Content about Clothing

NEW ORLEANS — Every morning during Clean ’13, plus for a couple of hours each afternoon, attendees will have the opportunity to sit in on educational sessions aimed at saving them money, boosting their productivity or generally improving their operations or businesses.

Access to all seminars at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is included in the show registration fee and isn’t dependent on association membership.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

• 8-8:30 a.m. — Meritorious Service Awards, sponsored by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute.
• 8-9 a.m. — Coin Laundry Trends for 2013, sponsored by the Coin Laundry Association (CLA).

Learn where the coin laundry industry is going and how that may affect your business so that you can plan for profits.

CONCORD, N.C. — I am hoping we have turned the corner on the “casual workplace” trend and will begin to see an increase in the neckties to be cleaned. Much like the rebirth of natural fibers 25 years ago, many cleaners have little experience in the proper cleaning and finishing of a necktie.

Men have an emotional attachment to their ties. Favorite ties are worn until the edges and knot areas are threadbare. I am guilty of having more than 50 ties, but I wear one from the same eight or 10 on most occasions. My red tie with diamond shapes of royal blue and silver has been retired but still brings back memories of my first consulting job.

Cleaning a necktie is as much art as it is skill. It involves knowing more about what not to do than about aggressive techniques. Ties are not cheap. Polyester ties often sell at between $20 and $50; a good silk tie may sell for around $140. At the point where emotion and investment meet, the cleaner can easily find a profitable item.

GILBERT, Ariz. — The newest Lapels Dry Cleaning plant from Massachusetts-based franchisor Next Step Franchising features granite counters, custom cabinetry, chandeliers, pendant lighting, French doors, etched glass, crown moldings, and a fully separated call area from the on-site plant.

Lapels offers dry cleaning, shirt service, on-site tailoring, leather/suede care, shoe repair, 24-hour drop-off, heirlooming, and same-day service, pickup and delivery.

The air-conditioned production area in the 2,200-square-foot facility includes a Firbimatic hydrocarbon dry cleaning machine, Wascomat wet cleaning equipment, and Forenta and Unipress finishing and tensioning equipment. Boiler room equipment is by Fulton and Ingersoll Rand. The plant utilizes DCCS and SPOT Business Systems point-of-sale software.

This Lapels location employs 12 full-time-equivalent workers.

Next Step Franchising designed the plant layout, and Mike Marden, Marden Design, was architect.

TORONTO — There are dry cleaners that are confused about what to charge for their services, where that pricing structure places their operation within the industry, and how the consumer perceives them.

It is important to explain what goes into the pricing structure used when charging customers for their dry cleaned items. There are a number of ways to do this.

A cleaner could play a continuously looped video at the counter that illustrates how a garment is processed (including as many different processes as are used), place signage at the counter, or use various advertising mediums.

The cost of production starts at the cleaner’s front counter. When a customer drops off clothes, they should consider what system is in place to create the invoice and receipt they receive and how the cleaner identifies their items so what they brought in will be returned to them.

Proper identification includes a complete description of each article, indicating the type of item, color, label identification, and any stains or tears that may be on the garment at the time it was marked in.

CHICAGO — The fall 2012 couture and ready-to-wear shows in Milan, New York and Paris offered up a variety of elegant, self-assured looks that were, for once, neither shockingly over-the-top nor snoozingly sedate. If anything, designers refined and reiterated the trends of the prior year, putting a pause on the march of style as if to say that these are the new staples, and all hell can break loose next season.

That’s not to say that the new fall styles are easy-care—they aren’t. Designers opted for some of the most difficult constructions and embellishments for this year’s collections, ensuring that what was once the reserve of the fashion revolutionary will soon be the purview of the mall and the middle class.

Fluorescent furs, mannish, matchy pantsuits, and origami-style outerwear are just a few of the trends that are moving quickly from catwalk to street, meaning that dry cleaners will soon face the specific challenges they pose—if they aren’t facing them already.

CHICAGO — The fall 2012 couture and ready-to-wear shows in Milan, New York and Paris offered up a variety of elegant, self-assured looks that were, for once, neither shockingly over-the-top nor snoozingly sedate. If anything, designers refined and reiterated the trends of the prior year, putting a pause on the march of style as if to say that these are the new staples, and all hell can break loose next season.

That’s not to say that the new fall styles are easy-care—they aren’t. Designers opted for some of the most difficult constructions and embellishments for this year’s collections, ensuring that what was once the reserve of the fashion revolutionary will soon be the purview of the mall and the middle class.

Fluorescent furs, mannish, matchy pantsuits, and origami-style outerwear are just a few of the trends that are moving quickly from catwalk to street, meaning that dry cleaners will soon face the specific challenges they pose—if they aren’t facing them already.

CHICAGO — The fall 2012 couture and ready-to-wear shows in Milan, New York and Paris offered up a variety of elegant, self-assured looks that were, for once, neither shockingly over-the-top nor snoozingly sedate. If anything, designers refined and reiterated the trends of the prior year, putting a pause on the march of style as if to say that these are the new staples, and all hell can break loose next season.

That’s not to say that the new fall styles are easy-care—they aren’t. Designers opted for some of the most difficult constructions and embellishments for this year’s collections, ensuring that what was once the reserve of the fashion revolutionary will soon be the purview of the mall and the middle class.

Fluorescent furs, mannish, matchy pantsuits, and origami-style outerwear are just a few of the trends that are moving quickly from catwalk to street, meaning that dry cleaners will soon face the specific challenges they pose—if they aren’t facing them already.

HANOVER, Mass. — Lapels Dry Cleaning recently opened two dry cleaning stores in Arizona’s East Valley, in Gilbert and Ahwatukee, and is opening a third store in Chandler this month. The stores are locally owned and operated by Gilbert residents Jeff and Tanya Kline.

“We are delighted to bring Lapels’ standard of high-quality dry cleaning and superior customer service to our friends, neighbors and fellow East Valley residents,” says Jeff Kline.

Prior to opening the Lapels stores, he worked as an aerospace engineer. Tanya Kline continues her work as a homemaker and active community volunteer (the couple has two children), in addition to her role in their new business..

“There were so many reasons why we chose to purchase a Lapels franchise,” says Tanya Kline. “The environmental piece was certainly up there on our list, but it was an overall commitment to a high-quality customer experience that truly sold us.”

Lapels uses the latest technology in equipment and cleaning solutions, and produces no hazardous waste in its dry cleaning process, the company says.

HANOVER, Mass. — Having a “ton” of laundry is an often-used figure of speech. This year’s Lapels Dry Cleaning clothes drive put a visual to this expression by collecting 4,073 pounds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The May clothing drive included significant contributions from 18 Lapels Dry Cleaning stores and plants in Massachusetts and one in Rhode Island.

“Our Massachusetts stores and our Lincoln, R.I., location really stepped it up for this clothing drive,” says Kevin Dubois, CEO of Lapels Dry Cleaning. “Lapels prides itself on being environmentally friendly. A part of that is giving back to the communities we serve. We’re grateful to have a customer base that shares that spirit of giving.”

Some of the larger contributors were Lapels of Norton (575 pounds), Lapels of Hanover/Assinippi Corner (437 pounds), and Lapels of Walpole (345 pounds).

“With 18 Lapels stores participating in this drive, it helped make this a huge success,” says Ken Higgins, Big Brothers Big Sisters dispatch supervisor.

CONCORD, N.C. — A reader recently sent me an e-mail that contained several questions. I’ve decided that I’m going to use it as the basis of this month’s column, because the problems cited are common to many operations and my comments should provide guidance and options in your stain-removal efforts.

Q: I use _____ as my POG and lately it’s been leaving a chemical stain (ring) on the clothing that I dry clean…

A: Most paint, oil and grease removers (POG) should easily flush in the drycleaning system. The vast majority of POG can be divided into those that are based in alcohol and others that have an “oily” base (OTPR). It is important to know the contents of any chemical stain-removal agent, as some combinations of fiber, fabric and dye are extremely sensitive to the alcohol (pH).

When used on the dry side, POG is effective on chemically soluble stains such as cosmetics, paint and grease as well as aiding in the removal of difficult solvent-soluble stains. POG is generally ineffective on water-soluble stains.

OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada — The Government of Canada has decided that siloxane D5—the liquid silicone used in the GreenEarth drycleaning process—is not harmful to the environment, Canada Environment Minister Peter Kent announced.

Kent received the Siloxane D5 Board of Review’s report last fall. He convened his country’s Board of Review in August 2010 with the mandate to consider information in the original Government of Canada 2009 siloxane D5 screening assessment, as well as new scientific information subsequently available. The Board concluded that siloxane D5 is not harmful to the environment.

“This decision follows a thorough analysis of the Siloxane D5 Board of Review’s report, all existing available scientific information, and ongoing international regulatory activities,” says Kent. “It underlines our commitment to reach fact-based conclusions to protect Canadians’ health and the environment.”

Tim Maxwell, president of GreenEarth Cleaning, Kansas City, Mo., says his company has always applauded Canada’s measured, fact-based approach to the bioaccumulation issue.

CONCORD, N.C. — There are times when quality stain removal comes down to a series of little things. And there are times when the difference in returning a garment to the customer with traces of the stain vs. exceeding the customer’s expectations hinges on applying a slightly different tool or technique.

Here are some items that you can add to your stain removal toolbox easily and inexpensively:

COTTON SWABS

Cotton swabs are a helpful addition to any spotting board. These swabs are absorbent and free of pigment. By lightly rubbing a slightly damp swab on a garment or its trim, you can test dyes for bleeding.

Cotton swabs are ideal for applying bleaches (especially titanium dye stripper) at the spotting board. A swab will allow you to remove fugitive dye in close areas without fear of drips or contacting undesired areas.

WOODEN TOOTHPICKS

A wooden toothpick allows a spotter to precisely apply a minimum amount of bleach/dye stripper. It can be used to great advantage to restore your customer’s garments and to enhance your reputation.