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February 20, 2013
Merrill to Lead Vended Laundry Development, Sales for CG West

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Brings 27 years of experience in vended laundry ownership, development, management, marketing and sales

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Van Merrill recently joined Continental Girbau West (CG West) as its vice president of vended laundry development and sales, the company reports.

Merrill, who hails from North Tustin, Calif., has 27 years of experience in vended laundry ownership, development, management, marketing and sales, and has particular expertise in lease negotiations, CG West says.

“Van is a talented developer of profitable vended laundries,” says Mike Floyd, president of Continental Girbau Inc. (of which CG West is a subsidiary). “We’ll look to him to provide expertise, management and guidance. He excels at finding vended laundry locations and developing those laundries to their fullest profit potential.”

van merrillMerrill most recently provided consulting services to coin laundry investors. Prior to that, he co-owned Sparklean Laundry Systems, a Continental distributorship, for eight years. Since launching his career, Merrill has developed more than 100 vended laundries, CG West says. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Miami.

“I’m really excited to work with the CG West team,” he says. “I feel Continental is by far and away the best laundry equipment manufacturer, with the best people, in the industry. I enjoy helping people realize their dreams of owning their own businesses.”

CG West serves the California vended, on-premise and industrial laundry markets by providing equipment, parts, financing, service, warranty and training.

March 12, 2012
Distributor CG West Hires Bakker as VP of Sales

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — New exec has more than 28 years of experience in

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. — Continental Girbau West (CG West) has hired Andrew “Bud” Bakker as vice president of sales. In his new role, Bakker manages and works to grow the regional distributor’s vended, on-premise and industrial laundry sales efforts.

“Bud is an incredibly experienced sales professional with undeniable character,” says Continental Girbau President Mike Floyd. “He understands field sales and comes to CG West with more than 28 years of experience.”

Bakker launched his career in 1984 as an owner/operator of Simon and Son Fine Dry Cleaning, in Woodinville, Wash., where he stayed for 11 years. He went on to serve Westport Supply, Tukwila, Wash., where he handled drycleaning, industrial laundry, hotel laundry and janitorial supply sales. Most recently, he served as the Northwest sales account manager at Dynamic Sales and Service, Kirkland, Wash., where he managed a territory including Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

A subsidiary of Wisconsin-based Continental Girbau Inc., CG West serves the California vended, on-premise and industrial laundry markets by providing equipment, parts, financing, service, warranty and training.

August 4, 2011
Sunshine Laundry Wins Continental’s Oldest Washer Contest

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Coco and Louie Lin, owners of Sunshine Laundry, a vintage mom-and-pop corner laundry in Philadelphia, are the winners of Continental Girbau’s Oldest Washer Contest. The contest debuted as part of Continental’s 15th anniversary celebration, says company President Mike Floyd.

Sunshine Laundry utilizes eight washer-extractors that span three decades of Girbau history. A rare trio of 30-pound-capacity Golder Girbau washers—manufactured in the mid- to late 1970s—represent the workhorse ancestors of several of today’s Continental Girbau models.

“The Golder Girbaus are over 30 years old and still running strong,” says Russ Arbuckle of Wholesale Commercial Laundry Equipment SE. “That’s a real testament to the quality of these machines.”

In addition to the three Golder Girbaus, the unique neighborhood laundry is also outfitted with three 40-pound Girbau washer-extractors, exported to the United States under a private label 23 years ago. These six older Girbau machines sit near their newer counterparts—two 30-pound Continental washers.

The laundry’s previous owner, Montha Thong, discovered the old Golder Girbaus for sale at a neighboring coin laundry. She called on Arbuckle to inspect the washers prior to their purchase.

“After I saw the condition of the machines, I was in shock,” says Arbuckle. “The Golder Girbaus ran great, despite three decades of continuous use.” He assessed their condition and advised the upgrade of minor parts.

July 11, 2011
Continental Names 2010 Distributors of the Year

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Continental Girbau awarded Daniels Equipment Company of Auburn, N.H., with the 2010 Vended Laundry Distributor of the Year award, an honor that distinguishes distributors for outstanding performance in the vended laundry market. This is the third consecutive year Daniels Equipment has claimed the award.

“The Daniels Equipment team is among the most equipped and experienced in the industry,” says Continental President Mike Floyd. “Through a concerted effort, they continue to exceed expectations since we formed a partnership with them several years ago. Daniels Equipment is a superior distributor with unmatched marketing and sales efforts.”

Continental also awarded Concord, Ont.-based Sparkle Solutions with the Canadian Distributor of the Year award for outstanding sales and distribution in both the vended and on-premise laundry markets. This is the second consecutive year Sparkle Solutions received the honor.

“Ray Helwig and his staff are among the most talented and capable teams in North America,” says Floyd. “They deliver expertise in every aspect of the vended laundry development and on-premise laundry productivity.”