Content about food

CHICAGO — DECEMBER SAW THE NATION’S ECONOMY adding another 160,000 jobs, although the unemployment rate remained at 7.8%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job numbers increased in the healthcare, food service, construction, and manufacturing industries.

“December’s report marks 34 straight months of private-sector job growth, which have added close to 5.8 million jobs,” says Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. “For nearly three years, steady gains have occurred across different sectors of the economy, and December finishes a strong year of consistent growth with average increases of about 160,000 private-sector jobs per month in 2012.”

THE NON-MANUFACTURING SECTOR ALSO GREW in December for the 36th consecutive month, according to the latest Institute for Supply Management’s Non-Manufacturing Report on Business, with a report of 56.1% in December, which was 1.4 percentage points higher than the November figure.

CHICAGO – Last year at this time, it was three of four regions reporting June sales increases compared to the prior year. This year, it’s just the opposite, according to the results of this month’s AmericanDrycleaner.com StatShot survey.

The Northeast was the only region to register a June-to-June sales boost, and it was only 0.6%. Sales were down an identical 0.6% in the West, 3.4% in the South and 4.8% in the Midwest.

As for the second quarter, April through June, the numbers improved slightly. The Northeast posted a 1.0% quarter-to-quarter increase compared to 2011, followed closely by the West at 0.9%. Quarterly sales were down 1.6% in the Midwest and 2.7% in the South.

As one might imagine from those figures, comments offered by dry cleaners were somewhat gloomy:

FRANKFURT, Germany — Texcare International—the World Market for Modern Textile Care—resumed Sunday at the Messe Frankfurt Congress Center and attracted what appeared to be a steady crowd.

Some exhibitors say they are expecting larger numbers today, the first weekday of the 2012 event.

The makeup and design of the various exhibit booths vary widely, with smaller booths often filled to capacity with equipment or supplies. Some of the larger, more spacious booths house several pieces of equipment, while others resemble cafes or even discos—one exhibitor has a disco ball hanging above its space.

There’s certainly a social feel to Texcare, with many exhibitors serving beer and food to attendees.

Here are some examples of products on display at this year’s Texcare International:

CHICAGO — Inflation affects us all. Even when it is coasting along at what might seem to be a harmless rate, it eats away at the buying power of the dollar.

When inflation hits 11% as it did in 1979, and then rises to 13.5% as it did in 1980, the world of investing, saving and spending is turned upside-down. That’s why some financial professionals are concerned about the most recent trend. After finishing 2010 at an average rate of 1.6%, the first five months of this year show an average of 2.64%, with the latest month in that period hitting the 3.6% mark.

Could this be the portent of sky-high inflation such as we saw in the 1970s? There is a growing amount of evidence that would suggest that possibility. The chief villain, according to many economists, is the Federal Reserve’s easy-money policy designed to support the government’s $2.2 trillion in stimulus spending. That, in addition to the rise in other government spending, has skyrocketed our federal debt.

CHICAGO — The year was 1977. I was 20 years old, creating advertising supplements for shopping malls, and I had the opportunity to use a new technology—the Exxon QWIP machine.

I would put a piece of paper into a small mimeograph-like machine and put a phone handset into a cradle; then, I would stand in amazement as the paper spun. Four minutes later, an ad produced in New Jersey was visible in Maryland. Wow—a technology that communicated printed matter through a phone!

One reason entrepreneurs enter the drycleaning industry is to build meaningful businesses that grow into bigger and better enterprises. Add the freedom of “doing it your way and getting paid for it,” and they have a powerful motivator to take the risks.

Then, the reality strikes that things don’t always go exactly as planned. Since costs rarely shrink or go away, they try to hedge their bets by finding new ways to boost revenues. The logical solution is to sell more, but cleaning is, unfortunately, a need-based business.

NEW YORK — The National Cleaners Association (NCA) is hosting its annual Brainstorming with The Best conference at the Ritz Carlton’s Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Jan. 14-17, 2010.

The Brainstorming experience begins on Thursday, Jan. 14, with a welcome reception and cocktail party featuring complimentary drinks and food. Spouses and children are welcome.

CHICAGO — Drycleaners are offering a variety of commercial services, according to the most recent survey appearing in the Wire, American Drycleaner’s e-mail newsletter. And one-quarter (25.9%) of respondents say they’re planning to go after more hotel, restaurant, uniform and other commercial work soon.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf shores downstream from New Orleans, its storm surge weakening and eventually breaking through the system of levees protecting the city. And slowly, New Orleans — built in a “bowl” two to 12 feet below sea level — began to fill with water.

The ad promotes outdoor weddings by a lake. It doesn’t mention anything about geese, or what they might leave behind on the shore. Traditional wedding dresses are white, and many have long trains. Outside, lakeshore, geese, long train, white… “Does anyone know a professional drycleaner?!”

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) is designed to solve the credit crunch in the financial markets, but it’s also one of the biggest tax bills in recent years.

Many drycleaners will be affected by the rescue bill, thanks to almost 300 changes to the tax laws — including tax breaks expected to save taxpayers a whopping $150 billion.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND S-CORP CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS

At the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau, Alaska, there’s a sign that brings a chuckle to most everyone who reads it. The sign says, “If our food, drinks and service are not up to your standards, please lower your standards.” Most service businesses could post the same sign and get a laugh — if it weren’t so close to the attitude they have.