32 Years of Laundromat Lessons with Cristina Iacobelli
What can 32 years in the laundromat business teach you? In this episode of The Laundromat Millionaire Show, we sit down with Cristina Iacobelli, a 32-year veteran laundromat owner, to talk about how the laundry industry has changed, what today’s new owners need to know, and some of the lessons that only decades of experience can teach. Cristina shares her perspective on how laundromat ownership has evolved over the years—from changing customer expectations and technology to the way successful owners approach running and growing their businesses. But some of Cristina’s biggest lessons didn’t come from inside her own laundromat. For years, she felt like she could figure things out on her own and didn’t necessarily need help from other owners. That changed when she began attending laundry industry events, building relationships, and discovering just how valuable it can be to learn from people facing the same challenges. In this conversation, we discuss: 🧺 What has changed during Cristina’s 32 years in the laundromat industry 🧺 Lessons she wishes more new laundromat owners understood 🧺 Advice for entrepreneurs entering the laundromat business today 🧺 Why experience doesn’t mean you have to figure everything out yourself 🧺 How attending industry events changed Cristina’s perspective 🧺 The value of networking with other laundromat owners 🧺 Why sharing ideas can make you a stronger business owner 🧺 Lessons learned from more than three decades of ownership Whether you’re considering buying your first laundromat, are a newer owner trying to navigate the business, or have been in the laundry industry for years, Cristina’s story is a reminder that there is always something new to learn—and sometimes your greatest resource is another owner who has already been there. If you own a laundromat or are thinking about getting into the laundromat business, subscribe to The Laundromat Millionaire Show for interviews, strategies, and real-world lessons designed to help laundromat owners build better businesses. 👍 Like this episode if you found it valuable. 💬 What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from another laundromat owner? Let us know in the comments. 🔔 Subscribe for more laundromat business interviews, tips, and strategies. #LaundromatMillionaire #LaundromatBusiness #Laundromat Our Sponsors: H-M Company Drain Troughs: https://www.draintroughs.com Alliance Laundry Systems – Speed Queen: https://go.speedqueencommercial.com/solutions Cents: https://www.trycents.com/ Our Guest: College Coin Laundry: http://laundrygirl.biz/ Referenced Links: Our website: https://www.laundromatmillionaire.com Dexter Laundry Equipment: https://www.dexter.com/ SpyderWash: https://www.spyderwash.com/ Western State Design: https://westernstatedesign.com/ Dollar Coins episode: https://youtu.be/ScacTGzr4Os LaundroBoost Digital Marketing: https://laundroboostmarketing.com Timestamps 00:00 Episode 125 Intro – Cristina Iacobelli 02:04 Introducing Guest – 32 Years as a Woman in the Laundry Industry 07:31 Why Buy a Laundromat 11:34 Finding the Right Store & Learning to Manage It 15:33 Retools and the Changing Laundry Industry 17:59 Ideal Hours of Operation 18:54 Best Investments in a Retool 22:15 Machine Sizes, Prices and Layout 26:27 Payment Options 29:24 Moving Towards Coinless Payments 31:07 The Switch to Fully Attended 33:02 The Power of Marketing 34:47 Why Chose SpyderWash Payments 39:24 Growth of WDF Services 40:39 Importance of Networking 48:24 Why Only 1 Store? 51:44 Longterm Investment Mindset – Advice for Getting Into the Laundry Industry 58:40 How to Connect with our Guest
