American Coin-Op - July 2018

COVER STORY

THE ‘TRADE SHOW’ THAT’S EASY ON YOUR FEET

With the next Clean Show nearly a year away in New Orleans, we fill your trade show void with our everyother-year exhibition. Check out this year’s cast of companies from the comfort of your desk.

COLUMNS

THE ‘PERFECT’ LAUNDROMAT

GOIN’ WITH COHEN: RUNNING BETTER

Retired Philadelphia Eagles running back James Betterson pivoted into laundry two years ago with the rejuvenation of a 3,400-square-foot store in The City of Brotherly Love. Gone is the I formation, traded in for a T formation of washers and dryers.

COIN-OP 101: SUMMER IS PERFECT

TIME TO RETOOL YOUR STORE

Summer is a “catch your breath” period for many store owners, which Craig Dakauskas of Commercial & Coin Laundry Equipment Co. says makes it a great time to examine your business results this year, then retool. Painting, new signage and more modern seating or tables is at one end of the spectrum, while new equipment, systems and layout is at the other.

‘EXCELLENCE’ CONFERENCE DRAWS

LARGEST CROWD EVER

The biennial Coin Laundry Association event was created to provide top-quality industry education and unparalleled networking opportunities for self-service laundry operators.

In his final column for the magazine, Howard Scott pays a visit to an Abington, Mass., store that customer Jim McKenna chooses to patronize instead of his apartment building’s laundry. Find out why McKenna calls Old Town Superwash the best Laundromat he’s ever used.

A CLOSER LOOK 6

Former NFL running back James Betterson carried his Eagles color scheme and a football theme to his Philadelphia laundry.

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AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

EXHIBIT IN PRINT

Our industry’s pre-eminent trade show, the Clean Show, is on an every-other-year schedule, and that means the next edition in New Orleans is roughly a year away. So how can owners and operators of self-service laundries like you satisfy their desire to see the latest and greatest in laundry products and services today?

During even-numbered years like this one, American Coin-Op provides just such a showcase with its Exhibit in Print. Yes, that’s right—we bring our “trade show” right to you!

The display advertisers of this issue have set up “booths” to introduce themselves and acquaint readers with their products and services. You have no travel expenses or hassle, no need to tread along miles of aisles, no lengthy time apart from your business.

While “live” demos aren’t possible, you can easily get additional information on any product or service by visiting the exhibitor’s website or phoning directly.

The ribbon’s been cut and the Exhibit in Print is open to all—just make your way to page 14 and “hit the floor.”

GREAT SCOTT!

Sadly, this issue marks the departure of columnist Howard Scott. Howard, who is retiring from freelance writing at age 74, has written columns under An Outsider’s View banner for nearly a dozen years. You can read his final column beginning on page 38, followed by a brief story recognizing his service.

I hope you agree that during his time with American Coin-Op, he offered valuable insights and practical tips that made a difference in your store’s performance.

(If you do, I encourage you to drop Howard a line at dancinghill@ gmail.com to wish him well.)

Howard, it’s been my pleasure to have worked with you.

Bruce Beggs Editorial Director

Charles Thompson, Publisher

E-mail: cthompson@ATMags.com Phone: 312-361-1680

Donald Feinstein, Associate Publisher/ National Sales Director

E-mail: dfeinstein@ATMags.com Phone: 312-361-1682

Bruce Beggs, Editorial Director

E-mail: bbeggs@ATMags.com Phone: 312-361-1683

Roger Napiwocki, Production Manager

Nathan Frerichs, Digital Media Director

E-mail: nfrerichs@ATMags.com Phone: 312-361-1681

ADVISORY BOARD

Kurt Archer Ann Hawkins Wayne Lewis Kathryn Q. Rowen

OFFICE INFORMATION

Main: 312-361-1700

SUBSCRIPTIONS

630-739-0900 x100 www.AmericanCoinOp.com

American Coin-Op (ISSN 0092-2811) is published monthly. Subscription prices, payment in advance: U.S., 1 year $46.00; 2 years $92.00. Foreign, 1 year $109.00; 2 years $218.00. Single copies $9.00 for U.S., $18.00 for all other countries. Published by American Trade Magazines LLC, 566 West Lake Street, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60661. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER, Send changes of address and form 3579 to American Coin-Op, Subscription Dept., 440 Quadrangle Drive, Suite E, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Volume 59, number 7. Editorial, executive and advertising offices are at 566 West Lake Street, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60661. Charles Thompson, President and Publisher. American Coin-Op is distributed selectively to owners, operators and managers of chain and individually owned coin-operated laundry establishments in the United States. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising for any reason.

© Copyright AMERICAN TRADE MAGAZINES LLC, 2018. Printed in U.S.A. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher or his representative. American Coin-Op does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any article, product, service or information found within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of American Coin-Op or its staff. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the magazine’s contents at time of publication, neither the editors, publishers nor its agents can accept responsibility for damages or injury which may arise therefrom.

Bruce Beggs

GOIN’ WITH COHEN

Running Better

Former NFL rusher pivots from gridiron to wash aisle

by Laurance Cohen

James Betterson is on the move inside his North Philly laundry whether he’s there or not. Patrons tackling their weekly wash come face-to-face with the former NFL player barreling through a hole in the Washington Redskins defense, seemingly heading right toward them as they finish loads in the centralized folding area.

The giant wall poster is more than a throwback to his playing days some 40 years ago. For this retired Philadelphia Eagle running back and kick return specialist, putting his best foot forward is still in play at BetterClean Laundry.

UPPING THE GAME

Betterson, who hung up his cleats in 1978, pivoted into laundry two years ago with the rejuvenation of a 3,400-squarefoot store in The City of Brotherly Love. Gone is the I formation, traded in for a T formation of 41 washers and 44 dryer pockets. BetterClean is more than a play on the operator’s name and much more than a football-themed laundry. It’s all about upping the game for a once-dilapidated location by sporting a one-of-a-kind décor along with some good ol’ Southern hospitality.

“I had one of my competitors tell me,

“James, women don’t like football. You can’t market yourself with all this football stuff. Nobody cares about that,’” the 63-year-old owner relates as we settle into a pair of Eagle-inspired green seats just a few yards from the store’s centerpiece poster mural. “Another told me I should just be showing games. I’m trying to go right down the middle; try to use it, but not overdo it.”

There’s no mistaking you’re in Eagles territory doing wash at BetterClean. Kelly green and gray abound, tying in well with the laundry’s equipment branding. The store logo, featuring a fleet-footed Number 34, stands above the storefront and is carried tastefully throughout the venue.

Gridiron, yes. But at BetterClean, it’s the iron on the floor that takes center stage.

“I didn’t want this to be a shrine to me. I thought that one action shot would be nice,” Betterson says, pointing to the black-and-white poster photoshopped with green highlighting. “I think it’s an interesting brand. If you’ve got that experience, why not mention it.”

Before turning pro, Betterson was a standout athlete at the University of North Carolina along with Mike Voight, now deceased. The two running backs shuttled in offensive plays while racking up yards — the first NCAA players to alternate the position and each gain 1,000 yards in a season.

As a senior, Betterson was named Sports Illustrated National Back of the Week after rushing 134 yards, scoring three touchdowns and picking up 92 yards on kickoff returns.

“Those were very special times,” the former Tar Heel recalls, noting that he played varsity three years and, as a

Former NFL running back James Betterson carried his Eagles color scheme and a football theme to his Philadelphia laundry. (Photos: Laurance Cohen)

Steve Cardis, Engineering Manager Employee Owner Since 1996

GOIN’ WITH COHEN

young sophomore, “got to experience running into a stadium with 40,000 to 50,000 fans screaming.”

It was in college that he earned the nickname “Boom Boom,” bestowed upon him by Assistant Coach Ricky Packard. “In 20 yards, I could really give you a quick burst. He came up with ‘Boom boom, he’s gone.’”

Originally drafted by the Denver Broncos, Betterson signed with the Eagles in 1977 as as a free agent, joining 16 other new players on the roster, including fellow running back Wilbert Montgomery and quarterback Ron Jaworski. He played 23 games over two seasons, compiling offensive and special teams yardage, before retiring.

The time on the field prepared Betterson for a sales career and, most recently, laundry ownership.

“You’ve got to put in a lot of hard work, start early, be prepared to stay late, and play if you’re hurting,” he shares. “Football taught me a strong work ethic.”

GETTING THE WORD OUT

While residing in upstate New York and

working for a cable company, self-service laundry piqued Betterson’s interest.

“The machines do the work and don’t call in sick,” he says of the industry’s appeal. He considered the New York and Florida markets, but soon focused on Philly to be close to some family.

His inquiries brought him into contact with veteran Philadelphia laundry operator Larry Vladimir, who also represents a local equipment distributorship. When he paid a visit to Vladimir’s store located north of the city center, the ex-running back stopped in his tracks.

“I was infatuated,” Betterson shares. “It was bright, airy and colorful. I never saw a laundry like that.”

He was soon introduced to a location on Oxford Avenue that was ripe for revitalization.

“It was being mismanaged and run down,” he remembers. “I thought all I had to do was come in and bring it up to today’s standards.”

The rehab was the easy part for the entrepreneur, who had a good track record turning around a few rental properties. Getting word out to the community and bringing back trade has proven a more daunting task. Before being transformed into BetterClean, one out of three machines at the store was inoperable, according to Betterson.

“It was an eyesore,” he recalls. “I wouldn’t even do laundry here. It was depressing.”

Traditional media — cable TV, print and door hangers — didn’t deliver the expected bang for his buck. Word-ofmouth advertising and referrals is now doing the job, according to the owner, carrying the store on an upward trajectory. Distributing flyers outside the neighboring ShopRite grocery anchor has proven one of the best vehicles to acquaint neighborhood residents with the new operation and management.

While Betterson has sought assistance from marketing companies to create awareness campaigns, he is getting up to speed on effective social-media techniques through coursework.

Sponsoring Little League baseball scholarships, speaking at local schools, and reaching out to a local homeless shelter have increased BetterClean’s visibility in the community, the operator notes.

Betterson has also been known to give out roses on Mother’s Day and candy

Photos capturing store visits by Eagles players and coaches, along with shots of Betterson on and off the field, are on display in a gallery near the laundry’s entry.

The BetterClean logo featuring a fleet-footed No. 34 stands above the storefront and is carried tastefully throughout the venue.

GOIN’ WITH COHEN

treats on Easter weekend.

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY SHINES

Once patrons pull up, the Southern hospitality shines as bright as BetterClean’s stainless steel equipment. Both owner and staff keep an eye out for arrivals to lend a helping hand carrying in loads and, for first-timers, an introduction to the store’s machine selection and incentive-based loyalty card system.

Twin 80-pound front loaders, backed up by a dozen 60-pounders, are positioned just steps from the automatic front-door entry. Seven 40-pound, eight 30-pound, and 12 20-pound washers running perpen-

dicular to the 14 stack 45-pound and eight stack 30-pound dryer tumblers round out the mix.

Washer banks are capped with diamond plate, an aluminum trim also employed as protective chair rail. Decorative green acrylic panels adorn the dryer wall and serve as a backdrop to color-coordinated signage detailing the laundry’s “free dry” and “pay dry-only” options.

Glass-front vending machines, an ATM and customer service counter, along with two dozen large-capacity laundry carts and an equal number of seats, line BetterClean’s perimeter. To the right of the counter is the heart of the store’s payment system: a pair of loyalty card loading stations and a bill breaker.

Pricing ranges from $3.49 for a 20-pound wash (plus 25 cents for extra wash or rinse) to $9.99 (plus 60-cent enhancements) for an 80-pounder. Freedry cycle timing is calculated based on washer poundage, with 20 minutes offered for 20-pound loads and up to an hour for an 80-pound load in 30-pound stack tumblers, and from 16 to 48 minutes for loads dried in the 45-pound machines.

The store’s focal point, a spacious folding department boasting a dozen greenspeckled tables, delivers a unique finishing experience with strategically placed TV monitors and soft, ambient lighting integrated into a curved drywall-ceiling canopy — all brought together harmoniously by the store’s signature game-day poster.

Additional TVs, a pair of children’s book boxes, and stainless-steel ceiling fans round out the creature comforts.

LEAVING A LASTING IMPRESSION

Betterson brought in an architectural firm to assist with both permitting and interior design to take his vision of Eagles’ Kelly green and gray playing off lines of stainless steel and make it a reality.

His physical presence at the store is key.

“In a lot of Laundromats, the owner isn’t to be found. But I’m very visible here and proud of what we’ve done.”

While capitalizing on the Eagles con-

BetterClean’s focal point is a spacious folding department boasting a dozen green-speckled tables, TV monitors and soft, ambient lighting integrated into a curved drywall ceiling canopy — all brought together by the store’s signature game-day poster.

A total of 44 tumbler pockets in stack 45- and 30-pound capacities are accented by Kelly green acrylic panels and colorcoordinated signage.

Twin 80-pound washers are front and center as patrons enter BetterClean.

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GOIN’ WITH COHEN

nection plays a role, it’s his North Carolina roots — where people are greeted with a friendly smile and attended to — that leave a lasting impression.

The genial owner breaks away from our conversation to welcome some newcomers by getting them comfortable with the store’s offerings and the operation of the in-house loyalty card operation.

Soon after, one of his staff, Hobed Severe, guides an arriving patron through the process as the morning trade ramps up. Betterson says he tries to instill a team spirit in his employees through regular meetings and performance-based incentives.

Sunday is wash day, but also the time for football — traditions Betterson uses to his advantage in the city of the reigning Super Bowl champions. When the store celebrated its grand opening in April 2016, former Eagles Head Coach Dick Vermeil, retired Pro Bowl wide receiver Harold Carmichael and other players were on hand, creating quite a spectacle and helping put this neighborhood laundry on the map.

Since then, current and former players have paid visits to BetterClean, all memorialized in a photo gallery near the entry. Among the famed work is a classic shot of Betterson and teammates from four decades ago along with a more recent pose of the laundry owner holding up the Lombardi Trophy awarded to last season’s

champion Eagles after their victory over the New England Patriots.

All that star power attracts curious laundry customers. Betterson grins as he recalls a patron visiting three times over the course of one week toting in not only wash, but another of her grandchildren and nephews each occasion to meet the owner.

“Their eyes got so big, goo-goo eyes,” he laughs. A handshake and selfie with the 6-foot-tall former NFL back, topped off with a free bag of snacks, turned an ordinary laundry run into an unforgettable moment — something Betterson is scoring points with: “I got ’em forever.” ACO

Laurance Cohen crisscrosses the country seeking out the most unique vended laundries. He served as American Coin-Op editor in the early 1990s and currently operates Laundry Marketing Concepts based in Hallandale Beach, Fla. He can be reached at goinwith cohen@outlook.com.

Betterson (right) shares a lighthearted moment with a regular in the wash aisle.Staff member Hobed Severe offers assistance to a customer at the tumbler bank.

Betterson helps guide a newcomer to take full advantage of the laundry’s incentive-based card payment system.

A dozen 60-pounders stand tall in BetterClean’s T-formation lineup of 41 front-load washers.

Tservice laundry industry is the “World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning” — otherwise known as the Clean Show. It’s the one time

and place that manufacturers, suppliers, store owners and managers can all come together to check out the latest products, services and more.

But Clean only occurs every other year, and the June 2017 event in Las Vegas is a distant memory. Plans for Clean 2019 are underway, of course, and we’ll be heading to New Orleans for that show next June, but that is a long way off.

With no major textile care industry trade show this year, how can manufacturers and suppliers deal with this lack of opportunities to show off their equipment and services? How can self-service laundry owners and managers learn more about them first-hand?

American Coin-Op is happy to fill this void by hosting its own trade show—the Exhibit in Print—in this month’s issue. This “trade show you can put in your pocket” has a lot of the benefits of a live trade show: letting owners and managers peruse the “booths” of manufacturers and suppliers and check out all of the latest products and services.

The best thing about the Exhibit in Print? All the pluses of a live trade show come without the sore feet and distractions that show attendees may encounter inside an exhibit hall.

All the “booth” articles have been submitted by the exhibiting companies, this issue’s advertisers. Any claims made in Exhibit in Print are those of the participants, not American CoinOp.

It’s time to hit the floor!

BDS Laundry Systems

For over a half-century, BDS Laundry Systems says it has steadily carved out its niche as leaders in laundry equipment and as experts in laundry solutions.

Since the company’s founding in 1961, BDS has grown to become one of the largest commercial laundry equipment distributors serving three key markets: on-premises laundry operations, multi-housing laundry rooms and vended laundry stores.

BDS says it takes pride in providing top-quality laundry equipment, dependable parts and exceptional service.

Since 1961, the company has sold and serviced more than 500,000 laundry machines across its eight-state Midwestern territory. BDS says its growing list of satisfied clients includes thousands of customers across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois and Upper Michigan.

In 2015, BDS launched BDSParts.com, where it serves thousands of customers per month providing replacement laundry parts online.

BDS Laundry Systems says it is a factory-authorized distributor for Electrolux, Maytag, Speed Queen, B&C Technologies, UniMac, Wascomat and Whirlpool.

According to the company, its continuing success is rooted in a simple philosophy: superior service and quality products delivered at the best possible prices. With the support of loyal customers, employees and manufacturers, BDS says its goal is to continue to be “Leaders in Laundry Equipment, Experts in Laundry Solutions.”

BDS says it has stood the test of time by listening to customers’ wants and needs, adapting to changes in the marketplace, and building lifelong partnerships—one customer at a time.

www.bdslaundry.com; www.bdsparts.com 800-688-0020

CONTINENTAL GIRBAU INTRODUCES THE NEW LG PLATINUM WASHER

• Newly optimized to deliver more strength, storeowner control and servicing ease.

• Soft-mount designs for simple installation.

• Increased programmability of water temperatures, fill levels, cycle times, spin speed and vend prices.

• Individual sensors are removable and replaceable.

• New twin spray water-delivery system ensures a quality wash without machine stall-outs.

• Inverter Direct Drive provides superior durability and reliability.

• Optimized Washing System automatically detects over-sudsing and counteracts with a suds-reduction process.

• Quiet, energy-efficient and 400 Gs!

• Compact footprint and stackable configurations for more customers, machines and revenue per square foot.

Genesys Technologies

The CryptoPay Credit Card System from Genesys Technologies is a secure, cost-effective, and easy-to-install wireless credit card payment solution, the company says.

CryptoPay Credit Card System encrypts credit card data the moment the card is swiped and has a proven track record of secure transactions in both the Laundromat and car wash markets, Genesys says. To date, CryptoPay has securely processed more than 13 million transactions totaling over $85 million.

The CryptoPay system is designed to deliver low startup costs and the flexibility to equip additional machines as one’s budget allows, the company says. CryptoPay transaction consolidation reduces processing fees by consolidating multiple customer credit card charges.

Data is accessed and analyzed using The MyCryptoPay Cloud-Based Site Management Tools, which allow operators to add new sites, remotely configure CryptoPay Swipers, view Laundromat site status, and see recent credit card purchases from their home, office, or mobile device.

The tool can also provide access to additional low-cost services like CryptoPay Site Analytics and CryptoPay GoGreen Receipt Service, Genesys says. www.getcryptopay.com 719-277-7400

Imonex ClearToken

Imonex ClearToken says it has introduced the industry’s only hybrid multi-coin smartphone pay coin drop to enhance the customer experience in vended and multi-housing laundry operations.

In addition to quarters, dollar coins and tokens, the smartphone’s built-in Bluetooth technology can now be employed to speed customers through vended transactions while providing operators a cost-efficient gateway to build and track revenue, Imonex ClearToken says.

Designed to accommodate new machines and retrofits, the hybrid model combines multiple payment formats in the simplicity of a coin drop while avoiding burdensome external devices and network infrastructure.

ClearToken’s Apple and Android app functions as a secure electronic payment system through which self-loaded or attendant-loaded virtual credits are redeemable at the machines. The proprietary, overthe-counter, cash-to-virtual credits and credit/debit card-to-virtual credits transaction format gives operators flexibility to eliminate or control merchant fees while offering bonus incentives to cash-based smartphone customers, the company notes.

At the heart of the integrated coin-drop model is the new EM3 controller, boasting multi-coin and smartphone pay capabilities along with optional coin plus phone telemetry to audit all machine revenue activity in real time.

The hybrid model is designed with built-in redundancy to operate with multi-coin and phone pay functioning, either in tandem or independently — providing added peace of mind with a backup format in place, Imonex ClearToken says.

www.imonexcleartoken.com 800-446-2719

Continental Girbau

By installing a Continental Express Heated-Roll Ironer, vended laundry owners can harness larger commercial accounts that require high-quality linen finishing, maker Continental Girbau says. Express Ironers allow vended laundries to quickly and automatically iron bedsheets, pillowcases, drapes and table linens — making them more attractive to healthcare, spa, food and beverage, and hospitality clients.

Continental Express Ironers — available in 13- and 20-inch cylinder diameters — properly finish linens without the need for dryer conditioning and messy wax application and removal. The 20-inch model also offers an integrated folding system.

Unlike most ironers on the market, Express Ironers automatically modify cylinder speed based on the ironer’s heat maintenance and programmed temperature, Continental says. This allows operators to feed damp items into the ironer directly from the washer, bypassing dryer conditioning. This improves productivity, helps eliminate dryer bottlenecks, and reduces dryer and linen wear and tear.

The “Laundry Doctor” Jeff Gardner, owner of Sel-Dale Laundromat in St. Paul, Minn., processes 200 small-dimension sheets per hour using a 13-inch Continental ironer.

“That single piece of equipment allowed me to do work for massage therapists, spas and acupuncturists,” Gardner says. “They started talking about my business to friends. Then business boomed. The ironer paid for itself the first year. Now it pays for itself every month.”

Backed by a 7/5/3-year factory warranty, Express Ironers offer sensible programmability and ease of use, Continental says.

www.cgilaundry.com 800-256-1073

Card Concepts Inc.

Card Concepts Inc. (CCI) released its FasCard system’s all-new F2 reader this year with several unique features. The first-of-its-kind, full-color 3.5-inch touchscreen display and five multi-color status LEDs allow customers to easily interact with machines and start their laundry via the easy-to-use interface. The F2 reader can also monitor multiple coin inputs, manage two pockets of stack dryers, and is fieldrepairable with a completely modular design.

With the F2 reader, store owners can implement any number of powerful loyalty

programs, manage their stores remotely and choose their own merchant processor, Card Concepts says.

And owners will never experience service interruption with CCI’s Cellular Backup. The low-cost option ensures continued internet connectivity for the FasCard system and peace of mind.

Customers love being able to start machines, receive end-of-cycle notifications, check machine availability, manage accounts, add value and use in-app Apple Pay with the FasCard mobile app, the company says.

Card Concepts adds that it doesn’t require a minimum card-reader purchase, so store owners can start with a few readers and add more over time.

www.fascard.com 866-860-1660

Setomatic Systems

SpyderWash is more than just a payment system, maker Setomatic Systems says. It is a complete management system for your laundry with all the necessary tools to give you an edge on the competition. It also gives you better control over your wash-dry-fold business and saves you hours of work each week trying to keep track of your attendants, the company says.

Setomatic Systems has worked exclusively in the commercial laundry industry for more than 50 years. It says you can trust a company you know will be here for years to come and continue to support as well as enhance its product lines. Setomatic was the first to introduce credit card payments to the vended laundry industry—dating back more than 20 years—and more recently NFC mobile payments.

SpyderWash gives your customers the ability to use all payment options right at the washer/dryer, including coin, loyalty cards, credit/debit cards, Apple Pay,

Samsung Pay and Google Pay. There are no proprietary apps that your customers must download.

SpyderWash has many new loyalty programs. Customers are not forced to register in order to get loyalty, and they can also use their credit/debit card to participate in the program. If they do decide to register, they can track their usage and see their progress to the next free wash. But if they decide not to register, they can still earn free washes.

Through the SpyderWash Web Portal, owners receive full accountability of all payments, including coin. You can also use the system for a full card store if you prefer not to accept coin payments.

Setomatic Systems recently moved into a new, larger state-of-the-art facility in Boca Raton, Fla., to better serve its customers.

www.setomaticsystems.com 516-752-8008

Huebsch

When it was launched several years ago, the Huebsch Galaxy™ 600 control created a user-friendly laundry experience for vended laundry customers that enabled owners to save on expenses and make more money.

With the introduction of Huebsch Command™, the company will take the control to the next level and give owners an advanced networking solution to streamline management and keep them connected to their operation.

The cloud-based system lets owners optimize their business from anywhere in the world, bringing them convenient access to advanced store performance data, the ability to configure machines, adjust water levels,

set time-of-day and day-of-week pricing, and even perform remote starts.

Customizable at-a-glance reports keep owners apprised of store activity, including turns, revenue and the ability to drill down into individual machines.

Equipped with this information, owners are able to make informed business decisions to maximize revenue and realize full profit potential. Best of all, Huebsch Command saves time with an easy setup as well as 24/7 factory support and seamless automatic updates.

www.huebsch.com 800-553-5120

Speed Queen

The days of piecing together business management needs with multiple tools from different providers are over. With SQ Insights from Speed Queen, store owners have one, easy-touse system that gives them complete control for all of their Laundromats.

The cloud-based system lets an owner manage his or her Laundromat from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. With an easy-to-learn dashboard, they can track and optimize financial performance, operational data, and customer engagement. All of this will allow them to make better business decisions immediately. Transform customer relationships with the convenience of the Speed Queen® app and SQ Rewards. Offer consumers access to flexible payment options, a points-based rewards program, and onthe-go cycle status. SQ Insights gives an operator access to this customer data, allowing them to take their business to new levels of efficiency and profitability. Installation is fast and easy with little or no downtime and no software to maintain. There is peace of mind with 24/7 support from Speed Queen.

With SQ Insights, the future is built in. All upgrades are made quickly and seamlessly. Business integration capability allows operators to make better decisions with better data, all while providing a best-in-class consumer experience. SQ Insights is easy, convenient, and rewarding for store owners and their customers, Speed Queen says.

http://speedqueencommercial.com 800-590-8872

Gold Coin Laundry Equipment

Gold Coin Laundry Equipment Inc. is a full-service Dexter distributor located in Jamaica, N.Y. It has held Dexter’s title of top distributor in the East for the past nine consecutive years.

Gold Coin’s facility contains more than 13,000 square feet of offices, warehouse space and—most importantly—an interactive selling floor. Customers can see the full line of equipment that Gold Coin carries in a working environment. Demonstrations on Dexter 100G and 200G washers show potential buyers the differences between the two lines. They can try out Card Concepts’ LaundryCard and FasCard systems, and interact with the entire Vend-Rite line as well as a working NATCO wallmounted water heater. Plus, no fewer than six Standard Change-Maker units are on display at any given time.

Gold Coin handles Dexter sales from New York City east to the tip of Long Island, north into upstate New York, and areas south and west, including the northern half of New Jersey. Along with selling and servicing equipment in these territories, Gold Coin’s fully stocked and staffed parts department ships parts nationwide. Besides its regional awards already mentioned, Gold Coin was named Dexter’s 2009 Distributor of the Year. Customers look forward to Gold Coin’s annual Founder Day’s Sale, which is scheduled for Sept. 14-15 this year. Manufacturers representatives will be present, food will be served, and there will be show-special pricing. Watch American Coin-Op for details to come.

www.goldcoinlaundry.com 800-952-1474

INTRODUCING HUEBSCH COMMAND™

The reporting, monitoring and configuration—in other words, the facts— you need to do what you do best: make intelligent business decisions. And better yet, because it’s wireless and cloud-based, now you can make them from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

PEAK

CUSTOMER USAGE: FRIDAY

CURRENT DAILY-REVENUE KPI: $800

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE AN ESD SYSTEM?

I chose ESD because of ESD’s commitment to product cutting edge technology, customer care and technical provided me with the tools with MyLaundryLinkTM my stores operations anywhere, and ESD provides payment options: card, Credit/debit card, pin based EBT. They can also start their washers or dryers with and their phone will vibrate when their washer or dryer system even allows the customer to view their account from their PC when they are away from the store.

WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE LAUNDRY INDUSTRY?

I have been in the commercial laundry industry since owned retail Laundromats since 1987. I have personally ESD’s growth over the years to become the industries payment systems.

WHAT WERE THE UNKNOWN CHALLENGES THAT WITH YOUR NEW STORE AND HOW HAS ESD’S YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?

Building a customer base, hiring and managing a managing staff of employees and security; ESD provided me with systems to manage my employees, and provide me with

product innovation, technical support. ESD software to oversee my customers with based debit cards and with a phone app, dryer stops. The account and add value

my competitors do not have…I have a totally cashless store, which gives my employees and me peace of mind and security. In addition, many other marketing and pricing options that my competitors do not have.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THE ESD SYSTEM?

I was surprised at how many customers really love the ability to use their credit or debit cards right at the machines.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY DOWNSIDE TO THE ESD SYSTEM?

INDUSTRY? since 1979 and have personally witnessed industries leader in THAT YOU FACED SYSTEM HELPED managing a good with the tools and with advantages

Absolutely not. I do not believe my store would be as successful as it has been so far without the ESD CyberLaundryTM system and the company and the people that stand behind it.

www.esdcard.com

Contact your local ESD distributor or ESD sales representative for more information.

Larry Vladimir - Bakers Centre Laundry

(continued from page 22)

Royal Basket Trucks

Efficiency and function are the two most important goals with bulk transportation of linens and goods, says Royal Basket Trucks, whose line of bulk transport carts offers bulk poly and turnabout trucks along with various standard and custom covers.

The line of carts is standard with nonmarking, quiet polyurethane casters that are mounted in such a way to make maintenance easy. Need different casters? No problem.

The sloped design of the bottom interior of these carts provides four 4-inch drain slots — not holes on a flat surface. The goal is for faster water drainage after cleaning and sanitizing, which helps to put the cart back in service faster, Royal Basket says.

Identifying carts with content lists, routes, customer locations, etc., is easy with Royal Basket solutions. Request large, clear pockets for identification or paperwork, and Royal will mount clear pockets to the outside of the cart. Or maybe you need numbering, branding or location identifications. Royal offers labeling and numbering in an effort to help provide the most efficient use of carts in the local environment and process.

All Royal Basket products are made to order and ship in seven days, the company says. Royal is located in Darien, Wis., and all of its products are “Made in the USA.”

To check out its full line of carts, visit its website, or contact its customer service team (sales@royal-basket.com) to request a PDF of the current catalog.

www.royal-basket.com 800-426-6447

The laundry industry has seen many changes over the past 20 years, but Laundry Concepts says it remains a consistent player in bringing the latest technology to ensure owners have the tools to manage and grow their business successfully. It represents the best new products for new investors and continues to service existing needs of its loyal customers, the company adds.

Laundry Concepts is the exclusive Chicagoland distributor for CCI’s LaundryCard and FasCard systems. CCI products provide payment options for your customers along with a plethora of management capabilities. Credit card acceptance, customer loyalty programs and remote access for the owner are just a few of the features. Managing your business remotely can provide freedom to spend time away from the store or the ability to add new locations to your portfolio.

The company also represents Huebsch and Continental Girbau laundry equipment. Both are industry innovators that come with a wealth of resources providing you the right investment package for a project, Laundry Concepts says.

LCParts.com offers competitive prices on all replacements parts, plus same-day shipping on many items. The site continues to improve its inventory with in-demand items.

The Marcionetti family is proud of its relationships with many successful business owners. It understands how important it is to treat every phone call, e-mail or walk-in guest with the highest level of respect and customer service, the same way the Marcionettis treat each other—like family.

www.laundryconcepts.com 800-845-3903

Vend-Rite

Vend-Rite’s Vision line of venders provides an opportunity to offer customers the products they want in any size they need.

All venders feature a conveyor delivery system that maximizes product capacity. It can vend items as small as a business card (think “internet password card”) to as large as a 75-ounce bottle of detergent. Unlike other venders that drop products up to 4 feet, the Vision vender delivers products by an elevator to the convenient collection area. The black interior and LED lighting system promote the advertising packaging colors.

The MDB wiring platform provides for multiple payment systems, coin, bill or card technology. The fivetube coin mechanism will accept nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar coins; and the multi-directional bill acceptor will accept $1, $5 and $10 bills.

ACE Commercial Laundry Equipment

Other features include continuous system check and self diagnostics, product dating, refrigeration check, accountability and sales data. The illuminated front and hours of operation can be programmed, as well as an advertising panel on the delivery elevator. The modular design of the pre-wired shelves, motor assemblies and cabinet configuration offer an owner greater flexibility.

The venders, offering SUN’s Brand Name laundry products, have the Vend-Rite bubble brand artwork on the fronts. Side-panel graphics are optional. www.vendrite.com 800-777-1802

Monarch Coin & Security Inc.

ACE Commercial Laundry Equipment Inc. says it is one of America’s highest-rated full-line equipment distributors serving the coin laundry/vended, on-premise/OPL laundry, and multi-housing/ apartment markets today.

The third-generation, family-owned Huebsch equipment dealer and 2015 national Distributor of the Year prides itself on helping and assisting its customers any way it can.

With a wide variety of equipment and services ranging from coinop washers and dryers to laundry replacement parts, Laundromat remodeling, and a fully stocked service department, ACE Commercial also assists coin laundry owners with equipment financing, card payment and mobile app payment systems, and other laundry supplies.

Between ACE Commercial Laundry Equipment; its nationwide parts division, LaundryParts.com; and one of the nation’s oldest coin vend laundry dealers, SUDSY Vending Supplies, the group can assist most laundry owners with just about any product needed to keep their Laundromat running smoothly.

Since the 1950s, Laundromat owners far and near have been counting on their products and dependable customer service while being treated like part of the family.

http://acelaundry.com 877-630-7278

Monarch Coin & Security Inc., family-owned and -operated since 1903, manufactures coin and token slides; coin boxes; locks; extensions; security guards; coinbox guards; meters for showers or outdoor lighting; bathroom door locks; and Key Kop locking key rings; as well as soap machines and change machines. The company also offers keyed-alike locks/boxes for no additional charge.

Customer satisfaction is a company priority, and most orders ship within two to three days.

www.monarchcoin.com 800-462-9460

ESD

ESD has provided the vended laundry industry with innovative products since the company was founded in 1969. From the introduction of the vertical coin slide to the development and market debut of multiple electronic card payment systems, the company says it has been the industry leader.

The Super Diamond Center 5 VTM is one of the company’s newest products to be marketed to card store operators. While providing for the acceptance of cash payments and the dispensing of the storebranded loyalty card, the unit brings the newest cashless payment capabilities to the Value Transfer Machine.

The encrypted terminal is certified for EMV credit and debit card acceptance; EMV is the embedded-chip credit and debit cards, which provides the highest level of liability protection for credit card acceptance. The terminal has Near Field Communication (NFC) capability, which allows for all mobile wallet payment methods such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Android Pay. In addition, the acceptance of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards is supported.

The Super Diamond Center 5 VTM can be utilized with ESD’s three most popular card payment platforms, the company says. The legacy Money Card system, which utilizes an embedded chip smart card, is a leader in the multi-housing and self-service laundry industries. The CyberLaundry system uses a secured Wi-Fi network for all card reader communication and is completely cloud-hosted. The system provides for the acceptance of credit and debit cards directly at each machine, in addition to the storebranded loyalty card. The Synergy system is also a wireless card reader system but utilizes an in-store server system, which allows the utilization of the store-branded loyalty card at all machines, even during internet outages.

www.esdcard.com 215-628-0860

Eastern Funding says it is dedicated to the laundry industry and specializes in whatever your project requires:

• Buying a Laundromat: Provides the tools and expertise to help navigate your due diligence.

• Retooling with new washers, dryers or payment systems: Can leverage your experience to get this done fast and simple.

• Building a new store: Will provide options and take every step possible to ensure the success of your investment.

Eastern provides a number of opportunities to help a laundry business: Refinance — Leverage your laundry’s value: Offers refinancing options that allows you to put existing equity to work. By refinancing an existing Laundromat, owners can pay off existing debt, lower payments and free up cash for laundry upgrades.

SBA-504 — Expand your business and own your real estate: Through Eastern Funding’s program, it helps laundry owners navigate the SBA loan process on their way to owning the business and real estate.

Eastern Funding’s powerful financing capabilities are reinforced by the rock-solid relationships it has built across the industry, the company says. Laundry owners, distributors, manufacturers, industry organizations and other service providers have depended on Eastern as a financial resource for over 20 years.

www.easternfunding.com 877-819-1764

Progressive Commercial Auto Insurance

Progressive, which considers itself the top commercial vehicle insurer in the nation, says it offers a wide range of commercial insurance coverages customized to suit your business needs. In addition to vehicle insurance, it offers general liability, business owner’s policies, and workers compensation insurance through its Small Business Insurance team.

From minimum coverage to comprehensive protection, Progressive’s flexible options make it easy to get customized business and vehicle insurance to ensure you and your business are fully covered, the company says.

Progressive’s direct representatives and local independent agents are knowledgeable about what coverages businesses like yours need. Contact them today and discover how much you can save with Progressive’s money-saving discounts.

www.progressivecommercial.com 888-806-9598

Mountain Electronics Inc.

A C Power Co.

A C Power Co. is a family-owned and -operated commercial laundry business based in the greater Philadelphia area.

It distributes Electrolux and Wascomat commercial laundry equipment and genuine replacement parts, and has over 45 years of experience in building and supporting coin/card and on-premises laundry operations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

It builds Laundromats from the ground up with its customers. These Laundromats have set new standards for energy efficiency, A C Power says, adding that it believes its customers are the most successful in the industry.

A C Power counts its sales, parts, service and installation technicians among the best in the business. The company is built on good customer service, so A C Power believes a happy, prosperous customer is its best advertisement.

A C Power values your business and promises to work hard to provide you with the very best laundry solutions for years to come.

http://acpowerco.com 800-362-1900

Mountain Electronics specializes in repairing computer boards for the commercial laundry industry, repairing all types of electronic control boards from all the major manufacturers, including ADC, Dexter, Continental, Huebsch, IDC, IPSO, Keltner, Maytag, Primus, Speed Queen, UniMac, Wascomat and Whirlpool.

Mountain Electronics has been repairing the main control boards from all commercial washers and dryers since 2001, and the company stays on the cutting edge of technology in order to be able to repair the newest control boards on the market. Many parts are also becoming obsolete, and Mountain Electronics is able to help Laundromat owners maintain older machines

at an affordable price.

The company now repairs Delta variable frequency drives (VFDs) and inverters from Dexter and Wascomat washers.

The company’s goal is to offer high-quality repairs with a fast turnaround time. Each computer board sent in for repairs is thoroughly cleaned, repaired and tested by skilled technicians using high-tech test simulators, Mountain Electronics says.

www.mountain-electronics.com 800-370-6053

Card and card readers use contactless technology. No inserts, no wear-and-tear. Simply place or present the card.

R&B Wire Products

R&B Wire Products has launched a Poly Truck with a 360-degree Top Rim Air Cushion Bumper. When trucks and carts hit walls, doors and equipment, they often create dings, scuff marks and dents. The Poly Truck was designed specifically to prevent these types of damage; the top rim features R&B’s “Force Field” Perimeter Protection, soft vinyl bumper, which provides 360-degree facility protection.

“The truth is, most transport products on the market are built to last but not built to protect the facilities,” says Frank Rowe, R&B’s vice president of sales and marketing. “We wanted to change that by creating a facility-protecting product made to pay for itself within months.”

The Poly Truck is available in sizes from 6 bushels to 20 bushels (4606CUS/PTB – 4620CUS-PTB) and can be outfitted with an internal spring platform lift for added safety.

On a corporate scale, R&B is expanding its U.S. manufacturing and distribution centers—doubling the square

The LaundryPass

The LaundryPass Payment System is a revolutionary tool designed to increase revenue for Laundromats, save time and bring business into the 21st century, the company says.

Customers buy and refill their LaundryPass cards at kiosks using cash or credit/debit cards. Cards are tapped on the Contactless-WaveCard readers on the laundry machines, thus avoiding jams, worn-out magnetic strips and other card damage.

Aside from convenience and functionality, included is the ability to electronically audit the kiosks, monitor sales and revenue, and adjust prices in 1- or 5-cent increments rather than 25-cent increments. The system allows for price adjustments as often as necessary, be it for different times of day or seasonal needs.

Customers love the freedom of LaundryPass, as they

footage of its Santa Ana, Calif., headquarters—to meet “everincreasing demand,” the company reports.

R&B’s new facility will include state-of-the-art technology and automation to ultimately double its manufacturing capabilities.

“The success of many new products has made the need for this expansion more and more evident,” says Rowe. “Our Poly Bumper Trucks, Vinyl Bumper Trucks and Antimicrobial Laundry Carts have been well received within the industries we serve.”

www.rbwire.com/collections/all-bumper-trucks 800-634-0555

don’t have lug around change and can be assured of always having access to pay for their loads. Loyalty programs are a favorite of customers who enjoy earning perks for patronizing specific Laundromats; this is a perk for the Laundromat, too, as it increases repeat business and customer loyalty.

The system is easy to install, works with most major machines, and can be easily fitted for existing machines dually with coin operation via the company’s Hybrid system.

Hundreds of owners and operators have already upgraded to the LaundryPass system, the company says, and are praising it as being reliable, cost-effective, convenient and smart.

Check out the many technologically advanced features of the system, including the cloud-based software that provides up-to-the-minute business demographics, revenue, monitoring and analytics. You, too, can take advantage of the boost that it will bring to your business, the company says.

www.thelaundrypass.com 855-870-5625

Dexter Laundry

Investing in laundry equipment is an investment in your future. Whether you’re looking for a good investment or are a seasoned owner looking to expand your business, Dexter can help you achieve your dreams.

As an employee-owned company, Dexter’s success depends on your success. Its team is passionate about the laundry industry and helping customers build successful businesses. It offers industryleading warranties, lifetime technical support, and DexterLive controls that allow you to run your business from anywhere. Dexter wants to enable you to live the life you want to, not the life you have to.

For over a century, Dexter Laundry has been helping people and companies everywhere process laundry faster and more efficiently. It builds only high-quality, commercial-grade washers and dryers in the heart of America, and strives to make a positive impact on customers’ lives. And its relationship with customers doesn’t end once the initial sale is complete. It stands behind every machine it builds because it is passionate about creating the best laundry ownership experience.

www.dexter.com 800-524-2954

Laundroworks

Laundroworks is synonymous with an easy-touse, affordable, and powerful payment and management system. “This is all we do,” it says.

The system is comprised of contactless readers and a modern kiosk with a 15-inch touch screen.

Store customers use the kiosk to add money to their laundry card using cash or credit cards in seconds. Customers then use the card to start laundry machines instantly and have the option of receiving mobile notifications when their laundry is finished.

Store owners can see equipment diagnostics and reports and control many system parameters such as card balances and promotions using the LaundroPortal, a cloud-based real-time management system.

Laundroworks can help owners generate more profit and make managing the store a whole lot easier.

www.laundroworks.com 888-629-8620

Forenta has been manufacturing garment care equipment in Morristown, Tenn., for 57 years. In addition to laundry presses and shirt-folding equipment, the company manufactures conveyor systems, drycleaning presses, shirt presses, spotting boards and water chillers. Its equipment is used worldwide by dry cleaners, commercial laundries, coin-op facilities, hotels and government institutions.

As the wash-dry-fold market grows, Forenta says it is here to provide laundry owners with equipment options to capitalize on the pressing and folding of those garments. Its knowledgeable and experienced sales and engineering staff will provide excellent support during and after the sale. In addition, its parts and service department offers skilled customer service technicians who are always just a phone call away.

The Forenta lineup of pressing equipment consists of steam-heated presses and electrically heated presses. The electrically heated presses are ideal for those locations where a boiler does not exist, or remote locations that would require an extended line of steam piping, the company says. These presses vary in size to accommodate shirts, pant legs/tops, ladies garments and linens/ flatwork items.

All Forenta equipment is designed and manufactured in the USA by skilled and experienced technicians. For additional information, visit the company’s website or contact it directly.

www.forentausa.com 423-586-5370

LG Commercial

Front-loading LG Platinum Commercial Washers and Dryers are energy-efficient, afford able, durable, and available in models that benefit vended laundries, including coin- and card-operated stores. Newly optimized to deliver more strength, store-owner control and servicing ease, they are among the quietest in their class, and are offered exclusively in North America by Continental Girbau Inc.

The LG Giant C Fast Platinum Washer fea tures 22.5 pounds of capacity; an inverter Direct Drive system that provides superior durability; an optimized washing system that automatically detects over-sudsing; and a twin spray waterdelivery system that ensures a quality wash without machine stall-outs.

These washers are configurable to meet the needs of nearly any vended laundry application and can stand alone or be stacked with matching dryers. Offering a simpleto-use control with a large digital display, the wash ers allow for intuitive pro gramming of a variety of functions, including water temperatures, fill levels, cycle times, spin speed and vend prices.

The LG Platinum Commercial Dryer is simple to use and program. It also offers a larger capacity within a small footprint. The dryer’s control panel features a digital display illuminating vend price and cycle time countdown, while LED lights indicate cycle status. An extra-large door makes loading and unloading a snap for customers.

Owners can control vend price, cycle time, drying temperatures and more, plus feel good knowing that no one can access the coin box without having both the internal and external security keys.

The dryer’s large, 7.1-cubic-foot drum takes on more laundry and delivers improved drying performance, as well as fewer wrinkles and tangles. AdaptAble™ Controls provide maximum installation flexibility, and the dryers are easily stacked with matching washers.

www.cgilaundry.com 800-256-1073

THE ‘PERFECT’ LAUNDROMAT

You know it when you see it. I am talking about what I have been preaching for nearly 11 years: creating a Laundromat that’s attractive, competent and clean.

Not attractive in a glitzy, expensive way, but the place that you would like to go to. It’s laid out well on the outside, is efficient and organized on the inside.

Not too long ago, I drove by this “perfect” Laundromat in the small town of Abington, Mass. Although I had passed by before, something made me pull into the parking lot this time. It seemed, well, perfect.

The first thing that hits you is the large, freestanding Old Town Superwash sign in red, blue and white. It’s visible to all passersby on both roads, coming and going. The sign is planted in a rich, green lawn, and there are flowers and well-groomed bushes underneath. The greenery is obviously well-maintained.

The sign is at the head of the property, which widens out to a V-shaped parking lot in front of a white building. In fact, two roads, North Street and Birch Street, converge at the sign to create the V shape of the property. Ingress and egress is the full length of the parking lot from both streets.

So, whatever direction you come from, on either street, east to west or vice-versa, you both notice the facility and can enter at any spot in the parking lot. In total, 18 vehicles can easily be parked there, plus a few more cars can be fitted in on either side of the building.

I say “easily” because each space is 9 feet wide, clearly marked with white lines, and accessible from the road. The line striping is so crisp and white, it seems it was done yesterday. Running the length of the parking lot is a center strip of well-tended plantings. You park in a wide parking space, get out, and step on the macadam. It becomes clear that the parking lot was well thought-out.

The sidewalk that surrounds the building on two sides is wide. The building is gleaming white, with large wraparound windows on the front and one side of the structure. A sloping, mansard-shaped blue roof sits atop the building. The double-door entrance makes for easy movement.

Inside, the place is airy, open and active. Rows of machines are color-coded: silver washers on one side, smaller washers in white on the other side. A bank of dryers, two-high, line the rear of the store. To the right are more machines. All the equipment looks like it was just unloaded from cartons.

You soon notice the nine rolling carts, which makes it

Howard Scott

The sidewalk that surrounds Old Town Superwash on two sides is wide. The building is gleaming white, with large wraparound windows on the front and one side of the structure. The double-door entrance makes for easy movement in or out. (Photos: Howard Scott)

easy to transport loads to your car. Six tables are spread throughout the facility. Along the front window is a blue “double” table that is 17 feet long. Alongside the tables are comfortable blue chairs. Underneath these tables are several rubber trash cans, lined with garbage bags.

The wraparound windows give the place an open-air look. The walls are mauve, and fluorescent lighting makes the inside “sunshiny.” The tan ceramic-tile floor hardly has a scuff mark. The ruffle-textured ceiling muffles the music that is softly played in the background. A large clock on the wall shows the time. You can see that this shop is kept in pristine condition.

All the equipment uses cards; no money passes. So, you buy a card for a dollar, then add value using money or credit cards. In the front area is a money-changing machine. After you spend $25, that initial fee is credited, so the card is ultimately free.

All machines display the vend price, along with helpful information such as number of loads the machine takes. There’s a wide range of equipment: washers from 18 to 80 pounds, as well as small-load, medium-load, and large-load dryers. All are front-load units for greater efficiency. You fill the machine with your clothes, insert your card, and the washer goes to work.

There is no attendant, but there doesn’t have to be. All is selfexplanatory. There is little signage. You feel comfortable with a lot of people doing their loads. The sign up front says that Old Town Superwash is open 5 a.m. to midnight seven days a week. You smile to yourself, knowing you will return.

IT’S WHAT A CUSTOMER SEES

Jim McKenna is one customer who went through this discovery when he first saw the Laundromat. In fact, the description I just offered you was the way he saw the site.

It’s what a customer sees. He wasn’t looking for a Laundromat, as his apartment building had a washer/dryer facility on

Customer Jim McKenna loads his clothes into a washer at Old Town Superwash. McKenna has become a regular of the Massachusetts store.

AN OUTSIDER’S VIEW

premises. But for some reason, he pulled in and looked around. After doing a few more washes in his apartment building, McKenna decided that he preferred the Superwash a few miles away.

The laundry facility he once used was in a small, dark room, and you had to put coins in to operate the equipment. Since there wasn’t much of a price difference, he decided that he preferred a clean, bright space, with people bustling around. Now he goes to Superwash every Sunday morning at 7:30. Occasionally, when busy, he’ll go after work.

He calls the chore a break in his day. Parking is never a problem. At any one time, there are three to 10 customers in the store. As a guy in his 60s, he enjoys the quiet. Sometimes, he’ll go to his car and read the newspaper. Other times, he will sit in the Laundromat and read. Generally, he’s out of Superwash in an hour and 15 minutes.

McKenna has never owned his own house, so he’s used a lot of Laundromats during his lifetime, he tells me. And over the years, he’s had some pretty bad experiences. He’s had to wait for machines to open up, units have broken down, coins have been lost, he’s arrived to find the Laundromat closed. But never once have any of these things happened in the three years he’s been coming to Superwash.

He admits that the cleanliness at this facility astounds him.

“Even when I open the machine, the rims look like new,” McKenna explains. “It’s as if this machine has been reserved for me and me alone.”

And he loves the card payment system.

“In the past, I always had to put coins in,” McKenna says. “This method is so trouble-free. You don’t have to fuss with quarters. There are two add-on-value machines. The machines do all the figuring.”

In closing, McKenna calls Superwash the best Laundromat he’s ever used.

“It’s clean. It’s bright, airy. The big windows let you look out-

Customer Jim McKenna is fond of the store’s payment system, which requires no coins.

side. The machines are in good shape. With the card system, you don’t have to think. Once, they closed down for a few weeks to replace all the machines, and I had to go somewhere else. It was OK, but when this reopened, I came back here—and I’ll keep coming back.”

Sounds like a pretty good testament to me. Make sure your store is set up to make the Jim McKennas in your neighborhood happy.

Howard Scott is a former business owner, longtime business writer, and consultant. He began writing this Outsider’s View column for American Coin-Op in November 2007. Scott has decided to retire, and this is his final regular column for the magazine.

Old Town Superwash’s large, freestanding sign is visible to all passersby on North Street and Birch Street, coming and going. The sign is at the head of the property, which widens out to a V-shaped parking lot in front of the building.

There’s a wide range of equipment in Old Town Superwash: washers from 18 to 80 pounds, as well as small-load, medium-load, and large-load dryers. All are front-load units for greater efficiency.

Howard Scott had already been writing a column for sister publication American Drycleaner for 15 years when he started writing An Outsider’s View for American Coin-Op in November 2007.

Editor Paul Partyka asked Scott, then a longtime business writer and small-business consultant, to offer his view of the self-service laundry industry.

Over the years, he has written about everything from staffing to store location, from turns per day to tax honesty. But Scott, who turns 74 this month, has decided to end his freelance writing career in favor of more family time and perhaps different writing challenges.

Scott, who resides in Massachusetts with his wife, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. The Wharton MBA soon started a

Above is a clip from Howard Scott’s inaugural column here in 2007. At the time, he’d been writing for sister publication American Drycleaner for many years. Above right is a clip from his first column there in 1992.

commercial office supply firm called American Scott and ran it for a decade before selling. He was also involved in the ownership of a couple other businesses, including a book

and hobby store and a dry cleaner.

But writing was always a passion for him, and he began devoting time to learning the craft. It wasn’t long before he was getting business articles published. Scott says he’s had 1,700 articles published over the years by a variety of publications, including

magazines that serve the pool/ spa and printing industries.

“The way I got to understand each of these industries was to speak to owners,” he says. “As soon as I got an assignment, I would visit owners, speak to owners, and get a real feel for the business.”

The toughest part of the job? Coming up with the column ideas, he says.

While the business tools used may have changed during Scott’s 50-year career, he says the basic concepts of business management haven’t.

“With hard work and paying attention to the details, you can be a success,” he reminds. “The basic is still the inflow must be greater than the outflow, day after day after day.”

— Editor Bruce Beggs

■ Scott Ends Nearly 12-Year Stint as American Coin-Op Columnist

SUMMER IS PERFECT TIME TO RETOOL YOUR STORE

The temperatures are rising, kids are out of school, and all those heavy sweaters and cold-weather gear are packed away until fall. While not the case for all vended laundries, loads are getting smaller and the summer slowdown is hitting — unless your laundry is in a vacation/resort area hot spot. Then you might be heading into a busy time.

But for the majority of owners, summer is a “catch your breath” period. That’s why I think of summer as a great time for Laundromat investors to take a look at their results and business as a whole. While some might argue that the best time for that is at year’s end, when all the numbers are in, I think finding a point in early summer to look at year-overyear and historic data might be better.

Reviewing your operation now, during a slower time, brings clarity and makes it the perfect season to explore retooling and upgrading. Summer is most definitely retool time.

STARTING POINTS

It would be easy to reduce this column to a discussion of “well, it’s been a few years; you should update the paint and in-store signs.” While that’s definitely part of the summer retool equation, I say take a deeper dive and look at your business holistically for areas to retool.

Start with a review of general business operations. Performing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis within the confines of your market is a great first step to identify how your store matches up against the competition. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses (as well as your competitors’) puts you in a great position to make educated decisions about your store’s summer retool.

I will also caution that in putting together your plan, it’s probably a good time to take a look at your lease. Obviously, if you have just a few years left, it’s a bit of a risk to make a substantial investment in the location. By contrast, it may be an opportunity to open a dialogue with your landlord on lease terms/extensions based off improvements you will make.

DO YOU STILL KNOW YOUR CUSTOMERS?

Equally important a guide in your project is understanding the market. You opened with amenities and an equipment mix that catered to a demographics report. Are your demographics the same as when you opened your Laundromat? Neighborhoods are in constant change.

Perhaps a wash-dry-fold option made sense upon opening. Does it still make sense? Do the demographics and numbers match? Your business retool could be focused on figuring out a way to expand and better market that business component because it has been growing and the neighborhood has seen an influx of higher incomes. The flip side may be that the demographics and a decline in WDF business show it no longer balances out with the staffing required. That expense may be better served in adding a couple 80-pound machines.

This look at demographics might be an opportunity to review payment systems as well. If an upgrade of equipment is part of the retool strategy, is it time to offer additional payment options aside from just quarters or dollar coins? Card systems and app-based solutions not only increase the amount of payment options to make using your laundry easy, but they also may offer rewards programs to encourage loyalty. If coin is still in the mix, look at the changers your store offers. Do you have bill-to-bill changers? Again, upgrading helps make your laundry more customer-friendly.

Do you know what your customers want when it comes to snacks and beverages? It may be time to upgrade or rethink vending. For decades, soda ruled the snack machine realm. However, today we see more people drinking energy drinks, bottled water and chilled coffee beverages. Does your Laundromat’s vending machine(s) reflect this shift? If not, customers are likely running to nearby businesses for these items.

A LOOK AT EQUIPMENT

Demographics will drive your equipment upgrade strategy. Generally, the industry is going larger. In many of our store designs, we are cutting out the 30-pound washers, and jumping from the 20-pound unit to 40-, 60- and 80-pound capacities. Even 100 pounds is becoming commonplace in larger locations.

Craig Dakauskas

Summer retooling is the time to focus on technology upgrades. New machines are great but will they have the features to increase profitability? Giving customers greater flexibility to upgrade their wash (hot water, extra rinse, etc.) is almost mandatory today. Numbers we have seen definitely tell this story — customers will go beyond the basic wash a high percentage of the time. That means additional revenue for owners and more satisfied customers.

Along with equipment, retool time gives an opportunity to review systems and processes. Are you spending more time managing the business and is this preventing you from scaling? Make it a point to review management systems available. They may assist in not only reducing time spent managing the business, but offer insights into store usage that enable you to maximize profitability.

EXTREME LAUNDRY MAKEOVER

The all-in makeover of homes, restaurants, you name it, is all the rage on TV. And while it may not be an option for every owner, reconfiguring your store can have the maximum impact on customers. As I think about retooling a store, at the very least, I recommend upgrading bulkheads. Why install new equipment on old plumbing and gas lines?

Similarly, if larger, more efficient equipment is on the retool list, it may be time to upgrade the water heating system. Tankless systems not only deliver gallons of hot water on demand, they also are far more efficient than tank systems.

Think outside the box. Are solar panels an option for your

store? If so, it may be worth looking into grants from your utility company that may make installing this alternative energy source more affordable. New windows and doors also may provide an energy-saving boost as well as an aesthetic one.

IN CLOSING

Summer is the perfect time to retool a Laundromat. It is up to each owner to gauge the level to which they are willing to attack the project. At one end of the spectrum is the paint refresh, new signage and more modern seating/tables, the other end is new equipment, systems and layout.

True, the latter comes with a higher price tag, but it also comes with a variety of elements that give customers a reason to visit your laundry. It offers an opportunity to win more customers as well as drive a premium in the marketplace. When you offer more of an experience, clients will pay more for it. But owners must be grounded with the data to drive their summer retool decisions. From there, it’s about leveraging available technologies to better manage the businesses to maximum profitability. This is where owners can rely on their distributor to help them better understand all the business benefits of these new technologies.

Whether you opt for the extreme makeover or not, do something this summer to give your Laundromat a refresh. ACO

Craig Dakauskas is president of Commercial and Coin Laundry Equipment Co. (CLEC), a Speed Queen distributorship headquartered in Gulf Breeze, Fla. He can be reached at sales@clecco.com.

WESTERN STATE DESIGN CONTINUES AWARD-WINNING WAYS

At Dexter Laundry’s annual Conference and Awards Ceremony staged earlier this year in Rome, Italy, distributor Western State Design (WSD) won several awards as the equipment brand’s top sales producer worldwide.

try,” says Trey Northrup, general manager of Maytag® Commercial Laundry. “We’re fortunate to have a great relationship with Bob Stevens, Rob Jackson and their team, and we look forward to the accomplishments we can achieve together in 2018.”

“Receiving the Fred Maytag Award is a great honor,” says Stevens, co-principal of Harco Co. Ltd. “We’re proud of everything we’ve accomplished over this past year.”

After a year of showcasing how truly dedicated it is to the coin market, P.T. Triton International, Jakarta, Indonesia, took home the Vended Excellence Award.

Hercules Corp. of Hicksville, N.Y., was presented with the Multi-Housing Excellence Award, which praises exemplary service to the niche market of colleges and universities, condominiums and apartment buildings. It marked the fourth time Hercules has won the award.

Pierce Commercial Laundry Distributors of Mandeville, La., was recognized as the Quality Partner of the Year. The award praises a distributor for its collaboration and dedication to Maytag® Commercial Laundry, and its commitment to advancing the commercial laundry industry.

The WSD team was honored with the following:

• Chairman’s Award, for the fifth time overall and the fourth consecutive year,

• President’s Award, for the seventh consecutive year,

• Top Dexter Sales Producer, Worldwide, for the 11th consecutive year, and

• Record-setting 2017 Dexter Laundry equipment sales.

“We are pleased not only to be recognized for our ongoing sales achievements, but also to be able to work with such a well-run company staffed with top-notch employees,” says Todd Hyrn, WSD vice president. “Year in, year out, Dexter continues to innovate, producing durable, efficient commercial washers and dryers that our customers can depend on to help them achieve business success.”

CANADA’S HARCO CO. CAPTURES MAYTAG’S TOP DISTRIBUTOR HONOR

During the Maytag® Commercial Laundry 59th Annual Meeting in Providence, R.I., in May, the brand took the opportunity to honor exemplary distributor performances during the Annual Fred Maytag Awards Dinner.

Taking home the brand’s most coveted and prestigious accolade, the Fred Maytag Award, was Harco Co. Ltd. of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The honor is presented to the distributor that best emulates the founder’s marketing philosophy and supports the Maytag® Commercial Laundry brand with salesmanship, professionalism and integrity.

“Harco Co. Ltd. continues to demonstrate outstanding loyalty and dedication to the Maytag® Commercial brand, and the indus-

Dependable Laundry Solutions, of Welshpool, Australia, was presented with the Red Carpet Service® Award, which recognizes excellent service and dependability characterized by Maytag® Commercial Laundry.

Honoring achievements in the development and implementation of marketing and sales programs, and supporting overall Maytag® Commercial Laundry offerings, the Marketing Excellence Award was presented to Clean

Designs Commercial Laundry Equipment

Harco Co. Ltd. personnel accept their company’s Fred Maytag Award: (from left) Trey Northrup, general manager, Maytag® Commercial Laundry; Michelle Suhy, national sales manager, commercial laundry, Whirlpool Corp.; Robert Jackson, Harco; Malcolm Caldwell, Harco; Robert Stevens, Harco; Lance Surridge, sales manager, commercial laundry, Whirlpool Corp.; and Chad Lange, director of sales, commercial laundry, Whirlpool Corp. (Photo: Maytag® Commercial Laundry)

Representatives from Western State Design (WSD) and Dexter Laundry gather for presentation of the Top Dexter Sales Producer, Worldwide award, marking the 11th consecutive year that WSD has earned the honor. (Photo: Western State Design).

ʻExcellenceʼ conference draws largest crowd ever

The Coin Laundry Association’s (CLA) biennial Excellence in Laundry Conference continues to grow. The two-day members-only gathering at the Naples (Fla.) Grande Resort in May had a “head count” of 206, making it the largest since the event began in 2012, says CLA President/CEO Brian Wallace.

Excellence in Laundry was created to provide top-quality industry education and unparalleled networking opportunities to self-service laundry operators during years when there is no Clean Show.

In introducing the event during its opening session, Wallace called it an “unconvention,” explaining that the agenda was filled with speakers who hail from outside the laundry industry yet offer expertise valuable to any laundry business.

Ray Wang, principal analyst of Constellation Research, talked in detail about the Digital Transformation and the New Business Models Ahead

Crystal Washington addressed the Future of Digital Marketing for Laundry Owners. After listing many of the popular social networks, Washington told attendees that she believes YouTube and Facebook offer self-service laundries the best forums based on their typical social media offerings.

Joe Crosby, who runs the MultiState Associates government relations consultancy, described Today’s Legislative Landscape for Laundry Owners

The event didn’t fully move away from peer-to-peer interaction. During a presentation titled Laundry Hacks, attendees split up into smaller groups and collaborated to build a list of tips and tricks they use to run their businesses more efficiently and for greater profit.

Leadership of the LaundryCares Foundation appealed to CLA members to donate in support of initiatives that include Free Laundry Days and a growing literacy effort. The CLA recently hosted the inaugural LaundryCares Literacy Summit in Chicago, in partnership with Too Small to Fail and Libraries Without Borders. Foundation chairman Jeff Gardner was soon fielding pledges from industry manufacturers and suppliers as well as store owners. Wallace later reported pledges were “at $106,000 and climbing.” Besides the educational sessions, conference attendees enjoyed a welcome reception, a dinner gala, and a farewell picnic. ACO

is History There

Excellence in Laundry Conference attendees broke into smaller groups to discuss “Laundry Hacks,” the tips, tricks and shortcuts they use for the betterment of their laundry business.

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Laundry Pro of Florida is the 2016 Dexter

of the year. We are looking for new prospects to join our team. Come work where people vacation, in sunny Florida. We are seeking: • Proven Laundry Equipment Salesman Great work environment, highly competitive compensation, paid relocation expenses. Please respond in confidence to: Rjansen@laundryequipment.com

Inc., Lakewood, Colo.

Winning the International Distributor of the Year Award, Excellence Appliance Technologies, Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, was commended for its service and dependability, strong sales and support of Maytag® Commercial Laundry products outside of the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Advantage Laundry Systems Inc. was named the Maytag® Commercial Laundry Outstanding First Year Performer in recognition of its commitment and dedication in its first year of operation.

MARTIN-RAY REP ORGANIZES GATHERING FOR INDUSTRY’S WOMEN

Jodi Way, a territory sales representative at Speed Queen distributor Martin-Ray Laundry Systems, recently organized a first-ever get-together in Denver for women involved in the vended laundry business.

The March event at a restaurant included lunch, keynote speaker Brian Wallace from the Coin Laundry Association, and networking opportunities. It attracted 16 attendees, ranging from those already in the business to those planning to open Laundromats.

“It’s exciting to have created a venue for women in laundry in the Denver area to get together and discuss challenges we face in the industry,” says Way.

Plans call for the group to gather again in September. Those interested may e-mail Way at jodi@martinray.com to learn more about the group and to join the mailing list for upcoming events.

STATEWIDE LAUNDRY LAUNCHES ‘CASE STUDY STORIES’ ONLINE

Distributor Statewide Laundry has launched a series of “Case Study Stories” featuring customers from around the state of Florida and why they chose to partner with Statewide and equipment manufacturer Speed Queen to design and build their store.

In the first case study, Kurt Schroeder describes opening his Speed Wash Laundromat last year in Tampa and discusses his thought process as he and Statewide Vice President Jim Rogers designed the store.

TEETERS PRODUCTS IS NEWEST ELECTROLUX DISTRIBUTOR: LAUNDRYLUX

Teeters Products joined the Electrolux Professional laundry equipment distribution network effective May 1, Laundrylux reports, and now represents the manufacturer in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.

Founded in 1955, Teeters Products serves customers in the coin/ vended, on-premises, and multi-housing channels from a newly renovated 40,000-square-foot office and showroom facility in Fletcher, Ohio.

Leading the Teeters management team is the father and son duo of Doug and Dan Grise.

“Upon receiving Electrolux professional washers and dryers, we immediately renovated our lab,” explains Doug Grise, president of Teeters Products. “After doing over 100 laundry loads in Electrolux and competitive equipment, we couldn’t be more excited to offer high-performing, ultra-efficient solutions to our customer base. Our new product line will play an immense role in shaping the next-generation laundry.”

The lab is open for demonstrations, says Grise, adding that the “two renovated showrooms have never looked better.”

“The industry is rapidly evolving, and we’re positioning our company and services for the future,” says Dan Grise.

As part of the new partnership, Teeters Products will launch a new website soon at https://tplaundry.com

Queen National Sales Manager Tom Fleck pays Schroeder’s store a visit to talk about new products and opportunities his company has to offer business owners and consumers.

Statewide Laundry says it plans to release at least one new case study per quarter. Schroeder’s case study has been posted to YouTube and can be viewed on Statewide’s website. ACO

Speed

Kurt Schroeder and his Speed Wash Laundromat are the focus of Statewide Laundry’s first in a series of “Case Study Stories” presented by video on its website. (Photo: Statewide Laundry)

Doug and Dan Grise lead the management team at Teeters Products, just appointed to the Electrolux Professional Laundry distribution network. (Photo: Laundrylux)

“I came up with the location and vision. Continental and my distributor, Belson Company, partnered with me to execute the plan — making my dream reality. My Express Laundry Center is not only wildly successful, it’s extremely rewarding.”

- Steve Dietzen, Green Bay Express Laundry Center