Content about Virginia

CLIFTON, Va. — Crest Cleaners has become the first North American dry cleaner to install an ultra-low-water bead cleaning system marketed by Xeros Inc., a subsidiary of UK-based Xeros Ltd. Overall, it is Xeros’ third U.S. installation since first entering the market last September.

Historically, items that are not dry cleaned, such as men’s dress shirts, are laundered in traditional washing machines. Xeros’ proprietary system looks to replace those machines by producing “cleaner laundry with a significantly lower impact on the environment, using very little water and patented Xeros polymer beads,” the company says.

The beads’ molecular structure, coupled with a proprietary detergent, attracts and absorbs dirt from soiled items, the company says. It claims the system uses up to 80% less water, 50% less energy and 50% less detergent than conventional washing.

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.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Many “movers and shakers” in the textile care industry gathered here in mid-April for the Textile Care Allied Trades Association’s 2012 Annual Management and Educational Conference, the group reports.

Speaker Dean Minuto opened the meeting with an unusual but intriguing topic — utilizing the latest findings in neuroscience to learn how to tap the “buy button” in the human brain. Attendees left with tangible ideas on how to change the marketing and sales of their products and services for maximum effectiveness.

Hunter Lott discussed ways that businesses can stay out of court. He reviewed the important issues surrounding hiring and firing, pay scales, personnel manuals, and a host of other topics important to any business owner. Finally, Sheila Kloefkorn outlined the ways that companies can use online marketing and social media to promote their business in a cost-effective way.

FAIRFIELD, N.J. — The Textile Care Allied Trades Association’s Annual Management and Educational Conference will feature three speakers covering a wide array of topics to help members with their businesses.

Scheduled to appear during the April 18-21 event at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Va., are:

ARDMORE, Pa. — Thanks to the 100% “bonus” depreciation write-offs created by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, many dry cleaning businesses are discovering that capital investments in equipment, machinery and other business assets are more affordable today than ever before. Remember, however, the 100% bonus depreciation write-off is available only for qualifying purchases made by dry cleaning plants and businesses in 2011.

Those dry cleaners that have hesitated or postponed making capital investments because of the recent economic downturn might now want to consider how the combined use of incentives and the 100% bonus depreciation can substantially reduce the cost of capital investments. Even funding those new-equipment purchases is easier—at least for a while.

LAUREL, Md. — Each year, Drycleaning & Laundry Institute’s (DLI) board of directors holds elections in two districts to ensure a fresh perspective on the institute and industry. Director terms last two years. Presidential terms last one year with the president becoming chairperson of the board at the end of that year.

This year’s DLI board of directors lineup features:

RICHMOND, Va. – The principals of local business HandCraft Cleaners were honored during a luncheon Friday as the 2011 Virginia Small Business Persons of the Year.

Receiving the honor were Keith Nichols, president; John Nichols, vice president; and Jeffrey Nichols, treasurer.

RIPON, Wis. — IPSO recently honored two of its leading distributors, D&M Equipment and Laundry Equipment Services (LES), with its Award of Excellence. The awards were presented based on sales growth, commitment to the IPSO brand, customer service and after-sale support, the equipment manufacturer says.

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — With the race for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District coming down to the wire, House minority whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) joined local drycleaner Jeff Miller on the campaign trail.

Miller, longtime operator of Miller’s Fine Drycleaning, is challenging incumbent Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) of Waynesville for the seat, which represents most of the state’s western tip. The No. 2 Republican in the House appeared with Miller at a rally last week in Hendersonville.

For those who have never met Richard Ehrenreich, let me introduce you: Ehrenreich is president of Olney, Md.-based Ehrenreich & Associates, and an industry guru. He has spent most of his life in the drycleaning business. For the last 40 years, he has assessed, valued and sold drycleaning plants, and now is a pre-eminent broker and evaluator of business worth in the industry.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Solvair LLC is expanding in response to increased demand from drycleaners. The company recently opened a West Coast office in La Jolla, Calif., and added several people to its sales staff, naming Blain Wrench vice president of sales.

NEWTON, Mass. — Zoots Corp. sold its Virginia stores and plant to Palm Springs, Calif.-based U.S. Dry Cleaning Corp. (USDC) this week and will auction off equipment and supplies at its former Wallingford, Conn., production facility early next week.

USDC paid $1.9 million to assume control of Zoots’ 11 retail locations in Hampton Roads, Va., and plant in Portsmouth. The purchase represents U.S. Dry Cleaning’s first entry into East Coast markets in its effort to become a nationwide consolidator of drycleaning operations.