The MidAtlantic Association of Cleaners will be continuing its series of "Sharpen Your Business Knowledge" workshops with more offerings in April.
The series, which is produced by National Seminars Group, focuses on helping managers and supervisors hone their leadership skills.
Environmental law
An environmental law seminar presented by the environmental law section of Williams, Mullen, Clark & Dobbins will provide updates on federal and Virginia air regulations. The presentation will also feature the following topics: environmental enforcement; environmental crises management; and tips on managing media, regulatory agencies and the public when something goes wrong.
On Wednesday, April 12, the Sheraton Four Points in Harrisonburg, VA, will host the seminar.
Another seminar is being offered at the Howard Johnson Hotel in Danville, VA, on April 13. Both seminars run from 2:30 to 5 p.m.
Cost of the program is $25 per person and includes seminar materials and a cocktail reception following the seminar.
MAC is requesting that attendees register five days in advance. For more information, or to register, call Deborah Miles at (804) 783-6540.
Cost vs. Price
MAC will be presenting another hands-on workshop as part of its "Sharpen Your Business Knowledge" series on Sunday, April 30. The program will run from 1 to 3 p.m.
The session, which is back by popular demand, will be called "Cost vs. Price: Why Do Cleaners Insist on Losing Money?"
Industry analyst Bill Bohannon will moderate the discussion that will examine costs as they relate to price.
The workshop will take place at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center at 500 Merrimac Trail in Williamsburg, VA.
Drivers from I-64 can take Exit 238 toward Camp Peary/Colonial Williamsburg and merge onto VA-143 East and turn left onto Merrimac Trail.
IFI/Mid-Atlantic members may attend the workshop free if they make reservations by April 27.
The program is $50 per person at the door for any remaining space. Reservations are recommended and can be obtained by calling 1-800-235-8360.
For more information, visit Mid-Atlantic's new website at www.macla.net.
The website is set up with links to pages that contain upcoming events, how to become an association member, Barton Bill updates, a source directory, and a help request form for cleaners who require assistance.
"We care how you look!" is one of the new taglines that the Minnesota Cleaners Association is using as part of its new Image 2000 campaign to promote the drycleaning industry.
Other slogans from MCA that you may be hearing or seeing soon include: "We help you look good" and "We keep you looking good."
The PR campaign, which will include public promotion through print media, radio, billboards and television, is all part of MCA's plan to polish the image of drycleaners in the state of Minnesota. MCA has outlined a detailed plan that focuses on increasing the public's education on drycleaning. Part of that plan challenges cleaners to pursue more education and improve their professionalism and customer service.
Currently, Business Theater Productions has scripted a television spot for MCA that shows two men in an elevator dressed for a job interview in similar suits. One man's suit contains a polished look -- with perfect creases and smooth lines.
A narrator says: "When you want to look your best, your affordable and convenient drycleaner makes you look good and feel great."
The commercial concludes with the man in the non-drycleaned suit rushing from the lobby to go home and change. The narrator adds: "Professional drycleaning saves you time. Why gamble when you could have a sure thing?"
By commercializing the industry's image through such advertisements, MCA hopes to meet some of its objectives:
MCA is raising funds for the Image 2000 program by requesting donations from cleaners in Minnesota. Fabricare specialists are being asked to give funds of 2% of their total supply invoice. Suppliers will then be expected to match the cleaner's donation and send the checks to the MCA Industry Fund.
For more information, contact MCA office at (651) 290-6266.
According to the Wisconsin Fabricare Institute, new legislation is expected to be introduced in Madison seeking further changes to the Drycleaner Environmental Response Fund program.
WFI has offered the changes to DERF in order to combat some potential problems with the current law. According to Joe Phillips, WFI's executive director, "Anytime you have a new law the magnitude of the DERF program in place, refinements will be made to make the law more responsive to its original intent.
Phillips also added that the industry constantly reviews the law, not necessarily to correct problems, but to monitor situations that arise that were not previously considered under the law.
"If there are restraints in the statute that preclude the agency from acting in an appropriate manner, then it's imperative we seek changes that allow for a common sense approach to enforcing the law," Phillips said.
Some of the proposed changes that have been submitted to the state legislature include:
For more information, contact WFI at (414) 529-4707.
Over 100 members and guests gathered together to enjoy a diverse educational offering at the Wisconsin Fabricare Institute's State Convention in February.
"We had it all going for us this year," said Joe Phillips, executive director for WFI. "Quality programming, an attractive venue, and value for the investment of money and time, are still the critical differences between a successful association event and a weekend disaster."
The event, which offered a bus tour to the hanger manufacturing facility of the Laidlaw Corporation, kicked off on Friday, Feb. 4, with a presentation by Jerry Marxhausen, senior vice president for sales with Hart, Schaffner and Marx. Marxhausen predicted that Americans will turn to a "dressier" form of casualwear and will buy fashion that has "attitude and comfort."
WFI's program also included Steve Risotto of Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance, who applauded the industry for reducing its perc consumption by over 70% during the past decade.
Wisconsin State Representative Jeff Plale was also on hand to discuss new legislation he plans to introduce that will offer a personal property tax exemption for drycleaning equipment.
Phyllis Martino of Martino's Master Drycleaners discussed the various aspects of maintaining a website and human resources professor Dale Feinauer rounded out the informational sessions by speaking about innovative methods of tapping a tight labor market.
New York cleaners rallied in the state capitol Feb. 29 for the second Albany Day organized by the Neighborhood Cleaners Association-International, designed to bring cleaners face to face with their elected representatives.
Key issues that cleaners brought to the discussions were assistance money for cleaners in New York City third party compliance inspections, disbursements and eligibility requirements of Bond Ad money, the development of state certification standards for drycleaning machines, what makes a facility "stand-alone" or "mixed-use" and requirements for a vapor barrier room.
Cleaners met at 9 a.m. to discuss the strategy for the day with NCA-I executive director Bill Seitz and State Representative Jeffrey Klein. Then they fanned out for pre-arranged meetings with individual lawmakers.
"I thought our meetings went very well," said Russ Petrozzi, president of NCA-I's western New York chapter. "My group had an excellent day.
Petrozzi had 12 scheduled appointments and six unscheduled visits with assembly members.
Wayne Edelman of Meurice Cleaners in Long Island and president of the New York/Long Island Chapter, said legislators were receptive and wanted to help. But he was less than satisfied with the turnout for the event.
"The reality is, unless we voice our concerns to these people, they are not going to be addressed," Edelman said. "I was quite disappointed by the member turnout. The existing apathy among the membership and their feeling that they don't have to do anything to protect their livelihood; that it will done for them. This will result in a lot of people going out of business"
Cleaners who remain apathetic and maintain a "wait and see" attitude will be in for a rude awakening, Edelman warned.
The North East Fabricare Association will be offering an education schedule this spring that will focus on professional spotting and customer service.
"The Art of Professional Spotting" will work with NEFA training specialists Carmelia and Fred Bernardi, who have more than 40 years experience in the industry.
Students can expect to learn the secrets of spotting and take the mystery out of the spotting board. The course emphasizes delicate materials, including wools, white wools, silks, bright silks, rayons and more.
The program will run in two-day Saturday and Sunday sessions on the following dates and areas: April 8-9 in Fall River, MA; April 29-30 in NH; May 6-7 in RI; and May 20-21 in Burlington, VT.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, and the classes run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Cost is $265 for members and $315 for non-members.
NEFA will also be presenting its series that focuses on "Professional Customer Service Training."
The course, which is also taught by the Bernardis, attempts to help attendees improve customer relations, work quality and increase profits.
NEFA's course demonstrates that counter people should be equipped to handle a multitude of duties, including: public relations, quality control, technical expertise, customer satisfaction and garment inspection.
The one-day program will run from 7 to 9 p.m. on the following dates and areas: April 11 in MA; April 25 in Hartford, CT; April 26 in RI; May 11 in NH; and May 19 in Burlington, VT.
Registration for the courses begins at 6:30 p.m.
Cost is $29 for members and $49 for non-members.
For more information, contact NEFA at (800) 442-6848 or (781) 942-7630.
While the March 25 DEC-certification deadline has passed, very few cleaners from the Neighborhood Cleaners Association-International's Western New York Chapter (Region 9) have anything to fear.
"In our conversations with Department of Environmental Conservation officials, we have found that more than 90 percent of the cleaners in our area have been certified," said Russ Petrozzi, president of the Western New York Chapter of NCA-I. "In addition, five of the six perfect scores in the state-sponsored test have come from here."
Certification is required by New York Negotiated Rule Making Part 232, which was put into inception in order to regulate air contaminants from perc-using drycleaning facilities.
"A representative of the DEC sat in on the New York State certification class offered by NCA-I on the weekend of March 4-5," Petrozzi explained. "He told us that Region 9 is among the leaders in the state in compliance. We were told that we are doing a very good job."
NCA-I encourages all cleaners who have yet to achieve certification to do so immediately. For more information, contact NCA-I at (212) 967-3002.
The eyes of the industry were upon Texas as the Southwest Drycleaners Association kicked off the season of regional drycleaning shows with its Big 2000 Show in Fort Worth March 17-19.
About 140 exhibitors filled nearly 300 booths in the Fort Worth Convention Center providing visitors with a full range of the latest in cleaning and pressing equipment, computer systems, chemicals and supplies and anything else one might need -- from buttons to air compressors -- to run a successful drycleaning business.
One show visitor stood out among the hundreds -- Texas Representative Joe Barton spent Saturday afternoon in the exhibit hall, visiting individual exhibitors and discussing his Small Business Remediation Act with drycleaners.
SDA augmented the exhibit with educational and social programs. Body language expert Jan Hargrave told how to interpret the unspoken message that people send during a Saturday morning seminar. On Sunday morning, Chris Allsbrooks and Jane Zellers teamed up for a session on garment problems and how to solve them.
The "Big Show 2000" in Fort Worth, Texas, hosted a capacity crowd on Saturday, March 18, when professional speaker Jan Hargrave entertained the audience with a lecture on "The Importance of Non-Verbal Communication in Customer Service."
"Fifty-five percent of our communication is non-verbal," remarked Hargrave. "Thirty-eight percent of our communication simply comes from our voice inflection. Only seven percent of our actual communication does come from the words we say."
Hargrave, who refers to herself as a "body language expert," is an adjunct professor at the University of Houston and is the author of three books.
"The body does not know how to tell a lie," Hargrave said. "Many times we do things with our bodies and our body tells the truer feeling than what the mouth says."
The presentation offered introspection on a range of issues, including a summary of some of the body language signs that reveal when a person is lying and how to interpret a variety of handshakes in business situations.
"In non-verbal communication, the insides of hands means acceptance. The more the palms touch (while shaking hands) the more acceptance is felt between the two people," Hargrave pointed out.
Hargrave also demonstrated types of smiles that counter people may give to customers. If a customer is greeted with a "Just to Be Polite" smile, -- a tight top lip and the showing of teeth -- the message being conveyed is "I don't like you."
The seminar became quite amusing when Darrell Sawyer, vice president of the Southern Drycleaners Association, was called on-stage to help Hargrave demonstrate body language between couples. At one point, Sawyer and Hargrave sat facing each other with their legs crossed in the opposite direction of each other, signifying a couple that isn't really paying attention to what the other is saying.
However, everybody in the audience was paying full attention to what Hargrave was saying as she interacted with the audience, told humorous stories, and ended the morning session with an uplifting reminder: "Ninety-seven percent of anything you ever worry about doesn't even happen."
Hargrave has more information on her website: at www.janhargrave.com.
"Problem Garments and Customer Service," presented by industry experts Jane Zellers and Chris Allsbrooks, proved to be a humorous and educational seminar on Sunday, March 19, at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel for the Big Show 2000 in Fort Worth, TX.
The joint presentation lasted 90 minutes, and included easy-to-follow notes projected on a screen.
Jane Zellers, a textile care instructor and consultant, began the session with a discussion on customer expectations. "Don't over-promise," advised Zellers. "Make sure you acknowledge your customers. All customers matter."
Zellers also pointed out that the best way to find out the weak areas in your plant is to listen to angry customers. "You need to appreciate it when someone complains to you. We need people to complain," she said.
Joining Zellers was International Fabricare Institute Garment Analyst Chris Allsbrooks, who offered technical explanations of how and why garment snafus occur in the drycleaning process.
Allsbrooks looked at a variety of conditions that ruin garments, including: color problems such as light fading, fume fading, solvent soluble dyes; finishing problems with polyurethanes, vinyls and flocking; and shirt problems with loss of stripes, dye bleeding, and discoloration or armhole seems.
Accompanying the technical explanations were volunteers who courageously wore samples of garments ruined through a variety of processes.
"What we like to say at IFI is that the stain always belongs to the customer, but what you do to it belongs to you," said Allsbrooks, who also explained to attendees how IFI deals with manufacturer problems. "Every garment that we get in the lab that is a manufacturer problem, we put into a database. At the end of each month, we send the database to the Federal Trade Commission and that's how they're able to track problems."
Allsbrooks also noted that IFI's garment analysis is not biased towards cleaners. "I get a lot of customers who call me and say we're (IFI) just for the drycleaners. Well, no we're not just for the drycleaners. My answer is, 'I just want to answer the question I get.'"
Whether or not cleaners are at fault for a garment casualty, Zellers stressed the importance of apologizing to the customer in a timely fashion. "Don't think that just because you're apologizing to a customer that you are admitting any fault. You're really not. You're really just apologizing in many cases for the inconvenience."
Zellers also added, "Remember, the last impression you leave with your customer is going to go with them forever, unless you have a chance to change it. And that's if you have a chance to change it."
The Southwest Drycleaners Association is closing down the school it operated for some 15 years at Texas Woman's University but is opening a new school at the International Textile Center (ITC) at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.
In addition to textile research, the ITC has a graduate and professional education program with complete classroom facilities. SDA is in the process of setting up shop at the new location with the executive and education committees developing a comprehensive class schedule. Some equipment has been donated already and other pieces are being solicited.
The ITC is know for its practical research to assist textile mills in using Texan natural fibers. Bringing the SDA school under its roof will let ITC extend its program of textile research to include garment care.
An ITC polymer chemist will work with SDA on applied research on fabric care issues. Charles Riggs, PhD, will assist the association as its education consultant in working to insure the success of the program with ITC. Dr. Riggs assisted in operation of the school at TWU for many years.
In a press release announcing the new arrangement, SDA said, "This is exciting for the drycleaning industry and a great benefit to our members. The ability of SDA to have access to complete textile research and to hold training courses for cleaners in a world-class facility is a major step forward."
Part of the founding charter of Texas Tech University was to study natural fibers and textiles. In fact, the second building constructed on the campus was for textile engineering. Over the past 30 years the ITC, known under various names, has helped develop a market for the type of cotton that can be grown in the arid conditions of the South Plains.
Lubbock is now the center of one of the largest cotton production areas in the world and claims 20 percent of the U.S. cotton production and 5 percent of world production. Animal fibers are also important to ITC; Texas produces 95 percent of the mohair in the United States and 20 percent of the wool.
ITC's 110,000-sq.-ft. facility has a complete materials evaluation lab to test and evaluate fibers, yarns and fabrics; a short staple (cotton system) processing lab for ring and open end spinning; weaving; knitting; and dyeing and finishing. ITC can analyze fiber, spin yarn, weave or knit fabric, dye it, and now, with SDA participation, determine its proper care.
More information about the center is available on its web site: www.itc.ttu.edu. Once course are scheduled they will be announced by SDA in its monthly newsletter and on its web site: www.ifiwebservices.org/sdadryclean.
The Gulfcoast Fabricare Association, an organization for cleaners on Florida's west coast, ceased operation.
Board members decided to close up shop due to declining participation and diminishing financial resources.
"Participation has dwindled to almost nothing and, unfortunately, the association has also been in financial trouble," wrote Keith McNamara of Spartan Cleaners in Palm Harbor, one of five board members who voted in late January to cease operations of the association.
"While we have been attempting to keep the association running, it has become to burdensome for those involved," McNamara said.
McNamara said that a certificate of deposit that was established for the association years ago would be cashed to pay outstanding debts and that any remaining funds would be given to Lou Lawrence as retirement/severance pay for his "many years of loyal service to the association."
Lawrence has served as executive director of the association for more than 20 years. He has been involved in various aspects of the industry since the 1930s.
The imminent demise of the association was evident last fall in an article by McNamara that was published in the association's newsletter. The association, he said, was "suffering from a lack of interest."
"It has become very difficult for those currently on the board to stay focused and motivated because there seems to be a lack of willingness on the part of others to get involved,:" he wrote. "It has been the same group of us for quite some time, not because we wish it to be this way, but because there is a lack of others stepping forward.
"New faces and ideas are crucial to an association," McNamara said at the time. "We are not sure if everyone is simply too busy to get involved or if a local association like ours has simply outgrown its usefulness."
The North Carolina Association of Launderers and Cleaners will hold their annual convention in Wrightsville Beach, NC, May 5-7.
"Spring Break 2000" will open with a pool side clam bake on Friday evening. NCALC's board of directors will meet that afternoon.
The business program on Saturday begins at 8 a.m. with the annual meeting and elections. A three-hour program on how to encourage word-of-mouth advertising will then be presented by Laura Barron. The afternoon will be open for golf, fishing, swimming and other recreation and leisure activities.
IFI CEO Bill Fisher will discuss "Where is Our Industry Going?" during the evening program which includes a president's reception and awards banquet. Also planned for the evening is a "Young Cleaners Party." Barron will return to the podium on Sunday morning for another three-hour presentation, this one on "Getting Energy, Initiative and Commitment from Your Employees."
Full registration for the convention is $250. Spouses can register for $125. For more information, call the NCALC office, (919) 850-0707.
NCALC is also continuing a series of briefings on the North Carolina Drycleaning Solvent Contamination Cleanup Act of 1997.
The series began in March and is continuing in April with evening sessions scheduled in Asheville on April 4, Greensboro on April 18 and Raleigh on April 25.
Sessions for Korean drycleaners in the Triad, Triangle and Fayetteville areas are also being planned.
Representatives of NCALC, the state and specialists in environmental cleanup and law will speak at the briefing.
The South Eastern Fabricare Association's 2000 Southern Dry Cleaners Show is set for April 29-30 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA.
SEFA will be presenting all of its seminars and on-floor presentations free of charge. There is also no charge for show registration.
At 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, Bill Fisher, CEO of the International Fabricare Institute, and Everett Childers, executive director of SEFA, will greet attendees with an opening session on the "State of the Industry."
Pam Yellen, CEO of Prospecting & Marketing Institute, Inc. of Lamy, NM, will present "How to Flood Your Drycleaning Business with More Quality Customers Than You Can Handle" at 9 a.m.
The Sunday sessions will begin with SEFA's own, Everett Childers, as he discusses "Pricing for Prosperity" at 8 a.m.
"Cleaning and the Environment" by Dr. Jim Schreiner, Ph.D, from the Adco Chemical Company in Sedalia, MO, will start at 9 a.m. on the same day.
Separate sessions in Korean will also be on both days.
IFI's Sam Choi will discuss "Running A Profitable Business" at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 29.
On Sunday at 8 a.m., Benjamin Souh from the Custom Machinery Company will present "Hydrocarbons and Carbon Dioxide."
Also on Sunday, Kim Kil of Heritage Cleaners will be presenting a seminar in Korean on "Management and Advertisement" at 9 a.m.
On both days, exhibiting hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highlighting the show will be SEFA's Korean Pavilion, which will be marked by a special arch constructed on the central aisle.
Kim Kil, president of the Korean Association of America, will speak to Koreans assembled for the show on innovations and strategies designed to help cleaners advance the prosperity of their business.
SEFA's show will also feature several on-floor presentations, including a one-hour "Spotting and Cleaning" presentation by Donna Freese, of Adco, Inc.
Other on-floor presentations will be provided by The Small Business Assistance Programs Environmental Protection Divisions. The sessions last between 15 and 20 minutes and are designed to inform fabricare specialists about state programs, hazardous waste inspections and fund administration.
The Renaissance Waverly Hotel, which is connected directly to the Cobb Galleria Centre, will be offering exhibitors and attendees a room rate of $119 per night for single/double occupancy. Call (770) 953-4500 for reservations.
For more information about the 2000 Southern Dry Cleaners Show, call the SEFA office at (770) 998-9900.
The Piedmont Dry Cleaners and Launderers Association will be presenting an introductory "Wetcleaning" seminar on Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Martin Young of Young's Cleaners will be conducting the session.
The seminar will take place at Cooki Patel's plant, 2001 Cleaners, in Charlotte, NC.
R.R. Street and Co., Inc. is sponsoring the event. Cost is $15 for each member employee and $45 for each non-member employee.
Coffee, doughnuts and soft drinks will be provided.
For more information, contact the Piedmont Dry Cleaners and Launderers Association at (704) 535-3256.
Las Vegas, NV, will host a Milnor washer-extractor service seminar scheduled to take place May 2-5.
The event, which is the first scheduled seminar for the year from Milnor, will cover information on a broad range of Milnor washer-extractors.
The four-day course is a condensed program that is designed to train personnel to diagnose and treat field problems in a quick and precise manner.
Attendees will gain an overall understanding of how their equipment operates.
Milnor washer-extractors designated to be covered will range from 35 lb. to 750 lb. capacities, including split and open pocket designs.
For more information, contact Randy Stiver, supervisor of training and education at the Pellerin Milnor Corporation located in Kenner, LA, at (504) 467-9591, ext. 514.
A brochure for the seminars is also available by calling (800) 469-8780, or through the literature request line on their website, www.milnor.com.
The California Cleaners Association recently released its schedule of educational seminars for the next few months.
"Continuing education is so important," said California Cleaners Association president, Jackie Smith. "It is our mission to continue to make educational opportunities available to all of California's drycleaners."
On Saturday, April 8, part two of the course "Fibers and Fabrics" will be presented.
CCA also will hold a "Beginning Dry Cleaning and Spotting" course on Saturday, May 13, and an "Advanced Spotting and Bleaching" seminar on Saturday, June 10.
Classes are all held at Snow Cleaners in Stockton, CA.
All three courses are open to all California drycleaners and cost $75 for CCA members and $125 for non-members.
For information, call CCA at (916) 443-0896 or (800) 390-8490.
The San Diego Dry Cleaners Association will be offering California Dry Cleaners Certification classes in the upcoming months.
The classes are the California Air Resources Board required courses on the Air Toxic Control Measure.
Classes will be available on April 29, May 20, and June 17 at the Inn Suites Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd., in San Diego, CA.
Cost for the certification course is $100 for re-certification and $150 for first-time certification. Advanced registration is important because classes may be cancelled or moved unless enough people register.
The class will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A book is provided for first-time certifiers, so re-certification applicants should bring their old book, certificate, and a picture ID.
For more information, contact the SDDCA at (619) 267-5390.
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