The Korean Cleaners Association of New Jersey was planning to rally at the state capitol in late September to express their opposition to legislation that would require cleaners who use perc to operate with at least fourth-generation cleaning machines.
The bill, commonly called "the Rooney bill" after its author, Assemblyman John E. Rooney, has bounced around the legislature for several years.
The Korean association was encouraging members to attend a committee hearing on the hill Sept. 25 where they would let legislators know their concerns. The measure would establish an loan fund and guarantee for owners who need financial assistance.
In a letter expressing the association's objections to the bill, KCANJ president Tae Hee Han said the legislation, if passed, would threaten the livelihood of small cleaners. He also complained that the Korean cleaners association was not consulted on the bill before it was reintroduced this year, even though two-thirds of the cleaners in the state are Korean.
The association's objections center on three areas: minimum equipment standards; a $300 inspection fee; and certification requirements.
"The bill calls for replacement (of equipment)Š without any consideration of how we may have diligently kept up with the proper and constant maintenance and careŠ to prolong its life," the association wrote in a "Declaration of Rooney Bill Opposition.
"Who are they to say that what we bought yesterday is not good today? Today's technology is too fast paced. They could say what we buy today is no good tomorrow, why not let the machinery live its life unless found to be faulty?"
KCANJ questioned the inspection fee, asking "Why should we pay a minimum $300 (or any) fee for any and all announced inspections?"
There are no set guidelines for inspections, President Han noted, and no assurance that the money would be used as said.
KCANJ also questioned the bills lowering of the maximum worker exposure level to 50 ppm from 100 ppm.
"What promoted the change to 50 ppm? This gives no consideration to small business establishments," the association wrote.
On the certification and training requirements, KCANJ noted that it has held over 50 seminars, classes and workshops on NESHAP regulation compliance in the past six years and continues to educate and train members "to be up to date and in compliance with any regulations as required."
If the state creates additional training and certification requirements, it will be costly to cleaners in both time and money.
In other states, such as New York, where certification requirements were put in place, organizations that control the certification process have benefited, the association said, while cleaners have had to spend time and money to pass the required test.
"Why is it necessary to have further certification," president Han asked. "This creates suspicion again, as to who benefits from this."
Finally, KCANJ write, "The proposed bill offers no gain, no umbrella protection for existing cleaners. If anything, it seems more like a threat to us."
The Neighborhood Cleaners Association-International, in an analysis of the bill published several months ago, identified "the heart of the issue as assistance to cleaners which address problems associated with perc."
The language of the bill, as reported by NCA-I, states that "it is in the public interest for the State to establish a loan fund and guarantee program for the owners of drycleaning business who require financial assistance to purchase and install 'Generation 4 drycleaning equipment' or more advanced equipment in order to minimize the public's exposure to perc emissions."
Upgrading equipment, the bill says, could "virtually eliminate" health concerns for employees and clients of drycleaners.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority would provide loan financing for equipment purchases and upgrades. The bill also would provide a seven-year exemption on the sales and use tax for equipment.
In an effort to offset a recent bout of bad publicity concerning the closing down of an unprofitable discount drycleaner, the MidAtlantic Association of Cleaners contacted Montgomery County Consumer Affairs officials.
The bad headlines began recently when Cleaner Than A Whistle, a plant in Takoma Park, Maryland, had padlocked its doors with only a "Closed For Business" sign to greet its customers.
According to MAC, The Washington Post and local evening and morning television shows had a "field day" with the story, pointing out that the plant was evicted from its New Hampshire Avenue location as a result of rent non-payment.
If not for the efforts of investigators from the Montgomery County, Maryland Division of Consumer Affairs, the landlord reportedly would have tossed the plant's clothes out the front door.
The agency was given three weeks to distribute garments to the store's former customers.
David Norford, executive vice president of MAC, pointed out that discount stores cannot reduce prices to achieve prosperity. "It never ceases to amaze me that owners would rather lose their entire investment than examine operating expenses in comparison to income and carefully begin making changes to turn their operation into one that is profitable," he noted.
Currently, MAC is using its member cleaners to help the Montgomnery County Consumer Affairs officials distribute clothing back to customers with a minimal amount of disruption.
A similar offer has also been made to consumer affairs officials in Prince George's County of Maryland where a similar situation involving plants that are forced to closed down occurs once or twice every month.
For more information about the new program, contact MAC at (800) 235-8360.
CleaningExpo is the new designated name for an online international trade show and shopping venue being developed by exhibit sponsor MidAtlantic Association of Cleaners with Norford, LLC.
"E-commerce is redefining all the rules, and that means sometimes toes are unintentionally stepped on. And we apparently stepped on some," said David Norford, executive director of Norford, LLC.
"After some wrangling initiated by the World Educational Congress for Laundering and Drycleaning, we decided to switch the name of our online show to CleaningExpo rather than push back the scheduled December 2000 opening of the show," Norford added.
The online trade show, which was formerly dubbed as iClean, will give buyers from around the world the opportunity to shop and compare prices anytime on all products and services that pertain to the cleaning and textile care industry.
Companies will be able to constantly update prospective buyers about new products, services, sale specials and where they will be exhibiting their products in person.
When CleaningExpo goes online in December, visitors may access it by going to www. GoTradeShows.com/CleaningExpo. For more information, call (540) 775-2525.
The Iowa-Nebraska Drycleaners and Laundry Association our gearing up for their fall seminar, which is scheduled for Oct. 13-15 at Harvey's Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs, IA.
Golfers will get an early opportunity to play a round of golf at the 18-hole course at Dodge Park for $26 per person (including cart), or the 9-hole course at Westwood Golf for $7 per person.
Tee time reservations for Dodge Park must be made at least seven days in advance; however, no reservations are required for Westwood.
After a day of golf, INDLA will offer a "Wine and Cheese Reception" at 6 p.m. that evening with a full offering of complimentary wine, beer, sodas and cheese. Afterwards, attendees will have a chance to take advantage of Harvey's Casino.
This year's educational programs will start on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with a presentation by Alan Robson of Biz Builder Services entitled "Profit is Not a Dirty Word."
Motivational speaker Tom Johnson will present "There Is No Traffic Jam on the Extra Mile" afterwards at 11:30 a.m.
Also on Saturday afternoon will be a 1:30 p.m. session on "Employee Retention & Longevity" by Mike Roseland, owner of Profit Advantage, Inc.
Later that evening, INDLA will host a silent auction and a "Hospitality with Exhibitors" function at 5:00 p.m. featuring a cash bar and hors d'oevres.
On Sunday morning, following a buffet breakfast, Shawnie Higgins and Kathy Broniecki, officers of a marketing, advertising and public relations firm known as Envoy, will present "Essential Service Solutions for the Millennium" at 10 a.m
A block of sleeping rooms has been reserved at Harveys for a price of $79 plus tax for double and single occupancies. Reservations can be made by calling (800) 427-8397. Be sure to mention you are attending INDLA's fall seminar program.
Registration packages are available at $100 for members and $170 for non-members for full 3-day registration.
For more information about the event, contact INDLA at (515) 225-3654.
During its annual summer meeting the Ohio Cleaners Association announced its newly-elected officers.
Mark Folzenlogen of A-One Dry Cleaners, Inc. in Cincinnati was named president of the association.
Other OCA officers include: President-elect Duane Hershberger of Raintree Cleaning Center; Vice President Bob Barlow of Sparkle Cleaners; Secretary Steve Weiss of LaFrance, South, Inc.; Treasurer Steve Smith of Columbus Lace; and Board Chairman Mike Timmer of Sparkle Shirt Laundry, Inc.
District Directors for OCA include: Jim Gault of Gault's Plaza Cleaners; Pete Yochum of St. Clair Cleaners, Inc.; Steve Poulos of Blair's Cleaners; Mike Timmer of Sparkle Shirt Laundry, Inc.; Mark Kimmel of The Kimmel Corporation; and Paul Fortman and Ed Otte of State Cleaners.
Also elected as 3-year trustees were Tim Blankenship of Premier Dry Cleaning, Inc., John Roberts of Fox Cleaners and Steve Smith of Columbus Lace Cleaning Co. They will join continuing trustees David Frick of Olde Towne Cleaners; George Gardner of Custom Cleaners; Leon Oats of Betty Brite Cleaners; Nick Vlahos of Nikko's One Hour Cleaning Center and The Kimmel Corporation's Mark Kimmel, who also received the 2000 Tom Kimmel Clean Award at the meeting.
The Clean Award is given annually to a person who has made a lifelong contribution to the drycleaning industry. The OCA Board recently renamed it to honor Mark's father, Tom, a past OCA and IFI president who passed away earlier this year.
Mark Kimmel, also a past president of OCA, is an active member of the Ohio Management Group and actively serves on the Round Table of Laundry and Drycleaners.
Tom Judge, owner of Judge's Cleaners, based in Central Wisconsin, recently announced that he has teamed up with Micell Technologies and Hangers Cleaners to become the first plant in the state to incorporate carbon dioxide drycleaning technology.
Not only will Judge be in full operation with two new MiCO2 Micell Technology machines soon, but he also plans to open operations in Appleton and Madison later this year.
Judge, who intends to clean about 98% of available garments by the end of September, has set his sights on purchasing reputable, well-established cleaners in both the Fox Valley and Madison markets.
Once he buys plants in those locations, the next step will be to install MiCO2 equipment and consolidate operations of central facilities in Appleton and Madison.
Currently, Judge's Cleaners operates ten retail stores in Central Wisconsin, making it the second largest volume cleaners in the state.
For more information on Judge's Cleaners, visit the plant's web site located online at www.judgescleaners.com.
The North East Fabricare Association will be hosting several October classes for perc drycleaners who still need to achieve mandatory New York certification.
The deadline set by the Department of Environmental Conservation is Dec. 25, 2000 for owners of third and fourth generation perc machines in stand alone facilities.
After taking a training program, applicants are required to pass an exam to obtain certification. The exam, which is administered and scored by the Professional Testing Corporation, is a two-hour open book exam with 100 multiple choice questions. To pass, cleaners must answer 70 correctly.
NEFA will be offering a three-day class in Syracuse, NY, from Oct. 13-15. On Friday, Oct. 13, class is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. It will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 28 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29.
A three-day Batavia class is also set to run from Oct. 27-29. Class on Friday, Oct. 27 will run from 6 to 9 p.m. It will also run from 8 to 5 p.m. on Oct. 28 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29.
Cost is $425 for members and $625 for non-members. There is no extra cost for a work book and a hands-on practice exam that are provided.
NEFA guarantees that members taking its Certification Training Program will pass. In the event that a student does not pass the test successfully in three attempts, he or she may re-take the training program at no charge.
Class size for all of NEFA's classes is limited so early registration is advised. There are also classes offered in Korean.
For more information about the exams, contact NEFA at (781) 942-7630.
The Neighborhood Cleaners Association-International will be holding two courses in Dumont, NJ, in October and a pressing class for the New York School of Drycleaning is planned for Nov. 7.
On Sunday, Oct. 15, an Advanced Spotting course will be taught by NCA-I Executive Director Bill Seitz, who has been with NCA-I since 1949 and in the drycleaning industry since 1943.
A Pressing course taught by NCA-I''s Chief Garment Analyst Dan Eisen is planned for Sunday, Oct. 29. Eisen has been with NCA-I since 1969.
Both courses will cost $125 each, or $225 if one person attends both, or if two persons from the same plant attend the same class.
Both classes will be at Mason's Cleaners at 52 Grant Ave. in Dumont, NJ.
Nov. 7 is the start date for NCA-I's program, "The Principles and Practices of Pressing," which will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. for four weeks.
The course is designed to teach students how to press/finish trousers, coats and jackets, dresses, skirts, sweaters, raincoats and wetcleaned garments.
Cost is $380. For more information about classes offered by NCA-I, contact Vincent Beazer at (212) 967-3002, ext. 224.
You can also obtain information by visiting NCA-I's web site at www.nca-i.com. The association recently relaunched its site that now offers updated news, staff listings and web links.
Textile care instructor and consultant Jane Zellers will be teaching two courses at the Southwest Drycleaner's Association's new school -- the Southwest Research Center for Laundry & Drycleaning.
These courses will be the first offered by the school, which is at the International Textile Center (ITC) located on Texas Tech University's campus in Lubbock, TX.
From October 16 to 18, a Stain Removal course will be available for students seeking to learn the proper stain removal techniques.
Zellers will demonstrate how dyes, pigments, prints and finishes are all vital concerns for the cleaning process.
She will also help attendees with other areas, including how to understand the proper use of tools on a daily basis and recognize terms such as wetside, dryside, alkaline and acid.
The class will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16 and Tuesday Oct. 17, and from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18.
Cost is $290 for SDA members. Other IFI members pay $360. Non-members pay $425.
An Advanced Stain Removal class is set from Oct. 18 to 20.
The class will run from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, and from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 20.
The course will focus on advanced training for more experienced drycleaners.
Zellers will help students gain a better understanding of fiber content, weaves, garment construction and how to test content by burn testing. The Advanced course will also include the basics covered in the other Stain Removal course.
Hands-on training using bleaches, digesters and KOH will be provided.
Cost for the Advanced Course is $280 for SDA members and $345 for other IFI members. Non-members pay $410.
Both classes will have a maximum of 25 students so early registration is highly recommended.
Currently, the official grand opening of the new Southwest Research Center for Laundry & Drycleaning is scheduled to take place on Oct. 28 of this year, in conjunction with a fall SDA Board of Director's meeting.
Meanwhile, SDA has already thanked many manufacturers and suppliers who have agreed to loan or give equipment for use at the school.
So far, the school has added to its inventory: a Slim Line Petro Dry 45-3 drycleaning machine from Marvel Manufacturing, Co.; a K16 35-lb hydrocarbon machine, a 25-lb Böwe wetcleaning system, a Veit CR2 finishing station, a Veit 8730 pants finisher, a Veit 8355 multi-form and a Veit 7406 spotting board from Böwe Permac; a 102 finishing board, 307ST tension topper and a 162 hot cold spotting board from Clean Concepts; a Cindy Lou sleever 2000 series and a Banner spray tank system from Banner Machinery; a starch cooker from Perfect Starch; 40 check valves and ball valves from Mustang Enterprises; and 40 stream traps provided by Villa Maria 1-Hour Drycleaners, Inc.
SDA plans to recondition some of the old presses and other equipment for the school, but the association is still seeking contributions of money, equipment and volunteer work.
Anyone interested in assisting SDA can contact the association at (210) 826-4684.
More information about the Southwest Research Center for Laundry & Drycleaning can be found on the web at www.itc.ttu.edu.
North Carolina cleaners this month begin paying a $10 per gallon tax on perc that they purchase under the state's revised cleanup law that was signed into law in June.
Cleaners had been paying a $5.85 per gallon tax. The tax on petroleum solvent rises to $1.35 a gallon from 80 cents a gallon.
The new law eliminates the insurance requirements of the old law since the required insurance had become unavailable, proving to be a major stumbling block to the clean-up approach contemplated by that legislation.
Under the new law, money raised by the solvent taxes will be augmented by the four percent state sales tax and will be earmarked for the cleanup fund beginning in July, 2003, continuing throughout the life of the program. The sales tax is estimated to produce $64 million over the next 10 years. With the solvent taxes added to that, up to $77 million should be available for the fund.
As explained by Denny Shaffer in the July/August issue of the North Carolina Association of Launderers and Cleaners newsletter, when a cleanup is necessary the property/drycleaners will pay an up-front deductible ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. For the smallest plants the co-pay would be one percent of the cleanup cost over $200,000 but less than $1 million. For an abandoned site, the deductible is $25,000 and 3 percent of the cost between $2000,000 and $500,000 and one percent of the cost over $500,000 to $1 million.
There is no co-pay on cleanup costs over $1 million per site.
The program is now "state-lead" Shaffer said, which means that rather than each cleaner having to find his or her own consultant to evaluate and clean up a site with the state providing reimbursement, the state will now manage the project and pay the bills.
With the above exceptions, other provisions of the original law remain.
"The bottom line," Shaffer wrote, "is that a couple of weeks ago, if you had a cleanup problem, you faced potentially ruinous costs. Today you look at a maximum of $39,000 for an abandoned site with a total cleanup cost of $1 million or more. Costs for a small plant would be much less. We can all sleep a bit better."
The association has advised North Carolina cleaners to implement the minimum management practices provisions as soon as practical.
"They are part of our industry's pledge to be environmentally pro-active and responsible," wrote NCALC President John Baker in the association's newsletter.
The minimum management practices, effective as of June 8, prohibit discharge of drycleaning solvent or waste containing solvent to sewer of the environment. This includes separator water. Records must be kept to demonstrate proper drycleaning waste disposal.
Per machines installed after June 8 must have integrated refrigerated condensers and perc drycleaning facilities must comply with EPA and North Carolina air quality regulations.
As of December 8 this year, underground storage tanks can't be used to store or contain solvents or wastes. USTs must be properly closed or removed.
The minimum practices also call for installation of spill containment around machines, filters, stills, vapor adsorbers, solvent storage areas and waste solvent storage areas as of January 1, 2002. Also as of that date, floor drains must be removed or sealed. Perc plants will have to use a closed container solvent transfer system after that date.
The South Eastern Fabricare Association announced the launch of a new program designed to help its members prosper in business.
Everett Childers, executive director of SEFA, told National Clothesline, "The program is called M2M. This stands for Member to Member, but could just as well stand for Mentoring to Members."
The program will start out with 12 volunteers who will be trained by Childers to understand all aspects of proper plant procedure and in-plant consulting.
SEFA members will be able to enlist a full day of aid from a mentor through the M2M program for approximately $250.
Members will be able to call and schedule appointments through the SEFA office.
In order to give all of its members access to the program, the association is seeking to assign six mentors to Florida, and two each in the states of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. Mentors from a potentially competitive area will not be allowed to work with a cleaner from the same area.
In order to become a member, all prospective volunteers will need to be accepted into the program before taking part in an intensive two-day training regime that will cover technical points and consultation.
As a bonus, Childers pointed out, "All volunteers will be allowed to attend any and all educational opportunities that SEFA offers, at no charge."
For additional information, contact Childers in the SEFA office at (770) 998-9900.
Plant owners and managers will have an opportunity to participate in a hands-on workshop designed to help participants better understand their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28 and 29, the Tennessee Fabricare Association will sponsor a "Survival of the Fittest -- Drycleaning Management in 2000" seminar by Deborah Rechnitz.
Rechnitz is the managing director of Methods For Management Inc., an independent business consulting firm that has over 40 years experience in the drycleaning and laundry industry.
The seminar, which will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Nashville, TN, will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday.
Saturday will feature: a review of the "state of the industry," including a closer look at some of the industry's newest players; an identification of the core strengths of each individual operation; and an individualized strategic plan of attack in a changing marketplace.
On Sunday, Rechnitz will focus on: developing an operational plan for each participating company; identifying financing and cost control benchmarks; designing production and related quality control systems; and addressing marketing processes to achieve growth-oriented goals.
Cost is $189 for members and $239 for non-members.
A TFA room rate is available at the DoubleTree Hotel at $99 for single/double occupancy rooms. Call (615) 244-8200 for reservations.
For more information on the workshop, call TFA at (615) 269-5312.
Betty Brite Cleaners out of Long Beach, CA, was the site for a reception on Aug. 24 that commemorated the first installation of a carbon dioxide drycleaning machine on the West Coast
The event took place on the eve of the California Cleaners' Association's Fabricare 2000 convention.
Displayed at the affair was the new Chart CO2L Clean [55] Dry Cleaning Machine developed by Chart Applied Technologies in conjunction with Global Technologies.
David Pollock, owner of Betty Brite Cleaners, said of his new machine: "It is very simplistic in its design and very serviceable. For me, it's about peace of mind. It's more reliable than my other machines."
Pollock, who plans to ultimately convert all of his drycleaning machines to carbon dioxide technology, also added, "I'm running almost everything in CO2. It's so much quicker."
The 55-lb machine has a total cleaning cycle of 35 minutes and is similar to other drycleaning machines. It utilizes a cleaning chamber, circulation loop, filtration, lint trap, distillation and storage.
However, everything is specifically designed to function with carbon dioxide undergoing the DryWash Cleaning Process, which eliminates heat setting stains.
According to Steve Bowman of Chart Applied Technologies, the new 55-lb machine increases garment life and it is expected to have a shelf life of 30 years or more.
The Chart CO2L Clean [55] is a second generation machine. A previous version, which was 30% larger in size, was present at Clean '99 in Orlando, FL.
Chart has already been testing two beta sites in Minneapolis, MN, for the past 16 months and has experienced virtually no machine downtime.
John Zahhos, owner of Waldorf-Nevens Cleaners and Launderers in Edina, MN, has also had a machine installed in his plant for seven months.
"The machine is absolutely bullet-proof," he noted. "It has operated perfectly. CO2 is a whole different world."
Both Zahhos and Betty Brite Cleaners' owner David Pollock described the new carbon dioxide machine as requiring low maintenance, easy access and gentler on clothes.
Other features that the new machine offers include a 55°F operating temperature, an adjustable load size, a 20 cu. ft. drum, a simple one button operation, dual viewport, precision safety door mechanism and a stainless steel construction.
The machines also come equipped with a modem that Chart can use to download data in order to help observe the machines' working conditions out in the field.
At a cleaner's request, Chart can also use the modem to adjust the day-do-day mechanical operations of the Chart CO2L Clean [55] to meet their specific needs.
Global Technologies has set up a web site at www.washpoint.com to serve as a comprehensive online source of knowledge for drycleaning with liquid carbon dioxide.
The Washpoint site is a resource for cleaners who seek information related to the DryWash® process, such as cost/benefit advantages, environmental and safety gains, installation/transition information, and suppliers of machines, chemicals and consumables.
California show seminars dispel rumors, advise on marketing and examine new technologyThe California Cleaner's Association hosted an array of educational sessions at its Fabricare 2000 "Back to the Beach" convention, held in Long Beach, CA, from Aug. 24-27.
In addition to exhibiting over 330 booths, CCA's event offered attendees a total of five educational sessions, beginning with "Rumor Busters -- What Is Your Air Quality District Really Doing?" at 8 a.m. on the morning of Friday, Aug. 25.
Joining in the discussion were Ed Pupka and Gary Quinn from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, as well as Christine Schaufelberger from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and Mark Williams of the California Air Resources Board.
In addition to discussing the current status of various air emission regulations, the group also took time to answer questions posed by attendees.
Customer satisfaction
Following that 75-minute presentation was another one by David Dawson of R.R. Street & Company, "Improving Customer Satisfaction."
"This is the age of customer satisfaction," Dawson pointed out, referring to an overall high level of products and services in the marketplace. Yet despite this, drycleaners are not faring too well.
"Drycleaners are in the top ten for complaints filed with most local Better Business Bureaus," he added.
Dawson also reminded cleaners that: "Your internal perceptions do not equal your customers' perceptions."
After outlining how plant owners can develop a quality program that can improve customer satisfaction, Dawson reiterated, "There's a lot of money to be gained by improving customer satisfaction."
After all, he added, "Everybody on the planet wears clothes."
Marketing advice from the Golomb Group
On Saturday morning at 8 a.m., Bill Bishop, director of operations for The Golomb Group, kicked the day off with a seminar that posed the question, "Are You Making the Money You Should Be?"
Bishop outlined the three ways to grow a business: 1) increase the number of customers; 2) increase the average order size; and 3) increase the frequency of business visits.
He also focused on a variety of ways to find and capture customers. "Marketing is what gets and keeps customers," he said, adding, "Direct mail is the best marketing tool a small business can have, by far."
Bishop also advised cleaners that the sooner they begin a marketing effort, the better off their business will be. "Procrastination is the kamikaze pilot flying his 17th mission," he joked.
Following Bishop's seminar was another marketing-based presentation by Fabricare Canada columnist Darcy Moen.
Moen shared his knowledge on using "Computer Databases as Marketing Tools," something he learned in the industry from the time he began at 19, until the time he retired at just 35 years old.
"Ninety-five percent of business fail to capture customer information," he said. "Your computer system not only captures data, but it gives it back."
Moen proceeded to demonstrate the raw marketing ability that can be obtained when mining the data that is stored inside of a plant's computer files.
"Marketing becomes a managed relationship with the customer," he stressed.
In addition to providing marketing demographics and behavioral patterns, keeping track of customers also helps a cleaner document the histories of troublesome customers.
"I'll trust a customer," he noted, adding with a smile, "but I'm going to record what's going on."
Panel on technologies
CCA's educational sessions rounded out with a panel board discussion on Sunday morning pertaining to "Cleaning Technologies -- Past and Future." Among those present on the panel included: James Barry of GreenEarth Cleaning; Jeff Battiston of Rynex; Jack Belluscio of Global Technologies, LLC; James McClain of Micell Technologies; Stephen Risotto of the Halogenated Solvents Industry Association; Peter Sinsheimer of the Pollution Prevention Education and Research Center and Tami Welsh of the ExxonMobil Chemical Company.
Information on CCA and its activities is available by calling the association at (916) 443-0986 or visiting its web site at: www.calcleaners.com.
Copyright © 2000, National Clothesline Maintained by: Hal Horning