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PlanetLaundry, the magazine of the Coin Laundry Association, brings to you our podcast -- articles and interviews to make the pages of our magazine come to life. Subscribe to PlanetLaundry at www.planetlaundry.com/subscribe.
Episodes
Saturday Mar 01, 2025
Saturday Mar 01, 2025
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with store owner Jake Barone, who operates Laundry House in New York City.
Barone is an entrepreneur, a real estate and construction expert, and a growth strategist with a passion for developing and scaling ventures at the intersection of real estate, construction, and business.
Jake’s entrepreneurial journey began early. By 16, he was running a successful e-commerce business. At 18, he became New York State’s youngest real estate agent. And, by 19, he launched Gateway Builders, a construction firm that ranked No. 170 on the Inc. 5000 list for its rapid growth. Over the next seven years, Jake grew Gateway into a 40-employee company, delivering more than one million square feet of Class A commercial space for REITs, investment firms, and corporate clients in New York City.
Recognizing shifts in the market during the COVID-19 era, Jake pivoted toward laundromats – founding Laundry House, a high-end, data-driven laundromat brand designed to set a new industry standard. Under Jake’s leadership, Laundry House achieved 340 percent revenue growth in just 18 months, establishing itself as a standout brand in the New York City market.
Beyond Laundry House, Barone is focused on strategic partnerships and acquisitions, collaborating with laundromat operators to scale their businesses using branding, operational efficiencies, and advanced marketing technology. His expertise in real estate, construction, and business scaling position him as a knowledgeable and experienced professional in the industry.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com
Saturday Mar 01, 2025
Saturday Mar 01, 2025
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with store owner Jake Barone, who operates Laundry House in New York City.
Barone is an entrepreneur, a real estate and construction expert, and a growth strategist with a passion for developing and scaling ventures at the intersection of real estate, construction, and business.
Jake’s entrepreneurial journey began early. By 16, he was running a successful e-commerce business. At 18, he became New York State’s youngest real estate agent. And, by 19, he launched Gateway Builders, a construction firm that ranked No. 170 on the Inc. 5000 list for its rapid growth. Over the next seven years, Jake grew Gateway into a 40-employee company, delivering more than one million square feet of Class A commercial space for REITs, investment firms, and corporate clients in New York City.
Recognizing shifts in the market during the COVID-19 era, Jake pivoted toward laundromats – founding Laundry House, a high-end, data-driven laundromat brand designed to set a new industry standard. Under Jake’s leadership, Laundry House achieved 340 percent revenue growth in just 18 months, establishing itself as a standout brand in the New York City market.
Beyond Laundry House, Barone is focused on strategic partnerships and acquisitions, collaborating with laundromat operators to scale their businesses using branding, operational efficiencies, and advanced marketing technology. His expertise in real estate, construction, and business scaling position him as a knowledgeable and experienced professional in the industry.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com
Saturday Feb 01, 2025
Saturday Feb 01, 2025
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with laundry owner Tyler Purcell, who operates multiple laundromats within the Cincinnati market.
Tyler is the co-owner of four, family-operated laundry locations, which are all branded as The Laundry Spot. He’s also a wealth advisor who has been in the financial services industry for more than a decade.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com.
Saturday Feb 01, 2025
Saturday Feb 01, 2025
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with laundry owner Tyler Purcell, who operates multiple laundromats within the Cincinnati market.
Tyler is the co-owner of four, family-operated laundry locations, which are all branded as The Laundry Spot. He’s also a wealth advisor who has been in the financial services industry for more than a decade.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com.
Monday Jan 13, 2025
Monday Jan 13, 2025
In this episode, Alex Jekowsky, CEO & Co-Founder of Cents, and Brian Wallace, CLA President & CEO, discuss the ways innovative technologies from other industries can be applied to laundry, such as upselling through add-ons and gamification. Alex shares the value of branding, advice for customer acquisition and ways to make your store stand out from competitors.
This edition of the Laundry Leaders Unfolded podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our Elite Strategic Corporate Ally, Cents.
Monday Jan 13, 2025
Monday Jan 13, 2025
Mike Schoeb, CEO of Alliance Laundry Systems, shares what has changed at Alliance in his 17 years and their accomplishments, such as growth outside the U.S., especially in Asia, South America and the Middle East. Mike and Brian discuss trends, such as reinvestment in the industry, attraction of a different type of investor, consolidation of the distribution market, the franchise model and advocacy efforts. Mike also previewed what we can expect from Alliance between now and the Clean Show.
This edition of the Laundry Leaders Unfolded podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of our Elite Strategic Corporate Ally, Alliance Laundry Systems.
Wednesday Jan 01, 2025
Wednesday Jan 01, 2025
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with veteran laundry owner Travis Reed, who operates multiple laundromats throughout Indiana.
Reed grew up in the business – with his parents purchasing their first laundromat in 1985, right after Travis was born. He worked with his dad, Bryan, in the family business and then purchased his first laundromat in 2003, just four months after graduating from high school.
Today, Travis owns six laundry locations north of Indianapolis, with a seventh on the way this spring.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com
Wednesday Jan 01, 2025
Wednesday Jan 01, 2025
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with veteran laundry owner Travis Reed, who operates multiple laundromats throughout Indiana.
Reed grew up in the business – with his parents purchasing their first laundromat in 1985, right after Travis was born. He worked with his dad, Bryan, in the family business and then purchased his first laundromat in 2003, just four months after graduating from high school.
Today, Travis owns six laundry locations north of Indianapolis, with a seventh on the way this spring.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Rob Maes, the owner of Express Laundry Centers, a four-store chain in the Houston area. In 2006, after more than 20 years in corporate America, Maes wanted to start his own business and decided on the laundromat industry after attending a CLA seminar. Today, four stores later, Rob serves on the CLA Board of Directors – and will ascend to the chairmanship in January.
Maes shares his vision for CLA and its Board, as well as discussing some of the future challenges facing the organization and dispelling a few misconceptions about the CLA Board.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com.
This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
Sunday Dec 01, 2024
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Bob Nieman chats with Rob Maes, the owner of Express Laundry Centers, a four-store chain in the Houston area. In 2006, after more than 20 years in corporate America, Maes wanted to start his own business and decided on the laundromat industry after attending a CLA seminar. Today, four stores later, Rob serves on the CLA Board of Directors – and will ascend to the chairmanship in January.
Maes shares his vision for CLA and its Board, as well as discussing some of the future challenges facing the organization and dispelling a few misconceptions about the CLA Board.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com.
This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Cents.