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.
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...
Clean ’19: The Big Show Visits The Big Easy
New Orleans to Host Laundry Industry’s Largest Trade Show and Convention The Crescent City, The Birthplace of Jazz, Mardi Gras City, The City That Care Forgot, America’s Most Interesting City, Hollywood South… and, of course, The Big Easy. New Orleans is referred to...
Headlines
Speed Queen Adds Long’s Laundry Equipment to Distributor Network
Speed Queen recently added Long’s Laundry Equipment, based in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to its commercial distribution network. “I’m exceptionally confident that owner Eric Long and his staff will deliver great service to Speed Queen vended laundry customers,” said Kathryn...
HappyNest Launches New Location in Omaha
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its reach into Omaha, Neb. “We have several laundry owners who have been using our Springboard platform to manage their local pickup-and-delivery service and who have been very successful growing this piece of...
Silver Linings
Typically, December is a time to pause, look back and take stock of your life and your business. It’s normally the perfect opportunity to reminisce about the 365 days gone by (366, in this case) – and to try to predict what the next 365 have in store. Not this year!...
Giving Thanks for 2020
“…enjoy every sandwich.” – Warren Zevon, songwriter/musician When Zevon uttered these quirky words of gratitude, it wasn’t in a clever lyric from one of his dozens of great songs. Rather, it came in response to a question posed by his friend David Letterman during...
Wash with Wally: Licensed to Launder?
I offer a drop-off laundry service at my store, and I’ve been doing so for years. However, a local business inspector recently visited my laundromat and told me that I need a special license to provide this type of wash-dry-fold service. Do you know anything about...
Tempus Fugit!
Time certainly does fly. It’s hard to believe that the Coin Laundry Association first launched its monthly magazine 30 years ago! At the time, I had the privilege of being the CLA’s Chairman of the Board. And, as I recall, it was a much different environment in those...
EVI Industries to Acquire Eastern Laundry Systems
EVI Industries Inc., headquartered in Miami, has executed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Eastern Laundry Systems, a laundry equipment distributor based in Taunton, Mass. This acquisition is consistent with EVI’s strategy “to build the largest and most...
CLA Adds New Directors, Announces Executive Committee for 2021
The Coin Laundry Association recently welcomed two highly respected industry leaders to its Board of Directors for 2021. Those new directors are laundromat owner Yvette Morton Williams of Conyers, Ga., and distributor Alex Harris, president and CEO of Professional...
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...
Industry Leaders Establish VC Fund Dedicated to the Laundry Business
A group of business leaders has come together to establish Clean Ventures, the first venture capital fund dedicated solely to the laundry industry. The fund’s management team is led by Alex Weiss, founder and CEO of Clean Rite Centers, a laundromat chain that has...
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...
The Psychology of Risk
Mastering the Uncertainties of Laundromat Ownership “Ninety-five percent of thought, emotion and learning occur in the unconscious mind without our awareness.” – Dr. Gerald Zautman, Professor Emeritus, Harvard University It’s a well-accepted fact that all business...
SPONSORED CONTENT
SPONSORED CONTENT
Scaling Wash & Fold Operations
Learn how to grow your wash & fold from an offering into a money-making operation.
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
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...
States Address Rising Gas Prices with Tax ‘Holidays’
In March, U.S. gasoline prices hit an all-time high at $4.33 per gallon, surpassing the previous record set in 2008. Clearly, this is not news to laundromat owners who offer pickup-and-delivery services for their residential wash-dry-fold and/or commercial accounts...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
Plan Your Work… Work Your Plan
Originally posted - Jul 18, 2014 When I first got into the laundry business, I was skeptical as to whether or not I needed to write a business plan. However, it was something the SBA required (or at least strongly encouraged), so I went through the process of creating...
The Business Mind
‘Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty’
And Five Other Useful Observations on Life and the Laundry Business As I have mentioned before, I am continually intrigued by what thoughtful, introspective and accomplished individuals from all avenues of life have to say. As a result, I continue to collect their...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Oil-Based vs. Water-Based Stains, Uniform Rental and More…
Is there a way of determining whether a stain is oil-based or water-based before I launder the garment? The only way you can determine that is by laundering both types of stains year after year. Visually, there is no way to tell the difference. Some water-based stains...
Viewpoint
A Healthy Obsession
As it is with many, if not most, small-business owners, I'm almost obsessive when it comes to tracking the financial health of my business. From the beginning, I have insisted on collecting daily – first at one location, and now three. Fortunately, with two sons...
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.
