf of the American Cleaning Institute showed a 14 percent decline in handwashing practices for the first time since...
The Road to Laundromat Ownership
Should You Build a New Store or Buy an Existing One? After much time thinking about it, you’ve decided that 2021 will finally be your dream year – your time to become an independent owner of a vended laundry business. The question then becomes should you buy an...
Keeping a Roof Over Your Head
Whether Buying an Existing Store, Building a New Facility or Just Trying to Maximize Your Current Laundromat, Don’t Neglect the Roof By definition, a roof with a hole in it is like devouring a Big Mac and a large order of fries right after your workout. It kind of...
Headlines
LaundryCares Honors Vend-Rite’s Hansen
The LaundryCares Foundation recently honored Vince Hansen of Vend-Rite Manufacturing Company, headquartered in Cicero, Ill., with signature sponsorship recognition for his continued support of the foundation and its mission. LaundryCares Executive Vice President Dan...
Industry Mourns Dick Lutts
Laundry industry pioneer Dick Lutts recently passed away at the age of 98. Lutts, a former vice president of Salem Laundry Company in Salem, Mass., is widely credited with moving the company away from a strictly laundry delivery business model to one that also...
The Skills to Pay the Bills
Master These Six Essential Skills to Take Your Laundry Business to the Next Level I’ve always been a collector of the best words and most valid phrases to describe or define a successful small-business owner – and, more specifically, a highly successful laundromat...
Idaho Laundromat Partners with Local Library to Promote Childhood Literacy
Get The Funk Out Laundromat, based in Caldwell, Idaho, has teamed up with the Caldwell Public Library and the Laundry Literacy Coalition to help promote early childhood literacy by installing a Family Read, Play & Learn Center within the laundry business. “Over...
Delivering the Goods (Part 2)
Marketing and Growing Your Laundry Business’ Pickup-and-Delivery Service [This is the second of a two-part feature. You can read Part One here.] Clearly, you will face obstacles as you promote and begin to grow your residential pickup-and-delivery business, especially...
Leading Regulatory Issues Facing Businesses in 2022
The pandemic has reshaped the regulatory landscape and created uncertainty for businesses, especially around compliance. As a result, HR and payroll services provider Paychex has identified some of the top regulatory challenges businesses may face in 2022: Workplace...
ACI Names Digital Communications Senior Director
The American Cleaning Institute – a trade association for the cleaning products supply chain, including laundry detergents – has promoted Jessica Ek to senior director of digital communications. Ek has been with ACI since 2018, previously serving as director of...
New Year Ushers in Higher Minimum Wages Across the Country
The new year brought pay hikes for hundreds of thousands of workers, with a record number of cities, counties and states raising their hourly wage minimums – many of them hitting or surpassing $15 an hour. On January 1, 2022, the minimum wage rose in 21 states and 35...
Alliance, Steelworkers Union Reach Contract Agreement
Alliance Laundry Systems and United Steelworkers Local 1327 have reached agreement on a new contract, which went into effect January 1, 2022. The new five-year agreement covers 1,750 hourly team members at the Ripon and Manitowoc, Wis., locations. It guarantees 2.5...
HappyNest Expands Footprint in North California Market
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has added new laundromat partner, Safi Laundry, to support the company’s efforts in San Jose, Calif. With this partnership, HappyNest is now serving Alviso, Milpitas, Santa Clara and several northern San Jose zip codes. In...
PlanetLaundry Podcast Episode 26: An Interview with Brian Brunckhorst
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, Coin Laundry Association President and CEO Brian Wallace chats with Brian Brunckhorst, owner of Advantage Laundry, a laundromat chain...
Delivering the Goods (Part 1)
Marketing and Growing Your Laundry Business’ Pickup-and-Delivery Service Three years ago, Peter Lowin was considering building a third laundromat in southern California. However, primarily due to the cost, he decided against opening that third store – instead opting...
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
HappyNest Expands Reach in Texas
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its availability to Georgetown, Texas, through the company’s new partner, U Wash M Laundromat. Based in Georgetown, the laundry facility is now providing HappyNest’s services to residents and businesses in the...
Whirlpool to Reach 100% Renewable Electricity for U.S. Plant Operations
Whirlpool Corp. recently announced that it has entered into a second wind Virtual Power Purchase Agreement to accelerate progress toward its commitment to reach net zero emissions in its plants and operations by 2030. This latest agreement with ENGIE North America...
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...
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...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
The Three ‘P’s of Wash-Dry-Fold
Packaging, a Personal Touch and a POS System are Keys to Boosting Your Drop-Off Laundry Business In the next five years, you may not recognize the wash-dry-fold business. It very likely will be growing significantly in just about every market. Most of this growth will...
The Business Mind
All in the Family
The Psychodynamics of the Family-Owned Laundry Business – And How to Keep Yours Running Smoothly and EfficientlyMy guess is that early on nearly all small businesses were family-run businesses, especially in smaller towns. Since then, we've evolved from there to...
Wash With Wally
Wash With Wally: Keeping Your Drain Line Clear
Is there a chemical and/or preventive maintenance procedure that will keep our main drain line clean? Occasionally, we experience a backup of water, which seems to be due to a buildup of a black greasy residue within the line. Would you recommend a periodic flush of...
Viewpoint
In the Service of Others
As we wind down the selection process for the Coin Laundry Association's 2017 Board of Directors, I'm reminded of the many directors who have donated their time and talents to this organization over the years. Our Board does so much more than just oversee the...
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.
