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.

Please Advise…
Successful Laundry Owners Share the Best – And Worst – Business Advice They’ve Ever Received “In life, you need many more things besides talent. Things like good advice and common sense.” – Hack Wilson, Major League Baseball Player from 1923-1934 “No enemy is worse...

By the Numbers
An Interview with Ideal Spot CEO Marc Smookler Marc Smookler has started five companies – three of which are market leaders in their respective spaces: a commercial real estate data platform, an online retailer and a unified communications provider. Mr. Smookler’s...

The Urban Laundromat Renewal
Maximizing Turnover, Revenue and Profit In many urban settings, utility, real estate and rent costs are on the rise, which makes doing business there tricky. Luckily, for the vended laundry owner, there are many concrete ways to effectively combat costs, while...
Headlines
Wash with Wally: Installing Automatic Doors
I’m in the process of building a new laundromat from the ground up. The question I have is about the front and side doors to my facility. I’ve already decided that I will put in automatic doors. However, do you think I should install sliding or swinging doors? In your...
Creating a ‘Warm, Fuzzy Feeling’
Multi-Store Owner Explains How Commitment to Early Childhood Literacy Has Boosted Customer Loyalty A laundromat isn’t the easiest type of business in which to create that “warm, fuzzy feeling” for customers. Just ask Daryl Johnson who owns 10 (soon to be 11) Giant...
Payment Systems: Are You Confused Yet?
How to Decide Which Options Are Right for You and Your Business When I entered the industry in 2010, two types of payment systems were being widely used – quarters and prepaid loyalty cards. And quarters were the overwhelming favorite among store owners. In fact,...
Starchup, Drop Locker to Merge, Forming SUD Systems
Starchup and Laundry Locker, Inc. (dba Drop Locker) have entered into an agreement to merge the two companies into a new single entity – SUD Systems, LLC. Effective immediately, the two companies will begin to operate as a unified team, sharing the best from each...
Rinse Acquires ButlerBox
Rinse, a national brand in drycleaning and laundry delivery, has acquired ButlerBox, a Los Angeles-based drycleaning and laundry provider specializing in locker-based services with multifamily and commercial office partners. ButlerBox is the latest in a series of...
Clean Ventures, Mr Jeff Team Up to Bring Franchise to U.S. Laundromats
Mr Jeff, an international laundry service franchise, has signed an agreement with Clean Ventures, a venture capital fund that invests in growth-stage laundry companies, to help grow the franchise’s expansion within the U.S. Clean Ventures is managed by industry...
GNA Promotes Pollnow, Willman
Girbau North America has announced two promotions within the company. Brennan Pollnow has been named North American business manager, Girbau Industrial brand, and Tyler Willman has been promoted to regional business development manager – Canada and Northwestern U.S....
CCI, Cents Announce Partnership Agreement
Card Concepts Inc. has teamed up with Cents, a business management and in-store operations platform created for laundromats. The partnership between CCI and Cents will enable store owners to leverage CCI’s hardware and card technology, alongside Cents’ POS, online...
Navigating the Laundromat Lease
16 Tips for Successful Negotiating Your Next Store Lease A commercial property lease for a laundromat is a rare breed – truly an animal all its own. So, when negotiating such a lease, be sure to do your research. Your store’s lease will be among your biggest expenses,...
Commercial Real Estate
Industry Experts Discuss Current Trends and Issues – Along with Key Factors Shaping Today’s Markets Some laundromat owners are multi-store operators who have learned the real estate business due to a series of retail leases and/or building purchases over the years....
Curbside Laundries Celebrates Milestone
Curbside Laundries recently announced that it’s now providing wash and fold POS systems and pickup-and-delivery solutions to 350 laundromats throughout the United States. “It has been quite a journey,” said Aaron Simmons, a Curbside Laundries co-founder. “Just over...
HappyNest Recognized with Business Innovation Award
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest – based in East Greenwich, R.I. – has been named a recipient in Rhode Island Inno’s 4th annual Inno on Fire awards program, which recognize companies sparking innovation to help drive the tech ecosystem within the region....
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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
Recruiting Strategies for Tight Labor Markets
In today’s scramble to recruit the best employees, a new or growing business may need to devise creative recruitment strategies to keep pace with the competition. This is especially important in today’s labor market, where the unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been...
Ohio Laundromat Installs Children’s Library
Laundromat Libraries, a pilot program of the Marietta Community Foundation, recently established its first library at Old Town Express Laundry in Marietta, Ohio. “We are just happy to be able to provide a means to encourage young minds to cultivate a love for reading,...
Starchup, ZIPS Cleaners Announce Software Integration
Garment-care software provider Starchup and ZIPS Cleaners recently announced that ZIPS will be using Starchup’s software platform and API tools to launch a new mobile app for customers using home delivery, locker drop off and pickup, and EZ DropSM at ZIPS stores. ZIPS...
CleanCloud Partners with Gusto on Payroll Feature
CleanCloud has teamed up with payroll services provider Gusto to introduce its new CleanCloud Payroll feature. This new product enables laundromat owners to run payroll quickly and easily from the CleanCloud platform. All relevant data, including staff hours, are...
Whirlpool VP Named ‘Corporate Women’s Champion’
Seramount recently named Whirlpool Corp.’s Vice President of Channel Sales and Marketing Lynn Moersch its 2022 Corporate Women’s Champion, as part of Seramount’s Women of Excellence program. Moersch was honored for her outstanding leadership and business success, as...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor

Leather… Or Not?
Originally posted - Oct 25, 2013 If you offer a wash-dry-fold service, you will from time to time take in some leather garments. But don't be afraid of them. Leather cleaning is one of the easiest types of cleaning you can do, since most stains don't really soak into...
The Business Mind
Hiring Good People
Here Are the Keys to Conducting an Effective Job Interview If you own or manage an attended laundry business, it's no secret that at some point in time you're definitely going to have to advertise for and interview prospective attendants. This task just comes with the...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Replacing Vinyl Tile with a Poured Resin Floor
My vinyl tile floor is old and needs to be replaced. I'm considering perhaps ceramic or some other form of decorative tile. What do you think? Are there other options available that you would recommend? One other great option is to go with a poured resin flooring....
Viewpoint
Vital Signs
Neglect Your Store's Signage at Your Own Risk Because a laundromat is a self-service business, there is the tendency among some owners to have a "build-it-and-they-will-wash" attitude toward their stores. In other words, the focus is primarily on the equipment offered...
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.