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.
Up Close: An Interview with the Blue Kangaroo’s Neil Polifka
Business is Hopping: An Exclusive Chat with Neil Polifka, Vice President of Marketing and Store Development for The Blue Kangaroo Chain Whit Hughes established the Hughes Equipment Co. in 1958. He was one of the industry’s earliest coin laundry distributors. And, for...
Marketing Trends to Adopt in 2019
These Four Growing Technologies and Promotional Methods Deserve Your Attention The marketing industry is relentless, and it likes to think big. Every year, new technologies and marketing methods emerge that seek to make it easier for businesses like yours win new...
Protecting Your Assets
Critical Insurance Coverage and Considerations for Today’s Laundry Owners [This is the first in an ongoing series of articles covering business insurance issues for vended laundry owners.] Insurance. Ugh! Who really wants to think about it? After all,...
Headlines
Trends Shaping the ‘New Normal’
A Look at Tomorrow’s Laundromat Industry Veteran store owner John Henderson is not normally at a loss for words, especially when it comes to talking about the laundromat industry – one in which his family-operated chain has thrived for many years. But, then again,...
The Business of Vacation
Could Vacation Rental Laundry Be a Profitable Niche for Your Operation? While on vacation with my parents as kid and then later as a teen, I would, on occasion, look around me and take notice of all the various people who were involved in our “vacation experience” –...
The Formula for Powerful Advertising
Don’t Overlook the Impact of Human Psychology on the Success of Your Promotional Campaigns I’m a firm believer that advertising is simply applied psychology using print, television, radio or any other media platform the advertiser so chooses. Given that, it stands to...
WaveMAX Laundry Expands Footprint in Phoenix Market
WaveMAX Laundry, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., recently announced that it has signed agreements to bring two new locations to the Arizona cities of Scottsdale and Mesa by the first quarter of next year. In addition, the company – which has already opened three...
PlanetLaundry Podcast, Episode 10: The Business of Vacation
In this episode laundromat owner Daniel Sofranko, who operates Perfect Wash Express Laundry Center in Huntington Beach, Calif., discusses how he has leveraged the booming tourism industry of his beachfront marketplace to create a successful and profitable niche for...
PlanetLaundry Podcast, Episode 9: The Formula for Powerful Advertising
In this episode we will hear PlanetLaundry columnist Stephen Bean place advertising in the context of applied psychology to demonstrate how our messaging can influence the human mind to deliver exceptional results. You can read the full column entitled “The Formula...
HappyNest Launches New Maryland Location
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest has expanded its footprint within Maryland, with a new launch in the Montgomery County market. “Overall, HappyNest has had great success in Maryland,” said HappyNest founder John MacKrell. “However, we had a gaping hole in...
You’ve Never Been More Essential
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” – Frederick Douglass You’ve likely had a few pressing issues on your mind these last several months. Namely, the health and well-being of your family, employees and customers – not to mention, quite possibly, that of...
All Systems Go
How to Keep Your Laundromat’s HVAC Units Running as Smoothly and Efficiently as Possible Hopefully, by now any lingering heat from summer has passed and the cooler weather of fall is upon us. I say “hopefully,” because the summer heat can create a number of challenges...
Eastern Funding Hires Industry Veteran
Eastern Funding, LLC recently announced that industry veteran Matt Westphal has joined the company as a loan officer. Westphal, with more than 12 years of experience in commercial laundry equipment lease and loan originations, is skilled in cultivating new distributor...
Hercules Merges with Birchwood Coin-Op Laundries
Hercules Corp., headquartered in Hicksville, N.Y., has announced that it has merged with Birchwood Coin-Op Laundries Inc., based in Whitestone, N.Y. The combined companies will go forward together under the Hercules Corp. banner. A family-owned business since 1979,...
Who’s Servicing Your Wash-Dry-Fold Customers?
A Look at the Pros and Cons of Utilizing Independent Contractors vs. Laundromat Employees With the outbreak of COVID-19, I’ve recently received quite a few questions from laundry owners about wash-dry-fold services. The wash-dry-fold business has not fallen off during...
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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
CLA Speaks Out Against California Microfiber Legislation
The Coin Laundry Association recently reached out to the California State Assembly regarding AB 1724, proposed legislation that would impact washing machines in that state. In a letter to the chair and vice chair of the state assembly, CLA President and CEO Brian...
Mint Continues to Encourage the Public to ‘Get Coins Moving’
The United States Mint continues to ask the public for its help in getting coins moving – through the use of exact change when making purchases or by turning them in for cash at coin-recycling kiosks. You also may be able to redeem coins for cash at financial...
Whirlpool Receives Manufacturing Leadership Awards
Whirlpool Corp. has been recognized as a winner in the 2022 Manufacturing Leadership Awards for its outstanding achievement in the categories of Operational Excellence and Enterprise Integration and Technology. This recognition was given for the company’s Project...
PayRange App Adds New Funding Sources
PayRange Inc. – a mobile payment company for automated retail, including laundromats – has added capabilities to accept store gift cards and cryptocurrencies through its app. In addition, the company is offering select users the ability to “buy now and pay later”...
HappyNest Expands Footprint in Missouri
Laundry pickup-and-delivery service HappyNest is now available in Jefferson City, Mo., through its new laundromat partner, Capital Laundry. HappyNest offerings are available to residents and businesses in select areas in Cole, Boone and Callaway Counties. “With...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
The Doctor Will See You Now….
Originally posted - Nov 04, 2014 Since I've been writing this column, I get inundated with questions from readers looking for advice on stain removal and garment care, as well as just the basic business of doing drop-off and commercial laundry. So, this month, I...
The Business Mind
Fine-Tune Your Message
Five Psychological Insights That Can Help You Dramatically Improve Your Advertising and Marketing "Before you can have a share of market, you must have a share of mind" – Leo Burnett, advertising pioneer Warning: This article will encourage you to want to "disturb the...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Cleaning a Wedding Gown, Offering Ironing Services, and More…
I own a laundromat in a small town without a drycleaner, and one of my customers recently brought in a white wedding gown for me to clean. It is made from a synthetic material, which I believe is polyester. How can I clean it? Before you do anything, be absolutely...
Viewpoint
Help Your Staff Help Your Business
Originally posted - Aug issue/2012 Winning customer service is your self-service laundry's best competitive advantage. It's the lifeblood of any business. In fact, you can offer promotions and slash vend prices to bring in as many new customers as you want, but unless...
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.
