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.
The ABCs of HVAC
How to Keep Your System Efficient – And Your Laundry Customers Comfortable For today’s laundromat customers, comfort is a key. And store owners who provide temperature-controlled interiors – especially during the brutal dog days of summer – have a definite leg up on...
Due Diligence… Done Right
A Step-by-Step Look at Purchasing an Existing Laundromat When you build and open a brand new vended laundry, you take the calculated risk of throwing a party and potentially having nobody show up. However, when you buy an established laundry business and you believe...
‘It’s a Win-Win’
Texas Laundromat Teams with Local Elementary School on Childhood Literacy Program Wash It Kwik laundromat in Denton, Texas, is just a quarter-mile down the road from the Newton Rayzor Elementary School. Simply due to their close proximity to each other, the two...
Headlines
Alliance Laundry Systems to Acquire PWS
Alliance Laundry Systems has announced that it is acquiring the distribution assets of PWS Inc., the largest distributor of Speed Queen equipment and replacement parts in North America. The deal is expected to close in March. PWS opened in 1968 and maintains offices...
HappyNest Adds New California Location
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest recently announced the company’s further expansion into Orange, Calif. “Once again, we have found a great partner who will complement our conversion of Springboard licensees in the Orange County area,” said HappyNest...
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...
First Tide Laundromat Opens in Chicago
The first Tide Laundromat recently opened for business in Chicago, on the city’s far north side. According to the Procter & Gamble brand, it is a part of Tide’s strategic focus “to bring innovation and new technologies to the out-of-home laundry services...
Cents Announces $4.25M Financing Round
Cents, a leading business management and in-store operations platform for laundromat owners, recently announced a $4.25 million financing round. The round was led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Newfund Capital, Riverpark Ventures and 1517 Fund....
Enthusiasm for Our ‘Essential’ Industry
The laundromat business has proven itself to be recession-resistant, pandemic-resistant – and, yes, “essential.” As a result, the industry is growing at a rate at which I’ve never seen before. People are fleeing corporate America to build or buy laundromats. Current...
HappyNest Launches Fresno Location
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its operations into Fresno, Calif. “California became a big growth market in the fourth quarter of 2020 and that expansion is continuing into 2021,” said HappyNest founder John MacKrell. “We are excited to...
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...
Keep Your Customers Coming Back for More…
…Or Why You Should Eat Pizza with a Knife and Fork I recently popped open a very good bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, and poured myself a glass. That first sip was amazing. The flavor was beyond overwhelming. Unfortunately, a few minutes and a few sips later, I hardly...
RKU Standard Acquires Standard Change-Makers
RKU Standard Inc. – under the direction of Rob and Kathleen Unterborn – has purchased Standard Change-Makers Inc. from the McNutt family, which has owned the currency changer manufacturer since its founding in 1955. Standard Change-Makers was established by James R....
CLA, LaundryCares Name Project Manager
The Coin Laundry Association and its charitable organization – the LaundryCares Foundation – jointly have named Tanisha Moore as project manager. Moore, who joined the CLA in 2015, has served the association in various managerial roles, from membership services to...
PlanetLaundry Podcast, Episode 18: Interview with “The Laundromat Millionaire”
In this episode of the PlanetLaundry Podcast, Editor Bob Nieman interviews "The Laundromat Millionaire" Dave Menz, owner and operator of Queen City Laundry, a chain of full-service full-attended stores in Cincinnati, OH. This podcast is brought to you by Continental...
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
HappyNest Partners with Arkansas Laundromat
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded into the Arkansas market through new laundromat partner Washarama, based in Fayetteville. With this partnership, HappyNest laundry services are now available to residents and businesses in the northwest region...
Whirlpool Adds to Commercial Laundry Leadership Team
Whirlpool Corp. recently appointed new leadership members to its commercial laundry organization. Dave Stimac, general manager of commercial laundry, has transitioned and assumed the role of senior director, supply chain strategy and operations. He will be responsible...
Alliance Laundry Systems Launches Charitable Initiative
Alliance Laundry Systems has announced the launch of Alliance Laundry Cares, the company’s new charitable giving initiative. Through Alliance Laundry Cares, the company will address the basic need for cleanliness, comfort and dignity for those most vulnerable in the...
GNA Honors OPL Distributor of the Year
Girbau North America recently presented Aadvantage Laundry Systems – headquartered in Garland, Texas – with the distributorship’s second consecutive GNA On-Premises Laundry Distributor of the Year Award for outstanding sales and service performance within the OPL...
EVI Acquires Laundry Marketing Firm
EVI Industries Inc. has acquired Spynr Inc., based in New York City – marking EVI’s 20th industry acquisition. Spynr is a highly specialized, full-service marketing agency with deep roots in the commercial laundry industry. The company provides owners of laundry...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
The Laundry Doctor’s Inbox
Originally posted -Feb 01, 2013 Since I opened my coin laundry, and especially since I started writing for PlanetLaundry, I notice that the Laundry Doctor receives quite of bit of e-mail – from laundry owners and laundry "doers" alike – asking my advice on everything...
The Business Mind
Hard Facts on Dealing with the ‘Soft Costs’ of Business Ownership
Are Stress, Customer Diversity and Managing Your Employees Taking Their Toll on You and Your Laundry Operation? In general, self-service laundry owners typically face about 11 or 12 costs on a monthly basis. These costs can range from utilities and labor to vended...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Researching a Former Laundry Location
I do a considerable amount of drop-off laundry at my store, and I always seem to have a problem removing chewing gum from garments. Can you offer any suggestions for removing it? There are two ways to deal with this problem. One way is to spot it with a good paint and...
Viewpoint
Avoiding Surprises
Running a small business is far from an exact science. And operating a self-service laundry – with all of the market-by-market idiosyncrasies this entails – at times can be even less of a sure thing. With PlanetLaundry's cover story in May focusing on industry myths...
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.