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.
Reimagining the Laundromat Experience
Technology, Design, and a Strong Focus on the Customer Have Set a New Standard for Store Amenities It’s no secret that today’s successful laundromats are embracing customer-centric amenities that transform what was once a mundane chore into a convenient, even...
Engaged Employees, Happy Customers
Building a Positive Workplace Culture in Your Laundromat Since I started consulting in 2005, I’ve heard a common sentiment among business owners and executives: “I just want people who work.” And why wouldn’t a business owner want this? After all, human capital theory...
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,...
Headlines
UniMac Honors Top Distributor
UniMac recently announced that Southeastern Laundry Equipment Sales has received the brand’s 2023 Distributor of the Year award. Southeastern, headquartered in Marietta, Ga., has been a leader in the on-premises laundry market since 1976, serving clients in a variety...
SBA Disaster Loan Funds Exhausted, Agency Hopes to Secure Additional Funding in November
On October 15, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced it hit its limit for the disaster loan program. Along with SBA disaster centers, the loan application portal will remain open, and the SBA is encouraging those impacted to continue applying for these...
Rethink Laundry Marketing
Six Creative Strategies to Help Boost Your Business Without Breaking the Bank I love it when the brands I regularly interact with surprise me with deals on products from other businesses. It’s like a hidden treasure chest of options I never thought I’d explore. Just...
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,...
SPONSORED CONTENT
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 Reports Record Second-Quarter Results
EVI Industries Inc. has announced its operating results for the three- and six-month periods ended December 31, 2024 – including record revenue and record gross profit for both periods, and record gross margin for the six-month period. Since 2016, EVI has executed a...
Wash-Dry-Fold POS Reaches Company Milestone
Wash-Dry-Fold POS founder Brian Henderson deployed his company’s first three point-of-sale systems as a practical and affordable way to manage employees at Liberty Laundry, his family’s chain of laundromats in Broken Arrow, Okla. After nine years of product growth and...
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...
FROM YOUR FAVORITE INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Columns
The Laundry Doctor
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...
The Business Mind
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...
Wash With Wally
Wash with Wally: Removing Rust Stains
I have a rust problem at my laundromat. A few of my dryers have lost portions of their galvanized finishes in some spots – and, as a result, they are creating rust stains on some of my customers’ clothes and linens. How can I remove these rust stains? There are a few...
Viewpoint
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...
Digital Marketing
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...
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.
