American Drycleaner - May 2014

© Copyright 2014 American Trade Magazines All rights reserved.

® May 2014

Your favorite armchair trade show is back!

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drycleaner drycleaner A M E R I C A N

May 2014

Vol. 81, No. 2

FE A T U R E S

D EP A R TMENTS

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(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

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

Howard Scott

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

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

Phillip M. Perry

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Pre-Inspection Talk of The Trade The Numbers Upcoming Events Spotting Tips Eye on Longevity Martin Young Management Strategies Developing Leadership in Your Company Diana Vollmer Education & Training Calendar Your Money Due Diligence Bill Lynott Around the Industry Classified Advertising Advertiser Index Wrinkle in Time

4 6 18 19 36

46

50 52

54 58 62 64

N E ED H ELP FI ND I NG T HE H ID D EN H A NG ER ?

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

Good luck!

www.americandrycleaner.com

4/25/14 11:04 AM

Digest_page

10/10/11

9:43 AM

Page 1

“Business has never been better.”

“I don’t have to rely on anybody for information.

I can see immediately what I have for inventory, orders and accounts receivable.”

Becky Afendoulis, Owner of Afendoulis Cleaners

We Speak Cleaner 800.406.9649

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www.cleanerbusiness.com 8/2/13 11:39 AM

Pr e-i n s p ec t i o n

Armchair Trade Show

D

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

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

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

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

National Sales Director Donald Feinstein

cthompson@american trademagazines.com

dfeinstein@american trademagazines.com

Editorial Director Bruce Beggs

Digital Media Director Nathan Frerichs

bbeggs@american trademagazines.com

nfrerichs@american trademagazines.com

Production Manager Roger Napiwocki

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

312-361-1680

312-361-1683

312-361-1682

312-361-1681

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

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

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

Our exhibitors this year include equipment manufacturers and distributors, chemical companies, computer software suppliers, and more. Take your time—this show never closes! O Contributing Editors Howard Kaschyk Carolyn Nankervis Howard Scott John Spomar Jr. Jean Teller Diana Vollmer Martin Young

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

Editorial Assistant Carlo Calma

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

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

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American Drycleaner, May 2014

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3/4/14 3:05 PM

TALK OF THE TRADE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Another operator agreed, saying, “managing employees and how their 6

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www.americandrycleaner.com

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Top stories @ www.AmericanDrycleaner.com for the 30 days ending April 15

Top News Stories 1. Lapels Inks Five-Store Development Deal in Jacksonville 2. America’s Best Cleaners Debuts Canadian Counterpart 3. MWDLA Helps Strike Down Bill to Kill Environmental Cleanup Coverage

Top columns & features 1. Ozone Breathes New Life Into Garments 2. The Magic in Your POS System 3. Building Your Drycleaning Brand 4. Recognize Value of Drycleaning Regulars, Non-Regulars 5. Point of Sale Point of View

Top stories @ our sister sites www.AmericanCoinOp.com: 1. Maytag Fetes Top Distributors at 56th Annual Meeting 2. Parking: Make Your Case for the Space 3. Survey: Cost of Cashless Conversion Doesn’t Captivate Majority of Operators

www.AmericanLaundryNews.com: 1. Gicewicz Assumes HLAC Presidency, Welcomes New Board Members 2. HCSC Names Taylor Hospital’s Holobowicz Linen Coordinator of Year 3. Examining What’s New in Textile Services Contracts 4. TCATA Preps for Annual Gathering

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While American Drycleaner’s Your Views survey presents a snapshot of the trade audience’s viewpoints, it should not be considered scientific. Subscribers to American Drycleaner e-mails are invited 8

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www.americandrycleaner.com

4/24/14 6:16 PM

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

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

Federal Trade Commission issues changes to textile labeling rules The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued final amendments to its Textile Labeling Rules, addressing fiber content and country-of-origin disclosures.

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

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

In May 2013, the FTC proposed changes to the Rules and sought public comment.

Based on comments received, the agency proposed amendments to the Rules and sought public comments. After weighing the comments it received, the Commission approved the changes announced in late March, including amendments that would: • Incorporate the updated International Organization for Standardization standard establishing generic fiber names for manufactured fibers; • Allow certain hang tags disclosing 10

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fiber names and trademarks, and performance information, without the need to disclose the product’s full fiber content; • Clarify that an imported product’s country of origin is the country where it was processed or manufactured, as determined under laws and regulations enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; • Better address electronic commerce with revised definitions of “invoice” and “invoice or other paper,” • Replace the requirement that guarantors sign continuing guarantees under penalty of perjury with a requirement that they acknowledge that providing a false guaranty is unlawful, and certify that they will actively monitor and ensure compliance with the applicable law; and • Clarify the provision identifying textile fiber product categories and products that are exempt from the Act’s requirements.

Based on the comments received, the Commission decided not to adopt its proposal to make continuing guaranties effective for one year unless revoked earlier.

Thus, continuing guaranties filed with the Commission will remain effective until revoked.

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

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

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Off-Main-Street

Thinking

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

(Photos: Howard Scott)

Massachusetts dry cleaner content to do business off the beaten path

By Howard Scott

T 12

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

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

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

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

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time. “The signs are possibly rent is 50% deliberately confusof what it would be ing, but they work for on Main Street, 100 me,” Patel says. “My feet away. That is a customers all know to powerful incentive, park in front.” and one that keeps Moreover, Ritecosts in manageable Way gains more proportion. benefits from being Secondly, Patel right off the main has free parking for drag. Massachusetts five or six cars diAvenue is a busy rectly in front of his four-lane thoroughstore. In Cambridge, fare, running between that’s a major plus.

Harvard Square and That feature alone Porter Square. Arguwould win many ably, Harvard Square area residents as is the most famous customers. retail area in Amer“This is a big ica. It sits alongside advantage,” Patel Patel’s customers know the tow-away Harvard College, and says. “There are a lot sign is only for people who try to park for any length of time. The five-minute is near the Charles of dry cleaners on limit gives customers enough time to River, which runs Mass. Ave., but none pull in, do their business and pull out. through Boston. have free parking.

Traffic on Massachusetts Avenue is All Mass. Ave. has metered parking. For always heavy, day and night. So, over the one thing, it’s very hard to find an open years, many people have glimpsed the yelspot. Secondly, it’s difficult to back up low Rite-Way Dry Cleaning sign, which and parallel park in a crowded thoroughcan be seen from the street. But, Patel fare. Finally, it costs money: 25 cents for argues, his best advertising marketing is 15 minutes. If someone has to walk a bit, word of mouth. One person tells another they might put two quarters in the meter. that the dry cleaner on Hudson is good, Nobody likes to do that. My customers are reasonable, and has free parking right in used to easy parking.” front. That person tells another, and that Patel’s front sidewalk has official city person tells yet another. Over the years, a signs that read “Tow Away Zone—No Parking.” Right below it, on the same pole, large customer base has evolved.

Rite-Way’s hours are convenient. The a sign reads, “No Idling Allowed—5 shop is open 7:30 to 6:30 Monday through Minute Limit.” Well, that is just enough Friday, 8:30 to 5 on Saturday, and closed time to allow customers to pull in, do on Sunday. Being open before and after their business, and pull out. His customers work is an important feature, for Masknow that the tow-away sign is only for sachusetts Avenue is a busy commuter people who try to park for any length of 14

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

Patel quietly informs his customers: “You know, I am the only dry cleaner in the area who cleans clothes onpremises. That means I can control quality as well as garment flow.

If you have a problem Patel has free parking for five or six cars directly in front of his with a garment with a store, which is a major plus in Cambridge. drop-off-and-pick-up thoroughfare. Saturday offers convenience. cleaner, he/she has to check with the plant Patel doesn’t believe that he has to be open that did the work and get back to you.

We can just find out what happened right Sunday, because customers have enough here.” hours to make their visits.

So the next time you consider setting It helps that Rite-Way’s pricing is up a plant, consider setting it up just off reasonable, especially for an upscale city populace. Shirts are $1.85, pants are $6.45, the main drag. Your costs will be less.

You’ll have easier parking. You’ll control and two-piece suits are $11.95. Because of production better. And your customer base this fair pricing, Patel doesn’t offer deals will find you. or discounts. Moreover, he is confident Another strategy for someone on Main enough of his service that he doesn’t acStreet is to relocate around the corner after cept charge cards. All customers pay by a few years (say four or five). By that time, cash or check, and a few are on account. you will have developed a customer base This is another cost of operations that will follow you around the corner. savings—maybe 3-4%.

Sometimes it pays to think out-of-theIt is also a major marketing factor as box. Despite all the hoopla about location well as production factor that Rite-Way visibility, Babu Patel has is the only area dry cleaner with its own crafted his own working plant. Every other dry cleaner is a drop formula, which spells store. Mostly this is due to the restrictions success for him. O of Massachusetts Avenue businesses.

The customer base knows that stores that Howard Scott is a long-time do drop-off and pick-up sometimes have business writer and smallproblems, and they would rather deal with business consultant who has authored four books.

Scott a plant operation directly. That is why 16

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www.americandrycleaner.com

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THE NUMBERS

THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS reported that

unemployment rates in February were lower than those of the previous year.

The unemployment rate for the entire country was 7% in February, compared to 8.1% one year earlier.

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

AN ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE REPORT indicates

that long-term unemployment remains up, without regard to education level.

The number of unemployed for more than six months has reached 3.7 million, three times as many as in 2007. The Institute’s report shows that the high numbers of long-term unemployed is not due to people having less education or fewer job skills; the cause is reluctance of employers to hire more people since the demand for goods and services has not increased.

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IN A STUDY from the Fed-

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

CONSUMER SALES WERE UP 3.6% in March, accord-

ing to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). The numbers were higher than those in February, when sales were hampered by hazardous weather conditions.

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

MORTGAGE LOAN APPLICATIONS WERE DOWN 1.6%

in the first week of April, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The

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

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

CONSUMER CONFIDENCE WAS UNCHANGED during

the first quarter, despite extreme weather conditions (lower-than-usual temperatures and continuing drought) across the country, as reported in the latest Surveys of Consumers from Thomson Reuters and the University of Michigan.

Consumers reported their finances were as strong in March 2014 as they had been in December 2013.

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

4/25/14 9:32 AM

Up c o m i n g E v e n t s

WFI readies for annual convention next month

T

he Wisconsin Fabricare Institute (WFI) is preparing to host its annual State Convention, Tabletop Trade Show and Auction on June 25-26 at the River Club in Mequon, Wis. The Fitzgerald Scholarship Class Golf Outing, which funds WFI scholarships and education programs, will get things started on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 25.

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

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

IDC headed to Japan for 2015 convention

T

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

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

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C a l end a r May 14-15 Coin Laundry Association Excellence in Laundry Conference. To be held in Key Largo, Fla. Call 630-953-7920.

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

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

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

June 20-22 South Eastern Fabricare Association Southern Drycleaners and Launderers Show. To be held in Jacksonville, Fla. Call 877-707-7332.

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

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

August 22-24 California Cleaners Association Fabricare 2014 trade show and convention. To be held in Long Beach, Calif.

Call 916-239-4070.

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

Oct. 18-19 Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association Drycleaning & Laundry EXPO. To be held in Atlantic City, N.J. Call 215-830-8495. O Post notices of your organization’s events on www.AmericanDrycleaner.com

American Drycleaner, May 2014

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4/25/14 10:14 AM

2014

Exhibit in Print T

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

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

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

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

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

Enjoy the exhibition!

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www.americandrycleaner.com

4/25/14 9:34 AM

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2014 EXHIBIT IN PRINT

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SPOT Business Systems

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

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lease or contract.

The program offers new laundry equipment with no capital expense; no long-term contract or commitment; huge savings on chemicals, water, and energy; and lifetime parts and service warranties.

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

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

4/25/14 9:38 AM

2014 EXHIBIT IN PRINT

A.L. Wilson Chemical Co.

D

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

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

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Royal Basket Trucks

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

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

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

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they are looking for.

The EasyGo spray spotter quickly penetrates to absorb collar and cuff stains, perspiration, ground-in soil and more, all without brushing. Turn to TarGo EF to remove any tough oil-based stains that remain behind. www.alwilson.com | 800-526-1188

Scale Cart features a molded poly tub, in 6- or 8-bushel capacity, mounted to a powdercoated tubular steel frame.

The frame houses a digital scale rated for up to 250 pounds, backed by a lifetime warranty.

This unit allows accurate weighing of soiled linens to support the proper loading of a washer; correct chemical and water usage; lower maintenance costs from overworked equipment; and less rewash.

Legal-for-trade scales are also available for any retail laundry processing. www.royal-basket.com | 800-426-6447 American Drycleaner, May 2014

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Fabricare Management Systems

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

The system can handle the diverse and demanding needs of dry cleaners and route professionals of all types and sizes.

End to End (E2E) Encryption with Tokeni-

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Iowa Techniques

our store closed three minutes ago.

Bad news for your customer, and worse news for you!

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

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

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

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zation provides merchants with secure credit card processing.

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

The system has also been updated to operate with the latest sorting conveyor features and integrate seamlessly with the newest HMC Fetch! Kiosk with E2E Encryption technology. www.fabricaremanager.com | 888-249-5142

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

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

The company’s rail kits require no welding and are easy to install. www.iowatechniques.com | 800-727-1592 www.americandrycleaner.com

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Parker Boiler

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

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

2014 EXHIBIT IN PRINT

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Evans Garment Restoration

vans Garment’s business model provides opportunities to drycleaning companies already providing textile restoration services to join the Evans family with a minimal investment in their facilities.

Evans’ national programs with major insurance carriers can provide an influx of new business to help restoration dry cleaners take their business to the next level.

When combined with marketing and sales processes refined during the past 18 years, this combination is a powerful formula for www.americandrycleaner.com

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burning out the heat transfer coil, says the company. This is accomplished by firing the flame onto the 11-gauge steel side of the boiler and indirectly pulling the water from a finned copper heat exchanger.

Boilers are available in natural gas, propane and “Low NOx” firing, and the company currently has applications dating back to 1959 that are still in service. www.parkerboiler.com | 323-727-9800

growth, Evans says.

In addition, Evans says it is the only textile cleaner to be ISO-9001 certified for quality management procedures. Certification means fewer errors and better performance through employee training programs, plus improved claims management and reporting through Evans’ Claim Manager Software.

Evans also has a unique patented ozone washing process that delivers dramatically superior results and increased productivity, the company reports.

Limited opportunities remain available for a limited time! www.evansgr.com/drycleaner American Drycleaner, May 2014

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bizzie

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he “bizzie box” from bizzie is the most cost-effective locker-based solution in North America, says the company.

Using patented smartphone technology, bizzie boxes enable an operator to expand his/her drycleaning business and brand beyond the retail counter and routes, the company says.

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

Current drycleaning delivery routes have

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Irving Weber Associates

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

IWA has worked tirelessly to offer the best combination of comprehensive coverages and lowest rates. For more than 67 years, IWA has consistently brought comprehensive coverage and savings to 26

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

Now, bizzie provides a way to gain access to those hard-to-reach customers in office complexes, apartments and gated communities, the company says, as well as means to manage routes and additional services. The bizzie system is a solution to expand or create a route service for a drycleaning and laundry operation. www.bizzie.com/franchise | 248-654-7000

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

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

IWA invites you to have your current broker call today. Cleaners who work with a direct insurance writer such as NIE, State Farm, Nationwide or Allstate should call IWA directly. www.iwains.com | 800-243-1811, ext. 8207 www.americandrycleaner.com

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Rigas Machinery LLC 31 Home Depot Drive, Suite 148 Plymouth, MA 02360 Phone: 508-743-5435 Email: krigas@rigasmachinery.com

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Cleaner Business Systems

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

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

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GreenEarth Cleaning

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

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

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

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

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

GreenEarth cleans without fading colors, wearing fibers or damaging delicate beads and sequins, the company says.

Fabrics maintain softness and drape, without shrinkage. Items that traditionally posed a problem in perc—silks, beads, trims, vinyl, metals, covered and ornamental buttons, leather, cashmere—can be safely cleaned with GreenEarth.

Independent testing has confirmed its benefits in minimizing color loss, dimensional change, maintaining a soft hand, reducing pilling, and helping to keep garments newer-looking longer. www.greenearthcleaning.com | 877-926-0895 www.americandrycleaner.com

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Global Business Systems

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

2014 EXHIBIT IN PRINT

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American Chillers

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

All chillers are tested to specification www.americandrycleaner.com

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labor costs up to 75%.

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

SortingRobo has a built-in invoice printer, a touch monitor, and helps an operator communicate with POS systems and other multiple stores. www.smart4me.com | 800-717-2507

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

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

American Chillers takes pride in supporting its chillers and cooling towers by providing 24/7 service support. Parts are carefully selected so that most can be sourced locally for quick repair to get a drycleaning operation back up and running quickly. www.amchiller.com | 855-589-1463 American Drycleaner, May 2014

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Maineline Computers

aineline Computer Systems designs, sells, installs and supports Compassmax software for the fabricare industry.

With features such as Point of Sale (POS), Customer Management and Accounts Receivable, and Automated Assembly and Ticketing, Compassmax leads the way to better profitability for your business, according to Maineline.

The software combines advanced

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Dajisoft

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

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

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features with an easy-to-use interface.

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

Compassmax can create unlimited, user-defined automatic e-mails with HTML graphics. Options include new-customer e-mails, lost-customer e-mails, notifications when orders are ready, garment pictures, birthday/ anniversary wishes, and more. Additional features include a query builder, as well as multiple options for membership rewards and frequency fabricare programs to increase sales. www.compassmax.com | 800-354-2525

item-tracking and cash-control features.

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

Final Verification uses bar-coding technology to ensure 100% accuracy for assembled garments. Simply scan bar-coded tags on assembled garments in each order printed by DryClean PRO Enterprise. Upon encountering a misplaced garment or an incomplete order, Final Verification’s audible alarm alerts the user to the mistake. www.dajisoft.com | 888-325-4763 www.americandrycleaner.com

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Firbimatic

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

Firbimatic has also introduced a new combination to maximize “cleanability.”

A new solvent heating system and jet spray are now standard features on the EcoGreen models and available on all

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

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

Firbimatic equipment is covered under warranty and enjoys outstanding parts and service support. www.firbimaticusa.com | 800-220-0630

Call Toll Free

1-855-589-1463

For the BEST Prices on Chillers and Cooling Towers!

Providing chillers & cooling towers to dry cleaners since 1985

website: www.amchiller.com/drycleaning www.americandrycleaner.com

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Quicksort

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

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

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Columbia/ILSA

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

Columbia/ILSA understands that all solvents are not created equal. The company offers its complete line of machines as 32

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

Brett McLeod, QuickSort’s founder, has been designing and installing automated equipment for more than a decade, providing dry cleaners, hotels, casinos and others with innovative business solutions. He is the original designer of the Iowa Techniques Automated Assembly Conveyor, having designed and installed more than 100 systems spanning 26 states. www.quicksortac.com | 501-216-8093

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

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

From its patented Quick Dri Series to the state-of-the-art iPura Hybrid System, Columbia/ILSA has changed the course of the industry for generations to come. www.columbiailsa.com | 800-446-5634 www.americandrycleaner.com

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Ally Equipment Co.

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

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

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Mustang Equipment

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

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

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Thomas, where he offered parts and troubleshooting to Ajax owners nationwide.

Together, Riddle, Allen and Townsend boast more than 80 years of experience in solving dry cleaners’ equipment, service and parts needs, the company says. www.allyequipment.com | 801-255-9646

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

Mustang also offers an expansive selection of replacement equipment.

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

Staffers are specialists in the design and installation of complete plants, the company adds, so whether you need a single part or an entire production floor, you can count on Mustang. www.mustangenterprises.com | 866-734-3644 www.americandrycleaner.com

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American Drycleaner

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

More than 36,000 drycleaning plants routinely turn to American Drycleaner for the latest news and industry analysis.

Business briefings, columns packed with profit-boosting tips and more make it a must-read. The magazine has extended its reach by offering a companion digital

edition readable on today’s tablets or web browsers.

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

American Drycleaner is published by American Trade Magazines LLC, which also covers the self-service laundry industry via American Coin-Op and institutional/ OPL and textile rental laundries via American Laundry News. www.americandrycleaner.com | 312-361-1700

Our Exhibit in Print Returns in 2016 www.americandrycleaner.com

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Sp o t t i n g T ip s

Eye on Longevity

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

I met him in the hotel restaurant 30 minutes later.

He told me that he had been focused on marketing and piece count for the past 14 months. Whatever it took, Martin Young even “eight for the price of six,” for the past six months.

When I asked about his knowledge of drycleaning technology, he looked stunned, much like my teenage son did coming in an hour after curfew. All he knew for sure was that he was using an “environmentally friendly, organic solvent.”

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

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▲

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

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

From the curb, a majority of cleaners look very much alike. It is the location that can differentiate itself that gets the traffic. It can be in the color scheme, the signage, the packaging, or in the service and expertise. It is not one thing, but a host of little things.

In this industry, bright colors are being used outside and in the call office. There are large electronic/ flashing signs. In this industry, printed poly, comforter bags, sweater bags and dust covers are just a few of the unique packaging ideas. What is rare is the plant that has adjusted its business model to balance both pieces per hour and profit per piece.

While other cleaners are settling for running, steaming and bagging with a “Sorry” tag, operators with an eye on longevity are embracing supplemental stain removal to set their plants apart.

When you remove the mustard stain the guy down the street left in, you gain a customer, even at a few (profitable) cents more.

Have you noticed that many owners have applied manufacturing

www.americandrycleaner.com

4/25/14 9:44 AM

Call Brett at 501-216-8093

?

Why assemble ANY OTHER WAY when you can

QUICK SOR

Our customers RAVE about our: - 24/7 customer support - Easy installation (your store wont miss a beat) - Simple to use system - AFFORDABILITY!

We are confident that QuickSort is the most efficient assembly system on the market!

QUICK SOR

auto-assembly systems

WHY ASSEMBLE ANY OTHER WAY? www.quicksortAC.com

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brett@quicksortAC.com

9/4/13 3:35 PM

(Photo: © iStockphoto/Romanchuck)

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

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

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

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

It is rare that a POG will remove weekold coffee. It is rare that an over-the-counter detergent will completely remove ink.

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

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

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

Over the years, this magazine has offered detailed instructions related to removing virtually every stain that could potentially come into your plant. Take the time to invest in your business by investing in your employees. Having the tools for supplemental stain removal and the expertise to use those tools will reduce your need for “Sorry” tags and increase your faithful customer base. O Martin L. Young Jr. has been an industry consultant and trainer for almost 20 years, and a member of various stakeholder groups on environmental issues. He grew up in his parents’ plant in Concord, N.C., Young Cleaners, which he operates to this day. Contact him by phone at 704-786-3011, e-mail mayoung@vnet.net. www.americandrycleaner.com

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MUSTANG enterprises Huge Selection of Parts for Most Brands of Equipment

New & Used Equipment for Drycleaning & Laundry

Bowe 40 Hydrocarbon Machine

Milnor 60-lb.

Washer

Lattner 20hp Boiler

Huebsch 75-lb.

Steam Dryer

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1/2” Steam Traps $35 each, 5 trap minimum

Form Finisher

Multimatic 30-lb. SL-30

Forenta A19VS Topper

Forenta Dry Cleaning Topper (used)

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Prices valid until June 1, 2014

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Monthly Specials Online: MustangEnterprises.com 0514adc_Mustang2.indd 1

4/2/14 12:00 PM

art-Time Workers, PFull-Time Challenge How to hire, keep the best applicants

By Phillip M. Perry

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

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

▲

one are the days when business owners looked upon part-time workers as dispensable resources of little value to the enterprise.

Today’s part-timers have become critical gears in the profit machine, performing many vital duties formerly handled by a trimmed-down permanent staff.

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

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

www.americandrycleaner.com

4/25/14 9:59 AM

Art contact: Shelley Timm-Thompson, 708-771-9948 Insertion Date: Ongoing

many-flavored ice cream many-flavored American Drycleaner

© Copyright 2013 American Trade Magazines All rights reserved.

® September 2013

▲ Mobile and Website ▼

Contamination & Cleanup Pursuing site remediation without breaking the bank

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Tablet

8/16/13 2:19 PM

Print

The more flavors the better! In addition to our print edition, check out our tablet, mobile and website versions when you crave the latest industry news and updates. www.americandrycleaner.com

The industry’s number 1 magazine

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

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

“Customers don’t care whether an employee is part-time or full-time,” warns Glanz. “People judge your business by how well they are treated, not by how many hours the employees are putting in.”

And customers will only be treated well if your part-timers feel good about what they are doing.

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

“The most important decision you make is who to allow in the door to help you take care of customers,” says Mel Kleiman, director of Houston-based Humetrics, an employment consulting firm.

“The biggest mistake business owners make is not taking part-time hiring as seriously as full-time hiring. You have to realize the importance of part-time positions and not short-circuit the hiring process. Do the same things for selecting part-timers as you do for selecting regulars.”

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

“You don’t go grocery shopping without a list,” says Kleiman. “Before you leave home, you look at a recipe to see what ingredients you need. Take the same approach when hiring part-timers: What 42

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

And don’t wait until the last minute.

“It’s a mistake to go grocery shopping when you are hungry,” says Kleiman.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Every new employee at end of the first day will be asked one question by everyone: ‘How was your day?’ We know what we want the answer to be: ‘It was terrific. It was the best decision I ever made.

I would like to get a full-time job there.’”

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

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

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

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

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

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filling out paperwork,” says Kleiman.

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

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

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

Here’s an example: One employer sent

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more money but less flexibility.

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

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

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

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

Maybe being part of a team is essential.

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

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

This advice applies to employees throughout the ranks.

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

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

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

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

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

“Employee engagement is not something that can be taken care of during one day or week,” says Glanz. “Employees want to be appreciated and engaged all year long.” O Phillip M. Perry is a freelance writer based in New York City. www.americandrycleaner.com

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Download Magazine Central and read American Drycleaner on your iPad or Android Tablet Step 1: Go to your App Store and type Magazine Central into search bar

Step 2: Click the

box to install the app (you won’t have to do this again)

Step 3: Open the Magazine Central App Step 4: Type American Drycleaner into the search bar

Step 5: Click Download Step 6: Click View Step 7: Read & enjoy!

The app stays on your tablet.

Check back monthly to download the latest issue.

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12/9/13 10:57 AM

management strategi es

Developing Leadership in Your Company

A

s the owner of a professional fabricare business, making your business thrive is your primary responsibility. Leading your company to prosperity requires time to think, plan and implement strategies for the good of the entire enterprise. Developing a strong leadership team to manage your company at all levels is key to freeing your time to work on your company instead of in it on a day-to-day basis.

Developing strong leaders is much easier with a structure and system in place for managing the company and for developing the team simultaneously.

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

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

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

Diana Vollmer

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the record keeping in the organization.

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

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

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. An effective management system will simplify the leadership and direction of the business and its various divisions by providing the executive team controls, procedures and benchmarks by which to measure progress and achieve greater profitability. In the simplest form, the system includes a process by which to “Plan, Implement, Review, Refine, and Repeat” (PIRRR©). That is: • Plan the action • Implement the plan • Review the results • Refine the plan • Repeat the process for continued improvement This approach can be applied and reapplied at every level of the organization to simplify the management of every division and department. The plans of each division may be comwww.americandrycleaner.com

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

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

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

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

There are innumerable management

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

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

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

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tools available, but some of the most relevant to fabricare companies are: 1. Benchmarking, which compares results to best practices and performance either inside or outside the industry. It is used to set performance standards that have been proven to be achievable and to determine if the operation is optimized.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

14. Strategic Planning, per Wikipedia, is “an organization’s process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy.

In order to determine the future direction of the organization, it is necessary to understand its current position and the possible avenues through which it can pursue particular courses of action.” George Friedman in The Next 100 Years summarizes “the fundamental principle of strategic planning: hope for the best, plan for the worst.”

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

Creating a comprehensive management structure, a sound management system, and providing the tools to complete the responsibilities will make your life easier and your company prosper. O MfM has served the drycleaning and laundry industry with affordable management expertise and improved profitability since 1953. For assistance with developing your leadership and management team, contact Diana Vollmer at dvollmer@mfmi.com or call her at 415-577-6544.

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E DU C A T I O N & T R A I NING Avoiding Claims: What You Need to Know About Fabrics & Stain Removal. NCA course, to be held May 4 in Tampa, Fla. Call 212-967-3002 or e-mail ncaiclean@aol.com.

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

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

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

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Post your organization’s education and training course announcements (subject to approval) on www.AmericanDrycleaner.com in four easy steps: 1. On the home page, click “Calendar” 2. Click “Add an Event” 3. Type details into form (must be a registered user; site registration is free) 4. Click “Save”

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www.americandrycleaner.com

4/24/14 6:19 PM

DON’T

MISS

OUT HERE’S WHAT’S COMING UP IN AMERICAN DRYCLEANER...

IN EVERY ISSUE: • Product News • Around the Industry • Education & Training • Talk of the Trade • Upcoming Events • Your Views Survey Results • Wrinkle in Time • Classifieds

Want to send a press release or submit a story? Contact Bruce Beggs, editorial director, today! Phone: 312-361-1683 E-mail: bbeggs@americantrademagazines.com

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JUNE Feature: Addressing Customer Claims No drycleaning operation is perfect, so here are some pointers for how to deal most effectively with customer complaints and claims.

Editorial Submission Deadline — April 15

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

Editorial Submission Deadline — May 15

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

Editorial Submission Deadline — June 15

SEPTEMBER Feature: Marketing: Back to Basics How to attract more customers using some tried-and-true promotional strategies.

Editorial Submission Deadline —July 15

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

Editorial Submission Deadline — August 15

...and much more!

4/22/14 4:22 PM

Y our M oney

Due Diligence

D

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

Perhaps it’s the universal “get-richquick” goal that lies deep in the psyche of many of us, or maybe it’s just the irresistible charm and handsome good looks of the would-be Madoffs who are to be found in many social circles.

Whatever the reason, many people whose primary goal is separating you from your money can still be found in the most unlikely of places. That’s why it’s so important for you to do your own due diligence when it Bill Lynott comes to investing your money.

Here are seven areas of due diligence that you should focus on before you select a financial adviser or participate in an off-the-beaten-track investment: ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. Even if it’s a friend, relative, or trusted financial adviser asking you to invest, you need to know such things as: • Exactly how much money am I being asked to invest?

• Precisely what sort of returns can I expect?

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

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• What happens if I want to take out some or all of my money?

If there’s any hedging on these or any of the questions you may ask, take notice of the red flag waving in your face.

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS. Unlikely as they may sound, unwary investors are bamboozled every day by offers that simply are too good to be true. In this day of anemic interest rates, investments that promise such things as 10% or 20% returns or more must be viewed with the utmost skepticism if not out-of-hand rejection.

Get-rich-quick schemes have been around ever since money was invented and aren’t likely to disappear any time soon. Your job is to avoid falling into the trap that swallows up naïve investors on a regular basis.

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

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

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other person to advise you is not necessary.

Anyone proposing a legitimate investment will not object to the presence of someone you trust as an adviser.

FIND OUT EXACTLY WHO WILL BE HOLDING YOUR MONEY. Someone will have to have custody of your money; you need to know who that will be. Make sure that you know which company and how you can contact them.

Take the time to research any firm that you expect to take possession of your investment.

Be especially leery if it is not a recognized brokerage firm, bank or trust company that has been in business for a suitable length of time.

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

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

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

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

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(Photo: © iStockphoto/Gunnar Pippel )

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

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

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS. Sometimes a “gut feeling” tells you that things don’t seem right. When that happens, it’s time to be especially cautious. Human instincts are powerful defenses in times of danger. Pay attention when your gut tells you to beware.

If you have money to invest, there will always be other legitimate offers for you to consider. O Information in this article is provided for educational and reference purposes only. It is not intended to provide specific advice or individual recommendations. Consult an accountant or tax adviser for advice regarding your particular situation.

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

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around t h e industry

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

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

Though the ABC News coverage is indeed yesterday’s news, DLI’s tips are evergreen. The most important thing to remember is to avoid reinforcing the negative and to accentuate the positive. That rule will help in just about any public relations situation, DLI says. Here are its talking points: “NOT ALL DRY CLEANERS ARE CREATED EQUAL.” Reassure your customers (and

remind your staff) that your investments in training and professional knowledge separate your business from those cleaners who give the industry a bad name.

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

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

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

In fact, in the drycleaning process, solvent is filtered and distilled so it remains clear and clean while the clothes are being washed. The black sludge shown on the 20/20 report actually proves that soils and impurities are removed from the solvent and not left on customers’ garments, DLI says.

Offer to give customers a tour so they can see the condition of your drycleaning process for themselves.

“JERK FACTOR.” This was new even

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

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the defensive, DLI says.

Instead, accentuate the positive, such as: “Here at DLI Cleaners, our customers are the most important people in the world.

We always greet you with a smile and are always glad to see you.”

“REMOVING TOUGH STAINS.” Tell your cus-

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

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

“KNOW WHO YOU DO BUSINESS WITH.” That

Fowler Equipment Co. earns Maytag’s highest honor Commercial laundry equipment distributor Fowler Equipment Co. recently received the Fred Maytag Award during Maytag Commercial Laundry’s 56th annual meeting in Tucson, Ariz., Maytag reports.

This marks the fifth time Fowler Equipment has received the award, with its first award win dating back to 1959, according to Bob English, general manager at Maytag Commercial Laundry.

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

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

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

“MISLEADING CARE LABELS.” Care la-

bels recommend just one appropriate method of care, even when several methods of cleaning are acceptable. Customers may not know that care labels can sometimes be wrong and that following them can lead to damage.

DLI suggests telling them, “When you see ‘Dryclean Only,’ you may or may not be able to home wash the garment without shrinkage, color loss or distortion.

Our years of experience and understanding of fibers, fabrics and www.americandrycleaner.com

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Dean and Doug Fowler (center) of Fowler Equipment Co. receive the Fred Maytag Award during Maytag Commercial Laundry’s 56th annual meeting in Tucson, Ariz. Joining them are (from left) Dick Ruel, John Maltese, Bob English and Randy Karn. (Photo: Maytag Commercial Laundry) American Drycleaner, May 2014

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“Fowler Equipment Co. has exceeded all expectations as a result of unwavering perseverance, hard work and dedication.

Over the years, the company has developed a loyal customer base throughout the Northeast,” says English.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mulberrys also recently unveiled a free mobile application for iPhone and Android www.americandrycleaner.com

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operating systems that provides its customers with real-time access to their drycleaning accounts.

Colmac Industries promotes Akana to production manager Garment press and finishing equipment manufacturer Colmac Industries has promoted Kao D. Akana to production manager, the company reports.

In his new role, Akana’s responsibilities will include organizing and streamlining the company’s production schedule, as well as evaluating processes to increase efficiency.

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

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

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

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

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

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

KDHE testing for chemicals found in west Wichita groundwater The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) reports that it has identified groundwater contaminated by tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in an area to the south and southeast of the former Four Seasons Dry Cleaners in west Wichita, Kan. The contamination has the potential to impact private drinking water wells in the affected area, and the KDHE Dry Cleaning program is offering to test residents’ wells free upon request.

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

KDHE is working with the City of Wichita to quickly connect homes in the area of concern to the City’s public water supply system. If water mains are not available, the KDHE Dry Cleaner’s Trust Fund will fund the installation of new water mains, as needed. O American Drycleaner, May 2014

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PLANTS FOR SALE Well established plant & a drop store for sale.

Deteriorating health forces to sell. Both in prime

COMPUTER SYSTEMS Western Wonder Touch $990 (refurbished) $1990 (new) 1-year warranty Perfect for small to medium sized cleaners Various management reports Absolutely reliable, tested systems www.WesternDCcomputer.com 773-878-0150 westernk@msn.com 58

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location with good reputable clientele. It’s sunny California, San Francisco Bay Area. Asking 385,000. Contact Michael at 925-935-5720 or mshong34@yahoo.com.

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

E-mail scdrycleanersforsale@gmail.com. www.americandrycleaner.com

4/25/14 10:58 AM

PLANTS FOR SALE SELL OR BUY A DRYCLEANER. WE HAVE BUYERS!!!

PATRIOT BUSINESS ADVISORS SPECIALIZES IN SELLING DRYCLEANERS IN NJ, PA, DE & MD. CALL LILIANE AT 267-391-7642.

REWEAVING SERVICES WITHOUT-A-TRACE WEAVERS—More than 50 years’ experience. We are the experts in silks, knits, French weaving and piece weaving.

Reasonable prices. Send garments for estimate to: 3344 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60659; 800-475-4922; www.withoutatrace.com.

Contact: classifieds@ americantrademagazines.com to place your ad

www.americandrycleaner.com

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American Drycleaner, May 2014

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& Restoration 1

Call: Bruce Gershon, President

800-542-7769 www.ArrowLeatherCare.com SUEDE & LEATHER SERVICE

SUPPLIES

AMERICA’S MOST RECOMMENDED LEATHER & SUEDE CLEANER

Specialists Wholesale Fur Cleaning Storage and Repair

Call: Bruce Gershon, President

800-542-7769 www.ArrowLeatherCare.com

AMERICA’S MOST RECOMMENDED LEATHER-RICH INC. LEATHER & SUEDE CLEANER

Since 1977 • High quality cleaning, refinishing & repair Specialists Wholesale Leather, Suede and Fur; High Fashion • Free shipping in USA and rewards program;

Gown Cleaning

& Preservation FOR MORE INFORMATION: E-mail: leatherrich@att.net Call 800-236-6996 Route Service in Upper Midwest Call: Bruce Gershon, President

SUPPLIES 800-542-7769 www.ArrowLeatherCare.com

Laundry/Dry Cleaning Coils

Steam Or Water Replacements Large Inventory • FAST Delivery

800-532-2645 www.comcoil.com

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www.americandrycleaner.com

4/25/14 10:58 AM

American Drycleaner and AmericanDrycleaner.com

A Winning Team

Print

Web

E-News

American Drycleaner

AmericanDrycleaner.com

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

is your one-click site for all of the most up-to-date information on the industry today. Stories are updated daily to ensure you’re always informed.

Plus, online tools such as the Distributors Directory and Buyer’s Guide will fulfill all of your plant’s needs.

www.americandrycleaner.com

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Advertiser

Page No.

Advertiser

Page No.

A.L. Wilson Chemical Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

GreenEarth Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Ally Equipment Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Iowa Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

American Chillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Arrow Leathercare Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 bizzie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Cleaner Business Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Cleaner’s Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Columbia/ILSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC Commercial Coils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Dajisoft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Evans Garment Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Fabricare Management Systems . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Irving Weber Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Laundrylux . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Luetzow Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Maineline Computer Systems . . . . . . . . . . . IFC Mustang Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Parker Boiler Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Parts Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Personal Touch Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 QuickSort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Firbimatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Royal Basket Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Global Business Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

SPOT Business Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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www.americandrycleaner.com

4/25/14 10:11 AM

Red Coats...

Continued from page 64

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

50 YEARS AGO. Fox Cleaners, Dayton, Ohio, has recently established its “Dye and Dry” program, offering dyeing services to customers in its coin-op laundry department.

Customers pay 50 cents for the use of the equipment, and 35 cents for a packet of dye, bringing in items that include rugs, bedspreads, rain coats and slip covers.

Customers have 36 colors to choose from.

The program has proven lucrative for the company, taking in an average of $15 a week from the extra-profit service. … A small investment of $3.25 per blazer was all it took for Len Jaffe, Snowite Laundry and Drycleaning, Kankakee, Ill., to bring some color back into his family’s drycleaning business. After taking May 1964 the reins from his father, Jaffe decided to make his team of routemen pop out from the competition by dying their blazers red. The red-coat fever has caught on among customers, as well as his staff of call-office girls who now don the uniform of a red vest, white blouse www.americandrycleaner.com

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

75 YEARS AGO. Dry cleaners and pressers in facilities large or small can adopt the following steps to develop “more speed for suits.” Once entering the finishing room, the process starts with the sorter organizing coats and vests by route, ensuring that the vests are placed on top of their matching coat. Coats are folded inside-out, and the vest placed inside, with the collars of the coat lying toward the presser. In reaching for the garments, all the presser has to do is reach for the collar and swing the garments over the press. Vests are pressed and placed onto a hanger first, followed by the coat. … The National Association of Dyers & Cleaners (NADC) has an eye on leather, as the Tanners’ Council of America has requested the development of better cleaning methods for leather garments.

Research on leathers will begin at once and will be reported through the NADC bulletin service. … Roughly 490 cleaners and allied tradesmen packed the grand ballroom of the New Yorker for Carman & Co. Inc.’s first drycleaning conference.

C.K. Kirkpatrick provided a practical demonstration of leather cleaning and finishing, while George Fulton spoke on the topic of drycleaning solvents, among other presentations. O — Compiled by Carlo Calma American Drycleaner, May 2014

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Wrinkle In Time

Red Coats Rejuvenate Regard for Routemen 10 YEARS AGO. Spring is ushering a refresh for the International Fabricare Institute (IFI), as the organization has appointed Ross Markle, Harris Brothers Cleaners, Leavenworth, Kan., as its new director for District 6.

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

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▲

25 YEARS AGO. Swan Cleaners, Colum-

bus, Ohio, is ascending toward great heights, opening four new stores this year, bringing the total number of Swan Cleaners locations to 44. Three of these new stores, slated to open in the coming months, represents the company’s venture outside the Columbus area. … Jensen Corp. and Vaporpress International have created the Clean Team, a joint marketing venture for the drycleaning industry.

The alliance will merchandise the JenKlean drycleaning machine and Vaporpress presses for package stores and individual drycleaning plants. In addition to being merchandised by local U.S. distributors, the package will be supported by its national sales organization through showroom facilities. … Plans are under way for the Tecno TMA-Cleaning drycleaning exhibition, set to take place in September in Bologna, Italy. The exhibition, devoted to the technologies for dry cleaning and industrial cleaning, will play host to 80 exhibitors from various countries. The event, strictly for trade visitors, will also feature promotional activities to ensure the presence of foreign trade visitors. … In its continued effort to create alliances within the retail community, staff members at IFI recently attended the convention of the Menswear Retailers of America to address the problem of inaccurately 63 www.americandrycleaner.com

4/24/14 6:20 PM

4 REASONS TO CHOOSE PARKER BOILER

BETTER ENGINEERED

1

3

Better Engineered

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

2

Better Designed

Parker boilers are designed for ease of routine maintenance, annual inspections, and on site repairs, so there is less down time, more reliability.

Parker boilers also have extra heavy, insulated, double-wall steel cabinet construction (Stainless Steel available).

Steam Boilers

Better Packaged

All Parker boilers are delivered complete, ready to connect to utilities.

What’s more, every boiler is test fired before it leaves the factory so you can count on getting up and running as soon as possible.

Kompact mounted return systems are available on 3 to 25 hp boilers to save on installation costs.

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

Indirect Water Heaters

From 1.5-150 HP

Steam Boiler Accessories

Feed Systems, Blow Off Tanks, Water Softeners & Chemical Feeders Parker boilers are UL or ETL listed and ASME and NB registered. All our Low

From 288-2878 Gallons per Hour 100° Rise

Thermal Liquid Heaters

From 126,000 to 6,250,000 BTU NOx models are certified to SCAQMD Rule 1146.2 emission requirements.

Parker Boiler Company • 5930 Bandini Boulevard, Los Angeles CA 90040 Phone (323) 727-9800 • Fax (323) 722-2848 • www.parkerboiler.com For more data circle 65 on Fact Finder Card

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and

K4 approved

• Vapor control system • Any configuration in any capacity from compact to tandem

FM Approved

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231 Edison Ave • West Babylon, NY 11704

(800)446-5634 • In NY (631)293-7571 www.columbiailsa.com

©Columbia/ilsa 1/12

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