Get the Most Out of Clean ’11

By Bob Nieman | Apr 21, 2011

The Clean Show has always been a great place for brand new laundry owners to really get a feel for the coin laundry industry. It’s also ideal for potential investors doing their due diligence before taking that entrepreneurial plunge.

As always, there are sure to be plenty of new faces on the exhibit floor and at the educational sessions in Las Vegas this June. To help those of you who may be attending your first Clean Show (or, for long-time operators, to reinforce what you know you should be doing), we asked a number of experienced store owners, distributors and manufacturers to pass along some of their best, hard-earned Clean Show advice:

Karl Keefer
Westfield Laundromat, LLC
Downers Grove, Ill.

“My advice is to not only kick the tires in every relative vendor booth you have time to visit, but also make sure you attend the various seminars available. Most importantly, introduce yourself to others and aggressively network with other operators to share ideas of your own.

“Keep an open mind to the new ideas freely offered by others. The Clean Show, like any major event, is what you make it of it. The more interactive you are, the more productive the show will be for you. But remember that there is no cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach to anything to do with this business. Put every bit of new information into the proper context by asking questions.
 
“Qualify each response to make sure you are talking about the same thing. For example, in Chicago we talk rent in annual terms ($12 per square foot per year), but in California they talk monthly rents ($1 per square foot per month). Is your store located in a rural or heavily populated area? What are the demographics of another operator compared to your own?

“Be sure to compare rent and utility costs. If I am only paying $6 per square foot annually (50 cents monthly), I may be able to afford to vend my topload washers at 75 cents; or given the market, I may be able to equip nearly the entire store with topload washers and vend them for $3, and only offer a few frontload washers. Each market is unique, but the show can offer valuable information that can improve your bottom line.”
 
Keith Griffin
Super Suds Coin Laundry
Beebe, Ark.

“See all you can see. There’s so much to see and so little time. It’s a great way to stay abreast of what is going on in our business.”

Craig Kirchner
Whirlpool Corp.
St. Joseph, Mich.

“Review the show guide and floor plan. Have a specific idea in mind at to who you want to visit, when you plan to visit them and how long you plan to stay at a particular booth. Make appointments, if possible. Be flexible.”

Duane King
LMARIES Laundromat
Bowling Green, Ohio

“Before leaving home, make a list of items that your store needs – such as equipment upgrades, signage, change/card machines, etc. Then, after attending the training seminars, visit the show and see if you can check each item off of your list.”

George Pierce
Pierce Commercial Laundry Distributors
Mandeville, La.

“I would advise first-time attendees to review the floor plan and seminar agenda prior to arrival. Make a plan for each day so that the time spent away from your business will provide the most benefit.”

Joel Jorgensen
Continental Girbau
Oshkosh, Wis.

“New attendees should consider accessing and downloading the show’s exhibition map, which is online. Then they should map out the places they want to see and must see. I recommend taking care of the must-see items either first or last. For the rest of the time on the show floor, walk around with open mind, ask questions and be ready to learn. Be sure to take advantage of the excellent seminars, which are the true epicenter of the event.”

Chris Balestracci
Super Wash Laundry
East Haven, Conn.

“Don't get overwhelmed by the immense size of the show. Take the first half hour to go through the show directory, and map out two tiers – (1) the ones you need to see and (2) the ones you would like to see. Talk to as many laundry owners as possible, ask a lot of questions and go to all of the seminars.”

Jim Whitmore
WSI Laundry Corp.
Gloucester, Mass.

“Don't rush through the experience. And be sure to attend the seminars and all of the social opportunities for discussion and networking.”

Greg Tompkins
T-N-T Suds, LLC
Walla Walla, Wash.

“Prioritize your greatest needs, plan on spending a lot of time getting questions answer by exhibitors – and wear comfortable shoes.”

Jeff Gardner
Sel Dale Laundromat
St. Paul, Minn.

“Get to the educational seminars early. Choose the seminars you want to attend beforehand, because they’re invaluable. Plan your time on the exhibit floor. Go online, choose what you think is interesting and will be helpful to you, and plan your path. You’ll be running all over the place.

“During the show, find people that you can get together with that evening, perhaps at the CLA’s dinner or cocktail receptions. Getting that one-on-one time with another store owner or distributor or manufacturer is what makes Clean worth the trip.

“But you need to plan it out, because it’s short. I go there for five days, and when it’s over, I can’t believe it’s over. There are always so many things I still want to do.”

Bill Gilbert, CLA Chairman
Service Laundry Machinery
Belton, S.C.

“For the first-timer, if this is a business that you want to get into, you need to get here, ask a lot of questions, and be patient and listen between the lines.

“Look for products that apply to your needs. You may not need a big fancy washer with all the bells and whistles or large stack dryers; maybe you just need a simple product. Then again, you may be in a college market, for instance, where texting and some of today’s other options would be helpful. Whatever your scenario, this is the place to find that out.

“Serious attendees always have a game plan in mind. They’ve chartered out where the booths are. And they’ve gone to the seminars and listened.”

(Next: 10 Ways to Make Clean ’11 Work for You.)