American Drycleaner - May 2020

Hello Bill, this is Bob from ABC Cleaners. I wanted to let you know I will be in your area tomorrow. Would you like a pick up?

Yes, please pick up. I have an event I need to go to.

Great! I will see you tomorrow! Thank you

ABC Cleaners

Hello, this is ABC Cleaners letting you know that your order is ready to pick up. The total amount due is $12.39

Perfect! What time do you close?

We close at 7:00 pm

ABC Cleaners

Hi Betty, this is Dave from ABC Cleaners, the repair you requested on your pants will cost $5.00 would you like us to proceed?

Yes, that sounds fair, please proceed.

Great, I will have it ready for you on Tuesday.

Thanks, see you then!

GO GREEN. WET CLEAN

The Poseidon system offers innovative programmability for complete control over every conditional aspect of the wet cleaning, drying and ironing process. Customers are thrilled when even their most delicate garments including tailored wool suits, cashmere sweaters and silks come back with a cleaner smell, better odor removal and an overall superior clean.

Ready to GO GREEN?

Call 800-482-3400 to find out how. The environment will thank you!

“ We’re excited to be leaders in the industry by making the switch to wet cleaning and happy to do our part in minimizing our environmental footprint. ”

— Miriam Choi, daughter of Hyeon-Dong & Young-Sook Choi Owners, University Cleaners

drycleaner

Garment Care Copes With COVID-19

Drycleaning owners and others in fabricare tell their personal stories and share their thoughts about coping and hoping during the coronavirus that the world is dealing with. Hear from operators across the U.S. relate how they are handling this situation with reduced store hours, sharing plant functions with other operators and caring about the safety and health of their team members, their clients, and their colleagues across the industry.

Tim Burke, Editor

14 Exhibit In Print

Here is an opportunity, in a Clean Show off year, to check out exhibits in the pages of this issue. As we like to say, let your fingers do the strolling through our aisles in print to check out our booths. If you are staying at home right now during these times, like many of us, this is a chance to move along our booths right in these pages.

Scan this QR Code for help in finding the hidden hanger on this month’s cover. Good luck!

(Photo by: Tim Burke)

Cope, Hope

Our cover story Garment Care Copes With COVID-19 is about the hope you show to continue to serve your clients and help your communities and get through this!

It’s an understatement to say we’ve never seen anything like this before. You want to keep yourself, your family, your clients and team members safe.

Some of the drycleaning owners and fabricare professionals I have talked to recently have expressed a mix of sentiments about the tough times we are all living through during the coronavirus. It’s challenging. It is causing you to worry about your business, about your team, and about the health of your family and community.

But there are hopeful signs too. One drycleaning owner said the drycleaning side declined but the laundry side increased. He said he’s keeping his team members working. Another said routes are the key to keeping things moving. Still another served healthcare personnel and emergency responders with complimentary cleaning to support them. And some operators are sharing plant machines to share costs and get by. Some team members have had to file for unemployment benefits and some operations are looking into loans to get through.

The cover story brings you fellow garment care voices from across the U.S. sharing many of the thoughts you all have right now. As you read, you are figuring how best to cope, and you are optimistic with hope. Cope and hope go together. We need both.

Our Exhibit In Print section brings you booth surfing by fingertip in an off Clean Show year. Check out businesses showing their wares in print. Also, there is a Special Feature, How Steve Grashoff Got Eco Friendly by Haley Jorgensen about his operation in Indiana and his focus on the cost side. And other features in this issue as well.

I know you are continuing to do what you do best: Serve your clients, neighbors and your community with your cleaning abilities and your love. They need you now more than ever. But be safe and stay well. Together we will cope and get by. That’s all of us using our good sense, keeping hopeful, and moving along thru this. Stay healthy. 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 87, number 2. 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, 2020. 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, May 2020

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

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

Digital Media Director

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

Production Manager Mathew Pawlak

Advisory Board

Jan Barlow Mike Bleier John-Claude Hallak Wesley Nelson Kyle Nesbit Mike Nesbit Fred Schwarzmann Beth Shader

Contributing Editors

Dan Miller Diana Vollmer Martin Young

Office Information

Main: 312-361-1700

Subscriptions 630-739-0900 x100 www.american drycleaner.com

Tim Burke

How to Cut Labor Costs While Increasing Productivity

White Conveyors’ OAS is the perfect solution to expand your existing business, improve customer service and increase profits. Order Assembly couldn’t be easier.

The OAS significantly reduces your labor costs while greatly increasing productivity. What’s more, order accuracy is optimized, and employee morale is improved as fatigue is virtually eliminated.

And if that were not enough, savings from reduced labor costs combined with increased productivity typically results in a return on investment in less than one year.*

The system can be delivered and operational the same day. As an option, it can be mounted on wheels for mobility or storage. It couldn’t be easier. Isn’t it time to realize remarkable time and money savings?

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Highly Accurate and Reliable greatly reduces the chance for human errors

Reliable, Robust and Durable Construction with average operational lifespan of 25+ years

USA Based Manufacturer for over 75 Years remote diagnostics, setting adjustments and troubleshooting assistance reduces downtime, and minimizes the need for an on-site service technician

* ROI is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Coping With COVID-19

When asked recently in this special 2020 American Drycleaner Your Views survey to tell us: “How is COVID-19 impacting your drycleaning business?” Here is what respondents say:

“Very hard, business is down,” says 78%. “Hard, but we’re finding ways to hang in there,” relates 21%. “It’s tough but we’re doing better than we thought,” notes 1%, and nobody resonded to “Little or no impact.” See the graphic.

The survey then asks this: “How are you dealing with COVID-19 at your drycleaning business?”

Respondents answer as follows:

• “Laying off some employees, cutting store hours.”

• “We have scaled production back by 50-60%. We have tried to maintain our business hours but with fewer employees. We are working to get the word out that we are open for service.”

• “Cutting payroll and expenses. Deferred all rents, and loans for 90 days. Only paying utilities and supplies.”

• “Family working only.”

• “Only working three days a week. Trying to stay afloat.”

• “Reacquainting myself with the joys of shirt pressing and drycleaning pressing.”

• “Calling customers that have orders in inventory and remind them to pick up. Also advertising: ‘Protect your family! Clean & Sanitize you’re clothes daily!’”

• “Retail is gone. Lucky I have a contract with a state angency.”

• “Closed til further notice.”

• “I have one plant that is high-end with good dollars per piece. Sales down by half. I laid off my shirt presser, and my silk presser so now my dry cleaner is doing everything. I still have my afternoon counter person and my route driver but I still may not be profitable.”

• “Plexiglass sneeze barrier installed at counter.”

• “We are open 1/2 days, offering curbside drop-off and pickup.”

Drycleaner,

The survey asks: “What are some of the ways your business is doing more to reach out to clients right now?”

Respondents indicate: “Making personal phone calls, texts and emails,” says 29%. “Making special deliveries and pickups,” notes 16%. “Sending out materials to let clients know of all our services during these times,” says 8%. “All of those things,” say 30%. And another 17% answer, “Other methods,” which include “Yelp ads,” and “Portable roadside signage.”

The survey also asks respondents: “How are you and your team personally coping with the coronavirus?”

Answers, as follows:

• “One day at a time.”

• “Trying to keep social distancing, and stay healthy.”

• “It’s very tough, we’re cleaning, cleaning.”

• “Trying to stay upbeat and caring for each other.”

• “Maintaining positive attitude.”

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.

Garment Care Copes With COVID-19

Fabricare industry voices share their stories and hopes

By Tim Burke

COVID-19 is affecting all parts of our world right now. In the garment care industry we asked several drycleaning owners to tell us how they are coping with COVID-19.

The following are opinions from garment care owners and operators from across the United States.

MIDWEST

Rafiq Karimi, Jr., co-founder and CEO, of Chicagoarea CD One Price Cleaners describes his business this way: “All 36 of our midwest locations are open, although on reduced hours and without same day service.”

He notes: “We are of course regularly cleaning and sanitizing hard surfaces such as counters, railings, credit card machines, workstations and equipment. We are also enforcing frequent, proper hand-washing practices by all of our store team members.”

Karimi points out that, “Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily suspended our self-serve ‘free gourmet coffee’ service in order to minimize the chance for contamination. Lastly, many of our stores offer a 24/7 express drop box that requires significantly less interaction with staff so we encouraging customers to take advantage of that free service.” Adding that some of their stores are even temporarily offering curbside pickup.

“In addition,” he explains, “our franchisees really wanted to step up to the plate to assist those that are on the front-lines of this pandemic. Therefore, at 34 of our locations we are offering to do the laundry for healthcare workers and first responders while they remain busy taking care of our communities.”

Karimi adds: “Any front-line healthcare worker, police officer, fire fighters, or EMT just needs to bring in a valid ID and we will sort, wash, dry, and fold up to 20 pounds of their wash and fold laundry every single week through the end of April.”

COVID-19 has dramatically affected our world. Garment care is coping and doing what it can to stay safe, and help their community, like for instance an owner in the Chicago area. “We are offering to do the laundry for healthcare workers and first responders while they remain busy taking care of our communities,” says Rafiq Karimi, Jr., co-founder and CEO, of CD One Price Cleaners. The program went on in March and through April. (Photo by: CD One Price Cleaners)

EAST

One operator in New York has seen a rise in his laundry business recently amidst the coronavirus.

Todd Ofsink, owner of Todd Layne Cleaners in New York City says: “Since we are in the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, our business has been impacted. The drycleaning portion of our business has decreased dramatically and the laundry component has increased.”

“My friend who also owns a cleaners in another city and I both have been proactively calling every single customer who has an in-store order and offering them complimentary delivery along with our normal route customers,” relates Joe Hebeka, owners of Belding Cleaners in the Detroit area.

“The customers have been super appreciative of that offer and we have seen a high success rate with it. Hopefully we can retain them as regular route customers. It’s also helping keep things moving for now,” Hebeka says.

“I also reduced hours at two of my other smaller stores temporarily. Other than that, my staff is working through things with me. Counter traffic has slowed but we’re still seeing some activity,” he shares.

Hebeka follows up: “I’m sure others are doing this but I had my seamstress make 50 face masks and I brought them to the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce where I’m on the board of directors. They in turn are taking the masks to individuals that are still working at essential businesses. Tried to stay open as long as possible until the governor shut us down. We ran our delivery route as long as we could even with our storefronts closed.”

DLI

Mary Scalco, CEO of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) relates: “We are hearing from members across the country that they are understandably seeing a decline in business. Many have instituted curbside pickup in addition to their route service or lockers — anything they can do to make it more convenient and safer for their customers and employees. Most have shortened hours and those that have multiple stores have closed some and rerouted work. Some have their alterations departments making non-surgical masks out of cloth to help keep patients from infecting doctors and nurses.”

This is the time members need DLI and their local associations to ensure they are getting the most up to date and verifiable information as we all work through this crisis, adds Scalco.

WEST

Ofsink describes conditions: “Many of our customers have either left NYC or are working from home. We reduced our hours and kept our core full-time employees working. All of our current promotions let our customers know that we are open and have implemented new sanitizing procedures.”

He says: “When they say to ‘save for a rainy day,’ this is what they were talking about. We look forward to things getting back to normal.”

MIDWEST

Some owners are reaching out to their clients to offer convenient delivery, like one such operator.

On the west coast, like many U.S. owners, this one owner is thinking about his team members especially.

Bobby Patel, owner of Kona Cleaners in the Orange County, Calif. area, and co-partners in the marketing firm BeCreative360, notes: “I am a very positive person but in this case I don’t have anything positive to say. No one in our lifetime has seen anything like this. Business will decline before it gets better.”

Patel says, “When our clients are not working, they don’t have anything to dry clean. I am most concerned about our team members. The staff will be eligible for unemployment benefits.”

Todd Ofsink is owner of Todd Layne Cleaners in NYC. His laundry component has increased, he says. (Photo by: Todd Layne Cleaners)

Another garment care operator on the west coast, Dave Suber, owner of Perfect Cleaners in Los Angeles points out, “We are considered an ‘Essential Business’ by the mayor of Los Angeles who specifically named dry clean ers. Business has dropped off a lot as you can imagine, we do mass emailings to our database, household specials plus a lot of fluff and fold. Thank god we have routes.”

maining employees and following all recommended protocols. It is a very uncertain time right now but there may be positives that come out of this when it is all done.”

MIDWEST

Tom Zengeler, owner of Zengeler Cleaners in the Chicago area has connected with friends and partners such as Bill Odorizzi from Sankosha and Jeff Fox from Washburn Machinery to check and see how they were doing.

Also, Zengeler notes: “I belong to two industry groups for decades, Roundtable and Management Concepts, and both groups had conference calls for all members to help one another through this difficult time.”

Zengeler adds this: “My loyal employees have been unbelievable during this time to help me operate as efficiently as possible. My loyal customers want to continue to do business with us to support us during this down time in business.”

EAST

Winzer Cleaners owner Bruce Barish relates that recently, New York City area stitchers, as many as 300 he notes, have volunteered to make non-surgical gowns at their homes to donate to healthcare and received the go-ahead in early April. Another way to reach out to the community to cope and help in these times.

USA

In speaking with other garment care owners around the U.S. and reading their answers to American Drycleaner’s recent Coping With COVID-19 survey, they include:

• “Shorter hours, laying off employees who are getting unemployment, sanitizing and cleaning.”

• “Essential Services and laundry service…. Thank goodness we can stay open.”

• “The personal situations of owners and team members are paramount. We’re closed for their safety.”

• “We are doing the best we can, and doing whatever we have to do, in order to get through this.”

MIDWEST

Brian Cass, co-owner with brother Dave of Metro Milwaukee Martinizing says that, “Things are very hard right now. Our state has issued a stay at home order and only essential businesses are supposed to be open. Fortunately, cleaners are essential.”

Cass notes that: “We have closed all 11 of our stores and are doing pickup and delivery only. We are reaching out to clients via email, social media and phone calls. We have contacted our landlords and vendors about stopping payments. Cash is essential right now, so we are trying to conserve as much of it as we can.”

Cass adds: “We are providing protective gear to the re-

American Drycleaner, May 2020

These thoughts from owners and operators in garment care show how they, and you, are trying their best to cope with COVID-19 right now, such as:

Laundering services, special pickups and drop-offs, route business, emphasizing cleaning services, more social media messages, and owners helping support their communities and keeping their teams safe and healthy.

Reduced hours and staff layoffs have happened at many operations, and some owners are partnering with fellow owners to share plant services during reduced production. In these tough times business is down, as garment care owners tell us. Some have closed and stayed home and hope to re-open.

To you, your family, your team and your clients: Be safe, stay well, and get through COVID-19. ADC

Essential Business is a designation for businesses, like at many drycleaning operations, which can continue to operate and clean clothing during the coro navirus. (Photo by: CD One Price Cleaners)

Booth Surf with American Drycleaner

Go smoothly along in your own style, at home or work, with our unique, fingertip-friendly “booths in print”

Booth surf your own way with our 2020 Exhibit In Print in these following pages, where you can check out companies from home or work!

Note: The times being what they are right now, with many working from home, checking out these booths might be the only way to see an exhibit.

Enjoy our booths from your home or office. Style thru by fingertip, along our aisles in print, with this easy to use and no hassle 2020 Exhibit in Print.

CleanCloud

CleanCloud describes itself as the, “Leading cloud-based software used by dry cleaners and laundromats in over 70 countries. Revolutionary POS software works with any computer, tablet or smartphone. CleanCloud is fast, easy to use and raises our customers’ productivity.”

Sankosha USA, Inc.

With regular updates and new features added at no extra charge, the company says they allow their customers to future-proof their business by always meeting consumer demands. “We also provide pickup

and delivery apps for iOS and Android allowing your customers to book, pay and manage their orders. Find out why over 1,000 stores in the U.S. rely on us every day to run their business.”

www.cleancloudapp.com 0-208-629-1097

Sankosha USA was incorporated in early 1993 and has been in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove, Ill., since that time. “Currently housed at this facility are our sales, parts, service, administrative offices and a newly designed stateof-the-art showroom,” the company notes, adding that, “A full complement of replacement parts, includ-

ing covers and pads are stocked here. Most part orders are shipped on the same day received. Our Customer First credo carries over to welcoming customers and guests to our office as well as having in-field representatives to assist our customers in the U.S. and Canada.”

Sankosha relates that it manufactures machines to be sophisticatedly simple for the garment care industry. “Our goal is for our customers to be able to produce the finest quality finished product while experiencing our unparalleled reliability.”

www.sankosha-inc.com 888-427-9120

Poseidon Textile Care Systems

Poseidon Textile Care Systems® safely wet cleans and dries even the most delicate items without shrink age or damage. In doing so, the company says it, “Outperforms traditional dry cleaning at a third of the cost, while using a fraction of the space and time.”

The firm’s system offers what it describes as innova tive programmability for complete control over every conditional aspect of the wet cleaning, drying and iron ing process. “Customers are thrilled when even their most delicate garments including tailored wool suits, cashmere sweaters and silks come back with a cleaner smell, better odor removal and an overall superior clean,” it notes.

The company relates that it “Harnesses highly pro grammable wetcleaning machines and new-technology dryers for superior results. Finally, virtually any wet cleaned item can be fully dried before finishing thanks to com plete control over every conditional aspect of the wet cleaning and drying process,” it adds.

www.poseidonwetcleaning.com 800-482-3400

SPOT Business Systems

SPOT Business Systems LLC provides a comprehensive software and services plat form for the drycleaning industry, the firm notes. Since its inception in 1990, SPOT says it has, “Always been committed to be the leader and to help you get the most out of your software investment.”

In addition to hundreds of user friendly features, the company relates, its new and updated features include, “Our customercentric Notification Center; Delivery Console web app; RouteTrac mobile app; assignable bag tags; On Demand route logic; inter-office SMS/text messaging; MyDryCleaner mobile app; CustomerConnect web app; integrated credit card processing; SPOT Learning Academy, and enhanced assembly and garment tracking system.”

The company began, it notes, by offering hosted “Software as a Service” in 1999, providing real-time centralization long before the modern day “cloud” became popular. “With nine full-time software devel opers and 24 Customer Success agents, SPOT is ready to help you gain that competitive edge.”

www.spotpos.com 801-208-2212

Union Drycleaning Products

Since its inception in 1976, Union has been the benchmark by which all other drycleaning systems are measured, the company says. It leads the field in high-quality design and construction, incorporating continual advances in technology made possible by its creative and visionary research team.

Union continues to develop new products and features. “We have continued to make advancements in technol ogy, such as our I-Connect system, which allows users to remotely ‘log in’ to their drycleaning machine and store data,” the company says.

Parker Boiler Co.

“This is our new 100 series-WW (Low NOx) Water Wall Design 9.6 HP, 150 PSI Steam Boiler,” says Parker Boiler Co., adding that it has been, “Conducting extensive testing on this new Vertical Water Wall Design from 2015 til today and has installed several beta sites to see performance in the field.”

Standard Heavy Duty 1” tubes are used with a 0.12” wall thickness, it notes, pointing out that the tubes are bent around the flame creating a water wall fur nace. A large ½” thick seam less horizontal steam drum is used for a steady water line and clean dry steam produc tion, with a footprint similar to vertical tubeless boiler, the company notes. The sealed combustion design, it says, raises efficiency with lower excess air and minimizes heat loss to the room.

www.parkerboiler.com 323-727-9800

The firm has introduced several new models, including a Tandem machine and the Express. It continues to work with all the solvent manufacturers to ensure that its drycleaning machines are the most efficient, with traditional solvents and newer solvents, and adds that its machines are environmentally friendly as well.

The company notes it has a staff of trained and dedi cated professionals “available to help before, during and after the purchase of your drycleaning machine.”

www.uniondc.com 800-433-9401

Air World Pads and Covers

Air World Pads and Covers has just achieved a mile stone in the industry, the company says, celebrating 20 years in business. In March of 1998, the firm began operations in a small building in Paterson, N.J., with a cutting table, a handful of sewing machines “and a dream,” it explains.

Led by Sam Oh, company president; John Rizzuto, a founding partner; and shortly thereafter, Michael Oh, the firm has become a leader in pad and cover manufacturing in the United States, it says. Contributing to its growth is its implementation of new silicone technologies to the market. These tech nologies have provided end-users with more effi cient garment finishing and longer pad life, it notes.

The company positioned itself for continued growth by acquiring a 32,000-square-foot facility in Mahwah, N.J.

www.airworldpads.com 888-720-4080

WE CHEER!

WE CHEER!

As our world comes together to win the race against adversity,

As our world comes together to win the race against adversity, We cheer the hundreds of thousands of courageous first responders caring for those who are affected.

We cheer the hundreds of thousands of courageous first responders caring for those who are affected.

We cheer, too, for our entire professional garment care industry supporting those who are running the race. We are proud to be associated with GreenEarth Affiliates around the globe as they join our entire industry in delivering sanitized garment care in their communities.

We cheer, too, for our entire professional garment care industry supporting those who are running the race. We are proud to be associated with GreenEarth Affiliates around the globe as they join our entire industry in delivering sanitized garment care in their communities. Thank you all for the essential services you are providing!

Thank you all for the essential services you are providing!

www.greenearthcleaning.com

www.greenearthcleaning.com

iDryclean

“Do you clean? If so, you need iDryclean Smart Registers,” this company says. “You’ll welcome how easy the smart registers are to ring up sales. Gone is the ‘computer’ complexity, here is the ease of use of a simple cash register.”

The firm notes you can control prices, employees and sales from in your store or on the road. Small stores, large stores, one register,

NIE Insurance

Business Insurance Since 1915

NIE’s full legal name is National Fire and Indemnity Exchange, the company relates. It was founded by dry clean ers in 1915 as the National Association of Dyers & Cleaners Inter-Insurance Exchange. The firm has insured thou sands of drycleaners,it says.

The company’s workforce spends all its work time insuring fabricare busi nesses. “They have already dealt with

10 registers, one store, lots of stores. It relates: “iDryclean helps get the job done and can also be used with your existing computer and printers and is the recom mended register for new stores by green cleaner business builders.”

The firm says it offers new registers preloaded, and adds that, “For a limited time, get free in-store installation for new customers.”

www.iDryclean.com 800-950-6767

White Conveyors

White Conveyors has the perfect solution, in the form of the SUV-OAS (Order Assembly System), to expand your existing business, improve cus tomer service and increase profits, the company says.

Utilizing only the highest-quality components, the SUV-OAS requires only one operator and is delivered assembled and operational the

same day. Some major features include the ability to organize/track all garments for every order and delivering the next available slot using the quickest path.

most any problem your drycleaning business will ever face,” it points out. Dry cleaners can work directly with its experts or, if they prefer, can access the firm through their local agent.

The company reports that its “finan cial ratios are stronger than most insur ance industry giants. Plus, NIE’s rein surers’ surplus exceeds $14 billion.”

www.nieinsurance.com 800-325-9522

“Customers can expect a return on their investment within 18 months or less,” says the firm. “Even in the most demand ing environments, the SUV-OAS will provide unmatched performance and relentless reliability.”

www.white-conveyors.com 908-686-5700

Itsumi USA, Inc.

Itsumi Seisakusho was first started in January 1951, when the former president Sakuhei Gomi built a factory in Tokyo and started manufacturing various press machinery for laundry use. Itsumi USA, Inc., was established in 1997 and the presi dent today is Sammy Ahn. The company’s main prod uct line includes:

Shirt Finishers: Over 5 models; laundry presses: Over 15 models; dry finishers: Over 20 models; and rotary dryers: Over 5 models. The firm’s prod uct lines, it notes, also include double buck shirt finishers and single buck shirt finishers, pants top pers, legger press, quad collar cuff, double collar cuff, and more. Highlighted on its website right now is the BT-550 which the firm says will achieve double buck results and has a unique patented buck design with 25 degrees of movement from left to right which results in fast, efficient, and easy operation. One person is capable of producing the same quality of shirts as when using two single buck machines, it adds.

www.itsumiusa.com 201-786-6276

GreenEarth Cleaning

GreenEarth Cleaning was formed in 1999 to provide our industry with an environmentally non-toxic dryclean ing process. Since its incep tion, GreenEarth notes, it has grown to a global network with over 2,000 members located on every continent.

“Members are licensed to use proprietary branded products and procedures that allow optimized sustain ability through lower energy usage, reduced additives costs, less labor and the elimination of waste removal costs,” it relates.

Additionally it adds, technical guidance and sup port are available electronically on a 24/7 basis as well as via on-site training visits. Marketing expertise and advice regarding in store and direct-to-consumer digital and social messaging is provided to members upon request and can also be custom tailored for specific markets. “On-going national and international advertis ing supporting the network continues to feature our members and the important services they provide,” the company says.

www.greenearthcleaning.com 877-926-0895

Fabricare Systems LLC

For over 20 years, Fabricare Manager has exclusively pro vided a stable and reliable Point of Sale system, the firm notes. “We were one of the first touch screen computer systems and we offer both cloud and stand-alone sys tems,” it relates. “We continue to innovate and revolu tionize the industry today. Our Customer Gateway allows your customers to manage their account, sign-up for a route, add and manage card on file, see order status and view their order history.”

Drycleaner,

The company notes that route manag ers can use Geo-Fencing to map out customer locations to see which route best fits. “Our software uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimize your routes using past and current traffic patterns to guide you,” it says. “We offer production tracking, assisted assembly and integration with all the leading assembly companies. We offer onsite installation and training. As always our customer support is second to none. Just ask our customers!”

www.fabricaremanager.com 888-299-9493

CRDN is looking for qualified candidates to acquire these franchise territories immediately. Additional territories may be available.

CRDN, as a network, has grown every year since its inception in 2001, including through tough economic times in the US and Canada, including the events of 9/11 and the recession of 2008 and 2009. There is no offperiod for residential and commercial insurance claims and, as such, we believe there will always be a need for insurance restoration services.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. This offering is made by prospectus only. The franchisor, Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network, LLC, is located at 2060 Coolidge Hwy, Berkley, MI 48072, and is registered as File Number 4214 in the state of Minnesota.

Olin Corporation

For more than 70 years, Olin’s DOWPER™ sol vent has been the preferred non-flammable, noncombustible, and VOC-exempt option in North America for effective dry cleaning, the firm says.

“Our closed-loop delivery system allows for safe handling by capturing and returning vapors to the small volume refillable (SVR) container, virtually eliminating spills — protecting both workers and the environment,” it relates.

Cleaner Business Systems

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

DOWPER is essential in the drycleaning busi ness, the company points out, “because of its effi cient solvency, ease of recycling, and unmatched cleaning performance with shorter cycle times for more loads.”

The firm notes that its DOWPER solvent is backed by both its trained distribution channel representatives and its knowledgeable and experi enced global technical team.

www.olin.com 989-486-6709

Cleaner Business Systems is used by clean ers of all types and sizes to increase profitability, grow business and save time, the company says. Any size operation will like the software’s detailed reporting, easy-to-use interface, time-saving functionality, and ability to manage their store(s) from almost anywhere with CBS Connected.

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

www.cleanerbusiness.com 800-406-9649

EZProducts International

EzProducts International, located in Florida, has manufactured heatseal presses since 1989. With its EzPress®, PopUpPress® and AirPress® models, you can apply permanent heat-seal labels to your customers’ garments for identification. This will eliminate the cost of paper tags and the labor to apply them.

The company has printers for text labels and can print sequentially numbered bar-code heat-seal labels and ship them to you in one day. EZProducts’ heat-seal presses have interchangeable lower platens, are lightweight, have

a small footprint and have advanced features. The presses have the high est safety certification in the world, TUV SUD, and are approved by UL and OSHA, the company says.

EzProducts now manufactures the original Rope-Ties and Zip-Ties once produced by MBH Enterprises. Eliminate tangled sleeves in shirts in washing machines and save time, labor, water and detergent.

If you need to remove a permanent text or bar-code label, then EzLabelOff will do it.

www.ezpi.us 877-906-1818

American Drycleaner, May 2020 www.americandrycleaner.com

By Tim Burke, Editor

Call for stories and photos of when you cleaned something of a patriotic nature for a veteran or service personnel. Be part of our July special feature.

E-mail your photos and story to: tburke@atmags.com.

We’re asking drycleaning owners to share stories of a patriotic nature from the fabricare industry.

So many dry cleaners do things for U.S. service personnel and veterans, including cleaning uniforms, flags and more. And maybe you have a veteran who comes in your store or one who has worked for you. Send us your photos and stories so we can put them together in our reader favorite Red, White and Blue (And You) special feature coming in the July issue. The Red, White and Blue (And You) special feature

helps celebrate our country’s Fourth of July spirit in our own fabricare style. But we can’t share these great stories and images without your help! The three photo examples shown above were from last year. Won’t you help out this year and share a story and a couple photos of something of a special patriotic nature — something you’ve cleaned related to our veterans or our fire, police and EMT personnel.

E-mail tburke@atmags.com. Email by May 15! Thank you very much!

ADC

Photos: Peerless Cleaners

Photo: Glyndon Lord Baltimore Cleaners

Huntington Group

Now, more than ever, the Huntington Group notes, it is time to think about diversifying and growing your dry cleaning business and Certified Restoration DryCleaning Network (CRDN) is the leading expert in textile and elec tronic resto ration. “We serve as part of the emergency response team, work ing with poli cyholders, insurance representatives, and contractors to restore peace of mind after a disaster.”

CRDN franchise partners have been providing emer gency response as a formalized network for 19 years, have cleaned millions of individual garments, household textiles, and electronic devices, the firm relates. There is no off-period for residential and commercial insurance claims. The restoration services CRDN provides have been considered essential in many states where shelter in place orders have been mandated, it adds, “allowing us to operate despite the interruption of so many other industries. Learn more today about CRDN and its need for business owners to take over critical franchise ter ritories immediately.”

www.thinkhuntington.com 248-246-7876

Luetzow Industries

Luetzow Industries manufactures Gussetless Poly. But also biode gradable poly. If you are familiar with the Metalprogetti and Sankosha auto baggers, the company notes, they use this type of poly because it is easier to tear on the perforations as well as much easier to open up when sliding over a garment. It’s a 25” 27” or 28” wide poly with no pleats/gussets, it adds.

Free Ready Wraps

Garment cover distributor Free Ready Wraps announces its nationwide Hang With Us cam paign. Select dry cleaners receive 25,000 foldover 20” garment covers absolutely free for par ticipating, the compa ny relates.

As company founder Bill Jarvis explains, the program was developed as a comeback initia tive: “I was a drycleaning owner for 24 years, and I know how demanding it is to run a successful plant even in a strong economy,” says Jarvis. “The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded that challenge for all businesses. Small businesses can answer that challenge through a state ment of confidence that says: ‘We are making a comeback through the unified power of our community.’ The Hang With Us campaign puts dry cleaners in a position of sponsoring that mes sage, which ideally postures them as small busi ness leaders in a post-COVID-19 economy.” Call toll free or visit our website for details.

www.freereadywraps.com 800-549-7192

These same principles are trans ferred over to manual assembly operations, offering greater speed

as well as the garments are less apt to get wrinkles or jostled by tugging a poly bag over the garment, the firm adds. “It’s not revolutionary, but I always keep my eye open for any way I can improve my customers efficien cy and experience when using the poly I manufacture,” says owner Ryan Luetzow.”

www.luetzowind.com 800-558-6055

CHRIS

Tell us where you were born, grew up, and reside today?

“Born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y., stop in Jacksonville, Fla., and currently residing in Naples, Fla.”

Hobbies (that you’ll admit to)?

“Enjoy golfing and watching on TV.”

What gets you excited at work?

“The 12,000 sq. ft. processing facility at Platinum laid out in a se-

Get To Know ... Chris and Craig Bamberg

quence that is amazing to watch. Our staff makes this thing tick!”

Lastly, tell us a secret (keep it clean) nobody knows about you?

“I root for a struggling football team every year. Go Bills!”

CRAIG

Tell us where you were born, grew up, and reside today?

“Born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y., currently residing in Naples, Fla..”

Hobbies (that you’ll admit to)?

“I enjoy driving the coastal routes from Marco Island, Fla., to Captiva Island, Fla., as well as golfing.”

What gets you excited at work?

“Platinum has a fleet of five delivery vehicles and I get excited at the view from my office window as they exit our production facility each morning!”

Lastly, tell us a secret (keep it clean) nobody knows about you?

“I am a major fan of James Bond books and movies. I was at the London Royal Albert Hall red carpet premiere of Spectre in 2015. ADC

(Do you want to take part in an Off the Cuff, or know someone who does? E-mail tburke@atmags.com.)

Owners of Platinum Dry Cleaners Chris Bamberg on left, and Craig Bamberg on right. (Photo by Platinum Dry Cleaners.)

Brothers, and owners of Platinum Dry Cleaners

Iowa Techniques

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

Owning an Iowa Techniques Drop Box means your drycleaning operation is never truly closed, the company says. If you were your cus tomer, when would you find time to come to your shop?

Royal Basket Trucks

A convenient, 24-hour dropoff solution for “after-hours” cus tomers enables an operation to keep business rather than driving customers to the competition. Be the most convenient

business in town with an Iowa Techniques Drop Box — both free-

standing (garment bags are easy to remove from the locked lower stor age area) and wall (can be mounted through glass windows or through walls up to a foot thick) versions are available.

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

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

www.iowatechniques.com 800-727-1592

Royal Basket Trucks says it strives to offer efficient material-handling solutions and a valu able long-term investment. Royal produces a full line of basket trucks, poly trucks, bulk linen carts, wire laundry carts, hampers and more.

Efficiency is important when transporting and processing laundry, but even more impor tant is ensuring that the process is done cor rectly the first time, says the company. By investing in Royal’s Poly Scale Cart, your company can do just that.

The Poly Scale Cart features a molded poly tub, in 6- or 8-bushel capacity, mounted to a powder-coated

Realstar

Realstar is an established compa ny that has earned itself a reputation as one of the highest-quality manu facturers of drycleaning machines, the company notes. It boasts a complete range of solutions for the most demanding of dry cleaners. You will find Realstar machines ver satile, practical, and economical, the company adds.

The KM-C Series is the lat est addition to Realstar’s line of

tubular steel frame. The frame houses a digital scale rated for up to 250 pounds, backed by a lifetime warranty. This unit allows accurate weighing of soiled linens to support the proper loading of a washer; correct chemical and water usage; lower maintenance costs from overworked equip ment; and less rewash. Legal-for-trade scales are also available for any retail laundry processing.

www.royal-basket.com 800-426-6447

machines, available in 40- and 60-pound capacities. This series has self-cleaning, round solvent tanks. These new models feature non-distillation dry cleaning, and an air-cooled refrigeration system that requires no water, designed to save costs of acquisition and opera tion while at the same time protect ing our environment.

Professional dry cleaners know they can count on Realstar technol

ogy and design to produce the fin est possible cleaning results utilizing Class IIIA solvents, the company says.

www.realstarusa.com 888-822-7827

American Drycleaner, May 2020 www.americandrycleaner.com

Blame Satin

By Tim Burke, Editor

Satin is not a fiber! Yikes!@#&!

Did you realize?! (Bet you didn’t!)

Consult any dictionary and you will find something like: “A smooth, glossy fabric, usually of silk, produced by a weave in which the threads of the warp are caught and looped by the weft only at certain intervals. Think of flowing skirts made of satin.”

Wikipedia enriches us further with their smooth talk: “The satin weave is characterized by four or more fill or weft yarns floating over a warp yarn, four warp yarns floating over a single weft yarn. Floats are missed interfacings; for example where the warp yarn lies on top of the weft in a warp-faced satin. These floats explain the high luster and even sheen, as unlike in other weaves.”

Trying to describe satin, Norman Oehlke pens in American Drycleaner’s Complete Spotting Guide: “This is a smooth, lustrous weave.” Calling it a, “Floating yarn that adds luster and sheen to fabric.”

Wefts? Yarns that float? Warp? ….What is this a Star Trek convention? It all feels a little confusing. Here’s all we really know for sure about satin: The Moody Blues sang, Nights in White Satin, never reaching the end, letters I’ve written, never meaning to send—

So from these lyrics we learn all we need to know about this silky weave. Apparently people long ago, when wearing satin, didn’t care to mail their letters. Sounds like they had issues with their local postal service. It becomes quite clear we can probably blame any faulty mail service on satin! ADC

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

SPECIAL FEATURE

How Steve Grashoff Got Eco-Friendly

By Haley Jorgensen

“I believe there’s as much money to be made by controlling expenses as bringing in more sales,” says Steve Grashoff, president of Peerless Cleaners (Peerless) and CRDN of Northern Indiana, in Fort Wayne. “Some dry cleaners are so concerned about what’s coming in the front door, they don’t realize what it’s costing them in the back.”

(Above) Steve Grashoff, president of Peerless Cleaners (Peerless) and CRDN of Northern Indiana, in Fort Wayne, Ind. “I found that wet cleaning is more effective and productive than dry cleaning when it comes to heavy-smoke restoration,” says Grashoff. (Photos by: Peerless Cleaners)

(Right) Peerless relies on a mix of Poseidon wetcleaning machines and new-technology Poseidon dryers to process textile restoration and commercial laundry work. The Poseidon dryers cut dry time by 50 percent, according to owner Steve Grashoff.

The Poseidon flatwork ironer features an integrated folder that’s significantly improved production and quality, according to Grashoff. It irons damp bed and table linens straight from the wetcleaning machines and automatically performs pre-folding.

Purchased in 2000 by Steve Grashoff and his wife, Laurie, Peerless draws from multiple revenue streams, including commercial laundry, fire restoration, wedding gown preservation, household laundry, dry cleaning, laundered shirts, alterations, and Easy Cycle wash/dry/fold.

Making it simple, Peerless offers free pickup and delivery. “We don’t turn anything away,” says Steve. “In our small market being able to handle it all is crucial.” Similarly, so is cost control.

When first purchased, Peerless operated from a leased space while utilizing perc drycleaning machines and several used pieces of equipment. But in 2015 Grashoff moved the business into a new, 32,000-square-foot facility. That’s when Grashoff and Michael “Stucky” Szczotka, of Eagle Star Equipment, put their heads together.

Szczotka is an experienced dry cleaner owner/operator and provider of drycleaning and laundry equipment in Troy, Mich. He helped Grashoff outfit his new plant with eco-friendly equipment that set the stage for improved production, efficiency and quality.

That equipment mix includes two 90-pound capacity K4 alternative solvent drycleaning machines, a 60- and two 90-pound capacity Poseidon soft-mount wet cleaning machines, three 60-pound capacity Poseidon dryers, and a 20inch Poseidon flatwork ironer with integrated folding system.

Peerless hasn’t been the same since. Business catapulted. The company gained new accounts, significantly grew commercial laundry services, became more effective in its fire restoration work, and effectively lowered utility and labor costs.

A MORE EFFECTIVE FIRE RESTORATION BUSINESS

Peerless has performed fire, flood and mold textile restoration as a franchise of Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network (CRDN) since 2003.

Prior to moving to the new building, Peerless success fully restored 90 percent of all incoming textiles impacted by fire and smoke. “Our restoration percentage was excellent,” says Grashoff, “but we still struggled with heavy-smoke items and the drycleaning process. I wanted to learn more about the best methods for removing heavysmoke so we could apply them at the new facility.”

After digging into best practices and talking with Szczotka, Steve Grashoff made wet cleaning his go-to restoration method.

“I found that wet cleaning is more effective and productive than dry cleaning when it comes to heavy-smoke restoration,” says Grashoff. “Dry cleaning involves extra steps to remove smoke odors that wet cleaning doesn’t.”

That’s why, since the move, textiles with heavy and medium smoke levels – even when dry-clean only – are processed through water using the plant’s Poseidon Textile Care System®.

In order to properly clean a huge variety of fabric types, the Poseidon wetcleaning machines are programmed with 45 unique wash programs. Each one delivers complete control over rotation action, fill levels, number of baths and rinses, water temperature, G-force extract speeds, and automatically injected chemical formulations. This makes it possible to restore textiles that could only be dry cleaned before, according to Grashoff.

“It’s amazing what we can wet clean,” Grashoff says. “We restore shoes, stuffed animals, clothing, drapes, pillows and even luggage. If needed, we can dial down rotation action to a gentle sloshing.”

After 30 to 45 minutes in the wash cycle, damp goods are transferred to a Poseidon dryer.

Offering phased programmability, the new technology dryers, like the wetcleaning machines, are programmed with 25 unique drying cycles to perfectly dry virtually anything – wool, synthetics, silk, taffeta, velvet. “We are adding programs daily,” he says.

Each dryer program offers a number of phases in which every variable of the drying process is precisely controlled, including drum rotation speed, drum rotation interval, moisture level, timed reversing, input air temperature, drying temperature, heating temperature, drying time and time limit. “There’s nothing like this dryer on the market today,” says Grashoff.

The dryers work by removing moisture very quickly, adds Szczotka. “They hit high drum temperatures extremely quickly in order to evaporate moisture without as much tumbling,” he says. Then, programmable moisture sensing ensures items dry to correct moisture levels, which prevents shrinkage and over-drying.

Most items come out of the dryers in 15 minutes with 10 percent residual moisture, according to Grashoff.

The plant’s Union K-4 alternative-solvent drycleaning machines use bio-degradable solvents for a greener operation.

“These cut drying time by 50 percent over the other dryers I have on the floor,” he says. “I have three Poseidon dryers and eight regular dryers,” says Grashoff. “With Poseidon, it’s like getting two dryers in one.”

Moreover, when compared with dry cleaning, the Poseidon system more effectively removes fire contaminants, according to Grashoff. “That’s good for us, the insurance company and the homeowner,” he says. “Thanks to our wetcleaning system, our heavy-smoke salvageable rate moved up from 50 to 90 percent.”

BOOSTED COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY REVENUE

And textile restoration isn’t the only surging revenue stream. Commercial laundry is up 75 percent. The plant’s new Poseidon ironer has opened doors to new business, including military bases, restaurants and hospitals.

“We service all three hospital networks in the area and process everything from lab and barrier coats, sheets and towels to curtains,” says Grashoff. “We do them all in the Poseidon system to treat them properly and ensure no contaminants get back to the hospital.” Anything that requires ironing is also processed using the Poseidon flatwork ironer and integrated folder.

Before, Peerless used an older ironer to iron sheets and pillowcases. “We did all the folding, which took a lot of time,” he says. Now, the new ironer’s integrated folder automatically pre-folds linens for significant time and labor savings.

“When items come out of the ironer, all we need to do is perform another flip,” says Grashoff. Moreover, with the new Poseidon ironer, linens are ironed while they are damp, straight from the wetcleaning machines. This eliminates time-consuming dryer preconditioning. All told, the Posei

The plant’s Poseidon wetcleaning machines are programmed with 45 unique wash programs. Each one delivers complete control over rotation action, fill levels, number of baths and rinses, water temperature, G-force extract speeds, and automatically injected chemical formulations.

don ironer has sped up processing time by 25-30 percent.

“We’ve branched out to new revenue streams within the commercial sector, including restaurants and catering companies,” says Grashoff. “There is no way we could have served catering with our old ironer because of a lack of quality. Now we can and we are picking up accounts all over the place.”

BALANCING PRODUCTION WITH EQUIPMENT ON THE FLOOR

While the Poseidon equipment could be used to clean anything that comes through the front door, it isn’t. Rather, good management involves balancing production with the equipment on the floor. “I have a lot of capacity in dry cleaning, so I need to use that as well,” says Grashoff.

Thus, he carefully picks and chooses what’s wet cleaned and dry cleaned based on production schedules and item type and condition. One thing is for sure, the Poseidon system has dramatically benefited business. And it’s done so at a third of the cost of dry cleaning.

Peerless Cleaners and CRDN of Northern Indiana, in Fort Wayne, Ind., operates from a 32,000-squarefoot facility. Outfitted with eco-friendly equipment, Peerless offers an array of services, including wedding gown preservation, textile restoration and commercial laundry.

“As I look back on spending $100,000 on drycleaning equipment, I wonder if I would have been better off with more wetcleaning machines instead,” says Steve. “The soaps are less expensive and I believe flexibility is greater in wet cleaning than with dry cleaning.” ADC

Haley Jorgensen is a public relations writer for commercial laundry equipment manufacturer Continental Girbau®.

Stitchers making non-surgical gowns

Volunteer stitchers in the New York City area, as many as 300, were given the go-ahead in early April by local officials to start making non-surgical gowns for healthcare use, says Bruce Barish, owner of Winzer Cleaners in NYC and one of the originators of the program idea.

TAG in San Antonio

The Tuchman Advisory Group (TAG) reports it met at Five Star Cleaners in San Antonio, Texas. The event was hosted by Richard and Sharlene Thum on February 5-7, 2020.

“We welcomed two new members,” TAG points out, “attending their first TAG meeting: Mike and Dar lene Micciche of Mike’s Eagle Cleaners in Rochester, N.Y., and Mark Porter of Porter’s Fine Dry Cleaning in Shreveport, La.”

TAG says the group toured the impressive Five Star Cleaner operation. Highlights included a visit to a recently remodeled drop store with lockers, the main plant, and their wedding gown division.

Fabric ready for pickup by volunteer stitchers to take back to their homes and make non-surgical gowns, to be brought back and delivered to collection points, and then taken to hospitals in need in the NYC area. (Photo: Winzer Cleaners)

Volunteers will pick up fabric at distribution points located in various locations around and in New York City and bring the raw materials back to their homes to stitch together garments that can be used by healthcare in a variety of ways, Barish notes.

“One of the owners of a studio in Times Square, Jeff Whiting, has been serving as the coordinator of this program,” Winzer relates.

“The goal is to make about 2,500 garments per day for healthcare workers, nurses, patients, whoever needs them,” Winzer adds.

The program got the go-ahead from state and local officials on Tuesday, April 7, and stitchers immediately began to pick up materials and start stitching the gowns back at their homes, he says.

Barish notes there are distribution points throughout the five boroughs of New York City and finished garments will be brought back, where they will be sent on to hospitals in need in the area.

The Tuchman Advisory Group (TAG) attendees, front row from left: Donavan Davis, Five Star Cleaners, San Antonio, Texas; Mary Combs, Judi’s Cleaners, Sacramento, Calif.; Darlene Micciche, Mike’s Eagle Cleaners, Rochester, N.Y.; Jana Janssen, GreenEarth Martinizing, Santa Fe, N.M.; Ellen Tuchman Rothmann, Tuchman Advisory Group; Lee Makepeace, Medlin-Davis North, Raleigh, N.C.; Chris Billoni, Colvin, Buffalo, N.Y.; Kevin Houston, Crest Cleaners, Cocoa, Fla.; Bruce Frankel, Eckhoff Wealth, San Rafael, Calif. Back row from left: David Makepeace, Medlin-Davis North, Raleigh, N.C.; Ben Combs, Judi’s Cleaners, Sacramento, Calif.; Mark Porter, Porter’s Fine Dry Cleaning, Shreveport, La.; Mike Micciche, Mike’s Eagle Cleaners, Rochester, N.Y.; Sharlene and Richard Thum, Five Star Clean ers, San Antonio, Texas; Rick Kirksey, Munro’s Dry Cleaning, Beaumont, Texas; Michael Jones, Highland Cleaners, Louisville, Ky.; Gary Futterman, Flair Cleaners, Los Angeles, Calif.; Drew Singer, Flair Cleaners, Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo: Tuchman Advisory Group)

Richard Thum, president of Five Star Cleaners re lates that, “It is very beneficial having other dry clean ers evaluate what you are doing right and what you are doing wrong. The fact that they understand the business helps when you are so deep in the forest you often can not see the trees.”

75th meeting of Sanitone licensees held

Licensees from across the country met in Boston earlier this year in late January for the Annual Meeting of New England Sanitone Licensees, the company reports.

“The group celebrated their 75th consecutive year with top-notch speakers, networking, and dining at the Four Seasons Boston,” Sanitone adds.

The program kicked off, the firm relates, with John Jordan, president of Fabritec, reflecting on 75 years of meetings and sharing updates from the company, includ ing product innovations and industry trends.

Norb Tamblyn, Sanitone area manager, provided news from the cleaning room around the New England area, it says.

Hailing from Massachusetts General Hospital, J. Stuart Ablon, Ph.D., gave a crash course in clinical psychology and human behavior. His speech focused on how to col laboratively solve problems by understanding the causes of behavior that lead to conflict.

Jeff Jordan, VP at Fabritec, followed with his topic of Saying Thanks in the Workplace. “Jeff emphasized the need for daily appreciation,” the firm relates, “and ways that employers can implement low-cost and highly effec tive recognition programs.” ADC

Conference attendees shown at the New England Sanitone 75th annual meeting held in Boston in late January. (Photo: Sanitone)

Air World Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

CleanCloud-Tailor Made London 20-21

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

Cleaner’s Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Continental Girbau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

EzProducts International . . . . . . . . . .38

Fabricare Systems, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . .9

Free Ready Wraps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

GreenEarth Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

iDryclean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Iowa Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Itsumi USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Kleerwite Chemical. . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

Luetzow Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Newhouse Specialty Co. . . . . . . . . . .39

NIE Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Olin Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

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

Realstar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Royal Basket Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Sankosha USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

SPOT Business Systems . . . . . . . . IFC

The Huntington Group. . . . . . . . . . . .25

Transworld Business Advisors . . . . .38

Union Drycleaning Products . . . . . .BC

White Conveyors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

2020 RATES: One- to five-time rate: $2.20 per word, boldface $2.30 per word. Minimum charge: $25.00 per ad. Call or write for our three- and 12-time rates. If box number is used, add cost of 5 words. Display classified rates are available on request. All major credit cards are accepted.

DEADLINE: Ads must be received by the 1st of the preceding month. For example, for a June ad, the closing date is May 1st.

WRINKLE IN TIME

TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

10 YEARS AGO. Consumer confidence held steady at 73.6% in March, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan index, even though forecasts expected it to fall slightly to 73.0. Americans who expect their incomes to increase over the next six months rose to 10.5% from 10.1% in February, and those expecting job growth in the next six months also increased, to 14.6% from 13%. Consumer dollars aren’t leading the current rebound, however.

35 YEARS AGO. Furniture Cover Problems. IFI’S analysis laboratory has recently received many complaints about furniture covers. Many of these complaints involve shrinkage, loss of hand, and fraying and separation of the seams. These problems are particularly common on two types of household fabrics — Herculon, which is made of a synthetic fiber, and Haitian cotton, a cellulose construction. Household items are not covered by the care labeling rule, so you must proceed with caution, IFI warns.

50 YEARS AGO. Inflationary Taxes. Time flies, according to Tax Foundation figures. This year (1970), the average American will have to work two hours and 43 minutes of an eight-hour work day to meet his taxes. That’s nine minutes a day more than last year. By contrast, he

“TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE….” begins a letter From Our FiveStar U.S. Generals & Admirals shown on the front cover of the American Drycleaner May 1945 issue. They ask citizens to invest in War Bonds to support, “Your sons, husbands and brothers,” fighting for victory, and freedom and peace, in war. Their signatures are at the bottom.

can earn his groceries and cigarettes by working 59 minutes, and his housing in 57 minutes a day. .… Drop Your Pants! A sign in front of an Ohio cleaners invites passersby to Drop Your Pants Off Here.

75 YEARS AGO. “TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! Your sons, husbands and brothers who are standing today upon the battlefronts are fighting for more than victory in war. They are fighting for a new world of freedom and peace. We, upon whom has been placed the responsibility of leading

the American forces, appeal to you with all possible earnestness to invest in War Bonds to the fullest extent of your capacity. Give us not only the needed implements of war, but the assurances and backing of a united people so necessary to hasten the victory and speed the return of your fighting men.” (This is what was printed on the front cover of the May 1945 issue of American Drycleaner, with signatures From Our Five-Star Generals & Admirals.)

— Compiled by Tim Burke, Editor

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