American Drycleaner - May 2014

Perc users – chlorinated solvent belongs in your machine, not on your board. Alternative solvent users – use stain removers that align with your chosen solvent. Replace traditional POG’s and VDS’s with TarGo® EF and EasyGo®, two of Wilson’s high-performance, cost-effective, California-compliant stain removers. You'll be taking steps to avoid future regulatory and remediation nightmares, while providing your customers with the garment quality they desire!

EasyGo spray spotter quickly penetrates to absorb collar & cuff stains, perspiration, ground-in soil and more, all without brushing. Turn to TarGo EF to remove any tough oil based stains that remain behind.

To learn more, visit ALWilson.com or call 800-526-1188 A. L. WILSON CHEMICAL CO.

drycleaner

Off-Main-Street Thinking

Babu Patel, owner of Rite-Way Dry Cleaner, has been drawing a comfortable living from his side-street shop since 1986.

Howard Scott

Exhibit in Print

Back by popular demand, American Drycleaner’s “trade show you can fit in your pocket” offers the armchair shopper the opportunity to see the industry’s latest and greatest products and services from the comfort of his/her office. 40

Part-Time Workers, Full-Time Challenge

Today’s part-timers have become critical gears in the profit machine—here’s how to hire and keep the best candidates.

Phillip M. Perry

“Business has never been better.”

Becky Afendoulis, Owner of Afendoulis Cleaners

Pre-ins P ection

Armchair trade show

During every even-numbered year, when there is no Clean Show scheduled, American Drycleaner fills the void with the Exhibit in Print.

We call our exhibition on paper “the trade show that fits in your pocket.”

without having to leave the comfort of their plants or offices.

No travel expenses, no airport security hassle, no need to walk miles of aisles in a distant convention center.

Bruce Beggs

In this special feature, this issue’s display advertis ers have set up “booths” to acquaint you with their latest products and services.

For many years, during good economic times and bad, our Exhibit in Print has enabled readers to discover valuable tools and resources

Publisher

Charles Thompson 312-361-1680

cthompson@american trademagazines.com

Editorial Director Bruce Beggs 312-361-1683

bbeggs@american trademagazines.com

Production Manager

Roger Napiwocki

National Sales Director

Donald Feinstein 312-361-1682 dfeinstein@american trademagazines.com

Digital Media Director Nathan Frerichs 312-361-1681 nfrerichs@american trademagazines.com Main: 312-361-1700 Fax: 312-361-1685

Of course, you won’t see any live demonstrations here, but you can easily get additional information on any product or service by visiting the exhibitor’s website or calling them directly. (If you’re reading our digital edition, you can “click” through to a website from a company’s booth!)

Our exhibitors this year include equipment manufacturers and distributors, chemical companies, computer software suppliers, and more. Take your time—this show never closes! O

American Drycleaner (ISSN 0002-8258) is published monthly except Nov/Dec combined. Subscription prices, payment in advance: U.S., 1 year $39.00; 2 years $73.00. Foreign, 1 year $89.00; 2 years $166.00. Single copies $7.00 for U.S., $14.00 for all other countries. Published by American Trade Magazines LLC, 566 West Lake Street, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60661. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER, Send changes of address and form 3579 to American Drycleaner, Subscription Dept., 440 Quadrangle Drive, Suite E, Bolingbrook, IL 60440. Volume 81, number 2. Editorial, executive and advertis ing offices are at 566 West Lake Street, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60661. Charles Thompson, President and Publisher. American Drycleaner is distributed selectively to: qualified dry cleaning plants and distributors in the United States. No material appearing in American Drycleaner may be reprinted without written permission. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising for any reason. © Copyright AMERICAN TRADE MAGA ZINES LLC, 2014. Printed in U.S.A.

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

by Pluslux

Survey: Equipment breakdowns, employee absenteeism add stress for dry cleaners

CHICAGO — For more than half of respondents to April’s American Drycleaner Your Views survey, a drycleaning machine going down during a busy time is an occasion that causes them stress.

Nearly 35% of respondents say such an instance causes their blood pressure to “rise a bit,” while 21.4% say they become extremely stressed.

The majority of dry cleaners (35.7%) say it is a rarity/never a concern when a drycleaning machine goes down during a busy time. Roughly 8% manage to remain calm and collected, saying their blood pressure “holds steady.”

Front-counter staff showing up late or missing shifts has become a slight stressor for a quarter of respondents, who say their blood pressure “rises a bit” in such instances.

While some operators are able to keep their cool when it comes to handling employee absenteeism (15.5%), roughly 18% say their “blood pressure soars.” Such instances are not a concern for close to 42% of dry cleaners polled in the survey.

“Employee turnover” has become an issue for one operator, who says “finding reliable people is a challenge.”

Another operator agreed, saying, “managing employees and how their

complicated personal lives affect business” has become a challenge for him/her.

New competition is “rarely/never a concern” for the majority of dry cleaners (37.4%), while almost 30% admit that a new dry cleaner opening nearby causes their blood pressure to rise a bit. For 16.9% of respondents, such instances cause their blood pressure to soar, while another 16.9% say they are able to keep a steady demeanor.

Negotiating with a landlord is “rarely/ never a concern” for roughly half of the respondents (50.6%), while 20.5% of op erators say they are able to keep their cool in such scenarios. Dealing with a landlord causes slight stress for 21.7% of respon dents, while a small percentage (7.2%) say their “blood pressure soars.”

“Customers being unreasonable about claim issues” causes one operator a great deal of stress. “[They expect] 100% re placement cost for old garments, damaged or lost.”

“I ha ve found that if you talk to the customer about their garments before clean ing, it eliminates a lot of problems,” says another cleaner.

“The best way to deal with stress is to be prepared with a backup plan for every situa tion that you think will give you problems,” adds another. “If you prepare for problems rather than pray they don’t happen, you can weather almost any storm.”

“Stick with your philosophy and be hon est,” says another cleaner. “You will have less stress.”

While American Drycleaner’s Your Views survey presents a snapshot of the trade audience’s viewpoints, it should not be considered scientific. Subscribers to American Drycleaner e-mails are invited

Topstories@www.AmericanDrycleaner.com forthe30daysendingApril15

Top News sTories

1. Lapels Inks Five-Store Development Deal in Jacksonville 2. America’s Best Cleaners Debuts Canadian Counterpart

Top

Top sTories @ our sisTer siTes www.Americancoinop.com:

Maytag Fetes Top Distributors at 56th Annual Meeting

Parking: Make Your Case for the Space

Survey: Cost of Cashless Conversion Doesn’t Captivate Majority of Operators www.AmericanlaundryNews.com:

Gicewicz Assumes HLAC Presidency, Welcomes New Board Members

HCSC Names Taylor Hospital’s Holobowicz Linen Coordinator of Year

Examining What’s New in Textile Services Contracts

TCATA Preps for Annual Gathering

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

each month to participate in a brief industry survey they can complete anonymously.

The entire American Drycleaner au dience is encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define owner/operator opinions and industry trends.

Federal Trade Commission issues changes to textile labeling rules

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued final amendments to its Textile La beling Rules, addressing fiber content and country-of-origin disclosures.

The Rules implement the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act, which requires that certain textiles sold in the United States carry labels disclosing the generic names and percentages by weight of the fibers in the product, the manufacturer or marketer name, and the country where the product was processed or manufactured.

The Rules apply to various segments of the textile fiber product industry, including manufacturers and wholesalers of textile ap parel products.

In May 2013, the FTC proposed changes to the Rules and sought public comment. Based on comments received, the agen cy proposed amendments to the Rules and sought public comments. After weighing the comments it received, the Commission approved the changes announced in late March, including amendments that would:

• Incorporate the updated International Organization for Standardization stan dard establishing generic fiber names for manufactured fibers;

• Allow certain hang tags disclosing

fiber names and trademarks, and per formance information, without the need to disclose the product’s full fiber content;

• Clarify that an imported product’s coun try of origin is the country where it was processed or manufactured, as de termined under laws and regulations enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection;

• Better address electronic commerce with revised definitions of “invoice” and “invoice or other paper,”

• Replace the requirement that guaran tors sign continuing guarantees under penalty of perjury with a requirement that they acknowledge that providing a false guaranty is unlawful, and cer tify that they will actively monitor and ensure compliance with the applicable law; and

• Clarify the provision identifying textile fiber product categories and products that are exempt from the Act’s require ments.

Based on the comments received, the Commission decided not to adopt its pro posal to make continuing guaranties effec tive for one year unless revoked earlier. Thus, continuing guaranties filed with the Commission will remain effective until re voked.

T he Commission vote to publish the Federal Register Notice amending the Rules and Regulations under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act was a unani mous 4-0.

The amended Rules become effective May 4. Requests for copies of the amended Rules may be sent to the Public Reference Branch, Room 130, Federal Trade Commis sion, Washington, DC 20580. O

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

Our new generation of Point Of Sale system is designed for both small and larger cleaner stores. DryClean PRO Enterprise (DCPe) is even simpler to use than before. With user friendly screens and menus, DCPe will make your life easy. We offer, promise, and guarantee the best after sales support to our end users.

Save time and money and add to your profits by contacting existing clients and reaching out to new clients through DryClean PRO Enterprise’s built in MARKETING and EMAILING functionality. You’ll be able to send Thank You emails to new or Top 100 customers, Customers with overdue inventory, Customers that have not visited you for a while, Route customers & e-mail coupons to all your customers.

Call us about our new version of Uniform Tracker

Off-Main-Street Thinking

By Howard Scott

The allure of a Main Street location is potent. You have greater passerby visibility. You can advertise specials, and people will watch out for them. You have a 24/7 advertisement—your retail establishment. You can catch late-night travelers with a well-lit front. Directions are easier to give and to follow. Walking traffic sees your store every day. Everyone likes to patronize a Main Street shop.

But a Main Street location might not be for everyone. Babu Patel, owner of RiteWay Dry Cleaner, in Cambridge, Mass., is off the main drag—Massachusetts Avenue—and on a side street—Hudson Street.

His shop is visible from the corner, but it is 100 feet in. Yet, the shop has been around since 1948, and Patel has drawn a comfortable living from it since 1986. That’s 27 years of ownership. He feels his off-theMain-Street location is just fine.

For one thing, Patel thinks his rent is significantly less than that of Main Street tenants; one can’t be sure because everyone is so secretive. But I know one nearby Cambridge Main Street shop that pays $160,000 annual rent for 1,500 square feet. Yes, that is $160,000. Patel has 2,500 square feet and runs his plant, alterations department, and shoe repair from the premises. He feels that his rent is more than reasonable. As a round-figure estimate,

▲

Massachusetts dry cleaner content to do business off the beaten path

Babu Patel (above), owner of Rite-Way Dry Cleaner, Cambridge, Mass., has been drawing a comfortable living from his sidestreet shop since 1986. (Photos: Howard Scott)

possibly rent is 50% of what it would be on Main Street, 100 feet away. That is a powerful incentive, and one that keeps costs in manageable proportion.

Secondly, Patel has free parking for five or six cars directly in front of his store. In Cambridge, that’s a major plus. That feature alone would win many area residents as customers.

“This is a big advantage,” Patel says. “There are a lot of dry cleaners on Mass. Ave., but none have free parking. All Mass. Ave. has metered parking. For one thing, it’s very hard to find an open spot. Secondly, it’s difficult to back up and parallel park in a crowded thoroughfare. Finally, it costs money: 25 cents for 15 minutes. If someone has to walk a bit, they might put two quarters in the meter. Nobody likes to do that. My customers are used to easy parking.”

Patel’s front sidewalk has official city signs that read “Tow Away Zone—No Parking.” Right below it, on the same pole, a sign reads, “No Idling Allowed—5 Minute Limit.” Well, that is just enough time to allow customers to pull in, do their business, and pull out. His customers know that the tow-away sign is only for people who try to park for any length of

time. “The signs are deliberately confusing, but they work for me,” Patel says. “My customers all know to park in front.”

Moreover, RiteWay gains more benefits from being right off the main drag. Massachusetts Avenue is a busy four-lane thoroughfare, running between Harvard Square and Porter Square. Arguably, Harvard Square is the most famous retail area in Amer ica. It sits alongside Harvard College, and is near the Charles River, which runs through Boston.

Traffic on Massachusetts Avenue is always heavy, day and night. So, over the years, many people have glimpsed the yellow Rite-Way Dry Cleaning sign, which can be seen from the street. But, Patel argues, his best advertising marketing is word of mouth. One person tells another that the dry cleaner on Hudson is good, reasonable, and has free parking right in front. That person tells another, and that person tells yet another. Over the years, a large customer base has evolved.

Rite-Way’s hours are convenient. The shop is open 7:30 to 6:30 Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 5 on Saturday, and closed on Sunday. Being open before and after work is an important feature, for Massachusetts Avenue is a busy commuter ▲

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

Patel’s customers know the tow-away sign is only for people who try to park for any length of time. The five-minute limit gives customers enough time to pull in, do their business and pull out.

thoroughfare. Saturday offers convenience. Patel doesn’t believe that he has to be open Sunday, because customers have enough hours to make their visits.

It helps that Rite-Way’s pricing is reasonable, especially for an upscale city populace. Shirts are $1.85, pants are $6.45, and two-piece suits are $11.95. Because of this fair pricing, Patel doesn’t offer deals or discounts. Moreover, he is confident enough of his service that he doesn’t accept charge cards. All customers pay by cash or check, and a few are on account. This is another cost of operations savings—maybe 3-4%.

It is also a major marketing factor as well as production factor that Rite-Way is the only area dry cleaner with its own plant. Every other dry cleaner is a drop store. Mostly this is due to the restrictions of Massachusetts Avenue businesses. The customer base knows that stores that do drop-off and pick-up sometimes have problems, and they would rather deal with a plant operation directly. That is why

Patel has never considered moving to a Main Street location. It would simply change the nature of his business.

Patel quietly informs his customers: “You know, I am the only dry cleaner in the area who cleans clothes onpremises. That means I can control quality as well as garment flow. If you have a problem with a garment with a drop-off-and-pick-up cleaner, he/she has to check with the plant that did the work and get back to you. We can just find out what happened right here.”

So the next time you consider setting up a plant, consider setting it up just off the main drag. Your costs will be less. You’ll have easier parking. You’ll control production better. And your customer base will find you.

Another strategy for someone on Main Street is to relocate around the corner after a few years (say four or five). By that time, you will have developed a customer base that will follow you around the corner. Sometimes it pays to think out-of-thebox. Despite all the hoopla about location visibility, Babu Patel has crafted his own working formula, which spells success for him. O

Howard Scott is a long-time business writer and smallbusiness consultant who has authored four books.

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

Scott

Patel has free parking for five or six cars directly in front of his store, which is a major plus in Cambridge.

THE NUMBERS

THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS reported that unemployment rates in February were lower than those of the previous year. The unemployment rate for the entire country was 7% in February, compared to 8.1% one year earlier.

For the week ending April 5, unemployment insurance claims stood at 300,000, down 32,000 from the previous week, according to the latest report from the U.S. Department of Labor.

AN ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE REPORT indicates that long-term unemployment remains up, without regard to education level. The number of unemployed for more than six months has reached 3.7 million, three times as many as in 2007. The Institute’s report shows that the high numbers of long-term unemployed is not due to people having less education or fewer job skills; the cause is reluctance of employers to hire more people since the demand for goods and services has not increased.

IN A STUDY from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., researchers found that community banks (those with assets between $100 million and $10 billion) continue to be resilient even through consolidation in the banking industry. The numbers of such banks have increased, as have their assets, since 1985.

CONSUMER SALES WERE UP 3.6% in March, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). The numbers were higher than those in February, when sales were hampered by hazardous weather conditions.

“A number of retailers commented that the shift in Easter (April 20, 2014, vs. March 31, 2013) had a negative impact on March sales,” says Michael P. Niemira, ICSC’s chief economist, vice president and director of research.

MORTGAGE LOAN APPLICATIONS WERE DOWN 1.6% in the first week of April, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The

group’s Refinance Index was also down from the previous week by 5%, the lowest it has been since the end of 2013.

New foreclosures in February decreased 112,498, or 10%, from last year, according to RealtyTrac.

CONSUMER

CONFIDENCE

WAS UNCHANGED during the first quarter, despite extreme weather conditions (lower-than-usual temperatures and continuing drought) across the country, as reported in the latest Surveys of Consumers from Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan. Consumers reported their finances were as strong in March 2014 as they had been in December 2013.

“Consumers have finally begun to expect sustained gains in their personal finances, especially among younger households,” says Richard Curtin, chief economist for Surveys of Consumers. “Consumers are ready to celebrate a delayed spring with renewed spending.” O

—Jean Teller

Upcoming Ev E nts

WF i readies for annual convention next month

The Wisconsin Fabricare In stitute (WFI) is preparing to host its annual State Convention, Tabletop Trade Show and Auction on June 25-26 at the River Club in Mequon, Wis.

The Fitzgerald Scholarship Class Golf Outing, which funds WFI scholarships and education pro grams, will get things started on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 25.

The following day, attendees will be treated to a variety of work shops, the tabletop trade show, and live and silent auctions.

To learn how to register, visit the Institute’s website at www. wiscleaners.com, or call 414-5294707.

idc headed to Japan for 2015 convention

The International Drycleaners Congress (IDC) has scheduled its next convention for Sept. 14-15, 2015, in Osaka, Japan.

Further details will be provided when available. To learn more about the IDC, visit its website at www. idcgroup.org. O

www.americandrycleaner.com

May 14-15 Coin Laundry Association Ex cellence in Laundry Conference. To be held in Key Largo, Fla. Call 630-953-7920.

June 6-7 Ontario Fabricare Association & Eastern Canadian Launderers & Dry Clean ers Association Convention. To be held in Toronto, Ont. Call 416-733-2111.

June 11 North East Fabricare Association Brad Friel Memorial Clean Classic. To be held in Sutton, Mass. Call 800-442-6848.

June 20 Drycleaning & Laundry Institute Annual Membership Meeting. To be held in Jacksonville, Fla. Call 800-638-2627.

June 20-22 South Eastern Fabricare As sociation Southern Drycleaners and Laun derers Show. To be held in Jacksonville, Fla. Call 877-707-7332.

June 25-26 Wisconsin Fabricare Institute Annual Convention. To be held in Mequon, Wis. Call 414-529-4707.

July 25-26 Michigan Institute of Launder ing & Drycleaning Summer Convention. To be held in Gaylord, Mich. Call 877-3906453.

August 22-24 California Cleaners As sociation Fabricare 2014 trade show and convention. To be held in Long Beach, Calif. Call 916-239-4070.

Oct. 3-6 EXPOdetergo Intl. To be held in Milan, Italy. Visit www.expodetergo.com.

Oct. 18-19 Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association Drycleaning & Laun dry EXPO. To be held in Atlantic City, N.J. Call 215-830-8495. O

Post notices of your organization’s events on www.AmericanDrycleaner.com

American Drycleaner, May 2014 19

2014 Exhibit in Print

The largest trade show in the industry is the Clean Show— where manufacturers, suppliers and dry cleaners can come together to check out the latest products, services and more.

But Clean only meets every two years, and this year there is no major drycleaning industry show in the United States.

American Drycleaner is helping fill the void by presenting its biennial armchair trade show, the Exhibit in Print. This “trade show you can put in your pocket” has many of the benefits of a live trade show without requiring its “attendees” to walk long distances in a massive exhibit hall.

Inside this special section, which runs through page 35, you’ll find the latest offerings from some of the most respected companies in the industry, as well as innovations from some up-andcoming players.

When you come across a product you’re interested in, or perhaps read about a company you’d like to learn more about, American Drycleaner encourages you to visit the exhibitor’s website or to call them for more information.

Enjoy the exhibition!

Never purchase laundry equipment again. Are you struggling with laundry problems and expenses? Are you tired of downtime and service calls? Do you need to replace old, worn-out equipment, but have no budget for it?

With revolutionary PLUS—Professional Laundry Utility Service from Laundrylux —the company delivers and installs your new Electrolux Professional laundry equipment for free, with no money down, zero capital investment, and no long-term

lease or contract.

The program offers new laundry equipment with no capital expense; no long-term contract or commitment; huge savings on chemicals, water, and energy; and lifetime parts and service warranties. PLUS means no surprise repair bills, no downtime, no capital investment in equipment, and no more laundry headaches, says the company. PLUS frees up your capital for more urgent business priorities. If you need new equipment now, PLUS is the perfect solution. www.plusluxllc.com | 866-575-1010

veyorless Assisted Assembly, interfaces to all major conveyor manufacturers, route GPS interface with Google mapping, CustomerConnect web interface, Route Trac mobile, Restoration Trac mobile, and SPOT Dashboard for web-based systemwide operations management.

For 23 years, SPOT Business Systems has been a leader in state-of-the-art, touchscreen-based drycleaning point of-sale software, according to the company.

In addition to hundreds of user-friendly features, new capabilities include PPOH Production Trac, MyDrycleaner.com consumer smartphone app, high-speed credit card processing with full PCI certification, con-

For the last 13 years, SPOT has been available in the cloud as a hosted service, providing true data centralization. SPOT adapts to any size operation, from single stand-alone stores to multiple stores with many workstations. Its support services offer advanced call-center equipment, real-time Internet connectivity to customer computers, and a competent staff of technical support representatives. www.spotpos.com | 801-208-2212

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

A.L. Wilson Chemical Co.

Discover environmentally friendly stain removers from A.L. Wilson. The company suggests perc users, as well as alternative solvent users, replace traditional POG and VDS with TarGo®EF and EasyGo®, two of Wilson’s highperformance, cost-effective, Californiacompliant stain removers.

These products help dry cleaners avoid future regulatory and remediation nightmares, the company says, while providing customers with the garment quality

they are looking for.

The EasyGo spray spotter quickly penetrates to absorb collar and cuff stains, perspiration, ground-in soil and more, all without brushing. Turn to TarGo EF to remove any tough oil-based stains that remain behind.

www.alwilson.com | 800-526-1188

Basket Trucks

Royal Basket Trucks strives to offer efficient material-handling solutions and a valuable long-term investment.

Royal produces a full line of basket trucks, poly trucks, bulk linen carts, wire laundry carts, hampers and more. Efficiency is important when transporting and processing laundry, but even more important is ensuring that the process is done correctly the first time, says the company.

By investing in Royal’s Poly Scale Cart, your company can do just that. The Poly

www.americandrycleaner.com

Scale Cart features a molded poly tub, in 6- or 8-bushel capacity, mounted to a powdercoated tubular steel frame. The frame houses a digital scale rated for up to 250 pounds, backed by a lifetime warranty. This unit allows accurate weighing of soiled linens to support the proper loading of a washer; correct chemical and water usage; lower maintenance costs from overworked equipment; and less rewash. Legal-for-trade scales are also available for any retail laundry processing.

www.royal-basket.com

| 800-426-6447

Fabricare Management Systems

Success of a POS system is contingent upon dependability, ease of use, cost effectiveness, a full feature set and responsive support, says Fabricare Management Systems. Its Fabricare Manager excels in all of these areas due to the creative, knowledgeable and dedicated professionals behind it.

The system can handle the diverse and demanding needs of dry cleaners and route professionals of all types and sizes. End to End (E2E) Encryption with Tokeni-

zation provides merchants with secure credit card processing. Recent enhancements include a system checker, allowing users to easily diagnose Internet, card-processor and database connectivity. Data can thus be quickly analyzed for consistency, whether using a local area or wide area network.

The system has also been updated to operate with the latest sorting conveyor features and integrate seamlessly with the newest HMC Fetch! Kiosk with E2E Encryption technology.

www.fabricaremanager.com | 888-249-5142

Iowa Techniques

Your store closed three minutes ago. Bad news for your customer, and worse news for you!

Owning an Iowa Techniques Drop Box means your drycleaning operation is never truly closed.

If you were your customer, when would you find time to come to your shop?

A convenient, 24-hour drop-off solution for “after-hours” customers enables an operation to keep business rather than driving customers to the competition.

Be the most convenient business in town with an Iowa Techniques Drop Box—both free-standing (garment bags are easy to remove from the locked lower storage area) and wall (can be mounted through glass windows or through walls up to a foot thick) versions are available.

Iowa Techniques can also provide you with rails to fit your delivery van, no matter what you’re driving—mini, regular, stretch, Transit, or Sprinter.

The company’s rail kits require no welding and are easy to install.

www.iowatechniques.com | 800-727-1592

Parker Boiler

The Parker Boiler Indirect Fired Water Heaters are heavy-duty packaged boilers used to heat water for laundries, coin-operated laundries and industrial laundry applications.

WH Series Boilers are available from 300,000-3,000,000 Btu input. They are UL and/or ETL Listed to UL795, manufactured under ASME Section I & IV. They can heat water in the 60- to 100-degree range without flue gas condensation and can provide up to 190 degrees without

burning out the heat transfer coil, says the company. This is accomplished by firing the flame onto the 11-gauge steel side of the boiler and indirectly pulling the water from a finned copper heat exchanger. Boilers are available in natural gas, propane and “Low NOx” firing, and the company currently has applications dating back to 1959 that are still in service.

www.parkerboiler.com | 323-727-9800

growth, Evans says.

Evans Garment Restoration

Evans Garment’s business model provides opportunities to drycleaning companies already providing textile restoration services to join the Evans family with a minimal investment in their facilities. Evans’ national programs with major insurance carriers can provide an influx of new business to help restoration dry clean ers take their business to the next level. When combined with marketing and sales processes refined during the past 18 years, this combination is a powerful formula for

www.americandrycleaner.com

In addition, Evans says it is the only textile cleaner to be ISO-9001 certified for quality management procedures. Certifica tion means fewer errors and better perfor mance through employee training pro grams, plus improved claims management and reporting through Evans’ Claim Man ager Software. Evans also has a unique patented ozone washing process that delivers dramatically superior results and increased productivity, the company reports.

Limited opportunities remain available for a limited time!

www.evansgr.com/drycleaner

bizzie

The “bizzie box” from bizzie is the most cost-effective locker-based solution in North America, says the company. Using patented smartphone technology, bizzie boxes enable an operator to expand his/her drycleaning business and brand beyond the retail counter and routes, the company says.

The three things most important to customers of drycleaning services are convenience, service and price. Current drycleaning delivery routes have

suffered from the inability to gain customers and build route density.

Now, bizzie provides a way to gain access to those hard-to-reach customers in office complexes, apartments and gated communities, the company says, as well as means to manage routes and additional services. The bizzie system is a solution to expand or create a route service for a drycleaning and laundry operation.

www.bizzie.com/franchise | 248-654-7000

its customers, either directly or through the broker of their choice.

Irving Weber Associates

Do you want to participate in the leading insurance program for your industry? Do you want your insurance agent to work with the leading supplier of insurance protection to the fabricare industry? Ask your broker to call Irving Weber Associates (IWA) for a proposal.

IWA has worked tirelessly to offer the best combination of comprehensive coverages and lowest rates. For more than 67 years, IWA has consistently brought comprehensive coverage and savings to

IWA offers unlimited bailee coverage, in transit coverage, boxed and hanging storage, fur storage, and damage in processing including equipment breakdown. Also offered are workers’ compensation and pollution liability.

IWA invites you to have your current broker call today. Cleaners who work with a direct insurance writer such as NIE, State Farm, Nationwide or Allstate should call IWA directly.

www.iwains.com | 800-243-1811, ext. 8207

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

Cleaner Business Systems

Cleaner Business Systems is a browser-based software application designed to help dry cleaners get more control over their businesses and become more profitable.

Cleaner Business Systems is used by cleaners of all types and sizes to increase profitability, grow business and save time, the company says. Smaller operations wishing to modernize the front end and control cash will like the software’s detailed reporting, easy-to-use interface

and timesaving functionality. Larger operations with multiple locations can use CBS Connected to manage stores from almost anywhere, maximizing control.

Cleaner Business Systems offers specialized procedures for other types of cleaners as well. One price/pre-pay cleaners enjoy streamlined payments and a lot manager, the company says, while hotel and valet services can use CBS’ commercial accounts function, which offers structured, commission-based billing statements. www.cleanerbusiness.com | 800-406-9649

a danger to people, the environment or its biodiversity, says the company.

GreenEarth Cleaning

GreenEarth Cleaning’s goal is to take the best possible care of fabrics, the people who wear them and the community in which they live. The technology innovations the company pursues are cleaner air, conservation of water, protection of biodiversity and reduction of waste.

The GreenEarth Cleaning process, which uses liquid silicone, does not pose

GreenEarth cleans without fading colors, wearing fibers or damaging delicate beads and sequins, the company says. Fabrics maintain softness and drape, without shrinkage. Items that traditionally posed a problem in perc—silks, beads, trims, vinyl, metals, covered and ornamental buttons, leather, cashmere—can be safely cleaned with GreenEarth.

Independent testing has confirmed its benefits in minimizing color loss, dimensional change, maintaining a soft hand, reducing pilling, and helping to keep garments newer-looking longer.

www.greenearthcleaning.com

| 877-926-0895

Global Business Systems

SortingRobo is an automatic assembly and garment tracking system from Global Business Systems. With SortingRobo, an operator will be able to electronically track garments and assemble orders without any human error. The company says using SortingRobo can lower

American Chillers

American Chillers and Cooling Tower Systems Inc. manufactures chilled water systems, having provided cooling towers and chillers for dry cleaners since the 1980s. The company counts among its customers the U.S. Government, NASA, Boeing, General Electric and others, and it remains dedicated to and values its drycleaning customers.

All chillers are tested to specification

www.americandrycleaner.com

labor costs up to 75%.

A drycleaning operation can reduce staff by using a permanent barcode tag system, high-speed automated garment tracking and an assembly machine.

SortingRobo has a built-in invoice printer, a touch monitor, and helps an operator communicate with POS systems and other multiple stores.

www.smart4me.com | 800-717-2507

prior to leaving the factory, with evaporators set at 40% glycol at spec. Oversized coaxial heat exchangers allow for maximum heat transfer and durability, says the company. All chillers ship with a remote control panel that installs indoors and allows the operator to turn the chiller on/off with performance indicators.

American Chillers uses the best available parts for maximum reliability, the company says.

American Chillers takes pride in supporting its chillers and cooling towers by providing 24/7 service support. Parts are carefully selected so that most can be sourced locally for quick repair to get a drycleaning operation back up and running quickly.

www.amchiller.com | 855-589-1463

American Drycleaner, May 2014

Maineline Computers

Maineline Computer Systems designs, sells, installs and supports Compassmax software for the fabricare industry. With features such as Point of Sale (POS), Customer Management and Accounts Receivable, and Automated Assembly and Ticketing, Compassmax leads the way to better profitability for your business, according to Maineline.

The software combines advanced

features with an easy-to-use interface. Some of the innovations include options and features that interface with the leading automatic assembly, conveyors and Maineline’s own assembly assistant, which reduces labor and improves accuracy.

Compassmax can create unlimited, user-defined automatic e-mails with HTML graphics. Options include new-customer e-mails, lost-customer e-mails, notifications when orders are ready, garment pictures, birthday/ anniversary wishes, and more. Additional features include a query builder, as well as multiple options for membership rewards and frequency fabricare programs to increase sales.

www.compassmax.com | 800-354-2525

item-tracking and cash-control features.

DCPe lets owners control the entire drycleaning operation online from anywhere in the world, whether they want to view a store’s executive summary, monitor realtime employee performance, or zoom in to locate a lost item.

With more than 3,000 installations, Dajisoft’s DryClean PRO is the choice of the most successful cleaners in the trade, the company says, thanks to its ease of use, reliability and versatility. With time-tested, advanced features such as automarketing and per-piece item tracking, DryClean PRO lets dry cleaners concen trate on customers and the business while it takes care of unnecessary hassles.

The new DryClean PRO Enterprise (DCPe) offers even more labor-saving,

Final Verification uses bar-coding technology to ensure 100% accuracy for assembled garments. Simply scan bar-coded tags on assembled garments in each order printed by DryClean PRO Enterprise. Upon encountering a misplaced garment or an incomplete order, Final Verification’s audible alarm alerts the user to the mistake.

www.dajisoft.com | 888-325-4763

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

Firbimatic

Firbimatic believes that its EcoGreen Series models are the fastest, most efficient alternative-solvent machines on the market. The EcoGreen models feature innovations to reduce water and electrical consumption while increasing solvent mileage, the company says.

Firbimatic has also introduced a new combination to maximize “cleanability.” A new solvent heating system and jet spray are now standard features on the EcoGreen models and available on all

alternative-solvent machines to enhance the solvent’s cleaning power.

Firbimatic EcoGreen models decrease the amount of spotting required and reduce wrinkles, which increase finishing production, the company says.

Firbimatic equipment is covered under warranty and enjoys outstanding parts and service support.

www.firbimaticusa.com | 800-220-0630

Quicksort

QuickSort, a designer and manufacturer of automated assembly conveyors, offers an efficient, space-saving automated assembly option that won’t break the bank.

The company says its system, with proprietary software, makes short order out of assembly. Bar-code technology coupled with a versatile assembly conveyor will reduce labor time and cost and increase accuracy. Today

more than ever, a drycleaner’s or laundry’s profits are driven by labor. Decreasing labor costs, increasing accuracy, reducing the assembly area and consistently capturing upcharges are four reasons to think again about automating an operation’s assembly, QuickSort says.

Brett McLeod, QuickSort’s founder, has been designing and installing automated equipment for more than a decade, providing dry cleaners, hotels, casinos and others with innovative business solutions. He is the original designer of the Iowa Techniques Automated Assembly Conveyor, having designed and installed more than 100 systems spanning 26 states.

www.quicksortac.com | 501-216-8093

“The Element of Clean.” You pick the solvent, and leave the process to it—simple as that. Columbia/ILSA builds engineering concepts and design elements into every model, as a direct result of its ability to listen and to understand customers’ needs.

Columbia/ILSA

Becoming the top-selling drycleaning machinery brand in the United States doesn’t happen by accident. Thanks to its keen understanding of how to use solvents to obtain the highest level of garment care and a sharp focus on the needs of shop owners, Columbia/ILSA Drycleaning Systems has emerged as the No. 1selling machine, the company says.

Columbia/ILSA understands that all solvents are not created equal. The company offers its complete line of machines as

Columbia/ILSA’s reputation for developing the most technologically advanced system in the world is unmatched, the company says.

From its patented Quick Dri Series to the state-of-the-art iPura Hybrid System, Columbia/ILSA has changed the course of the industry for generations to come.

www.columbiailsa.com

| 800-446-5634

www.americandrycleaner.com

Ally Equipment Co.

Ally Equipment Co. (AEC) has provided quality equipment, parts and service to drycleaning, laundry and coin laundry owners since 1987. Started by Craig Riddle (who now has more than 30 years of experience) and his wife, Mary Jean, and joined soon after by John Allen, a 27-year industry veteran, AEC has earned its reputation as the intermountain West’s best choice for equipment expertise.

Gregg Townsend joined the Ally team in 2007 after more than 25 years at Kent

Thomas, where he offered parts and troubleshooting to Ajax owners nationwide. Together, Riddle, Allen and Townsend boast more than 80 years of experience in solving dry cleaners’ equipment, service and parts needs, the company says.

www.allyequipment.com | 801-255-9646

Texas, headquarters and warehouse, along with a large selection of used and reconditioned equipment.

Mustang also offers an expansive selection of replacement equipment.

For more than 50 years, Mustang Equipment has earned an outstanding reputation among users of drycleaning and laundry equipment for being a responsive, dependable supplier of new and used machinery, parts and service.

The company stocks only the best lines of new equipment at its San Antonio,

Mustang stocks an extensive inventory of parts for most major brands, and its knowledgeable staff awaits your call for parts and troubleshooting, the company says.

Staffers are specialists in the design and installation of complete plants, the company adds, so whether you need a single part or an entire production floor, you can count on Mustang.

www.mustangenterprises.com

| 866-734-3644

www.americandrycleaner.com

American Drycleaner

This is where we find our own American Drycleaner, and “The Industry’s No. 1 Magazine” stands ready to cover the issues of interest to today’s drycleaning business owners and operators.

More than 36,000 drycleaning plants routinely turn to American Drycleaner for the latest news and industry analysis. Business briefings, columns packed with profit-boosting tips and more make it a must-read. The magazine has extended its reach by offering a companion digital

edition readable on today’s tablets or web browsers.

AmericanDrycleaner.com provides even more industry coverage, with updates throughout the week as well as exclusive content not found anywhere else. And don’t forget about the Wire—twice-weekly e-mail updates with the latest headlines.

American Drycleaner is published by American Trade Magazines LLC, which also covers the self-service laundry industry via American Coin-Op and institutional/ OPL and textile rental laundries via American Laundry News

www.americandrycleaner.com | 312-361-1700

Eye on Longevity

Ihad just finished a presentation on making the most of your current equipment when a young man came and stood at my side, waiting patiently. The question he asked caught me completely off guard. It was, to the effect, “Why am I not successful in this business?” He had borrowed money from his father-in-law to buy a plant at the end of a strip shopping center. The plant was only 7 years old when he bought it. It all gave me time to pause and reflect, then to try and help this sincere young man.

I met him in the hotel restaurant 30 minutes later. He told me that he had been focused on marketing and piece count for the past 14 months. Whatever it took, even “eight for the price of six,” for the past six months. When I asked about his knowledge of drycleaning technology, he looked stunned, much like my teenage son did coming in an hour after curfew. All he knew for sure was that he was using an “environmentally friendly, organic solvent.”

My heart went out to him, so I began to explain that cleaning had gone through some major changes over

To find past Spotting Tips columns or share this month’s with your colleagues, visit www.americandrycleaner.com.

the last 20 years. The object remains the same, but the tools have changed drastically. His plight may well help you navigate the current marketplace of the cleaning industry. What follows is a summary of our conversation that night.

From the curb, a majority of cleaners look very much alike. It is the location that can differentiate itself that gets the traffic. It can be in the color scheme, the signage, the packaging, or in the service and expertise. It is not one thing, but a host of little things. In this industry, bright colors are being used outside and in the call office. There are large electronic/ flashing signs. In this industry, printed poly, comforter bags, sweater bags and dust covers are just a few of the unique packaging ideas. What is rare is the plant that has adjusted its business model to balance both pieces per hour and profit per piece.

While other cleaners are settling for running, steaming and bagging with a “Sorry” tag, operators with an eye on longevity are embracing supplemental stain removal to set their plants apart. When you remove the mustard stain the guy down the street left in, you gain a customer, even at a few (profitable) cents more.

Have you noticed that many owners have applied manufacturing

Martin Young

When you fail to have the proper mechanical and chemical tools, you are reducing your chances of success at cleaning clothes.

criteria to this service industry? Efficient operation is measured by more than pieces per operator hour. The job we have been assigned is to restore textiles, not just handle them. We are to improve the garment by removing stains and restoring the texture and hand.

A lack of working knowledge is a sign of a lack of interest. A lack of interest is a sure road to failure.

When you fail to have the proper mechanical and chemical tools, you are reducing your chances of success at cleaning clothes. When you insist on hiring only employees trained by your competitor, or who have no training at all, you reduce your chance at turning a profit. No one would trust their BMW to a “mechanic” whose only tool is a Swiss army knife.

It is rare that a POG will remove weekold coffee. It is rare that an over-the-counter detergent will completely remove ink. It is dangerous to attempt to remove nail polish with a removal agent that contains acetone. Specific pre-mixed chemical tools

for plant stains, animal stains and paint/ink are reasonably safe for garment application and should be purchased from an industry distributor. A professional job requires professional tools as well as professional knowledge of fibers, fabrics, dyes, trim, construction and stain characteristics.

Nearly all the manufacturers of chemical tools for garment care have some type of a stain-removal guide/chart. Local and regional trade associations offer seminars on every facet of business operation, both technical and managerial. Removing the stain from a customer’s garment may well be the difference in keeping or losing that customer.

The young man commented that the drycleaning business is more complicated than he had imagined. It is only complicated to those who choose not to be a student of their profession. If you never pick up a spotting brush, you still need to be knowledgeable as to what can and what cannot be removed safely. There is a vast difference between technically impossible and a lack of effort.

Over the years, this magazine has offered detailed instructions related to removing virtually every stain that could potentially come into your plant. Take the time to invest in your business by investing in your employees. Having the tools for supplemental stain removal and the expertise to use those tools will reduce your need for “Sorry” tags and increase your faithful customer base. O

Martin L. Young Jr. has been an industry consultant and trainer for almost 20 years, and a member of various stakeholder groups on environmental issues. He grew up in his parents’ plant in Con cord, N.C., Young Cleaners, which he operates to this day. Contact him by phone at 704-786-3011, e-mail mayoung@vnet.net.

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

(Photo: © iStockphoto/Romanchuck)

Part-Time Workers, Full-Time Challenge

How to hire, keep the best applicants

By Phillip M. Perry

Gone are the days when business owners looked upon part-time workers as dispensable resources of little value to the enterprise. Today’s part-timers have become critical gears in the profit machine, performing many vital duties formerly handled by a trimmed-down permanent staff.

“The whole business world is going in the direction of shorter-term work assignments and the hiring of people for specific projects,” says Barbara Glanz,

a management consultant based in Sarasota, Fla.

No secret why: Business owners are feeling the heat from rising labor and benefits costs. Why add more full-time workers, goes the reasoning, when part-timers can do the job just as well? And then there’s the advantage of greater flexibility: Employers can add or subtract part-timers in response to variable—and unpredictable—business activity levels.

ATTITUDE CHECK. Part-timers offer distinct advantages. And maybe you’re

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

enthused about your own. But are they returning the favor? Are they happy about being in your drycleaning business?

If the answers are negative, your profits may suffer. Bad attitudes are contagious: Customers who encounter unhappy, unmotivated part-timers will take their business elsewhere. And part-timers are often the first—and only—contact the public has with your organization.

“Customers don’t care whether an employee is part-time or full-time,” warns Glanz. “People judge your business by how well they are treated, not by how many hours the employees are putting in.” And customers will only be treated well if your part-timers feel good about what they are doing.

HIRE RIGHT. How can you build a staff of happy part-timers? Start by hiring the right people in the first place.

“The most important decision you make is who to allow in the door to help you take care of customers,” says Mel Kleiman, director of Houston-based Humetrics, an employment consulting firm. “The biggest mistake business owners make is not taking part-time hiring as seriously as full-time hiring. You have to realize the importance of part-time positions and not short-circuit the hiring process. Do the same things for selecting part-timers as you do for selecting regulars.”

Smart hiring means not only curating the applicant pool, but also forming a clear vision of what you need.

“You don’t go grocery shopping without a list,” says Kleiman. “Before you leave home, you look at a recipe to see what ingredients you need. Take the same approach when hiring part-timers: What

key ingredients will you need to make your hire successful?”

And don’t wait until the last minute.

“It’s a mistake to go grocery shopping when you are hungry,” says Kleiman. “You end up buying the wrong food. In the same way, don’t just start looking for parttimers when you need them. When you are forced to make a fast decision, you end up hiring great applicants instead of great employees.”

There’s a critical difference between the two categories, he explains.

“Great applicants can start work today or tomorrow. Great employees are working someplace else and want to give their current employers notice.”

DAY 1 DUTIES. Attracting the best-quality part-timers is one thing. Making sure they don’t jump ship to a competitor is something else. It’s important to design a smooth transition into your workforce so the new arrival feels welcome, says Kleiman.

“Realize the new part-time worker is important and invest the time to bring the individual on board.”

Your goal is to make the new hire an evangelist for your company, says Kleiman.

“Every new employee at end of the first day will be asked one question by everyone: ‘How was your day?’ We know what we want the answer to be: ‘It was terrific. It was the best decision I ever made. I would like to get a full-time job there.’”

Creating such enthusiasm begins with the arrival of the individual to your workplace.

“The first hour should not be just sitting in an office looking at videos and

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

filling out paperwork,” says Kleiman. Instead, make the first conversation about the employee, discussing the individual’s goals. Remember that the very nature of a part-time worker involves two distinct duties: one to the job and a second to a personal life. Your job is to understand the latter and make sure the two loyalties do not end up in conflict.

One way to bring the two into productive engagement is to deliberately involve families, whenever you can, in business activities.

“Part-time employees are probably giving up family time to put in hours that are needed,” says Glanz. “Find ways to involve the families in some way and show they are appreciated.”

Here’s an example: One employer sent

a gift certificate to a worker’s family, explaining the importance of a certain project and how grateful the company was that the family member had contributed. “Here is a check,” stated the card. “Think of something to do to celebrate.”

Try to help part-time workers reach their personal goals, even if they are not connected with work.

Suppose someone says, “I want to get my college degree.” Express admiration for the ambitious goal and offer to assist in specific ways. For example, you might say, “We are going to be flexible in work scheduling so you can attend classes you need to get your degree.” The part-timer will value this kind of assistance and will likely stick with your organization rather than take an alternative job that offers

more money but less flexibility.

BREAK DOWN WALLS. While getting off on the right foot is critical to success, you must also follow through. Make sure the new part-time workers quickly feel like part of the team. Start by erasing the imaginary wall that divides them from the rest of your staff.

“Your organization will be much healthier if you don’t make a distinction between full- and part-time workers,” says Glanz. “Treat all of your employees like valuable team members. Change the mindset from ‘us versus them’ to ‘all of us together.’”

Promoting a sense of team engagement will keep your part-timers from feeling isolated and ineffectual.

“People need a sense of purpose, to feel that they are part of something bigger,” says Glanz.

Maybe being part of a team is essential. But does one individual’s job really make a difference? The answer is yes. And you need to communicate how each task contributes to your mission.

“Don’t just tell people what they do and how to do it but why they do it,” says Kleiman. “We don’t do things for the what and how, we do things for the why.” The why is the value that the employee’s actions give the larger mission of your business: to improve the lives of customers.

This advice applies to employees throughout the ranks.

“The lowest-level jobs are often the most important ones in satisfying the cus-

tomer,” says Kleiman. At these positions, it is especially vital to make sure the employee knows the answers to the question, “Why is what I do important?”

That sounds like a communication challenge. And it’s true that managers with great communication skills are the most successful at making a compelling case that each employee is an essential part of the larger business whole.

KEEP MOVING. A thoroughly engaged parttime worker is a critical gear in any business machine. But to keep the machine running well, it has to be continually maintained: Follow through on your hiring and intake practices by continuing to take an interest in your part-time workers’ personal lives.

Communicate with your part-timers regularly, obtaining feedback on their attitudes and soliciting suggestions on workplace improvements. Pay special attention to feedback during annual performance reviews.

Remember that competing employers are looking to snap up the best workers from your part-time pool. Maintain open communications to preserve your investment in training and keep your peak performers on board.

“Employee engagement is not something that can be taken care of during one day or week,” says Glanz. “Employees want to be appreciated and engaged all year long.” O

Phillip M. Perry is a freelance writer based in New York City.

American Drycleaner, March 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

MANAGEMENT STRATEG i ES

Developing Leadership in Your Company

As the owner of a professional fabricare business, making your business thrive is your primary responsibility. Leading your company to prosperity requires time to think, plan and implement strategies for the good of the entire enterprise. Developing a strong leadership team to manage your company at all levels is key to freeing your time to work on your company instead of in it on a day-to-day basis. Developing strong lead ers is much easier with a structure and system in place for managing the company and for developing the team simultaneously.

MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE. Each manager can have multiple responsibilities until organization growth warrants more staff (either full or part-time). The key at this point is to identify all of the responsibilities necessary for the company to be successful and to identify who will fulfill each role.

The key functions to fill are: CEO (chief executive officer), who is in charge of the total manage ment of the business and has the ultimate responsibility for the success of the company and the team.

CFO (chief financial officer), who has responsibility for managing the financial risk of the company and for

the record keeping in the organization.

COO (chief operating officer), who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company and may be responsible for both production and sales. In most cleaners, the responsi bility is focused on the production side of the business.

CPO (chief promotional officer), who is tasked with the sales and leads the team charged with collecting and increasing revenues.

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. An effective management system will simplify the leadership and direction of the business and its various divisions by providing the executive team controls, procedures and benchmarks by which to measure progress and achieve greater profitability. In the simplest form, the system includes a process by which to “Plan, Implement, Review, Refine, and Repeat” (PIRRR©). That is:

• Plan the action

• Implement the plan

• Review the results

• Refine the plan

• Repeat the process for continued improvement

This approach can be applied and reapplied at every level of the organization to simplify the management of every division and department. The plans of each division may be com-

Diana Vollmer

pared and contrasted to the overreaching plan of the company as a whole to confirm that it contributes to the enterprise goal(s).

Matching the sub-plans to the master goal is essential and is often shown not to be the case in reality. For example, a sales division with the single-minded goal of increasing top-line sales may be incompatible and even counterproductive with an overall goal of making operations more efficient or increasing the profit margins. An example would be a “giveaway” sale that brings in so much work that it overwhelms the plant with the sale items and prevents the quality service that loyal full-price customers expect.

An effective management system provides for individual responsibility and accountability on specific assignments and projects, specific actions and activities to

be accomplished, and a schedule for completion. It also provides for tracking the results and making refinements to the plan if the expected results are not achieved.

The cycle of plan, implement, review, refine and repeat helps the company contin uously improve results. It also trains man agers and associates for future leadership roles with ever-increasing responsibility.

The successful completion (or lack of completion) of small assignments is a low-risk test for determining the management and leadership potential of your team members.

MANAGEMENT TOOLS. Once the “right people are in the right seats on the bus,” and their goals and direction are set, they need the tools necessary to achieve their goals.

There are innumerable management ▲

Drycleaner,

tools available, but some of the most relevant to fabricare companies are:

1. Benchmarking, which compares results to best practices and performance either inside or outside the industry. It is used to set performance standards that have been proven to be achievable and to determine if the operation is optimized.

2. Business Process Re-engineering helps managers revise processes to become more efficient and profitable. It involves analysis of workflow and process components to determine how to improve.

3. Core Competencies Analysis dissects the performance of individual divisions and offerings to determine the contribution to the enterprise. This scrutiny helps arrive at an appropriate product and service mix.

4. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a model for managing a company’s interactions with customers. Generally, account relationship management is focused on increasing the share of wallet from that individual account. An example that might differ from that goal is a retailer that is in the position to refer their customers to a dry cleaner.

5. Customer Segmentation is closely related to CRM but is focused on identifying segments of customers that are similar to each other in identifiable ways. Customer Segmentation provides a means to determine how to reach more “clones” of your best customers and more relevant offerings and communications.

6. Downsizing usually refers to a reduction in workforce but can also be

applied to number of outlets, products, services and divisions.

7. Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) is a strategy of buying, selling or combining operations for a business advantage. It’s proven profitable due to opportunities for economies of scale.

8. Outsourcing, the practice of contract ing processes to a third party, is often more profitable than performing the process internally.

9. Point of Sale (POS) systems are critical to track the inventory processed and the diverse customer base served. Integrating the POS system with the accounting and operational record-keeping systems diminishes the challenges of tracking, managing and improving the progression.

10. Price Optimization Models calculate how demand for a product or service varies at different price levels. The results are then compared to costs to arrive at optimum pricing.

11. Satisfaction and Loyalty Management is closely related to CRM and Customer Segmentation, but it is more directly focused on retaining customers and increasing their expenditures with the organization.

12. Social Media Programs are designed to reach out to customer segments through specific electronic media channels and social networks. The goal is to create appealing content that is shared through the networks and that will result in additional business and loyalty.

13. Strategic Alliances are focused on aligning with independent business partners to pursue common goals that can be beneficial to both partner

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

companies. An example would be jointly hosting an event that would commingle clients with similar life styles and who would be inclined to patronize both businesses.

14. Strategic Planning, per Wikipedia, is “an organization’s process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. In order to determine the future direction of the organization, it is necessary to understand its current position and the possible avenues through which it can pursue particular courses of action.” George Friedman in The Next 100 Years summarizes “the fundamental prin ciple of strategic planning: hope for the best, plan for the worst.”

15. Zero Based Budgeting is a good tool to re-evaluate the organization, its structure, processes and operations. It involves starting from scratch to design a budget to best provide for company needs and goals. It is especially valuable in keeping the company current as best practices change.

Creating a comprehensive management structure, a sound management system, and providing the tools to complete the responsibilities will make your life easier and your company prosper. O

MfM has served the drycleaning and laundry in dustry with affordable management expertise and improved profitability since 1953. For assistance with developing your leadership and management team, contact Diana Vollmer at dvollmer@mfmi.com or call her at 415-577-6544.

American Drycleaner, May 2014

Avoiding Claims: What You Need to Know About Fabrics & Stain Removal. NCA course, to be held May 4 in Tampa, Fla. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

DEC Certification. Two-day NCA course, to be held June 1 and June 8 in Floral Park, N.Y. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Avoiding Claims: What You Need to Know About Fabrics & Stain Removal. NCA course, to be held June 7 in Dallas. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Basic Spotting. NCA course, to be held June 22 in Bronx, N.Y. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Avoiding Claims: What You Need to Know About Fabrics & Stain Removal. NCA course, to be held July 13 in Seattle. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

DEC Certification. Two-day NCA course, to be held July 13 and July 20 in Nanuet, N.Y. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Introduction to Drycleaning. DLI course, to be held July 14-18 in Laurel, Md. Call 800-638-2627 or visit www. dlionline.org.

Wet Cleaning. NCA course, to be held July 20 in Ohio. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Advanced Drycleaning. DLI course, to be held July 21-Aug. 1 in Laurel, Md. Call 800-638-2627 or visit www.dlionline.org.

Finishing with Tensioning Equipment. NCA course, to be held July 27 in Secaucus, N.J. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Wetcleaning. DLI course, to be held Sept. 11-12 in Laurel, Md. Call 800-6382627 or visit www.dlionline.org. O

American Drycleaner, May 2014

JUNE

Feature: Addressing Customer Claims

No drycleaning operation is perfect, so here are some pointers for how to deal most effectively with customer complaints and claims.

Editorial Submission Deadline — April 15

JULY

Feature: Plant Automation

Bar codes, RFID chips and automated conveyor systems are taking the hassles out of inventory control and assembly. Here’s how today’s plants are using these innovations to cut labor and maximize efficiency.

Editorial Submission Deadline — May 15

AUGUST

Feature: Distributors Directory Continuously updated, our easy-to-use annual directory issue lists distributors of equipment and supplies nationwide.

Editorial Submission Deadline — June 15

SEPTEMBER

Feature: Marketing: Back to Basics

How to attract more customers using some tried-and-true promotional strategies.

Editorial Submission Deadline —July 15

OCTOBER

Feature: Going Commercial How to sell drycleaning services to hotels, restaurants and other commercial customers.

Editorial Submission Deadline — August 15

Due Diligence

Despite the pervasive publicity sur rounding the case of master scam artist Bernie Madoff, Ponzi scheme fraudsters are still out there successfully reining in suckers who should know better.

Perhaps it’s the universal “get-richquick” goal that lies deep in the psyche of many of us, or maybe it’s just the irre sistible charm and handsome good looks of the would-be Madoffs who are to be found in many social circles. Whatever the reason, many people whose primary goal is separating you from your money can still be found in the most unlikely of places. That’s why it’s so important for you to do your own due diligence when it comes to investing your money. Here are seven areas of due diligence that you should focus on before you select a financial adviser or participate in an off-the-beaten-track investment:

ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. Even if it’s a friend, relative, or trusted financial adviser asking you to invest, you need to know such things as:

• Exactly how much money am I being asked to invest?

• Precisely what sort of returns can I expect?

• Are the proposed returns guaranteed? If so, by whom?

• What happens if I want to take out some or all of my money? If there’s any hedging on these or any of the questions you may ask, take notice of the red flag waving in your face.

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS. Unlikely as they may sound, unwary investors are bamboozled every day by offers that simply are too good to be true. In this day of anemic interest rates, investments that promise such things as 10% or 20% returns or more must be viewed with the utmost skepticism if not out-of-hand rejection. Get-rich-quick schemes have been around ever since money was invented and aren’t likely to disappear any time soon. Your job is to avoid falling into the trap that swallows up naïve investors on a regular basis.

Whatever the reason, many people whose primary goal is separating you from your money can still be found in the most unlikely of places.

BRING A TRUSTED ADVISER TO YOUR INTERVIEW. Don’t agree to turn over any of your money to someone else without a trusted adviser to help with your deci sion. Your attorney or accountant or a close friend would be good choices. Be especially wary if you are told that an

Bill Lynott

other person to advise you is not necessary. Anyone proposing a legitimate investment will not object to the presence of someone you trust as an adviser.

FIND OUT EXACTLY WHO WILL BE HOLDING YOUR MONEY. Someone will have to have custody of your money; you need to know who that will be. Make sure that you know which company and how you can contact them. Take the time to research any firm that you expect to take possession of your investment. Be especially leery if it is not a recognized brokerage firm, bank or trust company that has been in business for a suitable length of time.

Sometimes a “gut feeling” tells you that things don’t seem right. When that happens, it’s time to be especially cautious.

Legitimate companies will provide you with written statements on a quarterly or monthly basis. Make sure that the account will be held in your name and that you will have access to your money if you need it. If you won’t have unlimited access to the mon ey in your account, for example in a hedge fund, you need to be even more diligent in your research on the reliability and reputa tion of the custodian.

Be wary if your interview is to be held in a conference room of some other person or firm that is not involved in the proposed investment. There may be a good reason for that arrangement, but you need to question exactly why.

DON’T ACT IN HASTE. Be especially wary of any offer that must be accepted today. If you are being pushed to sign up for an offer

www.americandrycleaner.com

that you must act on right away, it’s time to back off. Never buy into an investment until you’ve had time to think it over and discuss it with a friend or family member.

BE ESPECIALLY WARY OF EVASIVENESS. You should have plenty of questions about any investment being offered to you. Answers to your questions should be clear, direct and easy for you to understand. Remember War ren Buffett’s philosophy of never putting money into an investment that you don’t understand.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. Sometimes a “gut feeling” tells you that things don’t seem right. When that happens, it’s time to be especially cautious. Human instincts are powerful defenses in times of danger. Pay attention when your gut tells you to beware. If you have money to invest, there will always be other legitimate offers for you to consider. O

Information in this article is provided for educational and reference purposes only. It is not intended to provide specific advice or individual recommenda tions. Consult an accountant or tax adviser for advice regarding your particular situation.

Bill Lynott is a freelance writer whose work appears in leading trade publications and newspapers, as well as consumer magazines including Reader’s Digest and Family Circle. Visit his website at www. blynott.com or e-mail blynott@comcast.net.

(Photo: © iStockphoto/Gunnar Pippel )

AROUND T h E INDUSTRY

DLI helps cleaners to focus on positives after ABC News report

In March, ABC News gave dry clean ers a “thoroughly sensationalistic trashing” on Good Morning Ameri ca , 20/20 , and abcnews.com, says the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), and in order to help members respond to questions from employees and customers, DLI issued a set of talking points.

“Foremost, don’t panic,” says DLI CEO Mary Scalco. “Sadly, this is busi ness as usual in the media today. But happily, this item is already yesterday’s news and another target will be along shortly.”

Though the A BC News coverage is indeed yesterday’s news, DLI’s tips are evergreen. The most important thing to remember is to avoid reinforc ing the negative and to accentuate the positive. That rule will help in just about any public relations situation, DLI says. Here are its talking points:

“NOT ALL DRY CLEANERS ARE CREATED EQUAL.” Reassure your customers (and remind your staff) that your invest ments in training and professional knowledge separate your business from those cleaners who give the in dustry a bad name.

Dry cleaners who are members of 107-year-old DLI regularly receive the

latest industry information and enjoy “unlimited” resources and educational opportunities, the group says. Any one in management or on staff holding DLI certificates or diplomas are addi tional aces to be played.

“DIRTY SOLVENT.” The 20/20 report mis represented the cleaning process by suggesting that customers’ clothes are cleaned in black, dirty still sludge, DLI says. Reassure customers that their clothes are not cleaned in black sludge, for if this were true every piece of light-colored clothing would turn black after cleaning.

In fact, in the drycleaning process, solvent is filtered and distilled so it remains clear and clean while the clothes are being washed. The black sludge shown on the 20/20 report actually proves that soils and impurities are removed from the solvent and not left on customers’ garments, DLI says. Offer to give customers a tour so they can see the condition of your dry cleaning process for themselves.

“JERK FACTOR.” This was new even to seasoned industry veterans who thought they’d heard it all twice, DLI says. Reassure customers that the care of their garments and their satisfaction is of utmost importance. Do not repeat the statement made in the show when offering an explanation, as it would only give credibility to the statement and make the cleaner appear to be on

the defensive, DLI says.

Instead, accentuate the positive, such as: “Here at DLI Cleaners, our customers are the most important people in the world. We always greet you with a smile and are always glad to see you.”

“REMOVING TOUGH STAINS.” Tell your cus tomer that some stains are extremely difficult to remove but identifying the stain is half the battle. Have counter staff ask customers if they know of any stains on the garments. Let the customer know your team will do their best to remove any stains.

Again, highlighting professional affili ation and training can help you respond to any inquiries in a positive way, DLI says.

“KNOW WHO YOU DO BUSINESS WITH.” That one bit of advice from the 20/20 segment is actually not so bad, according to DLI. Customers should choose a dry cleaner they feel comfortable entrusting with their garments as well as any forgotten items, such as cash or bills.

“MISLEADING CARE LABELS.” Care la bels recommend just one appro priate method of care, even when several methods of cleaning are ac ceptable. Customers may not know that care labels can sometimes be wrong and that following them can lead to damage.

DLI suggests telling them, “When you see ‘Dryclean Only,’ you may or may not be able to home wash the garment without shrinkage, color loss or distortion. Our years of experience and un derstanding of fibers, fabrics and

www.americandrycleaner.com

chemistry help us make a professional judgment on how to care for each gar ment. After testing, we may decide to wet clean, launder, or even hand wash a gar ment rather than dry clean it. We do this all day every day.”

In case you missed it, the 20/20 seg ment aired March 7 and can be found through this link: http://abcnews.go.com /2020/.

Fowler Equipment Co. earns Maytag’s highest honor

Commercial laundry equipment distributor Fowler Equipment Co. recently received the Fred Maytag Award during Maytag Commercial Laundry’s 56th annual meet ing in Tucson, Ariz., Maytag reports. This marks the fifth time Fowler Equipment has received the award, with its first award win dating back to 1959, ac cording to Bob English, general manager at Maytag Commercial Laundry.

American Drycleaner, May 2014 55

Dean and Doug Fowler (center) of Fowler Equipment Co. receive the Fred Maytag Award during Maytag Commercial Laundry’s 56th annual meeting in Tucson, Ariz. Joining them are (from left) Dick Ruel, John Maltese, Bob English and Randy Karn. (Photo: Maytag Commercial Laundry)

“Fowler Equipment Co. has exceeded all expectations as a result of unwavering perseverance, hard work and dedication. Over the years, the company has devel oped a loyal customer base throughout the Northeast,” says English.

The award’s primary objective is to recognize a Maytag Commercial Laundry distributor for “outstanding achievements and remarkable performance,” the compa ny says. Recipients emulate founder Fred Maytag’s marketing philosophy to distrib ute the company’s products with “profes sionalism and integrity.”

“We are honored to receive the presti gious Fred Maytag Award for a fifth time,” says Doug Fowler, president at Fowler Equipment Co. “Our nearly six-decade partnership with Maytag Commercial Laundry is a solid foundation on which we continue to expand and grow. We embody everything this award stands for and are proud to uphold the long-standing tradition associated with it.”

EnviroStar announces sale of Master Franchise license for Mexico

Miami-based EnviroStar Inc. reports it has sold a Master Franchise license for the country of Mexico through its wholly owned subsidiary, DryClean USA License Corp.

EnviroStar had previously established an office in Mexico for the purpose of expanding the number of individual fran chises. With this sale, it will be the Master Franchisor’s responsibility to further develop the country and add to the number of existing franchisees, the company says.

“The company has met a strategic goal with this sale for the further development of its drycleaning and franchise business,” says Michael S. Steiner, president and chairman of the board. “It also enables the company to focus on other Latin Ameri can countries to establish other Master Franchises, and through them increase the company’s equipment sales in addition to royalty revenues.”

EnviroStar distributes commercial and industrial laundry and drycleaning equip ment and steam boilers through its subsidiaries.

Mulberrys Garment Care expands footprint to six Twin Cities locations

With its recent store opening in St. Paul, Minn., Mulberrys Garment Care has expanded its footprint to six Twin Cities locations, the company reports.

A certified professional and environ mental dry cleaner, Mulberrys says it is the only cleaner in the Twin Cities to use pres surized carbon dioxide (CO2) to clean the dirtiest clothes and remove the toughest stains.

Mulberrys Grand Avenue will offer extended hours, seven-days-a-week service and a 24-hour drop box. For those in a rush, Mulberrys offers free home delivery.

“We believe that dry cleaning should be a pleasant experience, not a chore,” says Dan Miller, founder and president of Mulberrys. “So, our stores and service are consistently positioned to provide our cli ents with the best experience possible.”

Mulberrys also recently unveiled a free mobile application for iPhone and Android

American Drycleaner, May 2014 www.americandrycleaner.com

operating systems that provides its custom ers with real-time access to their dryclean ing accounts.

Colmac Industries promotes Akana to production manager

Garment press and finishing equipment manufacturer Colmac Industries has pro moted Kao D. Akana to production man ager, the company reports.

In his new role, Akana’s responsibili ties will include organizing and streamlining the com pany’s production sched ule, as well as evaluating processes to increase effi ciency.

cited to be bringing our latest environmen tal practices to the area,” says owner Steve Klinke.

Kli nke Cleaners will continue to roll out the eco-friendly solvent across all of its Dane County, Wis., locations in the near future. GreenEarth will also supplement Klinke’s existing EarthSmart reusable dry cleaning bags.

Opening alongside Klinke on Odana Road is the company’s second Zip n Stitch location. Launched in 2012, Zip n Stitch offers alteration services.

KDHE testing for chemicals found in west Wichita groundwater

A graduate of Eastern Washington University with a bachelor of science degree in manufacturing technology, Akana has also earned his Six Sigma Black Belt certifi cation, and has begun to implement the system’s methods at Colmac, the company says.

Akana

Klinke Cleaners’ new Wisconsin store is company’s 22nd

Central Wisconsin’s Klinke Cleaners is returning to Madison’s near-west side mar ket with the opening of its 22nd store, the company says.

The new location at Odana Road and Grand Canyon Drive will launch using GreenEarth solvent. “We’re excited to be back serving the near-west side, and ex

www.americandrycleaner.com

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reports that it has identified groundwater contaminated by tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in an area to the south and southeast of the former Four Sea sons Dry Cleaners in west Wichita, Kan.

The contamination has the potential to impact private drinking water wells in the affected area, and the KDHE Dry Cleaning program is offering to test residents’ wells free upon request.

In March, the former Four Seasons Dry Cleaners site was identified as the source of PCE contamination and KDHE began to notify residents with private drinking water wells in the area.

KDHE i s working with the City of Wichita to quickly connect homes in the area of concern to the City’s public wa ter supply system. If water mains are not available, the KDHE Dry Cleaner’s Trust Fund will fund the installation of new wa ter mains, as needed. O

American Drycleaner, May 2014 57

PLANTS FOR SALE

Well established plant & a drop store for sale. Deteriorating health forces to sell. Both in prime location with good reputable clientele. It’s sunny California, San Francisco Bay Area. Asking 385,000. Contact Michael at 925-935-5720 or mshong34@yahoo.com.

SC Grand Strand D/C for Sale, Established & 10 years old. Environmentally friendly w/ 2 locations, Great lease. Owner retiring. $350,000 for plant. E-mail scdrycleanersforsale@gmail.com.

REWEAVING

American Drycleaner and AmericanDrycleaner.com

A Winning Te A m

Print

American Drycleaner is the industry’s premier publication for news relating to drycleaning plants. In it, you’ll find profiles of successful businesses and their owners, tips for running your operation more successfully, expert advice, and much more.

E-News Web

AmericanDrycleaner.com is your one-click site for all of the most up-to-date information on the industry today. Stories are updated daily to ensure you’re always informed. Plus, online tools such as the Distributors Directory and Buyer’s Guide will fulfill all of your plant’s needs.

Red Coats...

Continued from page 64

labeled garments. Norman Oehlke, IFI director of member services, conducted a seminar on the topic during the three-day convention in Chicago, registering more than 1,000 retail members. “If retail buyers won’t stand for faulty labels, manufacturers will be forced to rectify the problem,” says Oehlke.

and dark skirt. … Armstrong Commercial Laundry Distributing Co., Oklahoma City, was recently awarded the Fred Maytag traveling trophy, presented annually to the “outstanding distributor” of Maytag Co.’s commercial laundry equipment. Ivan Ingersoll, commercial laundry sales coordinator, presented the award at the sixth annual Maytag convention of independent commercial distributors.

50 YEARS AGO. Fox Cleaners, Dayton, Ohio, has recently established its “Dye and Dry” program, offering dyeing services to customers in its coin-op laundry department. Customers pay 50 cents for the use of the equipment, and 35 cents for a packet of dye, bringing in items that include rugs, bedspreads, rain coats and slip covers. Customers have 36 colors to choose from. The program has proven lucrative for the company, taking in an average of $15 a week from the extra-profit service. … A small investment of $3.25 per blazer was all it took for Len Jaffe, Snowite Laundry and Drycleaning, Kankakee, Ill., to bring some color back into his family’s drycleaning business. After taking the reins from his father, Jaffe decided to make his team of routemen pop out from the competition by dying their blazers red. The red-coat fever has caught on among customers, as well as his staff of call-office girls who now don the uniform of a red vest, white blouse

May 1964

www.americandrycleaner.com

75 YEARS AGO . Dry cleaners and pressers in facilities large or small can adopt the following steps to develop “more speed for suits.” Once entering the finishing room, the process starts with the sorter organizing coats and vests by route, ensuring that the vests are placed on top of their matching coat. Coats are folded inside-out, and the vest placed inside, with the collars of the coat lying toward the presser. In reaching for the garments, all the presser has to do is reach for the collar and swing the garments over the press. Vests are pressed and placed onto a hanger first, followed by the coat. … The National Association of Dyers & Cleaners (NADC) has an eye on leather, as the Tanners’ Council of America has requested the development of better cleaning methods for leather garments. Research on leathers will begin at once and will be reported through the NADC bulletin service. … Roughly 490 cleaners and allied tradesmen packed the grand ballroom of the New Yorker for Carman & Co. Inc.’s first drycleaning conference. C.K. Kirkpatrick provided a practical demonstration of leather cleaning and finishing, while George Fulton spoke on the topic of drycleaning solvents, among other presentations. O

— Compiled by Carlo Calma

American Drycleaner, May 2014 63

Red Coats Rejuvenate Regard for Routemen

10 YEARS AGO. Spring is ushering a refresh for the International Fabricare Institute (IFI), as the organization has appointed Ross Markle, Harris Brothers Cleaners, Leavenworth, Kan., as its new director for District 6. He has been a committee member in the district for a year, and was also a founder of the Mid-America Fabricare Association (MAFA) before its 2002 merger with the Southwest Drycleaners Association (SDA). … The California Cleaners Association’s (CCA) Fabricare 2004 will end on a lighthearted note this year, as comedian Will Durst is slated to entertain attendees at the trade show’s final event, the President’s Dinner. A five-time Emmy nominee and host/co-producer of the PBS series Livelyhood, Durst is also a regular commentator on National Public Radio and CNN. … Leather-Rich Inc., Oconomowoc, Wis., recently had visitors from two Japanese companies, Hakuyosha Clean Living and Tokyo Wholesale Co. Ltd., to learn best practices on wet cleaning and finishing for suede and leather. Led by Kesami Isawa, president of Tokyo Wholesale, the six-member delegation learned various processes, from inspection and leather finishing techniques, to the installation of rails in delivery trucks.

25 YEARS AGO. Swan Cleaners, Colum-

bus, Ohio, is ascending toward great heights, opening four new stores this year, bringing the total number of Swan Cleaners locations to 44. Three of these new stores, slated to open in the coming months, represents the company’s venture outside the Columbus area. … Jensen Corp. and Vaporpress International have created the Clean Team, a joint marketing venture for the drycleaning industry. The alliance will merchandise the JenKlean drycleaning machine and Vaporpress presses for package stores and individual drycleaning plants. In addition to being merchandised by local U.S. distributors, the package will be supported by its national sales organization through showroom facilities. … Plans are under way for the Tecno TMA-Cleaning drycleaning exhibition, set to take place in September in Bologna, Italy. The exhibition, devoted to the technologies for dry cleaning and industrial cleaning, will play host to 80 exhibitors from various countries. The event, strictly for trade visitors, will also feature promotional activities to ensure the presence of foreign trade visitors. … In its continued effort to create alliances within the retail community, staff members at IFI recently attended the convention of the Menswear Retailers of America to address the problem of inaccurately

Since 1919 Parker boilers have been engineered for more efficient operation (whether gas, oil, or combination gas/oil fired) for delivery of hot, dry steam in less than 10 minutes. And Parker boilers have a longer service life for a greater return on your investment.

All Parker boilers are delivered complete, ready to connect to utilities. What’s more, every boiler is test fired before it leaves the factory so you can count on getting up and running as soon as possible. Kompact mounted return systems are available on 3 to 25 hp boilers to save on installation costs.

Parker boilers are designed for ease of routine maintenance, annual inspections, and on site repairs, so there is less down time, more reliability. Parker boilers also have extra heavy, insulated, double-wall steel cabinet construction (Stainless Steel available).

All of Parker’s superior quality boilers are available at competitive prices and have been distributed through our regional representatives for over 60 years. Parker