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April 30, 2013
Cutting Energy Costs (Part 1 of 2)

CHICAGO — Best strategy for keeping things in check: audit energy use regularly

CHICAGO — In today’s competitive business environment, it makes sense that every dry cleaning plant operator is seeking ways to increase profit. But one can increase prices only so much. And with any potential labor savings having generally been rung out of most plants, operators must find other ways. Simultaneously, environmental impact is a major concern.

One of the areas in which to save, yet one that is often overlooked or glossed over, is the high cost of energy: electricity, heat and water. Hence, prudent dry cleaning plant operators are, or at least should be, having a critical look at this expense and seeking ways to reduce this financial drain.

Best of all, energy costs are among the expenses that can be reduced without negatively affecting product quality or staff productivity. The direct cost of energy generally represents about 6% to 18% of total operating expenses. For those who also have an attached coin laundry, it consumes between 15% and 20% of revenue. Both depend on which part of the country you are in and your plant’s efficiency.

January 15, 2013
Plant Design Awards: Special Honors, Outstanding Plant-on-Premises: Skylark Dry Cleaning

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Route-focused cleaner buys freestanding building to add retail store front

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Skylark Dry Cleaning, owned by Andrew Gaspard, started with route service from a plant in an industrial area. When looking to expand, the business purchased a freestanding building to add a retail store front. Skylark offers dry cleaning, wet cleaning, alterations, in-car service, a 24-hour lobby with lockers, and retail sales from soda to soap.

The production floor in the 6,236-square-foot plant features a Union dry cleaning machine with GreenEarth, Micell CO2 dry cleaning machine, Wascomat wet cleaning equipment, and Unipress finishing and tensioning equipment and shirt units. SPOT Business Systems software is utilized for computer-assisted assembly.

Skylark employs nine full-time workers and generates $14,000 in weekly sales.

Sheldon Bray of Cleaner’s Mentor Consulting created the plant layout. McMonigal Architects served as project architect.

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.

September 12, 2011
DLI Takes Drycleaning Basics Education On the Road

LAUREL, Md. – The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute’s (DLI) first-ever On the Road course recently brought the basics of drycleaning to Minneapolis, Minn.

Brian Johnson, DLI director of education and analysis, taught seven students the ins and outs of drycleaning, finishing, stain removal and more. E. Weinberg Supply and Best Cleaners provided the instruction environment, and students were able to learn processes and skills with DLI’s customary hands-on approach.

“DLI is planning to do more of these courses in other areas,” says Johnson, “and we’re working with our state affiliates to determine the specifics.”

Some students expressed an interest in learning advanced drycleaning in their home areas as well, he says. “We’re looking into how we can adapt the Advanced Drycleaning Course to the On the Road format.”

The next DLI On the Road course is slated for Nov. 14-18 in West Palm Beach, Fla. New England and Texas are being targeted for potential stops.

March 17, 2010
PROS Parts Buys Out Imparts

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — PROS Parts announced it has acquired Charlotte, N.C.-based Imparts in a move to consolidate the two companies, both of which were launched by Barry Victor in the 1980s.

December 28, 2009
Drycleaner Wins National Award for Conservation Upgrades

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) has recognized the conservation efforts of East Metro Clean’n’Press of St. Paul, Minn., with the Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) award.

“We are thrilled to be included in the prestigious group of national MVP2 award recipients,” says Dan Klasen, owner of Clean’n’Press. “This motivates us to discover the next breakthrough in environmentally friendly drycleaning technology.”

August 17, 2009
Drycleaning Employee Fired over Pregnancy, EEOC Says

MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit against White Way Cleaners of St. Paul, Minn., accusing the drycleaner of firing an employee because she was pregnant.

July 13, 2009
FRSTeam Signs Operator in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Fabric Restoration Service Team (FRSTeam) has added Anderson Cleaners in St. Paul, Minn., as an independent licensed operator focusing on the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

July 8, 2009
Going Commercial

RICHFIELD, Minn. — Pilgrim Cleaners in Richfield has done a good business laundering lab coats for a local dentists’ group for the last 12 years. And operator Jim Fingerman didn’t even go looking for the work — he was asked by the dentists.