Ian P. Murphy
October 24, 2008
CHICAGO — As perc is slowly phased out of lawful use, the industry’s longtime favorite continues to face sporadic, localized ban threats, recently in New...
Bill Lynott
October 22, 2008
Whether your portfolio is large or small, you must put your money somewhere. You can choose from mutual funds, individual stocks and bonds, or simply stash away your cash...
Howard Scott
October 17, 2008
Is business down? Are expenses piling up and cash reserves low? Is your frustration level off the charts? It may be time to make some tough decisions.
One alternative is...
Everett Childers
October 16, 2008
At the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau, Alaska, there’s a sign that brings a chuckle to most everyone who reads it. The sign says, “If our food, drinks and service...
John Spomar Jr.
October 8, 2008
Now that the kids are back in school, it’s worth reminding drycleaners that education should never stop. Whether related to the industry or the many other topics...
Howard Kaschyk
September 26, 2008
It seems to me that 95% of cleaners use only about 5% of their counter computer systems. I have no way of knowing if that’s actually true, but the point is that most...
Diana Vollmer
September 24, 2008
What happens in a slow economy? Sad but true, many people lose their jobs. The newly unemployed may have been good employees — maybe even great employees.
Starbucks...
Howard Scott
September 19, 2008
Do you ever take time to analyze why you lose accounts? The exercise might be instructive — you might discover a problem of which you hadn’t been aware, and be...
Douglas Adams
August 22, 2008
For almost two decades, Butler Capital Corp. has collaborated with business brokers throughout the country who handle the buying and selling of businesses. During that...
Howard Scott
August 8, 2008
I visited a fairly new drycleaner recently, and what I saw there shocked me. A young couple owned the store. The wife stayed at the counter, and the husband processed the...
Paul Partyka
July 25, 2008
CHICAGO — Drycleaners know this isn’t a good year for business. Most news stories today focus on the struggling economy and rising gasoline prices, while...
Diana Vollmer
July 23, 2008
Oh no! Sales are way down this week! Sales were down last week, too! You should probably issue some coupons right away, since customers are getting tight with their money...
Diana Vollmer
July 17, 2008
For certain operations in today’s economy, shrinking may be the first and best step toward growing stronger and more profitable. The strategy is contrary to the...
Everett Childers
July 9, 2008
If you want to continue earning a living in the textile-cleaning industry, now’s the time to do something about it.
Several members of the industry have called...
Everett Childers
June 19, 2008
Over the past few months and years, many retailers have been trying to convince the public that they are “green,” or friendly to the planet. This trend is...
Diana Vollmer
May 21, 2008
You may not be familiar with the hemispheres of the brain, but generally speaking, the left side of the brain performs certain functions and the right side performs others...
Everett Childers
April 16, 2008
Years ago, I wrote an article about pricing for profit. Now, I think it would be relevant to review pricing for designer garments. There’s a psychology behind...
Diana Vollmer
March 19, 2008
You’ve been told it’s important to grow. Your alternatives? To shrink or stay exactly the same as you are now. Before you make a decision on this, explore your...
Howard Scott
February 27, 2008
With affluent customers and 24/7 automation, a tiny location in a retirement village is rewriting the rules for drop stores.
When Paul Ceccarelli was asked to put a drop...
Howard Kaschyk
February 25, 2008
Drycleaners are experiencing what may be the worst time in the history of the industry. Economists are predicting that the U.S. is either in a recession or at the start of...
Ian P. Murphy
January 30, 2008
Whether the plant is an established hub of the community or a vanguard of new development, each of the runners up in American Drycleaner's 47th Annual Plant Design...
Ian P. Murphy
January 9, 2008
While the Grand Prize went to a production-only, central plant, the three runners-up in American Drycleaner’s 47th Annual Plant Design Awards are freestanding plants...
Ian P. Murphy
January 6, 2008
NEW YORK — After years of searching in one of the highest-priced real estate markets in the nation, Meurice Garment Care operator Wayne Edelman got an unexpected...
Diana Vollmer
December 19, 2007
There’s no good reason for you to do a budget. You understand your business’ history. Your labor costs and rents probably won’t change (much), and they...
Howard Scott
December 3, 2007
Lee Iacocca just came out with a new book, Where Have All The Leaders Gone? In it, he defines his “Nine Cs” of leadership. They are, he says, Curiosity,...
