The Business of Laundry: Models That Work

In today’s laundromat industry, one truth holds across every market, model and mission: success requires more than just machines. Today’s operators must choose business models strategically, execute consistently, and lead with intention. Some lean into simple,...

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...

Metrics That Matter 

Profit, Performance, and Planning in Vended Laundry  The laundromat business is like most businesses in that you need to do a lot of things right to be successful. But how do you know if it’s working? According to successful owners, you just need to look at the...

Safety First, Last… Always

The Laundromat Owner’s Guide to Preventing Accidents, Protecting Your Business, and Controlling Your Insurance Costs As more and more entrepreneurs are discovering, running a laundromat can be a hugely rewarding business. But it also comes with its own set of risks...

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.

Fast Forward

Fast Forward

Industry Insiders Review the Past Year – And Unveil the Key Factors That Likely Will Shape the Laundromat Business in 2025 As we prepare to turn the page on 2024, the laundromat industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation – driven by innovation, sustainability,...

The Power of Promotions

The Power of Promotions

Unleashing Creative Tactics to Keep Your Business Buzzing Laundry owners are always seeking innovative ways to attract and retain customers. And one effective strategy is the use of promotions that not only drive traffic but also foster community engagement. By...

Elevating the Laundry Experience

Elevating the Laundry Experience

Multi-Store Owners Launch Their First High-Speed Laundromat A new, 9,000-square-foot laundry recently opened in Rockford, Ill. – bringing a high-rental, low-income area renewed vitality and customers a quicker, more pleasant laundry experience. Kevin and Cindy Olson,...

Headlines

The Unlikely Path

Cents’ Sivan Salem Discovers Passion and Purpose in the Laundromat Industry Sivan Salem is currently based in New York City and serves as director of product operations for Cents. After graduating from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies, Salem...

LIG Health and Wellness Roundup

LIG Solutions, who CLA works with to provide members with healthcare options, has articles to help expand health and wellness awareness. • LIG Health And Wellness Round-Up – Fall 2024 Edition: a series of seasonal articles which you might find helpful • Produce You...

CLA Introduces Cash-Back Mastercard

CLA recently unveiled the CLA World Elite Business Mastercard, a financial solution crafted to cater exclusively to the distinctive financial needs of laundry owners. The CLA card offers up to 2.1 percent unlimited cash back on all purchases, 3 percent cash back on...

Elevating the Laundry Experience

Multi-Store Owners Launch Their First High-Speed Laundromat A new, 9,000-square-foot laundry recently opened in Rockford, Ill. – bringing a high-rental, low-income area renewed vitality and customers a quicker, more pleasant laundry experience. Kevin and Cindy Olson,...

Tech Talk

How Today’s Technology is Transforming Tomorrow’s Laundromat Industry In an era where convenience and efficiency are paramount, technology has become a game-changer for laundromats, transforming them from basic service providers into high-tech hubs of cleanliness....

Southeastern Laundry Equipment Acquires Cochrane Repair Service

Southeastern Laundry Equipment Sales, headquartered in Marietta, Ga., has acquired Cochrane Repair Service, a company specializing in commercial laundry equipment repair and maintenance throughout the Carolinas. Founded in 1983, Cochrane Repair Service provides...

Alliance Adds Industry Veteran to Sales Team

Alliance Laundry Systems has added Rick Case to its sales team. “Rick has a tremendous amount of industry experience and will make an immediate impact for our Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution team,” said Mike Hand, vice president, North America Commercial Central...

Alliance Distribution Expands West Region with New Acquisition

Alliance Laundry Systems has acquired the distribution assets of Bestway Laundry Solutions, headquartered in Corona, Calif. The distributorship is a leading provider of UniMac on-premises laundry equipment. “California is an area where we see excellent potential for...

How Well Do You Know Your Business?

The Keys to Making Smart, Data-Driven Decisions for Your Laundromat The laundromat business is simple, right? You find a location with excellent traffic flow, super visibility, stellar demographics – and Voila! Decades of profits and business success are yours. Well,...

Wash with Wally: Cross-Training Your Laundry Attendants

I recently hired a new attendant and have discovered that he possesses great mechanical skills. So, I was thinking of cross-training him to handle some of the more simple equipment issues that arise at my store, in addition of course to his attendant duties. Is there...

Laundry Industry Mourns Bob Cowen

Laundry industry pioneer Robert Clifford Cowen, an ownership partner in B&C Technologies, passed away peacefully at his home on September 13 at the age of 102. Cowen began his career in 1956 as an engineer and quickly became a driving force in the commercial...

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Scaling Wash & Fold Operations

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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 Industries to Acquire Haiges Machinery

EVI Industries Inc. has executed a definitive agreement to acquire Haiges Machinery Inc., a commercial laundry equipment distributor based in Huntley, Ill. This marks EVI’s first acquisition in the Midwest region of the United States. Haiges Machinery will operate...

CLA Appoints Member Engagement Manager

CLA, formerly the Coin Laundry Association, has named Suzanne Henn, CAE, to the newly created position of member engagement manager. In her new position, Henn is responsible for driving growth in membership, enhancing engagement of new and existing members, and...

GNA Adds to Sales Team

Girbau North America has named Aly Auchtung sales solutions associate. In her new role, Auchtung will nurture new construction leads and support special sales projects, while working closely with multiple departments to ensure customer satisfaction and success. Most...

Setomatic Systems-SpyderWash Steps Up Its Support of the Industry

Setomatic Systems-SpyderWash, a longtime champion of the industry, has teamed up with the CLA, the laundry association, to take its support to a new level. The company is part of a year-long sponsorship initiative that will have benefits for the entire industry....

FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Columns

The Laundry Doctor

Avoid Shortcuts

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...

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The Business Mind

12 Steps to Success in Life and Business

12 Steps to Success in Life and Business

Some Common Sense Advice to Make You a Stronger Laundry Owner – And a Better Person Believe it or not – there is a strong relationship between the behavior patterns of your personal life and your business life. Although there are several different ways to measure...

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Wash With Wally

Wash with Wally: How to Starch Tuxedo Shirts

Wash with Wally: How to Starch Tuxedo Shirts

I’ve recently been offered a tuxedo rental account, which would require me to wash and starch about 400 shirts each week. How do I starch these shirts in my washers? During which cycle would I need to insert the starch? To starch the shirts in your laundromat’s...

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Viewpoint

Measure Twice, Cut Once

Measure Twice, Cut Once

I have a fond memory of my grandfather, a contractor by trade, helping me build a stepstool as a child. He wisely said, “Be sure to measure twice, and cut once.” That wisdom has stayed with me throughout my life. Within our industry, there are countless things to...

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Digital Marketing

Spinning Success

Spinning Success

Four Marketing Strategies to Implement in 2024 Toward the end of last summer, helping my nephews gear up for the coming school year taught me something interesting about making smart choices. In years past, we typically grabbed the flashiest, most popular items – you...

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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.