David Shulick is an entrepreneur in the vended laundry industry. In the following article, Mr. Shulick discusses industry news, projected growth, and initiatives.
October has been a busy month for the coin laundry industry. Ambitious charitable program expansions, new acquisitions, and announcements regarding upcoming conferences and workshops have all had their share of the spotlight.
With November looming on the horizon, David Shulick takes a look at some of the most significant news from the vended laundry industry this month.
Whirlpool Expands “Care Counts” Program
David Shulick reports that leading home appliance manufacturer Whirlpool has announced its Care Counts program will expand to five new states next year: Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Launched eight years ago in collaboration with Teach for America, Care Counts is an initiative designed to combat absenteeism in elementary schools. Through the program, Whirlpool donates washing machines and dryers to schools with high absenteeism rates across the country. Students enrolled in the program are less likely to be absent from school, and they report feeling better able to fit in with their peers.
David Shulick states that absenteeism is a serious problem that reflects poorly on the education system’s ability to reach and uplift children from underprivileged backgrounds. One of the biggest reasons why disadvantaged students don’t show up for class is that they don’t have clean clothes or uniforms to wear. Whirlpool and Teach for America are trying to address this disparity by providing free laundry services for children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to clean clothing.
As of 2022, more than 50,000 children across the country are enrolled in Care Counts. That number is expected to grow as the program expands into new areas next school year.
Wash Dry Fold Workshop Scheduled for November in Chicago, IL
David Shulick reports that the Coin Laundry Association (CLA) and the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) have opened registration for their joint workshop on best practices in the wash-dry-fold (WDF) and delivery laundry industry. This event, the first of its kind in the United States, will allow participants to learn valuable skills and business strategies from leaders in the industry.
The workshop will feature demonstrations, education sessions, and round-table discussions on topics relating to wash-and-fold, pick-up and delivery, and commercial laundry. Participants will have the opportunity to network with peers in the industry and learn about new technologies that will help their WDF and/or delivery businesses grow and flourish according to David Shulick.
The event will be held at the Hilton Chicago/Oakbrook Hills Resort and Conference Center in Chicago, IL, on November 16 and 17.
Wholesale Commercial Laundry Equipment SE Acquired by EVI
EVI Industries, Inc. has announced it will acquire Wholesale Commercial Laundry Equipment SE, an Alabama-based company that distributes laundry products and installs and manufactures appliances for vended laundry businesses. EVI, which touts a “buy-and-build” strategy for expanding its operations, states that the move helps accomplish its goal of increasing its influence within the Southeastern United States.
David Shulick says that as a fixture in the laundry business since 1959, EVI is the only distributor in the industry that is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The company seeks to build on the success of existing laundry suppliers and cleaning product distributors by encouraging them to maintain their current practices while granting them the resources to outperform their competitors.
TRSA’s 11th Annual Healthcare Conference Heads to Scottsdale, AZ
The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) has announced it will hold its 11th annual Healthcare Conference at the Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. The conference will focus on compliance, industry trends, and other concerns relating to processing linens for medical facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, and surgery centers.
The TRSA seeks to promote and strengthen the linen, uniform, and facility services industry through advocacy, education, information sharing, and certification programs. The organization provides resources for all businesses that launder, maintain, and supply uniforms and linens.
According to research by IBISWorld, the industrial laundry and linen business accounts for an $18.6 billion market share and is expected to grow by 5% in 2022. The business has been steadily growing since 2017, following an increasing trend among large facilities of shutting down in-house laundry rooms in favor of professional services.
David Shulick reports that the 11th Annual Healthcare Conference will feature speeches and discussion panels led by top professionals in the laundry and healthcare industries. There will also be a guided tour of the 65,000-square-foot Emerald Textiles plant in Phoenix, AZ, which processes over 80,000 pounds of laundry daily.
Final Thoughts
As the demand for laundry services continues to grow, education and outreach remain vital for introducing new entrepreneurs to the business and amplifying voices within the industry.
Initiatives like Whirlpool’s Care Counts program serve to elevate the vended laundry industry in the public eye, while conferences and workshops dedicated to spreading awareness about industry concerns provide valuable resources and spaces for laundry professionals to network and share ideas.
