American Drycleaner - September 2018

© Copyright 2018 American Trade Magazines All rights reserved.

® September 2018

■ MACHINE MANIA ■ FABRICARE SHOW WRAP-UP

0918adc_p0C1.FINAL.indd 1

8/16/18 3:20 PM

GOOD NEWS! SPOT Business Systems and CompassMax have come together

On behalf of the teams at SPOT Business Systems and CompassMax, we wanted to share some exciting news that will surely have a positive impact on you, our valued customers. After spending more than 25 years as competitors, our companies have joined forces!

We’ve both displayed leadership in innovation, solid customer focus and a willingness to find unique solutions to suit the individual needs of the businesses we serve. Coming together allows us to o in our ort ar inno ati t in ing and leverage our development spending on a single solution, rather than duplicate our individual efforts.

We are excited for what the future holds for the combined companies and for our customers!

SPOT Business Systems is the most comprehensive and complete system available.

Serving the industry since 1991 • 44 employees strong Hosting since 1999 (long before the “cloud”!)

Best feature set and support in the industry • Weekly feature and user webinars www.SPOTpos.com • (801) 208-2212 ADC_R_Full Page.indd 1

7/28/18 7:31 AM

Drycleaning Stain Removal Has Never Been So

Easy!

Spray improved EasyGo onto soiled areas before drycleaning.

Stains and soil disappear right in the wheel. For more difficult stains, use on the spotting board before or after cleaning. EasyGo is also an excellent leveling agent.

EasyGo now flushes freely in all drycleaning solvents, including GreenEarth®, Perc, Hydrocarbon and K4.

And it's still eco-friendly...California compliant, chlorinated-solvent and NPE free, biodegradable and non-combustible.

• More Effective • Use as Spray Spotter or On the Board • Excellent Leveling Agent • Flushes Freely in ALL Solvents

Drycleaning stain removal has never been so EASY!

Become a STAIN WIZARD at ALWilson.com

ADC_Full Page.indd 1

To learn more, visit ALWilson.com or call 800-526-1188 A. L. WILSON CHEMICAL CO.

12/5/17 3:09 PM

drycleaner drycleaner A M E R I C A N

September 2018

Vol. 85, No. 6

FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

(Photo: Presto Valet)

10

We Are the Fixers Drycleaning owners are also do-it-yourselfers aka “wrenchers,” and that’s exactly what three owners share in this feature exploring the “tool-timer” in each of you.

Some operators dig into the DIY, and some surround themselves with Mr. Fix-It friends and colleagues. Each of these three have learned how to be ready to fix their equipment themselves and share some of the handy tips they have learned. Get ready to wrench!

Tim Burke, Editor

16

Machine Mania Three drycleaning operators share their thought process when preparing to buy drycleaning machines and wetcleaning machines. It’s all about piece counts and piece types and there’s a need for both types of machines to handle all the cleaning customers bring them. Get a glimpse into three owners’ personal decision-making when machine buying. As you read, ask yourself what’s your purchasing “throttle” set at when making a machine buy for your plant.

Tim Burke, Editor

2

0918adc_p02.FINAL.indd 2

American Drycleaner, September 2018

Pre-Inspection Wrenchin’

4

Talk of the Trade Counter Revolution Tim Burke

6

Management Strategies The GM Diana Vollmer

20

Owner’s Office Lazy: The New Power Look!

Dan Miller

27

Spotting Tips Good Old-Fashioned Spotting Martin Young

30

Yarns Spun Here Sunfade

32

Fabricare Show Wrap-Up The Long View in Long Beach

34

Special Feature Smile, You’re Maine Clean Haley Jorgensen

36

Around the Industry

42

Classified Advertising

46

Advertiser Index

47

Wrinkle in Time Cleaning for the Movies

48

NEED HELP FINDING THE HIDDEN HANGER? Scan this QR Code for help in finding the hidden hanger on this month’s cover.

Good luck!

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:16 PM

“Business has never been “Business has neverbetter.” been better.”

“The support from CBS was great. Even before we signed up, they were responsive and flexible in their approach. They have helped our team “Ibecome don’t have rely on anybody for information. moretoefficient.”

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

Boston Cleaners Becky Afendoulis, Owner of Afendoulis Cleaners

We Speak Cleaner 800.406.9649 We Speak Cleaner

www.cleanerbusiness.com 800.406.9649

sales@cleanerbusiness.com

sales@cleanerbusiness.com

0115adc_Cleaner Business_1Becky.indd 1

www.cleanerbusiness.com

12/18/14 9:02 AM

P RE - I N SP E CT I O N

Wrenchin’ I

nside this September issue of American Drycleaner, check out a feature called We Are the Fixers about owners maintaining their own equipment, or getting key help.

Is there a “wrencher” in you? Note: Some of those wrenchers I talked to for the article are on the front cover. In the center is Richard “Buddy” Gritz, owner, Presto Valet, between his business partner and manager.

Also, the feature Machine Mania spotlights three drycleaning owners discussing their own machine purchasing habits.

Your favorite columnists are back this issue. There’s a wrapup of the recent Fabricare Show in Long Beach, Calif., and a new Talk of the Trade survey report called Counter Revolution about finding and keeping great counter personnel. There’s a new Yarns Spun Here: Sunfade, and more.

If I’ve heard one person say it, I’ve heard a dozen drycleanTim Burke ing owners talk about making their cleaning business look more like a bank than a dry cleaner. They want to change-up the old image. To my way of thinking, they are changing it, by discussing their hopes and by taking progressive action. Which is why I’m mentioning the following: Is there a story waiting to be told about the history of fabricare, from the beginning through to today’s modern cleaners? This industry might want to think about developing its own unique Fabricare History Museum. It could be an exciting, interactive learning zone, so to speak, for the public, to address that whole image thing.

Many industries have these discovery zones. Shouldn’t you? Imagine an interactive tour through drycleaning’s history, an educational space, special exhibits, planned events, don’t forget a cafe, and a demo area to let the public get up close.

As just one example of this sort of thing, look at what the Computer History Museum (go to www.computerhistory.org) achieved for the computing industry when it opened its doors about a decade ago in Mountain View, Calif.

It’s good to put one’s best foot forward. Maybe fabricare’s time is here — to create a zone of its own. Not really a hard decision, I think. It’s your call.

ADC American Drycleaner (ISSN 0002-8258) is published monthly except Nov/Dec combined. Subscription prices, payment in advance: U.S., 1 year $46.00; 2 years $92.00. Foreign, 1 year $109.00; 2 years $218.00. Single copies $9.00 for U.S., $18.00 for all other countries. Published by American Trade Magazines LLC, 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 85, number 6. Editorial, executive and advertising offices are at 566 West Lake Street, Suite 420, Chicago, IL 60661.

Charles Thompson, President and Publisher. American Drycleaner is distributed selectively to: qualified dry cleaning plants and distributors in the United States. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertising for any reason. © Copyright AMERICAN TRADE MAGAZINES LLC, 2018. Printed in U.S.A. No part of this publication may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher or his representative. American Drycleaner does not endorse, recommend or guarantee any article, product, service or information found within. Opinions expressed are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of American Drycleaner or its staff. While precautions have been taken to ensure the accuracy of the magazine’s contents at time of publication, neither the editors, publishers nor its agents can accept responsibility for damages or injury which may arise therefrom.

4

0918adc_p04.FINAL.indd 4

American Drycleaner, September 2018

Publisher Charles Thompson 312-361-1680

cthompson@ATMags.com

Associate Publisher/ National Sales Director Donald Feinstein 312-361-1682

dfeinstein@ATMags.com

Editorial Director Bruce Beggs 312-361-1683

bbeggs@ATMags.com

Editor Tim Burke

312-361-1684

tburke@ATMags.com

Digital Media Director Nathan Frerichs 312-361-1681

nfrerichs@ATMags.com

Production Manager Roger Napiwocki Advisory Board Mike Bleier Steven Dubinski John-Claude Hallak Mike Nesbit Herron Rowland Fred Schwarzmann Beth Shader Ellen Tuchman Rothmann Contributing Editors Howard Scott Diana Vollmer Martin Young Office Information Main: 312-361-1700 Subscriptions 630-739-0900 x100 www.american drycleaner.com

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:15 PM

AmDryClnr-Rails_7.875x10.5.indd 1 ADC_R_Full Page.indd 1

11/24/14 12:33 2:25 PM 11/26/14 PM

TAL K OF T HE T RA D E

Counter Revolution About finding great front counter personnel

W

hen asked in this quarter’s American Drycleaner Your Views survey to tell us your secret: “How do you find, and keep, great counter personnel?”, we received responses like these: • “I haven’t been able to find anyone in two or three years so I put up with all kinds of things I would have never put up with in the past.”

• “You have to be lucky and maybe go through three to 10 people.”

• “Family and friends.”

• “Treat them well, include them in decision-making, share the company vision and how they are a part of it, and clearly define the CSR position and expectations.”

The survey also asked: “Which phrase, generally speaking, describes your front counter team?”

“Simply great!” says 40% of respondents, while 39% indicate, “Solid, they do the job.” Eighteen percent say, “Room for improvement.” (See graph for full results.)

Here are some of the comments survey respondents give in describing how much of their counter team is in place and how many positions they still need to fill: • “Maybe a part-timer of only 10-12 hours.”

• “I would replace two of my seven counter people if I could.”

• “Always need one more.”

• “Have seven great people, only need to fill one more position.”

“Which factor do you think is the most important in your fabricare business?” the survey asked. “Counter Team” gets 58% of responses, while “Location” got 42%.

Here are some of the comments survey respondents give for describing their front counter team members who just have a knack for it: • “One in particular has great enthusiasm. They just have a desire to do the work and enjoy it.”

• “Friendly and truthful.”

• “There’s no secret: training and training. Don’t stop.”

• “Friendly. Remembers names. Knows a lot of customers personally. Talks to customers about their 6

0918adc_p06.FINAL.indd 6

American Drycleaner, September 2018

life. Knows how to resolve a problem. Trained well.”

• “Personable while professional.”

• “The gift of gab! Some people have it and some don’t. The vast majority of customers are seen when they park, and our staff knows them by name, so orders are pulled or being pulled when they walk in with a big welcome!”

• “They must like people; be a company person.”

• “One word: values.”

• “Self-starter, friendly, and attention to detail.”

• “Friendly, care, want to learn. They get it.”

• “Personality is everything!”

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

ADC www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:12 PM

AT THE

TOP GAME OF OUR

Mo bile App Rou * teTr * * ac M Adv obi anc le ed * * * Cas hC We ont ekl * * * rol yW and ebi n Tra inin ars g ** Pro Advan* duc c tion ed Con trol We * * * and b Man a Con figu ger rati on

Innovating the Industry Since 1991 We were ‘In the Cloud” before there was a cloud Built for Hosted and Centralized Operations 44 Employees Strong 22 CustomerCare Agents 7 Full Time Developers 5 person Implementation Team Monthly New Feature and Software Release Cycle State of the Art Marketing Tools Weekly webinars and training Steve Klinke, Klinke Cleaners Madison, WI

SPOT Business Systems is the most comprehensive and complete system available. www.SPOTpos.com • (801) 208-2212 ADC_Full Page.indd 1

8/6/18 11:50 AM

ADC_Full Page Spread.indd 1

8/10/18 2:05 PM

ADC_Full Page Spread.indd 2

8/10/18 2:07 PM

The Wrenchers! (From left) Michael “Chat” Chatelain, business partner and Presto Valet VP; Richard “Buddy” Gritz, owner of Presto Valet; and Frank Pannell, production manager. (Photo: Presto Valet)

I

Owners share their DIY tips, like checking equipment every day

By Tim Burke, Editor 10

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p10-14.FINAL.indd 10

s there a “fixer” inside you? Maybe you don’t even realize it yet. But drycleaning plant ownership might bring out the “wrencher” in you sooner or later. Or it already did.

Is there a DIY repair person in you waiting to get out? Who knows, you might even find out you like it.

Hear from three drycleaning owners who do.

“Since I am not mechanically inclined, and I was taught to surround myself with people who are smarter and more skilled than I am, I went into partnership with Bill McClary, McClary Appliance Service, who had proven his competence at maintaining and repairing our drycleaning plants and Laundromats,” relates Buddy Gritz, owner of Presto Valet of Virginia Inc. “Bill and I opened and installed two additional drycleaning plants, a dry store, and a Laundromat. We designed the stores ourselves, purchased the equipment from the manufacturers ourselves, and installed the equipment ourselves,” Gritz says. (continued) www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:09 PM

The Future Is Here!

AR T S I EV

TR

C F O ST

PRE Presto FC 5272 Hot Plates Shirt Finisher

Trevistar 5257 Blown Air Shirt Finisher

• • • • •

• High Quality “Hand Finished” Look • Includes Economizer Device - Saves Energy And Increases Production • Single Pedal Operation • Large Presses For Plackets And Cuff Pleats - PTFE Coated To Avoid Shine On Dark Colors • Hot Air Blowing Hood For Optimal Yoke Drying • Adjustable Arm Height Eliminates Wrinkles Under The Armhole • Can Be Operated At 80 PSI Steam Pressure

Full Length, PTFE Coated Plates No Shine Cuff Placket Presses Rear Tensioning With Vacuum & Pull Down Sleeve Angle Adjustment Top Hood Removes Heat From The Work Environment NO MORE

SHINE

AR T S TA

SS E C RIN A

PAN

Panastar 5354 Finish the entire pair of pants INCLUDING THE CREASE with one operator.

• For All Types Of Pants: - Creased Or Uncreased - Pleated Or Unpleated - Men’s Or Ladies’ • No Experienced Operator Needed • Requires Less Floor Space Than Conventional Equipment • Rotating Cuff Clamps For Creased/Uncreased/Flat Front Finish

P

Princess Ultra 5037 Blouse/Shirt/Multi-Garment Tensioning Form Finisher • • • • • •

Sizes From 0 Petite To 3 XL and larger Blouses, Shirts, Jackets, Labcoats - Wet or Dry Dual, Rotating Front Clamps (Patented System) One Heated For Wet Shirts/Blouses One Unheated For Drycleaned Shirts/Blouses Front Clamps Pivot & Rotate

No Need To Disconnect & Store Unused Clamp

P.O. Box 127 - Mamaroneck, NY 10543 Telephone (973) 535-8305 E-Mail: info@trevilamerica.com

0118adc_Trevil.indd 1

ULTR

Toll Free (877) TREVIL 1 www.TrevilAmerica.com

12/5/17 2:43 PM

Gritz also says: “We carry a very “Bill has an uncanny knack for extensive supply of parts for every figuring out what’s wrong and how piece of equipment in our plant. We to fix it when equipment breaks. currently have two boilers, three Over the years, two additional team air compressors, two drycleaning members have developed expertise machines, two washing machines, at doing routine repair and prevenseven presses, a shirt unit, plus other tive maintenance on our equipment. production equipment. When some‘Chat’ Chatelain, my business partDrycleaning plant thing breaks down, we make sure to ner and vice president of production, ownership might order an extra part to have on hand and Frank Pannell, our production bring out the in case that part breaks down again. manager,” Gritz points out.

“Being knowledgeable about how “They can handle most of the day“wrencher” in you! the equipment works, doing routine to-day maintenance. If we’re not maintenance regularly, and having sure what to do when the equipment (Image licensed by Ingram Publishing) extra parts on hand all help Presto breaks down or stops working, we Valet to continue to operate efficiently, even when a piece can always rely on Bill to fix or replace it. Bill is now of equipment breaks down or needs repair,” he notes. retired and in his 80s, but is always on call for us. We “It is also important to pay your equipment manufacrarely need to call an outside service person to maintain, turing and parts suppliers promptly,” Gritz reminds, “to repair, or replace our equipment.” ensure that they will respond immediately when you need Presto Valet was opened on April 7, 1951, by Harold their help to keep operating!”

J. Weisblut, Gritz’s father-in-law. Gritz notes it is a fullservice dry cleaner using GreenEarth products and speTOOL MAN cializing in providing “superb customer care, processing Some drycleaning operators learn to maintain and theatrical costumes, and solving our customers’ problems. repair their own equipment. One of those, Andrew Tirpok, I started working at Presto Valet on April 21, 1967, and owner of Tirpok Cleaners in Flemington, N.J., shares his took over the business in 1974.” own experiences and skills: After his discharge from the U.S. Air Force as a special “When I first came into the family business in the early investigator, Gritz says he was planning to join the FBI 1990s, I had zero mechanical ability. The television show and pursue a career in law enforcement. “However, my Home Improvement was popular at the time, and the father-in-law informed me that I needed to support his employees used to call me ‘Tim the Tool Man,’ because daughter until the FBI school started, and told me that his I was mechanically inept,” Tirpok recalls. manager had quit, and suggested that I work at Presto Unfortunately, he notes, his business is located in a rural Valet for a while.” area and it’s difficult to get a mechanic to come out and After only a month, he notes, he was enjoying his inperform a minor repair on the equipment. teractions with customers and crew so much that he aban“Because of that,” he explains, “I had to learn to maindoned those law enforcement plans. tain it myself, or I could expect long delays without a pos“I completed the National Institute of Drycleaning sibly essential piece of equipment. Also, because we have (now DLI) 139th general course, which was a comprehenbeen in business for so long, I had a lot of older equipment sive 10-week course that included basic repair and mainon hand and it required a lot of maintenance.” tenance of drycleaning equipment,” he explains. Between Tirpok relates, “We had presses that my grandfather his training and the expert maintenance knowledge of bought before I was born. Over the years, I’ve become partners McClary and Chatelain and manager Pannell, he pretty good at handling most of the maintenance and is able to handle almost all equipment fixes. repair required for the machines we have. As a result of a Here are some tips Gritz passes along about maintaining devastating fire last year, I’m now in the position where your drycleaning equipment: I have all-new equipment, which requires a lot less atten“The key to maintaining the essential equipment in a tion than what we had before.” drycleaning or laundry business,” he says, “is never be in His grandfather, Andy Tirpok Sr., founded Tirpok the position of having to wait for the repair of a piece of Cleaners in 1936. He started as a presser for a haberdashequipment or for a small part. We check the working conery in Flemington. He started his own business with a dition of every piece of equipment daily to make sure that shoeshine stand. everything is functioning properly, so that we can continue (continued) “Today, we’re a retail dry cleaner and operating the plant and pleasing our customers.”

12

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p10-14.FINAL.indd 12

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:09 PM

Great New Look,

Same Great Performance, Same Great Support.

The best machine for the best solvents.

Union Drycleaning Products, USA 1900 Meredith Park Drive McDonough, GA 30253 1-800-433-9401 fax 404-361-2454 www.uniondc.com America’s Best Selling Brand of Dry Cleaning Machines ADC_Full Page.indd 1

10/17/17 11:45 AM

told me the one I grabbed was broken.” shirt launderer,” Andrew Tirpok says, “with a small pickDon’t keep a broken part, he reminds. “Throw it out. up and delivery business. I’m the third-generation owner You’ll have no use for that cracked air switch at any point of the company. I have a good staff comprised of many in the future.” long-term employees. Mostly, I run the administrative end Tirpok’s last tip for you maintenance DIYers: “Keep of the company and do the maintenance in our plant.” a stock of commonly used parts on hand. Sure, you can Have you ever had to fix equipment and/or machines order that air cylinder when it breaks, but it might take a because your maintenance person couldn’t get there? few days to get to you from wherever you ordered it from.

How did that go for you?

Nothing beats having the part on hand. The lost produc“All the time,” Tirpok admits. “Because we had well tion will cost more in the end than the few dollars you water in the old plant, even with a softener, the refrigeraspent on spare parts.” tion cooling coils on the drycleaning machines required monthly acid washing. The first time I did it on my own, it STILL LEARNING took hours to get done, and I ended up covered in the acid Our last message about hands-on repair and maintesolution because a hose popped off the coil. nance is from Zach Kinzer, the owner of Bridgestone Dry “Fortunately, it’s a pretty dilute solution and no harm Cleaners, Brooklyn, N.Y.: was done,” he continues. “It did get red stains all over “We are a family-run business located in downtown my clothing. Another time, my father, daughter and I Brooklyn. My dad, Ken Kinzer, needed to change the bearing on a started the business in 1983. We spe75-pound washing machine. What cialize in all types of garment care we were hoping to get done in a and tailoring. Last week, we cleaned weekend ended up taking almost and preserved a $16,000 Vera Wang a week. gown. We kept our cool and got it “We couldn’t get the old bearing done right. out, and broke two sledgehammers “I would be lying if I said we are and bent a support column for the the mechanical type of owner/genbuilding, using it as a brace. We did Is there a DIY eral manager team. Sure, there was eventually get it done, and the marepair person in you the time I had to remove the seized chine was like new after that.” waiting to get out?! pump off of our drycleaning maAre drycleaning owners and opchine, or the time I had to rewire erators surprised at how much rethe spotting gun which went bad. pair knowledge they pick up while (Image licensed by Ingram Publishing) “Mechanical issues in a drycleanowning their operation? ing plant, like life, come at you fast. We have attempted “Actually, I am surprised,” Tirpok shares. “I never over the years to limit the bleeding with weekly checklists thought I could actually enjoy working with my hands, but to keep up with oil levels, clean filters and all the rest. now I look forward to it. You get a sense of accomplishThis has helped a great deal.” ment from fixing a machine — that nothing else compares Kinzer notes that, most importantly, they have tried to to.” keep a close relationship with their local mechanic, Dino, Of course, he has tips for readers about what he’s from Evangelos Repair Service in the Bronx: “He and his learned while maintaining his own equipment, especially team are able to help us keep up to date on annual maintein a pinch: nance while also jumping in when an emergency comes up.

“Keep your compressed air dry,” Tirpok insists. “If you “We are still learning to keep up to date on the little don’t have an air dryer, get one. When I was first starting details with our machines in order to avoid the big hits out, a mechanic that did work for me told me that auto of mechanical failure. I think we are getting better every mechanics know the importance of dry air, and dry cleanday.” ers have no clue. That is so true.

Three stories out of so many from the drycleaning indus“I would say that 90% of the maintenance issues we try about learning to do repairs on the job. Surprising yourused to have were due to extremely wet air running the self and accomplishing more than you thought you could. machines. It makes a huge difference.”

And those tips: have an extra part in stock, keep your air Another tip: “Don’t keep broken parts laying around. dry, and make sure to pay your suppliers on time.

This is such a ‘dry cleaner’ thing to do. When I first went But, mostly, it’s all about you, and discovering you might to work for my uncle, we were fixing a press, and he just have a “fixer” inside of you. asked me to grab a part from the tool room. I did, and he ADC 14

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p10-14.FINAL.indd 14

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:09 PM

ADC_Full Page.indd 1

1/24/18 12:32 PM

Gleaming Machines! Drycleaning machines and wetcleaning machines are both in use at many plants today. (Photo: Tim Burke)

Three drycleaning owners talk about their machine purchasing habits

By Tim Burke, Editor

R

ise of the Machines!

That might make you envision Terminators. But machines, for purposes of this article, are drycleaning machines and wetcleaning machines working reliably and efficiently in your plants today.

You’re using both. But what goes into the decisionmaking process when drycleaning owners get ready to buy machines? We really wanted to know.

An unscientific Your Views survey by American Drycleaner polled subscribers back in February to ask: How many drycleaning and/or wetcleaning machines do you have? The results came back showing a nearly 50/50 relationship in machine types.

It’s telling that drycleaning and wetcleaning machines seem to be needed just about equally today.

Recently, three drycleaning owners spoke individually to American Drycleaner about what goes into their decision to use both wet and dry machines in their plants.

16

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p16,18,40-41.FINAL.indd 16

Bonnie Engler is president and owner of Pilgrim Dry Cleaners Inc., based in Minneapolis, Minn. She describes her business and the machines she uses.

“We are a three-generation family business that has been providing drycleaning and laundry services to the Twin Cities area since 1940. We have 26 locations with same-day service; provide home and office pickup and delivery; 24-hour drop boxes; 24-hour kiosk; and an ondemand app called PilgrimGO,” she relates.

“We have wetcleaning equipment in all plant locations. Our customers know: ‘Whatever the care label, we can clean it!’ Incorporating wetcleaning equipment has enabled us to provide the best cleaning capability for all fabrics, stains, and care labels,” Engler says.

Our “expert dry cleaners,” she explains, “can now decide if a garment should be dry-cleaned with our hydrocarbon machines, washed in our commercial laundry, or wet-cleaned for best results.” (continued) She points out, “We have 65-pound wetwww.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:06 PM

Order Assembly has Never Been Easier or More Affordable

The SUV-OAS Automated Order Assembly System is designed to help make your business more competitive and profitable.

White Conveyors’ SUV-OAS is the perfect solution to boost your productivity, improve customer service and increase your profits while reducing your operating costs. The system is delivered fully assembled, and can be operational in less than two hours. As an option, it can be mounted on wheels for mobility or storage. Simply set it up on its supports, plug in the power, connect the computer, and link the system to an Internet connection. It’s time to begin realizing remarkable time and money savings.

Easy to use Reduces labor costs Increases productivity Assembles over 2000 pieces per shift Interfaces with all major POS systems Can utilize a bar-code or RFID chip system Easy-to-read computer touch screen Highly accurate and reliable Fast return on investment Proudly made in the USA with fast support

The World’s Most Trusted Conveyor

White Conveyors, Inc 10 Boright Avenue • Kenilworth, NJ 07033 • (800) 524-0273 • +1 (908) 686-5700

www.whiteconveyors.com ADC_Full Page.indd 1

2/6/18 11:12 AM

technology.” cleaning washers with Then American stack dryers for the Drycleaner asks him most flexibility. We what he thinks is have been happy with changing today in how our choice in drycleanowners look at weting and wetcleaning cleaning machines and equipment. drycleaning machines.

“We are able to sucWhite says, “Cost cessfully wet-clean savings!” He finds that khakis, wool coats, and “the equipment is easy wedding dresses beauto install and maintifully! They work estain, there is no waste pecially well to remove removal, the utility those Minnesota winter consumption is low, salt stains.” the machines are flexEngler passes along ible and can be used a tip: “Training is imfor all of your laundry perative for an operaneeds, too. tor to feel confident in “Most operators wet-cleaning the most have already invested items possible.”

I’ll Be Back! Laura Smith, drycleaning manager at the Brooklyn Park, Minn., headquarters of Pilgrim Dry in tensioning equipThat’s one owner’s Cleaners, pauses for a photo-op with her machines. ment, so the investview on machines.

(Photo: Pilgrim Dry Cleaners) ment now is much Let’s get another. lower than in the past What is driving the to fully embrace wet cleaning. The transition is much purchase of the workhorse machines an owner and opeasier than in the past,” he adds. erator relies on?

Is the buying decision harder today for owners?

Christopher White, executive director with America’s In regard to buying drycleaning machines and wetBest Cleaners (ABC) in Delmar, N.Y., has over 30 years cleaning machines, White says, “Yes, since there is only of experience, from plant design, process and procedure one thing that is predictable now,” pointing out, “the development and technology integrations, to marketing cost will be going up, especially on the labor side. Piece strategy development, human resource development and counts are reducing and the mix of dryclean pieces verexecutive coaching. sus washables is constantly moving. This makes it hard “ABC started in 2001 as the first independent quality to set a firm plan in place,” he notes. certification mark for the drycleaning industry,” White White continues: “In regard to the choice on which notes. “Certified cleaners then take part in business wetcleaning machine you should purchase, it’s quite development meetings, educational trips and in-house simple: Does the machine have a microprocessor that consulting and training services.” allows for complete control of wheel action and extracRegarding making decisions about how many wettion speeds, water levels, water temperatures, detergent cleaning machines and how many drycleaning machines signals? If the answer is yes, then buy from the local to own, American Drycleaner asks him to share his machine distributor that services your plant when you experiences: need them.”

“This is a question that has been on the forefront in He adds that price should always be a consideration plant design and general machinery upgrades for the last “but the cost of being down will hurt you more than a several years,” White opines. few hundred dollars on the machine sale price. Buy from “With the increase of ‘washable garments vs. dryclean those that take care of you.” only garments,’ there has been a definitive shift to the White shares personal tips taken from what he’s wet side. learned going through the buying process: “With a combination of government regulation, land“There are a few brands on both the drycleaning side lord requirements, consumer awareness, the increase in and wash machine side that stand out for their efficienwashable goods received, and advances in detergents,” cies and ease of use, but I he says, “operators are finally embracing this successful (continued on page 40) 18

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p16,18,40-41.FINAL.indd 18

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:06 PM

SENSENE™ Modified Alcohol Made to delight your senses… ™Trademark of SAFECHEM

„SENSENE continues to prove itself effective and efficient.

This is an amazing product with a high cleaning power combined with excellent material compatibility. Finally, it‘s what we all have been waiting for.“ Jan Barlow, owner of Jan‘s Professional Dry Cleaners and former president of DLI (Dry Cleaning and Laundry Institute)

DISTRIBUTION PARTNER FOR NORTH AMERICA:

www.safechem.com www.sensene.com

SEITZ The fresher Company 5101 Tampa West Blvd. / Suite 300 / Tampa, FL 33634 / Phone: 813.886.2700 Email: seitz_inc.office@seitz24.com

ADC_Full Page.indd 1

6/14/18 9:01 AM

MA N A G E ME N T ST RAT E G IES

The GM Give power, get freedom: your general manager should be your substitute

T

here are reasons to consider hiring a general manager (GM) to run the daily operations of your company.

Would you like: To spend more time on opportunities that will make your business thrive?

Fewer responsibilities demanding your immediate attention?

To expand into another market, business or career?

More time away from the business?

The freedom to develop your professional or personal capabilities through outside learning opportunities?

To take a sabbatical?

To spend more time with family and friends?

A trial or permanent retirement?

An alternative succession plan?

Diana Vollmer Peace of mind when an emergency leave of absence is necessary?

To continue to own the business, but not operate it?

If you already employ a general manager, are you taking advantage of what she or he can provide to you and your business? Do you trust them enough to let them do the job as it is designed to be done? Do you give them the responsibility and the authority to do what is in the best interest of the company?

Many of the GMs I meet are either owners’ assistants operating in a “gopher” role or line supervisors with an overblown title.

In both situations, the staff is well aware that the power lies elsewhere — strongly in the hands of the owner.

These roles may serve a valid purpose, but they are not general manager responsibilities.

A fully functioning GM is a huge asset to a business that has the profit level sufficient to support the position. When the daily operations have a strong manager, the owner is freed to be a more effective entrepreneur who can build a more profitable business that fulfills a grander vision.

Or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, in the case of owner burnout, a GM can provide confidence to take

20

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p20-22.FINAL.indd 20

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

much needed time off. Between these two alternatives lie many benefits.

A typical general manager position description might be: Fabricare General Manager.

DEFINE ‘GM’ This position is responsible for managing and developing the company revenues, profits, processes, personnel, production, and physical and financial assets through his/ her personal efforts and the efforts of direct reports.

Always the focus is on the short- and long-term goals of the company as well as quality and service levels. The GM will be responsible for making necessary changes to the company’s current methods to optimize competitive advantage.

Essential Functions: • Achieve annual sales and profit goals as recommended to and adopted by owner.

• Create and implement a plan to increase profitable sales volume by ___% in ___ months on same-store and route sales (excluding acquisition sales) as well as adding an additional ___% through direct outside sales.

• Create, implement and manage adherence to a budget, making relevant dynamic adjustments as needed.

• Monitor monthly financial reports to make relevant adjustments to operations to achieve goal operating profit.

• Create, implement, and manage external sales and marketing to target businesses, institutions and community in conjunction with sales representatives to add ___% to current sales volume.

• Create and implement a plan to develop professional community relationships and partnerships and to (continued) enhance company influence in the www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:03 PM

MAKING CENTS OF THE DOLLARS COMPARING WET CLEANING & DRY CLEANING COSTS New technologies allow wet cleaning to significantly improve throughput production over traditional dry cleaning. This makes a strong case for the eco-friendly wet cleaning process.

But what about the costs associated with wet cleaning versus dry cleaning? When compared — dollar for dollar — wet cleaning is thousands less.

INITIAL INVESTMENT First, let’s evaluate the initial cost of each system. This is the amount required to purchase new alternative-solvent dry cleaning machines versus similarly sized Poseidon wet cleaning systems.

When the numbers are crunched, there’s a $67,000-$72,000 cost differential in favor of Poseidon wet cleaning. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s dig deeper.

machine. From there on, there is not a huge difference.

Water — Water usage can vary. On the dry cleaning side, when a chiller is utilized to recycle water through a dry cleaning machine, very little water is used. But, a chiller costs between $15,000 and $30,000.

In general, a 60-pound wet cleaning machine uses 40 gallons of water per load, and over the course of a year, would go through as much water as a dry cleaning machine hooked to a water tower. A dry cleaning machine hooked to a chiller is the most water efficient. The only problem is that this scenario requires a costly initial investment.

Electricity — When it comes to electricity, wet cleaning comes out ahead.

This is because a dry cleaning machine requires 60-90 amps to operate, whereas a wet cleaning system requires just 15.

Natural Gas — The boiler needed to operate a dry cleaning machine uses 670,000 BTUs, which dwarfs the wet cleaning requirement of 118,000 BTUs. Plus, a boiler will run until all plant production is completed for the day. A wet cleaning system dryer operates in 15-20 minute increments a dozen times a day. Again, wet cleaning wins.

Labor — When compared, labor costs are very similar in both dry cleaning and wet cleaning.

1) Additional Capital Expenditures en, there are additional costs associated with operating a new dry Often, cleaning machine, including upgrading boilers, chillers, air compressors and electrical. If you have to upgrade any of these because of your new dry cleaning machine, you’ll fork out considerably more. Whereas, if you go with a wet cleaning system, you won’t.

For example, a customer is installing an 80-pound capacity dry cleaning machine at a cost north of $100,000 list price. It’s going into an existing facility. To operate correctly, the dry cleaning machine will require the purchase of another chiller ($16,000) and an 80 amp breaker. Additionally, the new chiller will require another 70 amp breaker. In the end, the new dry cleaning machine not only requires a new chiller, it demands a costly electrical upgrade. All this adds up.

By comparison, an 80-pound capacity Poseidon wet cleaning system, which operates on 15 amp breakers, doesn’t require anything extra. So, if you add a wet cleaning system, you’ll likely not have to purchase or upgrade anything else.

2) Operational Costs We know now that the minimal initial investment of a 60-pound capacity dry cleaning machine is at least $67,000 greater than that of a similarly sized wet cleaning system. We also know other capital expenditures and upgrades are also part of the installation and operational equation. Now, let’s compare labor, chemistry/solvent, regulatory/licensing fees and utility costs.

Chemistry — Initial start-up costs for chemistry for a 60-pound wet cleaning machine is around $2,000. It’s $6,000 for a 60-pound dry cleaning

3) Regulatory & Waste Disposal Fees Finally, regulatory fees and waste disposal costs are not uniform across the country because each state has its own set of laws. Typically, it costs hundreds per drum for removal of dry cleaning still-bottom-solvent wastes.

On the flip side, there are never disposal or regulatory costs for wet cleaning.

WET CLEANING — A THIRD OF THE COST OF DRY CLEANING At the end of the day – when all factors are considered – wet cleaning costs are thousands less than those of dry cleaning. Plus, wet cleaning delivers 50 percent more throughput. That’s a one-two punch that’s hard to reckon with.

Please contact Jeff Quail at jquail@poseidonwetcleaning.com with any questions.

COST OF INSTALLING A POSEIDON WET CLEANING SYSTEM VS. AN ALTERNATIVE SOLVENT DRY CLEANING MACHINE 60 lb. Capacity Poseidon Wet Cleaning System

Wet Cleaning Saves $68,000

60 lb. Capacity Alternative Solvent Dry Cleaning Machine 80 lb. Capacity Poseidon Wet Cleaning System

Wet Cleaning Saves $72,200

80 lb. Capacity Alternative Solvent Dry Cleaning Machine 0

$10K

POSEIDON JQWetCleaningAdvertorial-ADC.05-18.indd 1 ADC_R_Full Page.indd 1

$20K

$30K

$40K

$50K

$60K

$70K

$80K List Price Freight

$90K

$100K

$110K

Chemistry Pump/Solvent Basic Install

poseidonwetcleaning.com 800-482-3400

6/21/18 PM 6/21/18 12:42 4:02 PM

M A N A G E M E N T ST RAT E G I ES

target market.

• Identify and recommend potential acquisitions that will add profitable sales through consolidating expenses and taking advantage of economies of scale.

• Interact with and manage outside resources that aid in goal attainment, i.e. mystery shopping service, peer management groups, special focus consultants and marketing professionals.

• Conduct weekly sales meetings and status recap with outside sales team.

• Conduct weekly customer service status reviews for enhancement.

• Conduct weekly quality, maintenance, efficiency and staffing review with the production manager and/or staff.

• Hold biweekly meetings with all direct reports and entire staff quarterly.

• Create and manage the marketing plan.

• Present investment and growth opportunities to the owner with expected ROI. • Make equipment purchase and/or upgrade recommendations.

• Recommend new locations or reduction in locations supported by thorough strategic and financial analysis.

• Monitor claim management controls.

• Attend board of directors meetings as needed.

• Track key performance indicators and continually improve performance.

• Manage and approve payroll.

• Hire and fire with the assistance of HR and relevant manager.

• Maintain clear, current, updated documentation of all positions and training manuals.

• Maintain and share current processes and procedures documents and ensure compliance.

• Manage pricing and make appropriate adjustments.

• Oversee any acquisitions and facilities remodels.

• Manage accounts receivables for current collections.

• Complete annual performance reviews for all direct reports.

Necessary Competencies: • Proven history of profitable sales increases.

• Demonstrated leadership skills.

• Proven business acumen.

• Communication proficiency.

• Customer/client focus.

22

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p20-22.FINAL.indd 22

• Organizational skills.

• Presentation skills.

• Problem analysis and solving ability.

• Goal achievement and results orientation.

• Technical proficiency in computer programs, including at least Word, Excel and Outlook.

Required Education and Experience: • Proven track record of profitable sales increases in a service business.

• Demonstrated leadership experience with at least ____ direct and/or indirect subordinates.

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a business field.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications: • Valid driver’s license with automobile insurance.

• Background check.

• One personal and three professional references.

This description may sound overly complex, however, the general manager is exactly that — a manager over operations. The GM is the owner’s substitute.

Affordability There is always an issue of whether an expenditure is judicious with an appropriate return on investment.

Take into consideration how effectively all the above duties are being handled currently. Do you have time to successfully manage every part of the business?

Do you have more than eight people reporting directly to you? If there was a more disciplined focus on profit, sales, productivity and customer outreach, how much could the financial result improve?

If you had time to think about opportunities for your business and to plan for the future, would your business respond favorably?

Conversely, would you be willing to trade a portion of your compensation for more freedom over your time and activities? Do you see value in having a skilled colleague to help you take the business to a higher level?

You may find that the answer to your questions and to your dreams could be a capable general manager.

ADC Diana Vollmer is a managing director for Methods for Management, which has served dry cleaners and launderers with affordable management expertise and improved profitability since 1953. For assistance deciding if a GM is appropriate for your company, or recruiting, hiring, or developing a general manager, contact her at dvollmer@mfmi.com or call 415-577-6544. www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:03 PM

24/7 Support

YOU CALL, WE RESPOND We’re talking minutes, not hours

SMRT SYSTEMS Problems Solved

SMRT Systems • (415) 612-9885 • SMRTSystems.com • sales@smrtsystems.com • 1844 Belles St. San Francisco, CA 94129

ADC_Full Page.indd 1 ADC August 2018.indd 1

8/9/18 1:00 PM 8/9/18 10:39 AM

At SMRT systems

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

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

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

We understand that dry cleaners are dynamic, high-performing entrepreneurs. It’s no small feat to run both the factory and the dealership every damn day.

You deserve a software partner that knows your business and is there for you 24/7.

You deserve SMRT. SMRT Systems • (415) 612-9885 • SMRTSystems.com • sales@smrtsystems.com • 1844 Belles St. San Francisco, CA 94129

ADC_Full Page Spread.indd 1 ADC August 2018.indd 2-3

8/9/18 1:03 PM

SMRT is t e com lete ac a e. T e eo le, t e ro ct, t eir ri e an t eir oc s ma e my siness etter an my li e easier.

- at y Ben in er,

ner Ben in er s Cleaners

There’s never been a better time to

Get SMRT

ADC_Full Page Spread.indd 2

8/9/18 1:03 PM 8/9/18 10:39 AM

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

SMRT is light years ahead of the competition!

We’ve never been so on top of our business and in tune with our customers.

Wayne Edelman Owner: Meurice Garment Care

Jason Yerby Vice President: Crest Advanced Dry Cleaners

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

Daniel Cha Owner: Orchid Dry Cleaners

Robust KPI’s, easy customer access, instant Metalprogetti integration, text messaging... in one simple-to-use package. All I can say is, get SMRT! Richard Aviles Owner: Bridge Cleaners & Tailors, King Garment Care

CALL SMRT Today AT 415•612•9885 AND LET’S EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES

SMRT Systems • (415) 612-9885 • SMRTSystems.com • sales@smrtsystems.com • 1844 Belles St. San Francisco, CA 94129

ADC_Full Page.indd 1 ADC August 2018.indd 4

8/10/18 8:19 AM 8/9/18 5:42 PM

O W N E R’ S OF F I CE

Lazy: The New Power Look!

In a rut? Learn a secret weapon for escaping it, and solving your ownership ‘blahs’ now

B

usiness owners in the drycleaning industry pride themselves on their work ethic.

Go to any drycleaning and laundry convention and you’ll hear amazing stories of hard-working drycleaning entrepreneurs who stayed up until midnight pressing shirts or came in at 3 a.m. to make sure that orders were ready the next day. Dry cleaners who aren’t willing to get up early, stay late or work the press are considered lazy and doomed to fail.

While it’s tempting to believe that the desire to avoid the hard work of drycleaning production is “lazy,” I would argue that it is absolutely critical to your long-term success as an owner.

In fact, thinking lazy is the only way that you will be able to realize your business’ full potential. You’re Dan Miller asking yourself: What does he mean?

WHAT IS THINKING LAZY? Thinking lazy is constantly asking yourself, “Do I need to be doing this? Or can someone or something do it more efficiently?”

Most of the great innovations of our time came from someone who thought lazy. Cars were invented by someone who found the horse and carriage to be a hassle.

Amazon was invented because we didn’t want to spend the time and gas driving to a retail store.

Heck, our industry wouldn’t exist if our customers didn’t think to themselves: “I’m tired of cleaning and ironing my clothes. Is there someone who can do this better and more efficiently?”

At its most elemental, thinking lazy is asking yourself the question, “How do I achieve my goals with as little work as possible?”

HOW TO THINK LAZY In order to start thinking lazy, the most important step you have to take is to define what your goal is as the www.americandrycleaner.com

0918adc_p27-28.FINAL.indd 27

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

owner of a dry cleaner.

In talking with other owners, I’m always shocked at how many of them came into the business either because their parents were in it or they thought it would be a fun business to buy but aren’t quite sure of what their end game is.

As a result, they tend to get stuck in the day-to-day grind without moving forward toward any defined goal.

This lack of a clear goal makes it difficult to differentiate between critical tasks and the fire drills that pop up in the life of a dry cleaner.

To think lazy, it is absolutely critical that you shut (continued) down the computer, turn off the phone, American Drycleaner, September 2018

27

8/16/18 2:59 PM

O W N E R’ S OF F I CE

take a day outside of the office, and think about your goals from both a personal and professional level.

What goal do you want your business to achieve?

Do you want your drycleaning operation to produce a set amount of income per year?

Do you want your drycleaning business to provide opportunities for your family members?

Do you want your drycleaning store to sell for a certain price?

Do you want your drycleaning operation to go public?

The next step you take in thinking lazy will be heavily determined based on your answers to those questions.

A drycleaning owner who wants to go public will have very different answers to thinking lazy than someone who wants to make $100,000 per year in income, so it is critical to define those goals before moving forward.

To keep it simple, let’s assume that your goal is to make $100,000 per year in income. That’s a great goal and definitely achievable in our industry.

However, it’s one thing to be making $100,00 per year as an owner who presses shirts, works the counter and gets up at 3 a.m. to fix the boiler. It’s another to do it while playing golf four days a week.

Which leads to the next question you have to ask yourself: “How do I achieve my goal with the least amount of effort?”

FOUR LAZY QUESTIONS Now that you know your goal, it’s critical to perform an audit of all the work you do in a day.

Do you spend most of your time in production? Are you dealing with customer issues? Whatever it is, make a full list of the work you do in a week and how much time you spend on it.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just a simple Excel log will do the trick. The next step is to go through each of these tasks one by one asking four simple questions: 1. Can this work be prevented?

2. Can this work be outsourced?

3. Can this work be automated?

4. Can this work be trained?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then thinking

lazy requires that you shouldn’t be doing it.

To illustrate, let’s take the example of dealing with customer service issues. Many drycleaning owners spend a fair amount of time fielding calls, dealing with claims and other customer service issues.

However, if we apply the four questions to this customer service example, it becomes clear how easily this work could be eliminated from the drycleaning owner’s plate: Can this work be prevented?

Some of it can, absolutely. If we minimize damaged and lost garments in production, we will eliminate claims calls. If we provide information more clearly on the website, the customer won’t need to call in the first place.

1.

Can this work be outsourced?

Yes. There are a number of outsourced call centers now that can be found online and will field the majority of questions.

2.

Can this work be automated?

Yes. There are phone services you can get that will provide answers to the most common questions, such as store hours, locations, turnaround time, and more.

3.

4.

Can this work be trained?

Yes. You can teach any friendly staff member to deal with customer service issues.

By applying the thinking lazy approach and asking these four questions regarding the major tasks you do on a daily basis, you can make your business run more efficiently and free up your life.

There’s an old saying: “Great managers makes themselves obsolete.” The same idea holds true for great business owners. By thinking lazy, you’ll be on your way!

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

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

28

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p27-28.FINAL.indd 28

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 2:59 PM

ADC_Sankosha_Thank You Presses_March 18_Layout 1 3/9/18 8:57 AM Page 1

25 Years

Tells A Story...

A

ll our customers are partners in our business. Because of their ideas and suggestions, they have provided us the ability to develop innovative equipment to help their businesses be successful and more profitable.

thank you

We would just like to say

ANN IVER SA



 

 

for being a part of our family.



AR



 

YE

.

 S



K OS H A U . S .

A AN

RY

http://www.sankosha-inc.com

1901 Landmeier Rd., Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 • TOLL FREE: (888) 427-9120 • TEL: (847) 427-9120 ADC_Full Page.indd 1

3/9/18 1:30 PM

S P OT T I N G T I PS

Good Old-Fashioned Spotting Don’t ever forget the priority of supplemental stain removal

I

t may be old-fashioned to you, but some consumers expect to receive their garments stain- and odor-free from a garment care professional.

Where do you rank supplemental stain removal? Think about it for a moment. Do you believe that your customers agree with your ranking of priorities?

Are you imitating the plant down the street? When is the last time you gave some thought to where your business is and where it is headed?

It is my intent to motivate you to revisit those priorities.

Is making the effort to gain knowledge of fibers, construction, Martin Young dyes and trim necessary? Does having a knowledgeable cleaner/spotter contribute to your long-term prosperity? Is the time spent on supplemental stain removal an advantage to protecting your investment?

Does your business model have room for more than “turning pieces?” Are you sure — really sure — that speed and price are more important than stain removal to the consumer?

Those are a lot of questions. But remember, you are betting your future on the answers.

It has become more common for some in the garment care industry to give priority to other areas of customer service and give a lower priority to removing stains that require even the slightest increase in time and effort.

The goal is to process all garments as quickly as possible, many times at the expense of stains like ink, coffee, wine, blood, and albumin.

The first priority, with a 9:30 a.m. cut-off, is to have “all pieces re-racked and delivered by 3:30 p.m.” If that involves travel to and from the dry store, that processing window shrinks even more.

With modern point-of-sale equipment, you can easily determine the percentage of garments that are not picked up after 36 hours. With that information in hand, you can use it to your advantage by considering adjusting your processing window by 12 to 24 hours.

30

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p30-32.FINAL.indd 30

(Photo: Tim Burke)

“Same day/one day” can still be provided at a slight premium. The consumer is already used to paying extra for faster than standard delivery for packages and mail.

Employees will still be evaluated by pieces per operator hour. However, a small percentage of the workflow will be subject to additional attention in the cleaning department.

All this will be of little benefit if the cleaner/spotter lacks the knowledge, experience and tools to improve on the items that still need some form of detailed stain removal after being processed through the drycleaning system.

Every cleaning system needs help from time to time.

Post-spotting is a necessary part of a modern cleaning operation. Pre-spotting is a time- and labor-saving process, as well as making post-spotting easier.

Having the appropriate chemical tool to treat the specific stain is a simple and economical way to drastically improve the quality of your finished product.

Sending your cleaner/spotter to one continuing education class per year is an investment that will give you a wonderful return. It will keep your employee aware of recent improvements in garment care tools and techniques.

You will experience a significant reduction in damage claims. It is an invalid assumption that the garment care industry is only about the machine and the immersion solution.

Once in place, a protocol of inspection after cleaning and before finishing will pay dividends. There is a point at which the priority for quick “throughput” (continued) www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 2:52 PM

IS ALL YOU NEED Dry Cleaning Machines

EXCELLENCE 2.0

Huge range of machines hard & soft mounted with still and/or filtration unit from 20 up to 90 Lb.

Washer Extractors

High Spin Soft Mounted, Extra & Regular Spin Hard Mounted from 20 up to 264 Lb.

Tumbling Dryers

Complete range from 20 up to 264 Lb., With exclusive range of closed circuit - vent-less dryers

 COMPLETE PARTS INVENTORY  TECHNICAL SUPPORT  US SCHOOLING AND TRAINING CENTER ON DRYCLEANING AND WET CLEANING MACHINES Contact

www.renzacci-usa.com ADC_Full Page.indd 1

Brent Padon: 561-644-5517

email: bpadon@renzacci-usa.com - info@renzacci-usa.com

6/11/18 9:58 AM

S P OT T I N G T I PS

ceases to be of benefit. It only takes a moment to pre-treat a nail polish stain.

Studies have shown that it costs over five times as much to get a new customer than it does to keep an existing one.

So keep your existing customer base and build on that foundation with a modest tweak in company attitude and employee work practices.

You can go even further by training anyone who has contact with the consumer to sell your professionalism by recognizing stains by appearance, color, texture and location.

It comes down to a business decision. While others may choose to hire employees for low wages that usually leads to high turnover, you can invest an amount of less than 5% of your equipment budget in continuing education for your existing employees and really set yourself apart in the marketplace.

I hope I have caused you to think about where you place your business priorities. It is a fact that “Sorry” tags are a

poor substitute for quality results.

Additionally: You may have read that the EPA has put its re-evaluation of TCE/trichloroethylene on hold for the time being. You can read about it at https://chemicalwatch. com. An article dated Dec. 21, 2017, notes, “The U.S. EPA has signaled it is shelving proposals to restrict the use of the solvents methylene chloride (dichloromethane), n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and trichloroethylene (TCE).”

I believe this is temporary. Do not stop searching for an adequate replacement. It has been a staple of the cleaning industry for many years and is highly effective on a limited range of chemically soluble stains. It has a serious image problem that is not going away.

ADC Martin L. Young Jr. has been an industry consultant and trainer for 20 years, and a member of various stakeholder groups on environmental issues. He grew up in his parents’ plant in Concord, N.C., Young Cleaners, which he operates today. Phone: 704-786-3011, e-mail: mayoung@ctc.net.

YARNS SPUN HERE

Sunfade

By Tim Burke, Editor

S

hade your face. If you’re getting tired of being in the sun too long, you’re experiencing sunfade.

Satellite sunfade happens twice a year, in spring and fall, when cable companies have brief outages.

Wikipedia calls it a sun outage, sun transit or sunfade.

At these times, it describes, the apparent path of the sun across the sky takes it directly behind the line of sight between an earth station and a satellite. “The sun radiates across the entire spectrum, including microwave frequencies used to communicate with satellites, so the sun swamps the signal from the satellite.”

Clothing sunfade, or light fade, as is described in author Norman Oehlke’s Complete Spotting Guide & More, published by American Drycleaner and available at https://americandrycleaner.com, is easily identifiable. “It’s only on one side of the fabric, and can only happen where light — natural or artificial — has altered color.”

Oehlke writes that, “Some dyes fade very rapidly. Deep blue and green dye on silk and wool can fade in a matter of hours. Go into a retail store where clothes have been 32

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p30-32.FINAL.indd 32

(Image licensed by Ingram Publishing)

hanging on racks for weeks and you’ll see it.”

Re-dying, he notes, is the only possible restoration for sunfade, “and that is not always possible due to the type of dyes and pigments used in the original dyeing process.”

More sunfade tidbits from Wikipedia: “The British Island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean suffers from island-wide loss of internet and telecommunications connections during sun outages because all telecommunications traffic to and from the island is carried on a single satellite link. As rural Alaska is served by satellite, Nome suffers from this as well.”

Sunfade is real. Clothing, satellites and people tired ADC from the summer sun all get sunfade. www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 2:52 PM

Do you want these qualities in a dry cleaning machine?

Reliable Excellence Affordable Logical Sensible Trustworthy Accomplished Revolutionary If so, then Realstar is the brand for you.

We are an innovative leader in the manufacturing of dry cleaning machines with a commitment to quality that is second to none.

Our machines are designed for use with the solvent of your choice, at a price that you can afford.

Contact us today.

Realstar, USA 1900 Meredith Park Dr. McDonough, GA 30253 1-888-822-7827 fax 404-363-8699 www.realstarusa.com

ADC_Full Page.indd 1

2/14/18 8:48 AM

FABRICARE SHOW 2018 WRAP-UP

Lovin’ It in Long Beach Story and photos by Tim Burke, Editor

C

ould you hear it? That bold-busy-upbeat sound emanating from the West Coast?

That was the sound of your garment care industry at work — and play — in mid-August at Fabricare 2018, hosted by the California Cleaners Association at the breezy, bright Long Beach (Calif.) Convention Center.

There were four aisles full of exhibitors, hundreds of drycleaning owners and operators, and lots of chit-chat, deal-making (no doubt) and generally real good times right by the big, blue Pacific Ocean.

I walked a lot (my feet hurt), talked a lot (my voice was cracking by the end), grinned a lot, and listened to many drycleaning owners, and exhibitors, converse in those bustling aisles.

“I’m here for information, we both are, for products and equipment,” say two local drycleaning owners, pausing with me, midway down the crowded second aisle.

“This is my first show,” one owner adds, smiling, “and like it very much. I’m looking for finishing equipment.

It’s here. I’ll find it for sure!”

Another drycleaning owner from Oregon stops me to tell me he reads American Drycleaner all the time. He’s down here at the show, he quickly explains before moving on, to learn all he can, soak up the California atmosphere, and interact with the industry.

Yet another drycleaning owner from Northern California sits a moment to tell me, “The show is great for information-finding, but it’s really all about...” He pauses and clears his throat. “Networking! Isn’t it really?”

There were several speakers across three days.

Keynote Krista Clive-Smith kicked it all off with this

ADC_HQuarter.indd 1

34

0918adc_p34.FINAL.indd 34

American Drycleaner, September 2018

From top: Dry cleaner Flora Castillo (middle) and her father pose for Editor Tim Burke’s selfie.

Middle: Booth demo at Fabricare 2018. Bottom: Busy aisle for plenty of “networking.”

resounding message: “Create authenticity. Sell your persona,” she told three dozen in attendance at her speech.

Then attendees and exhibitors seemed to go out and do just what she advised during the show.

Many exhibitors said the event was solid. “So good,” mentioned one veteran of industry shows.

A new drycleaning owner from Sierra Vista, Ariz., Flora Castillo, here with her father Manuel Romero, stopped and paused for a photo with me, arms full of show materials and big smiles. Then she summed up Fabricare in one happy breath: “It’s just so great, full of information I can use, and I can sorta feel the drycleaning industry’s heartbeat. I’m lovin’ it!”

ADC

7/10/18 11:45 AM

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/20/18 3:41 PM

“Not only did I reduce my assembly staff from 2 people to 1, I also noticed significant reduction in mark in labor costs as well.The opportunity for human error has been vastly reduced. I should have switched years ago when Brett first spoke with me!!”

Allan R Cripe CED,CPD

Owner, Valet Cleaners and Coin Laundry

“I can honestly say that the QuickSort is the single best item I’ve ever purchased. The direct labor saving payback was less than one year. The increased efficiency from barcoding at the mark-in counter coupled with the complete elimination of assembly mistakes makes this the smartest business decision I’ve ever made, and one that is paying daily financial dividends. “ Brian Robertson

Owner, Comet Cleaners of Corinth

(501) 420-1682

garmentmanagement.com

ADC_Full Page.indd 1

3/21/18 10:33 AM

By Haley Jorgensen

I

f you live in Maine, you might be a customer of Pratt Abbott Garment Care, the state’s largest provider of drycleaning, vended laundry and linen/ uniform rental services.

“One of the reasons we have all three business sectors is to provide volume to afford a management infrastructure which allows our employees growth opportunities,” says David Machesney, who, along with his father Jim, purchased the company in 1991.

The other, he maintains, is because providing “everything clean” simplifies life for customers.

The firm umbrellas 12 drycleaning facilities, eight vended laundries, and a 50,000-square-foot linen and uniform rental plant. By design, multiple revenue streams feed the Pratt Abbott enterprise.

while Lowell’s father repaired and maintained machinery, according to Machesney. During the 1960s, he opened additional drycleaning locations and expanded into uniform rental.

Since acquiring the garment care firm, the Machesney family — children and grandchildren — have worked the counters as well. After Jim passed away in 2015, David took the lead.

He’s significantly grown each of its business segments: dry cleaning, vended laundry and linen/uniform rental, benefiting employees and customers alike.

EVERYTHING CLEAN Today, Pratt Abbott’s drycleaning business makes up 60-70% of Maine’s retail drycleaning market and generates 38% of total company revenue. Drycleaning facilities bring multiple services to customers, including drycleanFAMILY ing, shirt laundry and household laundry services.

Always family-owned, the business was founded as a Other perks include free pickup and delivery, as well as solitary drycleaning store in 1944, in Portland, Maine, off-season garment storage. Efficient equipment and proaccording to Machesney. “Elliott Abbott led the business cesses ensure high-quality, eco-friendly results. for 14 years, often waiting on customers and pressing The vended shirts himself,” he laundry sector sigrelates. nificantly contrib“In the 1940s,” utes to the success Machesney of the company, continues, “he contributing more combated unprofit than dry employment by cleaning, according hiring veterans to Machesney. through the GI In many ways, Bill.” Among the two intertwine. those hires was This is partly WWII veteran because most of Roderick Lowell, the company’s who worked his vended laundries way from the shirt Family Pride in Those Smiling Faces! Working the counter is and drycleaning presses to ownera family affair at Pratt Abbott Garment Care in Maine. Emily stores are located ship in 1958.

Machesney (center), daughter of owner David Machesney, greets customers alongside customer service representatives side-by-side. This Lowell and his Kelly Roussell (left) and Kelly Knowlton-Randall.

(Photos: Pratt configuration daughters staffed Abbott Garment Care) the counters, (continued) 36

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p36-38.FINAL.indd 36

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 2:49 PM

How Many Coin Laundries How Many Drycleaners Has Your Has Your Insurance Agent Handled?

Insurance Agent Handled?

Oneor orTwo? Two? Three?

Three?

One We’ve of of coin laundries!

We’ve personally personallyhandled handledinsurance insurancefor forhundreds thousands drycleaners!

We’vealready alreadydealt dealt with with most most any issue your We’ve your business businessisislikely likelytotoface. face.

If you have any questions questionsabout aboutinsuring insuringcoin drycleaners, answer. laundries,we wecan canand andwill willgive giveyou you aa prompt, prompt, clear answer.

Skeptical? for yourself. yourself.

Skeptical? Call Call us us with with aa question question and find out for There’s more: We’re just three members of NIE’s team of experts. NIE has been handling fabricare insurance since 1915!

Chuck Simpson Amy Russell Fabricare Specialist Specialist Fabricare

Russell@NIEinsurance.com Simpson@NIEinsurance.com

강 명순 입니다. 지금, 연락만 주십시요.

Director of Korean Operations Kang@NIEinsurance.com

Ann Hawkins Vice President

Hawkins@NIEinsurance.com

................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quote Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Coin Laundry Dryclean Plant Dryclean Drop Store

Coin Laundry Dryclean Plant Dryclean Drop Store

Coin Laundry Dryclean Plant Dryclean Drop Store

Gross Sales

Long Storage Value HoursTerm of Operation Attended?

Type of Solvent

“Insuring Small Businesses Since 1915” NIE Insurance • 6030 Bancroft Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109 • 1-800-325-9522 • fax (314) 832-6775 • www.NIEinsurance.com

0118adc_NIE.indd 1 ACO StandardPage.indd 1

12/4/17 4:12 PM 6/1/17 2:26 PM

All About Family and Community! David Machesney (left), company president, and Tom Gridley of Pratt Abbott. Earlier this year, the business received the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 2018 Family-Owned Business of the Year Award for Maine.

Pratt Abbott serves 60-70% of Maine’s drycleaning market. The company has three main sectors: dry cleaning, vended laundry, and uniform and linen rental.

draws revenue from a broader demographic, creates shared operational savings and encourages consumer crossover.

“We look at it as a convenience to the customer and a way to serve more customers,” says Machesney.

“Co-mingling,” he adds, “also allows us to run fully attended laundries and offset some of the labor cost from drycleaning revenue.”

Thus, the vended laundries tend to make the drycleaning stores more profitable, and vice versa. Even better? The pairing creates “one-stop-shop” customer convenience.

That’s important, according to Machesney, because Pratt Abbott “is in the business of selling time.”

Uniform and linen rental, the most profitable of the firm’s business sectors, began in the 1970s, but only recently ballooned into super-performer status.

Making up a robust 58% of total company revenue, the uniform and linen service provides pickup and delivery of 38

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p36-38.FINAL.indd 38

cleaned and leased garments and linens. During the last 12 months, it has realized double-digit growth, according to Machesney. Thanks to the new plant’s size and equipment mix, he expects that growth rate to continue for the next two to five years.

Committed to improvement, Machesney ensures his drycleaning locations, plants, and vended laundries operate at peak performance.

He reinvests for big returns.

“We continuously improve all our processes to provide innovative services that increase satisfaction, quality and value for our customers, and create profitable growth for our company,” he says.

During the last decade, for example, he’s renovated several vended laundries, which resulted in a per-store revenue bump of 10-30% and utility cost savings of 50%.

“We like to diversify our assets and control our destiny,” he notes, “so in addition to having the three different segments of garment care industry, we invest in commercial real estate to control our locations and further diversify our assets.

“We absolutely want to continue to grow and solidify our market,” Machesney says. “If you can do something you like and be profitable along the way, that’s the ticket.”

Machesney is ever on the hunt for new opportunities.

His most recent development is new Express Laundry Centers in North Windham and Yarmouth, Maine.

COMMUNITY It’s a journey, according to Machesney. “I didn’t look to get into the business to clean clothes. I wanted to run a business and I knew we needed enough size and infrastructure to do it right. I have 160 employees and five direct reports, and we try to make it a fun environment.”

Grateful for the company’s success, Machesney and his team make a point to give back. “We are active volunteers of Junior Achievement,” he points out.

Additionally, Pratt Abbott cleans 40,000 Coats for Kids each year and supports Camp Susan Curtis summer camp for underprivileged kids. “These kids are in tough situations and summer camp gives them a chance to breathe and plan for their future,” says Machesney. “It helps them break the ADC cycle of poverty.”

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

8/16/18 2:49 PM

Huge Selection of Parts for Most Brands of Equipment

New & Used Equipment for Drycleaning & Laundry

Forenta Single Legger

Fagor 60-lb.

Washer

Lattner 15 H.P. Boiler

Forenta Utility Press (used)

Unipress 3TZ Collar and Cuff (used)

$5,999*

$7,295*

$11,495*

$ 2,950*

$ 3,800*

Cissell 75-lb.

Steam Dryer (used)

Forenta 32VB Body Press (used)

Midwest 50-lb. Petrolum Reclaimer (used)

Dexter 60-lb.

Washer (used)

Miele 45-lb. Soft Mount Washer

$2,400*

$3,200*

$6,995*

$3,800*

$11,700*

Prices valid until October 1, 2018

Forenta 19VS Laundry Topper

Forenta 44SP Spotting Board

$4,450*

$2,750*

| Freight Not Included *

Unimac 75-lb. Reversing Ingersoll Rand 5 HP 120 Gal. Forenta Triple Puff IronDual Pedals (used) Gas Dryer (used) Vertical Compressor (used)

$ 2,200*

$995*

$1,250*

866 -734 -3644

Monthly Specials Online: MustangEnterprises.com 2018adc_Mustang master.indd 1

8/15/18 1:31 PM

Machine Mania! Owner Jan Barlow (left) and Peggy Flynn pose with one of their machines at Jan’s Cleaners, located in Clio, Mich. (Photo: Jan’s Cleaners)

(continued from page 18) always suggest that you buy from the dealer or mechanic that is going to give you a great warranty and provide you continuous reliable service work,” he suggests.

“These machines should last you over 15 years if properly maintained.”

White notes to keep in mind: “Breakdowns will be unexpected and will cost you money in both repairs and

production downtime. So seriously consider this when making your purchasing decision.”

White’s last tip is this: “Know your numbers! Not just the amount of pieces but the class of your pieces — such as dry-clean, wet-clean, laundry — that are coming in.”

He says that most POS systems “allow you to track this information. Take that data and build your best trend line looking forward, and take into account where your

LAUNDRY

Shouldn't you know what Hundreds of New Customers already know... for Laundry, Wet-Cleaning, Dry-Cleaning & Fire Restoration Chemistry...count on

PARISER INDUSTRIES

For nearly half a century, smart cleaners have been using Pariser Industries’ family of wet & dry cleaning products manufactured RIGHT HERE in the USA.

A

US

DE

IN TH

E

M

A

THE U IN

SA

MAD E

Start saving on your Cleaning Chemistry Costs today by asking your local distributor for samples of Pariser Products.

ADC_Hhalf.indd 1

40

Connect with Us

www.pariserchem.com info@pariserchem.com 973-569-9090

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p16,18,40-41.FINAL.indd 40

Citrazyme

Complete “One Shot” powdered laundry detergent w/enzymes, oxygen bleach and citrus degreaser.

Napthol-T

Powdered laundry detergent formulated to clean dark shirts in cool water temps.

Mega Bryte

Premium “One Shot’ powdered laundry detergent w/non-phosphate water conditioners.

Citrasol

Concentrated Citrus based liquid degreaser additive. Excellent for oil and grease stains.

Stand Up

Highly advanced synthetic liquid starch for shirts and denim jeans. Superior stiffness when desired.

WET-CLEANING Aqua Velvet

Complete One Shot Wet-Cleaning detergent with stain remover and conditioner.

Hydrocon

Highest Quality Wet-Cleaning conditioner and re-texturizer with Optical Brightener.

Shot Spot

Multi-purpose wet-side spotting agent/collar solution for a wide range of spotting applications

Activate

Advanced, color-safe de-staining and safe-bleaching formulation containing a low temperature catalyst.

LS-100

Natural starch and synthetic sizing blend.

PARISER I NDUSTRIES, INC.

91 Michigan Ave. Paterson, NJ 07503 USA

4/10/15 1:49 PM

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 3:06 PM

new business opportunities will be coming from.

“The trend, in general,” White continues, “is toward a lot more washables, and depending on your detergent technology, a majority of your ‘dryclean-only’ garments can be safely and effectively processed in a modern wetcleaning system.”

White concludes with this opinion: “Drycleaning machines are not going away but the capacity of the machines needed into the future is reducing.”

Jan Barlow, owner of Jan’s Cleaners in Clio, Mich., a suburb of Flint, started her business 36 years ago. She shares her experiences when deciding to buy machines.

“Over the past several years, while the industry was finding a perc replacement, we shifted our workflow from 80% dry cleaning and 20% wet cleaning to 30% dry cleaning and 70% wet cleaning. Until this past year, when a new modified alcohol came on the U.S. market, which cleans like perc, adds a new brightness to the cleaning process, and the hand of a hydrocarbon.

“We are changing our workflow back to 60% dry cleaning and 40% wet cleaning, with continued plans to move the ratio back to 80/20.”

She explains: “To protect our business from the shrinking demographics of this industry, Jan’s specialized in bringing all our work to one plant through pickup and delivery, which includes personal, household items from the

ADC_R_Hhalf.indd 1

www.americandrycleaner.com

0918adc_p16,18,40-41.FINAL.indd 41

client’s home, office, and fire and water damage.

“I have purchased both wet- and drycleaning machines. All the machines clean, some just clean better than others. Some cost more than others. Some require more maintenance than others.”

Barlow thinks that “It’s harder today to purchase than in the past because so much machinery gets out on the market before it’s adequately tested. So the innovative purchaser becomes the alpha or beta installation test site.”

What about sharing a tip when buying a machine?

“What I have learned over the years is everyone will take the plunge once or twice to try the new product, for the good of the industry.

“My measurements for a successful decision are in the cost to purchase, then the resulting labor and supply cost savings. I look for quality because once a decision is made, I don’t want to think about it again until depreciation of the equipment has passed for a few years and then some,” Barlow says.

These are three drycleaner owners’ opinions about buying machines. No doubt many of you reading rely on your own knowledge of what you’ve learned making machine purchases for your plants. One thing is for sure, all these machine choices, dry or wet, indicate a fabricare industry that is thriving. So rise, ADC machines, rise!

11/3/14 2:27 PM

American Drycleaner, September 2018

41

8/16/18 3:06 PM

A R O U N D T H E I N D U S T RY

Safety matters For the fourth consecutive year, Leonard Automatics Inc. reports it has won the Gold Safety Award presented by the North Carolina Department of Labor.

“At Leonard we have a culture in which safety is our top priority,” says Scott Abernathy, Leonard’s general manager. “Our business operates more efficiently with an effective safety program, and I think it also shows our commitment to our employees’ overall health and well-being.”

Safety matters, it writes.

The goal at the company, Leonard relates, is to foster an injury-free workplace by making safety a part of its operational plan and including employees in that plan.

At Leonard, the people are the most important part of its success, the company says. Therefore, the firm takes their safety seriously.

(From left) Scott Abernathy, Leonard Automatics Inc. general manager; Cherie Berry, North Carolina commissioner of labor, holding the Gold Safety Award; Joe Gibson, Leonard Automatics assembly foreman; and Greg Watson, president and CFO of Leonard Automatics. (Photo: Leonard Automatics)

Celebrating

58 Years!

EASY TO ENTER The American Drycleaner 58th Annual Plant Design Awards Just e-mail a few photos to: tburke@atmags.com That’s it! You’re in! Don’t wait!

E-mail today!

It’s so easy to enter... And when you enter, you could win...

And be on our January 2019 front cover!

0918adc_House PDA half H.indd 1

42

2018 Best P lant Design Cleaners

Brothers

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p42-45.FINAL.indd 42

• Raleigh , NC

.

8/8/18 4:14 PM

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 2:43 PM

Desai is Lapels franchise owner of the year Jay Desai was named Lapels Dry Cleaning franchise owner of the year, Lapels reports.

Desai is an owner of Lapels stores in Beverly Hills, Mich.; Rochester Hills, Mich.; and West Bloomfield Township, Mich.

“Jay is one of the most impressive individuals we have worked with over the course of Lapels Dry Cleaning’s 18-year history,” says Kevin Dubois, CEO of Lapels Dry Cleaning.

“Within a few years, he established a network of drycleaning stores in the metro Detroit area and developed a system for expansion and growth.

“He’s coupled that effort with several community involvement endeavors,” Dubois further notes. “If that wasn’t enough, he’s also the owner of 19 Great Clips hair salons in the greater Detroit metro area.”

“I guess you could say I like to stay busy,” says Desai, who co-owns his cleaning locations with a partner from his company, Shambho LLC. Desai immigrated to the United States in the early 2000s.

(From left) David Grippi, Tiffani Probst, Jay Desai and Kevin Dubois, Lapels CEO. (Photo: Lapels Dry Cleaning)

“My partner and I have been very fortunate to have a great team led by our operations manager Tiffani Probst, whom I have worked with for 10 years,” Desai adds.

“As for the franchise owner of the year, it’s quite an honor and I do give credit to Tiffani for her amazing leadership and her team,” he indicates. “We’ve had a great relationship with Kevin and the Lapels team.” (continued)

A true laundry innovation.

Miele’s patented honeycomb drum ensures a gentle wash to handle the most delicate garments while providing optimal cleaning results—trust that your laundry is in great hands with Miele’s Benchmark Machines.

 800.991.9380 ADC_Hhalf.indd 1

www.americandrycleaner.com

0918adc_p42-45.FINAL.indd 43

 proinfo@mieleusa.com

 www.mieleusa.com/professional 8/8/18 8:44 AM

American Drycleaner, September 2018

43

8/16/18 2:43 PM

A R O U N D T H E I N D U S T RY

Parts specialist joins R.W. Martin Co.

Oh, to learn the drycleaning craft

R.W. Martin Company, which describes itself as a leading provider of laundry and drycleaning equipment, parts and support solutions, has hired Patrick Jovanovic in the role of parts specialist.

As a member of the firm’s PartsPLUS Team, Jovanovic will help manage the company’s large Patrick inventory of replacement parts for Jovanovic textile care equipment, it notes.

R.W. Martin, founded in 1968 by Robert W. Martin, celebrates 50 years in business and continues to flourish.

“I’m excited to join R.W. Martin,” Jovanovic says.

Employees from four affiliates of America’s Best Cleaners (ABC) will pursue a new level of the drycleaning craft by accepting educational scholarships from its partner Kreussler Chemical, a professional textile care business, ABC reports.

The four chosen scholarship recipients will be heading to Drycleaning and Laundry Institute (DLI) classes to continue their education in environmentally friendly

Mary Scalco (on left), CEO, Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), stands with Graystone Hill (center) of Blue Sky Cleaners, Seattle, one of the educational scholarship recipients. Also pictured is Brian Johnson, director of education & analysis at DLI. America’s Best Cleaners (ABC), with the help of its partner Kreussler Chemical, has provided four of its affiliates with scholarships to attend DLI classes. (Photo: America’s Best Cleaners)

dry cleaning in addition to perfecting the comprehensive skill sets mandated to be certified by ABC, the firm relates.

“We are so proud of our affiliates that continually invest in the people maintaining the highest standards of quality garment care and services in our industry,” says ABC Executive Director Christopher White.

The four scholarship recipients are Graystone Hill (seen in photo above), Blue Sky Cleaners, Seattle; Jason Pardi, Best Cleaners, Albany, N.Y.; Veronica Moeai, Henries 44

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_p42-45.FINAL.indd 44

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 2:43 PM

Dry Cleaners, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Courtney Kraemer, Jones Cleaning Center, Fresno, Calif.

“I’m very excited for all of the award winners and hope that this is just the beginning of a long, fruitful career in our industry for the scholarship winners,” says Kreussler President Richard Fitzpatrick.

Meet Hamilton Engineering’s sales team

ing space, following Clearant’s purchase of Draper, Utah-based SPOT Business Systems earlier this year.

“With Compassmax, we saw an opportunity to bring together two software leaders in the drycleaning industry,” says Dan Geraty, CEO of Clearent.

Compassmax joins SPOT Business Systems as a company under Clearent Software Holdings.

Clearent plans to combine the companies’ operations over time, focusing all software development and innovation on the SPOT platform, the company writes.

“Compassmax and SPOT have the knowledge, experience and technical expertise to ensure customer needs are exceeded in the complex and competitive world of dry cleaning,” notes Geraty. “We couldn’t ask for a better fit.” ADC

Hamilton Engineering, a manufacturer of custom-engineered, prepackaged hot water solutions for commercial and industrial applications, announces a new sales team lineup and introduces Tyler Segur as regional sales manager serving customers in expanding eastern U.S. markets, it reports.

“We have the most knowledgeable and responsive sales professionals in the business,” says Jeff Deal, director of sales.

The Hamilton sales team includes Deal, along with Andrew Hyde, regional manager, central states, and Josh Reasoner, regional manager, western states.

Ken Novak is sales manager of U.S. laundry distributors, and covers all laundry distributors nationally.

Clearent buys Compassmax Clearent Software Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of St. Louisbased payments solutions provider Clearent, reports it has purchased Falmouth, Maine-based Compassmax, a developer of comprehensive drycleaning point-of-sale software, the firm reports.

The deal marks the company’s second acquisition in the drycleanwww.americandrycleaner.com

0918adc_p42-45.FINAL.indd 45

American Drycleaner, September 2018

45

8/16/18 2:43 PM

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

GARMENT LABELING

HEAT SEAL PRESSES

from EzProducts International Inc. You Deserve the Best!

The Ultimate Heat Seal Machine Proudly made in the U.S.A. Built to OSHA standards

2 YEAR WARRANTY

Own Your Own Drycleaners—Managers, Spotters, Tailors, Pressers! 100% Financing. Plant or Drop, location of your choice. Call 1-561-302-5031 or 1-888-275-6637.

COMPUTER SYSTEMS Western Wonder Touch POS Systems $990 Refurbished, $1950 NEW All Commercial-grade Hardware Free New Cash Drawer & Free Shipping!

Perfect for small to medium cleaners www.westerndccomputer.com 773-878-0150, westernk@msn.com

DRY CLEANERS FOR SALE Albany, NY area Dry Cleaners. Well Established. Grossing $700K. Net $150K. Asking $749K (includes Real Estate) CBAI (518)459-9070

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.

www.AmericanDrycleaner.com 46

Toll Free

877.906.1818

www.ezpi.us

PLANTS FOR SALE When You Need HELP • Business Coaching & Consulting • By Hour, Day, Month or Project • Value or Ownership Sale Issues • Brokerage, Succession or Merger • Partnership or Management Buyouts • Business Evaluation/SWOT Analysis • Business Strategic Planning • Retiring Owner Exit Specialist Richard Ehrenreich, CED, SBA, F-CBI Ehrenreich & Associates, LLC Retiring Business Owners: Call to schedule a FREE initial telephone meeting.

Review Richard’s credentials & references on Linkedin. (copy sent on request) Richard@Ehrenassoc.com 301-924-9247 Great opportunity to purchase fully equipped plant in Paterson NJ. Almost new Hydrocarbon 80 pound machine. Perfect for multiple drop store operations.

For full list of Equipment email: bobsaeed@gmail.com

American Drycleaner, September 2018

0918adc_Classifieds.FINAL.indd 46

3 models, 7 different interchangeable lower platens and single or dual heated platens

PLANTS FOR SALE Nashville, TN suburb Grossing $525,000 Sunbelt Business Brokers of Nashville Richard: 615-440-9951 rbiedenharn@sunbeltnetwork.com

POSITIONS AVAILABLE Laundry Pro of Florida is the 2016 Dexter Distributor of the year. We are looking for new prospects to join our team. Come work where people vacation, in sunny Florida. We are seeking: • Proven Laundry Equipment Salesman Great work environment, highly competitive compensation, paid relocation expenses.

Please respond in confidence to: Rjansen@laundryequipment.com Dry Cleaning POS company is seeking a motivated candidate to fill a position in the point of sale market. We are a national company that specializes in providing software solutions to dry cleaners.

Responsibilities will include: Understand the inner workings of the products and present this knowledge to customers in a professional manner. Prepare detailed proposals that include hardware, software and services in order to meet sales objectives. Develop and implement strategic sales plans to achieve sales goals.

Accountable for meeting and exceeding revenue objectives through prospecting new business and growing existing accounts.

Some traveling is required.

Please contact: selldrycleaningsoftware@gmail.com Experienced plant manager for established Drycleaner in South Carolina, close to Charlotte. Responsible for the dayto-day operations of a Perc plant grossing $900,000 per year. 5 days a week and some Saturdays for cleaning and maintenance. Salary & Sign-On Bonus negotiable.

Possible equity position. Send resume to: sstaples@comporium.net

www.americandrycleaner.com

8/20/18 12:48 PM

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

REWEAVING SERVICES

Director of Operations – Lapels Join the Future of Dry Cleaning. Lapels Dry Cleaning is looking for a Director of Operations to assist in Franchise Operations.

With this position you will be responsible to train and assist our Franchisee to become more profitable.

Duties include: • Manage the overall operations of our 4 Corporate Locations • Training of Lapels Standards of Operations • Assisting Franchisee in start-up including on-sight training • Follow up training of Franchisee owners • Train Franchises on overall plant performance tracking Pieces Per Operator Hour (PPOH) • Maintain relationships with local vendors and suppliers • Quality Assurance Visitations As the Director of Operations, you must have overall Plant operations with the ability to train others.

This position also requires monthly travel and the ability to work from our Corporate Office located in Hanover, MA. Please contact Dave Grippi, VP of Operations. dgrippi@lapelsdrycleaning. com or 781-829-9935.

WITHOUT-A-TRACE WEAVERS—More than 60 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.

To Place Your Ad Call Don Feinstein @ 312-361-1682

SUEDE & LEATHER SERVICE LEATHER-RICH INC. • High quality cleaning, refinishing & repair Leather, Suede and Fur; • Free shipping in USA and rewards program FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.leatherrich.com E-mail: leatherrich@att.net Call 800-236-6996 Route Service in Upper Midwest

SUPPLIES

Laundry/Dry Cleaning Coils

Steam Or Water Replacements Large Inventory • FAST Delivery

800-532-2645 www.comcoil.com

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

Newhouse Specialty Co. . . . . . . . . . . 47

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

Olin Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Air World Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Cleaner’s Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Columbia/ILSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC

Commercial Coils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

EzProducts International . . . . . . . . . . 46

Fabricare Management Systems . . . 8-9 Garment Management Systems . . . . . 35 Global Business Systems . . . . . . . . . . 41 In The Bag Cleaners. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Iowa Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

NIE Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Pariser Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Parker Boiler Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

Poseidon Textile Care Systems . . . . . 21 Realstar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Renzacci SPA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Rite-Temp Mfg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Sankosha USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Luetzow Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Miele Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Trevil America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Mustang Enterprises. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

White Conveyors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Maineline Computer Systems . . . . .IFC

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

Million Dollar Collar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Union Drycleaning Products . . . . . . . 13

0918adc_Classifieds.FINAL.indd 47

We Manufacture & Deliver

SAFECHEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 SMRT Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-26

www.americandrycleaner.com

SUPPLIES

Stop Overpaying Call Now and Save

www.AmericanDrycleaner.com

American Drycleaner, September 2018

47

8/20/18 3:36 PM

W R I N KL E I N T I M E

Cleaning for the Movies 10 YEARS AGO. Vacationers may soon be able to visit Europe after all — E.U. member nations are beginning to feel the recession, and the dollar is rising against the Euro and the British pound. German, French and Italian economies contracted sharply in the second quarter, and British housing prices fell after its even bigger “bubble” burst.

35 YEARS AGO. Norman Oehlke, the International Fabricare Institute’s garment analysis expert, will be on the air with Ruth Dinwiddie of the Sugar and Spice show during its broadcast over 32 radio stations from Alaska to Florida on Sept. 23. The interview was taped in Chicago during Clean ’83. Oehlke presented lots of commonsense advice on cleaning care.

50 YEARS AGO.” Battle of the Sexes. Newspaper want ads that are placed under separate “Male” and “Female” headlines will be illegal after Dec. 1, unless sex is a “bona fide occupational qualification.” The Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that the separation of want ads by sex for convenience of job seekers “has a discriminatory effect by indicating employer preference” in filling job openings. …. Our friends in Texas have long had the reputation of making an extra effort to “out-do” the rest of us, and it just may be well-deserved. We have an ad run by a cleaners in Plainview with the headline, “59½-Minute Cleaning Service.”

75 YEARS AGO. Cleaning for the Movies! Dyeing pants for penguins, cleaning wooden legs, laundering shirts to a tattletale gray, or throwing mud on freshly cleaned garments are services few cleaners offer. But they are all in a day’s work for the movie studio cleaners in Hollywood.

The plant, after 15 years of serving the motion picture studios, can take the Believe-It-Or-Not orders of the movies in its stride — and give express service besides.

Operating 24 hours a day, the cleaners give speedy, efficient service the filmmakers need to keep production on schedule. Costumes worn on a set during the day are picked up by the plant’s three-truck delivery system, processed, and returned in the small hours of the morn48

0918adc_p48.FINAL.indd 48

American Drycleaner, September 2018

In same issue, caption for above photo: These are the tricky costumes you have to handle in cleaning for the movies. Men matching a dye job.

ing ready for the next day’s shooting. Basically, the processing of movie cleaning is the same as ordinary September 1943 front work, but the nature cover. The caption in the of garments handled small box reads: Cleaning poses special probfor the MOVIES! lems. The spotter, for instance, must have special knowledge of the substances used by the studios to create such effects as bloodstains, wet garments, age, etc. Many garments require special hand cleaning. Pressers must know that in some eras, trousers had no creases. And dirt rags which seem filthy enough to throw away may be the costume of a star, calling for care given the finest silk dress.

Cameramen learned long ago that under powerful movie lighting, white shirt fronts and similar garments reflect unwanted glare. So they dyed an off-white. Cleaners are careful to preserve the “tattletale gray” during the processing.

ADC — Compiled by Tim Burke, Editor www.americandrycleaner.com

8/16/18 2:34 PM

4 REASONS TO CHOOSE PARKER BOILER

BETTER ENGINEERED

1

2

Better Engineered

Better Packaged

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.

3

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

4

Better Designed

Better Value

Parker boilers are designed for ease of routine maintenance, annual inspec 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 cabinet lids and/or sides available).

AS

M

Low NOx Models Are Certified SCAQMD Rule 1146.2

E

S or H

Steam Boilers From 1.5-150HP Steam Boiler Accessories Feed Systems, Blow Off Tanks, Water Softeners and Chemical Feeders

Never a Compromise for Quality or Safety

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

5930 Bandini Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90040

Indirect Water Heaters From 288-2878 Gallons per hour 100° Rise Thermal Liquid Heaters From 126,000 to 6,250,000 BTU

Tel: (323) 727-9800 Fax: (323) 722-2848

sales@parkerboiler.com www.parkerboiler.com

ADC_Full Page.indd 1

5/18/18 1:21 PM

7.875x10.5 ad-Aug16.indd 1

8/15/2016 1:06:17 PM

The Evolution of Clean Join these satisfied customers...

Hear what they have to say...

“This is my third Columbia, they never cease to amaze me.

Each generation gets better and better with their engineering design and maintenance. It puts this end of my business on cruise control!”

~Kurt and Drew Skasik, Skasik’s Quality Dry Cleaners “Ten days ago we made the transition from a Columbia perc machine to a Columbia SENSENE machine. Having been a perc operator for so long, I was very nervous about making the move.

Fast forward 10 days, I can honestly say I am very happy with the purchase! The learning curve is minimal, the solvent does the job as advertised, we are down to 4 spotting chemicals, the running cycle is just a little bit longer than perc, the clothes come out soft and the colors are vibrant. And when you open the door at the end of the cycle, instead of getting a blast of perc, you get a pleasant and refreshing smell.”

“I’ve been in the drycleaning business for 28 years, always using perc. I have been searching for an alternative solvent for the past two years. After researching Sensene, visiting plants running with Sensene for the past few months, it has been beyond my wildest expectations. It’s better than perc! As the owner of Ruthie’s Cleaners, Owasso, MI, I am a hands-on operator and the one that has always done the cleaning. This solvent is just phenomenal. This is my second Columbia machine. In 23 years Columbia has always been the leading company in technology and my new Columbia is a testament to that fact.”

~Robert Marks, Ruthy’s Cleaners

“Having finally bought my Columbia, I can honestly say I’ve entered the 21st Century. This machine produces exceptional cleaning and is efficient, whites are white and I don’t have to worry about anything after I hit Start. My only regret is having waited so long!”

~Craig Ford, Owner/Operator, SeaBreeze Cleaners

~Mike Ingalls, Iron Mike’s Cleaners

The new solvent based on modified alcohols

(800)446-5634 • In NY (631) 293-7571 • www.columbiailsa.com ADC_Full Page.indd 1

1/17/18 10:52 AM