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...

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How Technology Has Changed the Laundry Business

Jan 26, 2015

Originally posted - Mar 06, 2014 Technology affects almost every aspect of our lives. Take a look around… it's impossible to miss how wired we all are. Thanks to the internet, virtually anything you desire can be delivered to your door in a matter of days. You can...

Where Are They Now?

Jan 26, 2015

Originally posted - Mar 28, 2014 Nearly every month since its inception, this magazine has provided readers with enlightening, behind-the-scenes glimpses at self-service laundry businesses across the United States. From new investors to veteran operators, sole...

An Ounce of Prevention

Jan 26, 2015

Originally posted - March issue/2012 How to Keep Your IPSO Washer-Extractors Running Efficiently Your car always seems to run better when it's clean. The same holds true for your IPSO washer-extractors. A clean, well-maintained machine shows your customers that you...

Headlines

Making a Name for Ourselves

Originally posted - Mar 27, 2012 What is our industry's brand? I'm fond of the following motto that I derived from the insightful consumer research conducted by the Coin Laundry Association: Our customers want time-savings and convenience in a clean, safe environment...

Take Notes – And Then Take Action

Originally posted - Aug 15, 2012 Each year, one of the most valuable things a self-service laundry owner can do is attend distributor shows. And please notice that I didn't just say "your distributor show." The reason for this is because I personally go to several...

A Time to Reflect A Time to Move Forward

Originally posted - Dec issue/2012 As I write this column in late October, it seems to be more of a time of positive activity than a time of reflection. I just recently returned from the Coin Laundry Association's Excellence in Laundry Conference in Palm Springs. And,...

Open for Business

Originally posted - Jan issue/2012 You've searched far and wide for that perfect laundry location or undervalued existing laundromat. You've met with every distributor and examined each manufacturer's spec sheets with a fine-toothed comb before selecting your new...

‘Face’ the Facts

Originally posted - Mar 25, 2013 If you are like me, a small-business owner, you most likely have heard of Facebook. You may even have a Facebook page for your business, but you may be wondering how to use Facebook practically to promote your business. I say...

Now Trending…

Originally posted Dec.issue/2012 Eight Trends and Issues Sure to Impact Your Business Life in 2013 "I don't set trends. I just find out what they are and exploit them." – Dick Clark Yes, your small-business world can change quickly. And, yes, outside forces and new...

Don’t Be the ‘Fall Guy’

Orignially posted - Oct 23, 2013 Slips, trips and falls can cost you much more than money. They can rob you of public trust and damage your brand. And, according the National Safety Council, more than 9 million disabling slips and falls occur each year, costing an...

Be Aware, Be Prepared, Be Safe

Originally posted - Feb 14, 2012 How far do we need to go to protect our businesses, our customers, our property and, most importantly, our lives? As a former law enforcement officer and now a commercial laundry equipment distributor, I have combined my past...

A Plan Comes Together

Originally posted - Jun 11, 2013 In past columns, I've discussed the value of networking and the ideas I've picked up at industry events – ideas that have helped me save and make more money at my stores. A perfect example of this occurred last October, when I was in...

What Does My Gas Bill Mean?

Originally posted - Jan 27, 2012 To understand how our utilities affect our bottom lines, we've got to understand our utility bills. Since I'm often asked to do analyses on energy savings, I've gotten a lot of practice at reading natural gas bills. In this article,...

So Many Reasons for Optimism

Originally posted - Jan 26, 2012 Despite all of the economic gloom and doom we've endured in recent years, I'm seeing some strong reasons for optimism in 2012, especially for coin laundry owners. And the best reason to be optimistic is because most of you reading this...

Can You Accept EBT Cards at Your Store?

Originally posted - Dec 28, 2012 The subject of EBT, or Electronic Benefit Transfer, acceptance has been a topic of discussion that is increasing in frequency among today's self-service laundry owners. The question of whether this new form of benefits payment can be...

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

Huebsch Names Store Owner of the Quarter

Huebsch has named Adam Dixon the latest recipient of its Store Owner of the Quarter Award. Dixon, who decided he needed a career change, closed his chiropractic practice and built Duck River Laundry in Shelbyville, Tenn. "The laundry Adam opened is an example of the...

Illinois CLA Continues to Battle Chicago Water Tax; Ordinance Introduced

As reported here earlier, Chicago has begun implementing a large tax on city water. The first tax of 7.5 percent was put in place in March and will continue to climb over the next four years, until it reaches a rate of 30 percent. What's more, this doesn't take into...

Dexter University Hosts Service Academy

Dexter Laundry recently hosted many of the industry's leading service technicians during its Dexter University – Service Academy. Representing more than 200 years of experience in the laundry industry, the Service Academy attendees included technicians who are...

Big Fish ’17 Raises Big Bucks for LaundryCares Foundation

The social group known as Big Fish held its annual outing this past September, with an aim toward fishing, fellowship and fundraising. This year's gathering of laundromat industry veterans yielded plenty of lunkers at Tetu Island Lodge in northwest Ontario, but the...

Aaxon Event Draws New Investors

Aaxon Laundry Systems, based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., held its second annual Aaxon Autumn Expo on October 3 at the company's headquarters. Leading industry vendors - including SpyderWash, ESD, Imonex, Rowe and others - were on hand to meet with attendees about their...