Featured

Shortly after purchasing an existing laundry near Palm Springs, Calif., Keith and Jacqueline Reed made smart equipment tweaks to better serve the booming vacation rental market. “Our goal was to take our very nice laundry and increase its revenue and profit for a more viable business,” said Keith Reed.When Opportunity KnocksWhen purchased in 2018, the 4,500-square-foot Sparklean Laundry was predominately…

Scott Vlahos is president of Advantage Equipment Inc., a full-service laundry solutions provider serving Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Over the course 21 years, Advantage Equipment has sold and installed turnout gear washers at more than 600 fire departments. In this Q and A, Vlahos provides expert advice on how to select the right washer for cleaning turnout gear according…

Jim Croyle and his wife, Theresa, recently opened a small, high-speed laundry next to their dry cleaning plant in Tallmadge, Ohio. The new vended laundry, designed for speed, efficiency and customer convenience, is growing 18 percent month-over-month and after just 6 months, contributes 7 percent of total company revenue. At this rate, the Croyles expect a full return on investment…

When and why should a laundry transition from open-pocket washers and dryers to an automated continuous batch washer system? In this article, we’ll offer some timing guidelines for moving into a tunnel system that directly relate to laundry poundage; the benefits a tunnel brings, including amped productivity and savings in labor and utilities; and its anticipated return on investment.Tunnel Automation…

Not all multi-housing laundries are dingy and ill-equipped. Many of today’s apartment laundries offer modern machines in up to 40-pound capacities, free WIFI, large screen TVs and convenient payment systems, in addition to arcade games, sofas, folding tables and snack machines. Smart landlords are investing in quality apartment laundries to keep their tenants on site. But as a public laundry…

The Launderie Room, a small, high-speed vended laundry on the main drag of downtown Erie, Penn., is located in the City’s designated redevelopment zone. Opened in 2020, it offers a coffee shop feel, vinyl wood floors, bright colors, free WIFI, charging stations, Continental Girbau high-speed ExpressWash® and ExpressDry® laundry equipment, and walls adorning local art. Co-owners Angela Magee and Melissa…

A lot of veterinary clinics and animal care facilities mistakenly purchase washers and dryers from local appliance and big-box stores in good faith they’ll work for years to come. Problem is, they don’t. Even worse, when they breakdown, owners quickly discover that the warranty that came with the appliance is null and void. Why? Because the machine was used in…

In the hospitality world, there are times of occupancy madness that kick every area of a hotel or resort into full gear. We know this as “peak season” and preparedness is the key to overcoming its challenges – especially in the laundry room. In this column, I offer several tips for ensuring a seamless peak season laundry operation. Are your…

Scott Vlahos is president of Advantage Equipment Inc., a full-service laundry solutions provider serving Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Over the course 21 years, Advantage Equipment has sold and installed turnout gear washers at more than 600 fire departments. In this Q and A, Vlahos provides expert advice on how to select the right washer for cleaning turnout gear according…

More and more dry cleaners looking to diversify are embracing the vended laundry business. And for good reason. By adding a vended laundry or two to their business portfolios, dry cleaners can capture new revenue streams, expand and lockdown on a given geographic area, and achieve economy of scale thanks to shared routes, locations, labor and marketing. Plus, when compared…