In the first 12 months of owning our first laundromat, we had 4 attendant positions. 63 people filled them. Sixty-three. We couldn't keep a person behind the counter long enough to learn their last name. They'd show up, clock in for a couple shifts, and disappear. We weren't running a laundromat....

THE FEATURE When Gratitude Goes Beyond the Job I've talked about handwritten notes. I've talked about public bonus announcements. I've talked about Hannah writing cards to the same person three times over two years until they finally believed she meant it. All of that is real. All of it matters. ...

THE FEATURE Last week we covered the problem. A paycheck is not gratitude. Most owners think it is, and their teams quietly disagree. This week is the harder part. Knowing gratitude matters is one thing. Knowing how to express it in a way that actually lands is something else entirely. Most attem...

Most laundromat owners would tell you they appreciate their team. Ask them when they last expressed it - specifically, personally, intentionally and the silence says everything. Here's the honest truth about this industry: we've convinced ourselves that consistent pay is the highest form of grati...