American Drycleaner - Nov/Dec 2019

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Modernize

When you modernize, you improve your drycleaning operations for your customers and your team. Clients notice with comments such as, “You go above and beyond,” and “Wow! I never knew it was like that!” Three drycleaning owners, Gary Glover, shown on the front cover, from Richmond, Va., Colleen Unema, from Bellingham, Wash., and Craig and Chris Bamberg, brothers from Naples, Fla. will share their experiences when modernizing their drycleaning operations. The idea of “constant evaluation” and “continual updating” runs through their modern state of mind!

Tim Burke, Editor

18 Conveyors

Are they essential? Heck yeah! Are they dependable and necessary? Many will tell you yes. Drycleaning owners Kathy Benzinger, out of Buffalo, N.Y., and Monica Manter, from State College, Pa., share their experiences with installing, running, and maintaining conveyors in their plants. Also a funny aside about a conveyor and a little shimmy. Tim Burke, Editor

(Photo: Puritan Cleaners)

“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.”

“We’re moving faster. We’re moving better. We’re moving more efficiently. That means profitability”

Cheer Here

Be of good cheer. And bring it right here. Hey that rhymes! So the holidays are coming.... And while you’re spreading goodwill, which I know you do in many ways, maybe take a little time out for yourself this season. As autumn moves along and winter approaches it can be a good time to ease back and think about your drycleaning operation, maybe over a glass of hot Irish coffee! <Or insert your favorite go-to beverage of choice here.>

Sip. Relax. Sip. So now, what are your thoughts?…. Might you be doing some modernizing soon at your dry cleaners?

Next year is 2020 — new year, new decade — and on your wish list you may be considering adding new things, such as: More routes, getting a POS, buying new shirts for your team, opening a new location, or other fresh ideas of your own.

Publisher

Charles Thompson

312-361-1680 cthompson@ATMags.com

Associate Publisher/ National Sales Director

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

Editorial Director

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

Tim Burke

In Modernize, our feature story, three drycleaning owners share their philosophies, plans and hopes. On our front cover is Gary Glover, owner of Puritan Cleaners. He is one of those three owners talking about modernizing. He describes it as being a “continuous process.”

Conveyors, our other feature this issue, talks with Benzinger’s Clothing Care owner Kathy Benzinger and also with Balfurd Dry Cleaning VP Monica Manter, all about the topic of installing them, running them, and dealing with them.

We have results from our latest survey: 2020 Vision. Our three columnists are back to inspire you. Diana Vollmer writes about business in The Fit Evolve. Dan Miller talks about your customer experience in Be The Customer. Martin Young tells you why using Bleach! shouldn’t be scary. We have more holiday presents: The reader favorite A Visit From St. Nicholas (to a dry cleaner, on Christmas Eve) returns; there’s a new Yarns Spun Here: Tencel vs. Tinsel; and much more.

So raise a glass of cheer. Have a Happy Holiday season, a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! ADC

American Drycleaner (ISSN 0002-8258) is published monthly except Nov/Dec combined. Subscription prices, payment in advance: U.S., 1 year $46.00; 2 years $92.00. Foreign, 1 year $109.00; 2 years $218.00. Single copies $9.00 for U.S., $18.00 for all other countries. Published by American Trade Magazines LLC, 650 West Lake Street, Suite 320, 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 86, number 8. Editorial, executive and advertising offices are at 650 West Lake Street, Suite 320, 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, 2019. 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, November/December

Editor Tim Burke 312-361-1684 tburke@ATMags.com

Digital Media Director

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

Production Manager

Roger Napiwocki Advisory Board

Mike Bleier Steven Dubinski John-Claude Hallak Mike Nesbit Herron Rowland Fred Schwarzmann Beth Shader Ellen Tuchman Rothmann Contributing Editors

Dan Miller Diana Vollmer Martin Young Office Information Main: 312-361-1700 Subscriptions 630-739-0900 x100 www.american drycleaner.com

2020 Vision

When asked in this last quarter 2019 American Drycleaner Your Views survey to tell us: “Do you have things planned for the year 2020?” Here is what respondents reveal:

• “Open a new store.”

• “Maximize our routes and add an assembly conveyor.”

• “Website upgrade and greater use of POS systems abilities.”

• “Advertising. And adding laundry capacity.”

• “Restoration increase.”

• “Turning one plant into a pickup store.”

• “Expanding wetcleaning and fine washables. I am more interested in profit than pieces. Fluff and fold never showed the ROI of gowns, vintage jerseys, painted tees.”

• “Spruce up store and new clothes for staff.”

• “Shifting to more delivery service.”

• “Looking for locations for new stores or buying existing stores in 2020.”

• “Big time expansion!”

The survey asks: “Is your drycleaning business everything you hoped it would be?”

Ten percent say, “Overwhelmingly yes!”

Fifty-one percent answer, “Mainly yes, but with headaches.”

Twenty-nine percent relate, “So-so. Profit margins aren’t where I’d like.”

Six percent indicate, “Mostly coming up short, needs work.” And four percent say, “Not at all, needs help.”

See graphic.

The survey also asks: “If you’re not growing revenue or profits as much as you’d like to, what’s the problem?”

Respondents indicate:

• “Rent situation.”

• “Declining piece counts.”

• “Increasing labor cost.”

• “Too many competitors and less customers.”

The survey then asks: “Do you have partners in your drycleaning business or are you going it alone?”

Fifty-seven percent say, “Sole owner.”

Thirty-seven percent answer, “Family ownership.”

Four percent relate, “Combination.”

Two percent indicate, “Partnership, non-family.”

Lastly, the survey asks: “Do you think 2020 will be an even better year than 2019?”

• “I do think 2020 will be a better year for companies that continue to learn and change with the times.”

• “I am not optimistic about the retail side of my business. Need to reduce staffing, focus on budgeting.”

• “No. The mass of consumers have little interest in paying for our services. Many consumers are clueless to what a ‘dry’ cleaners does.”

• “Strong emphasis on customer service will keep us moving in the right direction.”

• “We need to keep our eye on the ball and watch expenses.”

• “Yes. Adapt to survive! Adapt to be profitable!”

The Your Views survey offers a current snapshot of the trade audience’s views. Qualified subscribers to American Drycleaner e-mails are invited to participate anonymously in the unscientific poll.

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By Tim Burke, Editor

Modernizing is a continuous process. Recently we have just finished incorporating Chat Bots to improve response times to customers that have questions or requests overnight or at busy times.”

That’s Gary Glover, owner of Richmond, Virginia-based Puritan Cleaners, an 82-year-old drycleaning company that serves retail customers with basic drycleaning and laundry services through 13 locations and 13 free home delivery routes throughout the area. Glover is the third generation owner and serves as president.

He discusses modernizing: “We changed to a cloud-based accounting system to allow real-time graphs and numbers, to help store managers so they can better manage costs.

“We placed payroll in a cloud-based and application-based system that allows for digital HR, and manuals and training materials, to be accessed electronically. And we are taking full advantage of our in-house Q3P program, which means: Quality through People, Product, and Presentation, to help direct our mission and corporate culture,” Glover relates.

Take us through your own decision-making process when you made your operation more modern?

Glover says: “Evaluate fairly what helps the customer or the associate from their point of view. Does the new system make it easier or faster for our customers and team members? Does this renovation make our retail space stand out as one of the nicest in our town?”

When he thinks of modernizing, Glover says it generally falls into three areas: “Our curb and interior appeal that our customers see; new technology and equipment to help our people be more productive and efficient; and

Puritan Cleaners, an 82-year old business, is owned today by Gary Glover. He says modernizing falls into three general areas: curb and interior appeal; new technology and equipment; and new services — all to better serve their clients.

Three drycleaning owners share their vision of making their operations modern

(Photo: Puritan Cleaners)

Modernize defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary: Having today’s views; characteristic of the present; contemporary, red-hot, space-age.

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adding new services or upgrades to better serve our customers.”

He goes on to note that they are constantly renewing and renovating their customer areas. “We use flat screen TVs, mounted both vertically and horizontally, to message and entertain our customers while they are visiting us.

“We use our vertically-mounted screens, which are cell phone-view oriented, for messages that match our online marketing. We use the horizontal ones to share our videos, photos of team members, and local or national TV feeds.

“In addition to the screens,” Glover adds, “we have also upgraded our lobbies with granite countertops, high-end fixtures, and bright LED lighting to reflect the high-end expectations of our customers.”

He indicates his operation also offers free home delivery and pickup, they are open on Sundays, have extended hours, and offer 24-hour drop boxes at most of their locations.

“We also offer in-car, curbside service at some locations. Customers can use auto-charge, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, so that their transactions are quick and easy if they’re in a hurry,” he says.

“In the rare occasion that they may stay a few minutes, we offer a coffee station, bottled water, candy and snacks — all complimentary.”

Glover says that new equipment upgrades are vastly important to all of his team members.

“We strive to maximize all the tools that come with our Spot POS system. Our Sankosha shirt and drycleaning finishing equipment makes production easier and faster than ever before,” he points out.

“Google platform communication system and Paycom

payroll system have really streamlined all of our HR tasks, which has saved time, money, and allows us to place new team members quickly.

“Our people use online training sessions and videos so that they can learn new skills at their own pace, which makes them even more valuable to the company.”

MODERNIZING = EXCITING

Were you surprised at how much time and energy it takes in this modernizing process?

“There is always a cost in time and energy when it comes to renovation, but it is almost always worth it.” Glover relates.

“New systems and equipment add to the excitement of our team, rather than take it away. Bigger, newer, and faster raises our game, and our associates raise their game right with the innovation, every time,” he says.

“Our people often serve at multiple locations while changes are being made, which allows more and wider team interaction. This promotes an even better environment of teamwork and mutual success. In addition to all the excitement generated, renovated stores both customer-facing and on the production side show an 8% sales increase on average.”

How did your clients react to your modernized operation?

Glover says this: “Our customers had immediate reactions to our visible improvements, and often comment positively on them. This not only makes the customers feel better, but increases morale and improves service from our team members also.

“Customers often comment that our locations are nicer than they expected, and not like other clean- (continued)

The team at modern Puritan Cleaners located in Richmond, Virginia, from left: Norman Way, vice president; Rosie Hernandez, human resources; Sara Moncrieff, social media and branding; Aimee Wester, retail division mentor; Dane Gay, support specialist; Gary Glover, president and owner; Lori Jarvis, office manager; Steve Maurice, production manager; Barbara Dickson, production mentor; Montell White, route division mentor; and Debby Friend, retail division mentor. Glover says: “Modernizing is a continuous process, and includes not only new equipment upgrades but continuously improving the customer area.” (Photo: Puritan Cleaners)

ers that they’ve experienced. Many offer five star reviews.

“The following is a comment from just one of our clients,” Glover gives as an example, “with the initials JB: ‘This is the luxury spa of dry cleaners. Plus, you go above and beyond with amazing services and friendly people! Granite countertops, an impeccably bright and clean atmosphere, cheery smiling faces, free refrigerated water bottles, hanger donation, fast service with efficient drivethrough, drop-off and pickup, and so much more. This is a business that I want to invest in!’”

This example Glover provides, also serves to remind us that in the modern world today, reviews and comments, especially those posted online, can have a powerful, positive effect on your potential clients checking you out online and making a decision to use your operation’s drycleaning services.

Glover passes along this tip: “Companies that constantly move forward are more respected, enjoy increased sales and are better poised to take advantage of new technology as it becomes available. Make continuous improvement part of your corporate culture.”

Modernizing means sometimes you make continuous improvements and other times you overhaul and come out swinging with a whole new mindset and new way of doing business.

WOW FACTOR

“Brio Cleaners grew out of customer requests over the years at my laundromat, Brio Laundry. There is a strong desire for more natural food, cleansers, laundry soaps —

all over the country. Bellingham, Wash., where we’re located, is no different. My customers are savvy and want laundry services that support how they want to live.”

That’s Colleen Unema, owner of newly-opened Brio Cleaners in Bellingham.

She describes herself as a 25-year veteran of the classroom with a Master’s Degree in Biology and Chemistry, and she taught high school and university classes over the years. “Laundry is my encore career!” She started her laundry business six years ago and is a certified womanowned business, she notes.

Modernization, to her, means doing what is right by the planet. “I hold fast to the principles behind: People, Planet, Profit.”

She says: “My new operation is 100% wet cleaning. The newest technology is a far cry from having a washing machine in the back of the shop and saying you wet clean. We all know we do a lot of laundering; Now it is possible to wet-clean even the most delicate of items.

The modern reception area at new Brio Cleaners. “My new operation is 100% wet cleaning,” explains owner Colleen Unema. “Because of our company’s driving value statement and operating ethos, we modernized not just equipment, we overhauled the entire customer experience. We changed the experience from the front door to the hand-off back to the customer.”

“Because of our company’s driving value statement and operating ethos, we modernized not just equipment, we overhauled the entire customer experience. We changed the experience from the front door to the hand-off back to the customer.”

Unema’s cleaners, she points out, “Is taking its place as a toxic-free alternative to traditional perc-based dry cleaners. People have always liked choices, and now they have one.

“A pleasant surprise is that our customers want to see and participate in the whole process! We (continued)

American Drycleaner,

Colleen Unema, (on left) owner of Brio Cleaners in Bellingham, Wash., with a customer who won a year of free cleaning at their grand opening recently. How do customers like the modern operation? Unema says: “They love the smell! The #1 comment after a tour is ‘Wow! I never knew it was like that!’ And, ‘I love the shirt machine! It is so clean!’” (Photo: Levi Unema)

(Photo: Levi Unema)

have regularly-scheduled tours of the back of the house. They love it! We practice lean production principles so it is really interesting to see the work flow and equipment in use.”

How do customers like the modern operation?

Unema says: “They love the smell! The #1 comment after a tour is ‘Wow! I never knew it was like that!’ And, ‘I love the shirt machine! It is so clean!’”

For Unema, deciding to ‘go modern’ was only one part of the picture.

“For me it wasn’t just ‘modernize,’ it was build a brand new enterprise! It starts of course with customer demand, so I started studying the industry and talking to operators. I took a lot of tours.

“I created a scale model in a parking lot and moved laundry trucks and people around, pretending to be first a customer, then an employee, and then a production worker. Our production floor design was driven by employee ergonomics, movement, and increasing production, while maintaining a clean shop,” she says.

Unema notes that, “We are new, we are somewhat of a wild card. Customer-centric at our core. I talk to my customers and ask them what they want.”

Unema’s tip to other drycleaning owners is this: “Walk in like a customer: What do you see? What do you smell? Educate them on your processes and give them choices.”

Whether brashly new and innovative, or continuously looking, listening and adjusting to make improvements, to modernize means you are living in the now at your business. Let’s listen to yet another drycleaning owner talk about ways they stay tuned-in to the modern trends of their clients and the world in general.

READ, LISTEN, REACT

In general terms, what does ‘modernize’ mean in our drycleaning industry?

“It means ‘looking out the window,’ so to speak, and emulating consumer-friendly relations that we all see in other industries and ‘turning’ them toward dry cleaning. Along with staying current with environmental concerns,” notes Craig Bamberg, co-owner with brother Chris, of Platinum Dry Cleaners based in Naples, Fla.

Specifically, at their own drycleaning operation, Bamberg relates that for modernizing they have: “Completed environmentally friendly cleaning; upgraded home delivery; utilized customer data in a POS system; re-designed our website; made a stronger, expanded social media presence; and coming soon, will be introducing consumer apps.”

Their operation is celebrating its 30th anniversary. “We were founded in 1989. We are a full service operation with dry clean, wet clean, and wash-dry-fold. We are

known for our ‘select’ offerings focusing on couture fashion and high-end, designer-quality dry cleaning. Our area has a large concentration of high-net-worth households demanding this service,” he says Modernizing takes time and energy.

Bamberg further notes that they acquired their business earlier this year, “So time and energy have been our ‘everyday,’ and we were aware it would be a process!”

He says their clients are favorably reacting to the new changes.

“We are seeing positive reactions at this time. In our case, the announcement of new ownership, coupled with rebranding, introduction of rebranding on new vehicles, along with new corporate uniforms for all staffing have become positive focal points for our clients.”

Bamberg points out: “This is a work in progress, but we feel the best method to begin modernizing is just to keep up in reviewing popular consumer trends and see if they apply to your core customer base, or could be slowly implemented.”

He offers this tip: “Each dry cleaner knows their core customer. Try to see what market trends, perhaps in other industries, appeal to that core customer. Maybe you will see something similar that you can apply!”

Are you making changes and modernizing your drycleaning operation, or planning upgrades, to fit your client’s needs today? You don’t have to be “red-hot” or “space-age” but being contemporary means you are responsive to the market now, and that can never be a bad thing, that’s modernizing!

Craig (on left), and his brother Chris Bamberg, are owners of Naples, Fla.- based Platinum Dry Cleaners. “Modernizing takes time and energy,” relates Craig, adding that clients are reacting favorably to their new changes.

(Photo: Platinum Dry Cleaners)

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Essential to drycleaning plant production fl ow

By Tim Burke

Conveyors are the arteries that carry work through your plant and help things flow

“Conveyors are an essential part of any drycleaning business. It is how we move clothes throughout the plant. It allows us to access a large amount of clothes in a small space and a conveyor also allows us assemble orders without unnecessary steps.

“In simple terms a conveyor moves clothes from point A to point B. It stores clothes and allows (continued)

Benzinger’s Clothing Care installing a new conveyor at their newest location just opening this fall. (Photos: Benzinger’s Clothing Care)

us to access them quickly. It will save on space and increases the production flow by decreasing steps.”

That’s Kathy Benzinger, the president and owner of Benzinger’s Clothing Care in Buffalo, N.Y.

“A funny story about conveyors — I remember how difficult they are to operate when the power is out. There have been occasions when the store is open but the power is out and a customer needs their dry cleaning.

“We will have to shimmy between the conveyor and the wall to find the customer’s items or shimmy between two conveyors that are side by side. This is always good for a chuckle with the customers.”

She says that: “If you are considering a conveyor but can’t afford a new one, you can look into buying a used one. They don’t break down often and if they do it’s usually a quick and easy fix. Over the past 20 years we’ve purchased both old and new and have never replaced a conveyor.”

They currently have conveyors at all of their satellite

stores, she indicates.

“At our main plant we have a 140-foot screw conveyor that carries the garments from production to assembly, where the assembly conveyor will assemble the orders for bagging. The screw conveyor and assembly conveyor allow us to minimize our steps and increase our efficiency,” Benzinger says.

“The screw conveyor is one continues twisting conveyor designed to carry finished garments from each pressing station to Inspection, Assembly & Bagging, or IAB, as we say,” relates Benzinger.

“This allows the pressers to simply put a garment on the screw conveyor and it’s on its way. It also allows production to send items to spotting and repair as it passes by both stations,” she notes.

Says Benzinger: “The assembly conveyor allows the inspector to assemble orders without walking around. The inspector scans the bar code and the assembly conveyor will rotate automatically and stop at

The owner and her team at Benzinger’s Clothing Care, standing in front of their conveyor. Front row, from left: Alyssa VanFleet, Barb Difrancesco, Amanda Ratkiewicz, Amy Wischmann, and Kathy Benzinger (in white shirt), president and owner of Benzinger’s Clothing Care. Back row, from left: Julie Gernatt, Patrick Bednarz, Kimberly Keller.

a specific number. The inspector will put the item on that number until the order is complete.

“Throughout the day, the inspector will rarely need to take a step, which maximizes production. This allows our orders to be processed without having to walk up and down the slick rail. We have a saying in the plant that: ‘If you’re walking, you’re not working!’

“We have low ceilings so all of our conveyors are singles. I do know that up and down conveyors are great for those with less floor space and high ceilings.”

She points out: “We have a wonderful distributor/mechanic that guides us through all of our equipment purchases. The best part about conveyors is that you can build them to fit the space that you have. All I need to do is give him the space and he recommends the conveyor that works best for us and he will also install it.”

A little about herself: “Having a dream of owning my own business finally came true in 1998 when I was fired from the family drycleaning business for being a ‘trouble-maker.’

Looking back I think the term ‘trouble-maker’ meant that I had a vision that was different from the rest of the family.

“We completed our central plant and opened our second location in 1999 just south of Buffalo, N.Y., which we refer to as the SouthTowns. I oversee the operations with the help of 52 amazing employees.

“Twenty years later we currently have five locations and seven routes. Four years ago we rebranded our company. With the future in mind we changed our name from Benzinger’s Dry Cleaning to Benzinger’s Clothing Care.

“We knew that the future of our company would rest in the hands of the millennials. Their needs will change the industry and we wanted to be in position for that change.

“We specialize in dry cleaning, shirts and professional laundry service. We will clean almost any item that is made of fabric. We also have a full alteration department and offer a free home and office delivery service.”

Benzinger offers this thought for anyone thinking of buying one: “Conveyors always pay for themselves.

They last forever and they save you time and money by decreasing the number of steps needed to move the work and it increases the efficiency of the operation.”

FASCINATION

“We have clients who come in with their children specifically to our plant store because their children love to watch the conveyor spin. We have a conveyor in our plant store, not in our drop store. This is something I inherited. We have two separate conveyors, one holds drycleaning orders at arm level and one hold shirts and goes up in the air.”

That’s Monica Manter, VP, Balfurd Dry Cleaner in State College, Pa.

If she could do it over she says, “I would not want one that inclines. It does save space but when it breaks, and it will break, or the power goes out, climbing up a ladder to fetch orders is a nightmare.”

About having a conveyor, she says there are pros and cons: “At our drop store we have rails where orders are organized alphabetically. It makes pickup quicker since all of a clients’ orders are in one spot but it also relies on our CSRs ability to alphabetize correctly. With conveyors, the racking scan is pretty fool-proof and orders are usually where they are supposed to be.”

The Balfurd operation began in 1927 as a tailoring shop. Manter says: “I’m a 4th-generation owner-operator in the business. We specialize in delivery service, tailoring and general dry cleaning but also have a large fire restoration and linen and healthcare rental division that operates in a separate facility.”

Manter offers this helpful tip: “Train whoever is loading to load it evenly and distribute orders throughout the conveyor. The times when we have maintenance issues are when there are large gaps between orders. The conveyor needs to have the weight of orders evenly distributed to avoid the wheels from jumping.”

So be moving those clothes efficiently with conveyors, and get on with your flow.

“Conveyors always pay for themselves. They last forever and they save you time and money by decreasing the number of steps needed to move the work.”

— Kathy Benzinger, owner, Benzinger’s Clothing Care

At SMRT systems We Get it

At the heart of SMRT, we are a dry cleaner. It’s the reason we created our software in the first place: To solve the everyday problems we ran into at our own business.

We’ve stood in your shoes -- pressing, cleaning the button trap, filling in when the driver is sick, making payroll, and replacing equipment.

And with a dry cleaner’s perspective, we’ve built, from the ground up, the best dry cleaning software in the marketplace.

We understand that dry cleaners are dynamic, high-performing entrepreneurs. It’s no small feat to run both the factory and the dealership every damn day. You deserve a software partner that knows your business and is there for you 24/7. You deserve SMRT.

Next-level customer service to match their next-level technology. The SMRT team is passionate about solving problems and supporting their users.

Jason Yerby

Vice President: Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners

There’s more to SMRT than great software. They really know the business, bringing a new dimension to customer support.

Daniel Cha

Owner: Orchid Dry Cleaners

SMRT is light years ahead of the competition! We’ve never been so on top of our business and in tune with our customers.

Wayne Edelman

Owner: Meurice Garment Care

Robust

Richard Aviles

Owner: Bridge Cleaners & Tailors, King Garment Care

’Twas the Night Before Christmas and all thru the shop, Not a tailor was working, not even a mop. The clothes were all hung on the racking with care, In hopes that kiosk customers soon would be there;

The garments were nestled all snug in their wraps, while visions of clean shirts danc’d in our caps, And Mama in her ’kerchief, and I in pressed pants, Had just planned our store’s party with a nice winter’s dance—

When out on the drive-up there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the office to see what was the matter. To the drive-thru window I flew like a fiend, Moved open the sliding door, and threw up the screen.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and call’d them by name.

“Now Washers! Now Dryers! Now Pressing and Cleaning, I have a Red Coat, Cap and Pants that need to be gleaming! To the dirt on his collar! To the dirt on his hat! Now wash away! Wash away! Wash away all that!”

Our machines—how they hummed! Our finishers, how merry, His clothes cleaned like roses, smelling fresh like a cherry; Our tight little shop cleaned all his garments with a bow, While he watched from the counter, so happy right now.

We spoke not a word, but went straight to our work, And cleaned all his stockings, then turn’d with a jerk, We handed him back all the raiments folded and clean, And giving a nod, he heartily approved of our scene.

He sprung to his car, to our team gave a wave, And thanks we all smiled, his clothes we did save: But I heard him exclaim, ’ere he drove his machine— “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good clean!” ADC

Adapted by Tim Burke, December 2016, from the famous poem.

(Photo: Unknown, but he left little footprints in the snow!)

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

The Fit Evolve

Iwas born the same date as Abraham Lincoln.

I wanted to be a doctor but could not stand the sight of blood.

At 25, I had a mountain named after me as a birthday present.

My best-known theory was “nicknamed” by someone else.

CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

Who am I?

Answer: My name is Charles Darwin. (See photo.) Why do you know me 137 years after my death?

Answer: Darwinism or the Theory of Evolution.

Darwinism is also known by the nickname, Survival of the Fittest, coined by Herbert Spencer in 1864 after reading Darwin’s book.

Defined in the dictionary:“The continued existence of organisms which are best adapted to their environment, with the extinction of others.”

What on earth does this have to do with the fabricare industry?.... Everything!

As the industry consolidates, all competitors are right in the middle of a battle for the survival of the fittest.

GOOD NEWS!

Most gatherings of textile care professionals bemoan the demise of the industry. Let the old model rest in peace.

The future-focused participants are the optimists in the industry, and we have history on our side.

As is true with most (some say all) things, business is cyclical. There are ebbs and flows; sales and profit have their ups and downs; and there are periods of more challenges or less challenges.

Most of you have experienced similar fluctuations, including previous market consolidations of some degree. Perhaps you were in this industry during the major consolidations of previous decades or you witnessed a totally different type of business go through the consolidation cycle.

Either perspective probably provided you the benefit of watching the expansion of the industry that followed that reduction.

The survivors of industry downturns enjoy an expansionary period in which they thrive, relishing greater sales, profits, and business health than they had before.

Increased prosperity is the reward for being the “best adapted to their environment,” proving Darwin’s theory of evolution. The winners in the battle for existence learn how to adapt!

Whatever the current business challenges and trials, those operators who confront the trials — adjust to the new realities and overcome the resulting tribulations in creative and effective ways — will be greatly rewarded.

Some examples of previous “industry killers” are:

• Introduction of manmade fibers, especially polyester suits in the 1960s;

• Move to casual dress in business;

• Time constraints caused by multiple adults in the household working full time;

• Smart fabrics, “no-iron” shirts and pants;

• Causal lifestyles, literally no-ironing of anything;

• Environmental regulation; and,

• Shortage of qualified labor.

Yet, during all these crises, the U.S. industry has adapted and persisted with current industry sales at approximately $9 billion.

(The most commonly accepted number as reported by: https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-trends/marketresearch-reports/other-services-except-public-administration/personal-laundry/dry-cleaners.html)

At this somewhat reduced U.S. level of sales volume, from an estimated high of $13 billion

Diana Vollmer

Consolidation, competition and survival in business

(Image by Wikimedia Commons)

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

from the same source, the share of the global fabricare be ing done by professionals is still less than 1%.

(Per Peter Winnekes, CINET research as stated at Clean Show 2019.)

This industry has unlimited potential. The potential for reaching just 2% of the total textile care being done repre sents enormous growth.

Though no trade secrets are being revealed, let’s ex amine industry contraction, crisis by crisis, and how the survivors adapted.

POLYESTER

The astute operators processed whatever items came their way and expanded services beyond suits and shirts. The real savior against the polyester suit itself was cus tomers with taste who cherished the look and feel of natu ral yarns and garments. Because so many cleaners were frightened out of business due to their fear of the man made fibers, there was plenty of business for the remain ing companies to continue to grow and profit.

BUSINESS CASUAL

The “man in the gray flannel suit,” has largely disap peared from the business environs, but businesspeople everywhere continue to dress for work in something. In general, they still want to look and feel professional, at tractive and clean, at work, and in social settings.

T IME CONSTRAINTS

Providing their services when, where, how and why the customers want them has been the key to successful endurance. Client time constraints are accommodated by expansion of routes and 24/7 service to home, work, locker or other preferred location. Sophisticated customer communication systems within POS or through various apps has made this exceedingly easier to manage provid ing extensive timing and on-demand flexibility.

S MART FA B RI CS

Some customers like the smart fabrics, but that doesn’t mean they like doing laundry. Complete wardrobe care addresses not only traditional fabrics and garments, but new fiber and treatment “smart” ones as well.

CASUAL LIF ESTYLES

Wash/dry/fold services, including “family laundry,”

American Drycleaner,

address this lifestyle perfectly. They don’t mind if it isn’t pressed, even if you do. They just want control over their time — their most valued commodity.

Diversification beyond traditional garment dry cleaning and laundry has been a boon to many thriving companies. Some are doing vast amounts of restoration work includ ing textiles and beyond. Ultrasonic cleaning applies to gar ments, shoes, toys, hats, purses, sports equipment, snow and camping gear and beyond.

Targeting off-season items when they are not being used, such as ski clothes and boots in the spring and camp ing gear in the winter, helps boost slow volume periods.

Rugs and cushion cleaning (inside and out of the home) have led to cleaning of home, office, boat, airplane and hospitality venue interiors and exteriors, including all the sharing economy locations, such as Airbnb.

The list is endless for the creative, motivated entrepre neur. Be their total wardrobe and environment caretaker.

E NVIRONMENTAL R EGULATION

When a legal, efficient cleaning solvent became the poster child for damaging the environment, it threatened operators’ peace of mind and hard-earned assets.

The creativity and resourcefulness of the industry sup pliers, the persistence of operators and consumer need for fabricare services responded, resulting in more environ mentally supportive alternatives. The industry persevered.

LAB OR S HORTAGE

Automation, more user-friendly equipment, sophis ticated software, and employee training have come to the rescue to continue to provide better faster cheaper products and services to consumers.

This is a very resilient and high-potential industry because it provides such an ego-centric service to an ego-centric clientele with a desire to spend their time doing other things that are more rewarding to them than wardrobe and home care.

Plan and prepare to be a survivor and you and your bottom line will benefit greatly. ADC

Diana Vollmer is a managing director for Methods for Management, which has served dry cleaners and launderers with affordable management expertise and improved profit ability since 1953. For assistance surviving extinction and thriving during the next phase, contact her at dvollmer@mfmi. com or call 415-577-6544.

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Poseidon offers innovative programmability for complete control over every conditional aspect of the wet cleaning, drying and ironing process. That’s why professional fabricare operations rely on Poseidon equipment to perfectly wet clean the most delicate items including tailored wool suits, cashmere sweaters, silk wedding dresses, and so much more! CALL 800-482-3400

“

”

— Gary Heflin, Owner, Perfect Cleaners

Be The Customer

Every dry cleaner has their own story about why they got into the business. Some did it because their family was in the business. Others because they liked the idea of cleaning clothes. Some, like me, because they were fed up with their local cleaners.

Regardless of what our story is, we all are in this business because at some point we wanted to provide a better experience for drycleaning and laundry customers.

The trouble is that while most of us start out with great intentions, the reality of running a dry cleaner day in and day out sometimes pulls us away from our customers. When you have to make payroll, fix the boiler, or replace an employee that just quit, it’s difficult to stay focused on the most important lever that you can pull to grow your

business: The customer experience. How do we stay focused on and create a great customer experience?

For me, it starts and ends with the customer journey. By customer journey, I mean the set of steps the customer goes through from the moment they have the thought: “I need to do my dry cleaning or laundry,” to the moment they receive their clothes.

By staying laser-focused on the customer journey, and regularly reenacting that journey, we can ensure that our customers are having the same experience we would expect for ourselves.

I recently stayed at a hotel and experienced a failure in customer experience that illustrates the importance of the customer journey. I checked in to the hotel and went to my hotel room. The accommodations looked perfectly nice, the room was clean, bed was made, and lights were working. However, when I went to take a shower

Are you delivering a great customer experience? Take a customer journey through your operation and find out firsthand if it’s all that it should be

Dan Miller

there was no rack for the shampoo or soap. So, I was forced to put my shampoo and soap on the floor, which because the floor of the shower was sloped, slid all over the place and fell over. It wasn’t a big deal, just a minor annoyance. I stayed at the hotel for a few days and each morning I grappled with this little annoyance, and by the end of my stay I found myself looking forward to being home where I actually had a place to set the soap.

You may be saying to yourself, “Dan, who cares. It’s a little oversight.” But to me it is the perfect example of the management of that hotel losing sight of the customer journey.

If any manager had just once used the hotel as though they were a customer and gone on that customer journey, they immediately would have noticed the lack of a soap tray. My guess is that nobody at that hotel has actually used the hotel.

Taking the customer journey in our industry is even more important because customers have such a powerful connection to their clothes. To execute the customer journey, I break it into three basic steps:

THE SEARCH

To understand our customer’s experience with our brand, we first have to get into the mindset of someone who has never used us before and is searching for a dry cleaner.

Imagine if you just moved to a new town and you were looking for a dry cleaner. What would you do? Most people would probably Google “dry cleaners” or “dry cleaners near me.”

Does you cleaner come up when people make that search? If not, then they’re already having a bad experience with your brand because they’re not even finding it. If your cleaner does come up, is there a map to your store? Can you sign up for delivery easily?

In a condo setting, maybe the potential customer goes to their building’s front desk and asks them about local drycleaning service. Do you have a welcome packet at the front desk for them? Is it easy to sign up?

At the end of the day, our goal during The Search is to make sure that the customer can find us as easily as possible.

USE IT

After you’re done searching and finding your cleaner, you have to use your cleaning service and experience what your customers experience.

I’m always shocked at how few drycleaning owners use their cleaners just as a customer would. I can’t tell you how many issues I’ve found in my own drycleaning business simply by using the service.

Just recently, I used one of our stores and noticed that my order wasn’t showing up on the mobile app. It turned out there was one setting box in our POS that hadn’t been checked. We may not have realized that glitch for years if I hadn’t used the service and checked on the status of my order.

Of course that’s just an example, but in using your own dry cleaner, you can discover countless minor issues related to quality, convenience, or usability that a customer might not complain about, but undermines the experience.

FOLLOW-UP

Once you’ve used your own service, the final step on the customer journey is follow-up. Did you receive a thank you note? Are you getting additional marketing emails? If you call with an issue, is your customer service line answered promptly?

The follow-up is just as critical in distinguishing customer experience as the product itself.

Taking the customer journey yourself, and encouraging your staff to take it as well, is absolutely vital to ensuring that your customers are taking delight in your service. And it can’t just be a one-time thing.

I recommend setting aside time once a week or at least once a month to take the customer journey and see if you’re delivering a truly rewarding experience for your customers. You won’t regret it! ADC

Dan Miller is the chief executive officer of Mulberrys Garment Care, a premium drycleaning and laundry business with 17 locations in Minneapolis, San Francisco, and Dallas. You may contact him at dmiller@ mulberryscleaners.com or 866-473-0798.

To find past Owner’s Office columns or share this month’s with your friends, visit AmericanDrycleaner.com.

Webinars, apps and more

“Fabricare Manager LLC would like to introduce our new monthly Fabricare University webinar,” says Marcelo Rangel, president of the firm. The free monthly webinar series, the company explains, provides users with an exclusive access to experts teaching various topics and was rolled out at the Clean Show earlier this summer. “This gives us the opportunity to better educate all of our customers on both current and newly added features of our software.”

Other features rolled out at Clean ’19 from this firm included the RoutePal route app for Apple IOS and Google Android. Drivers can collect, manage, and sync route data as they run their route. The app features bag tag scanning, delivery order scanning, and turn-by-turn directions with traffic avoidance, the company notes.

Also the firm debuted its Customer Gateway, which it says provides access to an entire suite of tools and services offered to your drycleaning customers allowing them to view invoice history, update profile information such as starch and package preference, and request pickups, it adds.

www.fabricaremanager.com | 888-299-9493

Fully-contained drycleaning press

Forenta introduces a fully self-contained drycleaning press which, it notes, meets ETL approval for use in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The press, the firm notes, “Is ideal for small shops where central steam and vacuum are not available.” The press uti lizes all the recent product improvements to the company’s scissor press line and is available in multiple head and buck configurations, the company points out.

www.forentausa.com | 423-586-5370

Collar stays stay with you

CollarCard, founded in 2009, describes itself as a fast-growing promotional products company that makes a patented credit card-sized plastic card containing four high-quality pop-out collar stays that are stored in a man’s wallet.

Randall Kaplan, CEO and owner, says, “We

Keep plastics out of our oceans

GreenEarth® Cleaning notes it is in partnership with plastic pollution advocacy group Plastic Soup Foundation and developer of filtering solutions for the removal of microplastic fibers PlanetCare Ltd. to test and install washing machine filters capable of removing microplastics from laundered items, it relates.

invented CollarCards to address and fix the common problem of men forgetting their collar stays when they leave the house, when they are traveling.”

www.collarcard.com | 310-472-5476

The company is in this threeway partnership to help keep microplastics out of our oceans, it notes. It has performed alpha testing on the microplastic filter, the firm relates, and plans a national rollout scheduled for 2020, it says.

www.greenearthcleaning.com | 877-926-0895

Lint removers help Toys for Tots

Cleaner’s Supply, for almost a decade, has partnered with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to bring you the Toys for Tots Holiday Lint Remover Program, to help bring the joy of the holidays to less fortunate children. “Don’t just give a lint remover, give a gift of hope, and help give a deserving child the magic of the season,” the company says, and adds that, “This year’s updated dry cleaner holiday themed designs will surely be something you’ll appreciate. It’s the gift of hope that both you and your customers will feel great about.”

www.cleanersupply.com | 800-568-7768

Tencel vs. Tinsel

By Tim Burke, Editor

Tencel is not something shiny you trim a Christmas tree with. That’s tinsel.

If you look up tencel, you get directed to the definition of Lyocell, which Wikipedia calls, “a form of rayon which consists of cellulose fiber made from bleached wood pulp.” It is used in denim and chino, among other garments.

Norman Oehlke, writing in Ameri can Drycleaner’s Spotting Guide, says this: “Tencel is made of wood pulp from trees that are grown, and constantly replanted, on managed forestland. The fiber is biodegrad able and considered environmentally friendly.”

He goes on to write that it is pro duced using a solvent-spinning tech nique, and nearly all of the dissolved agent is recycled with minimal, nonhazardous effluents.

“Tencel is a cellulose fiber, and said to feel like cotton, wear like polyester, and hold color like rayon. It may be finished with acid, stone washing or enzyme treatments. It blends well with most fibers.”

Tinsel, on the other hand, is a type of decorative material that mimics icicles, and glitters on the Christmas tree, reflecting all the colors of the little lights strung across the branches.

Tinsel plants grow in secluded meadows, it is purported. Nobody

really knows where these hidden meadows are located and nobody seems to know how the tinsel gets harvested, but it appears in packages on store shelves right around Novem ber, in time for Christmas. Ain’t nature wonderful?! ADC

(Photo by Tim Burke)

Nothing scares a cleaner more than the word BLEACH. Nothing is more comforting to a good cleaner or spotter. Let’s see if we can take the fear out of using this chemical tool to your advantage.

Bleaches should be a last resort, but the proper bleach, applied properly, can be the difference in successful stain removal and another sorry tag. Contrary to popular belief, bleaches do not remove the stain, they only camouflage the stain by adding or taking away oxygen.

There are two kinds of bleaches commonly used in our industry. One type of bleach is referred to as oxidizing bleach because it adds oxygen to the stain. The common four bleaches in this category are: hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, and sodium hypochlorite.

Another type of bleach is referred to as reducing bleach because it takes away oxygen from the stain. Reducing bleaches are regularly referred to as “dye strippers.”

Note about any bleach use: When you choose to use a bleach, you must first test on an inside seam to verify that the garment’s original color will withstand the process. Have a plan to neutralize at the first sign of trouble. Work slowly and watch the garment closely until you are sure that any chance of you damaging the garment has passed.

Bleaches are subject to being used in an immersion “bath” and at the spotting board for spot bleaching. In both cases you must rinse the garment, or area spotted, being sure you have neutralized the bleach.

Hydrogen peroxide is available from the medicine aisle at a strength of about 3%, weak by most standards.

Hydrogen peroxide has grown in popularity as a replacement for chlorine in the laundry in strengths of 40% and even 50% concentrations. To use in a bath, 32 ounces of 40% peroxide with 96 ounces of water is a 10% concentration and 64 ounces of 40% peroxide with 64 ounces of water is a 20% concentration.

Hydrogen peroxide is the only bleach that can be used routinely and safely on protein fibers like wool, silk, angora, and cashmere. Most beauty salon supply stores will stock 10%, 20%, and 30% concentrations of hydrogen peroxide in small quantities of 4-ounce or 6-ounce bottles. To use these at the spotting board, all you need is an eye-dropper for application.

I have used sodium perborate at my spotting board my entire career. It is effective on the last traces of wine, mustard and blood, some of which came in with a sorry tag from a competitor. Keep a salt shaker of very fine gradual sodium perborate within arms reach at your spotting board. Flush the last traces of the stain with steam to wet and heat the area.

Shake the sodium perborate over the stain, then apply a drop or two of protein formula to keep the bleach in place. Press the steam pedal lightly so that only a “wisp” of steam is rolling off the nose of the spotting gun. Over the solid portion of the spotting board I use this steam to melt the sodium perborate, so that it sinks into and through the stain. When the stain is no longer noticeable, I pull the stain over the vacuum nose of the board and flush the remaining bleach away.

Apply a few drops of acetic acid to neutralize the bleach completely, then flush the area and dry it completely. When using sodium perborate in a bath use a non-metallic container that will allow free movement of garments. The water in the bath should be at least 105 F and as hot as 125 F. If you can keep your hand immersed in the water, you should be okay.

Martin Young

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

Using bleach shouldn’t be scary; bleaches are comforting to a good spotter

Bleach!

If the water is too hot to allow you to work with the gar ment while it is submerged, add cool water to bring down the temperature. In most cases it will be okay to leave a garment submerged in the sodium perborate bath until you can get back, up to 24 hours. As the water temperature continues to drop, the bleach slows down and stops.

Sodium percarbonate can be used much like sodium perborate, but it has the potential to be much more aggressive. Sodium percarbonate becomes an active bleach at a lower temperature and continues to strengthen as temperature rises.

When using sodium percarbonate in a bath, be stingy with the amount of bleach and dissolve the powder in water below body temperature before warming the entire solution. Sodium percarbonate is more difficult to control than sodium perborate, and I reserve it for times when I want to try harder and the perborate doesn’t quite get the job done.

Sodium hypochlorite (chlorine bleach) has a place in the cleaning department, but it is a small place. There are far too many options listed above to grab the chlorine bleach, unless you have a specific reason. I restrict my use of chlorine to white cellulose fibers (cotton, linen, ramie) and even think twice about using it on blends of synthetic.

Chlorine can react with synthetic fabric and leave a

discolored area in the garment. Using either diluted sodium bisulfite or diluted sodium hydrosulfite can usually neutralize the chlorine. This information can be used by you to occasionally restore a customer’s well-intentioned mistake and can be used to restore a multi-layered area on a cellulose garment that has become discolored by multiple washings in a chlorine solution.

As an example, the collar, cuffs and front placket of a white shirt (internal bonded interfacing) can retain chlorine that builds up over time. (“It wasn’t like that when I brought it in.”)

Either of these two reducing bleaches will go a long way to reversing the discoloration. Reducing bleaches require an article for themselves so come back next time for More About Bleach!

Meanwhile, take these following professional garment care tips with you today: Extreme and personal customer service; intense inspection coming in and at assembly; and superior supplemental stain removal. Make it happen. 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 today. Phone: 704-786-3011, e-mail: mayoung@ctc.net.

Greene’s Cleaners joins A BC

Greene’s Cleaners of Napa, Cali fornia, is the latest dry cleaner to receive certification and a place amongst the America’s Best Clean ers (ABC) affiliates, ABC notes and adds: “They have earned their repu tation as a top cleaner.”

Run by the husband and wife team of Alonso and Laurie Corona, Greene’s Cleaners is the oldest dry cleaning company in the Napa Val ley, ABC reports.

“The Corona family was over the moon about receiving their certifica tion,” ABC states.

Count on Pariser

for Laundry, Wet-Cleaning, Dry-Cleaning, and Fire Restoration Chemistry

LAUNDRY

CITRAZYME One-shot, powdered laundry detergent containing enzymes, oxygen bleach, and citrus degreaser.

NAPTHOL-T Powdered laundry detergent formulated to clean dark-colored shirts in cold water temperatures.

MEGA BRYTE One-shot, powdered laundry detergent that contains non-phosphate water conditioners.

CITRASOL Concentrated citrus-based liquid degreaser additive for oil and grease stain removal.

STAND UP Advanced synthetic liquid starch for shirts and denim designed to provide significant body and rigidity.

WET-CLEANING

AQUA VELVET Eco-friendly one-shot wet-cleaning detergent with stain removers and conditioners. This product is EPA Safer Choice certified.

SHOT-SPOT Versatile, all-purpose stain remover.

ACTIVATE Color-safe oxygen bleaching agent blend containing a lowtemperature catalyst.

HYDROCON Eco-friendly fabric conditioner and retexturizing agent with optical brightener. This product is  EPA Safer Choice certified.

LS-100 Synthetic liquid sizing and natural corn starch blend.

From left: Christopher White, partner, America’s Best Cleaners (ABC); Alonso and Lauri Corona, owners of Greene’s Cleaners, Napa Calif.; and Catherine McCann, partner, ABC. (Photo: Greene’s Cleaners)

Founded in 1919 by the late George Greene, ABC explains, “the company has seen steady growth over the last hundred years and is currently in a boom period that has taken the company from humble be ginnings and caused it to bloom into a modern cleaner with a top-of-theline main plant as well as a drivethrough location.”

In addition to top-quality dry cleaning services, ABC relates, Greene’s Cleaners also offers a re nowned wedding gown preservation service known to many as one of the most highly rated in California.

Greene’s Cleaners says it is, “In a growth phase and we understand that in order to grow successfully we need to have well established business processes and a solid growth plan.

“We look forward to gaining guidance from ABC in both areas as well as providing learning opportu

nities for how to position our busi ness for the future. ABC helps us look at our business not just as a dry cleaner, but as a modern company.”

ABC describes itself as a, “Cer tification agency and an industry leading team of consultants who assist owners, managers, and team members to realize their full poten tial while striving for continued per sonal and professional success.”

DLI welcomes 2019-2020 leadership

The Drycleaning & Laundry Insti tute (DLI), says it welcomes a host of new faces to its governing body. DLI notes it’s Board of Directors recognizes valued contributions and inducts new volunteer leadership each year.

New direc tors are sworn in as their predecessors move to an executive posi tion or become DLI senators, it adds, an ex clusive title for previous mem bers of the Board.

This year’s DLI leadership lineup features the following officers:

• Chair: Leland Waite, Waite’s Cleaners, Mobile, Ala.;

• President: Dennis Schmitt, Lin deman’s Cleaning, Green Bay, Wis.;

• President-Elect: Jess Culpepper, CED®, CPD®, CPW®;

• Treasurer: Bobby Patel, Kona Cleaners, Costa Mesa, Calif.

(continued)

Leland Waite

Texcare Asia and China Laundry Expo Show Wrap-Up

Messe Frankfurt Hong Kong (HK) reports that the, “Texcare Asia and China Laundry Expo (TXCA & CLE) closed its doors at the Shang hai New Inter national Expo Centre after three success ful days of business.”

Messe Frankfurt HK, the TXCA & CLE show management

TXCA & CLE 2019 hall overview. (Photo: Messe Frankfurt HK)

group reports that, “25,202 visitors from all over the world attended the show,” held in Sept. in Shanghai, and, “311 international brands from 21 countries and regions, with a strong presence of ex hibitors from Germany and the U.S., high lighted the international character of the fair.”

D on’t cry, onion skins can dye fabrics

“Four fashion students have har nessed the power of the onion using the vegetable’s skins to naturally dye fabrics and textiles,” notes the Na tional Onion Association (NOA).

Their work, it goes on, part of their graduate studies program at the New York Parson’s School of Design, en capsulated a growing movement on sustainability, with one common de nominator — onion skins.

“The students dyed wools, yarns, cottons, linens and silks naturally with onion skins and other natural ingredients to enhance color,” the NOA says.

Their work, officially called Onion Society, was recently displayed Sept. 20-22, along with onion dishes and even an onion video, in Brooklyn.

A.L. Wilson Chemical Co. 1

Air World Inc. 45

Ally Equipment Co. 39

BeCreative360 ................. 7

Cleaner Business Systems ........ 3

Cleaner’s Supply 47

Columbia/ILSA BC

EzProducts International 47

Fabricare Systems, LLC 8-9

Firbimatic .................... 15

Garment Management Systems ... 19

Global Business Systems 41

Iowa Techniques 5

ITSUMI USA 29

Luetzow Industries 47

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NIE Insurance 21

Pariser Industries .............. 42

Parker Boiler Co. ............. IBC

Poseidon Textile Care Systems 31

Realstar 33 Sankosha USA 35

SMRT Systems 23-26

SPOT Business Systems ....... IFC

Trevil America 11

Union Drycleaning Products 13

White Conveyors 17 Yamamoto 43

A LL NATURA L P RO C ESS O F ONION DYEIN G

The onion dyeing process is all natural, the NOA points out, and dates back to 2600 B.C.

“Sometimes they’ll use baking soda to change the pH of the water, which changes the color; sometimes they’ll use vinegar. But the bi-prod uct is always natural — enough to go back into the earth for zero waste,” it notes.

“Using onion skins as natural dye ing agents demonstrates the sustain ability of one of the world’s oldest and most beloved vegetables,” the NOA relates.

The project, sponsored in part by the NOA, came about from New York

Students from the New York Parson’s School of Design, “dyed wools, yarns, cottons, linens and silks naturally with onion skins and other natural ingredients to enhance color,” says the National Onion Association. Their work, of ficially called Onion Society, was recently displayed Sept. 20-22, along with onion dishes and even an onion video, in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: National Onion Association)

fashion designer Maria Elena Pombo, who is known for her natural dyes with avocado seeds, the NOA notes.

SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES

There’s an entire movement for sustainable textiles, demanding eth ically produced clothing, but also environmentally-friendly fabrics and dyes, the NOA writes.

New York Onion Farmer Chris Pawelski hadn’t heard of using on ion skins in such a way before.

“Here in New York, they are dumped in piles in the fields nearby and literally blow away or eventu ally break down,” Pawelski says.

“Having a use for them is great!” He adds.

The National Onion Association, incorporated in 1913, describes it self as a nonprofit trade organization dedicated to supporting America’s onion farmers and increasing the consumption of onions.

COMING IN JANUARY:

American Drycleaner Publisher’s Impact Award

Spotlighting a drycleaning industry achievement: Shining a light on a person, company, innovation or event that has made an impact on the drycleaning industry.

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add cost of 5 words. Display classified rates are available on request. All major credit cards are accepted.

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For example, for a June ad, the closing date is May 1st.

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SUEDE & LEATHER SERVICE

LEATHER-RICH INC.

• High quality cleaning, refinishing & repair Leather, Suede and Fur; • Free Inbound Shipping in USA FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.leatherrich.com E-mail: leatherrich@att.net Call 800-236-6996 Route Service in Upper Midwest

COMPUTER SYSTEMS

PS Form

X=0,

(3)Sales

650 West Lake

Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60661-1036 Cook County. Managing Editor: Bruce Beggs, American Trade Magazines LLC, 650 West Lake St., Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60661-1036 Cook County. 10. Owner: American Trade Magazines LLC, 650 West Lake St., Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60661-1036 Cook County. Charles Thompson, American Trade Magazines LLC, 650 West Lake St., Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60661-1036 Cook County. Bruce Beggs, American Trade Magazines LLC, 650 West Lake St., Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60661-1036 Cook County. Donald Feinstein, American Trade Magazines LLC, 650 West Lake St., Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60661-1036 Cook County. Nathan Frerichs, American Trade Magazines LLC, 650 West Lake St., Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60661-1036 Cook County. John S Suhler, 200 Long Neck Point Rd., Darien, CT 06820 Fairfield County. 13. Publication Title: AMERICAN DRYCLEANER 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: September 2019

15. Extent and Nature of circulation: (average number of copies each issue during proceeding 12 months=”X”) (Number copies of single issue published nearest to filing date = Y”)(a)Total Number of Copies (Net press run): X=18,465,Y=18,685. b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail). (1)Outside County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541.(Include direct written request from recipient, telemarketing and Internet request s from recipient, paid subscriptions including nominal rate subscriptions, employer requests, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies.) X= 11,697, Y=11,766. (2) In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions stated

and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS®: X=0, Y=0. (4)Requested Copies Distributed by Other Mail Classes Through the USPS (e.g. First-Class Mail®): X=0, Y=0. (c) Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation (Sum of 15b (1), (2), (3), and (4)):X=11,697, Y=11,766. (d) Nonrequested Distribution (By Mail and Outside the Mail). (1)Outside County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 (include Sample copies, Requests Over 3 years old, Requests induced by a Premium, Bulk Sales and Requests including Association Requests, Names obtained from Business Directories, Lists, and other sources): X=6,478, Y=6,409. (2)In-County Nonrequested Copies Stated on PS Form 3541 (include Sample copies, Requests Over 3 years old, Requests induced by a Premium, Bulk Sales and Requests including Association Requests, Names obtained from Business Directories, Lists, and other sources): X=0, Y=0. (3)Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail (e.g. First-Class Mail, Nonrequestor Copies mailed in excess of 10% Limit mailed at Standard Mail® or Package Services Rates): X=0, Y=0. (4)Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail (Include Pickup Stands, Trade Shows, Showrooms and Other Sources): X=38, Y=8. (e)Total Nonrequested Distribution (Sum of 15d (1), (2), (3) and (4)): X=6,516, Y=6,417. (f)Total Distribution (Sum of 15c and e): X=18,213, Y=18,183. (g)Copies not Distributed (See Instructions to Publishers #4, (page #3)):X=252, Y=502. (h)Total (Sum of 15f and g): X=18,465, Y=18,685. (i)Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation (15c divided by f times 100): X=64.23%, Y=64.71%. 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requester Publication is required and will be printed in the November 2019 issue of this publication. 17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner:I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties): Charles Thompson, Date 9/12/2019

on

3541.(Include direct written request from recipient, telemarketing and Internet requests from recipient, paid subscriptions including nominal rate subscriptions, employer requests, advertiser’s proof copies, and exchange copies.)

Y=0.

Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales,

Wool Shrinkage Control

10 YEARS AGO. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) edges past 10,000 for the first time in a year on Oct. 14, signaling that investors believe that the economy is recovering from recession. The Dow took just seven months to reach 10,000 after hitting a 12-year nadir of 6,547 on March 9, 2009. While analysts rarely focus on the Dow, they admit the round number may have a positive psychological impact.

35 YEARS AGO. Stack regulation bypassed. The Neighborhood Cleaners Assn. has been attempting to find a way to avoid the necessity of a New Jersey dry cleaner erecting a 40foot stack on his roof and installing special equipment to increase the velocity of air flowing through it. It appears that NCA’s efforts have been successful. NCA met with top officials of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 1983 when it was learned that the “Stack Regulation” on the books for several years was going to be enforced.

50 YEARS AGO. 100 Years Ago: The Good Old Days. The “Receet for Washing Clothes,” which appears below, is reprinted from the North Judson (Indiana) News:

1. Bild fire in back yard to heet kettle or rain water.

2. Set tubs so smoke won’t blow in eyes if wind is pert.

3. Shave one hole cake lie

The model in the photo is helping demonstrate the benefits of a new shrinkage control method for wool.

The green November 1944 front cover of American Drycleaner with the headline that asks: What’s ahead in blended fabrics?

soap in bilin water.

4. Sort things. Make three piles — one pile white, one pile cullered, one pile werk britches and rags.

5. Stur flour in cold water to smooth; thin down with bilin water.

6. Rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, thin bile.

7. Take white things out of kettle with broomstick handle, and then rench, blew and starch.

8. Spred tee towels on grass.

9. Hang old rags on fence.

10. Pore rench water in flower bed.

11. Scrub porch with sopy water.

12. Turn tubs upside down.

13. Go put on cleen dress, smooth hair with side combs, brew cup

of tee, and set and rest and rock a spell and count your blessings.

75 YEARS

AGO. Wool Shrinkage Control!

The attractive model in the photo is helping demonstrate the benefits of a new shrinkage control method for wool. It’s said to retain the original appearance of the fabric and to supply long-needed protection against repeated laundering and dry cleaning. The method uses a new synthetic resin trade-marked under the name of Lanaset. It has, “already been tested with success by a number of leading mills and finishers.”

— Compiled by Tim Burke, Editor

To read more of American Drycleaner’s chronicling of the industry over the years, visit www. americandrycleaner.com.

Drycleaner,

Steam Boilers

101-105 Series

We expect 15 to 25 years from our interchangeable tube bundles, and 30 to 40 years of life our more out the boiler.

Indirect Fired Water Heaters

209-211 Series

We normally expect 10-25 years out of the copper heat exchanger, 30 to 40 years out of the boiler.

Thermal Liquid Heaters

207 Series

We expect 30 to 50 years out of our thermal fluid heater models

On all of the above units we have continued to build, and will continue to have available any part of the pressure vessel, burners, cabinet, and controls meaning that for as long as a customer wants, they will be able to infinitely repair their equipment rather than replace the equipment.

We are asked by many new and existing customers on what is our projected life expectancy of our products. We are not always the lowest initial price but know we have one of the lowest cost of ownership of any boiler manufactured in North America. These facts are based on our 90 plus years of boiler manufacturing, feedback and experiences from our end users, service departments, and all of our representatives and dealers worldwide. These life spans are based on our boilers being installed properly, and do receive our minimal recommended care, are applied to the correct application, and include the proper maintenance and water treatment programs.