CCI Drive Time

Steve Marcionetti
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Business

CCI Drive Time is a practical, no-fluff podcast you can listen to between sales calls—real conversations about CCI products, the laundromat business, and how to sell smarter while you’re on the road. 

  1. 4d ago

    Service Builds Sales: Russ Arbuckle on Trust, Technology, and Industry Consolidation

    After more than 40 years in the commercial laundry industry, Russ Arbuckle knows that lasting success is built on more than equipment and price—it is built on service, trust, and doing what you say you are going to do. In this episode of CCI Drive Time, Steve sits down with Russ, president of Wholesale Commercial Laundry Equipment, to discuss his journey from an inexperienced service technician in Philadelphia to leading a successful distributorship in Alabama. Russ shares how his technical background shaped his approach to sales, why reputation remains one of a distributor’s most valuable assets, and how great service can create opportunities that last for decades. They also explore the unique challenges of serving rural and urban markets across the Southeast, changing customer expectations, the growing demand for payment technology and remote management, and the pressure distributors face from aggressive pricing and industry consolidation. Russ also reflects on his decision to sell the business to EVI Industries, what has changed since the acquisition, and how the company has preserved its local relationships and customer-first culture while becoming part of a larger organization. Whether you are an experienced distributor or just entering the commercial laundry industry, this conversation offers practical insight into earning customer trust, competing on value, and building a business designed for long-term success.

    Service Builds Sales: Russ Arbuckle on Trust, Technology, and Industry Consolidation

  2. Aug 30

    Distribution Is Stewardship: JD Dixon on Service, Scale & Staying Close to the Customer.

    JD Dixon has never taken the conventional path—and his journey into the laundry industry is no exception. In this episode of CCI Drive Time, Steve sits down with JD, owner of National Laundry Equipment in Nashville, Tennessee, for a wide-ranging conversation about nearly two decades in laundry distribution, operating laundromats, building a service organization, and navigating an industry that looks very different than it did when JD entered the business in 2008. Along the way, JD draws lessons from private equity, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, British naval history, artificial intelligence, and his own experiences as a business owner. While the stories occasionally take the scenic route, they continually return to one central idea: great distribution is about stewardship. JD shares why he believes the distributor plays a critical role between manufacturers and store owners, particularly when customers are investing significant portions of their savings into a new business. He discusses the importance of local knowledge, strong manufacturer support, listening to customers, knowing when to push back—and sometimes having the courage to tell a customer that a project simply shouldn’t move forward. Steve and JD also explore the increasing consolidation of laundry distribution, the challenges facing independent distributors, the economics of running a full-service organization, and why service and support may ultimately be more important than the brand name on the equipment. JD also explains how owning laundromats himself has changed the way he advises customers. Having experienced the financial pressure, construction headaches, operational challenges, and occasional 2:00 AM problems firsthand gives him a perspective that can’t always be learned from a spreadsheet. It’s an unconventional, candid, and story-filled conversation about what it means to be a distributor—and why having someone personally invested in the customer’s success still matters.

    Distribution Is Stewardship: JD Dixon on Service, Scale & Staying Close to the Customer.

  3. Aug 14

    More Than Moving Metal: What Makes a Great Laundry Distributor with Kevin Carlson

    What separates a great laundry equipment distributor from someone who simply sells machines? In this episode of CCI Drive Time, Steve Marcionetti sits down with Kevin Carlson, Vice President of Sales at RJ Kool Company, to talk about the habits, knowledge, and mindset that make distributors and distributor salespeople successful. Kevin shares his unconventional path into the laundry industry, beginning with operations and facility management before moving into equipment distribution. That background helped shape an approach focused less on simply making a sale and more on understanding the customer's entire operation and becoming a trusted resource. Steve and Kevin discuss the unique challenges of selling across the northern Midwest, where a customer might be hours away and a "small" opportunity can develop into a valuable long-term relationship. Kevin explains why rural markets are often underserved, why preparation matters when covering a large territory, and why showing up can be one of a salesperson's greatest competitive advantages. They also explore: Why great distributor salespeople need a repeatable sales processThe importance of understanding utilities, installation requirements, equipment age, and serviceWhy you don't need to become a customer's best friend to build a strong relationshipHow helping customers instead of immediately trying to sell them equipment builds trustWhy after-sale support really begins the moment the order is signedHow distributors can compete against larger consolidated organizationsKevin's perspective on the ongoing consolidation of laundry equipment distributionHow payment systems, remote monitoring, loyalty programs, and other technologies are changing the distributor's roleWhy today's distributor needs to connect customers with resources beyond washers and dryersKevin's advice for new distributor salespeople: start small, spend time in laundromats, attend installations, listen, and immerse yourself in the businessFor anyone working in laundry distribution—or trying to understand where distributors provide their greatest value—this conversation is a practical look at what it takes to become more than an equipment salesperson and instead become "the person for that" when a customer needs help.

    More Than Moving Metal: What Makes a Great Laundry Distributor with Kevin Carlson

  4. Jul 24

    Relationships, Retools, and the Future of Laundry Distribution

    Steve Marcionetti sits down with Steve Michalec, Vice President of Sales at The M&L Equipment Company and H-M Company, to discuss how commercial laundry distribution has evolved—and why strong customer relationships remain the foundation of the business. Steve shares how he entered his family’s third-generation company, progressed from sales representative to leadership, and ultimately helped guide M&L through its acquisition by H-M. He explains how the two organizations are combining territories, expanding into new markets, developing salespeople, and balancing opportunities across both vended laundry and on-premise laundry. The conversation also explores how distributors generate leads, compete against lower-cost alternatives, evaluate new-store and retool opportunities, and build equipment packages around demographics, customer needs, and changing consumer preferences. Steve also shares lessons from becoming a multi-store laundromat owner himself, including why he chose larger-capacity machines and a completely coinless payment model. Finally, the two Steves discuss distributor consolidation, the growing sophistication of laundromat investors, and why local sales, service, and support will continue to make distribution essential to the industry. This episode offers practical insight for distributors, sales professionals, manufacturers, and anyone interested in how successful laundromat projects come together.

    Relationships, Retools, and the Future of Laundry Distribution

  5. Jul 17

    Showing Up Wins: Brian Wallace on the Future of Laundry Distribution

    What does today’s laundromat investor expect from a distributor—and is the sales experience keeping pace with the size of the investment? In Episode 17 of CCI Drive Time, Steve Marcionetti sits down with Brian Wallace, President and CEO of CLA, for a wide-ranging conversation about the changing role of laundry equipment distributors. Drawing on more than 34 years in the industry, Brian shares what he hears directly from current owners and prospective investors, including one surprisingly common complaint: they cannot get a distributor to call them back. Steve and Brian discuss why responsiveness, education, follow-through, and a consultative approach remain some of the biggest competitive advantages available to distributors. They also explore: The knowledge gaps facing first-time laundromat investorsHow CLA and distributors can work together to educate and qualify prospectsWhat separates a great distributor event from an ordinary sales showWhy education and relationship-building often lead to future equipment salesThe forces driving distributor consolidationHow private equity and multi-store ownership may change customer expectationsWhy the sales experience should reflect the size of the customer’s investmentHow distributors can support CLA’s legislative advocacyOpportunities to become involved with the LaundryCares FoundationWhat distributors must do to remain relevant in the years aheadIt is a practical conversation about professionalism, partnership, community involvement, and why simply showing up and following through can still win the business.

    Showing Up Wins: Brian Wallace on the Future of Laundry Distribution

  6. Jul 10

    Play Your Own Game: Jamie Sewell on Marketing, Technology, and Building Stronger Laundry Businesses

    In this episode of CCI Drive Time, Steve sits down with Jamie Sewell—laundromat owner, marketing strategist, technology leader, entrepreneur, and the new owner of Laundry University. Jamie shares her journey from technology sales and marketing to the Coin Laundry Association, Washlava, Alliance Laundry Systems, consulting, coaching, and eventually laundromat ownership. Drawing from her experience across nearly every part of the industry, she explains what separates successful operators from the rest: making decisions quickly, testing new ideas, investing in people and processes, and building a business that reflects their own strengths instead of simply copying the competition. Steve and Jamie also discuss the changing role of laundry equipment distributors. Jamie explains why the best distributors act as tour guides, trusted advisors, and long-term partners—helping owners imagine the customer experience they want to create rather than simply selling equipment. The conversation also explores why laundromat owners must treat marketing as a serious investment, how technology is helping operators manage their businesses from anywhere, and why continued consolidation will require independent owners and distributors to sharpen their game. Finally, Jamie introduces Laundry University, an online training and certification platform designed to help laundromat owners consistently train employees, improve wash-dry-fold quality, streamline onboarding, and build more scalable professional laundry operations. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about relationships, differentiation, employee development, technology, and what it will take to succeed in the next generation of the laundry industry.

    Play Your Own Game: Jamie Sewell on Marketing, Technology, and Building Stronger Laundry Businesses

  7. Jul 3

    Why Great Laundromat Distributors Matter with Joel Jorgensen

    For nearly three decades, Joel Jorgensen has helped shape the commercial laundry industry through his work with Continental Laundry Solutions. In this episode of CCI Drive Time, Steve sits down with Joel to discuss what separates great distributors from companies that simply sell equipment—and why strong partnerships remain one of the industry's greatest competitive advantages. Together they explore how distribution has evolved, the importance of training, service, and technical support, and why a laundromat owner's success depends on much more than purchasing the lowest-priced equipment. They also share stories from nearly 30 years of working together and discuss how manufacturers and technology partners collaborate to create better solutions for store owners. The conversation also dives into the future of laundromat technology, including automated chemical dispensing, integrated payment systems, water and energy reclamation, utility cost reduction, wash-dry-fold growth, and the increasing role of automation in modern laundry operations. Whether you're a laundromat owner, distributor, equipment supplier, or someone considering investing in the laundry industry, this episode offers valuable insight into where the industry has been—and where it's headed next. In this episode you'll learn: What makes a great laundromat distributorWhy service and support are more important than equipment priceHow manufacturers and payment providers work together to improve the customer experienceThe future of automated chemical dispensing and integrated laundry technologyWhy utility management and energy recovery will play a major role in the next generation of laundromatsHow successful operators are building businesses beyond traditional self-service laundryIf you enjoy the podcast, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. New episodes of CCI Drive Time are released regularly, featuring conversations with industry leaders focused on helping laundromat owners and distributors build more successful businesses.

    Why Great Laundromat Distributors Matter with Joel Jorgensen

  8. Jun 25

    The Future of Distribution with Mark Gies of Vend-Rite Manufacturing

    What makes a great laundromat distributor? Why has the distributor model remained successful for decades, and what challenges lie ahead as the industry continues to evolve? In this episode of CCI Drive Time, Steve sits down with Mark Gies, who has spent more than 27 years with Vend-Rite Manufacturing, one of the laundry industry's longest-standing manufacturers. Together they discuss why strong distributor relationships continue to be the backbone of the vended laundry industry and what separates the best distributors from the rest.  Mark shares the history of Vend-Rite, how the company has served the laundry industry exclusively for more than 70 years, and why reliable products, exceptional service, and long-term partnerships have fueled its success. The conversation also explores:  Why Vend-Rite remains committed to selling exclusively through distributors  The characteristics that define successful distributors  How distributors create value far beyond simply selling equipment  The evolution of soap vending and customer buying habits  Why service and relationships build long-term customer loyalty  The growing influence of multi-store ownership and industry consolidation  Predictions for where the laundromat industry may be headed over the next decade Whether you're an experienced distributor or just entering the laundromat industry, this episode offers valuable insight into the importance of trusted partnerships, customer support, and the role distributors continue to play in helping laundromat owners build successful businesses.

    The Future of Distribution with Mark Gies of Vend-Rite Manufacturing
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

CCI Drive Time is a practical, no-fluff podcast you can listen to between sales calls—real conversations about CCI products, the laundromat business, and how to sell smarter while you’re on the road. 

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Marcionetti
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CCI Drive Time
  • Show Website
    CCI Drive Time

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