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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
12 hours ago
12 hours ago
Welcome back to PlanetLaundry, the podcast where we bring you the most insightful stories and game-changing ideas from innovators within the laundry industry. In this episode, host Matt DeWolf sits down with Alex Jekowsky, co-founder and CEO of Cents, to dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence and its rapidly evolving role in laundry operations.
Alex shares his journey into the laundromat industry, revealing how a mix of curiosity, entrepreneurial drive, and first-hand experiences led him to build a company devoted to supporting independent operators. Together, Matt and Alex unpack the real meaning behind the AI buzz, distinguishing hype from practical solutions, and explore how technology—when used thoughtfully—can make everyday business tasks easier, more efficient, and even more human.
From understanding what AI actually is (and isn’t), to how operators can get educated and start leveraging these tools, this conversation offers practical takeaways for anyone curious about the future of tech in laundry.
Whether you’re a longtime owner or just starting out, tune in for actionable strategies, honest advice on choosing vendors, and a fresh perspective on finding balance between innovation and personal connection in today’s digital world.
14 hours ago
14 hours ago
Welcome back to PlanetLaundry, the podcast where we bring you the most insightful stories and game-changing ideas from innovators within the laundry industry. In this episode, host Matt DeWolf sits down with Alex Jekowsky, co-founder and CEO of Cents, to dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence and its rapidly evolving role in laundry operations.
Alex shares his journey into the laundromat industry, revealing how a mix of curiosity, entrepreneurial drive, and first-hand experiences led him to build a company devoted to supporting independent operators. Together, Matt and Alex unpack the real meaning behind the AI buzz, distinguishing hype from practical solutions, and explore how technology—when used thoughtfully—can make everyday business tasks easier, more efficient, and even more human.
From understanding what AI actually is (and isn’t), to how operators can get educated and start leveraging these tools, this conversation offers practical takeaways for anyone curious about the future of tech in laundry.
Whether you’re a longtime owner or just starting out, tune in for actionable strategies, honest advice on choosing vendors, and a fresh perspective on finding balance between innovation and personal connection in today’s digital world.
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Matt DeWolf chats with store owner Hannah Chapman, who operates WashBar based in Oklahoma.
Chapman and her husband got into the industry just 4 years ago in what was a headfirst dive into the deep end of the vended laundry swimming pool. They quickly grew from one location to four and are looking at opportunities.
But the biggest opportunity for Hannah is around the way they can impact the people in their community and in their business. She believes strongly in the power of people, and the value that brings to your organization.
Hannah and her husband are eager to help educate and give back to the industry, because they were fortunate enough to benefit from others’ generosity when it comes to learning. The pair worked for free at a laundromat for several months prior to owning their own location and said that experience was invaluable.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com
This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of CLA Business Mastercard.
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Welcome to the PlanetLaundry Podcast – brought to you by PlanetLaundry, the official publication of CLA.
In this episode, PlanetLaundry Editor Matt DeWolf chats with store owner Hannah Chapman, who operates WashBar based in Oklahoma.
Chapman and her husband got into the industry just 4 years ago in what was a headfirst dive into the deep end of the vended laundry swimming pool. They quickly grew from one location to four and are looking at opportunities.
But the biggest opportunity for Hannah is around the way they can impact the people in their community and in their business. She believes strongly in the power of people, and the value that brings to your organization.
Hannah and her husband are eager to help educate and give back to the industry, because they were fortunate enough to benefit from others’ generosity when it comes to learning. The pair worked for free at a laundromat for several months prior to owning their own location and said that experience was invaluable.
We hope you enjoy this conversation. We invite you to listen to more PlanetLaundry Podcasts at https://planetlaundry.podbean.com
This edition of the PlanetLaundry Podcast has been made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of CLA Business Mastercard.
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.