For a laundry operator, innovation means taking steps either to solve an internal problem or address a market need. The tactics and strategies for pursuing innovation are as varied as the industry itself. However, there are some common themes, such as automation, resource conservation and varying levels of risk tolerance, that we discovered after interviews with operators, consultants and supplier partners.

FIGHTING INFLATION

Chris Corcoran, CEO of Linen King, Tulsa, OK, says innovation typically happens when a company is facing an issue that they must resolve in order to safeguard the business. “Innovation’s driven largely by necessity,” he says ...