Laundry Nerd Podcast

Host Randy Radtke interviews Catherine Fisher, owner of Adam's Washeteria and self-styled High Priestess of the Holy Spin, about her colorful, community-focused laundromat in Corvallis, Oregon. They discuss whimsical laundromat weddings and commitment ceremonies, the shop's neon-disco vibe, customer experiences, and Catherine's mission to make laundry fun, inclusive, and more accessible for everyone.

Randy interviews Susan Wang, who moved from running vending machines to planning her first laundromat, Sunshine Laundry Lounge. She shares how visiting stores, meeting industry owners (including Tim Richardson), and detailed research shaped her plans for a customer-focused self-serve and wash-and-fold business.Susan discusses timeline, financing, contractor work, and operating as employee one, and offers advice for new buyers: take time to learn the industry, prioritize location and lease terms, and design the business around how you want to serve customers. Follow her journey on Instagram @SusanWangGroup.

Host Randy Radtke talks with Kyle Pethke, Manager of Laundry Design at Alliance Laundry Systems, about the full process of designing laundromats—from site selection and demographics to utility planning, equipment mix, and construction-ready drawings. They discuss common challenges (tight footprints, odd angles, service access, sight lines), industry trends (larger-capacity machines, card/pay systems, wash‑dry‑fold), frequent design mistakes like overcrowding, and how to engage Alliance’s design team for projects.

There's little doubt that with its densely populated boroughs, New York is a unique laundromat market. In this episode of the Laundry Nerd Podcast, we chat with Christian Almonte, Vice President of Lav Express laundromats in New York, to gain insights on the business, market, and their new giant laundromat in Queens. We’ll also learn how Christian, a second-generation laundromat owner, decided to get into the family business.

Vending, even if it’s just about offering single-use soap and softener, can be an excellent additional revenue stream for laundromat owners. Vend-Rite has been a supplier to the laundry industry since 1952, helping owners meet customer needs and drive additional revenue in the process.  In this episode of the Laundry Nerd Podcast, we chat with Mark Gies from Vend-Rite, to learn more about their company, products, and much more.

Laundromat owners who ignore marketing and refuse to stay abreast of best practices do so at their own peril. In this episode of the Laundry Nerd Podcast, we chat with Dom Santamaria, owner of Suds Digital to learn more about the business and best practices.

Randy Radtke talks with Speed Queen franchise owner Jeremy Stroud about why he chose the franchise route, how franchisor support and a strong staff helped launch his Baton Rouge location, and lessons learned running pickup & delivery. They cover site selection, onboarding, operational support, practical tips for new owners, and plans for a second location.

With so much focus on attended stores expanding into wash-dry-fold services and pick-up and delivery to maximize revenue, we are venturing in the opposite direction in this episode. We are chatting with Matthew Charney, owner of Fivefold Laundromat in Columbus, Ohio, about his decision to go unattended and how technology helps him stay on top of the business.

We are getting artsy in this episode. Leah M. Schulte is co-owner of Midtown Washboard Laundromat in St. Charles, MO, and author of Laundromat Detour – Poems about Bra Underwires, Quirky Customers, Mopping and More. In this episode, we chat with Leah about her laundromat, book, and, in a Laundry Nerd podcast first, share some original poetry. Definitely a can’t miss episode.

More than 10 years ago, co-founders of Wash-Dry-Fold POS, Brian Henderson and Ian Gollahon, set out to give laundromat owners a point-of-sale and management software solution that streamlined pain points. In this episode, we chat with the pair and learn how their unique perspective as store owners guides their products as well as learn about exciting new developments in API that unlock additional functionalities.

Salt Lake City continues to expand outward. In this episode we chat with Zach Brewer of Rhino Laundry & Dry Cleaning Specialists to learn if this rapid growth is also creating opportunities for laundromat investors.

We love introducing you to the industry’s newest technology. In this episode, we are joined by Lyndsay Varner, digital product manager at Alliance, to discuss a new payment method introduced at Clean Show 2025 that has taken off.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

Throwing it back to Clean Show 2025 one more time when we wrapped up our live episode run chatting with Flavio Mello, General Manager of Latin America Sales for Alliance. Learn how the laundromat business is growing in Latin America.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

Our industry’s power couple wears many hats – successful multi-store owners, podcasters, consultants, show organizers, and the list goes on. At Clean Show 2025 in Orlando, they returned to the show to chat about their shared passion for the industry and much more.   *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

Brittany Centers, owner of Centers Social, continues to help laundromat owners elevate their marketing efforts against in ever-changing digital landscape. In case you missed our live-from-the-Clean-Show chat, we’re sharing the tip-filled episode with you. You won’t want to miss it.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

Jordan Berry is one of the biggest personalities in the laundromat world – successful laundromat owner, social media star, business consultant. Taking it back to one of many highlights of our live broadcasts at Clean Show 2025, when Jordan joined us to chat about a variety of industry topics and trends.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

The Laundry Cares Foundation is a force for good withing the laundromat industry, helping owners give back to their communities and promote literacy. We are turning it back to one of our live podcasts from Clean Show 2025 and chatting with Dan Naumann, Executive Vice President of the Laundry Cares Foundation, to learn more about this impactful organization and its beginnings.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

It’s easy to get excited about all the new products and technology that await you at the Clean Show. But in this episode, we chat with Mike Schoeb, CEO of Alliance Laundry Systems, and learn that some of the most important conversations happen away from the show floor. Mike shares that chatting with customers after the show hours provides valuable insights in getting a pulse on the industry and how the company is doing in delivering value.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

Technology is developing at a faster pace than ever before and changing how laundry businesses operate. In this episode of the Laundry Nerd podcast, we chat with an industry leader in the technology realm – Joe Hainline, Chief Technology Officer for Alliance Laundry Systems. Oh, and if you want some inside info on what you’ll see at Clean Show 2025, you might want to listen...hint hint.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

We are so close to Clean Show 2025 that we can hardly contain our excitement. And if you haven’t heard already, the Laundry Nerd Podcast will be going live at the show in Orlando. We have been sharing short teasers of a few of the personalities we will chat with live from Clean. In this short tease, we reintroduce Carlos Ochoa, who is a TikTok rockstar...in addition to being an amazingly successful laundromat owner.      *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

The Laundry Nerd Podcast has big news! We will be going live at the Clean Show in August in Orlando. Between now and the huge industry event, we will be sharing short teasers of a few of the personalities we will chat with live from Clean. In this short tease, we reintroduce Alex Bloom, who is taking the customer experience to new heights and is all-in on using data to make informed decisions in his business.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

The Laundry Nerd Podcast has big news! We will be going live at the Clean Show in August in Orlando. Between now and the huge industry event, we will be sharing short teasers of a few of the personalities we will chat with live from Clean. In this short tease, we reintroduce Tim Richardson, owner of Deluxe Laundry Spa in Los Angeles. This new owner is changing the laundromat game with a ton of new ideas.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

For as long as there’s been laundry equipment, there’s been lint. And that’s meant a host of issues caused by lint being put out into the environment...until now. In this episode of the Laundry Nerd podcast we chat with Andy Kegler, lead engineer on the development of the ProCapture lint capture feature for tumblers, to get the inside story on how this project came together.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

Alex Bloom has built exceptional customer loyalty through great staff, attention to detail, and having some fun with one specific equipment feature. Learn how he’s a firm believer in tapping a bit of luck to increase success.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

Vending Manager at Lightning Laundry in Little Rock, Arkansas, Collin Craig, joins the Laundry Nerd Podcast to talk about his job and his role in a recent commercial for the laundromat (you can watch it here). Oh, and did we mention that this laundromat professional is our youngest-ever guest. How young? Take a listen.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

The Laundromat Girl, AKA Cami, is a TikTok and Instagram influencer bringing attention to our industry. On this episode of the Laundry Nerd podcast, she joins us to talk about her journey from full-time nurse to laundromat owner and social media star.    *The Laundry Nerd Podcast was formerly known as Laundromat Insights

In this episode we learn about buying a laundromat with a well-worded note ... oh, and laundromat financing options, courtesy of Ana Figueroa, Manager of U.S. Financial Services for Alliance Laundry Systems. Note: The Laundromat Insights podcast will have a new name and look in the days ahead...stay tuned.

Brittany Centers, owner of Centers Social, sits down to talk about her work in helping laundromat owners market their businesses using social media platforms.

In part two of our chat with Carlos Ochoa, we’ll learn how he got his start in TikTok and what he’s sharing through his Laundromat Money account.

Carlos Ochoa had built an amazing following with his Laundromat Money TikTok account and in this episode, we’ll learn more about his business and how he came to open a laundromat.

In part two of this series, we learn how Tim’s approach to the business started with the end in mind and a goal of supporting a good cause.

Newcomer to the industry, Tim Richardson, joins us to talk about his laundromat business, set to open this fall. In part one, we hear about his background, including time as a Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Deputy.

While many new investors want the large square footage locations out of the gate, small footprint stores can be highly profitable. Yumi Ryoo, senior account executive with Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution West Region, joins us to talk zombie mats and small store potential in the Los Angeles market.

In this episode we hear from Nick Luzecky, who swapped out his barely broken-in Quantum Gold machines for Quantum Touch to see if it would deliver ROI. Hear what he has to say about this touchscreen upgrade and the impact on premium cycle selection.

Softmount washer-extractors deliver exceptional G-Force to remove more water from loads than most hardmount units. Does that make them the go-to answer for all laundromats? Mike Hand, Alliance’s vice president of North America Commercial Sales, joins us to walk through the considerations.

Whether your laundromat is your primary business or a secondary income source, devoting enough time to management can be challenging. Ann Korhnak is back to share time management strategies to help maximize this finite resource.

With increased competition for locations, often growing your laundromat business through acquiring an existing store can be a solid option. Tina Gough, senior finance sales specialist, joins us to chat about factors to consider in purchasing laundromat and how acquisition financing streamlines the process.

Alliance Laundry Systems, parent company of Speed Queen, has been quite active in the last several years acquiring distributors, as well as reorganizing sales. In this episode, we chat with Craig Dakauskas, Senior Vice President of Americas Commercial, to learn more about Alliance’s recent activities and how they benefit customers.

Ann Korhnak, general manager of spare parts at Alliance Laundry Systems, is back for part two of this important topic. We pick up the discussion where we left off last time – stressing the significance of the research phase.

Every business, no matter the industry, needs a business strategy. Without this roadmap, owners are just operating day to day. In part one of this two-part episode, Ann Korhnak, general manager of spare parts at Alliance Laundry Systems, joins us again to share her experience in crafting this important strategy document.

Steve Bowie, senior director of North America Commercial Support for Alliance joins us to chat about the company’s approach to supporting laundromat owners, and also touch upon some misinformation that made the rounds last year.

Bryan Donegan is offering his customers the ultimate in multitasking opportunities – a combination fitness club and laundromat. Laundry 24 and 24 Fitness are making an impact from their location just outside the gates of Fort Drum in New York.

Bruce has been covering the laundry industry for decades. We sit down with him and ask burning questions like, where the industry will be years from now, and whether he does laundry.

Liberty Laundry in Peterborough, New Hampshire recently transitioned to touchscreens and technology. We chat with owner, Matt Zinicola about the upgrade, and what it’s like operating a laundromat in the community the play “Our Town” was based on.

In this episode, we meet Ann Korhnak, general manager of spare parts at Alliance Laundry Systems, learn about the parts headwinds facing all industries, and get a glimpse of what’s to come.

The2022 Clean Show is upon us. We’ll chat tips for attending the show and why you must consider the lost opportunity cost of long lead times for products.

Dave Menz, AKA the Laundromat Millionaire, is back for part two of our conversation. This time around we chat operations, books, and the Laundromat Millionaire Conference.

Dave Menz, AKA the Laundromat Millionaire, wears many hats – successful business owner, author, podcaster. In this first of a two-part series, we talk about how his start in life in Flint, Mich. equipped him with the grit to overcome hurdles and achieve success on a variety of levels.

Big Waves Laundromat in Santa Monica made an immediate impact when it opened in 2020. It’s owner, quickly fell in love with the business and began planning for a second location.  In this episode, we’re joined by Wade Hickok to talk about the new location and what new owners should know about expanding to store number two.

In the laundromat business, going it alone can be costly. This is why a full-service distributor is so important. We’re joined by Justin Meerman, sales manager at Hynes and Waller, Inc. in Marlboro, Md., and Mike Fox, sales manager at Alliance Laundry Systems Distribution (formerly Washburn Machinery) in Chicago to talk about what full-service distribution means for laundromat owners.

The Coin Laundry Association (CLA) is the backbone of the laundromat industry, and it has a definite pulse on its overall health. In this episode, Brian Wallace, president and CEO of the CLA, discusses topics such as the current state and future of the industry, Laundry Cares Foundation, and frequent flyer miles.

Quality doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of a concerted effort to accept nothing less than excellence. In this episode, Brad Nye, vice president of operations, discusses how his team turns out consistently great products each day.

Coming off a year of historic low interest rates, 2022 could be more challenging with inflation and possible rate hikes. Jeff Harvey, manager of U.S. underwriting for Alliance Laundry Systems sorts it all out for us.

The laundromat business continues to see franchise options introduced to markets. In this episode, we’re joined by Dan Bowe, former General Manager of franchise and retail operations and current Speed Queen Laundry Advisor with 25 years of experience in the laundry industry, who discusses the company’s beginnings in laundromat operations with company-owned stores, the learnings gathered from that time, and the transition to the franchise option of today.

Capitol Quick Wash owner, Jason Dodge, has a wealth of industry experience. In this episode, he shares learnings and insights on a variety of topics, including how technology has streamlined his management.

What’s it like opening a business during a pandemic? We’ll find out in our chat with Aaron Helms, owner of The Washroom Coin Laundry in Van Buren, Arkansas.

Less than a year in, Jessica Haney’s  Jess’s  Laundry Wash and Fold in Lake Dallas, Texas has a booming wash-dry-fold business. In this episode we’ll chat about her commitment to customer service, what she looks for in employees…oh, and we’ll learn just why customers rave about the smell of her laundromat.

While many new investors come to the laundromat business later in life, Mike Gilley jumped in very early on…like high school age early. In this episode he shares that initial start and how he built Laundry & Tan Connection into an enterprise spanning several states.

Spoiler alert: location is important to the success of your laundry. Brad Harris of Laundry Solutions Company has the unique perspective of owning laundromats as well as helping others get into the business. He’ll share his expertise on location as well as the different customer types you should be accounting for in deciding on a site. You may be surprised by the areas in which owners are developing laundries.

Wichita, Kansas is home to The Laundry Station, one of the first laundries to leverage all the pieces of Speed Queen technology. In this episode, we chat with its owner, Sharon Brinks, about her journey to the laundromat business, the importance of technology and a whole lot more.

Mike Hand has decades of experience in the laundry industry and in this episode, he shares his insider tips for getting started opening a laundromat. From finding a location to grand opening insights, this GM of one of the most experienced new store developers, CLEC West, offers up his thoughts on a variety of topics.

We’re tackling the big T in this episode – Technology. Joining us to talk all things laundromat technology is Aubrey Pollesch, laundromat sales development manager at Alliance. We’ll give an overview of available technology in three major categories – business operations, analytics and marketing. This is a great “get your feet wet” bucket of content focused on laundromat technology.

You’re interested in opening up a laundromat business and you have questions on financing. We’ve got Jeff with the answers. In this episode, Jeff Harvey, Alliance’s manager of U.S. underwriting walks us through the various options for financing a vended laundry as well as the steps to streamline the process, from getting pre-approved to management of the note.

Jennifer Butzlaff, Alliance’s marketing business partner for the laundromat segment, joins us for the inaugural episode of the Laundromat Insights Podcast. We talk “laundry nerdom,” the changing image of laundromats and the basics that make the laundromat business great, including management ease, fantastic return on investment and a great customer experience.