Whether you're a laundromat owner, a CleanCloud user, or interested about the laundry industry, this podcast episode is a must-listen. Full of valuable insights and practical tips, CleanCloud Co-Founders John Buni and David Griffith-Jones joined Bob Nieman, Editor of Planet Laundry, to explore the ever evolving landscape of dry cleaning and laundry operations.
Celebrating 10 years of CleanCloud, they reflect on key milestones and moments throughout their development of being a leading point-of-sales system for business owners in over 100 countries. John and David also discuss future opportunities for laundromats, integrating different technologies that will further improve laundry operations and what most excites them about the future of laundry looking ahead. Read a full breakdown of the key topics discussed and watch the podcast episode here.
Podcast Highlights
CleanCloud Milestones
Bob Nieman (Host): Gentlemen, thank you for joining us to share the CleanCloud story, your mission, and your goals for the laundry business. I appreciate you being here. Earlier this year, CleanCloud entered its 10th year in business—congratulations, that’s a huge milestone. Did either of you expect to still be in the laundry business a decade later?
John: I guess we just love it. Neither of us came from the laundry industry, but like many of our customers, we found our way in. Once you’re in, you’re in! It’s been a great 10 years, and I hope there’s another 10 or more to come.
David: When we started, I thought the product would be finished within the first six months to a year. Ten years later, we’re accelerating our improvements, growing faster than ever, and reaching beyond our original expectations. We’re always trying to 10X.
Bob: You’ve surpassed some major milestones this year—10 million customers and over $1 billion in transactions. To what do you attribute this growth?
John: When we started, we just wanted to make a great product and ensure we continued innovating. Along the way, we’ve been fortunate to pick up thousands of customers in different places who’ve joined us on this journey. It’s a testament to our business and what our customers have achieved. After all, those 10 million customers are our customers’ customers.
David: We’ve always been innovative in the space, and that’s naturally attracted forward-thinking laundromats and dry cleaners. Over time, we’ve built a product that’s both productive and trustworthy, while staying lean and innovative.
Bob: Has CleanCloud’s mission evolved over the years?
John: Yes, we started as a simple cloud-based POS system, which was innovative at the time. Over the years, we expanded to include pickup and delivery, advanced marketing tools, payroll, and payments—becoming a one-stop shop business-in-a-box solution for our customers.
David: As we’ve grown, we’ve focused on improving the customer experience, automating workflows, and streamlining operations to help our clients grow from single-store operations to multi-store businesses. We’ve worked to ensure our system grows with our customers as they expand.
CleanCloud’s Features & Innovations
Bob: That’s a great point—growing with your customers as they evolve. Speaking of innovation, what specific features or innovations in CleanCloud’s products do you think have been the most transformative for the laundry industry?
David: During COVID, pickup and delivery really took off, and we were well-positioned with a solid system in place before the pandemic hit. As laundromats and dry cleaners needed to adapt quickly, our software allowed them to offer pickup and delivery services using their own drivers, gig economy drivers, or third-party services.
We were also the first to integrate payroll directly into the system through our partnership with Gusto. That means owners and operators can run payroll with just a few clicks right inside CleanCloud. It’s incredibly streamlined, pulling all the data from employee clock-ins, hours worked, tips, and more.
John: For me, it’s about operational efficiency. Yes, we have all the flashy features, but I really love the tools that improve daily workflow for our customers. We introduced machine tracking and a visual Kanban board for wash-dry-fold operations. Many of our customers, and their employees, aren’t tech-savvy, so having a simple, intuitive system is crucial. It allows them to move orders through the process with ease, which directly impacts customer satisfaction.
Evolution of Laundry Technology
Bob: That’s fantastic. Let me ask—how has technology changed the way laundromats operate?
John: I’d say the biggest shift is the access to data. With a system like CleanCloud, laundromat owners now have the ability to make informed decisions based on real-time data—whether it’s staffing, customer preferences, or driver performance. It’s no longer about guessing; it’s about using data to optimize operations.
David: Right. And because the technology is now so advanced, operators can offer more services without adding complexity. We’ve seen a lot of laundromats branching out into lockers, both smart and dumb lockers, and using driver tracking features like Uber-style driver notifications to reduce customer anxiety. By integrating all these services into one platform, CleanCloud simplifies what would otherwise be a very complex operation.
Bob: And that plays into what you mentioned earlier about expanding with your customers. Has CleanCloud’s role in the industry shifted as well?
David: Absolutely. When we started, we were already an innovative player in the market. But as we’ve grown, we’ve also become the most reliable and productive system out there. We now work with some of the largest chains and international companies in the industry, and that’s pushed us to continue refining our platform to handle bigger operations while maintaining that same level of innovation.
John: Exactly. CleanCloud started with a mission to disrupt the laundry industry by offering cloud-based solutions. Today, we’ve evolved into a full business management platform that helps operators with everything from POS and marketing to payroll and route management. And as our customers grow, we grow with them. That’s been our ethos from day one.
Future Opportunities for Laundry Business Owners
Bob: That’s an impressive evolution. Now, looking ahead, where do you both see the greatest opportunities for laundry operators?
David: I think the biggest opportunity lies in taking wash-and-fold services mainstream. It’s growing, but we’re still not at the point where every consumer knows about it. Reports show wash-and-fold could 5X or even 10X over the next five to ten years, so there’s a massive opportunity for operators to capitalize on that.
John: For me, I’d say the opportunity is in commercial laundry. We’re seeing more laundromats expand into offering services for hotels, gyms, and restaurants—basically competing with the large national commercial laundry providers but on a local level. With CleanCloud, operators can manage these types of contracts more efficiently, from invoicing to delivery.
Challenges for Laundromat Owners
Bob: That makes a lot of sense. On the flip side, what are some of the greatest threats facing laundromat operators today?
David: Rising costs, especially wages and utilities, are a big threat. We’ve seen the minimum wage and other costs go up, and there’s only so much laundromat owners can charge before customers start doing laundry at home. It’s important for operators to run as lean and efficient a business as possible to stay competitive.
John: And another major challenge is staffing. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find and keep reliable employees. That’s why operational efficiency is so critical. By using CleanCloud’s data and automation tools, operators can reduce their dependence on labor and still provide excellent service.
Best Practices & Advice for Laundromat Owners
Bob: What are some best practices or good advice for laundromat owners, particularly when it comes to technology?
John: The technology you invest in should integrate seamlessly into your business. It should be something that works in the background, helping you manage day-to-day operations without friction. You need to think from the perspective of both your employees and your customers—make sure it’s easy for them to use.
David: Exactly. And be open-minded. Some of the most successful operators are the ones who are constantly learning and staying up to date with the latest features and tools. At CleanCloud, we release new features every week, and operators who take the time to understand and implement them tend to have the most success. We also encourage operators to share best practices within our community—learning from each other is a powerful way to stay ahead.
John: I agree. Having an open mind is crucial, especially since people come into the laundry industry from all sorts of backgrounds. You need to understand your customers and adapt the technology to meet their needs, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all solution on your business.
Bob: That’s great advice. It’s clear that technology is becoming more central to laundromat operations.
Excitement For the Future
Bob: So, looking to the future—what excites you most about the direction the laundromat industry is heading?
John: I’m most excited about the growing recognition of the importance of technology. Ten years ago, many laundromats were still using pen and paper to take orders, but today there’s a clear shift toward embracing technology. With new advancements like AI and automation, we’re going to see laundromats become even more efficient and customer-focused.
David: I agree. We’re also seeing more hardware innovation—things like kiosks, smart lockers, and, as we mentioned, potentially folding robots in the near future. The laundry industry is evolving quickly, and the opportunities for innovation are huge. We’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible.
Bob: It sounds like the next decade is going to be an exciting time for the industry. Is there anything else either of you would like to share before we wrap up?
John: I’d just like to say how much we love being part of this industry. We’ve been in it for 10 years, and if anything, we’re more passionate about it now than when we started. We love supporting our customers and being part of the broader laundry community, and we’re excited about the future.
David: I’d echo that. We’ve built CleanCloud with a focus on supporting laundromat owners, and our customers are at the heart of everything we do. It’s been an amazing journey so far, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us next.
A big thank you to Planet Laundry for hosting this podcast conversation with our co-founders John and David. To listen to their discussion in full on the evolution of CleanCloud and the future of the laundromat industry, be sure to check out the full Planet Laundry podcast episode here.