American Drycleaner - January 2015

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“Business has never been better.”

“The support from CBS was great. Even before we signed up, they were responsive and flexible in their approach. They have helped our team become more efficient.”

“I don’t have to rely on anybody for information. I can see immediately what I have for inventory, orders and accounts receivable.”

Tidy and White, Big and Bright

For 50-plus years, American Drycleaner has recognized the top new plants each year through its Annual Plant Design Awards.

The Grand Prize Winner this year is Wooven, Pompano Beach, Fla., which invested more than $1 million in creating a state-of-the-art drycleaning plant. Owners Elena and Vladimir Samofalov equate the color white with the concept of clean, so virtually every surface—ceiling, piping, floor, what have you—in Wooven’s 125-footby-40-foot production area is a bright white.

Heck, even much of its production equipment is covered in special-order jackets, which do not normally come in white.

Other standout plants honored in this issue include a Boston-area cleaner resurrected after a devastating fire; a California cleaner that’s turned a dilapidated furniture store into a bright, new plant-on-premises; a central plant in Texas that counts a top men’s clothing retailer among its accounts; and a well-known brand with a noteworthy new build in Arkansas.

Are you investing in renovations, equipment upgrades, or a whole new plant? If so, document your progress and enter your plant in the next Plant Design Awards.

• • • • •

If you think there’s something different about this month’s issue of American Drycleaner, you’re not crazy. Our publication has grown from its historic digest size to a standard magazine format.

What do you think of the big change? E-mail your feedback to me at bbeggs@ATMags.com. ADC

Publisher

Charles Thompson 312-361-1680 cthompson@ATMags.com

Editorial Director

Bruce Beggs 312-361-1683 bbeggs@ATMags.com

Production Manager

Roger Napiwocki

National Sales Director

Donald Feinstein 312-361-1682 dfeinstein@ATMags.com

Digital Media Director

Nathan Frerichs 312-361-1681 nfrerichs@ATMags.com

Main: 312-361-1700 Fax: 312-361-1685

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 9. Editorial, executive and advertising 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. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising for any reason.

© Copyright AMERICAN TRADE MAGAZINES LLC, 2015. Printed in U.S.A. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher or his representative. American Drycleaner does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any article, product, service or information found within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of American Drycleaner or its staff. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the magazine’s contents at time of publication, neither the editors, publishers nor its agents can accept responsibility for damages or injury which may arise therefrom.

American Drycleaner, January 2015

Bruce Beggs

Survey: Most dry cleaners say 2014 sales volume as good or better than 2013’s

More than three-quarters of respondents to November’s American Drycleaner Your Views survey believed their 2014 sales volume would end the year as high or higher than their 2013 total, results show.

Thirty percent of respondents said their 2014 volume would “improve substantially, with at least [a] 5% yearover-year gain.” Twenty-six percent said theirs would “bounce back a little, with [a] gain of 0% to 5%.” Another 20% forecast their volume would “stay essentially flat, not shrinking or growing.”

Among those who believed the 2014 sales volume would decline when compared to 2013 numbers, 22% pegged a slow but steady decline at between 0% and 5%; just 2% said they were looking at a sales volume declining to the tune of 5% or more.

Jobs growth, better home sales and a more stable economy were just some of the reasons behind the improved sales figures reported, according to respondents.

“We’re already up on the year,” wrote one respondent. “We live in GOP country,” perhaps referring to Republicans having gained control of Capitol Hill during the November elections. “People’s attitudes were positive, but now they’re soaring!”

Other respondents pointed to lower piece counts and a disinterest in dry cleaning among the general populace for their lackluster results:

• “Lots of our best customers are retiring and cutting back on dry cleaning.”

• “People are not spending money like they used to, and [drycleaning] dollars are disposable dollars.”

• “Luxury services have been slow to bounce back after the recession.”

So, what will you do boost sales in 2015? For most respondents, it will involve increasing their marketing efforts. Radio ads, social media and direct mail were frequently mentioned as avenues for getting the word out. One respondent plans to host a local radio show about weddings.

Others point to taking different approaches to securing business, including concentrating on route development. “Diversification is key to avoid dependency on drycleaning business,” wrote a respondent.

Finally, respondents were asked for their reaction to the GOP gaining control of Capitol Hill. Here’s a sampling:

• “[I] would like to think that GOP control would equal gains for small businesses; we’ll see.”

• “Guarded optimism. Will watch ‘Obamacare’ developments closely. The cost of healthcare on society as a whole is the elephant in the room.”

• “Neutral; all politicians are the same.”

• “I am overjoyed. Time to get big government off our backs. Liberals do not use dry cleaning as much as conservatives do.”

While the 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 each month to participate in a brief industry survey they can complete anonymously. The entire trade audience is encouraged to participate, as a greater number of responses will help to better define owner/operator opinions and industry trends.

Edu C a TION & Tra ININ g

Advanced Stain Removal and Bleaching. NCA course, to be held Jan. 25 in Bronx, N.Y. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Stain Removal. SEFA seminar, to be held Jan. 31 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Call 877-707-7332 or visit www.sefa.org.

Avoiding Claims: What You Need to Know

About Fabrics & Stain Removal. NCA course, to be held Feb. 1 in Miami. Call 212967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Shirt Laundry & Drycleaning Finishing. SEFA seminar, to be held Feb. 1 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Call 877-707-7332 or visit www.sefa. org.

Basic Pressing & Finishing. NCA course, to be held Feb. 14-15 in Bronx, N.Y. Call 212-9673002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

Introduction to Drycleaning. DLI course, to be held Feb. 23-27 in Laurel, Md. Call 800-6382627 or visit www.dlionline.org.

Advanced Drycleaning. DLI course, to be held March 2-13 in Laurel, Md. Call 800-6382627 or visit www.dlionline.org.

Radical Drycleaning/Stain Removal. NCA course, to be held March 16-20 in Northvale, N.J. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol. com.

Clean Show. To be held April 16-19 in Atlanta. Call 404-876-1988 or visit www.cleanshow.com.

Cleaning & Stain Removal. DLI course, to be held May 4-8 in Laurel, Md. Call 800-638-2627 or visit www.dlionline.org.

Basic Spotting 101. NCA course, to be held May 10 in Bronx, N.Y. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com. ADC

SITE SELECTIONS

Topstories@www.AmericanDrycleaner.com forthe30daysendingDec.15

Top News sTories

1. Huntington Co. Acquires Martinizing, Dry Cleaning Station 2. America’s Best Cleaners Adds McCann as Partner, Operations Director 3. Tide Dry Cleaners Opens Second Location in Southwest Florida 4. Nelson Returns to Sankosha to Lead Sales/Service Efforts

Top columNs & feATures

1. Cyber Security Risk Management 101 2. Retirement: Don’t Outlive Your Money 3. StatShot: October Drycleaning Sales, Utilities Cost Higher in... Web eXCLUSIVe! 4. Attract Fashion Influencers with Specialized Services 5. Couture’s Fabric Care Leaves Behind Legacy of Quality

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

1. Continental Girbau Hosts Max Sacks Training for Company Distributors, Sales Reps 2. Answering the Competition 3. Coin-Op 101: Store Owners Share Their Strategies for Success www.AmericanlaundryNews.com:

1. Career Track: New Management, Sales Reps Join Industry

2. Judge Sides with Lavatec Laundry Technology, Prohibits Use of Trademark by Competitor 3. Managing Equipment Downtime, Repair

American Drycleaner, January 2015 www.americandrycleaner.com

54 th ANNUAL Best Plant Design

It’s All White All Right

Dissatisfied with the drycleaning service they had received since moving to the United States from Russia a few years before, Elena and Vladimir Samofalov decided that dry cleaning could be a good business opportunity for them. Leaving their careers in law and engineering, respectively, they struck out to build their own drycleaning and laundry business.

Using previous business connections, they traveled throughout Europe and visited the continent’s leading drycleaning plants. Elena received drycleaning training in the States. They sought the opinions of

consultants foreign and domestic, and started to develop a European-style vision for what is now Wooven, a network of three drop stores (two in Boca Raton, the third in Wellington) and routes serviced by an off-site production plant.

It took them a year to find the right plant location to suit their needs. Construction began in September 2013, and the 8,000-square-foot plant was up and running by April 2014, Elena says. Construction cost was

(Above) A worker loads one of Wooven’s four drycleaning machines by Realstar.

pegged at $1.2 million.

“In Europe, everything about quality,” she says, her accent revealing her Russian roots. “In the United States, most everything about production. … Our main business idea was to make it more about quality—production, too— but more about quality. The main goal was to follow the technology.”

Aside from the modern drycleaning and laundry equipment ordered from European manufacturers, what may be most striking about this award-winning plant is that it is almost entirely white from floor to ceiling.

Wooven • 2300 W. Copans Rd. #3, Pompano Beach, Fla.

(Photos: Jeff Wade, and Soderlund Architecture and Design)

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“We wanted it to be something unlike anything else,” says Vicki Soderlund, AIA, whose Boca Raton-based Soderlund Architecture and Design firm was commissioned to draw up the designs.

“We wanted it to look clean, because we’re ‘dry cleaning,’ and we wanted to have an environment of cleanliness.

We want to look highend, and we want to be different from everybody else.”

“You could not find a speck of dust in that place if you tried,” says Bob Aldrich, president of Aldrich CleanTech Equipment, who designed the plant layout for the Samofalovs.

CAPABLE OF 10 TONS PER DAY

The Wooven plant is located in an industrial park, mixed-use space in Pompano Beach, with easy access to major highways for covering

(From top) A worker loads a Trevil automatic trousers finishing machine; an overall view of the drycleaning area from conveyors room entry; small conveyor moves cleaned garments into the main conveyor room; cleaning agents and solvents delivery system lines the walls of the soap room.

Miami’s “Tri-County” service area. It’s commercial in nature, serving retail customers via the three dry stores, as well as home delivery. Additionally, various retailers are serviced directly via the company’s pickup service.

The idea was to build a full-cycle industrial drycleaning plant with a production capacity of 10 tons per day.

It is fully equipped for dry cleaning; wet cleaning; laundry; bed linens; clothing and household items; leather, suede and furs; and alteration services.

Aldrich, whose company is based in Massachusetts, oversaw the work of those contracted to build and install the Florida project. He first met the Samofalovs at a regional drycleaning conference in New England.

“I just stayed in contact with them, and one thing led to another,” he says. “They started sending me some plans and giving me an idea of what they were looking for. I made a trip down to take a look at the building they purchased. They told me … they wanted to build pretty much a one-of-a-kind, stateof-the-art drycleaning and laundry facility that would be cleaner than a hospital. And they achieved that.”

Wooven’s 20 employees work in daily-cleaned white uniforms, including white shoes, which are used inside the facility only. Wooven employs someone whose only job is to clean the facility eight hours a day, five days a week.

The production process is arranged from back of the plant to the front, where items are packaged and sent out for delivery to retail locations and customers’ homes.

The Samofalovs urged Aldrich to position the equipment as tightly as possible and to keep piping to a minimum in the 125-foot-by-40foot production area.

Major production equipment includes four Realstar drycleaning machines using Kreussler’s SolvonK4 solvent (two with 45/50-pound capacity, two with 55/60-pound capacity); four washers and four dryers from Miele; finishing equipment from Trevil, including form finishers, an ironer, a press and an automated pants unit; a Laco flatwork ironer; and assembly conveyors, storage conveyors and a bagger from Metalprogetti.

The enlarged drycleaning area floor plan above better illustrates the equipment and room layout. The ceiling plan illustrates the open web exposed ceilings in the drycleaning and conveyor areas.

Much of the equipment is covered with special-order jackets, which do not normally come in white, Soderlund says.

Wooven uses a SPOT pointof-sale system. Additional major equipment includes two Fulton boilers, plus two condensate pumps, three water heaters, a water softener, and two chillers.

The office area is air-conditioned, and a spot-cooling system

is in place in the production area.

The aesthetic aspects of the plant aside, Wooven’s owners made their equipment selections for redundancy’s sake, Aldrich says. “In the power plant, they have two boilers with backup condensate pumps. They’ve got enough equipment, between the washers, drycleaning machines, presses, that if any one piece went down, they could still operate.”

Although it wasn’t in their original plans, the Samofalovs have been approached about franchising their business concept, Elena says, and they hope to begin doing that soon.

2014 — CDM Cleaners, Newport Beach, Calif.

2013 — Rainbow Cleaners, Oxford, Miss.

2012 — Margaret’s Cleaners, San Diego, Calif.

2011 — Hallak Cleaners, Hackensack, N.J.

2010 — Bibbentuckers, Dallas, Texas

2009 — D.O. Summer Cleaners, Hudson, Ohio

2008 — Meurice Garment Care, New York, N.Y.

2007 — Crazy Cleanerz, Cordova, Tenn.

2006 — Goodfellow Cleaners, Ottawa, Ont.

2005 — PressClean Euro Cleaners, Coral Springs, Fla.

2004 — Jones Cleaners, Fresno, Calif.

2003 — Nesbit’s Cleaners, Conroe, Texas

2002 — Chris’ Dry Cleaning & Shirt Service, Mount Pleasant, S.C.

2001 — D.D. French Cleaning, Dallas, Texas

2000 — Comet Cleaners, Huntsville, Texas

1999 — Exclusive Cleaners, Wilson, N.C.

1998 — KC Cleaners, Abilene, Texas

1997 — Prestige Cleaners, Knoxville, Tenn.

1996 — Regency Cleaners, Lufton, Texas

1995 — Archer Cleaners & Shirt Laundry, Bartlesville, Okla.

DRY-CLEANING

American Drycleaner congratulates Wooven for joining this elite list of Grand Prize Winners for Best Plant Design:

(Photo: ©iStockphoto/DNY59)

SPECIAL HONORS

54 th ANNUAL

Outstanding Reconstruction

Within days of the four-alarm fire that consumed all or parts of Dependable Cleaners’ home office, store and production facility on Quincy Avenue in July 2012, President Christa Hagearty was working to figure out what it would take to rebuild.

“That building had our offices, one of our largest plants that serviced seven outside stores, a retail store and a Laundromat,” Hagearty writes in her Plant Design Awards entry. “The new design was a collaborative process involving many on our team as well as outside advisers.”

Among the early design decisions were to move the building 10 feet farther from a neighboring business with which it shares a driveway; clear out the hill behind the building to create more employee parking; switch locations of the store and Laundromat; add a second loading dock and two additional garage doors; add a mezzanine over the drycleaning area to hold the water tank, gas booster, compressors, and some equipment supplies; add a sophisticated sprinkler system, including placing sensors in the duct work; and switch from swamp coolers to airconditioned spot cooling.

As for the plant, Dependable placed its wetcleaning washers and moisture-control dryers next to its drycleaning machines so cleaning staff could easily sort into and use the wetcleaning equipment. Washers in both the drycleaning and

laundry departments operate using the same programs, giving the plant redundancy and flexibility. Steam and exhaust from shirt units are piped outside the building. Screw rails bring clothing from finishers to the inspection/ assembly areas, then the garments feed into an assisted assembly station and, ultimately, an automated bagger.

Equipment in the 5,000-square-foot plant includes three 80-pound Union drycleaning machines (for GreenEarth); Wascomat wetcleaning and laundry machines; ADC dryers; finishing equipment from Unipress, Forenta, Trevil and Hi-Steam; Iowa Techniques collar cones; two Fulton gas boilers; two Rema vacuums; Hamilton Engineering hotwater system; and three 10ton chillers from American Chillers.

John Park, Express Machinery, designed the plant layout. Wyrosdic Design & Build Firm provided architectural services, and Anne Fawcett, Allied ISID Decorating Den Interiors, provided interior design services. Aristocraft was the project’s equipment distributor.

The store and Laundromat

cleaning finishing area; the loading dock and company vehicles; Dependable Cleaners President Christa Hagearty poses next to one of her plant’s drycleaning machines.

opened in mid-February 2014, and the production facility opened in late March 2014. ADC

Dependable Cleaners • 320 Quincy Ave., Quincy, Mass.

You searched around the world for the finest pressing equipment and refused to accept anything less than the best. We’re very proud that you selected Trevil equipment as the only brand of pressing equipment in your award winning plant.

Trevil equipment offers the best combination of quality and productivity throughout their entire product line.

For shirt finishing, jacket finishing, pants finishing, blouse finishing, and for everything else, Trevil equipment is the choice of many of the best and most successful drycleaners worldwide.

SPECIAL HONORS

54 th ANNUAL

Outstanding Plant-on-Premises

For its new plant, Door to Door Valet Cleaners initially considered buying an industrial space not open to over-the-counter business, because the square footage would have been cheaper, explains CEO Sajid Veera. Ultimately, it was decided that if the right commercial property came up for sale in a retail environment, the company would opt for that.

Choosing an old, dilapidated furniture store, Door to Door embarked on a major clean-up and remodel that took over a year to complete. Demolition alone took three months.

“What we ended up with was a brand-new plant with brand-new and upsized sewage,

water supply, electricity and gas,” Veera says. “The entire shell was insulated, and parts of the structure were reframed and beefed up.”

Clothes run through production in a “U” shape, with the receiving area and dispatch area being on either end of the process.

“The only place where clothes don’t follow that shape is when there are exceptions, such as an inspection department reject,” Veera says. “We have designed the plant and done the buildout to receive a distribution conveyor down the road.”

Equipment in the 11,660-square-foot facility comes from Union (for SolvonK4 and GreenEarth solvents), BÖWE (for hydrocarbon), Wascomat, Maytag, Sankosha, Hi-Steam, Cissell, Hoffman/New Yorker, Iowa Techniques, SPOT, White Conveyors, Metalprogetti, and Parker Boiler, among other companies.

Skylights provide natural light and help dissipate heat in the plant. All lighting fixtures

(Counterclockwise from top) The call office; pant station in the finishing area; this plant overview shows a quote from Aristotle affixed to the floor: “Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”

bulbs to combine with the natural light to help in stain inspection and at different points of the production process.

The finishing-area ceiling is 18 feet high, which also helps with heat dissipation. All steam lines are insulated with fiberglass insulation and wrapped with plastic jacketing to help keep pipes clean and hold heat in.

White epoxy floors brighten up the plant and make it feel inviting and comfortable. A full-time janitor keeps the floor and plant clean. All workstations where workers must stand for long stretches are equipped with anti-fatigue mats.

Edward D’Elicio designed the plant layout. Michael Palmer, MPA Architects, was the architect. Wyatt-Bennett Equipment, US Western Multitech and Les Pringle Service were equipment distributors. JA Trucking & Machinery Movers took care of moving and logistics, and Scott and Taylor Stopnik handled plant installation.

Door to Door Valet Cleaners • 13236 Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne, Calif.

SPECIAL HONORS

Outstanding Central Plant

MW Cleaners’ Austin facility is the company’s first attempt to expand outside its home base of Houston. If successful, says company President Michael Nesbit, the business model will create a template for MW Cleaners to move across the country.

It is seeking to capture market share in three ways: 1) home and office route delivery, 2) a lockerbased exchange system serving office buildings and apartment complexes, and 3) drycleaning services offered at all 12 Men’s Wearhouse/JOS Bank retail locations.

The central plant is a 12,000-square-foot building in a warehouse district. Its central location in Austin makes it convenient to all retail locations and

delivery territories, Nesbit says. The plant is designed to handle $5 million in business annually; half of the equipment was installed before opening in summer 2014 and the other half will be installed once volume warrants it.

There is a room designed specifically for order tagging; there are five stations, and five more can be added with growth. “The tagging room is located in the back of the facility, making it very convenient for the trucks to unload customer bags,” Nesbit says.

The drycleaning and laundry departments are side by side, providing staff flexibility as well as efficient work flow. Flow was designed to run clockwise through the facility—delivery, tagging, dry cleaning or laundering, finishing, inspection, storage and transport.

A dispatch sorting conveyor circling the entire production area allows any person at any department to transfer a garment from one

cility to another (e.g., a presser who finds a spot while finishing the garment can send it back to the cleaner without leaving position).

This also allowed MW Cleaners to place all four of its inspection bays side by side, which enables members of the inspection staff to help each other as needed.

From the inspection bay, rail trolleys are used to move completed garments to store/route-specific holding rails. Once garments need to be loaded, valets can roll trolleys directly to their vehicles.

Equipment for the MW Cleaners plant comes from Union (for hydrocarbon), Rite-Temp, Unipress, Fulton, Laundrylux, Huebsch, Rema Dri-Vac, Kaeser, Forenta and White Conveyors, among other companies.

Nesbit, who has earned Best Plant Design honors previously, designed the plant layout. CDA Architects provided architectural and interior design services. Gulf States Laundry Machinery was the project’s distributor. ADC

(Left to right) Bagging orders for delivery; this portion of the finishing area is centrally located in the plant; the laundry and drycleaning departments, side by side.

MW Cleaners • 8301 Springdale Rd., Ste. 175, Austin, Texas

Drycleaner,

Congratulations Wooven!

We are thrilled that our washers and dryers helped Wooven to win the 2015 Plant Design Award. Wooven uses a variety of Miele Professional equipment for their professional wet cleaning and laundry needs in their state-of-the-art facility.

ANNUAL

Outstanding New Build

Tide Dry Cleaners • 11211 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Ark.

There are now 27 Tide Dry Cleaner locations nationwide, and one of the franchisor’s newest stores is the recipient of an Outstanding New Build award.

The 3,036-square-foot planton-premises at 11211 Cantrell Road in northwest Little Rock embraces Tide’s belief that 24-hour convenience is needed to accommodate customers’ around-the-clock lifestyles. A double drive-thru valet canopy and curbside service makes drop-off during business hours a snap, but Tide customers can also drop off items 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and pick up from a secure locker room anytime.

Building exterior makes the most of local architectural aesthetics. Inside, customers can enjoy high-end finishes, including Corian® solid-surface countertops, as well as digital menu boards.

Inside the production area, two drycleaning machines, colorfully

branded with the Tide logo, can be seen from the front counter. Nearby, a conveyor system in a reverse-L shape holds bagged garments.

The other half of the rectangular area includes a spotting station, finishing equipment, laundry equipment, the break room and the boiler room. Spot cooling is utilized at the pressing stations.

Equipment in the plant comes from Union (for GreenEarth solvent), Metalprogetti, Unipress, Forenta, UniMac, Fulton, Kaeser, Rema Dri-Vac, SPOT and Speed Queen, among other companies.

Fugitt & Associates served as project architect, and Tide Dry Cleaners provided interior design and plant layout. The store declined to identify the project’s distributor.

drycleaner drycleaner

ADC

garment on a heated collar form in the finishing area; two drycleaning machines, colorfully branded with the Tide logo, can be seen from the front counter.

American Drycleaner extends its congratulations to the winners of our 54th Annual Plant Design Awards!

If your company will be building a new plant, or upgrading a facility, over the next year, be sure to document your progress and enter your construction or renovation project in the 55th Annual Plant Design Awards to be presented in early 2016.

American Drycleaner, January 2015

drycleaner drycleaner

Watch American Drycleaner during the latter half of 2015 for entry information and deadlines. Contact Editorial Director Bruce Beggs with any questions. We hope to see your plant in the running next year!

management strategies

i s i t t ime for a Facelift?

If you ever watch TV, you have encountered the ads for “Lifestyle Lift.” They seem to have blanketed every available time space and every target viewer profile over the age of 15.

These ads are a reminder that a personal “refresh” may be desirable and that it need not cost a fortune. The same is true of drycleaning stores. Most of them—even if you still think of them as “new”—need to be rejuvenated.

In the world of retail, with which your profitable clients are extremely well familiar, facilities need to be enlivened regularly. This process of revitalization can range from the simple, minimal weekly display rotation to a thorough renovation involving full architectural design and construction.

The regular weekly display with the related attention to detail shows your clientele that you are unique and aware of fashion trends and the varying product and service needs of your client base.

The periodic full renovation (regardless whether the design is classic or “leading edge”) is a sign of your business’ longevity and awareness of the changing retail and cultural landscape. Your chosen design also reflects your awareness of your customers’ sense of fashion and style.

Since few of your competitors will pursue either of these recommended updates, décor changes are a simple way for you to differentiate your business in the sea of cleaners that populate most markets.

D esigning O n a BUD get

Everyone contends with budget constraints but design need not be prohibitively expensive. Planning for minor expenditures regularly, and for larger efforts on a specific schedule, will keep your stores always looking fresh in an affordable way.

The examples that follow provide insight into the spec trum of enhancements that might be typical.

Start with a thorough top-to-bottom cleaning and then maintain that level of cleanliness on a daily basis. This is the foundation for daily maintenance and continually

making the best impression.

Clean, dust, polish, mop and vacuum, and then do it all again for good measure.

Stripping the floor of surface marks and wax will restore its look without the cost of replacement.

Remove all lint (including that found on, in or under the vents, fans, computers, counters and screens), smudges, cobwebs, stained ceiling tiles, visible fingerprints (especially on windows, mirrors, doors, etc.), and dust in, on and around everything.

Remove all non-essential clutter of every kind: old and/or faded signs; old or post-holiday decorative accessories; and unhealthy, dead or dated plants (i.e. poinsettias after the holidays have passed). Look with an eagle eye and it will become apparent what should be removed. Be relentless!

Organize operational items such as recycle stations to remove the clutter and showcase your attention to detail.

Cap the cleaning effort by inviting a local florist to advertise in your store, bringing in a fresh arrangement weekly with their business card attached.

C reating an e XC iting Y et FU n C ti O na L s P a C e

Professional, impactful design is not necessarily a function of money spent on the designer. Whether you are doing a minor refresh or a major renovation construction, the designer can make the end result be an exciting yet functional space that impresses clients and streamlines the work flow.

Just because you have good taste doesn’t mean you can or should design your store yourself. Good retail design is also distinguished from good home or industrial design and will provide a functional base upon which to continually update and refresh your stores to inspire your customers to return again and again.

Give the designer the scope of what you want done and an estimate of your budget. He/she will provide you with recommendations that will accomplish your goals.

Diana Vollmer

Anton’s Cleaners, Boston

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Removes: Blood, milk and food stains. Works on all fabrics. Flushes with water or steam.

VOC’S: None HAP’S: None California compliant.

EVERBLUM® N.P.E. II Volatile Dry Spotter Removes grease, oil and dirt. Great for use on spotting boards. Apply by hand or through spotting gun. Does not contain trichloroethylene.

VOC’S: None

HAP’S: None California compliant.

AlbaChem PSR II Powdered Dry Cleaning Fluid Powdered Dry Cleaning Fluid removes grease and oil stains. Can be used “post cleaning” eliminating the need to re-clean garments. Does not contain chlorinated solvents. Will not “ring.”

VOC’S: Under 15% HAP’S: None California compliant.

ALBA-INK Expert® Ink Remover

Removes ball point ink, paint, magic marker and more. Works instantly. Very low odor. Flushes with water or steam.

VOC’S: Under 3% HAP’S: None California compliant.

ALBA-TAN Tannin Stain Remover

Removes: coffee, tea, beer, soft drinks, liquor, fruit juices, berry stains, grass, mustard and more. Will not flash or burn. Flushes with water or steam.

VOC’S: None

HAP’S: None California compliant.

ALBA-RUST Expert® RUST Remover

A non-flammable, biodegradable rust remover that works instantly. Flushes with water or steam.

VOC’S: None HAP’S: None California compliant.

management strategies

Some of the items that I’ll list now are inexpensive and can be accomplished in a weekend. Others are major and will take planning, permits and construction. They are listed here to stimulate your thinking about what is appropriate in your situation.

Paint Can Make a Big Impres-

sion — Painting should be scheduled as soon as it looks less than fresh, which is usually once a year. It should be done more frequently in high-traffic areas.

A fresh coat of paint will improve the look of the store with minimal expenditure and effort. A profession ally conceived dramatic design for

a painted surface will add real flare and make your store distinctive.

Lighting Brings Color to Life

— A simple addition of highintensity lighting will add drama to an ordinary lobby environment. In combination with an intense accent wall, the commonplace becomes sensational.

Once the cleaning, painting and lighting are complete, you have a visual environment to showcase your services.

Small Changes Can Make an Immense Visual Impact — An etched effect on glass, for example, adds style and sophistication.

A small tube of knit fabric in your logo color will transform a mundane tailor form from dull to exciting in a matter of minutes while still keeping it functional. Adding a measuring tape makes a fashion and a marketing statement simultaneously.

Add an affordable accent piece in a distinctive color for a fresh look.

Upgrade the packaging and display finished inventory for a more “retail” environment and a reminder of your specialty services.

Shadow Box Displays Add Visual Interest and Sell Services

—

Rotating shadow box displays can add graphic interest and attentiongrabbing color that will help remind customers of what they need you to do for them.

For example, a preserved Christening gown is a piece of art and will remind them that their heir-

American Drycleaner,

Clothesline Cleaners, Boise, Idaho

loom garments should be properly preserved for future generations to wear and appreciate.

Lobby Displays Also Add Visual Interest and Sell Services — Flat screen TVs should be designed into the plan to showcase services. The messages created for them offer several advantages:

• The look is professional

• The message can be clear and direct

• Unlike sales staff, they are consistent in conveying the message you design

• They don’t fray or fade like posters

Your Exterior is the First Opportunity to Make a Good Impression — The first impression is critical to a great customer experience, so create a welcoming entrance.

Add a drive-thru if you possibly can, as it will add convenience and sales. Don’t you think your custom ers would appreciate the convenience of running a quick errand with the peace of mind of not having to take children and pets out of their car while juggling the cleaning?

walk-by and drive-by customers and prospects? Is it visible from a distance? Does it attract attention during the daytime and at night?

If your answer to any of these questions is no, it is time to redo your signage. This, too, can be a minor expenditure or a major one.

Refreshing the sign face is much less expensive than a completely new sign, but remember that it is the visual that drives your target

prospects to become customers. So, the investment is necessary and valuable. ADC

Diana Vollmer is managing director at Methods for Management (MfM) Inc., which has served the drycleaning and laundry industry with affordable management expertise for improved profitability since 1953. For assistance with your remodeling decisions, con tact Vollmer at dvollmer@mfmi.com or 415-577-6544.

It is not essential to have an end location for a drive-thru. It’s possible to take an in-line space in a strip center and remove the front and back walls.

If a drive-thru is not a possibility for your business, be sure to add in-car service at your curb.

Does all of your signage (both on the building and off) reflect your current logo? Is the color still clear and bright? Is it visible for both

American Drycleaner,

Crouse’s Cleaners, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada

Treating Fragiles After the Festivities

During this post-holidays time of year, you will probably see a wide assortment of items with ornate trim. Your approach should be to spend more time and effort in pre-spotting in order to allow for reductions in run time and mechanical action during cleaning. Reducing the intensity of mechanical action on certain garments will go a long way to reduce or eliminate damage claims.

Various kinds of sequins are used to accent garments. The painted sequin is a common type of fragile trim, characterized by a small, clear or semi-clear disk painted to either match or contrast the color of the main garment. This paint is easily worn off in areas like the underarm, the elbow or the wrist.

The more aggressive the mechanical action that is applied, the greater the likelihood of the paint being removed during the cleaning process. Contact with a strong alkali (such as perfume or alcohol) will also loosen the paint on these sequins. Many times, this potential damage will not be apparent until after cleaning.

mechanical action is important for both wet cleaning and dry cleaning of ornate garments.

Be aware of how trim is attached to the surface of items. Items that are “crafted” by customers or their children may take on a great deal of sentimental value. However, they will become dingy over time and find their way to your counter. School glue is easy for consumers to work with but also easy to dissolve with steam.

Martin Young

These sequins are a common characteristic of festive holiday garments worn to parties where alcoholic beverages are sometimes spilled. The time between spillage and cleaning gives plenty of time for the paint to loosen. The CSR must recognize these garments as fragile and be more diligent in asking about spots, stains and spills to avoid claims for “damage while cleaning.”

Keep dry-side stain removal to the absolute minimum, using wet-side stain removal protocols when possible. Even then, the cleaner/spotter should allow at least 6 inches between the steam gun and the garment’s surface. This distance (or even further) will reduce the pressure and heat reaching the surface of the sequins.

There is a big advantage to be gained by turning a sequin garment inside-out when cleaning. There is even more to be gained by then taking that garment and running it in a net bag. When you are dealing with a sequined/ornate bodice only, you can cover the bodice with a pillowcase that is secured around the garment’s waist with a cotton cord. Taking the additional steps to reduce

Crafting a Christmas stocking can be simple, but if the holly and snowflake trim is attached with school glue, supplemental stain removal using the steam gun will distort or remove the trim. On some items, it is best to take a pass. There are times that a quick brushing with a dry nylon brush and some compressed air are the best choice on an item of limited serviceability.

Never use rust remover on metallic thread or in an area that contains metallic trim, as it will cause irreversible damage in the same way it removes the rust. With the ex ception of an enzyme digester, all chemical tools should be immediately flushed from areas containing metallic thread or trim.

Most metallic thread consists of a thin metal foil that is glued over a spun fabric thread. This foil surface should be treated with the same care and consideration as sequins. Garments containing even a small amount of metallic fiber must be cleaned by turning the garment inside-out and running it in a net bag.

Be proactive in protecting the customer’s item. It will result in reduced claims, a higher level of quality, and a customer impressed by your knowledgeable service. ADC

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

“ Keep dry-side stain removal to the absolute minimum...”

More

Fixes to Common Problems

(Photo: ©iStockphoto/mariusz_prusaczyk)

By Bruce Beggs, Editorial Director

There are problems that require a great deal of time and resources to solve, and then there are problems that can be solved easily with a quick fix.

Brian Johnson oversees the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute’s garment analysis lab and says he “talks to lots of cleaners all day, every day” about the garments that give them processing nightmares. On this day, he is speaking to a South Eastern Fabricare Association audience about Quick Fixes to Common Problems.

Johnson ticked off work-related problems involving dry cleaning, pressing and stain removal and what can be done to address them. “These (solutions) are all cheap—nearly free—and can be done in a matter of seconds.”

DINGY WHITES

This dinginess is sometimes blamed on optical brightener somehow being removed from the garment, or damaged, and that is a myth, Johnson says.

Dirty solvent or low solvent level

can be causes of dinginess due to soil redeposition. Ideally, the rule of thumb is one gallon of clean solvent per pound—never less than threequarters of a gallon. Another cause of dinginess is the cleaning cycle being too short, so increase the cycle time to improve cleaning ability.

SHRUNKEN WOOLS

If you discover that sweaters are shrinking, your cleaning cycle may be too long.

Pre-spot woolen garments if dirty, let dry completely and then put them on a five-minute cleaning cycle. Be sure to lower the heat when drying—about 120 F is sufficient, Johnson says.

Also, if you run all sweaters in the same load, water will be distributed evenly among the garments and there will be less shrinkage from drying.

POCKET ‘IMPRESSIONS’

Pressing a suit coat in which a pocket is sewn shut sometimes leaves unsightly pocket “impres-

sions,” Johnson says.

“Use a chopstick or screwdriver, something long and thin, and slide it in between the threads, poke it around, straighten out that pocket,” then press the garment again to remove the impressions left by bunched fabric, he says.

NASTY NECKTIES

Neckties sometimes get twisted due to the tumbling action of cleaning. It’s best to process them in a net bag to reduce mechanical action, Johnson says, and running a safety pin through the back of a tie (through every layer except the outside of the tie) also keeps the material tight when tumbling.

LIPSTICK/INK PEN LOADS

Fail to check every pocket, every coat lining, and you could end up with what Johnson calls a “lipstick load.” When the unfortunate occurs, he suggests running an “ink load cycle.”

Place all the contaminated pieces back into the drycleaning machine without pre-spotting them, fill the machine to a lower-thannormal solvent level, then add a half-gallon of oily-type paint remover (POG) compatible with your solvent for every 25 to 30 pounds of rated capacity. Run the cycle at 15 minutes if using perc, 25 minutes in other solvents; do not circulate this solvent through the filters.

Drain the dirty solvent to the still, rinse 10 minutes in clean solvent, drain that rinse to the still and tumble-dry the goods on low.

“That’s doing the exact same thing you were going to do on the spotting board one by one,” Johnson says, estimating that 85-90% of stains will be removed using this batch procedure.

Brian Johnson

FEBRUARY

Feature: Buyer’s Guide This annual directory of manufacturers and unique suppliers is a dry cleaner’s go-to resource anytime they’re looking to buy.

Editorial Submission Deadline — December 15

MARCH

Feature: Clean ’15 Show Guide Complete listings of the exhibitors, educational seminars and events that make Clean the industry’s can’t-miss show.

Editorial Submission Deadline —January 15

APRIL

Features: Atlas of Atlanta Here’s what to see and do while in ‘Hotlanta’ for Clean ’15. Coin-Op Laundry A self-service laundry could make a plant a comprehensive fabricare center. Showcase: Point-of-Sale Systems

Editorial Submission Deadline — February 15

MAY

Features: Routes to Success The pros and cons of taking drycleaning services directly to customers. Clean Show: First from the Floor The big news from the just-completed event.

Editorial Submission Deadline — March 15

JUNE

Features: Clean Show Report An expanded look at the announcements, introductions and ideas presented at Clean ’15. Press & Pad: What’s One Without the Other? Understanding their relationship and how they work together in producing quality finished garments.

Editorial Submission Deadline — April 15

Life AU (After UGGs)

As I finished my last column, I was preparing to travel and speak at the DIA Twinclean Showcase in Sydney, Australia. I was awash in doubts about my keynote presen tation on customer service at the counter.

Would my 17-plus years working with U.S. dry clean ers translate to their businesses? In more practical terms, I wondered if Australians had some kind of secret to cleaning UGG boots, which are popular in the States.

George Masselos is the owner of Centennial Cleaners, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, and an infallibly gracious host. He gave me the scoop about UGG boots.

“UGG boots, whilst big in the States, are not that popu lar here now,” he told me. “They were huge in the 1970s and 1980s, and as they were so cheap, when they were too dirty, we all just got new ones. I think the climate here also prevents their use. I actually have not seen a pair of UGG boots in public for over 20 years.”

Many cleaners consider cleaning UGG boots to be the best, easiest, and most profitable cross-sell ever. But it appears it might be time to start look ing around for something new.

In Australia, as in the United States, there is a great deal of worry about low-price leaders and one-price cleaners stripping away business from traditional dry cleaners. If cleaning is only about pricing, there is a lot to worry about.

Marketing is becoming more fragmented. So, how and who we sell to gets narrower and narrower. Why should it be any different with dry cleaning customers?

If we expect customers to drop off hundreds of dollars of dry cleaning a week without a thought, we are not living in the current, digital world. Customers can easily pick and choose servic es based on customer reviews, online pricing comparisons and personal experiences.

Here’s my AU (After UGGs) plan:

• Be aware of the competition, but not afraid.

Be sure to know what they are doing and charging.

• Evaluate your counter staff. To be really impressive to customers, replace surly, unhelpful and out-of-touch counter staffers with helpful, kind and pleasant ones.

• Provide front-line staff with knowledge and a great an swer to “The cleaner down the street can do it for less.”

• Think seriously about what you are providing. Is it “worth” the money you are charging or are you just hoping that you are better? What’s better? Does the customer think your cleaning is the same or similar to another cleaner? If so, it’s time for your front-line staff to develop and use a “sales pitch.”

• Are you “winning” business or just hanging on? Doing the same old thing isn’t going to put you in the winner’s circle. Shake, dust and rearrange anything you can think of, including personnel.

• The only way to get more business is to ask. Your CSRs should be cross-selling, period. Developing relation ships is key to long-term happy customers. Great CSRs are your secret weapon, one your competition doesn’t have.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the “costs too much” complaint. That statement is a smoke screen. It means something else. Here are some ideas:

• “I’m paying too much for the questionable ser vice and the cleaning is the same.”

• “The cleaning is pretty good but there is no compelling reason for me to come here.”

• “The other cleaner is nicer to me, and its cost is about the same.”

• “Times have changed but this cleaner hasn’t.”

Figure out what your customer is telling you. It’s one sale at a time. Be sure front-line staff is effective in selling and interacting with cus tomers. It’s going to count in dollars and cents— especially during life After UGGs. ADC

Carolyn B. Nankervis is president of MarketWise Consulting Group, Appleton, Wis. A former director of marketing, sports writer, radio announcer and TV producer, she is a frequent speaker on customer service and marketing topics. She can be reached at carolyn.nankervis@marketwi.com, 920-735-4970.

Carolyn Nankervis

What’s the Convention-al Thinking in

Hotlanta?

Media trip sets stage for Clean Show’s return in April

By Bruce Beggs, Editorial Director

It’s been nearly 30 years since the Clean Show was last in Atlanta. Much has changed in the decades since that April 1987 event at the Georgia World Congress Center. And so the folks at show manager Riddle & Associates, in cooperation with the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACVB), arranged for a two-day “media familiarity tour” there in November.

I’d visited Atlanta once before, for a Textile Rental Services Association conference staged at Georgia Tech, but hadn’t spent much time sight-seeing. This visit was all about seeing the sights, and the brief time I was in “Hotlanta” only made me want to come back for more.

But before I tell you about the delightful diversions awaiting attendees, let me share some details about the Congress Center and offer some comparisons between the 1987 event and the upcoming April show.

The Congress Center opened in 1976 and has undergone numerous expansion projects over the years. Clean 1987 was held in what is now Building A, which has exhibit space covering 340,000 square feet.

Today, the entire facility covers 3.9 million square feet and offers 1.4 million square feet of exhibit space. Clean 2015 will occupy halls 2 through 5 of Building B, encompassing some 518,000 square feet.

One of our hosts, John Riddle, walked us through the

common areas of the Congress Center, each of which are connected by escalators.

He was excited to show us the newly installed steam system; the ability to generate live steam on the show floor is a necessity for Clean, meaning that Atlanta had joined Las Vegas, New Orleans and Orlando as the only U.S. cities to accommodate that aspect of the show.

Riddle and Brian Wallace, Coin Laundry Association president/CEO and show chairman, were excited about Clean 2015. During my visit, the number of exhibitors was approximately 90% of the total budgeted; I don’t know where the percentage stands now, but the show website listed 352 exhibitors as of Dec. 15.

If I can offer just one piece of advice about getting around the Congress Center, it’s to wear comfortable walking shoes.

There will be free shuttle buses to take you back and forth from the headquarter hotels, those so designated for the show’s five sponsoring associations, and I suggest you take advantage of them.

Public transportation is available through the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, commonly called MARTA. In Chicago, I can walk outside our West Loop office and hail a taxi at curbside in seconds. Cabs are not ubiquitous in Atlanta, and in most cases one must call a taxi service to arrange one.

(Photo: © 2011, Kevin C. Rose / AtlantaPhotos.com)

Parts of downtown Atlanta are what I would call “hilly,” and that will become readily apparent if you are staying in one of the hotels east of Peachtree Street; the convention center is west of Peachtree.

One more thing: the new Atlanta Streetcar should be up and running by April. It forms a 2.7-mile loop around the downtown tourism district and offers another means to get around comfortably.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Plenty of attractions can be found within walking distance of the Congress Center and downtown hotels, while more await those willing to take a short cab ride. Here are a few the CVB treated me to during my visit: Centennial Olympic Park — This 21-acre park built as part of the Centennial Olympic Games hosted here in 1996 is at the heart of Atlanta’s “tourist hub,” the CVB says. For a one-of-a-kind look at the city, take a spin on Skyview Atlanta, a 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel with climate-controlled gondolas that rise high above the park from 10 to 10 daily.

Center for Civil and Human Rights — This cultural attraction connects the American Civil Rights Movement to today’s Global Human Rights Movement. It features immersive and thought-provoking exhibitions, including some dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. One of the exhibits I found most powerful emulated the Memphis hotel balcony where King was gunned down in 1968.

Georgia Aquarium — The “world’s largest aquarium” offers plenty of chances to get up close and personal with creatures under the sea. Don’t miss the Ocean Voyager exhibit, with views from floor to ceiling; it also features a separate area where you can walk through an acrylic tunnel offering a panoramic view of the 6.3-million gallon tank and all it contains.

College Football Hall of Fame — This attraction is interactive from the moment you set foot in the building. The Quad is the entry point, anchored by the Helmet Wall displaying the helmets of more than 760 college football teams. Link your “Fan” pass to your favorite team (Go Kansas State!) and every exhibit you approach will present information about your institution before any others. Nearby, a 45-yard replica football field beckons you to try your hand at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Skill Zone.

World of Coca-Cola — This attraction celebrates the world’s best-known beverage brand. It’s home to the secret formula (have your camera ready to snap pics of the vault it’s kept in) and more than 1,200 artifacts. Don’t miss the opportunity to sample more than 100 drink flavors from around the world.

Getting to and from these sites can build up your appetite, and our hosts made sure we were able to sample some of Atlanta’s finest cuisine, from trendy to down-home.

TWO Urban Licks, housed in a restored warehouse on the Eastside BeltLine Trail, serves wood-fired meats and fish from a high-energy, open kitchen. I enjoyed the salmon chips before devouring my smoked brisket.

Glenn’s Kitchen offers American comfort food with Southern flair. Try the short rib ravioli or pimento cheese as an appetizer before digging into shrimp-ngrits, North Georgia trout or the Angus burger.

Mary Mac’s Tea Room is a bit further but well worth the trip. Locals have enjoyed its made-from-scratch Southern fare, like meatloaf, fried chicken, pan-fried cube steak and catfish, for more than 70 years. No visit is complete without having some Georgia peach cobbler.

This is but a glance at the many sights and sounds that await you if you’ll be traveling here for Clean 2015. Get ready to make some memories!

Visualizing the famous March on Washington at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. (Photos: Bruce Beggs)

The Ocean Voyager exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium.

The Clean Show is the largest, most important event in the laundering, drycleaning and textile service industry. It’s the summit of the laundry business, bringing together the industry’s leaders, experts and peers along with the latest textile care technologies. The Clean Show places the entire industry before you.

Register now at www.cleanshow.com.

April 16-19, 2015 Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, Georgia USA

OSHA Fines How to Avoid

By Bruce Beggs, Editorial Director

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was established in 1971 for the purpose of ensuring safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women. How does OSHA do this today? By setting and enforcing standards, and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.

Given the potentially dangerous equipment and chemicals that dry cleaners work with daily, it stands to reason that a dry cleaner like yours might be high on an OSHA inspector’s must-see list.

plant to see the Hazard Communication Standard that you wrote 20 years ago, it better not have dust on it, because that would indicate to me that it’s not being used,” Parker says.

Failure to use the Standard can subject you to “all kinds of issues with the government,” he adds.

Henry W D Parker

Henry W D Parker, of Safety & Environmental Compliance Consultants in Riverside, Calif., has seen plenty in his 20-plus years in business, and he recently told an audience at the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association (PDCA) Expo what it takes for a dry cleaner to steer clear of potential OSHA violations.

HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD

In 2012, OSHA revised its Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), aligning it with the United Nations’ global chemical labeling system. Employers that have hazardous chemicals in their workplaces are required by the Standard to implement a hazard communication program.

The program must include labels on containers of hazardous chemicals, safety data sheets (SDS) for hazardous chemicals, and training for workers. Each employer must also describe in a written program how it will meet the HCS in each of the areas.

“If I’m an OSHA inspector, and I’m coming to your

It may seem logical to provide safety training for your employees once a year, but what about the person you hired a month after your last training session? “For the people who work there (the next) 11 months, they don’t know anything other than what they pick up from the other people at work. That’s not good. You want to teach everybody the same thing.” He hints at the need to train more often.

In the event of a fire, clear labeling of chemicals will help firefighters understand the nature of the crisis and determine how to safely battle the blaze. Every employee should know where your fire exits are and where to meet if there becomes a need to evacuate your building.

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms present in blood that can cause disease in humans. Hepatitis and HIV, the virus can causes AIDS, have been the “bugs” most commonly discussed in this regard, but Ebola is also now in the conversation.

Like the Hazard Communication Standard, there is

(Photo: ©iStockphoto/YinYang)

a Bloodborne Pathogens Standard that spells out what employers must do to protect workers who are occupationally exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials.

Parker suggests that everyone who handles incoming garments should wear disposable gloves or similar protection.

“Everybody should have a box of these under their counter,” Parker says after donning a pair of gloves. “Or dishwashing gloves, I don’t care. This is about protecting your employees from whatever comes across the counter.”

LOCKOUT/TAGOUT

During the servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment, the unexpected startup or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. That’s where lockout/tagout protocols come in. This is generally done by affixing the appropriate lockout or tagout devices to energy-isolating devices and by de-energizing machines and equipment.

something could change. A press could come down on somebody’s arm.’ And it happens to the best of dry cleaners.”

KEEP PAPERWORK UP TO DATE

One of the keys to staying free and clear of a regulatory slap is keeping your company’s paperwork up to date and in order, according to Parker.

For example, come February, will you be posting your latest completed Form 300? Keeping this “Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses” is required to record work-related injuries or illnesses in your place of business.

“If you don’t have the last five years of 300 forms in a file somewhere, you can get fined for it,” Parker says. “Then what can they do? They can audit your whole place, because you’ve had people who have been injured and you can’t prove it.”

Even if your business incurred no such employee injuries during the past year, you still must prepare the form, he adds.

“If you’re fixing a machine, you’re supposed to tell your employees, ‘Stay away from me,’” Parker says. “‘I’m the mechanic, and I’m fixing a machine. I could drop a wrench. I could hit a screw or a button, and

Looking for a speci c product for your drycleaning business? Look no further than the Buyer’s Guide at www.AmericanDrycleaner.com, where you’ll nd our extensive, coast-to-coast listings. Just click on the “Directories” tab at the top of the home page, then “Buyer’s Guide” to start shopping today!

Parker’s presentation barely scratched the surface of the complex maze of environmental, health, safety and labor regs facing today’s dry cleaner. To learn more, visit his company’s website at www.complyhere.com. ADC www.americandrycleaner.com

Interviewing? ‘Sell’ Job, Your Company

You put out a “Help Wanted” ad, and several people apply. You offer the job to the best candidate, but he turns you down. So you hire the second-best candidate, and she agrees to come to work. Or, worse, the applicant agrees to come to work with a bad attitude. Does this scenario happen often? Then maybe you aren’t doing the full interviewing job.

Interviewing a job candidate also means “selling” him or her on the company and offer. I think dry cleaners often forget about this part of the task, confident the person will accept if he/she needs a job and has no other offers.

It is vitally important that you sell the job. Certainly, we’re in a tough labor market—6.5% unemployment at this writing, minimal pay raises, fewer benefits—but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to be convincing about why your company would be a good place to work.

“The assemblers advise the processors what is missing. The inspectors keep an eye on what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong. The route driver works hard to bring in his quota. The drop store manager stays in constant touch with the manager to try to increase volume. It’s a tightly run operation where everything works in sync. Sure, there are problems, but we work through any mechanical breakdowns, personality differences, what have you. We just make it work.

“At the end of the day, whether you’re an early-shift worker or the counterperson closing up at 9, there’s a sense of satisfaction. It’s the feeling that you’re doing your best, in tandem with everyone else. Now, there’s a sense of accomplishment. I make it a point to go around at the end of the day and thank everyone for doing their job, that’s how proud I am of my people.”

Discuss the role that clothing plays in creating appearances, and appearance is important.

Scott

Let’s face it. A dry cleaner is not considered a cool place to work. Cleaning clothes is not considered important. The work is low-tech. The plant is too hot most of the year. Customers can be difficult. Few young people will tell you that they “always wanted to work in the drycleaning industry.”

So, you must show the candidate why he would like the work. Create reasons why he would choose your company. Overcome the lack of enthusiasm for working in dry cleaning. First, recognize that the negativity exists, then acknowledge it to the candidate.

Consider this scenario: The applicant is answering questions, but thinking, I really don’t want to work in dry cleaning. It’s got to be dirty, and the customers probably wouldn’t treat me with respect. What future is there here? Maybe I should stop this guy right now and walk out.

His brief replies demonstrate his lack of excitement, so you say, “I think we’ve created something here that’s special. We’re a team that pulls together, day in, day out. Our processors know what clothes need to done first to satisfy the counter staff, and the shirt processors work alongside to ensure everything is finished in alignment.

“No one wants to look like a slob. Everyone wants to put his best foot forward. People want to feel like a million bucks in their clothes. That’s why our customers are fussy. We understand the concern. Never turn your nose down at dry cleaning. It’s probably doing more for people’s egos than anything else.”

Play up the “family dynamic” common to small busi nesses.

“We’re family here. Sure, we’re a diverse group of people. There are all sorts of people working here, from Native Americans to Brazilian immigrants. There are others who made mistakes early in life. There’s a college graduate with two degrees. There’s a grandfather with 12 grandchildren. We sometimes bicker, but at the end of the day, we go home friends. There’s pride, trust, a feeling of being part of something bigger than yourself. We stick together.”

Lastly, describe the opportunities that exist in your busi ness for someone willing to dedicate themselves to it.

“While you’re starting on the bottom rung, if you’re good, if you pay attention, you’ll rise in the organization. We’re always looking for new drop store locations, and drop store managers do well. There’s a plant manager who, between you and me, makes really good money.

Howard

And someday, I’ll be selling this place. How would you like to own a million-dollar business? It’s possible.

“So, don’t dismiss this opportunity as just a ‘dumb job.’ If I call you up and offer you the position, you’ll be part of this company: a firm moving forward, talking care of needs and, yes, making money. You’ll be part of smallbusiness enterprise, and that’s the backbone of America.”

Think this is a little long-winded? Then shorten the spiel. Add your own twist. Make it relevant to your situation.

If you are a small dry cleaner, then the future opportuni ties probably are minimal. Instead, stress the family nature of your operation. Talk about favors that your workers do for one another, such as sharing apartments, lending cars, helping with babysitting, etc. Point out the many friend ships that have emerged from working together.

Second, make it relevant to the individual. If the candidate is an eager beaver, emphasize the opportunity. If the candidate looks like she needs friends, emphasize the pleasures of working with a group of people who are all focused on common goals. If the candidate is mechanically inclined, point out how useful his skills will be.

Third, be selective. If you interview 10 people, don’t give the spiel to everyone. If you determine that an individual is not a good candidate, then thank him/her for the time and move on. For those you like, make the pitch of

what you have to offer.

After all, someone has to brag about the industry. It might as well be you. And it might as well be at the most opportune time: when trying to land a good applicant so you can continue to build your business. ADC

Howard Scott is a longtime industry writer and drycleaning consultant, and an H&R Block tax preparer specializing in small businesses. He welcomes questions and comments, and can be reached by writing Howard Scott, Dancing Hill, Pembroke, MA 02359, by calling 781-293-9027 or via e-mail at dancinghill@gmail.com.

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

Eight Personal Finance Mistakes to Avoid

In days gone by, managing your personal financial affairs was far simpler than looking after your business finances. Not so much these days. The world of personal finance has become so complex that failing to keep up can put a big dent in your financial health, regardless of your business success.

Here are eight money mistakes to avoid making:

KEEPING MONEY IN A BANK SAVINGS ACCOUNT

Today’s abysmal interest rates on investment vehicles begin at nearly zero, and one of the lowest rungs on that ladder is the bank savings account. That’s why you should never put a penny of your money in one. If you do, the paltry interest rate you’ll get, even in better times, will be below the inflation rate. That means you’ll be losing money.

Instead, put whatever cash you need to keep available into a bank money market account where you’ll get a bit better interest; many have free checkwriting privileges.

And don’t overlook online banks for your cash investments. Most carry the same FDIC insurance as brickand-mortar banks. For example, Synchrony Bank (www.myoptimizerplus. com) offers a savings account with a whopping (by today’s standards) interest rate of 0.95%.

FAILING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ONLINE MONEY TRANSFERS

If there is a place that will pay you less interest than a bank savings account, it’s your checking account, the lowest rung on the investment ladder.

That’s another reason to open a bank money market account (or a high-interest savings account) linked to your checking account. From then on, never make a deposit directly into your checking account. Instead, make all deposits into the higher-interest account. Then transfer money into the checking account online only as needed to cover the checks you write.

Online transfers are easy and safe. Your bank will explain how to set up the procedure.

THINKING YOUR BANK WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST AVAILABLE

RATE ON AUTOMATIC CD ROLLOVERS

It almost surely won’t. Always call or visit the bank and ask to review all current interest rates for CDs, including any promotional rates that might be available. Banks often run special promotions offering interest rates higher than their regular rates. You can be certain that an automatic renewal won’t get that rate unless you ask.

BEING IN A HURRY TO PAY YOUR BILLS

There’s a good reason why checks are slow to come in from people who owe you money. It’s because hanging onto cash as long as possible keeps that money available to draw interest.

That’s why it’s important for you to set up a system to pay your bills just before they come due.

“

Trust every aspect of your finances, including personal investments, to your computer.”

Don’t jeopardize your credit standing by paying bills late. Pay your bills just before they’re due. It’s especially important to avoid late payment on credit card bills because of the oppressive penalties that most card issuers have put into place in recent years.

FAILING TO SHOP AROUND FOR A BETTER INTEREST RATE

Whether you’re paying interest or receiving interest, it’s important to shop around. Bank deregulation has produced a competitive environment with wildly differing interest rates and bank charges. If you can find a better deal than your current bank is offering, take it. Don’t stick with a bank that isn’t competitive.

OVERDRAWING YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT

These days, many banks are making customers pay big penalties for small errors.

Let’s say you have $300 in your checking account and

Bill Lynott

you write three checks: the first for $20, the second for $30 and the third for $290. Some banks process checks not in the order received but in order of size. In that case, the $290 check would be processed first, meaning all three checks, not just one, would bounce. You’d be hit with three “bad check” charges for as much as $105. (Some banks are charging $35 for each overdrawn check.)

FAILING TO USING YOUR COMPUTER TO HELP MANAGE CASH FLOW

Trust every aspect of your finances, including personal investments, to your computer. The financial reports and analyses that off-the-shelf programs such as Quicken® or Money® can produce at the touch of a button can be vitally important tools for helping you to gain maximum advantage in your personal finances. These programs are infinitely easier to use today than they were as recently as a few years ago.

STICKING WITH THE WRONG BANK

You’ve probably been a victim of “merger mania” at least once. That’s when you wake up one day to find out that the bank you’ve been doing business with is no longer around. It has merged with a strange new bank that prompt ly laid claim to your accounts.

Will this new bank, larger than the gross national product

of some countries, treat you better? Will it exercise econo mies of scale in order to bring you better services?

Forget it. Many of the huge mega banks resulting from merger mania are raising inefficiency and customer alien ation to new heights.

Fortunately, solving this problem is relatively painless. Just search out the smallest FDIC member bank in your neighborhood and give it your business. You’ll receive more personal attention from a small bank than you ever will at a financial behemoth and you’ll have exactly the same insurance protection.

Even at a small bank, follow the principles outlined here, but you’ll be doing it in a friendlier atmosphere. Fewer banking frustrations will leave you better prepared to enjoy your stroll down the path to greater riches. ADC

Information in this article is provided for educational and reference purposes only. It is not intended to provide spe cific advice or individual recommendations. Consult an ac countant or tax adviser for advice regarding your particular situation.

Bill Lynott is a freelance writer whose work appears in lead ing 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.

American Drycleaner,

Huntington Co. acquires Martinizing, Dry Cleaning Station

Martinizing International LLC, an affiliate of The Hun tington Co. LLC, a multi-concept franchisor, has ac quired Martinizing, the largest U.S.-based franchise drycleaning brand, along with Dry Cleaning Station, a full-service dry cleaner.

The additions of Martinizing—with 422 locations in eight countries—and Dry Cleaning Station—with 12 U.S. locations—means The Huntington Co. and its af filiates’ portfolio of franchise brands that provide textile restoration, drycleaning and laundry services now has more than 750 locations.

“We are very proud to add one of the oldest and most recognizable names in the drycleaning industry to our fam ily of brands,” says Wayne Wudyka, Huntington’s CEO. “To Martinizing, we will bring significant support from our corporate office, comprised of a truly top-notch team of professionals in each department, including IT, sales, opera tions, marketing, training, legal and accounting.”

Huntington’s “hands-on experience” of running multi ple drycleaning plants dating back to 1992 has served as the “genesis for the growth, development and success” of its multiple franchise concepts, he says.

Martinizing will maintain offices in Milford, Ohio, along with its home office here in Berkley.

Founded in 1949, Martinizing became a worldwide brand and the largest drycleaning franchisor in the U.S. following the return of George Strike to the family busi ness in 1978, Huntington reports. Strike, who was a co-owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team and re nowned for his community service, died in 2012.

“I am very optimistic that my father’s passion and vi sion will be continued under this new ownership,” says son Tony Strike, who was Martinizing’s president in 1988-2006. “I firmly believe that Martinizing is in the right hands from a culture and resource standpoint, and I look forward to what The Huntington Co. will bring to the organization.”

“George Strike created quite a legacy for this com pany,” Wudyka says, adding that “we look forward to

building on all that he was able to achieve.”

Dry Cleaning Station licensed its first store in Co lumbus, Ohio, in 1993. Today, the company offers a full-service retail store that provides quality dry cleaning and shirt processing on premises, as well as pickup and delivery services and satellite convenience locations in some areas, Huntington says.

Other franchises in the Huntington family of brands include 1-800-DryClean, bizziebox, Pressed 4 Time and the Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network.

Nelson returns to Sankosha USA to lead sales/service efforts

Sankosha USA reports that Wes Nelson has returned to lead its sales and service efforts, and that it has hired Mike Tungesvick as a regional sales manager serving primarily the central United States and Canada.

Nelson was Sankosha’s first employee when the com pany opened its U.S. operations in 1993, says company President Ken Uchikoshi.

He was instrumental in building an outstanding dealer network,” Uchikoshi says, adding that Nel son’s “experience and knowledge of the industry will support Sankosha’s mission to serve the needs of its cus tomers.”

Nelson’s responsibilities include creating and sustaining relationships with new and existing customers, and providing “un equaled” customer service.

“I am really pleased to be part of the Sankosha orga nization again,” he says. “I feel that I am back where I belong and plan to do my best to help bring this organi zation to the best place possible in this industry.”

Tungesvick comes to Sankosha USA from The Minne sota Chemical Co., where he served in a similar capacity. His extensive experience in machine sales and customer service will help the company build its market share, Sankosha says.

“Mike’s wealth of experience and industry knowledge

Nelson

has already made him a key addi tion to the Sankosha family,” Nelson says. “We view his appointment as a sign of our commitment to being the leading company in the industry.”

Tungesvick says he’s excited to start this new challenge and looks forward to working with the Sanko sha team, dealers and end-users to help grow sales and provide support.

FRSTeam continues growth with franchises in Utah, Missouri

Fabric Restoration Service Team Inc.—FRSTeam—re cently continued its growth with the sale of its Utah franchise and the addition of a Missouri franchise, the company reports.

FRSTeam’s Midvale, Utah, store originally joined the franchise in 2010, was sold in 2012, and in Novem ber was reacquired by original owner Ryan Fish. It is FRSTeam’s sole Utah location.

Fish acted as a consultant to the business for two years before purchasing the franchise and choosing to operate under the FRSTeam brand once again.

“Being a part of the FRSTeam franchise allows us to do more and do it better,” he says. “Based on experi ence, we believe the FRSTeam brand gives us exposure to some of the best operators in the country.”

FRSTeam of Utah operates with a team of 17 employ ees and specializes in textile restoration and dry cleaning.

In August, FRSTeam added a new franchise, FRSTeam by Apple Cleaners, based in Maryland Heights, Mo., and servicing the St. Louis, Northern Missouri and Southern Illinois areas through multiple locations.

Founded in 1950, FRSTeam by Apple Cleaners is a family-owned business run by second-generation dry cleaner John McIntosh. His franchise operates out of 14 retail locations employing approximately 100 people throughout St. Louis County and Southern Illinois.

“Our team has worked hard to build a solid reputation for our company and becoming part of the FRSTeam fran chise will only increase our brand value,” says McIntosh.

FRSTeam is now comprised of 57 franchises across the United States and Canada that provide fabric restora tion services for restoring clothing and textiles damaged by smoke, fire, water and mold. ADC

Tungesvick

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Heloise Hints Problem is with Care Labels

10 YEARS AGO. The International Fabricare Institute (IFI) launched its new headquarters facility in Laurel, Md., in November, only six months after CEO Bill Fisher signed the lease. More than 200 members and guests toured the new school and administrative buildings. The “showstopper,” IFI says, was its new, $1.8 million School of Dry Cleaning Technology. Companies donated more than $400,000 in new equipment for use in its practical training sessions. … PressClean EuroCleaners in Coral Springs, Fla., is one of the smallest plants ever—at only 850 square feet—to take the Grand Prize in the Plant Design Awards. Located at the end of a strip mall, it doesn’t require as much space as the typical plant-on-premises because all solvent processing is performed off-site.

25 YEARS AGO. Syndicated columnist Heloise alerted millions of consumers about the problem of faulty care labels during her media tour across the United States in early December. “Take it back to the retailer” was her repeated message when asked what consumers can do when they have a problem due to inaccurately labeled garments. “Don’t automatically blame your dry cleaner,” says Heloise. “Some manufacturers aren’t testing garments and both consumers and dry cleaners are suffering the consequences.” … Coinmach Industries Co. has announced that its commercial and drycleaning division has been combined with the operation’s Super Laundry division and will be located in Oceanside, N.Y. Jan Sussman, chairman and chief operating officer of Coinmach, said the move allows the company’s non-route operations to be centrally managed. It streamlines operations and improves service to customers. … Convenience and completeness of service—in array of offerings, from shirts through alterations, and a variety of little touches—along with extensive computerization—seem in general to characterize the winning entries in this year’s 29th Annual Plant Design Awards. The Grand Prize winner, Nu-Way Dry Cleaning, Forest, Miss., combines the ideal characteristics of both the “traditional” plant, in which walk-in or route service is the norm, and the “modern drive-thru” introduced some 20 years ago.

50 YEARS AGO. The part played by atomic radiation in

January 1965

making new products is constantly growing. The rays are now used to blend plastic and wood, so that it looks like natural wood and yet can’t even be marred by a burning cigarette. At least one chemical company has used radiation to create a new detergent. Its advantage is supposed to be that it is even more easily broken down by natural bacteria than are other new “soft” detergents. So far, it’s called a household detergent, but presumably will be offered commercial use, too. … Comedian Jack Benny explained on a recent television show that he had only worn his full dress suit twice: “Once for a violin concert I gave,” he said, “and the second time for the drycleaners association. They removed all the stains and even re-wove the bullet holes.” … Imperial Cleaners & Tailors, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., earned unanimous acclaim in winning the Grand Prize in the 4th Annual Plant Design Awards. Judges were impressed by the year-old, 6,000-square-foot, split-level plant’s superb design, both inside and out.

75 YEARS AGO. Plans are being completed for the series of educational clinics to be staged in Atlanta, Boston and Kansas City, Mo., by the Laundry & Cleaners Allied Trades Association. The program committee is scheduling one short general meeting each day, devoted to talks on technical problems, sales promotion, finance and accounting, and other vital subjects. … “What advertising methods can we use to justify our higher prices?” This inquiry has reached the American from cleaners in every section of the country. The solution is suggested by the garments that reach his plant. “Quality merchandising” stresses the value of a service, not the price. That means value in terms of special attention and skilled craftsmanship given the garments you process. That means style or fashion advertising. And style themes can be dramatized with unusual copy appeals, and the use of fashion illustrations that have a striking appearance. ADC

— Compiled

by Bruce Beggs

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