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 Local Laundry Hub
For Many of Today’s Vended Laundry Owners, It’s No Longer a ‘Cash-at-All-Cost’ Business An exciting movement is taking hold within the vended laundry industry. More and more laundries are serving as community hubs, where giving back is as important as receiving....

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...
Headlines
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....
Investing in Online Real Estate
A Look at Some Digital Marketing Options to Help You Build Your Laundromat Business As someone who is in the vended laundry business (or is considering investing in a laundromat), you’re also somewhat – by default – in the commercial real estate business as well....
SPONSORED CONTENT
This Month's Issue
- Green is Good Business: Green Operations Increasingly Important to Feed Consumer Demand
- Women In Laundry: Lee Ann Geurts Loves a Challenge
- Store Profile: Kings Laundry Kicking it in Los Angeles
- Untapped Growth Opportunities
- And More…
THE LATEST ON LAUNDROMATS
Industry News
State Tax Changes Taking Effect Mid-Year
Although the majority of 2022 state tax changes take effect at the start of the calendar year, some are implemented at the beginning of the fiscal year. Individual and corporate income tax changes usually take effect at the beginning of the calendar year to maintain...
Oregon Laundromat, Rotary Club Help Fund Local Laundry Program
The Rotary Club of Crook County in Oregon recently presented the Family Access Network with a grant of $2,000 to support laundry services at Express Eco Laundromat in Prineville, Ore. The laundromat partially matched the grant funding to help support the purchase of...
Mr Jeff Expands Franchise Further into South Florida
Mr Jeff, a home-delivery laundry service franchise, has announced the signing of two new franchise agreements in South Florida. Franchisees Sam Boulet and Christian Santo will open new Mr Jeff locations in Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County, respectively, later this...
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,...
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
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: Cleaning Drain Lines and Lint Traps
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
Mid-Year Report Card
I hope the first half of 2015 has been successful for you and your businesses. Recent surveys and economic indicators are all showing positive results, and it looks to stay that way for some time to come. In addition, the Coin Laundry Association accomplished some...
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.