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Paul Partyka
Freelance Writer

Paul Partyka is a freelance writer based in Chicago. He was editor of American Coin-Op in 1997-2011.

Articles by this author:

  • Survey: Extra-Profit Centers Going Strong (Wire Survey)

    CHICAGO — Nearly every respondent (95%) offers some type of extra-profit center, and lack of space is the major reason operators don’t offer more extra-profit centers, according to the most recent Wire survey.

    Eighty-eight percent of respondents offer vending (food/drink/supplies), while 73% offer drop-off service. Thirty-seven percent have some type of video game.
       

    By: Paul Partyka
  • Alliance Laundry Systems Promotes Schoeb to CEO (News)

    RIPON, Wis. — Alliance Laundry Systems LLC has promoted Michael D. Schoeb to chief executive officer. All executive staff will report to Schoeb in his combined role as president and CEO.

    Thomas F. L’Esperance will become vice chairman of the board of directors of parent company ALH Holding Inc. L’Esperance joined Alliance in 1996, having previously served as president of Amana Home Appliances and Caloric Corp. and as a senior executive of Raytheon Co. He will continue to serve as a director and will maintain his office here.

    By: Paul Partyka
  • Pennsylvania Laundries, Drycleaners Receive Grants (News)

    HARRISBURG, Pa. — State investments are helping Pennsylvania small-business owners continue to lower their operating costs by conserving energy and reducing pollution, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger says.

    Ninety small businesses across the state will receive more than $560,000 in grants through the Small Business Advantage program to reduce energy use and pollution, enabling them to become more competitive.

    By: Paul Partyka
  • One Day at a Time (Part 2 of 2) (News)

    ROCKY HILL, Conn. — When opening a self-service laundry for the first time, many owners discover the challenge of multitasking. Nancy Sousa’s challenge is maintaining a successful business while dealing with being a seven-time cancer survivor.

    The Town Line Laundromat, Rocky Hill, Conn., opened in July. About seven weeks prior to the opening, Sousa, diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, discovered that she had metastatic breast cancer in her bones.

    By: Paul Partyka
  • StatShot: December, Quarterly Sales Up in Three Regions (StatShots)

    CHICAGO — December sales rose in the South, West and Northeast, while Midwestern operators saw sales fall after they had risen in November, according to the most recent AmericanCoinOp.com unscientific StatShot survey.

    December sales in the South (compared to December 2009 sales) were up 1%. This might be somewhat misleading since about 60% of operators had a sales decrease. However, a good number of operators experienced healthy sales increases, which offset the larger number of decreases.

    By: Paul Partyka
  • One Day at a Time (Part 1 of 2) (News)

    ROCKY HILL, Conn. — When opening a self-service laundry for the first time, many owners discover the challenge of multitasking. Nancy Sousa’s challenge is maintaining a successful business while dealing with being a seven-time cancer survivor.

    The Town Line Laundromat, Rocky Hill, Conn., opened in July. About seven weeks prior to the opening, Sousa, diagnosed with breast cancer in 1994, discovered that she had metastatic breast cancer in her bones.

    By: Paul Partyka
  • Thief Shows More Than Face (News)

    ENON, Ohio — Getting caught with one’s pants down may be somewhat embarrassing, but it hasn’t stopped a man from plaguing a self-service laundry here, a local TV station reports.

    A man recently used a crowbar to pry open locks on a laundry’s machines, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office reports. He also used a key to steal from the washers and dryers.

    By: Paul Partyka
  • Energy Outlook: Lower Natural-Gas Prices, Less Consumption (News)

    WASHINGTON — With natural-gas working inventories ending 2010 at about 1% below the 2009 record-setting end-of-December level, consumers can expect to pay slightly less for natural gas in 2011, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) short-term energy outlook.

    By: Paul Partyka
  • SBA Unveils User-Friendly Web Tool (News)

    WASHINGTON — As part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) mission to ensure that small-business owners have access to accurate, timely and helpful information, a newly redesigned website has recently been unveiled, featuring the launch of SBA Direct, a tool with a variety of personalization features designed to help with business startup and growth.

    By: Paul Partyka
  • A Less-Taxing Experience? (Part 2 of 2) (Management)

    CHICAGO — Some of you no doubt are still recovering from the holiday season, and want to lay low. Wanting to spend a little quality time on the couch is understandable.

    While preparing your taxes may be low on your priority list at the moment, a little planning can go a long way in ensuring a smooth tax-prep process. Formulating the proper questions today can save you from plenty of headaches tomorrow. Maybe there are some tax considerations that you have never pondered.

    By: Paul Partyka