Content about New York

March 7, 2013

Financing Company Launches Streamlined Credit Application

NEW YORK — Expedites process by removing much of preliminary dialogue between new customers and company reps

NEW YORK — Eastern Funding LLC reports that it has launched a new, easy-to-use online credit application on its main website. The business financing company has a special focus on the coin laundry, convenience store, and specialty vehicle industries.

Along with new graphics and recent updates to the company’s website, online visitors will find the streamlined credit-application process that Eastern Funding management says “can expedite the credit approval process by removing much of the preliminary dialogue between new customers and Eastern Funding representatives.”

“We have a consistent commitment to deliver the best possible customer experience,” says Michael Fanger, Eastern Funding’s founder and president. “When someone first arrives at the Eastern Funding website...our enhanced credit app technology will make the whole process of submitting information and applying for financing much smoother and easier to use.”

Operating as a direct lender, Eastern Funding provides leases and loans with both fixed and floating rates. The company reports it has provided more than $700 million in laundry business financing since its inception in 1997.

February 6, 2013

Summit Laundry Hires Ludwigson to Handle NYC Metro Coin Sales

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — Brings more than 25 years experience in business-to-business commercial equipment sales

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — Albert Ludwigson has joined Summit Laundry Equipment to oversee the distributor’s coin laundry equipment sales in the New York City metropolitan area, bringing more than 25 years of experience in business-to-business commercial equipment sales.

“Albert has an extensive sales experience, and his understanding of field sales is a perfect fit for us,” says Alex Badea, Summit Laundry Equipment vice president.

In his new role, Ludwigson will work with local Laundromat owners to improve efficiency and upgrade laundry equipment as needed.

February 4, 2013

Maytag Concept Stores Debut in North America

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Seven now open, with eight more ready by month’s end

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Seven new Maytag® Equipped Laundry stores have opened since the brand launched in May and Maytag® Commercial Laundry says more are on the way this month.

The company introduced the concept store after recognizing the market need for “a well-designed, aesthetically pleasing and branded store.”

“The Maytag brand is the No. 1 preferred and most recognized brand in laundry,” says Randy Karn, national sales manager. “We saw a void in the market and are now delivering a concise, well-developed concept store built on the 100-plus year equity of the Maytag brand.”

Maytag® Equipped Laundries are open for business in:

Salisbury, Pa.
Lackawanna and Addison, N.Y.
Haledon, N.J.
Mississauga, Ont., Canada
Calera, Ala.
Laurinburg, N.C.

Another eight stores are scheduled to be finished by the end of February, Maytag says.

Scott Rider, owner of the Lackawanna store, calls the Maytag® Equipped Laundry store program “the complete package.”

“The support from my local distributor was exceptional, and I’m already planning to open additional stores. My doors have been open since September and I’m seeing enough of a revenue increase that I’m expanding my store’s services.”

“The main thing that sold me on this program was equity behind the Maytag brand name,” says David Whitehurst, who owns the new store in Calera, Ala. “All customer feedback has been incredibly positive.”

Maytag has delivered on its promise to provide a program designed to bring aesthetically pleasing and well-designed coin stores to the market, he adds.

Built on five decades of commercial laundry experience and the 100-plus year equity of the Maytag brand, the new store model encompasses more than just equipment, Maytag says. The complete package includes:

A consistent look and feel designed with input from architects and industry experts that allow for flexibility
Exterior and interior signage
Complementary paint and flooring options in hues of blues, greens and neutrals
Coordinating bulkhead and folding-table options

Maytag® Equipped Laundry owners/operators qualify for a special Maytag Advantage™ Program, which offers exclusive perks; grand opening or reopening kits with materials and timelines to help plan effectively; discounts on exterior signage; special financing options; and a free membership to the Coin Laundry Association.

December 10, 2012

SBA Approves $150 Million in Sandy Disaster Loans; Application Deadlines Near

WASHINGTON — Filing deadline for physical property damage is Dec. 31 in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and Jan. 15 in Rhode Island

WASHINGTON — A month after Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast, the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $150 million in low-interest disaster loans to about 2,500 homeowners, renters and businesses in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

If your coin laundry was damaged by the storm, there are several ways to apply for SBA disaster relief assistance:

Apply online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
For information about the disaster loan process, or to have an application mailed to you, e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or call 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing)
Call the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to register for federal assistance at 800-621-3362
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, register online at www.disasterassistance.gov, or use your mobile device at http://m.fema.gov
Visit an SBA Small Business Development Center for help in completing loan applications and to gain advice on how to rebuild and grow in the aftermath of the disaster. Locate the nearest center by visit www.sba.gov/local-assistance

The filing deadline for physical property damage is Dec. 31 for businesses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and Jan. 15 for those in Rhode Island. The economic injury disaster loan application deadline is July 31 for businesses in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, and Aug. 14 for those in Rhode Island.

“During the past month, I’ve visited disaster centers and spoken with people who are struggling to reclaim communities and businesses that were devastated by Hurricane Sandy, and I was impressed by their determination to rebuild stronger,” says SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills. “The SBA is there to support the long-term recovery of the disaster areas, and we will make sure that as many people as possible get the help they need to become whole again.”

For more information about SBA disaster loans, visit www.sba.gov/sandy.

December 6, 2012

LG Presents Best Partnership Award to Coinmach Service Corp.

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — CSC provides outsourced laundry services to multi-family housing, military housing, college campuses and hospitality industries across the United States

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — Coinmach Service Corp. (CSC), which provides outsourced laundry services to multi-family housing, military housing, college campuses and hospitality industries across the United States, recently received the Best Partnership Award from LG Electronics’ Commercial Laundry Division.

Hal Sazzmann, AVP and CSC representative to LG Commercial Laundry, accepted the award on CSC’s behalf during the LG Commercial Laundry Global Customer Conference in Pattaya, Thailand.

“We are honored to receive this award and value our continued partnership,” says CSC CEO Robert M. Doyle. “LG’s advanced technology and superior reliability provides CSC with a clear advantage in the marketplace and meets CSC’s commitment to create a positive customer experience.”

CSC says it is the largest provider of LG commercial laundry equipment in the United States.

November 7, 2012

Equipment Providers Offer Hurricane Sandy Relief Programs

INWOOD, N.Y., and RIPON, Wis. — Laundrylux and Alliance Laundry Systems offer deferred payments/interest and no fees on purchases made by qualified laundries

INWOOD, N.Y., and RIPON, Wis. — Superstorm Sandy impacted New York, New Jersey and other areas along the East Coast, causing catastrophic damage. At a time when vended laundries in those areas are assessing the disaster’s impact on them, some equipment providers are offering special recovery programs.

Laundrylux and Alliance Laundry Systems have each announced programs that offer deferred payments and interest and no fees on equipment purchases made by qualified laundries.

Qualifying businesses purchasing Electrolux or Wascomat equipment under distributor Laundrylux’s Disaster Recovery Program can make no payments for up to six months and pay no interest for up to 12 months. All associated fees will be waived.

The program is available in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia or West Virginia. Interested parties should call Laundrylux at 800-645-2205 to learn more.

Alliance Laundry Systems’ Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief program allows owners to replace their damaged washers and dryers with no payments or interest for up to four months, no loan fees, and a cash allowance to assist with installation costs. Additionally, there is no prepayment penalty if customers choose to pay off their loan in full with reimbursement they may eventually receive from FEMA or their insurer.

The program is available to qualifying businesses in New York and New Jersey, but Alliance Laundry says it will review other situations and offer the finance program to other affected Laundromats on a case-by-case basis.

Local owners who were impacted by the storm can contact Metropolitan Laundry Machinery (Huebsch distributor) at 800-214-9200 or 800-214-9300 in New York or 800-728-0001 in New Jersey, or Super Laundry (Speed Queen distributor) at 888-678-9274 in New York or 800-992-7269 in New Jersey for eligibility requirements and more details.

Sandy’s impact hits close to home for Laundrylux, based in Inwood, N.Y. “We have personally witnessed the devastation in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states and our hearts go out to the millions of people affected by Hurricane Sandy,” says Laundrylux CEO Neal Milch. “Our families have been affected, too, so we understand personally what our customers are going through.”

Laundrylux says it is reaching out to distributors and customers to make it as affordable as possible for self-service laundry owners, as well as hotels, nursing homes, etc., to get the equipment they need right away.

“Laundries that are able to serve affected populations will be running at maximum capacity and as power is restored elsewhere, laundries may need to replace equipment destroyed by salt water,” says Milch. “We have inventory stockpiled for immediate shipment as needed.”

“Dealing with the aftermath of a storm of such epic proportions is incredibly challenging, and we want to help those in need get back to normal as soon as possible,” says Mike Schoeb, CEO of Alliance Laundry Systems. “We know the value a Laundromat provides a community, particularly when people are struggling with the kind of disruption this storm has caused. As the market leader, we are glad we are able to act quickly to help our customers.”

October 25, 2012

Keeping a Coin Laundry Safe and Secure

CHICAGO — Nearly 80% of laundry owners/operators polled have a surveillance system in place

CHICAGO — Personal safety is one of the primary reasons that the average customer chooses a Laundromat. “Safety and security are paramount,” says Karl Hinrichs, HK Laundry Equipment, in his YouTube video titled Characteristics of Successful Laundromats. “If people don’t feel really comfortable coming to a Laundromat, they’re going to go elsewhere.”

In April, American Coin-Op surveyed its audience about the safety of their store’s neighborhood and if they think their customers or employees feel safe in their store while doing laundry or working there.

Nearly three-quarters of respondents to the unscientific survey described their neighborhood as “somewhat safe.” Roughly 19% said their neighborhood is “neither safe nor unsafe,” and the remaining 7.4% described theirs as “extremely safe.” No one who took the survey described their neighborhood as “somewhat unsafe” or “not safe at all.”

Yet, more than 40% of operators said they, an employee or a customer have been a victim of crime at their laundry. Most of these incidents involved burglaries or robberies. An employee was threatened with a knife in one case, while an attendant was pushed to the ground in another.

SAFETY BY DESIGN

Coin laundry safety starts with store design. One can deter criminals by keeping the business well-lit at all times.

If cost is a concern, look for opportunities to upgrade lighting that may be tied to energy-saving incentives. For example, Colonial Laundromats, a chain of laundries in Central New York, enlisted SmartWatt Energy to upgrade its indoor fluorescent lighting at 23 of its facilities and outdoor LED pole lighting at 17 facilities. Colonial is looking at an average payback of 22 months after receiving a rebate totaling more than $104,000 and interest-free financing for two years.

Large windows will make it easy for customers—or the police—to see inside; take care not to block the view when posting signs. Equipment and furnishings should be positioned so there are clear sight lines from the front of the store to the back, and so that they do not create “hiding places.” Equip exterior doors with buzzers to signal when someone has entered the laundry.

Having an attended store can also be a deterrent to criminal activity. “Security is a concern for all stores,” says J.D. Johnson, president of equipment distributor LaundryRx. “Of course, it’s more of a concern for the unattended owner.”

And the owner/operator must not forget about their own safety, particularly when handling money. If a laundry has an office space, don’t allow customers inside, and keep it locked while away. Be aware of the surroundings when making collections and when transporting money to/from vehicles. Vary collection times so the average observer can’t anticipate when this activity will occur.

Never share information about store security, the amount of money a store makes, who has keys, who is responsible for opening or closing the store, etc., with anyone.

SECURITY MEASURES

Consider physical equipment (especially for an older, unattended store) such as high-security locks, bars, solid steel doors, and anti-stringing validators for the changers. Check out the latest burglar alarms and surveillance cameras.

Before installing security equipment, don’t forget about signage. Make it clear to anyone who enters the laundry that it is protected by electronic security. It’s a warning to thieves, and it provides a comfort level for customers.

Also from the survey earlier this year, a surveillance system is the most popular safety-related feature or practice utilized by respondents (77.8%). Other popular choices are employees/owner watch store (48.1%), alarm system (44.4%), signage (33.3%) and some type of weapon (29.6%).

Thirty-seven percent of operators who responded to the survey have brought a firearm to their laundry. Among those who haven’t, 35.3% said they would consider carrying a firearm while there.

Keep in mind that it’s possible to tamper with or destroy security cameras or devices. It’s common for burglar alarms to be tied to a central station by telephone lines, but a burglar may cut the line. It’s good to have a backup method.

The same concerns can be true of cameras. Burglars may sneak underneath the camera and point it at another part of the store. But with updated technology, a camera can “memorize” a store scene, such as a changer, and if that scene is changed because a burglar moves a camera or covers it, the owner is signaled that there is a problem. Check with security companies for the latest technological updates.

Alarm systems have the capabilities of detecting unauthorized opening of doors, the breaking of windows, and movement through interior areas when the business is closed.

INSURANCE BENEFIT

Not only is increased security a plus in attracting and retaining customers, it can also improve a store’s bottom line by lowering insurance costs a bit.

“(Having a) surveillance/security system would lower the costs of most property coverage as this is a definite deterrent to theft, vandalism and similar situations causing a claim,” says Adam Weber, president of Irving Weber Associates. “Surveillance systems can also assist in determining if there was an actual fault on the business owner’s part in a liability claim, such as to whether a water spill caused a slip-and-fall.”

Be certain that the security system is in good working order at all times. “Security systems are great, but in many cases someone forgets to turn them on, they aren’t working for some reason, or they are working but the burglar is able to get in and out before the police arrive,” says Anne Hawkins, senior underwriter for NIE.

Customers rely on the owner of a self-service laundry to provide them with a safe environment to clean their clothes, so make it a priority each and every day.

October 24, 2012

Electrolux Launches New International Website

INWOOD, N.Y. — New website contains variety of information on company’s laundry and foodservice solutions

INWOOD, N.Y. — Electrolux recently launched a new international Electrolux Professional website—www.professional.electrolux.com—in conjunction with Electrolux Foodservice, reports U.S. distributor Laundrylux.

The new website contains sections about:

Customer Segment Solutions
Product Information
News and Media
Documentation
References
Service and Support
Company Information (from both Laundry Systems and Foodservice)

The former electrolux.com/laundrysystems has been redirected to the new site.

October 22, 2012

Coinmach Acquires SDI Laundry Solutions

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — Coinmach benefits from SDI technology, SDI benefits from Coinmach’s customer depth, geographic reach

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — Coinmach, a supplier of outsourced laundry services, has acquired SDI Laundry Solutions, a laundry room design and management company. SDI President Ron Garfunkel will remain in his position, as will his leadership team and service personnel, and SDI will continue to operate from its Yonkers, N.Y., headquarters.

Terms of the acquisition were not announced.

“I am excited by this acquisition, as SDI is a highly respected company in our industry, with great leadership, smart technology, and a stellar reputation in the New York metropolitan area,” says Robert M. Doyle, Coinmach's CEO. “This is especially true in the supportive and affordable housing sectors.”

“This is a great development for SDI and for its valued customers,” Garfunkel says. “Joining Coinmach will enable us to benefit from the resources of a nationwide organization, as we continue to deliver the high-touch personal service SDI is known for.” Within the New York area, Coinmach brings substantial regional coverage and resources to the relationship. SDI deploys non-coin payment systems, operating an almost purely coinless business in an industry still dominated by coin-fed laundry machines.

Coinmach will benefit from access to SDI’s proven technology and established reputation, Doyle says, while SDI benefits from Coinmach’s customer depth and geographic reach.

October 16, 2012

New York State Laundromat Chain Saves Money by Upgrading Lighting

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upgrades earn rebate, interest-free financing from National Grid Small Business Services Program

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Colonial Laundromats, a family-owned chain of laundries in Central New York, is saving more than $54,234 per year after indoor fluorescent lighting upgrades at 23 of its facilities and outdoor LED pole lighting upgrades at 17 facilities, according to SmartWatt Energy, the company that performed the work.

The provider of turnkey energy-efficiency solutions performed the upgrades via the National Grid Small Business Services Program, resulting in a National Grid rebate of more than $104,000 and interest-free financing for two years.

SmartWatt Energy conducted a complimentary analysis of all indoor and outdoor lighting and proposed a plan to replace Colonial Laundromats’ interior T-12 fluorescent lighting with a high-efficiency fluorescent lighting system and exterior metal halide pole lighting with a more efficient LED pole lighting system.

According to National Grid, Colonial Laundromats is looking at an average payback period of less than 22 months.

The National Grid Small Business Services Program helps businesses, with an average peak demand of 100 kW or less per month, conduct energy-efficient upgrade measures. National Grid pays up to 70% of installation costs and finances the remaining amount interest-free for up to two years.

September 12, 2012

Succession Planning: Passing the Torch (Part 2 of 2)

NEW YORK — Misunderstandings and disputes can turn business transition into costly train wreck

NEW YORK — Most family business owners expect their thriving enterprises to transfer to the younger generation with minimal fuss and bother. Reality, though, can be far different. Absent a carefully designed plan, misunderstandings and disputes can turn any business transition—including ownership of coin laundry stores—into a costly train wreck.

Parents must analyze the skills and proclivities of their children before assigning future management roles. While such assessments can help smooth the transition, even the best of such plans needs the support of legal documents that ensure power flows to the right people and sufficient cash is available to make everything happen on cue.

AVOIDING PROBLEMS

Successful buy-sell agreements include provisions that anticipate and head off common problems. Here are some tips from John J. Scroggin, a partner at the estate planning law firm of Scroggin & Company, Roswell, Ga., who has studied the hidden pitfalls of family business transitions:

Non-Compete Agreements — Suppose one family member desires to exit the business but wants some compensation in return. The buy-sell agreement may include a clause that specifies the value the individual will be paid for his or her shares. That sounds fine on the surface, but it can backfire if the individual then goes out and starts a business pursuing the same customers.

“If an individual is paid a lot of money for their share of the business, but nothing stops the person from competing for the very business that was purchased, why should the amount paid be any more than the value of the hard assets?” poses Scroggin.

The way to avoid this pitfall, says Scroggin, is to include a “non-compete provision” that prohibits the departing family member from engaging in a similar business for a set period of time. The agreement can also specify that the departing owner may not solicit the organization’s current customers or vendors, or utilize any of its trade secrets.

Tax Implications — “Never provide for a business transition without having a tax expert review the documents and the plan,” advises Scroggin. “Proper planning can substantially reduce the tax cost of the transaction.” In many cases, for example, the sale of the business to family members can create substantially more taxes than a gift.

Funding — It’s important to set up vehicles for funding the buyout. Often, life insurance provides funds for buying the shares of an owner who has died. And if the owner is retiring, there can be provisions for installment payments over time.

Exit Strategy — Suppose one child wants to leave the laundry business after some time passes. How much will that individual be paid for his or her shares? This should be spelled out in a legal document that you can think of as a kind of pre-nuptial for business owners. “Two people who own a business together are even more likely to divorce than a husband or wife,” says Scroggin. “There should be an agreement that defines their relationship and obligations and describes how they can exit the relationship.”

Protecting Funds — Suppose your laundry business has accumulated a large amount of money over and beyond the amount required to fund operations in future years. How can these funds be transferred to the member of the next generation? The answer often poses a puzzle: On the one hand, you want to make sure the funds stay in the family. On the other hand, you do not want to give so much money to individuals—particularly very young ones—that they will lack incentive to do anything productive with their lives.

In many cases, the answer to the puzzle is to establish what is called an incentive trust. This vehicle provides for the incremental transfer of funds to the next generation, but only when those individuals have reached specified parameters such as finishing their education.

“Incentive trusts are perfect for liquid assets,” says Wayne Rivers, president of the Family Business Institute. They can be written so that rewards are given for performance in or outside of business. And the reward formulas can be flexible. “Suppose one child decides not to remain in the business,” poses Rivers. “The trust can be written so that it rewards the individual who goes into a public service to be a public defender, a missionary, or similar work.” The trust might pay 40 cents for every dollar earned in such pursuits. Any number of such parameters can be written into the trust document.

STARTING EARLY

Before legal documents are drawn up, the proclivities and skills of new-generation members must be assessed. The process should start with individual interviews, assessing the goals of each family member. Then goals should be incorporated into documents that ensure the smooth process of business and wealth transfer.

Many family business owners hesitate to draw up transition plans because of the current uncertainty in tax laws. Such hesitation is not necessary, says Gregory Herman-Giddens, a board certified specialist in estate planning at the law firm of TrustCounsel, Chapel Hill, N.C. “A qualified attorney can create a flexible plan that anticipates many different tax scenarios. So put a plan in place now and have some peace of mind that you and your family are protected. You can always update your plan in a year or two.”

Indeed, delay can be costly. “Don’t wait until one of the owners is sick or gets ready to retire,” says Herman-Giddens. “There can be an unexpected incapacity or death at any time.”

Information in this article is provided for educational and reference purposes only. It is not intended to provide specific advice or individual recommendations. Consult an attorney or financial adviser for advice regarding your particular situation.

Click here for Part 1!

September 11, 2012

Succession Planning: Passing the Torch (Part 1 of 2)

NEW YORK — Misunderstandings and disputes can turn business transition into costly train wreck

SETTING TERMS

Often the most important transition document is the so-called “buy-sell agreement,” which specifies how ownership will be allocated and how the sale of shares will be funded. “A buy-sell agreement is crucial to a smooth ownership transition for a family business,” says Gregory Herman-Giddens, a board certified specialist in estate planning at the law firm of TrustCounsel, Chapel Hill, N.C. “It allows for one or more of the children who are active in the business to buy out a parent who retires or dies.”

Buy-sell agreements typically cover an array of issues that go beyond the basic transfer of ownership upon the death or retirement of the original owners. They also typically cover how ownership will transfer when one of the children exits the business, either through death, disability or even a decision to go into another line of work. Will the business itself, as an independent entity, buy up the shares of the departing individual? Or will the remaining siblings as individuals have the right to buy up the shares?

Here are some other issues that buy-sell agreements often cover:

What if one of the siblings desires to sell shares to an outside third party?
Must the siblings be offered the shares first?
How much time do they have to reach a decision?
And what if a child wishes to withdraw capital from the business? How much money can an individual owner take out, over what period of time, and how much prior notice must be given to the other owners?

These agreements also often specify the methods by which internal disputes are resolved. Some issues will lend themselves to arbitration or third-party mediation. For those which can be resolved by voting, the agreement will specify who has the power to vote and whether a simple majority or super majority is called for.

Buy-sell agreements can be real lifesavers in sticky situations. For example, they can avert unexpected shifts in power to unqualified individuals. “Often one member of the second generation receives share of ownership, then gets divorced,” notes John J. Scroggin, a partner at the estate planning law firm of Scroggin & Company, Roswell, Ga. “That individual’s former spouse now owns the equity. Unreasonable demands can follow, and that can be a thorn in the side of the family.”

The solution, says Scroggin, is to draw up clauses in buy-sell agreements that anticipate common and costly events such as divorce or unexpected death. To do this, the document should mandate a “call right” on shares that are gifted to children. The “call right” is a provision that empowers remaining family members to buy out the shares of a non-family spouse who may survive the divorce or death of a family member who was in an ownership position.

PRICING THE BUSINESS

The buy-sell agreement will usually specify the method for determining the business’ value upon the death or departure of an owner. “Commonly, the plan may call for a valuation to be done by a business valuation expert or CPA,” says Herman-Giddens. “There may also be a tie-breaker provision: Survivors who disagree over the business’ value might be able to choose their own expert, and then either those two experts agree on a third expert or the two values are averaged.”

An alternative valuation system specifies a formula to be used, such as a multiple of earnings. This can be problematic, though, since economic conditions at the time of a partner’s retirement or death may differ substantially from those at the time the plan is put together, making a pre-set formula inappropriate.

Tomorrow: Tips for avoiding the hidden pitfalls of family business transitions

September 10, 2012

Statewide Machinery is Newest IPSO Coin/OPL Distributor

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Distribution rights cover 14 counties in New York and Pennsylvania

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Statewide Machinery Inc. has secured the distribution rights for IPSO coin and on-premise laundry equipment in 14 counties located in New York state and Pennsylvania, the company reports.

The new territory allows Statewide Machinery to increase its distribution footprint, plus add a quality product line from Alliance Laundry Systems to its portfolio of equipment offerings, the company says.

Statewide Machinery distributes various brands of laundry and other equipment in 53 counties in Upstate New York and eight counties in northern Pennsylvania.

August 23, 2012

Fall Brings Calendar Full of Distributor Open Houses, Service Schools

CHICAGO — Check the AmericanCoinOp.com calendar periodically for updates/additions

CHICAGO — The arrival of fall can only mean one thing for self-service laundry operators—a calendar full of opportunities to attend distributor special events, open houses and service schools.

Here is a brief rundown of events through October — call or visit the website listed for registration information. In many cases, space is limited.

Sept. 5 — Summit Laundry Equipment Open House, Plainview, N.Y.; 855-SUMMIT9, summitlaundry.com.

Sept. 12-13 — BDS Laundry Systems Open House & Product Show, St. Paul, Minn.; 800-688-0020, bdslaundry.com.

Sept. 12-13 — Gold Coin Laundry Equipment Founder’s Day Sale, Jamaica, N.Y.; 800-952-1474, goldcoinlaundry.com.

Sept. 15 — Professional Laundry Systems Open House and Service School, Feasterville, Pa.; 215-354-0111, plslaundry.com.

Sept. 15 — PWS Open House, San Francisco; 650-871-0300, pwslaundry.com.

Sept. 19 — D&M Equipment Open House and Service School, Skokie, Ill.; 800-451-2676, dandmequipment.com.

Sept. 19 — Valley Washers Open House, Harrisonburg, Va.; 540-434-8086, valleywashers.com.

Sept. 21 — PWS Open House, San Diego; 858-560-6969, pwslaundry.com.

Sept. 21 — Star Distributing Open House and Service School, Knoxville, Tenn.; 800-897-7570, stardistributing.com.

Sept. 27 — Commercial Laundry Sales & Service Open House, Wichita, Kan.; 316-267-6650, commerciallaundrysales.com.

Sept. 27 — Hynes & Waller Open House, Upper Marlboro, Md.; 301-249-9421, hynesandwaller.com.

Sept. 27 — Star Distributing Open House and Service School, Nashville, Tenn.; 800-897-7570, stardistributing.com.

Sept. 28 — PAC Industries Open House, Harrisburg, Pa.; 800-692-6214, pacindustries.com.

Sept. 29 — Professional Laundry Systems Open House and Service School, Orchard Park, N.Y.; 716-662-6100, plslaundry.com.

Month of October — Statewide Machinery Open House, Rochester, N.Y.; 800-527-2219, statewidemachinery.com.

Oct. 2 — Martin Ray Laundry Systems Open House, Denver; 720-359-8000, martinray.com.

Oct. 4 — Southeastern Laundry Equipment Sales Open House and Service School, Marietta, Ga.; 800-522-9274, selaundryequip.com.

Oct. 8 — Sav-A-Day Laundry Machinery Open House, St. Louis; 800-489-9274, sav-a-day.com.

Oct. 9 — Martin Ray Laundry Systems Open House, Albuquerque, N.M.; 505-883-7277, martinray.com.

Oct. 11 — Ontario Laundry Systems Open House & Product Show, Mississauga, Ont.; 888-669-4837, ontariolaundry.com.

Oct. 16 — Coin-O-Matic Open House, Alsip, Ill.; 708-371-9595, millerlaundry.com.

Oct. 16 — Commercial Laundry Equipment Co. Open House, Chester, Va.; 804-231-9668.

Oct. 17 — Commercial Laundry Equipment Co. Open House, Norfolk, Va.; 804-231-9668.

Oct. 18 — Evans Distributing Open House, Salt Lake City, Utah; 801-972-6580, evanslaundryequipment.com.

Oct. 19-20 — Western State Design Service School and Open House, Cerritos, Calif.; 800-633-7153 x208, westernstatedesign.com.

Oct. 26-27 — Western State Design Service School, Open House and Grand Opening, Hayward, Calif.; 800-633-7153 x208, westernstatedesign.com.

Check the AmericanCoinOp.com calendar periodically for updates/additions.

August 15, 2012

Extra Profit Centers Big and Small (Part 2 of 2)

THOMPSONVILLE, Ill. — The Service Station answers some service needs in rural community

THOMPSONVILLE, ILL. — Equipment distributor Todd Santoro recently shared some thoughts about providing extra services for your laundry customers and how certain additional revenue streams require little extra work to put into place (Coin-Op 101:Extra Creativity Can Lead to Extra Profit).

Today, American Coin-Op takes a look at the second of two laundries that couldn’t be more different as far as geography and demographics are concerned, and how its owner approaches the offering and management of extra profit centers.

THE SERVICE STATION

The Service Station, Thompsonville, Ill., is divided into two parts: it’s half coin laundry and half tanning salon and office center offering copy/fax/scan service and a pair of Internet kiosks.

Owner Nova Randolph grew up in the Southern Illinois village of 600 people. When she returned to Thompsonville several years ago to raise her family, she found that few local businesses remained. Among the shuttered was a coin laundry.

Randolph works full time as an accounting and computer sciences instructor at a community college located a little more than an hour away. During the course of conversation with other Thompsonville residents, she often heard how they had to drive to larger communities 10 to 12 miles away for shopping and other retail services.

“There were no laundry facilities. There was no type of office service available for anyone to make a copy or send a fax. … Also, the Internet service here, the population here is very rural, so the Internet service is only available within 2½ miles of the city limits.

“I came up with the idea to put a bunch of different services together for the community and do them all out of one business. I don’t think any one of those businesses could ever stand on their own.”

Randolph found a centrally located building with access to two highways that carry lots of traffic by her store’s door every day. It was renovated so each half of the store can be accessed independently, yet a doorway inside connects the two halves.

She opened the Laundromat last December and the tanning salon in May. The copy/fax services and the Internet kiosks were just added within the last month or so.

“My original plan was to open it all at once,” she says. “We did most of the work ourselves, other than what was required by law. So it took us from last August until the middle of December to remodel the Laundromat side.”

Midway through the remodeling, Randolph decided that one portion of the multi-service business needed to be completed so it could start generating revenue. “We decided to go ahead and focus on one side of it and get it done and making money. … We were able to get the Laundromat open and leave it open while we over on the other side getting the remodeling done for the tanning and the Internet (kiosks).”

Equipment and remodeling for the “Internet/tanning/fax/copy” area cost approximately $10,000, according to Randolph.

The 1,000-square-foot laundry is equipped with five top loaders, two 20-pound front loaders, five dryers and a stack dryer. She plans to add a triple loader later this year. There are soda and candy venders, plus she plans to add a soap vender soon.

Randolph spends about 45 hours a week at The Service Station during the summer, 30 hours a week while classes are in session. The laundry is attended only when the two-bed tanning salon is open, and a couple of family members step in to manage the business if she has a scheduling conflict.

The laundry is open from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The tanning salon is open 3-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

It’s not unusual to see folks come in do their laundry and then surf the Internet or take care of some business work while their clothes are washing and drying, Randolph says.

The tanning beds—one a stand-up booth, the other traditional—are generating about as much revenue as the laundry, Randolph says. And she’s looking to add a spray tan booth in the future.

You have to give an extra profit center at least a year to see if it’s worth keeping, she believes. “It would have to make enough that it wouldn’t be more lucrative to put something else there. And there are some things than are much of a pain than others to maintain. If something were a lot of trouble and it’s not bringing in that much extra profit, I would probably look for something else.”

At the time of Randolph’s interview, The Service Station was set to begin offering drop-off laundry service. And she’s not done thinking about adding other extra profit centers. Randolph is now considering adding either a hairdressing station or a nails station to complement the tanning salon.

“I can’t tell you how many people that see me in the Laundromat and thank me for putting this in here,” she says. “That I have just helped them out so much and made their life so much easier.”

Click here for Part 1!

August 14, 2012

Extra Profit Centers Big and Small (Part 1 of 2)

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. — Extra profit centers all part of the plan at Megamat Super Laundromat

MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. — Equipment distributor Todd Santoro recently shared some thoughts about providing extra services for your laundry customers and how certain additional revenue streams require little extra work to put into place (Coin-Op 101:Extra Creativity Can Lead to Extra Profit).

Today and tomorrow, American Coin-Optakes a look at two laundries that couldn’t be more different as far as geography and demographics are concerned, and how their owners approach the offering and management of extra profit centers.

MEGAMAT SUPER LAUNDROMAT, MOUNT VERNON, N.Y.

When Conrad Cutler responded to American Coin-Op’srecent poll about extra profit centers, his list for the Megamat Super Laundromat in Mount Vernon was a lengthy one: vending machines, laundry bags, wash-dry-fold services, drop-off/commercial accounts, video games/pinball machines, moving truck rental, rug cleaner rental, ATM, and car care equipment (vacuum, air machine, and fragrance machine).

The 5,000-square-foot store located in a low-income, predominantly African-American neighborhood just north of New York City is open 24 hours, seven days a week, and is advertised as the “home of America’s largest washing machines.” (For the record, the largest machine there holds 125 pounds.)

Cutler, 22, only recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in supply chain management and entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, but he’s been running Megamat since August 2009.

His family owned the property, a former warehouse, and had leased it to a tenant who installed the mega-laundry. When the tenant went bankrupt after five years, the young Cutler was called on to take over the operation so the family could avoid the accrual of real estate tax on a vacant property.

Cutler successfully renegotiated the tenant’s sizable outstanding note with the finance company and instituted a renovation plan that would take four months to complete and cost $30,000.

Expanding the breadth of services offered by the laundry was always part of his business plan.

“We took the store over in a bad situation, so we needed to do whatever we could, not only to bring up the revenue but also to increase the foot traffic in there,” Cutler says. “Diversifying the services that we offered to the community was the way in which we developed a large customer base.

“My objective in having so many different auxiliary revenue streams was not only to generate money but also to bring people into the Laundromat who might not come in there regularly otherwise.”

And that’s mighty important when you consider there are 46 coin laundries within four square miles serving 65,000 people. That’s a lot of competition, so it pays to offer services that set you apart from the rest.

All of the non-laundry equipment is serviced by outside contractors (eight, by Cutler’s count) that pay Megamat a portion of the revenue.

“The most important thing to me is that we have 100% uptime on all of our equipment,” he says. “One of the most detrimental things you can do in the laundry industry is to have equipment that’s out of service. Not only do you not make money off of it, it also makes the store look bad.”

Cutler depends heavily on a staff of six attendants to manage the around-the-clock operation when he’s not there. All are trained extensively in customer relations, equipment troubleshooting and store management, he says. The store wouldn’t be able to offer the number of added services that it does without them.

“One way that we’re able to compete so well … is because of the staff that we have,” he says. “They’ve all been in the laundry industry for a long time, way longer than I’ve been here. They know how important customer service is, not only to me but to the customers as well.”

Among the Laundromat’s most popular auxiliary services are U-Haul truck rental (it’s one of the few Northeast businesses to offer it around the clock, according to Cutler) and pay-as-you-go Internet service (at the rate of $1 per 10 minutes; most people living in and around the neighborhood don’t own a computer or have Internet access, he adds).

“I would say that the ATM, the vending machines and the (video) games are kind of just an extra. They don’t really bring in that much money.”

Megamat’s newest extra profit center is carpet cleaner rental. In the first 30 days of offering the service ($27 to rent the machine for 24 hours), just one person rented a machine. But it was a person who’d never visited the store before.

“After three months, I think you’ll be able to tell if the real estate that it’s taking up in your store, and the liability of operating it, is worth your time or not,” Cutler says. “If you see an upward trend where it’s at least doubling every month for three months, it’s worth keeping.”

Extra profit centers are a “dual-edged sword” that can just as easily hurt the operation if they’re not treated with the same level of care and concern as the laundry, Cutler says.

“You really have to make sure that you’re giving excellent customer service in all aspects to whoever walks in the door, regardless of whether they’re washing clothes or just putting 25 cents in a gumball machine,” he says. “That’s really what’s going to keep the business going is maintaining the same level of customer service for every customer.”

Tomorrow: We visit The Service Station in rural Thompsonville, Ill., where owner Nova Randolph’s business offers laundry, tanning, Internet and copy/fax services for her hometown.

July 30, 2012

Laundrylux President Herman Celebrates 40 Years with Company

INWOOD, N.Y. — Company leader learned the business from warehouse up

INWOOD, N.Y.– Industry veteran Howard Herman is celebrating his 40th year with Laundrylux, distributor of Wascomat and Electrolux Professional laundry equipment.

Herman started out in the warehouse and learned every aspect of the business on the path to becoming company president. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Coin Laundry Association.

“Howard has been a mentor to me and a guiding force at Laundrylux,” shares CEO Neal Milch. “Customers, distributors, and other industry players rely on his knowledge and constantly seek out his advice and guidance. He is quite possibly the most knowledgeable and competent person in his field today. He has tremendous dedication, drive, and a true commitment to the industry. We rely on his expertise and keen insight every day.”

To honor this special occasion, Milch threw a surprise party and the entire Laundrylux team celebrated in style at the Allegria Hotel in Long Beach, N.Y. Industry pioneer Bernard Milch, now retired from Laundrylux, and his wife Lusia were in attendance, as was Neal’s wife Lesley.

Herman’s wife of 45 years, Terry, and children Laurie and Harris, along with their spouses and Herman’s grandchildren, also took part in the festivities.

Party goers enjoyed cocktails and hors de oeuvres on the rooftop before retiring to a seaside banquet hall for dinner. Neal Milch made a heartfelt speech before longtime Laundrylux employee Dan Goldman emceed a roast.

“I can’t believe how fast 40 years has flown by,” says Herman. “I still love being in the laundry business, and I truly enjoy the work, the people, and the challenges we face everyday. I was extremely touched that the Milch family, my family, and all the Laundrylux employees were there to celebrate with me. It was a terrific surprise, and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.”

June 28, 2012

Insurance Firm Introduces Services for Coin-Op Owners

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — Will continue to work with local insurance brokers to offer coin-op program

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — Irving Weber Associates (IWA), which has provided business insurance protection to the fabricare/dry cleaning industry for many years, says it is expanding its services to owners of coin-operated and self-service laundries.

“We have been working on this request from brokers and the Laundromat owners for some time now,” says IWA President Adam Weber. “The extra time it has taken us was to ensure the Coin-Op Advantage Program™ was as exceptionally suited for the diverse and advancing Laundromat industry as our Fabricare Advantage Program™ has been for dry cleaners.”

IWA will continue to work with local insurance brokers to offer the coin-op program. “The design and benefit of this program will only be seen by the above-average Laundromat operations,” says Weber. “We will be offering the Coin-Op Advantage Program to owners that are involved with up-to-date, technologically advanced, clean facilities in emerging communities.”

He says this is being done to keep insurance costs down, while providing comprehensive coverage to Laundromat owners “who have invested in the long-term success of their business.”

June 21, 2012

Social Network Sites Drawing More Business Users

NEW YORK — But only small percentage of companies integrate social media into overall strategy

NEW YORK — Does your coin laundry have a social media presence? Not only consumers find their way onto the popular social network sites, an increasing number of businesses also use it.

Results from a recent study show that eight out of 10 U.S. companies are present on Facebook, while 45% have Twitter accounts. LinkedIn (48%) and YouTube (31%) are other widely used sites.

Four out of 10 American companies listen to what consumers say about them on social network sites, and 83% of companies indicate they always deal with questions or complaints sent to them via social media.

“Social media makes conversations between consumers very transparent,” says Prof. Steven Van Belleghem, partner at the research agency InSites Consulting, which surveyed more than 1,200 managers and business owners from several countries. “Companies can quite easily discover what people are saying about their products and services. An increasingly growing group is strongly interested in this real-time feedback from the market.”

But a mere 11% of companies are integrating their social media approach into their overall business strategy, while 17% say they are mid-integration. Some 26% of American companies aren’t doing anything with social media.

“A huge number of companies feel external pressure to be present on social media,” says Van Belleghem. “Unfortunately, this very often results in static corporate pages where nothing really happens. It too often leads to mere presence, not engagement with people.”

May 29, 2012

Manage Your Online Reputation

NEW YORK — Do you know what people are saying about your laundry business?

NEW YORK — People are talking about your laundry business. Do you know what they’re saying?

The answer can spell the difference between success and failure. Positive reviews on Internet message boards help boost revenues and fatten your bottom line. Negative reviews can spike your best business plans.

“People are increasingly putting reviews online as the Internet becomes more social,” says Daniel Burrus, a business consultant based in Hartland, Wis. “All of the reviews are in the cloud and available for anyone to read.”

And read they do: For many businesses, social media are quickly becoming the best sources of new customers. Just a few of the most popular sites are Yelp, Twitter, Angie’s List, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. A recent study from Harvard Business School revealed a direct correlation between star ratings on Yelp and revenues at a business.

Why the upturn? A big reason is technology’s growing heft. “Our main computing device is shifting from the laptop to the smart phone,” says Burrus. “And unlike our laptops, our smart phones are always with us.” Smart phones are constantly getting faster at processing data. That helps people quickly post reports on their business experiences while searching for the most highly ranked providers of goods and services.

WATCH THE SITES

Watching for reviews about your laundry business on social media sites poses a challenge. Monitoring them all would take a lot of time, and time costs money.

What to do? Set up an automated search to alert you whenever your business is reviewed. Google offers the most popular of such alerts. “Google Alerts are easy and free,” says consultant Bob Phibbs, Coxsackie, N.Y. “You can create an alert that sends you an e-mail every time your business name is mentioned online.” If such alerts are too numerous, you can specify that Google send you a consolidated report once a day. (Google Alerts is at google.com/alerts).

You should also set up an alert in Twitter to let you know when your business is mentioned in a Tweet. Twitter is especially important for your online reputation because people with smart phones use Twitter all the time. Your customers are most likely already using Twitter, and you want to pay attention to what they say. (For information, go to twitter.com/alerts.)

Bonus tip: Ask your customers what Internet sites they use to find businesses like yours.

RESPOND TO NEGATIVE REVIEWS

Every business will get some negative reviews. “People gripe for a lot of reasons,” says Phibbs. “Maybe they did not get waited on fast enough, or maybe a coupon expired and you didn’t honor it.”

When your business receives a negative review, it’s important to respond with an online message that prospective customers can see, says Phibbs. “Posting a response shows you are listening to your customers and taking action.”

Avoid impersonal or canned posts. Compose your posts in words that directly address the complaining customers’ concerns, suggests Phibbs. “Personalize your message with words such as ‘I own the business with my wife Mary and we are sorry to hear you had a bad experience.’”

Your responses should also note that you are attempting to improve whatever areas the customers found lacking (cleanliness, customer service, employee friendliness, etc.). “Finally, invite the customer to contact you,” says Phibbs. “Include an e-mail address or phone number.”

Carefully written responses can turn a negative situation into a positive one. Paying attention to customers and taking action on complaints can build loyalty. You can even turn an angry person into a raving fan.

From time to time, you will run into a review that, while legitimate, comes from a customer who is simply being unreasonable. “You often have outliers on the negative side, because the unreasonable customer can be very vocal,” says Greg Sterling, a San Francisco-based Internet analyst.

“While most consumers are reasonable and will look at the consensus and not ascribe too much weight to a single negative review, it still has to be addressed,” says Sterling. Post a response in terms that illustrate the importance you place on the area the customer has addressed. Emphasize that you intend to do better in the future.

Bonus tip: Look at negative reviews as informal customer surveys that help you identify and rectify business problems.

HANDLING ILLEGITIMATE REVIEWS

Social media have their dark side: Not all negative reviews are legitimate. What do you do if you suspect a negative review has been posted by a competitor, or by a disgruntled former employee?

One thing not to do, says Burrus, is stir the pot. “Don’t create a fight and don’t incense people in ways that make them do more negative things.”

Stay positive, even in the face of unfair practices. “If the poster is a competitor, post some evidence to the contrary underneath what they wrote,” suggests Burrus. “You might say something like, ‘Here is a link to 50 customers who disagree with you.’”

And what if the poster is a former employee? “Have your lawyer contact the person to let them know they must cease and desist,” suggests Burrus. “Let them know they cannot smear a reputation without ramifications.” A legal letter can convince the person to remove an offending review.

The challenge is even greater for sites that allow anonymous postings. If a review is blatantly unfair (for example, a personal attack on an employee), you can contact the site and ask that it be removed.

Finally, there are the gold diggers. “Some people will give you bad reviews in hope that you will contact them with deals such as half off a future purchase,” says Phibbs. Don’t take the bait. Instead, post a reasonable response that conveys the actions you are taking to provide quality service.

RESPOND TO POSITIVE REVIEWS

Your good business will likely get a lot of positive reports. “It is just as important to respond to good reports,” says Phibbs. A simple “Thanks so much for the compliment” may do for a general report, but take time to address any specific topics the customer has mentioned. (It’s not necessary to respond to every favorable report once you start getting more than a handful).

Phibbs suggests printing good reports and posting them on the wall in your store, perhaps under a headline such as “Raving Fans of Our Business.” Copy them to your website and to your Facebook page as well.

Bonus tip: Don’t be afraid to ask people to post good reviews. But avoid offering rewards for doing so: Websites frown on that practice.

MONITOR YOUR REPUTATION

Google Alerts, as already mentioned, is a great service for getting a heads up on the lowdown. But you may want to invest a little more time and effort into managing your reputation. That’s where online reputation tracking services come in. “Most small businesses don’t know about the many online reputation tracking services, and just search their business names once in a while,” says Sterling. “Yet the specialized services can give you important information.”

You can have reviews sent to your mobile phone and have message threads with negative reviews tracked in real time, giving you granular control over responses. This can be particular helpful when damaging disputes break out about your business. In contrast, says Sterling, e-mails from Google Alerts do nothing more than inform you that a post has been made, and even that information arrives after a time lag.

Be aware that Yellow Pages and newspapers may include reputation-monitoring tools in advertising packages. That can reduce your costs considerably.

SUGGESTION BOX

Maybe reputation monitoring seems like more trouble than it’s worth. Keep in mind, though, that your business is at stake: More people than ever are turning to online reviews for help deciding what business to patronize.

Indeed, every online review site is a valuable suggestion box for your business. “There is a great deal you can learn from reviews,” says Sterling. “They can help you think of new products and services for your customers. Be open and embrace them.”

May 21, 2012

Super Laundry Acquires RAF Equipment Co.

WOODBURY, N.Y. — Acquisition expands distributor’s presence in New Jersey

WOODBURY, N.Y. — Super Laundry Equipment Corp., which says it is the country’s largest distributor of coin and on-premise laundry equipment, has expanded its presence in New Jersey by acquiring RAF Equipment Co., based in Nutley, N.J.

Terms of the acquisition were not announced. The deal solidifies Super Laundry’s expansion in New Jersey and the Tri-State area, the company says.

“With over 55 years of experience, RAF understands that integrity and a core belief in quality service are critical to customers,” says Mike Stanky, COO of Coinmach Corp. “With our shared business values, the critical focus on the customer, and our superior purchasing power, the combination of RAF and Super Laundry will position us as a market leader for years to come.”

RAF and Super Laundry will combine their operations in Linden, N.J., where Dick Luca will head the combined firm.

“Super Laundry will be a great partner going forward,” says Raymond Fusco Sr., president of RAF Equipment. “I have worked with Dick over the last 30 years, and we both know that taking care of customers and our employees will be critical as our partnership moves forward.

“My son, Ray Jr., and I look forward to carrying on this dedication to customer service and industry expertise.”

May 17, 2012

Great Lakes Commercial Sales Appointed Electrolux, Wascomat Distributor

INWOOD, N.Y. — Authorized distributor for brands’ coin and OPL equipment

INWOOD, N.Y. — Great Lakes Commercial Sales, based in Wisconsin, is now an authorized Electrolux and Wascomat distributor for coin and on-premise laundry equipment, Laundrylux has announced.

Great Lakes Commercial Sales is a full-service company providing commercial and on-premise laundry equipment sales, service and parts to coin/self-service laundries, apartment complexes, and on-premise laundry facilities. The company also has offices in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

“We are pleased to welcome Dan Naumann and the Great Lakes team to the Electrolux and Wascomat distributor network,” says Laundrylux President Howard Herman. “After 20 years in the business, industry leader Great Lakes is a super addition to our family. Everyone at Laundrylux is looking forward to working with Great Lakes to further expand the business and our relationship.”

“I’ve worked with Dan Naumann and the Great Lakes team for many years now,” adds Bryan Rausch, regional business manager for Laundrylux. “Great Lakes is a professional company with an established market presence and reputation for excellent customer service. We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship.”

March 5, 2012

Career Track: New Hires at Laundrylux, Seaga Mfg.

INWOOD, N.Y. — Robert Chateau brings 12 years of industry experience to Laundrylux...

LAUNDRYLUX NAMES CHATEAU WESTERN REGIONAL BUSINESS MANAGER FOR COIN SALES

INWOOD, N.Y. — Robert Chateau is the new Western regional business manager for coin sales for Laundrylux. His territory includes Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Alberta and British Columbia in Canada.

“We have been working with Robert for a number of years and his sales skills, leadership abilities, and product knowledge are outstanding,” says Howard Herman, Laundrylux president.

robert chateau San Diego-based Chateau brings 12 years of industry experience to Laundrylux. He learned to repair commercial washers and dryers while in the Navy. In 2000, Chateau joined longtime Laundrylux distributor Golden State Laundry Systems as service manager and worked his way up through the sales department. For the past two years, he has worked for Electrolux Professional, traveling to the Electrolux factories in Sweden and France many times for training.

“I saw a great opportunity with Laundrylux and am especially pleased that I will represent the Electrolux and Wascomat brands,” Chateau says.

SEAGA WELCOMES BACK BOWERSOX AS CHANNEL MANAGER

FREEPORT, Ill. — Industry veteran Dave Bowersox has returned to vending machine manufacturer Seaga as its channel manager for the full-line division. He is in charge of serving the company’s full-time customers and prospects.

While based in Seaga’s headquarters in Freeport, he will be working from his home in Minneapolis.

“We welcome Dave back to the Seaga family with open arms,” says Steven Chesney, Seaga CEO. “Dave is the epitome of what a Seaga employee should be: loyal, honest and ready to serve any and all customer needs.”

February 28, 2012

SummitParts.com Launches New, User-Friendly Website

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — The site is intended to be a one-stop shop for the laundry industry

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. — SummitParts.com has launched a new website intended to be a one-stop shop for the laundry industry, allowing customers to easily find the parts they need, the company reports.  

The website features more than 100,000 washer and dryer machine parts, plus parts manuals, the distributor says. If a customer has trouble locating the part they need, they can call the company’s customer-service hot line manned by factory-trained specialists.  

Another site feature is the Summit Bucks Rewards program, designed to provide ongoing savings for regular customers.  

Summit Parts has been in business for more than 30 years.

February 9, 2012

Consumer Reports Finds Laundry Detergent Dosing ‘Confusing’

YONKERS, N.Y. — Using too much concentrated laundry detergent can wash its benefits away, says Consumer Reports, which recently looked closely at products from All, Era, Purex, Tide and Xtra and uncovered unclear instructions and inconsistent cap measurements that can drive up laundry costs.

The independent, non-profit organization says it found that it’s often unclear how much detergent is needed to get the job done right, and it can be easy to use too much. It blamed cap fill lines that testers found were difficult to see or too close together to produce accurate dosing.

Concentrated laundry detergents—2X, 3X and even 8X—have less water and other nonessential ingredients than conventional products, Consumer Reports says. Most consumers don’t realize that the “X” is often tied to a previous formulation of the same detergent, so 2X would give equal performance as the previous detergent while using half the dose.

Also, the “X” does not apply to different models of the same brand or for comparisons across brands. For example, a 50-ounce bottle from one maker doses 32 loads while 32 ounces from another does 28 loads.

Consumer Reports recommends following label directions until the measuring lines on laundry detergent caps are well defined. Also, it recommends using HE detergents in a front loader or high-efficiency top loader, because other detergents may produce too much suds.

The full report on concentrated laundry detergents can be found here.