Cleaner Conversations

Cleaner Conversations

5.0 (2)
Marketing

Cleaner Conversations is all about the owners and operators in the Dry Cleaning and Laundromat spaces. We’re sitting down with operators across the country to hear how they got started, what they’ve been through, and the stories you wouldn’t believe unless you heard them yourself. Real experiences, real challenges, and real insight into what it actually takes to survive and grow in this industry.

18h ago

Chris White: AI & Dry Cleaning's Future

This week on Cleaner Conversations, we talked with Chris White from America’s Best Cleaners. Chris is the owner and executive director of America’s Best Cleaners, one of the most recognized certification, consulting, and business development organizations in the garment care industry. Through ABC’s Couture Care certification, annual audits, secret shopping, accelerator calls, affiliate meetings, and decades of collected industry knowledge, Chris works closely with some of the top dry cleaners in the country. In this episode, we get into Chris’s perspective on what separates cleaners who are growing from cleaners who feel stuck. We talk about leadership development, accountability, labor, productivity, data, AI, CINET’s Roadmap 2050, consolidation, sustainability, resale, alterations, and why the future of garment care still has a lot of opportunity for operators who are willing to adapt. This is a thoughtful, practical conversation about quality, leadership, people, technology, and what it will take to build stronger dry cleaning businesses in a changing industry. Topics Covered: • What America’s Best Cleaners does for the garment care industry • The story behind ABC’s creation and Couture Care certification • Why quality, audits, secret shopping, and customer experience matter • How ABC supports affiliates through business development and peer learning • What separates cleaners who are growing from cleaners who are stuck • Why owners cannot do everything themselves forever • Developing the next layer of leadership inside a dry cleaning business • Why clear roles, KPIs, and accountability matter • The difference between coaching and supervising • Why labor challenges are often both people issues and systems issues • How owners can use data without getting overwhelmed by it • Why technology alone does not solve operational problems • The importance of coaching employees in real time • Why accountability should feel like care, not punishment • The “Superman vs. Yoda” leadership concept • Why many owners get distracted before change fully sticks • How to simplify operations and get back to the fundamentals • Where AI can help dry cleaners first • Why AI should be viewed as a competitive advantage • Using AI for brand clarity, marketing strategy, operations, and customer communication • How phone call analysis and customer sentiment tools could impact the industry • What CINET is and why Roadmap 2050 matters • What the dry cleaning industry may look like over the next 25 years • How consolidation is reshaping local and regional markets • Why Chris is still optimistic about the future of garment care • The opportunity around resale, textile recycling, and sustainability • How cleaners can become apparel asset managers • Why alterations may become an even bigger opportunity • The impact of GLP-1 weight loss drugs on alteration demand • Why trade associations and peer groups are so important • Chris’s advice for owners who feel isolated, overwhelmed, or stuck • Why getting around other operators can help owners rediscover momentum Cleaner Conversations is built to highlight the people, stories, and ideas moving the garment care industry forward. If you’re also looking for support with marketing strategy, customer growth, websites, SEO, paid ads, reviews, or retention, Cleaner Marketing is a full-service 40+ employee agency built specifically to serve the garment care industry. Learn more here: https://api.cleaner.marketing/widget/bookings/cleanermarketingstrategymeeting Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: L0AZNBKBJEEVY8Y9

1h 1m
Jun 29

Ryan Fish: Failure Is Feedback

This week on Cleaner Conversations, we talked with Ryan Fish from Red Hanger Cleaners in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ryan bought his first dry cleaning business at 23 years old with no background in the industry. Since then, he has built routes, sold a business, bought back in, led through COVID, expanded into restoration, and become one of the most respected voices in garment care. In this episode, we get into Ryan’s journey from a young owner learning dry cleaning by fire to leading one of the defining dry cleaning brands in northern Utah. We talk about pickup and delivery, route density, scaling a team, restoration, buying and selling businesses, closing stores, rebuilding stronger, and why improvement matters more than growth at all costs. This is a practical, honest conversation about ownership, leadership, failure, resilience, and what it really takes to build a stronger dry cleaning business in a changing industry. Topics Covered: • Ryan’s path into the dry cleaning industry • Buying his first dry cleaner at 23 years old • Learning the business hands-on after his partner left • Why small business is more complex than people think • The early grind of running a dry cleaning operation • Building pickup and delivery routes from the ground up • Why route density matters more than simply adding more stops • The difference between route drivers, route managers, and route builders • Why owners need a champion for every major project • How Red Hanger built a strong brand across northern Utah • The role of same-day service in Ryan’s market • What dry cleaners need to understand before adding restoration • The difference between wholesale restoration work and going all in • Storage, admin, insurance, documentation, and operational challenges in restoration • Lessons from buying, selling, and buying back into the industry • Why many owners accidentally buy themselves a job instead of building an asset • What changes when you go from leading 20 people to leading over 100 • Why communication becomes harder and more important as a company scales • How culture depends on access, training, and consistent leadership • What it was like closing stores during COVID • Why failure can become feedback for building a healthier business • Why Ryan believes improvement matters more than growth at all costs • Ryan’s outlook on consolidation and the future of garment care • Why he is still optimistic about the dry cleaning industry Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, and leaders across the garment care industry. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: L0AZNBKBJEEVY8Y9

51 min
Jun 22

Arika Williams: From Pressing Pants To Millions Of Views

This week on Cleaner Conversations, we talked with Arika Williams from Curtis Cleaners in Lowell, Michigan. Arika started by pressing pants inside a dry cleaning plant. Now, millions of people have watched her show what really happens behind the scenes in garment care. In this episode, we get into Arika’s journey from the production floor to becoming one of the most recognizable dry cleaning professionals on social media. We talk about viral videos, production leadership, training, equipment, team culture, and why the people behind the scenes deserve a lot more respect. This is a fun, real conversation about pride in the craft, building a career in garment care, and using social media to show the world how much skill goes into dry cleaning. Topics Covered: • Arika’s path into the dry cleaning industry • Starting on the production floor and learning the business hands-on • Going from pressing pants to millions of views online • The TikTok video that introduced people to dry cleaning production • Why people are fascinated by behind-the-scenes garment care content • What customers often do not understand about dry cleaning • The skill, detail, and timing involved in production • Pressing, spotting, finishing, scanning, bagging, and detailing garments • How Arika grew into a production leadership role • Leading a team while still jumping in wherever needed • Why production workers deserve more respect and recognition • How social media can help educate customers and attract future employees • The importance of training and cross-training inside the plant • How new equipment impacts workflow, quality, and team adoption • Why culture and pride matter in a dry cleaning operation • The value of being willing to learn every part of the business • How Arika thinks about change, growth, and opportunity • Her future goals in training, education, chemistry, and industry involvement • Why dry cleaning is a skilled trade with real career paths • Why every role inside a cleaner matters Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, and leaders across the garment care industry. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: L0AZNBKBJEEVY8Y9

35 min
Jun 15

Jan Barlow: You're Only As Good As Your Last Pair Of Pants

Jan Barlow is the owner of Jan’s Professional Dry Cleaners in Clio, Michigan and one of the most respected voices in the garment care industry. With more than four decades of experience, Jan has served as president of DLI, earned international recognition, and built a small family business into a globally recognized operation while staying deeply connected to her local community. In this episode of Cleaner Conversations, we dive into Jan’s journey from teaching and library science into dry cleaning, entrepreneurship, leadership, education, and global garment care. She shares how she built her business from the ground up, why the industry is still about people and chemistry, what owners often worry about too much, and why training, trust, curiosity, and strong relationships are critical to long-term success. This is a practical and inspiring conversation packed with real lessons on customer service, employee training, industry leadership, caring for irreplaceable garments, staying optimistic about the future, and why no owner should try to build their business alone. Topics Covered: • Jan’s path from teaching into dry cleaning • Opening Jan’s Professional Dry Cleaners in 1982 • Building a business with family support and community trust • Why dry cleaning is still about people and chemistry • How marketing and customer communication have changed over the years • Why younger generations may not understand what dry cleaners do • The importance of servant leadership, grit, and keeping the work fun • Why owners need to be more strategic and communicate better • The value of coaching, cost groups, mentors, and sounding boards • Why training your people is one of the most important things you can do • Customer service lessons from Jan’s new book, Over the Counter • Caring for heirlooms, wedding gowns, antique garments, and irreplaceable pieces • Setting customer expectations when handling delicate items • Why Jan sees herself as an explorer, not a pioneer • How to evaluate new ideas, fads, technology, and beta opportunities • What the global garment care community has taught Jan • Why Jan is optimistic about the future of the industry • The importance of surrounding yourself with good people • Why you should never try to build your business as an island Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, marketers, and leaders across the garment care industry. Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: L0AZNBKBJEEVY8Y9

48 min
Jun 8

Kermit Engh: Your Business Can't Depend On You

Kermit Engh is the owner of Fashion Cleaners in Omaha and a longtime leader with Methods for Management, where he helps garment care owners and operators better understand their financials, operations, labor, and long-term business value. With experience building, buying, selling, and consulting across multiple businesses, Kermit brings a practical and straight to the point perspective on what it really takes to run a healthier company. In this episode of Cleaner Conversations, we dive into Kermit’s journey from the corporate world into laundromats, dry cleaning, consulting, and entrepreneurship. He shares the early challenges of buying Fashion Cleaners, the importance of understanding your numbers, the common money leaks owners miss, and why labor, retention, and leadership are some of the biggest factors shaping the future of the industry. This is a practical and encouraging conversation packed with real lessons on profitability, employee retention, data, exit planning, peer groups, and how owners can build businesses that do not depend on them for every decision. Sections of the conversation: • Kermit’s path from the corporate world into dry cleaning • Buying a laundromat and eventually Fashion Cleaners • The early grind of ownership and learning production firsthand • Building a premium garment care brand in Omaha • Why dry cleaners need to understand their financials • The KPIs that matter most: labor, EBITDA, new customers, and retention • Common money leaks inside dry cleaning businesses • Cleaning up your P&L before trying to sell • Labor control, time clock management, and scheduling • The hidden cost of aged inventory • Employee retention through tuition reimbursement and 401k programs • Why owners become the hub for every decision • Helping employees think and solve problems like owners • Value drivers for dry cleaners planning to exit • Why peer groups and industry relationships matter • Encouragement for owners who feel burned out or stuck Subscribe and like for more conversations with operators, founders, and leaders across the garment care industry. We enjoyed this conversation and hope you do too!

38 min
Jun 1

Ken Sandy: Turning A Dry Cleaner Into A Brand

Ken Sandy is the managing partner and co-founder of Dryy Garment Care and part of FRSTeam Restoration, serving the Washington, DC metropolitan region and beyond. With a background in hospitality, real estate, technology, branding, and service, Ken brings an outsider’s perspective to an industry built on trust, relationships, and operational excellence. In this episode of Cleaner Conversations, we dive into Ken’s journey from being laid off to building one of the most modern and recognizable garment care brands in the country. Ken shares how Dryy grew through lockers, multifamily partnerships, community involvement, restoration work, branding, storytelling, and a people-first culture that has shaped the business from the inside out. This is a practical and inspiring conversation packed with real lessons on growth, resilience, customer experience, community trust, and why dry cleaners have a bigger role to play in their local markets than many realize. Topics Covered: • Ken’s path into the dry cleaning industry • Building Dryy Garment Care in the DC market • Why dry cleaning is really a people and trust business • Lockers, convenience, and multifamily partnerships • Working with properties like Greystar, Bozzuto, and Lerner • The merger with Total Cleaners and lessons from scaling • Why operators need control over quality and reputation • FRSTeam Restoration and diversifying revenue • The shrinking piece-count challenge in dry cleaning • Culture, team buy-in, and people before profit • Community involvement and the Dryy Run 5K • Branding, storytelling, and content creation • The future of dry cleaning and why operators must evolve Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, marketers, and leaders across the garment care industry.

38 min
May 25

Nathaniel Dubasik: Why Cleaners Lose Customers Without Realizing It

Nathaniel Dubasik has spent nearly 20 years helping dry cleaners understand automation, operations, kiosks, and the technology shaping the future of the industry. After years with Metal Progetti and firsthand experience growing up around dry cleaning, Nathaniel brings a unique perspective on what actually works inside a plant. In this episode of Cleaner Conversations, we dive into customer communication, AI, missed calls, kiosks, team buy-in, consolidation, and why every phone call can become a make-or-break moment for a customer relationship. This is a practical conversation packed with lessons from inside the industry, real examples from operators, and insight from someone who has seen dry cleaning from nearly every angle. Topics Covered: • Growing up in the dry cleaning industry • 19 years with Metal Progetti • Automation and team buy-in • Kiosks and changing customer expectations • The real cost of missed phone calls • PhoneClarity and AI-powered communication • Customer service and employee professionalism • Consolidation and the future of dry cleaning • Advice for owners navigating change and growth Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, marketers, and leaders across the garment care industry.

35 min
May 18

Dave Coyle: What Smart Dry Cleaners Do Differently

We sit down with Dave Coyle, one of the most respected operators and business minds in the dry cleaning industry. Dave shares the real story behind building In The Bag Cleaners from the ground up, surviving chaos, scaling through uncertainty, battling addiction while growing the company, and eventually creating Maverick Drycleaners, a community built around helping operators think bigger and lead better. This conversation goes far beyond dry cleaning. We talk leadership, entrepreneurship, personal growth, pickup & delivery, profitability, mindset shifts, and what it takes to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it. In This Episode: - How Dave got started in dry cleaning - Growing from 1 store to a multi-location operation - Buying 13 stores during the 2008 financial crisis - The reality of entrepreneurship and survival mode - Addiction, isolation, and rebuilding personally - Why “better is better,” not just “more” - Pickup & delivery strategy for modern cleaners - Payroll, profitability, and operational efficiency - Building Maverick Dry Cleaners - The future of the dry cleaning industry - Leadership lessons for owners and operators About Cleaner Conversations: Cleaner Conversations is a podcast built for dry cleaners, laundromat owners, operators, route drivers, marketers, and industry professionals. We focus on real conversations, real stories, and practical ideas that help move the industry forward. New episodes drop every Sunday evening. Listen & Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. #DryCleaning #Laundromat #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #PickupAndDelivery #SmallBusiness #Leadership #CleanerConversations

49 min
May 10

Cohen Wills: I Got Almost Everything Wrong

We kick off Cleaner Conversation with Cohen Wills. Cohen didn’t enter the dry cleaning industry through a traditional path. What started as a concentration risk in another business quickly turned into a crash course in survival, customer acquisition, marketing, and adaptation when COVID hit shortly after entering the industry. In this episode of Cleaner Conversations, we talk through the story behind Sage Cleaners and Cleaner Marketing, including pickup & delivery growth, attribution, scaling customer acquisition, learning the dry cleaning business in real time, and the mindset required to keep pushing through failure and uncertainty. This is an honest conversation about growth, pressure, risk, marketing, and what it actually takes to build and scale in the garment care industry today. Topics Covered: • Entering dry cleaning before COVID • Building Sage Cleaners • The growth of pickup & delivery • Customer acquisition and attribution • Failure, pressure, and persistence • Marketing systems that actually work • The evolution of Cleaner Marketing • The future of dry cleaning and laundromats Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, marketers, and leaders across the garment care industry.

57 min
May 10

James Peuster: What 3,500+ Ride-Alongs Taught Me (Pickup and Delivery Hall of Famer)

James Peuster, better known by many as “The Knockfather,” has spent decades helping dry cleaners grow pickup & delivery operations across the country. After thousands of ride-alongs with route drivers and years of hands-on consulting, James has seen firsthand what separates average route operations from elite ones. In this episode of Cleaner Conversations, we dive into route sales, customer service, leadership, driver psychology, growth strategies, and the small habits that can completely change the trajectory of pickup & delivery. This is a candid conversation packed with lessons from the road, stories from inside the industry, and practical insights from one of the most recognizable voices in route development. Topics Covered: • Training 3,500+ route drivers • Pickup & delivery growth strategies • Driver psychology and customer interactions • Route density and retention • Leadership and accountability • The evolution of dry cleaning routes • Building better customer experiences • Lessons from decades in the field Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, marketers, and leaders across the garment care industry.

42 min
May 10

Major Bauknight: Building on a 75-Year Foundation (Rebranding In The Modern World)

Major Bauknight joins Cleaner Conversations to share the story behind taking over a long-standing dry cleaning business at just 23 years old, only months before COVID changed the industry forever. In this episode, we talk through the realities of buying a legacy cleaner, rebranding Brashier Polk into Major Cleaners, surviving the uncertainty of the pandemic, scaling pickup & delivery, leadership lessons, employee transitions, and learning how to modernize operations without losing the foundation that made the business successful in the first place. This conversation is about pressure, growth, customer service, entrepreneurship, and what it looks like to lead in the industry today. Topics Covered: • Taking over a dry cleaner at 23 • Buying a legacy business • Navigating COVID as a new owner • Rebranding to Major Cleaners • Pickup & delivery growth • Leadership and employee management • Equipment, POS systems, and operations • Entrepreneurship and long-term growth Subscribe for more conversations with operators, founders, marketers, and leaders across the garment care industry.

43 min

11 Episodes

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

Cleaner Conversations is all about the owners and operators in the Dry Cleaning and Laundromat spaces. We’re sitting down with operators across the country to hear how they got started, what they’ve been through, and the stories you wouldn’t believe unless you heard them yourself. Real experiences, real challenges, and real insight into what it actually takes to survive and grow in this industry.

Creator

Cleaner Conversations
Years Active

2K
Episodes

11
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Cleaner Conversations