The business
of laundry
A publication,
a forum,
and a body of work.
Built by operators, for operators.
Operations
The writing, the speaking, the Forum. It all comes from the same place. Stores. Clients. Numbers. The work comes first. Everything else grows from it.
The Soap Box
VIP Bubbles
FROM THE INDUSTRY
“Well done.”
Mark Vlaskamp
Senior VP, LaundroLab · Laundry CEO Forum 2024
“He really crushed it. A ton of great information was shared. It was truly a privilege to be part of such a great event.”
Justin Clark
VP of Sales & Revenue, Southeast Group · EVI Industries
“After 20+ years I’m stepping back into the laundromat industry and the Laundry CEO Forum was the perfect launchpad. An extraordinary opportunity to learn, network, and collaborate.”
Pamela Gordon, MBA
Serial Entrepreneur · From Corporate America to Laundry
BEYOND THE STORES
01
The Sunday publication for the business of laundry. Analysis, reporting, and field notes from inside the business.
02
On Stage
The business of laundry, spoken plainly. Client experience, operations, what it actually takes to build something worth building.
03
The country’s gathering of laundry owners, operators, investors, and entrepreneurs. Real conversations, hands-on workshops, and the connections that change businesses.
04
A midweek read on what’s happening in the business of laundry, from an operator watching it from the inside. Published on LinkedIn.
HOW I THINK
The Manifesto
Laundry is the art of the experience. Not the art of the machine.
Every client, regardless of income, deserves an extraordinary experience. Your zip code doesn't determine the service you deserve.
The only lasting competitive advantage is hospitality. Products get commoditized. Relationships compound.
When everyone has the same machines, same soap, same hot water, the experience is the only thing that can't be replicated.
Passive income is a myth in this business. What works is intentional infrastructure. People, systems, discipline.
Dignity and profit aren't mutually exclusive.
THE ORIGIN
I grew up in the
laundry business.
Never really left it
Just kept pushing it further.
My dad built the first store in Brooklyn, New York. A laundromat carved out of a mixed-use building he bought for one of his supermarkets. I grew up working in that building. Over time I came back to it, and in 2015 I took it over so he could slow down. We built three locations together in Brooklyn. That foundation is everything.
In 2016, launched The Soap Box. A separate brand, across the street, built entirely around pickup and delivery. Today that model runs alongside VIP Bubbles our self-service operations.
I operate, write, speak, and connect with owners/operators in the industry.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
The Work Speaks.
ON SPEAKING
"
It was a masterclass in customer-centric thinking. While our products may differ, the principles of building loyalty and creating value are universal. If you ever get the chance to attend something outside your immediate space, do it.
YLORIE TAYLOR
Brand Architect · Speaker · Fractional CMO
ON THE WORK
"
For owners who’ve graduated from ‘which washer should I buy?’ to ‘how do I build a real company?
RICHARD KENNETH
Laundromat Owner
ON THE FORUM
"
If someone asks me “if I could only attend one laundry conference a year, which should I attend?” — I would say this was the event. This is the event that will introduce you to operators who operate on a whole different level.
JEFF MOAK
The Laundry Matchmaker · Third Gen Laundromat Owner
ON WASH WEEKLY
"
I am so impressed with how you do it over and over again.
Ken Wimberly, CCIM
Chief Visionary Officer, Wimberly Group · LaundryLuv
WASH WEEKLY
The publication for the
business of laundry.
3,000+ subscribers · No spam, ever · Unsubscribe anytime
FROM READERS
“I am intentional about having Waleed in my feed. Thank you for your gift to be able to sum these thoughts up of our busy entrepreneur minds.”
Jorge Rios · Owner/Operator, Fresh & Clean Garment Care
“You’re really focused on the real story of owning a business and the myriad of complications. Many times your emails hit home.”
Wash Weekly Subscriber
“I continually look forward to your weekly newsletter. Nice work.”
Kent Wales · Happy Laundry & Dry Cleaning