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January 23, 2013
The Changing of the Tide

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Still lot of opportunity in what we do, says MW Cleaners’ Michael Nesbit

LONG BEACH, Calif. — It was a Sunday morning, so it was fitting that dry cleaning industry veteran Michael Nesbit would open his Fabricare educational seminar with a Bible verse.

Quoting James 3:1, he said, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

“That means, first of all, when I look in the room here, there’s a lot of guys a lot better in the industry than I am,” he says. “And I’m humbled to be here.”

Nesbit, who heads Houston-based MW Cleaners, the dry cleaning division of The Men’s Wearhouse®, had a great deal of insight to offer based on years of hard work and industry success.

“I want to tell you that the industry’s not dead,” he says. “There is still a lot of opportunity in what we do.”

And so he began discussing The Changing of the Tide.

November 13, 2012
What Dry Cleaners Are Doing to Thrive Today

LONG BEACH, Calif. — A common goal: improving the industry and helping operators learn how to build better businesses

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Mary Scalco, CEO of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), and Nora Nealis, executive director of the National Cleaners Association (NCA), visit a lot of dry cleaning operations in their work. They are direct competitors, but they share a common goal: improving the dry cleaning industry and helping its operators learn how to build better businesses.

And so the two recently collaborated on an educational seminar, offered during the California Cleaners Association’s Fabricare show, that demonstrates What Cleaners Are Doing to Thrive Today.

SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

If you want your dry cleaning business to thrive, Scalco says, there’s something you must do. “You change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.”

You’re no doubt familiar with the FedEx logo, as it can be seen on the delivery company’s trucks, on billboards, in TV commercials, and more. But did you ever notice that the logo contains within it an arrow? It is an ingenious way to depict movement, she says.

September 19, 2012
Customer Service: Roll Out the Red Carpet (Part 2 of 2)

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Nothing is more integral to a service-oriented business than pleasing customers

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Providing good customer service was a common theme among the dry cleaning professionals presenting educational sessions during the recent Fabricare convention in Southern California. And Cleaner’s Supply’s Trudy Adams, the New York-based dry cleaning supplier’s director of customer service and sales, believes nothing is more integral to the health of a service-oriented business.

MAKE A CONNECTION

Adams recently visited a dry cleaner to provide customer service training at his request. As she sat in the lobby that day, this is what she heard from the CSR working the counter: “Phone number. … When do you want it? … OK, you’re all set.”

The CSR was missing prime opportunities to connect with customers and continue to build on their relationship. “I hear this excuse all the time: ‘They’re in a hurry. They don’t want to talk to me.’ OK, maybe 95% of customers really want to stand there and talk, 5% are in a hurry. You can monitor your conversation with the pace of the customer. We train that with our reps.”

September 18, 2012
Customer Service: Roll Out the Red Carpet (Part 1 of 2)

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Nothing is more integral to a service-oriented business than pleasing customers

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Providing good customer service was a common theme among the dry cleaning professionals presenting educational sessions during the recent Fabricare convention in Southern California. And Cleaner’s Supply’s Trudy Adams, the New York-based dry cleaning supplier’s director of customer service and sales, believes nothing is more integral to the health of a service-oriented business.

She opened her presentation by asking the dry cleaning store managers and customer service representatives in the audience to raise their hands. “That’s fantastic, because I’m one of you. I don’t own a business. I am a front-line employee. Front line determines your bottom line.

“You are going to decide whether your business is a success or a failure. You are the most important people in that business when you are at the front counter. You are the face of the business.”

September 12, 2012
10 Secrets to Promoting Your Cleaner...Now! (Part 2 of 2)

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Make sure your message is where the people are

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Brian Wallace, president/CEO of the Coin Laundry Association, was given a daunting task: to capture the audience’s attention during the final hour of a regional dry cleaning and laundry trade show in sunny Southern California.

But his task was no more challenging than one faced by every dry cleaner: to successfully market his or her store(s) in an environment where potential customers have access to information almost instantaneously and from a variety of sources.

On top of all the other “hats” that a dry cleaner “wears”—customer service, maintenance, production, human resources, accounting—he or she can add one more hat to that mix: director of marketing, Wallace told attendees of Fabricare 2012.

“You work incredibly hard for your business, but the fact of the matter is things have changed. … We’re all trying to reinvent ourselves on the fly, trying to deal with the new marketplace. I think that trying to come to grips with some of the new marketing techniques is really an important part of that overall process.”

September 11, 2012
10 Secrets to Promoting Your Cleaner...Now! (Part 1 of 2)

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Make sure your message is where the people are

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Brian Wallace, president/CEO of the Coin Laundry Association, was given a daunting task: to capture the audience’s attention during the final hour of a regional dry cleaning and laundry trade show in sunny Southern California.

But his task was no more challenging than one faced by every dry cleaner: to successfully market his or her store(s) in an environment where potential customers have access to information almost instantaneously and from a variety of sources.

On top of all the other “hats” that a dry cleaner “wears”—customer service, maintenance, production, human resources, accounting—he or she can add one more hat to that mix: director of marketing, Wallace told attendees of Fabricare 2012.

“You work incredibly hard for your business, but the fact of the matter is things have changed. … We’re all trying to reinvent ourselves on the fly, trying to deal with the new marketplace. I think that trying to come to grips with some of the new marketing techniques is really an important part of that overall process.”

June 18, 2012
Long Beach Preps for Fabricare 2012

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Dry cleaners may attend annual convention and trade show free

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Organizers of Fabricare 2012, the 86th annual California Cleaners Association (CCA) Educational Convention and Trade Show, are making final preparations for the July 13-15 event.

The Long Beach (Calif.) Convention Center will play host.

James Peuster, “The Route Pro,” will present a seminar on July 13 before the exhibit hall opens on July 14-15.

The CCA Board of Directors have voted to allow Fabricare attendees (dry cleaners only) to visit the exhibit hall at no cost this year. Previously, there was a $15 fee to view the exhibits. The CCA website quotes CCA President Bobby Patel as calling the decision “an economic stimulus to the Fabricare attendees.”

In addition to the trade show, Fabricare offers educational seminars covering a variety of topics. Past seminars have included state and national legislative updates, management courses, human resources, print marketing, routes, leases, contamination, customer service, e-marketing, technology, security, and an industry outlook.

February 3, 2011
Sudsies Expands Vintage Services

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Sudsies Dry Cleaners & Laundry recently doubled the capacity it devotes to vintage services. Demand is on the rise for the repair and cleaning of aging and damaged garments, the company says.

“Some of the best fashion finds are old favorites found in the backs of our closets or an inherited piece from a relative,” says Sudsies founder and CEO Jason Loeb. “Sudsies can revive these garments while preserving their respective stories and sentimental value.”

September 17, 2010
California Cool

LONG BEACH, Calif. — It was a hot, humid August in most of the U.S., but everyone at Fabricare 2010 in Long Beach, Calif., seemed cool, calm and collected. Held every two years by the California Cleaners Association (CCA), the show benefited from unusually pleasant weather, even for Southern California.

June 29, 2009
Brown & Brown Acquires Irving Weber Assets

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two Brown & Brown subsidiaries have completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Irving Weber Associates Inc.

With annualized revenues of approximately $4 million, Irving Weber specializes in insurance programs, primarily for the fabricare industry — comprised of drycleaners, linen supply, uniform rental and commercial laundry operations. Irving Weber also offers programs for other industries and has retail insurance agency operations.

September 29, 2008
U.S. Dry Cleaning to Acquire Majority of Tuchman Cleaners Stores in Indianapolis

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — U.S. Dry Cleaning Corp. (USDC) has announced that it will acquire up to 25 Tuchman Cleaners stores in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas.

U.S. Dry Cleaning purchased the stores, owned by National Dry Cleaners of Phoenix, in an all-cash transaction. Details will be announced when the transaction is completed. The deal is anticipated to close by Sept. 30, 2008.

The combined revenue of the acquired stores is in excess of $7 million annually.

August 25, 2008
Despite Downturn, CCA Show Surprises

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Though many California communities have been hard-hit by the mortgage-lending crisis and slowing economy, most exhibitors and attendees were pleased with the California Cleaners Association’s (CCA) Fabricare 2008 show.

June 30, 2008
USDC Completes Caesars Acquisition

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — U.S. Dry Cleaning Corp. (USDC) continued its aggressive acquisition pace last week, announcing completion of its buyout of Hawaii’s Caesars Cleaners.