While washers and dryers are at the heart of vended laundry operations, supplies like detergents, stain removers and laundry bags also contribute greatly in helping laundry owners serve customers.
FROM ‘PLAIN JANE’ TO PREMIUM SERVICE
Dave Menz spreads his passion for laundry business ownership well beyond the walls of his four stores, sharing his thoughts and ideas about lifting what can be a commodity business into the realm of premium service.
Laundry businesses required to file could face significant penalties if they fail to report, per the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
COLUMNS
20 POINTERS FROM PAULIE B: SOME CREATIVE WAYS TO FIND RELIABLE EMPLOYEES
Finding reliable employees has always been a difficult process, says retired multi-store owner Paul Russo, but it seems to have gotten harder in recent years with some candidates demanding higher wages while exhibiting an anti-work, anti-authority attitude. Russo shares some options for searching for and finding new employees.
American Coin-Op has released podcast episodes on a variety of industry-related topics? Give one a listen at AmericanCoinOp. com/podcasts.
(Cover photo: Queen City Laundry/Dave Menz)
VIEWPOINT
EDITORIAL
Charles Thompson, Publisher
E-mail: cthompson@ATMags.com Phone: 312-361-1680
Bruce Beggs, Editorial Director E-mail: bbeggs@ATMags.com Phone: 312-361-1683
Mathew Pawlak, Production Manager
COMMODITY OR SERVICE BUSINESS?
Bruce Beggs
I draw inspiration from a variety of sources in developing and pitching feature ideas to appear on the American Coin-Op Editorial Calendar that maps out this magazine’s key article topics for a given year.
As I was brainstorming ideas to pitch for what would become the 2024 editorial plan, I came across a video snippet from a podcast.
“We can view our business as a commodity or we can view our business as a service business,” the speaker said, adding that it’s not a matter of right or wrong. Being in business for yourself means you get to choose what your business looks like, he explained.
The clip closed with, “For some reason, not our industry but our world has lost sight of something that used to be foundational in business, which is servitude.”
I was inspired to write “From ‘Plain Jane’ to Premium Service,” the cover story for this month’s issue, and it only made sense to interview Dave Menz, the man behind the mic in that video, about this concept and his motivation to serve.
You’ll learn what drove him to acquire and improve multiple stores, to find how best he could serve his local community, and to spread the word about the benefits of high-level servitude. Our cover story opens on page 8.
Also in this issue are “Factoring in Supplies,” appreciating their symbiotic role in aiding vended laundry users; columnist Paul Russo’s suggestions for some creative ways to find reliable employees; and a Product Showcase highlighting money-handling equipment.
Oh, I should mention that Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) filings are due by Jan. 1 if your business started prior to 2024. You don’t want to miss this deadline, because small businesses required to file but don’t could face significant penalties. Get all the details on page 23.
It seems like the year just got started and here I am talking about its end. Let’s make the most of these last two months.
Bruce Beggs Editorial Director
UPDATE: DT Equipment Co. is an Illinois-based distributor listed in our Distributors Directory issue published in October. The company says its proper website address is www.dteci.com.
Nathan Frerichs, Digital Media Director E-mail: nfrerichs@ATMags.com Phone: 312-361-1681
ADVISORY BOARD
Douglas Pratt Michael Schantz Tony Regan Matt Simmons
Sharon Sager
ADVERTISING
Linda Lee, National Sales Manager E-mail: Linda@ATMags.com Phone: 218-310-6838 or 312-361-1682
OFFICE INFORMATION Main: 312-361-1700
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POSTMASTER, Send changes of address and form 3579 to American Coin-Op, Subscription Dept., PO Box 23, Forest Park, IL 60130. Volume 65, number 11. Editorial, executive and advertising offices are at 650 West Lake Street, Suite 320, 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.
TRUMP WINS AGAIN … IF IT WERE UP TO LAUNDRY OWNERS
MOST SURVEY TAKERS SAY THEY WILL VOTE GOP OVER DEMOCRATS IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
f the outcome of the 2024 presidential election was left up to the selfservice laundry owners polled in this quarter’s American Coin-Op Your Views survey, Donald Trump will be elected president again this month.
Eighty percent of laundry owners surveyed in October say they plan to vote for Republicans Trump and running mate JD Vance in the Nov. 5 presidential election. Fifteen percent will back Democrats Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, and 5% will choose Libertarians Chase Oliver and Mike ter Matt.
No one taking the survey plans to vote for independents Cornel West and Melina Abdullah or Green Party candidate Jill Stein. And no one is undecided about who they plan to vote for.
As for which issue will most influence their vote, the respondents are focused on a few. Inflation, including the price of goods and services, gets most of the attention, with 35% choosing it. Next is economic growth, including jobs, identified by 30%, and immigration, seen as the most influential issue by 25%.
“Other” issues — including a U.S. government that’s “way too big,” and “protecting democracy” — will most influence 10% of respondents as they go to the polls. No one taking the survey chose healthcare or national security as their key influencer.
American Coin-Op asked what action the next administration could take within its first 100 days to assist small businesses like self-service laundries. Here are some of the responses:
• “Stop spending money, especially on proxy wars.”
• “Close the borders, get inflation under control, (and) give smallbusiness owners new tax breaks.”
• “Stop the 75,000 IRS auditors that will be targeting small businesses for audits.”
• “Small-business grants or low-interest loans to encourage expansion, new equipment and general business investment.”
• “Reduce inflation beginning at the gas pump, so drilling (for) oil would be the first step.”
Three-quarters of respondents believe the vote for president is the election that will have the greatest impact on their business. Fifteen percent say it’s the congressional races, and equal shares of 5% point to state or local races.
Finally, American Coin-Op asked what issue has been most overlooked during the presidential campaign yet could significantly impact the laundry industry. Here are some responses:
• “We need dollars in the hands of working people that use paid laundry, and increasing the federal minimum wage would be the fastest way to do that.”
• “Climate change hoax is a big part of inflation and needs to be stopped.”
• “Healthcare.”
• “Regulations and the high cost of utilities ‘going green.’”
• “Lack of law enforcement efforts for vandalism and theft recovery.”
• “Too many items have been overlooked in the search for voters to convert.”
American Coin-Op’s Your Views survey presents an unscientific snapshot of the trade audience’s viewpoints. Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Subscribers to American Coin-Op emails are invited to participate anonymously in industry surveys. The entire trade audience is encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define owner/operator opinions and industry trends.
From ‘Plain Jane’ to Premium Service
Serve your community in a better way and financial rewards will follow: Menz
by Bruce Beggs, Editorial Director
Cincinnati’s Dave Menz spreads his passion for laundry business ownership well beyond the walls of his stores, sharing with others in the self-service laundry industry his thoughts and ideas about lifting what can be a commodity business into the realm of premium service.
“I always say the laundromat business is a good business,” he says. “The full-service laundry center business is a great business.”
GETTING INTO IT
Menz owns four Queen City Laundry stores along the east side of the Cincinnati metro area, the newest of which is a superstore that combines 6,500 square feet of retail laundromat space with 2,500 square feet for “back of house” needs, including a hub for Queen City’s wash-dry-fold pickup and delivery operations. He says the stores generate some $2.3 million in revenue annually with a staff that includes a general manager, two assistant GMs, and a manager at each location.
New York City publisher, a first in an industry where its related books and guides are typically self-published, he says.
He was already doing some coaching on a small scale at the time but the notoriety gained from his book has grown that infrequent gig into a consulting business that hosts regular workshops and just assisted its 300th client.
Additionally, he has written a teaching memoir called “The Laundromat Millionaire” that was picked up and published by a
“It all came from a place of just genuinely wanting to help other people figure out that there’s a better way to do this,” Menz says.
“That’s my and my wife Carla’s mission, to elevate the industry, make the industry a better version of itself.
“I think it’s a great business already but I think it can be done better in a lot of different ways. And that’s where the, quoteunquote, platform has come from. Just a heart of servitude and figuring out a better way of doing that. Believing we’re all better together.”
IT DOES WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO DO
This article was inspired by something Menz emphasized during an episode of his podcast: “We can view our business as a commodity or we can view our business as a service business.”
“I refer to it as a commodity laundry, or sometimes I refer to
it as ‘plain jane,’ which means it’s functional,” he tells American Coin-Op. “It’s not meant to be denigrating in any way. It does what it’s supposed to do. I have my dirty laundry and I want to get it clean, and you provide me with a laundry room … with a few washers and dryers in it, (and) it’s designed to functionally clean my laundry and nothing else.”
Looking back to when he first entered the self-service laundry business, he believes that much of the industry fit that plain jane description then.
“I would argue that, anecdotally, it’s still a majority of the industry. Now, I do think people’s eyes are being opened more and more every day, that’s there another side to the industry which is service-based. … More laundromat owners are opening their eyes to the concept of serving our community vs. just functionally cleaning their laundry.”
STARTS BY ‘PUTTING LIPSTICK ON A PIG’
Menz says he’s gone through three phases of ownership, starting as a novice who knew nothing about laundry ownership or management.
“When I got in the business in 2010, Carla and I basically had no money. We had no business acumen, had never run a business of any substance before, and really didn’t know what we were doing. We bought a ‘zombiemat,’ for lack of a better term, that was in a great location. I really only knew two things: I knew I needed an equipment distributor, and I knew the laws of supply and demand.”
He studied the nine laundromats his would be competing with and decided that they were in “horrible shape, just like me.” The selfproclaimed perfectionist couldn’t run his store like that.
“I didn’t know what I know today, so I just slowly but surely started fixing it up. We didn’t have a lot of money. I call it putting lipstick on a pig. We just did what we could with what we could afford, and sweat equity.”
The experience taught him that his revenues grew commensurate with his improving the business.
“As I did that, my profits grew, and as I reinvested the profits back into the business, the community appreciated what I did,” Menz says. “They would go tell other people in the community, ‘Wow, you should go check out Queen City Laundry. It’s got a new owner and they’re fixing it up, doing things different.”
He installed new equipment, changed operating hours and shifted from unattended to partially attended to eventually fully attended.
During his first five years, he was “obsessed” with buying zombiemats—three in all—and fixing them up into plain jane laundromats. “I didn’t know that’s what I was doing, but that’s what I was doing. Trying to not make them horrible,” he chuckles.
What he fell in love with was the concept of servitude. Menz was several months into laundromat ownership when a teary-eyed single mother of three who lived nearby approached him in the store one day.
“She came up to me and gave me a hug,” he recalls. “She said, ‘Thank you for fixing up our laundromat.’ I’ll never forget that as long as I live, because that was the day I realized the impact that revitalizing a laundromat had on a community.”
‘FROM GOOD TO GREAT’
“In the next five years, I wanted to take my business from good to great,” Menz says about his evolution as a laundry owner. “Over the first three, I kept investing all the profits. I call it keeping my hand out of the cookie jar. I took the bare minimum to be able to support my family and everything else went back into the business.
“You wake up three or four years later, the same four stores are significantly nicer than they were. We invested in furniture, in air conditioning where they didn’t have it. We invested in the beginnings of layers of management to keep people accountable, and training and empowering our team.”
Menz had borrowed roughly $3.5 million to get his stores to the point they were and by year eight, he’d paid some back but still owed most of it.
“I thought, ‘I can keep doing this to 10 or 15 or 20 stores,’ which is what I thought I would do at one point, ‘or I shift my focus to how I can generate more revenue, which will allow me to serve my community in a better way from the four stores that I have.’ That required kind of the third shift for me, into this service-based economy.”
OPTIMIZATION COMES INTO FOCUS
Menz couldn’t grow his stores’ demographics, so it became about optimizing his facility and getting the most out of the equipment he had.
Operationally, he decided to capitalize on a growing trend by offering drop-off laundry pickup and delivery. Meanwhile, he turned to some friends who were successful entrepreneurs outside the laundry industry.
“I had always kind of obsessed over my next level and what that looks like,” Menz says. “I couldn’t see anyone in the industry who could help me figure that out. So I went to these entrepreneurs. Most are restaurateurs.”
Through lunches and meetings, these business owners asked about his laundry equipment, specifically how much it cost him to purchase, what vend prices he charged the users, and how many times a day the equipment was being used.
Based on his answers, Menz’s mentors pointed out that his machines were only being used 10% of the day. “Horrific” was one description of that usage, he says.
The point of buying commercial business equipment, while expensive, is to wear it out as quickly as possible, they told him, not to make it last.
Multi-store owner Dave Menz poses in one of his four Queen City Laundry locations in the Cincinnati area. (Photo: Queen City Laundry/Dave Menz)
“They helped me understand how underutilized our industry is,” he says. “And that helped me to understand that we, as an industry, need to attack this differently. If we keep doing what we’ve been doing since 1940, we’re probably just going to stay where we are, which, in my opinion, isn’t good enough.”
VALUE PROPOSITION
Beyond the equipment factors, Menz wondered if customers would pay more if other aspects of a laundry business were improved. He was thinking about value proposition.
“What if we serve our current customers at a higher level? Will they pay more for the same service? A 60-pound washer is a 60-pound washer, but will they pay, in theory, 25% more for the same 60-pound washer if my facility has air conditioning, if my facility is located in a safe area … if I have attendants on duty that are highly trained and motivated to greet them?”
His initial conclusion was yes, but he didn’t know how much more. Then he turned to instituting ways to generate greater revenue through more turns per day.
“That’s where pickup and delivery, and even drop-off laundry, came in. We raised our level of service to our local community, we raised our prices, and (our customers) rewarded us. They were happy with that, to this day. In some cases, we now charge 50-60% more than our closest competitor for self-serve.”
FIND YOUR DESIRED LEVEL OF SERVICE
There are investors coming into the industry today who wish to build a full-service laundry right away, Menz says, and that’s certainly doable with enough liquid capital. But launching high-level service—particularly when evolving from a plain jane store—doesn’t have to be done all at once.
“If you start where I started, which was at zero, then there’s going to be a whole lot of sacrifice. There’s going to be a whole lot of lipstick on a
pig, there’s going to be a whole lot of sweat equity, and there’s going to be a lot of delayed gratification.
“Reinvesting the profits and cash flow that your business makes, and the more you do those things, the more you sacrifice, then the faster it will compound.”
While Menz’s multi-store operation has reached its level of service in Cincinnati, nothing says you can’t serve your own community “in an amazing way” with a 1,500-square-foot store with 10 washers and dryers, he adds.
No matter where you’re located, there are people you can serve.
“People are human beings, and we should get up every day with the goal of serving humanity in a better way tomorrow than we did yesterday. We, collectively, as an industry,” Menz says. “I think that should be important to us. And the beauty of that is, if we do that, the financial rewards will come.”
That’s the benefit of a job well done.
Menz’s newest Queen City Laundry pictured above opened in 2022. It covers 9,000 square feet and offers self-service equipment, drop-off service and dry cleaning, along with a host of customer-friendly amenities. (Photos: Queen City Laundry/Dave Menz)
This store in Amelia, Ohio, was the first that Menz acquired. It’s shown after improvements had been made. This business was absorbed and the store closed when his superstore opened elsewhere in Amelia. (Photos: Queen City Laundry/Dave Menz)
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Appreciating their symbiotic role in serving vended laundry users Factoring in Supplies
by Bruce Beggs, Editorial Director
Washers and dryers are at the core of vended laundry operations but laundromat customers also rely on a larger family of products to help them get their clothes clean.
Laundry equipment and the consumable or complementary items we call supplies have a symbiotic relationship.
For example, washers provide the mechanical action and agitation needed for quality laundering while detergents, bleaches, fabric softeners and other products contribute to the chemistry for cleaning and whitening fabrics.
Beyond the cleaning, carts, laundry bags and hangers make it easier for patrons to move, organize and manage their clothing before and after washing and drying.
By partnering with supply businesses, laundry owners can ensure they have a steady repository of these essential products and the ability to procure them quickly, enabling them to consistently serve their customer base.
POPULAR SELLERS
From its origins over 65 years ago in the family garage, Californiabased Sudsy Vending Supplies has grown into a local and national sup-
plier of coin vend, retail, janitorial and wash-and-fold supplies, says Lauri Frietze; she and sister Karen Wray are co-partners in the business.
“Starting with tubes of powdered detergents, (we moved) into the wide array of products available today for the modern coin laundry,” Wray adds.
Across the country in New York state, Cleaner’s Supply has been serving the industry for 30 years, says President Jeff Schapiro: “We operate two distribution centers, one on the East Coast in New York, one on the West Coast in Nevada. The advantage of this is it allows us to deliver to about 85% of the country in two days or less.”
Vince Hansen, president of Chicago-based Vend-Rite Mfg. Co., has a different perspective on supplies; his company manufactures vending equipment used by self-service laundries to sell detergent and other items in-store to their customers.
“The traditional single-load coin vend boxes that most people relate to a self-service laundry are the most common,” he says of the supplies stocked in Vend-Rite’s equipment. “During the last seven or eight years, we have seen a major growth in retail-sized products being sold from our vender. These products provide laundry owners with better profit margins and offer laundry customers better value.”
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Factoring in Supplies
(continued from page 14)
Hansen counts detergents, pretreating agents, stain/spot removers, detergent boosters, liquid fabric softeners, scent boosters, and dryer sheets to reduce static cling as the popular sellers for laundromats and wash-dryfold operations.
Of Sudsy’s big sellers, Frietze says, “It depends on the individual laundry and how they plan on supplying the products to their customers. Whether is it is the single coin vend size or the retail size for the larger vending centers or for sale by attendants.”
“Wash and fold has just become a huge, huge thing for laundromats,” says Schapiro when asked about his company’s hot items. “We carry, certainly, all types of wash-and-fold bags, plastic to nylon. We have an array of bags and it’s kind of become a big sector (for us). We operate our own screen-printing operation on-site, so if [laundries] want the bags customprinted with their name on it, we can do that.”
SOURCING AND SPEED
In order to build an inventory of products to sell to laundry owners, supply companies must source the items — research and learn about the manufacturers and formulators that make the products — and develop relationships for distribution.
Sudsy Vending Supplies has built long-time relationships with several supply manufacturers whose products it sells, says Wray.
In sourcing its sizable number of product offerings, Schapiro says that Cleaner’s Supply assesses factors like average lead time for receiving a product from the vendor, their performance consistency, product usage rate and seasonal influences on product availability in deciding if an item is right to add.
“We stock 30,000 products that we carry. Those are not drop-shipped, those are actually stocked in our facility. Managing the inventory is a huge focus for us,” he says. “When our customers call us, they’re not calling us because they’re going to need it in a month or two, they need it now
Having items in stock is critical.”
Whenever new supply items are brought to market, Vend-Rite experiments to determine if they’re suitable to vend from its equipment, Hansen says.
“When I see a new product being marketed in print or televised advertisements, I’ll purchase the item and run some tests to see if the product is vendable,” he says. “If it is, I’ll reach out to the manufacturer and discuss the distribution of the item.”
BIGGEST CHANGES?
So what are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen among vended or washdry-fold laundry supplies?
“Over the years, the vending machines have changed to offer the laundry customers larger or different sizes and allows the laundry owners the use of either coin or card to have multiple vend prices on several individual items within the vender,” says Frietze.
From Hansen’s view, big changes have come in the variety of items being offered.
“We have seen products like ammonia, baking soda, pine- and lavender-scented products, and floor cleaners,” he says. “Hispanic products that are not mainstream grocery store items are also popular.”
STAYING IN VIEW AND UP TO DATE
Procuring the supplies they sell is just part of the equation. The consumable nature of many supplies they sell means that supply companies work hard in positioning themselves and their product offerings to stay in front of customers.
“We have a 148-page catalog that we’ll send to our customers on a regular basis. In addition to this, we’ll have daily or weekly emails, telling them about specials or maybe new products that we now have,” Schapiro says. “We try to put a fair amount of content up on our website, so if our customers have questions, often we have a little Q&A section and they can get stuff there. We have a whole technical support department that can also assist customers.”
Cleaner’s Supply does a little marketing on social media like Facebook and Instagram, but not much.
“We find a lot of our customers are busy and not always there scrolling through social media,” Schapiro says. “It’s a lot easier for us to get it to them on a consistent basis through these other channels.”
“We at Sudsy pride ourselves in our customer service, with word of mouth being a key source of informing our customers of old and new products,” says Wray, with the company’s website and online store also highlighting many needed items.
It’s vital to stay abreast of laundromat needs and wants and thus be able to locate and offer the right supply for the task.
Hansen relies on several sources, including print/TV ads, the internet, distributors and laundry owners.
For Frietze’s company, it’s “through trade shows and communication with manufacturers, and always the input from our customers.”
“Talking to customers is always the best,” Schapiro says. “This is a great way for us to kind of get ahead of different things that are going on.
“Laundromat (owners), they’re not shy. You know, good or bad, you’re going to hear something. … Talking to customers, whether that’s on the phone, in person, at trade shows, is always a great way to get that (information) and try to adjust on those things.”
Ithink finding reliable employees has always been a difficult process.
And it’s gotten harder the last few years due to worker demand for higher wages; an anti-work, anti-authority attitude that seems to be growing; and just a plain shortage of people who want to work in a laundromat.
No matter what search method you choose, you’re going to need plenty of job applications.
There are many royalty-free, “boilerplate” application forms online, and you may find one that closely suits your needs. It’s not hard to scan one and edit it to create what you desire. You can take something out, or add something in, and then print it up.
For instance, put in your company logo; it adds a nice professional touch.
But however you may change it, make sure that your application conforms to your state’s legal requirements as to what you can and cannot ask an applicant.
It was my experience that the prior jobs that applicants listed could mean very little.
For instance, you may have a perfectly good candidate who has been raising his/her children the past 10 years, hence has
no recent jobs to list. Or a person may try to impress you by listing lots of jobs, inadvertently illustrating the fact that they have trouble holding down work.
Let’s run through a few options for searching for and finding new employees. There are pros and cons for each.
‘Help Wanted’ Sign in the Window — This is the classic approach since the beginning of small business. In many cases, this is still the go-to method for many mats. You’ll usually get a lot of applicants in the first couple of weeks, then responses trail off.
The pros are you get local applicants who can find it easy and convenient to work for you. There are some parents, for instance, who don’t want to work too far from their families.
Some people don’t have cars and may take a short bus ride, ride a bike, or even walk to work. After all, if they saw your sign, they were already passing by, or may even be a customer. So these people can be more reliable, especially during times of bad weather.
As for cons, having many local applicants can be a doubleedged sword. Why? Let’s say that you get as many as 40 applicants during the first week. That may sound great, but as you go through your first screenings, you’ll probably find many of them not suitable for a variety of reasons. The work alone to screen so many applicants can be time-consuming for you.
Another negative is if you have a regular customer who wants the job but doesn’t fit your requirements for one reason or another, you may lose their business if you don’t hire them.
Additionally, the optics of always displaying a “Help Wanted” sign may make some customers think your business is not good to work for.
Online Hiring Sites — These are sites that specialize in helping you find candidates. Some will help you tailor your job openings to find a better match.
You can do a virtual interview, post job requirements, etc. These sites can also provide virtual application forms tailored to your needs.
Don’t forget Facebook, Craigslist, Next Door, etc.
The downside to using these sites is you’ll get some noshows for your appointments. And some won’t even have the courtesy to call ahead to cancel.
Crossing the Language Barrier — Hiring someone who has trouble with English may still work out for you, especially if you already have employees with backgrounds similar to your applicant’s, or have customers who are doing laundry in your mat.
If they have enough rudimentary English-language skill so that you can basically understand each other, you may
have struck gold. Working with the public will greatly strengthen their command of English. Besides, for any situation where they, you, or a customer are having a language block, there is a translation program like Google Translate or something similar available for every smartphone. With Google Translate, you can even use it to do voice-to-voice translations.
Treat Employees Well and Turnover Goes Down — This is the best solution for staffing your store. If nobody quits, you don’t need to look for new workers in the first place.
In addition, if you keep your employees happy enough, not only will they stay with you for years, they’ll recommend candidates to you when you have a job opening. In other words, they’ll save you the trouble.
So pay them as much as you can afford, treat them with professionalism and respect, and always try to lift their spirits. Make your place a happy place so they actually want to show up to work. If you can, hire happy people in the first place.
You may not believe this but I actually had
a waiting list of employees’ friends who wanted to work for me. I thought my employees were great, which enhanced the chances that a friend or associate of theirs would also turn out to be a great worker.
When people are happy to come and work for you, there are so many rewards. One of them is when you’re looking for help, you’ll hear those beautiful words, “Hey, boss, I have a friend who would like to work here.”
Before you put out any “Now Hiring” ads, ask your employees about their connections. Retirees — There are senior citizens out there who may find retirement a little boring. Some may also be finding that their retirement income isn’t holding up as they had planned and therefore are looking for a little part-time job.
These could be highly qualified people who had successful careers but are now retired and looking for a way to get out of the house and earn a few bucks.
Check your local retirement centers for any leads; I recommend visiting personally and leaving some of your business cards. You can also Google job websites specific to seniors.
Pay Attention to People who Follow Up —
You veteran store owners know how frustrating it can be when you book an appointment with an applicant, and they don’t show up. No calls, no messages. They just don’t show.
It can be aggravating, but look at it this way. They did you a favor. Do you really want someone like that who doesn’t keep their word? It’s a major red flag.
So if they show up a day or a week later looking for the job, telling some kind of “story” that may even be true, I don’t recommend hiring them, even if you’re desperate for help. You’ll surely regret it if you do.
Consider Installing Air Conditioning —
Nobody likes working in a hot, sweaty environment, including you. More importantly, you’ll do more business year-round.
Here’s why: Many customers will get into the habit of using your mat all summer long and will continue to patronize it into the fall and beyond.
If you were thinking about putting in AC but couldn’t justify the expense, the prospect of attracting and retaining quality employees is
another reason to consider it.
Consider Hiring Individuals with a Mental or Physical Disability — People who are disabled in one way or another can be challenged in many different ways. But some of their challenges may be suitable for you.
If you can find a spot for someone who has a mental or physical disability, you may end up with an excellent, motivated worker who really appreciates the job, simply because few businesses may think of hiring the disabled.
I employed a man who suffered from polio. He worked for me for years and was fantastic! He was extremely reliable, he looked after the store as if it were his own, our customers loved him, and he put in more work than some of his non-disabled co-workers.
Think about the possibilities of hiring a person who needs to use a wheelchair. After all, laundromats were mandated many years ago to be wheelchair-accessible, so your place may already be set up to accommodate them.
How About the Hearing-Impaired? — Many have their own tools and apps to assist them. Even so, you can use Siri Dictation to transcribe voice to text on your Apple cellphone, or Google Translate on other cellphone types. Bingo – you just opened the door to hire them!
Consider Hiring People Who Have Down Syndrome — Some people with Down syndrome are high-functioning and capable of holding a job. You may have seen individuals like this working in supermarkets or big box stores.
“Johnny the Bagger” is the amazing true story of a young man with Down syndrome who became famous nationally for coming up with a unique way to express his appreciation for every customer in the supermarket where he worked, transforming the store in the process. (Watch “The Story of Johnny the Bagger | Barbara Glanz” on YouTube to learn how Johnny’s simple personal touch demonstrates how business owners can touch our customers’ hearts.)
The National Down Syndrome Society has an employment section for those who are capable enough to be employed. The Society has local chapters all over the country and will often send in an aide, paid for by Medicaid, to help the applicant learn the job, and to monitor how things are going for both employer and employee. As this new worker learns, the aide will slowly back off.
All parties involved want the match to be successful. It can be a win for you and, more importantly, a win for your new employee who can feel proud that he/she is useful and needed!
Additionally, the IRS offers the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for small businesses who hire individuals with disabilities: “The credit provides employers incentives to hire qualified individuals from these target groups. The maximum tax credit ranges from $1,200 to $9,600, depending on the employee hired and the length of employment. The credit is available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. This includes people with disabilities and veterans.”
Visit https://www.irs.gov/businesses/smallbusinesses-self-employed/work-opportunitytax-credit to learn more.
If you’re having trouble finding good, reliable employees, I hope these suggestions have given you some options to think about.
I wish you the best in your search for good, reliable employees.
Paul Russo owned and operated multiple laundromats in New York City for more than 40 years before retiring in 2018. You’re welcome to direct any questions or comments for him to Editor Bruce Beggs at bbeggs@atmags.com.
(Image licensed by Ingram Image)
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION FILING DUE BY JAN. 1 FOR MOST
Aspecial resource has been made available to familiarize owners of small businesses like self-service laundries with Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements prior to the January 1, 2025, deadline, says the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
For the required small business that ignores or otherwise fails to file the needed paperwork accurately by the deadline, the possible penalties can be significant.
The Beneficial Ownership Reporting Outreach and Education Toolkit can be found online here: https://www.fincen.gov/boi/toolkit
It contains templates and sample content that has been structured to allow private, public, and
non-profit organizations to share and amplify this important information. It includes background on reporting requirements, as well as templates for newsletters, websites, and emails; sample social media posts and images; and more.
The Corporate Transparency Act, a bipartisan law enacted this year to curb illicit finance by supporting law enforcement efforts, requires many small businesses to report basic information to the federal government about the real people who ultimately own or control them.
A company may need to report if it is a corporation, a limited liability company (LLC), or was otherwise created in the United States by filing a document with a secretary of state or any similar office under the law of a state or Indian tribe, or a foreign company that was
registered to do business in any U.S. state or Indian tribe by such a filing.
Filing of the BOI report is quick, secure, and free of charge, FinCEN says. It expects that most companies will be able to file without the help of an attorney or accountant, and that the filing process for those with simple ownership structures may take 20 minutes or less.
Companies that existed before 2024 have until Jan. 1 to file, while companies created or registered in 2024 must file within 90 days of having received creation/registration notice.
A person who willfully violates the reporting requirements may be subject to civil penalties of up to $591 for each day the violation continues, as well as criminal penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Money Handling
ESD
With a reputation for value, quality and dependability, ESD® says it has been the leading source of money boxes that the laundry industry counts on for over 50 years.
Offering a wide variety of lengths, heights, colors and security options, there are money boxes to meet every need, the company says.
ESD also offers a wide selection of proven coin slides. They work with all models of vended washers and dryers, the company says, and come in 4-, 5-, 8- and 14-coin options. There are coin slides available for 72 countries.
ESD believes its money boxes and coin slides are the perfect combination for every application.
www.esdcard.com
800-523-1510
In business since 1921, Hamilton Manufacturing Corp. offers industry-leading change machines that are proudly designed, manufactured, and supported in the United States, the company says.
Its machines are used across a variety of industries, including laundry, car washes, and amusement, where reliability and longevity are essential.
HAMILTON MANUFACTURING
With a range of models, such as rear-loading wall-mounted and front-loading pedestalmounted units, it provides options to meet the needs of any business. It also offers customization, allowing companies to add their own branding to the machines’ front panels.
Known for being durable and secure, Hamilton’s change machines deliver dependable performance day after day, the company says, making them an excellent choice for businesses that require safe and efficient cash-handling solutions.
www.hamiltonmfg.com
888-723-4858
STANDARD CHANGEMAKERS
Standard Change-Makers’ Model BCX1020RL enhances a laundromat’s efficiency and security with a two-note bill dispenser and single-coin hopper, which can provide $5 bills and quarters.
The design is essential for a hybrid laundry that uses cards and coins, the company says. Customers can use the bills for store card revalue and quarters for washers, dryers, detergent or snacks. The machine appeals to all demographics.
Key features of the BCX1020RL include:
• Enhanced Security: Reduces theft and errors of cash handling.
• Accurate Money Trail: Ensures transparency and accountability.
• Convenient Reporting: Daily audit reports via email and out-of-service alerts delivered to cell phone with the EF+ Module.
• High Capacity: Holds up to 1,000 bills and 5,200 quarters.
• Customer-Friendly Payouts: $20 exchange gives three $5 bills and 20 quarters, providing convenience for customers.
COIN MECHANISMS
Coin Mechanisms offers coin chutes, coin meters and coin/slug rejectors.
The S-1 Roll Down Coin Chute is a single-coin mechanical coin acceptor. It can be ordered for a wide range of different coins and tokens ranging in diameter from 0.670 inch up to 1.180 inches.
The Model 3300 Coin Meter Box is a coin- or token-activated timing device that turns a relay on and off through an internal timer that is pre-set via dip switches. There are two banks of dip switches, three of which are for setting the number of coins desired as payment (from one to seven), and seven for setting the amount of time.
The DMC Coin Meter (far right) is a coin- or token-activated device much like the 3300 but it has an LED display and features a wider range of number of coins desired as payment and settings for the amount of time.
The 100 Series Coin/Slug Rejector (near right) is a single-coin mechanical coin acceptor. It can be ordered for a wide range of different coins and tokens ranging in diameter from 0.670 inch up to 1.180 inches.
www.coinmech.com
800-323-6498
Laundromat owners have proven that accepting dollar coins eliminates up to 80% of quarters from money boxes, Imonex says.
Circulating dollars minimizes collection duties, while maximizing vault and changer hopper capacities, the manufacturer adds.
Imonex acceptors are precision-crafted to validate up to four coin/token combinations with two values — typically $1 and 25 cents. Customers insert at the drop’s single inlet, initiating a roll-down separation and pulse generation corresponding to each higher- and lower-value coin or token.
Going credit card is affordable, Imonex says. Employing a single-point credit card-to-token dispenser and leveraging Imonex’s token acceptance capability offers a cashless pay option at machines without individual readers, the company says.
Accepting tokens means in-and-out collections. Owners pull bills and tally credit card receipts. Imonex says circulating tokens is an economical alternative to proprietary card systems.
Imonex drops can be retrofitted to most makes and models, providing unsurpassed coin flow, the company reports. www.imonex.com
Greenwald Industries offers over 70 years of experience providing highquality, durable vended laundry pay-
ment equipment. Located in Connecticut, the metal manufacturing company believes the fact it’s based on shore in the United
GREENWALD INDUSTRIES
States is important given the supply chain risks—including tariffs, war and strikes— that can affect timely delivery of coin vending products.
It offers the 4100 Series mechanical coin drops featuring enhanced security, a stainless-steel face plate, and an anti-tilt feature that work with various international currencies in a single- or dual-drop format.
Its wide array of money boxes in different sizes, stainless-steel face plates, thick flanged back-plates and a wide choice of locks provides maximum security.
Greenwald believes it offers the highest array of different types of locks, plus it stocks Medeco products, enabling it to fill orders for one money box up to 10,000.
www.greenwaldindustries.com
860-526-0800
MONARCH COIN & SECURITY
Monarch Coin & Security Inc. is a family-owned and -operated business established in 1903. It specializes in replacement coin boxes, coin/ token slides, locks/keys and other accessories. It offers full body guards and coin box guards for security, coin/token operated bathroom door locks, and coin/token operated meters for showers, lights and other applications.
Being around for over 120 years, the company has weathered many storms during its history. But one thing that has never changed is its customer service. Monarch Coin & Security says it will work with you to find which product will best serve your needs.
www.monarchcoin.com
800-462-9460
KIOSOFT
KioSoft’s e-Drop and e-Drop Plus are revolutionizing payment solutions for laundromats, making transactions smoother and more efficient, the company says.
The digital coin drops feature seamless programming for new coin types and token configurations on demand, enabling laundromat owners to adapt swiftly to customer needs. With optional electronic payment support and real-time transaction status via Wi-Fi, managing payments has never been easier, KioSoft adds.
Both models support KioSoft Tokens, designed with advanced anti-counterfeiting technology for added security. The e-Drop accepts coins and tokens, while the e-Drop Plus offers an upgrade for mobile app and laundry card payments.
KioSoft will be exhibiting at Texcare International, booth L83, Nov. 6-9 in Frankfurt, Germany.
https://kiosoft.com 888-503-5988
PYRAMID TECHNOLOGIES
The Platinum bill acceptor from Pyramid Technologies Inc. ensures swift and secure cash transactions by implementing cutting-edge validation technology, the company says. Its robust security measures—such as a lockable, removable cashbox; dual stage optical and mechanical anti-stringing; and IR/UV counterfeit detection methods—ensure that the cash received stays in the laundry owner’s hands. Built with flexibility in mind, automatic self-calibration and a wide variety of supported interfaces allow operators and manufacturers to implement the next generation of bill validation into almost any operation, Pyramid Technologies says.
https://pyramidacceptors.com 480-507-0088
SETOMATIC SYSTEMS
Setomatic Systems provides dropcoin meters for many makes and models of laundry machines designed for laundromats. The company suggests replacing older turn-knob dryer meters with an upto-date drop-coin meter that features a digital display and time countdown. The meters are adjustable in 15-second increments and are easy to install, Setomatic says. If you still have plastic drop coins, Setomatic has all-metal drop-coin replacements. The company also makes drop-coin meters to replace the coin slides on most machines. Multi-push insertions on Wascomat washers can be eliminated with a drop-coin meter, Setomatic says. The company also offers aftermarket drop-coin meters to replace factory-installed units on many front-load washers.
www.setomaticsystems.com 516-752-8008
KLOPP INTERNATIONAL
Laundry owners can count on KLOPP International for all of their currency processing needs, the company says. It carries the full line of Kisan currency counters, sorters, and smart safes; KLOPP technical support is included with every machine.
The Newton-A and Newton-3F currency discriminators will save store owners time in processing their mixed money. There’ll be no more sorting and facing different denominations by hand.
Counting modes include:
• Mixed: Counts mixed money, providing grand total and itemized count.
• Single (Sorting): Counts one denomination and sorts all other denominations into reject pocket.
• Count: Counts all bills, providing quantity total.
• Face: Faces all bills (heads up or heads down).
• Orientation: Orients all bills in proper direction (heads facing right or heads facing left).
• Fitness (in Newton 3F): Determines the quality of the bill and rejects poor-quality bills for ATMs and bill breakers.
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Must accompany order.
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NEWSMAKERS
MOUNTAIN ELECTRONICS REBUILDING AFTER HURRICANE HELENE
Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that made landfall in the U.S. in late September, caused unbelievable devastation in parts of the Southeast. Mountain Electronics, a remanufacturer of commercial laundry equipment, was among its victims.
“There is no easy way to communicate that Hurricane Helene has completely destroyed our facility in Burnsville, North Carolina,” the company posted on its website and asked American Coin-Op to share the news. “We are fortunate to have space in Marion, North Carolina, to rebuild operations.”
The company’s new address is 5639 221S, Marion, NC 28752.
“One thing we know about our Mountain employees and Western North Carolina is that we are strong and resilient and are confident in our ability to rebuild.”
In early October, the business was working to have phone and internet access restored.
“Please keep our community and employees who have lost much in your thoughts and prayers,” Mountain Electronics continues. “We are fortunate to know that 100% of our employees are safe at this time. Our No. 1 priority is making sure the needs of our employees are met. Please be patient with us as we move forward.”
LAUNDRYCARES FOUNDATION EARNS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AWARD
The LaundryCares Foundation has been honored for its innovative efforts in promoting literacy by transforming laundromats into community hubs where families in underserved areas can access books and educational opportunities while completing everyday tasks, the CLA-affiliated organization reports.
LaundryCares was awarded the $150,000 David M. Rubenstein Prize as part of the 2024 Library of Congress Literacy Awards. The program spotlights organizations in the United States and abroad that provide exemplary, innovative, and sustainable strategies to promote literacy and reading.
“It is an incredible honor for the LaundryCares Foundation to be recognized by the Library of Congress,” says Brian Wallace, CLA president and CEO. “We saw a clear need and a unique opportunity to transform laundromats into spaces where families can meet both essential and educational needs.
“By bridging this gap, we aim to empower underserved communities by providing safe, inviting spaces that inspire learning and growth.”
LaundryCares has reimagined laundromats as spaces that meet both practical needs and educational goals. By hosting free laundry and literacy events, it provides families with clean laundry while offering access
to books, creating opportunities for shared learning. These events in underserved communities help bridge the gap between families and the literacy resources they often lack. Permanent reading spaces established in laundromats further encourage families to engage in reading while taking care of essential tasks, integrating learning seamlessly into daily life.
By partnering with national literacy organizations and libraries, LaundryCares has extended the impact of its programs beyond individual events. These collaborations enable the Foundation to distribute books and offer sustained educational programming, building a culture of literacy within the communities it serves. The partnerships help strengthen family ties, cultivate a love of reading among children, and create lasting educational foundations that will benefit generations to come.
“By weaving literacy into everyday life, LaundryCares hopes to foster a love of reading in children during critical formative years,” Wallace says. “These programs not only serve families directly but also create lasting community impacts by providing equitable access to essential educational resources.”
IN MEMORIAM: ROBERT C. COWEN, B&C TECHNOLOGIES PARTNER
Robert Clifford Cowen, a commercial laundry industry pioneer who was an ownership partner in B&C Technologies, died peacefully and surrounded by his family at his Florida home Sept. 13 at the age of 102, the company reports.
Cowen began his distinguished career in 1956 as an engineer and rapidly became a driving force in the commercial laundry industry. His groundbreaking designs helped shape the technology of his time and continue to influence modern innovations, B&C says.
His career spanned decades, during which he earned the respect and admiration of colleagues, competitors and industry partners alike. As an ownership partner with B&C, Cowen remained committed to his employees, the company says, fostering a work environment where people were valued and their well-being was prioritized.
“In everything he did, Bob set a standard of excellence, innovation and integrity,” says Bengt Bruce, president and owner of B&C Technologies. “His work shaped the industry, and his character touched the lives of everyone he encountered. He will be remembered not only for his remarkable contributions but for the honesty, kindness and respect he showed to all.”
Born Aug. 4, 1922, in Nashville, Tenn., Cowen attended Vanderbilt University and later joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving as an engineering officer. After the War, he returned to civilian life and in 1956 joined commercial laundry equipment manufacturer UniMac. Over the years, his leadership and innovation helped shape UniMac into an industry powerhouse. In 1965, he relocated the manufacturing plant to Marianna, Fla., where he continued to build his legacy for nearly 60 years.
Besides his professional achievements, Cowen was also active in his community, serving as a councilman and mayor, and as president of the local Rotary Club.
Surviving him are his three children, nine grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife Jeanne, his parents, and a sister.
The Cowen family asks that donations be made to First Presbyterian Church, 4437 Clinton St., Marianna, FL 32446, or to a charity of choice in his memory.
Cowen
Mountain Electronics reports its Burnsville, North Carolina, facility (pictured) was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. The company is now working to rebuild operations in another facility roughly 35 miles away in Marion, N.C. (Photo: Mountain Electronics)
Stand ApartIt’s Genius!
“Only Genius Washers had all the features I wanted and needed to stand apart from my competitors — a touchscreen, stainless cabinets, status lights and a soft-mount design.”
– Eddie Quispe Wonderwash Laundromat, New Mexico
Eddie Quispe recently retooled his 23-year-old laundry with Genius Washers — the only machines on the market with a 10-inch touchscreen control, corner status light, easy-to-install soft-mount design and achieved and sustained spin speeds of 450 Gs. The result? Customers are in and out in under 60 minutes, natural gas and water costs dropped 50 percent and the laundry can accommodate more customers per day!
A sleek, stainless steel exterior creates curb appeal. Outstanding performance keeps them coming back over and over again. That’s Genius!
