Longtime Laundromat Owner on 23 Years of Service, Challenges, Community Impact

For more than two decades, Lee Ann Geurts has been a steady force in her Brooklyn Park community in Minnesota, running three laundromats that have become known not just for clean clothes, but for connection, comfort, and care. What began as a business venture for her...

Green is Good Business 

Green Operations Increasingly Important to Feed Consumer Demand  When Green Laundry Lounge co-owners Pulin and Krishna Dasai got into the vended laundry industry, they wanted to change a narrative: laundromats are water and energy-intensive businesses.   “The...

Leveling the Playing Field

John Um wanted to make sure small business owners could get fair pricing and access to reliable suppliers without needing to have significant buying power. As a leader whose career spanned several major retail and e-commerce companies, he had seen firsthand how hard...

Staying Fierce: Haley Gould Finds Perfect Fit in Vended Laundry

Haley Gould is the Director of Partner Success for HappyNest. She manages an internal team while leading more than 100 partners across the United States building a successful pickup and delivery operation in addition to running their laundromat business. A consummate...

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.

Forward Progress

Forward Progress

An Interview with 4WARD Energy Solutions President Chris Ward Chris Ward is the president and founder of 4WARD Energy Solutions, a national energy consultant firm in Houston.4WARD focuses on educating commercial and residential clients as to their options to...

Diamonds in the Rough

Diamonds in the Rough

What Makes a Laundry Ideal for a Successful Turnaround? There’s been a lot of talk about purchasing and retooling older, neglected laundromats. And, in recent years, it has proven to be a great strategy for many savvy laundry operators looking to grow their...

Clean 2019: A Recap from New Orleans

Clean 2019: A Recap from New Orleans

Taking a Look Back at the Industry’s Trade Show and Convention Technology was center stage at this year’s Clean Show in New Orleans. “Technology is beginning to rapidly disrupt the vended laundry world,” noted Sharon Brinks, who owns The Laundry Station in Wichita,...

Headlines

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...

Creating the Right Atmosphere

An Interview with Mike Kelly of Atmosphere TV Mike Kelly began his sales and marketing career in the wine and spirits industry, having built and executed marketing programs for some of the largest spirits brands in the world. “When I came across the opportunity to...

Wash with Wally: Installing an ATM

I just got into the laundromat business, and I’m considering installing an ATM in my store. My question is whether I’m better off buying a machine outright and installing it myself, or having an outside vendor own and install the ATM, with some type of commission...

Speed Queen Laundromat Franchise to Open Flagship Location

Speed Queen has announced the construction of its flagship laundromat in support of the brand’s franchise model. The 12,250-square-foot store, located in Chicago, is scheduled to open this spring and will feature an array of equipment, with washer capacities ranging...

Venturing into the Future

An Interview with Clean Ventures Managing Director Peter Stern Peter Stern is the managing director of Clean Ventures, a newly formed venture capital fund created to attract and invest in growth-stage laundry companies. Stern also serves as senior vice president of...

Eastern Funding Appoints Chief Operating Officer

Eastern Funding LLC recently named Nancy Robles its chief operating officer. Robles previously served as the company’s executive vice president of operations and compliance officer. In her new role, she will be responsible for all of the company’s day-to-day...

Speed Queen Expands Hermes’ Sales Territory

Speed Queen has expanded the sales territory of Hermes Commercial Laundry Equipment for the brand’s vended laundry products to include the western portion of Indiana. Hermes, headquartered in Bloomington, Ill., now sells Speed Queen laundromat equipment in the...

Let’s Go! Let’s Grow!

As PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman asked (and answered) in this column last month, “Has 2020 sucked? Yes, without a doubt.” I think we can all echo that sentiment. However, the stage is set to put 2020 behind us! As your CLA Chairman for 2020, I stated last March that...

Avoid Shortcuts

All Garment-Care Solutions Are Not Created Equal I often read the posts and subsequent comments on the various Facebook feeds targeting the laundry business. I love the idea of people interacting with each other and sharing ideas and best practices – especially with...

SPONSORED CONTENT

Business Solutions

Laundromat Marketing

CleanCloud talks to industry experts about the tactics they use to attract new customers and encourage repeat business in our latest webinar

Watch Webinar

SPONSORED CONTENT

Stand out with an optimized online presence.

Scaling Wash & Fold Operations

Learn how to grow your wash & fold from an offering into a money-making operation.

Download Guide

September Magazine Issue

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

EVI Completes Acquisition of Clean Designs, Clean Route

EVI Industries Inc. – headquartered in Miami – has announced it has completed the company’s acquisition of Clean Designs Inc. and Clean Route LLC, based in Lakewood, Colo. Known collectively as Clean Designs, the company is a distributor of commercial laundry products...

Alliance Adds Quality Assurance Positions

In its North America service area, Alliance Laundry Systems has created the position of quality assurance specialist – with industry veterans Tony Berton and Scott Demotts taking on those roles focused on large-chassis and small-chassis products, respectively. Berton...

HappyNest Names Digital Marketing Director

Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has named Turner Scott as its new director of digital marketing. Scott – who most recently served as digital marketing manager for a specialty home décor company – is responsible for coordinating and executing HappyNest’s...

Alliance Names National Service Manager

Alliance Laundry Systems recently announced that Andy Lubahn has re-joined the company as national service manager. In this role, Lubahn will oversee the regional field service managers and increase Alliance’s emphasis on service training for its customers and...

FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Columns

The Laundry Doctor

Fire and Water Restoration

Originally posted - Sep 12, 2012 I get calls from laundry owners all across the country about how to handle garments that either have been through fires or damaged by flooding. And, personally, I've done a good deal of work with a number of fire and water restoration...

read more

The Business Mind

Lessons Learned From Life’s Superstars

Here’s How to Apply Examples Set by Extraordinary Individuals to the Successful Operation of Your Laundry Business Over the decades during which I’ve been curiously roaming this planet, I have been indeed fortunate to have encountered and known some truly...

read more

Wash With Wally

Viewpoint

Digital Marketing

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

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.