Jordan Berry [00:00:01]:
Welcome to Laundromat News Today. I am America’s most inconsistent news anchor, Jordan Berry, especially when it comes to the laundromat industry. But I am bringing you news from around the world. All things Laundromat related. We’ve got a lot of stories to catch up on today, so let’s jump into it with our weekly or at least every time we do this episode check in of the Alliance Laundry holding ticker. As of the recording of this episode, Alliance Laundry holding is sitting at 21.36 a share. That is down from its initial valuation at 2499 by about 14 and a half percent. So you know, it’s been down from its high.

Jordan Berry [00:00:49]:
I believe it’s high was in the upper $26. So we’re down a little bit there. And along those lines, Citigroup has cut Alliance Laundry price target to 28. That’s down from 32. Their initial price target was $32. So down from 28. But they do still maintain a hold rating on and a buy rating on Alliance Laundry Holding. So listen, we’re just going to keep an eye on what that company is doing going forward and we’re going to stick with alliance here.

Jordan Berry [00:01:24]:
They have acquired another distributor, Super Laundry based out of New York. So again, stacking distributors, Alliance Laundry keeping an eye on that, seeing what’s going on in the industry, seeing what’s going on with those guys. Again, there’s only a handful of ways that they can increase their revenue and increase their profit. That’s by acquiring assets and charging us more really so or selling us more. So we’re keeping an eye on alliance and what they’ve got going on in the industry. They’re kind of the behemoth right now. So we want to see where they’re throwing their weight around. Let’s talk about a software behemoth in the industry since they have done a series C Fundraise that raised $110 million and another $30 million in shares sold via tender offer.

Jordan Berry [00:02:15]:
So listen, since making moves, raising more money, another publicly or private? Publicly funded, I don’t know. They’re venture funded, venture backed at least. Company making waves in the industry. So we’re keeping an eye on these guys. And speaking of behemoths here, this I know does not have a direct relation to a lot of you and what you guys are doing in your laundromat businesses. But this is definitely laundry related and huge news. Whereas Cintas kind of the giant in pickup and delivery that’s doing large scale Pickup and delivery for larger clients than most of us are dealing with. Just acquired Universe in a $5.5 billion transaction.

Jordan Berry [00:03:02]:
So these two massive companies have united and you know, again, it may not have a massive impact on your business, but we’re keeping an eye on it. I know we are delving in our industry more and more into pickup and delivery. And again, most of us are not competing with Cintas or Universe on company, on, on customers. But it is interesting to hear what’s going on in our industry right now. And this seems to indicate that at least on the larger scale, pickup delivery is not going anywhere. All right, this brings us to our international segment of the new show here. And let’s just, let’s keep the tradition rolling. We’re going to kick it off with Alliance Laundry Systems.

Jordan Berry [00:03:44]:
Again. They’re launching Stack X in Asia Pacific region. And that is a stacked washer dryer machine that they’re starting there. And they’re billing it as basically for newer business owners, smaller business owners and compact format laundry operators. So interesting to watch what they’re rolling out with. Personally, I think that the movement is more towards the combo machines as opposed to the stack machines, but time will tell and we’ll see where it’s going. But those, those combo machines on the commercial scale are looking more and more enticing these days. I’ll be interested to see how they play out over, over time.

Jordan Berry [00:04:27]:
Okay. Kind of Laudermat related, kind of not, but just, you know, want to hear some good news stuff going on around the industry. This one is washing machine jukeboxes are bringing unreleased music to Auckland, New Zealand Laundromats this May. It’s a public art installation called Fresh Laundry and they’re turning Auckland laundromats into unlikely music discovery destination. So cool idea going on in New Zealand in the month of May. Again, if you want to see more about any of these stories, we’re not done yet. But if you want to see any more, read more about any of these stories that we talk about today or see the articles or videos that were drawn from. Make sure you’re subscribed [email protected] which brings us to Brazil, where community laundromats are growing.

Jordan Berry [00:05:19]:
I don’t know if you’ve done much traveling, but a lot of countries don’t really have laundromats. They have places where you drop off your laundry. Many, many countries have these small little booths basically that have a couple or a few washing machines where you drop them off. But Community laundromats are growing trend in Brazil. So pretty cool to see that happening. And going back to New Zealand, back across the Pacific, there’s a some laundry laundromat that’s getting busted for $160,000 for exploiting foreign workers and not paying them a fair wage. So I know that that not saying that anybody is doing that here in the States or wherever you are in Australia or Canada or wherever, but just, you know, it’s in the news and we should just be aware of, you know, a lot of mass getting busted for exploiting workers and not paying them a fair wage. So I’ll leave it at that.

Jordan Berry [00:06:27]:
Very interesting. We’re saying international here. We’re not done with our international segment. Let’s move it to barely international to our neighbor to the north, Canada, where I read a very interesting article about the state of laundromats in Canada today and it basically makes the argument, hey, laundromats are not only are they a strong investment in Canada, but they are going to continue to be a strong investment and remain attractive to business owners all throughout Canada. Very fascinating article. So if you are in Canada or you’re just interested in the industry in Canada, this article is definitely one to be checking out. Okay, so let’s bring it local here, this segment of our news interview. We’re going to talk about what’s happening at some local laundromats.

Jordan Berry [00:07:17]:
Good stuff, bad stuff, ugly stuff. This one a common, common thing that happens in a lot of coinbase laundromats where a customer went to the laundromat, utilize the change machine to get some quarters. It took their bill but nothing came back out. And the customer is quoted as saying that just doesn’t make sense. Get, get it Cents, like dollars and cents. Today’s joke of the day bringing us out of the international section and taking us local. Let’s head over to Dunn county with a real news story here where they. Dunn county in Wisconsin is made a very cool commitment.

Jordan Berry [00:07:59]:
They are stocking all laundromats in the county with books so that kids can read there or take them home. They’re accepting donations. So very cool to be partnering with laundromats on literacy. And I know that that has been a big passion of our industries. We’ve got a lot of different programs around the country and beyond that are utilizing laudermats to promote literacy and to help get kids access and adults access to to books to read. So very cool. And let’s head over to the Pine Ridge Reservation where a new laundromat has opened, I believe in January. And they are making a difference because they partnered with everybody, solar in one spirit and bringing reliable power, solar power to the community and to the laundromats connected up with a kids like after school place.

Jordan Berry [00:09:02]:
Drawing a blank on the day of what is basically a place where kids can go hang out. Community center. That’s what I’m thinking of, a community center and a community garden as well. And obviously the laundromat is utilizing that solar power. Something cool that they did was they trained members of the community to help install this solar system and they also are going to maintain the system, so empowering that community there. And the Laundromat also is serving as a gathering point in times of emergency because, because they have the solar power. So power outages and things like that. The Laundromat is serving the community.

Jordan Berry [00:09:36]:
So I’m always looking for cool ways that Laundromats are serving their communities. I think it’s a unique capability that we have as a community based business to make a difference in our communities. And speaking of which, one laundromat owner in Chetwynd is in Chetwynd is making a difference this Easter by recognizing, hey listen, sometimes holidays can be lonely for people. So what did this owner do? Well, she is bringing in Ms. Springer. Haley Springer is bringing in bunnies for the Easter weekend for people to be able to come do their laundry and cuddle with some bunnies at the laundromat. And you know, here’s the names of the bunnies are Alaska, Pebbles, Pearl and London. So if you’re anywhere in the area, go cuddle on Good Friday all the way through Easter at that laundromat.

Jordan Berry [00:10:39]:
So again, looking for creative ways to do good in the industry. And speaking of highlighting people doing cool stuff, I’ve got a shout out legend, Alex Bloom, former podcast guest who is making the news for bringing a brand new dry clean refresh system. Let people prolong the life of their garden garments with less harsh cleaning on dry clean items. Making a difference out there in Massachusetts. So Alex, congrats dude. Always doing super cool stuff. And listen, man, if you’re out there listening to this, we got to get you back on the podcast. Been way too long, got to get a catch up and I haven’t even spoke to you since clean show, I think.

Jordan Berry [00:11:22]:
So we need to connect up. But congrats to you and kudos. Keep doing cool stuff. And listen, I it was brought to my attention that I was featured in the Voyage Dallas News magazine. I’ll link an article over there if you’re interested in that. I’ll just leave it at that. Threw it in there and I want to give finally a huge shout out to Catherine Chowpin who was voted or nominated I should say a 20, 26, 40 under 40 honoree in Dutchess County. Catherine’s done a lot of stuff with non profits and has opened a pop in laundry is what it’s called a laundromat called Pop in Laundry and is crushing it over there getting recognized as a 40 under 40.

Jordan Berry [00:12:12]:
It makes me a little sad that I no longer even qualify for that. But congrats to Katherine. Keep doing great things. And listen, if you’ve got news from around the industry, big or small, whether you’re a company or maybe you’re just a local laundromat, you want to share what’s going on, shoot me an [email protected] we’ll get you featured in the next rendition of Laundromat News Today. That wraps it up and we’ll see you at the next one.