At the beginning of the year in this space, I posed the question: “What can the CLA do for you?” More than a catchy (and borrowed) tagline, it was a sincere effort to solicit feedback from CLA members – our customers – as to what they wanted the association to provide them in order to help maintain or improve a profitable laundry business.
Now, as we approach the end of the year, I ask it again on behalf of the CLA Board of Directors: “What can the CLA do for you?”
The laundromat industry is a three-legged stool comprised of store owners, distributors, and manufacturers. With that said, the main drivers of the CLA are store owners. By a wide margin, store owners represent the largest segment of membership.
According to the CLA’s bylaws, at least 50 percent of the Board of Directors must be comprised of laundromat owners. Currently, nine of the 15 Board members are owners. Distributors and manufacturers exist to provide products and services to those store owners. Although the CLA exists to serve all of its customers, we are especially focused on store owners.
The Clean Show in Atlanta was the main event of 2022. Well attended by all segments of the industry, the educational seminars were overwhelmingly well received. These seminars were run by owners, for owners – and generously sponsored by several manufacturers.
On the eve of Clean ’22, the LaundryCares Foundation orchestrated a multi-location Free Laundry & Literacy Day. This five-store event was one of several that LaundryCares hosted this year. These events display the commitment our members make to serve the needs of their communities, beyond providing clean clothes at a reasonable price.
The CLA’s Connect LIVE program was restarted after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Although attendance has been spotty in some instances, the desire for local, in-person gatherings was one of the popular responses to the question, “What can the CLA do for you?”
In addition to these face-to-face meetups, numerous webinars were (and continue to be) offered on a variety of timely topics.
Also, by the time you read this, the CLA’s inaugural Wash-Dry-Fold Workshop will have been held. Hosted in collaboration with the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute, this two-day event boasted strong pre-registration numbers and an impressive lineup of industry leaders in this growing field.
In the wake of the sale of the Clean Show to Messe-Frankfurt, the CLA has been busy adjusting to changes in its economic model. Like any other business, the CLA needs to be sure it’s providing solid value to its members. As a result, task forces have been created to focus on marketing, membership and new products. And, of course, we welcome your thoughts and suggestions with regard to any of these efforts.
Lastly, no “Year in Review” would be complete without an overview of the industry in general. All in all, high interest rates, persistent inflation, increased buildout costs and ongoing supply-chain issues have put a damper on new store development. However, interest in the industry is still strong, leading many investors to look at buying existing stores with proven track records of performance. Acquisition financing from several lenders has helped tremendously. Moreover, many current store owners are looking to expand their portfolios through acquisition.
Energy-saving efforts have increased this year for obvious reasons. Interest in energy-efficient water heaters and requests for evaporation credits from municipalities have grown. Alternative payment systems continue to perform well, as owners see the value of being better able to confront inflation using the flexibility of these systems to increase prices and give customers more payment choices. And, last but not least, wash-dry-fold and pickup-and-delivery tracking systems remain attractive investments as operators seek to increase volume and effectively manage the process.
Despite some challenges, the laundromat industry remains strong. It has withstood trying and uncertain economic times before, and it’s well-positioned to withstand these current hurdles.
As always, the CLA stands ready to help you. It has been my honor to serve you this past year as CLA Board Chair, and I close by asking once again: “What can the CLA do for you?”
