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April 22, 2013
DLI, TCATA Teaming Up to Host Clean Show Bash in New Orleans

LAUREL, Md. — All DLI and TCATA members welcome at June 21 evening party at New Orleans’ Royal Sonesta Hotel

LAUREL, Md. — The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) and the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA), both sponsors of the Clean Show, are partnering to host a “blockbuster meet-and-greet networking party” for DLI members and top industry suppliers at the upcoming Clean 2013.

All DLI and TCATA members are welcome at the party slated for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 21, in the Royal Sonesta Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

The cooperative effort between major industry associations is designed to strengthen ties between cleaners and the companies who supply them. The party is a way for both associations to thank members for supporting the industry, says DLI CEO Mary Scalco.

“The bond between cleaners and their suppliers is incredibly strong,” she says. “One of our most important roles at the Institute is to create opportunities for our members to associate, network, get together, or whatever you prefer to call it. By working with TCATA on this event, we are creating an informal atmosphere where suppliers and cleaners can relate on a personal level.”

December 13, 2012
The Numbers: Unemployment Rate Falls, but Fiscal Cliff Looms

CHICAGO — Unemployment rate drops to 7.7% in November, marking lowest point since February 2009

CHICAGO — THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE for November fell to 7.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, marking its lowest point since February 2009. Unemployment has slowly but steadily declined during 2012, which began with the unemployment rate at 8.3%. Approximately 146,000 new jobs were added to the economy in November.

Meanwhile, uncertainty over the federal budget and the so-called “fiscal cliff” colored many economic factors during the last two months of 2012.

ACCORDING TO THE BEIGE BOOK, seven of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts noted modest growth before the middle of November. Two districts—St. Louis and Minneapolis—reported a stronger increase in economic activity, while Boston indicated a slower rate. The New York district’s figures were disrupted in late October and through November by Hurricane Sandy, and Philadelphia’s figures were somewhat affected by the storm.

December 11, 2012
Survey: Half of Dry Cleaners Polled Predict Greater Sales Volume in 2013

CHICAGO — Improving marketing and keeping prices low seen as ways to boost sales next year

CHICAGO — Half of dry cleaners asked to offer their rough forecasts for sales in 2013 believe that volume will improve in their area next year, according to the results of American Drycleaner’s final Wire survey for 2012.

Sales volume will either “improve substantially, with at least a 5% year-to-year gain” (18.8%) or “bounce back a little, with a gain of 0% to 5%” (31.3%), these respondents predict.

But there are times when an increase in business for one cleaner means that other cleaners may be suffering or have even closed. “The market in our area is improving. Weaker competition is failing,” wrote one respondent. Another reported that pounds and pieces for 2012 matched 2011 while two cleaners closed nearby.

The economy drives the dry cleaning business, according to one cleaner: “When economy is good, dry cleaning is a necessity. When economy is bad, dry cleaning is a luxury.”

December 4, 2012
Wisconsin Fabricare Institute Drycleaners Annual Convention, Auction and Trade Show

Mark your calendars: WFI Annual Convention, Tabletop Exhibits, Live Auction is March 15-16 .
Country Springs Hotel, Pewaukee, WI

Focus on improving your Profits: Drycleaner Marketing Presentations:

DLI's CEO Mary Scalco - What are Cleaners Doing in a Down Economy? & DLI Tools You Can Use- Drycleaning Encyclopedia, Facebook Tips, Monday Morning Marketing

and...

 

Al Lautenslager, co-author of the best seller "Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days" - Drycleaner Marketing Essentials

Mr. Lautenslager is appearing through a sponsorship of the Fitzgerald Scholarship & Education Fund

You can visit Al's website at: http://www.market-for-profits.com

October 3, 2012
DLI/NCA Five-Star Brainstorming Winter Conference

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute and the National Cleaners Association are planning their next Five-Star Brainstorming winter conference for Jan. 17-20 in Cancun, Mexico.

Jack Mitchell, author of the best-seller Hug Your Customers, and CEO of the nation’s largest luxury clothing retailer, will demonstrate how cleaning businesses can adopt an approach that will make customers love them and keep them coming back for more.

“We’re talking about small and easy-to-do things that Jack Mitchell has proven make a big difference,” says Nora Nealis, NCA’s executive director. “It’s also a nice plus that Mr. Mitchell is talking to us about the exact same consumer. He is selling them clothes, and we’re cleaning those clothes for them.”

“When we ask our members what we can do for them, we often hear, ‘Send me more customers,’” says DLI CEO Mary Scalco. “Jack Mitchell’s philosophy, if put into practice, should keep the customers coming back and generate new ones.”

October 3, 2012
NCA Texcare Trade Show & Exhibit

The National Cleaners Association (NCA) will host the Texcare Trade Show & Exhibit on Oct. 19-20, 2013, in Secaucus, N.J.

Call 212-967-3002 for more information.

August 30, 2012
The Numbers: Signs of Slight Economic Expansion, but Consumer Confidence Slips

CHICAGO — Non-manufacturing sector shows growth for 31st consecutive month

CHICAGO — THE LATEST BEIGE BOOK REPORT, compiled by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with data from the 12 Federal Reserve Districts, shows that the U.S. economy continued to expand slightly in June and early July. Eleven districts noted expanding economic activity.

Early August brought news that the current administration had awarded $9 million in the multi-agency Rural Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge. The program is designed to spur job and economic growth in rural regions. Economic development partnerships and initiatives in a dozen states—Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia—will receive awards. Last year’s winners generated millions in matching funds, and their projects are expected to create thousands of new jobs and hundreds of new businesses, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

August 27, 2012
65 Years of Dedicated Service

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Accountant Leland Bierbaum has known only one employer: Dison Cleaners

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Rochester is probably best known for being the home of the world famous Mayo Clinic, founded in 1889. It is Rochester’s economic center, employing some 30,000 people in the city of roughly 108,000.

But for the staffers of Dison (pronounced dee-son) Cleaners, former and present, Rochester is home to another longtime community fixture that holds a much more special place in their hearts. His name is Leland.

Earlier this year—on June 2, to be precise—Leland Bierbaum, 86, marked 65 years of service as the company’s bookkeeper. That’s right—65 years.It is his first and only job.

It was the summer of 1947 when Harold “Hap” Dison Sr., grandfather of current owners Mark and Greg Dison, hired Bierbaum. He started out making $35 a week and worked every day but Sundays.

August 14, 2012
CLA Designs Unique Conference for ‘Top 100’ Laundry Owners

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Fall event hopes to draw self-service laundry industry’s best

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — The Coin Laundry Association (CLA) has put together an event Oct. 11-13 that it hopes will bring together the self-service laundry industry’s most successful people for unmatched educational sessions, networking, exhibits and a unique opportunity to share best practices with their peers.

The Excellence in Laundry Conference is designed specifically for those laundry industry entrepreneurs who want to grow their business and succeed, CLA says. Attendees will rub elbows with some of the most successful laundry industry professionals and learn some of their most coveted secrets to success.

The agenda includes:

June 21, 2012
First Impressions: Who Wants Gum?

LOS ANGELES — Success or failure might come down to your community’s first impression

LOS ANGELES — In my many years in the comedy world, I have had some amazing moments. I introduced Chris Rock the first time he ever went on stage; almost from the moment he hit the stage I could tell he’d be something special. And I was with him the night he shot the one-hour comedy special that changed his life.

I watched Sam Kinison offend his audience so completely that he literally cleared a comedy club, doing the same material he would do the next night on the HBO Young Comedians Specialthat opened the door to his fame. “Don’t worry,” I told him, “if this comedy thing doesn’t work out for you, you can always become a bouncer.”

I’ve shared stages with Colin Quinn, Dennis Miller and Jerry Seinfeld; golfed with Norm MacDonald, Tommy Smothers and Samuel L. Jackson; bantered with Mel Brooks and Kelsey Grammar; met icons Lily Tomlin, Milton Berle and Johnny Carson.

June 6, 2012
Author Says FRSTeam ‘Wows Its Customers the Apple Way’

HAYWARD, Calif. — New book singles out firm for creating “goose bump” moments

HAYWARD, Calif. — A new book describes fabric restoration company FRSTeam as a franchise that “…Wows Its Customers the Apple Way.”

In The Apple Experience: The Secrets to Building Insanely Great Customer Loyalty, author Carmine Gallo explores the methods and practices used by Apple and other innovative service pioneers like FedEx, Disney, The Ritz Carlton and Zappos.

FRSTeam was honored to be in the company of these leaders and singled out for the brand culture that has created “goose bump” moments, FRSTeam’s internal name for its “wow” customer service experiences.

In the narrative on his first meeting with FRSTeam President Jim Nicholas, Gallo reveals a common misconception after learning that FRSTeam is a fabric restoration service brand that restores clothing and other items after a smoke, fire, or water loss.

“Don’t you just pick up the damaged goods, restore them, and return them?” Gallo asks Nicholas.

May 29, 2012
State Emissions and Global Standards

DOLTON, Ill. — OSHA changing Hazard Communication standard to align with UN system

DOLTON, Ill. — There are two regulatory changes that have come to my attention. One is not so bad other than the fee increase, and the other is rather alarming. A bigger government and more control over our personal life and business is the purpose of it all. And we are going to pay more.

Washington and the states get around the unpopular votes for raising taxes and, of course, their respective re-elections by regulating us and telling the public that our business is making us sick and killing people. The safest way to increase their revenue is to regulate us. 

In Illinois, we now have another program that will eventually cost the taxpayers more money. Oh, I forgot, that is why they are raising the cost of the permits. The plan is to increase permit fees and reduce the cost to run the program.

May 17, 2012
The Sun’ll Come Out…

LOS ANGELES — Many beginning to see businesses return to better times

LOS ANGELES — Every four years around this time, the same question comes up: are you better off today than you were four years ago?

Well, let me be frank. The last four years have been difficult. I was 51, now I’m 55. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like 51 better. Then, I had black hair; now, I’m losing the black and losing the hair.

And it was exactly four years ago this month that I decided to leave my lucrative career as a personal manager for actors, writers, comedians and directors to join my wife in manufacturing and distributing reusable drycleaning garment bags.

Things went pretty much haywire right from the start: we made our first sale about the exact same time as the banking, housing and financial bubbles burst. The loans we were counting on to grow our business were now unattainable: banks simply stopped lending.

April 3, 2012
Effective Diversification

CHICAGO — If there is one investment philosophy that approaches universal agreement among financial advisers, it’s the need for careful diversification in every portfolio in order to minimize risk

CHICAGO — If there is one investment philosophy that approaches universal agreement among financial advisers, it’s the need for careful diversification in every portfolio in order to minimize risk, but exactly what does diversification mean, and how can you tell if your investments are truly diversified?

One popular TV show on finances features a segment called “Am I Diversified?” in which viewers call in, give the host their top five holdings and the host lets them know if they are properly diversified. According to Jason Whitby, MBA, CFA®, CFP®, AIFA®, senior financial adviser with Miami-based Investor Solutions, it’s not that simple. “The idea of five-stock diversification is mostly refuted by the financial community,” he says, “which tends to agree that the number of individual stocks needed for diversification is actually closer to 30.”

March 21, 2012
Clean Show Selects GES as Official Contractor

ATLANTA — Show committee picks Las Vegas-based company from

ATLANTA — The Clean Executive Committee has selected Global Experience Specialists (GES) to serve as the official services contractor for the 2013 Clean Show in New Orleans.

Three companies submitted proposals for the June 2013 show. “GES did our show in New Orleans in 2009 and did a great job,” says John Riddle, president of Riddle & Associates, the Clean Show’s management company. “We look forward to working with them again in 2013.”

Chicago hosted the first Clean Show in 1977. United Exposition Service Co. was the official services contractor for that event and subsequent shows. GES purchased United in 1993, and the Las Vegas-based company has continued its partnership with the Clean Show for many shows since.

GES produces 3,000 exhibitions and events annually.

The Clean Show—officially titled the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning—attracts people across all segments of the textile care industry, from single-owner, coin-operated laundry and drycleaning establishments to giant industrial and institutional laundries and textile rental companies.

March 21, 2012
GreenEarth Cleaning Affiliate Workshop

There is still time to register for the GreenEarth Affiliate workshop in Savannah, Georgia on April 20th and 21st.

Savannah was the named the "destination of choice" by our Affiliates who participated in our recent workshop survey and we know you will love Savannah! This historic city is known for its charm and beauty; a city famous for its role in both the Revolutionary and Civil wars, for being the birthplace of the Girl Scouts and the setting for John Berendt's book "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil.

January 17, 2012
Plant Design Awards — Special Honors, Outstanding Reconstruction: Tower Cleaners, Calgary, Alberta

CALGARY, Alberta, Canada — Tower Cleaners transformed a 16,000-square-foot building once used for welding and painting aluminum railings to combine its two plants there. It is centrally located for easy access to its 26 dry stores throughout Calgary.

The production floor features three perc drycleaning machines, a hydrocarbon machine, and Huebsch and UniMac washers using Seitz detergents. Finishing equipment is all Unipress, with the exception of some Forenta glide back presses.

The epoxy-coated “granite” floor contrasts the red Metalprogetti conveyor system used to move garments from the cleaning area to each press. When the presser is finished, the garment is placed back on the distribution conveyor and transported to the inspection area.

The CRDN franchise processes fire and flood work, with special areas assigned for removal of smoke odors, and to process shoes, purses, plants, etc.

Tomorrow: Special Honors, Outstanding Plant-on-Premises

January 9, 2012
The Numbers: Unemployment, Mortgage Applications, Pending Home Sales

CHICAGO — Helping to ring in a better new year are the Federal Reserve Board, the nation’s unemployment numbers and job growth, mortgage applications, and pending home sales.

ALL BUT ONE OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE DISTRICTS reported an increase in economic activity in a report filed Nov. 30. The districts saw a slow to moderate upward trend in consumer spending, with the strongest upticks occurring in vehicle sales and tourism dollars. Manufacturing activity and overall bank lending also increased slightly.

THE NOVEMBER JOBLESS RATE was down to 8.6%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, with an estimated 120,000 jobs added—that’s the fifth month in a row to post 100,000 or more new jobs, a first since April 2006. However, a downswing in wages slightly offset that good news.

The department reports a decrease in the weekly seasonally adjusted unemployment claims in the week ending Dec. 3, as the number went to 381,000 from the previous week’s revised number of 404,000.

December 13, 2011
Survey: 52% of Dry Cleaners Predict Greater Sales Volume Next Year

CHICAGO — More than half of dry cleaners asked to offer their rough forecasts for sales in 2012 believe that volume will improve in their area next year, according to the results of American Drycleaner’s final Wire survey for 2011.

Sales volume will either “improve substantially, with at least a 5% year-to-year gain” (20%) or “bounce back a little, with a gain of 0% to 5%” (32%), these respondents predict.

Often, an increase in business for one cleaner means that other cleaners may be suffering or have even closed. “Several good-quality establishments sold and it’s getting harder to find a very good dry cleaner, which is good for me,” says one of the fortunate.

“We’re getting referrals every day,” beams another. “We’ve acquired two competitor routes. We’re looking to a third acquisition.”

November 17, 2011
Natural Gas Prices Continue to Fall in October

WASHINGTON — The Henry Hub spot price for natural gas averaged $3.56 per MMBtu in October, 34 cents lower than the September average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook report released Nov. 8.

This month’s Outlook lowers the 2011 forecast by 6 cents to $4.09 per MMBtu and lowers the 2012 forecast by 19 cents to $4.13 per MMBtu compared with last month’s report.

Even while the delivered cost of natural gas continues to decline, EIA expects the cost of coal delivered to electric generators to increase by 6.4% during 2011. The net effect will be relatively modest growth in retail electricity prices over the forecast horizon, the report says.

For route drivers, EIA forecasts that the annual average regular-grade gasoline retail price, which averaged $2.78 per gallon in 2010, will increase to an average of $3.54 per gallon in 2011, before declining to an average $3.46 per gallon in 2012. The agency expects that on-highway diesel fuel retail prices, which averaged $2.99 per gallon in 2010, will average $3.84 per gallon in 2011 and $3.79 per gallon in 2012.

November 1, 2011
Slowdown Impacts Real Estate Markets, But Improvements Seen

WASHINGTON — Commercial real estate vacancy rates are flat and projections for growth have been moderated because economic growth and job creation have been weaker than expected, but modest improvements are expected over the coming year, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The weakening economy will slow the growth in demand for space, says Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

Looking at vacancy rates from the third quarter of this year to the third quarter of 2012, NAR forecasts vacancies to decline 0.3 percentage point in the office sector, 0.6 point in industrial real estate, 0.7 point in the retail sector and 0.9 percentage point in the multifamily rental market.

October 26, 2011
Finding What Works for You

LOS ANGELES — I have shopped all over the world: in Toronto, I shop at Rochester Big and Tall. In New York, Rochester Big and Tall. In London, Rochester; Chicago, Rochester. Being 6-foot-4 with 37-inch sleeves, my choices in clothing have been pretty limited. At most big and tall men’s stores, Nehru jackets are just coming into style.

That was a bit of a problem when I was a personal manager and knew that there’d be some “Hollywood” people judging me on my “look.” Though I love dressing well, most clothing stores are fashion museums to me, and stylish clothes the artifacts.

I compensated with ties. I became known for having an amazing tie collection: thin, wide, vintage and new. While designer threads were out of the question because they weren’t made in my size, I got people to focus on the one fashion accessory where I could compete.

Instead of accepting my limitations, I concentrated on the positives.

September 26, 2011
Energy Prices Continue to Fall

WASHINGTON — The Henry Hub spot price averaged $4.05 per MMBtu in August, 37 cents lower than the July average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest Short-Term Energy Outlook report. This month’s report lowers the 2011 forecast by 4 cents to $4.20 per MMBtu and lowers the 2012 forecast by 11 cents to $4.30 per MMBtu, the report says.

Part of this downturn is due to natural gas consumption for electric power generation falling from 29.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in July to 29.2 Bcf/d in August, as July’s extreme temperatures eased, EIA says. Still, the administration expects that total natural gas consumption will grow by 1.8% to 67.3 Bcf/d in 2011.

September 22, 2011
The Numbers: Jobs, Mortgages, and Consumer Confidence

CHICAGO — Early September brought a new proposal—the Americans Jobs Act—from President Barack Obama, which includes incentives for small-business owners to aid in cutting taxes and adding employees.

The proposal cuts employer payroll taxes in half, offers a series of tax credits for companies that hire workers who have been unemployed for longer than six months, establishes an “infrastructure bank” to offer loans for private-sector projects, funds a variety of transportation projects, intends to modernize schools and vacant properties, extends unemployment benefits and subsidizes jobs training programs, pumps money into communities for teachers and first responders, and sets up a summer jobs program for teens.

The bipartisan super committee in Congress—tasked with finding ways to reduce the nation’s debt by December—was due to hear the president’s proposals on cutting debt later in the month.

September 5, 2011
Rynex Appoints Isberg to Technical Service Post

ALBANY, Ga. — Rynex Technologies has appointed Jim Isberg to the position of technical service, the company reports. His primary focus is on sales to and technical service for customers who are converting or already use the Rynex-3 solvent, but he will also assist drycleaners in advanced training skills while operating Rynex-3 and the new solutions that have been developed with it.

Isberg brings more than 40 years of experience in drycleaning and management experience to the company, having worked as a manager, plant owner, distributor salesman and manufacturer’s technical consultant. He authored the book, Dry Cleaning 101, published in 1989.