GATEWAY
Your community voice for the north! WEDNESDAY
September 18 2013
H
ard work can be dirty work, but thankfully Spotless Uniform and Linen Service is there to clean up any messes. The independent, Prince George family-owned company offers something for every business, from uniform rentals to linen laundering to customized welcome mats. Spotless Uniform has deep roots in the community spanning back more than 60 years, says CEO Shaun Heighington. In 1947, Heighington’s grandfather Norm opened Prince George’s first commercial and industrial steam laundry. His father Ken continued in the laundry business and also opened Plaza-4 Dry Cleaners on Fourth Avenue. More recently, Heighington and his staff of approximately 60 at Spotless Uniform have been providing Northern B.C. customers with competitive prices, customized programs and a strong focus on customer service. Spotless Uniform always supports the local economy by investing in northern B.C. “We have a payroll of almost $2 million a year and all of that money stays In our service areas,” says Helghlngton. “We pay our taxes here. We spend almost all of our money In our service areas. Unlike its competitors, Heighington says Spotless Uniform buys almost exclusively from customers and local companies. “Everything we can possibly get from our customers, we buy from our customers. We don’t buy our trucks from down south in the United States. For example, when we need trucks, we buy them from our customers,” he explains. As the largest independent, 100 per cent Canadian, family-owned uniform renta l company in Western Canada, Spotless Uniform provides service programs to all types of industries, including fabrication shops, mechanic shops, automotive
NEWS AND EVENTS FOR PRINCE GEORGE AND CENTRAL INTERIOR
SPOTLESS UNIFORM dealerships, pulp mills, sawmills, mines and more. As part of the full rental service, Spotless Uniform picks up the soiled uniforms and coveral ls, cleans and mends them and delivers them back to the customers. Spotless Uniform also offers the exclusive SPOTRACK Inventory Management System. Rental garments have unique barcode labels attached to them and are tracked throughout their life. Reports show the number of washes, orig inal install date and the last delivery date for each rental garment. The company rents, cleans and delivers items to restaurants, including tablecloths, napkins, towels and chef uniforms. As well, they provide commercial laundry services for work camps. Prince George and Northern B.C. bUSinesses can take advantage of Spotless Uniform’s entrance mat rentals, which they change on a set frequency to keep local entranceways clean. “We also provide paper towels, toilet tissue and hand soap that is delivered on a regu lar basis too,” says Heighington. Spotless Uniform sells uniforms, coveralls and customized welcome mats “We have something to offer any business,” says Heighington. Spotless Uniform provides its customers with much more flexibility than its competitors, says Heighington. “We’re an independent, family-owned company so we can do what we need to do to make our customers happy,” he explains. “The national companies that we compete With every day have very Inflexible, one-sided programs.” Spotless Uniform’s products and services are also
more cost effective than the national companies’ because their all-inclusive programs eliminate high ancillary and high item replacement charges, Heighington adds. “On an annual basis, the cost of doing business with us is going to be lower than the cost of doing business with any national company because of the lower ancilla ry charges, and more flexible programs.” Spotless Uniform also provides businesses with more thorough customer service due to solid communication and quick resolutions to any issues, Heighington says. “Our communication is far superior than the national companies,” he says. “There’s no ca ll centre where you get referred to somebody else and have to wait for a call back. Our customers can call us directly and can speak to somebody who knows
them and their account. We can then deal with any program changes or concerns Immediately.” Spotless Uniform, which recently bought a long time competitor, Northern Linen, “keeps growing” says Heighington. “We’re expecting to continue our growth by five to eight per cent per year.” The business now serves customers “around the Lower Mainland, throughout the Okanagan, up to Smithers and throughout Northern Alberta.” “We are your ‘right size’ company,” Heighington adds. “Large enough to provide great service to multiple corporate locations, but small enough to provide thorough, personalized service.” For more information on Spotless Uniform and Linen Service visit WNW.spotlessuniform.com or call250·962·6900 or ‘·800·207·7756. The company is located at 3902 Kenworth Road East. – ADVERTISING FEATURE