News Room
CLA Backgrounder
Established in 1960, the Coin Laundry Association (CLA) is a not-for-profit trade organization. Its mission is to provide education and service to entrepreneurs in the coin laundry industry, protect their business interests and promote public awareness of the industry’s exemplary services.
In 2005, CLA celebrated 45 years of assistance to the coin laundry industry; a trade with roots that run deep in America’s free business enterprise.
Coin Laundry Business History
The public laundry concept originated approximately 20 years after the advent of the first wringer washer in 1907. In those days, “take-in” laundry was done by an attendant and returned to the customer. Later, washers were made available on a per-hour or per-day basis. This service continued until the dawn of “automatic washers” sometime in the late 30’s and early 40’s.
Self-service coin laundries as we know them did not arrive on the scene until the 50’s when coin meters were added to washing machines. The very first coin laundries were small, narrow stores with washers on one wall and dryers on the other. Many store owners left the doors unlocked, thereby offering patrons 24-hour-a-day use.
In the 60’s a “new breed” of investors jumped into the business with a professional “hands-on” approach and the industry enjoyed a high-growth period. New owners spent time in their stores, kept them clean and maintained their machines in top condition.
The early 80’s brought even bigger and better stores. New investors were quite savvy and made substantial investments. Equipment had also come a long way, as machines were engineered to be more energy efficient and reliable.
Coin Laundry Today
Today, there are between 30,000 and 35,000 coin laundries in the U.S. that provide more than 7 million American households with the necessary equipment to clean their clothes on a weekly basis. This $5 billion a year industry is in the midst of a boom. Businesses are building mega-stores with anywhere from 5,000 to 9,000 square feet that provide a variety of ancillary services – such as wash-dry-fold, drycleaning, tailoring, shoe repair, etc. – to cater to a busy American lifestyle that dictates a need for these essential time-saving services. In addition, new laundries have expanded with extras including: card technology, tanning beds, mailbox rental, shipping services, Internet access and many more conveniences.
CLA is a vertical association boasting membership from all segments of the coin laundry industry: store owners, manufacturers and distributors. CLA strives to help every member maximize its potential in the coin laundry business while moving the industry into its next phase of progress and entrepreneurship.
