PlanetLaundry Podcast

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Matt DeWolf chats with store owner Hannah Chapman, who operates WashBar based in Oklahoma. Chapman and her husband got into the industry just 4 years ago in what was a headfirst dive into the deep end of the vended laundry swimming pool. They quickly grew from one location to four and are looking at opportunities. But the biggest opportunity for Hannah is around the way they can impact the people in their community and in their business. She believes strongly in the power of people, and the value that brings to your organization. Hannah and her husband are eager to help educate and give back to the industry, because they were fortunate enough to benefit from others' generosity when it comes to learning. The pair worked for free at a laundromat for several months prior to owning their own location and said that experience was invaluable. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of CLA Business Mastercard.  

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Matt DeWolf chats with store owner Hannah Chapman, who operates WashBar based in Oklahoma. Chapman and her husband got into the industry just 4 years ago in what was a headfirst dive into the deep end of the vended laundry swimming pool. They quickly grew from one location to four and are looking at opportunities. But the biggest opportunity for Hannah is around the way they can impact the people in their community and in their business. She believes strongly in the power of people, and the value that brings to your organization. Hannah and her husband are eager to help educate and give back to the industry, because they were fortunate enough to benefit from others' generosity when it comes to learning. The pair worked for free at a laundromat for several months prior to owning their own location and said that experience was invaluable. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of CLA Business Mastercard.    

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with store owner Jake Barone, who operates Laundry House in New York City. Barone is an entrepreneur, a real estate and construction expert, and a growth strategist with a passion for developing and scaling ventures at the intersection of real estate, construction, and business. Jake's entrepreneurial journey began early. By 16, he was running a successful e-commerce business. At 18, he became New York State's youngest real estate agent. And, by 19, he launched Gateway Builders, a construction firm that ranked No. 170 on the Inc. 5000 list for its rapid growth. Over the next seven years, Jake grew Gateway into a 40-employee company, delivering more than one million square feet of Class A commercial space for REITs, investment firms, and corporate clients in New York City. Recognizing shifts in the market during the COVID-19 era, Jake pivoted toward laundromats – founding Laundry House, a high-end, data-driven laundromat brand designed to set a new industry standard. Under Jake's leadership, Laundry House achieved 340 percent revenue growth in just 18 months, establishing itself as a standout brand in the New York City market. Beyond Laundry House, Barone is focused on strategic partnerships and acquisitions, collaborating with laundromat operators to scale their businesses using branding, operational efficiencies, and advanced marketing technology. His expertise in real estate, construction, and business scaling position him as a knowledgeable and experienced professional in the industry. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with store owner Jake Barone, who operates Laundry House in New York City. Barone is an entrepreneur, a real estate and construction expert, and a growth strategist with a passion for developing and scaling ventures at the intersection of real estate, construction, and business. Jake's entrepreneurial journey began early. By 16, he was running a successful e-commerce business. At 18, he became New York State's youngest real estate agent. And, by 19, he launched Gateway Builders, a construction firm that ranked No. 170 on the Inc. 5000 list for its rapid growth. Over the next seven years, Jake grew Gateway into a 40-employee company, delivering more than one million square feet of Class A commercial space for REITs, investment firms, and corporate clients in New York City. Recognizing shifts in the market during the COVID-19 era, Jake pivoted toward laundromats – founding Laundry House, a high-end, data-driven laundromat brand designed to set a new industry standard. Under Jake's leadership, Laundry House achieved 340 percent revenue growth in just 18 months, establishing itself as a standout brand in the New York City market. Beyond Laundry House, Barone is focused on strategic partnerships and acquisitions, collaborating with laundromat operators to scale their businesses using branding, operational efficiencies, and advanced marketing technology. His expertise in real estate, construction, and business scaling position him as a knowledgeable and experienced professional in the industry. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with laundry owner Tyler Purcell, who operates multiple laundromats within the Cincinnati market. Tyler is the co-owner of four, family-operated laundry locations, which are all branded as The Laundry Spot. He's also a wealth advisor who has been in the financial services industry for more than a decade. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with laundry owner Tyler Purcell, who operates multiple laundromats within the Cincinnati market. Tyler is the co-owner of four, family-operated laundry locations, which are all branded as The Laundry Spot. He's also a wealth advisor who has been in the financial services industry for more than a decade. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com.

In this episode, Alex Jekowsky, CEO & Co-Founder of Cents, and Brian Wallace, CLA President & CEO, discuss the ways innovative technologies from other industries can be applied to laundry, such as upselling through add-ons and gamification. Alex shares the value of branding, advice for customer acquisition and ways to make your store stand out from competitors.   This edition of the Laundry Leaders Unfolded podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our Elite Strategic Corporate Ally, Cents.

Mike Schoeb, CEO of Alliance Laundry Systems, shares what has changed at Alliance in his 17 years and their accomplishments, such as growth outside the U.S., especially in Asia, South America and the Middle East. Mike and Brian discuss trends, such as reinvestment in the industry, attraction of a different type of investor, consolidation of the distribution market, the franchise model and advocacy efforts. Mike also previewed what we can expect from Alliance between now and the Clean Show.   This edition of the Laundry Leaders Unfolded podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our Elite Strategic Corporate Ally, Alliance Laundry Systems.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with veteran laundry owner Travis Reed, who operates multiple laundromats throughout Indiana. Reed grew up in the business – with his parents purchasing their first laundromat in 1985, right after Travis was born. He worked with his dad, Bryan, in the family business and then purchased his first laundromat in 2003, just four months after graduating from high school. Today, Travis owns six laundry locations north of Indianapolis, with a seventh on the way this spring. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with veteran laundry owner Travis Reed, who operates multiple laundromats throughout Indiana. Reed grew up in the business – with his parents purchasing their first laundromat in 1985, right after Travis was born. He worked with his dad, Bryan, in the family business and then purchased his first laundromat in 2003, just four months after graduating from high school. Today, Travis owns six laundry locations north of Indianapolis, with a seventh on the way this spring. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Rob Maes, the owner of Express Laundry Centers, a four-store chain in the Houston area. In 2006, after more than 20 years in corporate America, Maes wanted to start his own business and decided on the laundromat industry after attending a CLA seminar. Today, four stores later, Rob serves on the CLA Board of Directors – and will ascend to the chairmanship in January. Maes shares his vision for CLA and its Board, as well as discussing some of the future challenges facing the organization and dispelling a few misconceptions about the CLA Board. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Rob Maes, the owner of Express Laundry Centers, a four-store chain in the Houston area. In 2006, after more than 20 years in corporate America, Maes wanted to start his own business and decided on the laundromat industry after attending a CLA seminar. Today, four stores later, Rob serves on the CLA Board of Directors – and will ascend to the chairmanship in January. Maes shares his vision for CLA and its Board, as well as discussing some of the future challenges facing the organization and dispelling a few misconceptions about the CLA Board. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

In this episode, CLA President and CEO Brian Wallace sits down with Joel Jorgensen, Vice President of Sales at Girbau North American, to discuss trends in the laundry industry. Jorgensen joined Continental in 1997 as regional sales manager and later served as director of sales and marketing before taking on his current role in 2006. Jorgensen has guided Girbau North America's sales, marketing and service operations during his 25+ year career.   Joel was an early proponent of encouraging laundromat owners to explore new markets that could be served out of the traditional laundromat setting—WDF, delivery and commercial accounts. He shares how their customers are joining one of the largest trends in laundry and how they are using some of the innovative tools out there to grow their business. Joel also shares his perspective on some of the newer trends affecting the industry, such as consolidation of distributors and franchise models.   This edition of the Laundry Leadership Conversations podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our Elite Strategic Corporate Ally, Girbau North America.

In this episode, CLA President and CEO Brian Wallace sits down with Joel Jorgensen, Vice President of Sales at Girbau North American, to discuss trends in the laundry industry. Jorgensen joined Continental in 1997 as regional sales manager and later served as director of sales and marketing before taking on his current role in 2006. Jorgensen has guided Girbau North America's sales, marketing and service operations during his 25+ year career.   Joel was an early proponent of encouraging laundromat owners to explore new markets that could be served out of the traditional laundromat setting—WDF, delivery and commercial accounts. He shares how their customers are joining one of the largest trends in laundry and how they are using some of the innovative tools out there to grow their business. Joel also shares his perspective on some of the newer trends affecting the industry, such as consolidation of distributors and franchise models.   This edition of the Laundry Leadership Conversations podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our Elite Strategic Corporate Ally, Girbau North America.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with John MacKrell, founder and chief executive officer of HappyNest, a national laundry pickup-and-delivery service brand. MacKrell, a former investment banker and active duty Army officer, started in the laundromat industry in 2003, after purchasing his first store in East Greenwich, R.I. Over the next 15 years, he built or purchased another five laundromats. However, frustration with the low usage of his laundry equipment during the slower midweek periods prompted him to begin offering residential laundry pickup-and-delivery services throughout Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts. As his delivery business grew, he developed software to manage the process. Starting in 2018, MacKrell started licensing his enterprise-level software as a white label SaaS to independent laundromat owners. Then, in 2020, he decided to pivot away from licensing software to partnering with quality operators to create the national brand, HappyNest. Today, HappyNest has 130 partners in 35 states. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of HappyNest.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with John MacKrell, founder and chief executive officer of HappyNest, a national laundry pickup-and-delivery service brand. MacKrell, a former investment banker and active duty Army officer, started in the laundromat industry in 2003, after purchasing his first store in East Greenwich, R.I. Over the next 15 years, he built or purchased another five laundromats. However, frustration with the low usage of his laundry equipment during the slower midweek periods prompted him to begin offering residential laundry pickup-and-delivery services throughout Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts. As his delivery business grew, he developed software to manage the process. Starting in 2018, MacKrell started licensing his enterprise-level software as a white label SaaS to independent laundromat owners. Then, in 2020, he decided to pivot away from licensing software to partnering with quality operators to create the national brand, HappyNest. Today, HappyNest has 130 partners in 35 states. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of HappyNest.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Jason Dodge, the owner of Quick Wash Laundromats, a three-store chain in Milwaukee, Wis. In addition, Jason has been active with CLA's LaundryCares Foundation – hosting a couple of Free Laundry & Literacy Day events at his laundromats earlier this year. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.  

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Jason Dodge, the owner of Quick Wash Laundromats, a three-store chain in Milwaukee, Wis. In addition, Jason has been active with CLA's LaundryCares Foundation – hosting a couple of Free Laundry & Literacy Day events at his laundromats earlier this year. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.  

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with John Buni and David Griffith-Jones, co-founders of CleanCloud, which is a leading point-of-sale and pickup-and-delivery software and management system built specifically for the laundry industry. Buni and Griffith-Jones reflect on CleanCloud's 10 years in business, along with some recent company milestones – as well as discussing how the business has evolved over the years, where the greatest opportunities lie for future laundromat success, best practices for leveraging technology within laundry operations, and what has them most excited about the laundry industry going forward. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of CleanCloud.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with John Buni and David Griffith-Jones, co-founders of CleanCloud, which is a leading point-of-sale and pickup-and-delivery software and management system built specifically for the laundry industry. Buni and Griffith-Jones reflect on CleanCloud's 10 years in business, along with some recent company milestones – as well as discussing how the business has evolved over the years, where the greatest opportunities lie for future laundromat success, best practices for leveraging technology within laundry operations, and what has them most excited about the laundry industry going forward. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of CleanCloud.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Jamie Sewell, the owner of Clean Vibes Laundry Company in Tampa, Fla. Jamie has more than a decade of experience in the commercial laundry industry and has worked with hundreds of laundromat owners worldwide. She led marketing for CLA, was a founding member and CMO of the first cashless laundromat concept, and oversaw technology worldwide at Alliance Laundry Systems. Jamie also is a coach, mentor, and strong advocate for women entrepreneurs in the laundry industry. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Jamie Sewell, the owner of Clean Vibes Laundry Company in Tampa, Fla. Jamie has more than a decade of experience in the commercial laundry industry and has worked with hundreds of laundromat owners worldwide. She led marketing for CLA, was a founding member and CMO of the first cashless laundromat concept, and oversaw technology worldwide at Alliance Laundry Systems. Jamie also is a coach, mentor, and strong advocate for women entrepreneurs in the laundry industry. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with multi-store operator Omer Khan, co-owner of Skyline Laundromats, a four-store chain in the Atlanta metro area. Khan has partnered with his father, Abdul, who has been in the laundry business for 25 years. In addition, Omer has been active within his community through the LaundryCares Foundation, and recently presented on laundry operations a CLA's Excellence in Laundry Conference in Palm Beach, Fla. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with multi-store operator Omer Khan, co-owner of Skyline Laundromats, a four-store chain in the Atlanta metro area. Khan has partnered with his father, Abdul, who has been in the laundry business for 25 years. In addition, Omer has been active within his community through the LaundryCares Foundation, and recently presented on laundry operations a CLA's Excellence in Laundry Conference in Palm Beach, Fla. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Nishant Jain and Thibault Corens, co-founders of Presso, which is a venture-backed company that has been unveiling new garment-care technology for today's laundromat owners. Jain and Corens share the origins of their company and what inspired them to create Presso – as well as discussing the specific technology that sets them apart from traditional garment-care methods, the challenges of scaling their operations, what they view as the three pillars of successful laundromat ownership, and their mission to “redefine the emotional connection people have with their clothing.” We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Nishant Jain and Thibault Corens, co-founders of Presso, which is a venture-backed company that has been unveiling new garment-care technology for today's laundromat owners. Jain and Corens share the origins of their company and what inspired them to create Presso – as well as discussing the specific technology that sets them apart from traditional garment-care methods, the challenges of scaling their operations, what they view as the three pillars of successful laundromat ownership, and their mission to “redefine the emotional connection people have with their clothing.” We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Steve Marcionetti, president of Card Concepts Inc. With 25 years in the vended laundry industry, Steve has pioneered products that have helped transition laundry payment beyond the quarter – elevating profitability for hundreds of laundromat owners. Steve also is a former CLA Board member and leads a company that supports more than 3,000 laundromats nationwide with innovative payment and business management solutions. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Card Concepts Inc.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Steve Marcionetti, president of Card Concepts Inc. With 25 years in the vended laundry industry, Steve has pioneered products that have helped transition laundry payment beyond the quarter – elevating profitability for hundreds of laundromat owners. Steve also is a former CLA Board member and leads a company that supports more than 3,000 laundromats nationwide with innovative payment and business management solutions. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Card Concepts Inc.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with multi-store owner Peter Mayberry, who operates the growing 10-laundromat Anytime Laundry chain, headquartered in Omaha, Neb. Peter shares what to look for in a laundry location, the first couple of moves he always makes after acquiring an existing store, what most laundromat owners typically get wrong, the key to becoming a successful entrepreneur, and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with multi-store owner Peter Mayberry, who operates the growing 10-laundromat Anytime Laundry chain, headquartered in Omaha, Neb. Peter shares what to look for in a laundry location, the first couple of moves he always makes after acquiring an existing store, what most laundromat owners typically get wrong, the key to becoming a successful entrepreneur, and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Jennifer Whitney, vice president of business development for Eastern Funding LLC, based in New York City. Whitney has been involved in the laundry industry for 25 years – during which she's worked with those involved at every level of every type of a laundromat project imaginable. During her years in the laundry business, Jennifer has been a speaker at industry events, an author in PlanetLaundry magazine, and a LaundryCares volunteer. She is currently on the task force for CLA's Women's Laundry Network and sits on a committee to develop a mentorship program for women in the industry. In addition, she recently was appointed to CLA's Board of Directors. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Jennifer Whitney, vice president of business development for Eastern Funding LLC, based in New York City. Whitney has been involved in the laundry industry for 25 years – during which she's worked with those involved at every level of every type of a laundromat project imaginable. During her years in the laundry business, Jennifer has been a speaker at industry events, an author in PlanetLaundry magazine, and a LaundryCares volunteer. She is currently on the task force for CLA's Women's Laundry Network and sits on a committee to develop a mentorship program for women in the industry. In addition, she recently was appointed to CLA's Board of Directors. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Sharon Brinks, the owner of The Laundry Station, a laundromat based in Wichita, Kan. – as well as Laundry Express, which is her company's separate pickup-and-delivery operation. In 2024, Sharon is celebrating 10 years in the laundromat industry – prior to which she spent more than 20 years as an IT professional, and then later became a real estate salesperson and broker. Sharon shares her thoughts on building The Laundry Station from the ground up, launching her pickup-and-delivery service during the height of the pandemic, developing a winning team of laundry employees, and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Sharon Brinks, the owner of The Laundry Station, a laundromat based in Wichita, Kan. – as well as Laundry Express, which is her company's separate pickup-and-delivery operation. In 2024, Sharon is celebrating 10 years in the laundromat industry – prior to which she spent more than 20 years as an IT professional, and then later became a real estate salesperson and broker. Sharon shares her thoughts on building The Laundry Station from the ground up, launching her pickup-and-delivery service during the height of the pandemic, developing a winning team of laundry employees, and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Mark Csordos, the owner of the Washing Well laundromat in Matawan, N.J. Mark is a longtime entrepreneur who has owned a number of businesses through the years – including a mystery shopper business, which featured such clients as Pizza Hut, Manhattan Bagel, the New Jersey State Lottery, and a large regional grocery chain, among others.  In addition, Mark is the author of the book, “Business Lessons for Entrepreneurs: 35 Things I Learned Before the Age of 30.” And he's currently the host of his own YouTube channel. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Mark Csordos, the owner of the Washing Well laundromat in Matawan, N.J. Mark is a longtime entrepreneur who has owned a number of businesses through the years – including a mystery shopper business, which featured such clients as Pizza Hut, Manhattan Bagel, the New Jersey State Lottery, and a large regional grocery chain, among others.  In addition, Mark is the author of the book, “Business Lessons for Entrepreneurs: 35 Things I Learned Before the Age of 30.” And he's currently the host of his own YouTube channel. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Ryan Spicer, a multi-store operator with locations in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania markets. Spicer grew up in his family's bicycle business and also spent 13 years in the nightclub industry, before getting into the laundromat business. Additionally, he is one of the newest members to the Coin Laundry Association's Board of Directors. Ryan discusses growing up in an entrepreneurial family, what attracted him to the laundry industry, and how to source new locations and successfully scale a laundromat business – as well as sharing his thoughts on the importance of the LaundryCares Foundation. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Ryan Spicer, a multi-store operator with locations in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania markets. Spicer grew up in his family's bicycle business and also spent 13 years in the nightclub industry, before getting into the laundromat business. Additionally, he is one of the newest members to the Coin Laundry Association's Board of Directors. Ryan discusses growing up in an entrepreneurial family, what attracted him to the laundry industry, and how to source new locations and successfully scale a laundromat business – as well as sharing his thoughts on the importance of the LaundryCares Foundation. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Kent Wales from Spokane, Wash. He and his wife, Monica, are the owners of Happy Laundry & Dry Cleaning – a company that specializes in commercial laundry, personal laundry, and drycleaning services. Wales also is an Eagle Scout with a lifelong passion for leadership. What's more, he purchased his first business after playing Robert Kiyosaki's board game, “Cashflow” – where he frequently won the game by purchasing “coin-operated businesses.” Interestingly, Kent's first corporate job was with Boeing as an industrial engineer. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Speed Queen.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Kent Wales from Spokane, Wash. He and his wife, Monica, are the owners of Happy Laundry & Dry Cleaning – a company that specializes in commercial laundry, personal laundry, and drycleaning services. Wales also is an Eagle Scout with a lifelong passion for leadership. What's more, he purchased his first business after playing Robert Kiyosaki's board game, “Cashflow” – where he frequently won the game by purchasing “coin-operated businesses.” Interestingly, Kent's first corporate job was with Boeing as an industrial engineer. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Speed Queen.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Amy Martinez-Monfort, founder and CEO of Tampa Laundry Company. Amy is a Florida native who attended Florida State University for her undergraduate degree and the University of Florida for law school. She practiced law with Carlton Fields in Tampa before beginning a career in sales and marketing with Eli Lilly. In 2015, Amy started Tampa Laundry Company, a full-service laundry and linen company. And, three years later, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce named Tampa Laundry Company its Small Business of the Year. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Speed Queen.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Amy Martinez-Monfort, founder and CEO of Tampa Laundry Company. Amy is a Florida native who attended Florida State University for her undergraduate degree and the University of Florida for law school. She practiced law with Carlton Fields in Tampa before beginning a career in sales and marketing with Eli Lilly. In 2015, Amy started Tampa Laundry Company, a full-service laundry and linen company. And, three years later, the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce named Tampa Laundry Company its Small Business of the Year. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Speed Queen.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Alaa Elbanna, co-owner of Bubbles Are Us, a five-store chain in the New York/New Jersey area – in which he has been a partner with his father for the last 20 years. In addition, Alaa also sits on the Board of Directors for the LaundryCares Foundation. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Speed Queen.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Alaa Elbanna, co-owner of Bubbles Are Us, a five-store chain in the New York/New Jersey area – in which he has been a partner with his father for the last 20 years. In addition, Alaa also sits on the Board of Directors for the LaundryCares Foundation. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com/. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Speed Queen.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman interviews Joe Dan Reed, the owner of the Splash 'Em Out laundromat chain in Lexington, Ky. Splash 'Em Out is a nine-store operation, serving the greater Lexington area, which also features a robust wash-dry-fold and pickup-and-delivery business. Reed shares his thoughts on the importance of branding, what he looks for in a winning laundromat location, how pickup and delivery is changing the game, the keys to success in today's laundry business, and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation, and we invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman interviews Joe Dan Reed, the owner of the Splash 'Em Out laundromat chain in Lexington, Ky. Splash 'Em Out is a nine-store operation, serving the greater Lexington area, which also features a robust wash-dry-fold and pickup-and-delivery business. Reed shares his thoughts on the importance of branding, what he looks for in a winning laundromat location, how pickup and delivery is changing the game, the keys to success in today's laundry business, and much more. We hope you enjoy this conversation, and we invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Ross Dodds, co-owner of Luxe Laundries, a 13-store laundromat chain serving the greater Los Angeles area. In addition, Luxe is opening a new 6,000-square-foot facility dedicated to its pickup-and-delivery business – in essence tripling the company's wash capacity for PUD. Ross discusses his company's rapid growth and the inevitable pain points that have gone along with it – as well as sharing his thoughts on the best opportunities for laundry operators in the coming years, his favorite aspect of store ownership, and the value of social media outreach to today's businesses. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Speed Queen.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Ross Dodds, co-owner of Luxe Laundries, a 13-store laundromat chain serving the greater Los Angeles area. In addition, Luxe is opening a new 6,000-square-foot facility dedicated to its pickup-and-delivery business – in essence tripling the company's wash capacity for PUD. Ross discusses his company's rapid growth and the inevitable pain points that have gone along with it – as well as sharing his thoughts on the best opportunities for laundry operators in the coming years, his favorite aspect of store ownership, and the value of social media outreach to today's businesses. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com. This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Speed Queen.

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman interviews Coin Laundry Association President and CEO Brian Wallace, who has served laundry operators for more than 30 years through his work at the CLA. The two discuss some of the pending legislation and government regulations that could impact laundromat owners in the future. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman interviews Coin Laundry Association President and CEO Brian Wallace, who has served laundry operators for more than 30 years through his work at the CLA. The two discuss some of the pending legislation and government regulations that could impact laundromat owners in the future. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com

Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association. In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman interviews Craig Dakauskas, senior vice president of Alliance Laundry Systems. This is Craig's second stint with Alliance. He served as the company's national sales manager from 2002-2007. Craig is known as an industry leader, as well as a highly successful equipment distributor. Prior to rejoining Alliance, he was the president and CEO of CLEC Distribution, LLC, which was acquired by Alliance in 2019. Craig prefers a practical approach to leadership with a strong focus on execution. We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com