Plant managers in Virginia and Pennsylvania will have a chance to refine their leadership skills at educational programs provided by National Seminars Group, one of the nation's leading providers of continuing education.
In November, the organization will provide comprehensive two-day workshops on "How to Be a Highly Successful Team Leader." The programs will explore the various facets of effective leadership, helping attendees develop the critical skills necessary to lead a team to its peak performance.
Attendees will engage in exercises and "what if" scenarios designed to give them practical, hands-on experience to deal with problems they will face on a daily basis.
The workshop will cost $395 per person and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m.
One session will take place on Nov. 13 and 14 at the Wyndham Hotel Airport, 2801 Hershberger Rd., in Roanoke, VA. The other will occur on Nov. 15 and 16 at the Sheraton Richmond West Hotel, 6624 W. Broad St., in Richmond, VA.
In December, National Seminars Group will bring several one-day seminars on "Communicating With Tact and Skill for Managers and Supervisors" to Pennsylvania.
The program focuses on helping managers build the essential communication skills for persuading and motivating employees more effectively.
Attendees will learn diplomacy, how to avoid appearing pushy, essential listening skills, expert techniques for exerting influence and strategies for opening lines of communication.
The seminar will cost $99 per person and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with registration starting at 8:30 a.m.
"Communicating With Tact and Skill for Managers and Supervisors" will be at the Eden Resort and Conference Center at 222 Eden Rd. in Lancaster, PA, on Dec. 13.
It will take place at the Four Points Sheraton at 800 E. Park Drive in Harrisburg, PA, on Dec. 17 and the Sheraton Berkshire Hotel at 1741 Paper Mill Rd. in Reading, PA, on Dec. 19. Another seminar is scheduled for Dec. 21 at the Radisson Valley Forge Hotel at 1160 First Ave. in King of Prussia, PA.
For more information, contact National Seminars Group at (800) 258-7246 or visit the organization's web site online at www.natsem.com.
National Seminars Group is a division of Rockhurst University Continuing Education Center. Each year, they provide more than 6,000 seminars and conferences in the United States and Canada.
Following the success of its "Elbow to Elbow" networking reception on Sept. 8, the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association will be hosting another social event from 6 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 7.
The event, which offers cocktails and hors d'oeuvres to attending drycleaners, will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Conshohocken, PA.
The evening is an opportunity for people in the industry to get together for a good time without speeches and sales talks.
Area cleaners will receive invitations. Allied trades interested in participating should contact the PDCA office at (215) 830-8495.
Whale watching and glacier gaping are just a few of the fun activities that lie in store for those who embark on a fundraising cruise sponsored by the Indiana Dry Cleaning and Laundry Association that will set sail from June 17-24, 2002.
The Norwegian Wind cruise will initially depart from Vancouver, Canada on the evening of Monday, June 17.
The ship will later dock in Juneau, Alaska on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 19 for about eight hours, and then will head out to Skagway, Alaska for a full-day stop the following day.
Cruise participants will also have an opportunity to see other Alaskan cities firsthand, including Haines, and Ketchikan.
The week-long journey will conclude on Monday, June 24 when the ocean liner returns to its point of origin in Vancouver.
The Norwegian Wind, which is 754 feet long, boasts four main dining rooms, a sports lounge and 11 additional lounges. Additionally, two swimming pools and hot tubs, a lavish spa and fitness center can be found on the ship.
The brochure rate for the trip is estimated at about $2,650, but INDLA has secured a special rate of $1,869 per person.
The price includes round trip airfare from Indianapolis, IN, but does not include a $173.80 per person port tax, government tax and transfers.
Those interested in attending must leave a $250 per person deposit to reserve space. Checks should be made to: Indiana Dry Cleaning and Laundry Association. The deposit is fully refundable until 61 days prior to the cruise. Final payment is due by April 3, 2002.
Pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel packages, as well as land packages, are also available.
INDLA's Executive Director Rick Armstrong can be contacted for more information at (800) 401-0703.
INDLA also has a web site located at www.indianafabricare.org. Click on the "What's New" link and you will see another link for the Alaskan cruise.
If you would like to get more information on Norwegian Cruise Line, visit the company's official site at www.ncl.com. If you click on the "Fleet" link in the bar menu on the left, you will be taken to a page that shows all of Norwegian's cruise ships.
If you click on "Norwegian Wind," you can find out more about the cruise ship planned for the trip, including a video tour, room layouts and a camera view from the bridge.
The Illinois State Fabricare Association will be hosting its 2001 State of the Industry Celebration on Nov. 7 at the Wyndham Drake Hotel in Oak Brook, IL.
Hors d'oeuvres with a cash bar will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. After dinner entertainment will be in the form of a short program called "A Patriotic Tribute" by Dick Anderson.
Throughout the evening, awards will be presented to the Allied Trades Company of the Year and the Allied Trades Salesperson of the year. Also, the Drycleaner of the Year, as well as the first runner up, will be announced.
Prior to the cocktail hour, ISFA will hold a meeting for its board of directors from 2 to 5 p.m. in Club Room 1.
Cost for the dinner is $45 per person, or $80 for two people.
For more information, contact ISFA at (800) 462-4732. To make reservations at the Drake Hotel, call (630) 574-5700.
During TexCare 2001 in Edison, NJ, the Neighborhood Cleaners Association presented a comprehensive collection of educational seminars, including talks by Bill Seitz and Russ Petrozzi, who prompted plant owners to take a good look at their stores and how they conduct business.
Seitz, NCA's executive director emeritus, brought almost 60 years of industry experience to his discussion of "Anatomy for a Successful Drycleaning Business."
First he stressed the importance of the eyes, referring to a need for cleaners to scrutinize the appearance of their plant to make sure that it looks as good as possible. Though it's easy to be tempted to watch the competition closely, especially the big companies such as Zoots, Seitz emphasized that the most important thing to watch is your own store.
"You live in your own world and that's the world you have to pay attention to," he said. "Don't look at PurpleTie or Zoots. Look at yourself. Make sure you are making a profit."
It is also imperative that plant owners focus on their own production and quality standards. "You have to look at your product it, analyze it, and make sure it gets better and better and better," he explained.
Another important part of the anatomy of business success is the ears, which must pay attention to consumer surveys, as well as staff and customer complaints. "The best customer that you have is the one who complains," he noted. "Spend the time to win them back over."
Other anatomical factors that Seitz discussed included: the nose, used to sniff out market changes and needs in the marketing process; the mouth, which is the ideal component for advertising, publicity and promotion; the hands, which are responsible for maintaining production skills and counter service; and the feet, which keep cleaners moving forward by attending industry conventions, association meetings and looking at new equipment.
Seitz noted that it is attention to these various details of business that will help ensure a plant's survival even during a time of drastic changes in the world. Outlining the past 50 years, he pointed out various trends that have affected the industry, including wash and wear garments, discount cleaning, casual wear, and even the tragic events that occurred on Sept. 11.
No matter what happens over the years, he noted, cleaners must hold on to these basic ingredients of success.
"The most important thing is to understand that, despite the fact that the world has changed, your world needs to be looked at by only you," he said.
In another educational seminar, Russ Petrozzi of Capital Cleaners in Niagara Falls, NY, explained how "Image Makes Money."
Certainly, first impressions count, so maintaining a clean, professional looking store is paramount to success.
"Beautiful looking stores do more business," he explained. "Beautiful looking stores can charge more money. They have a better chance of being successful."
According to Petrozzi, dry-cleaning customers are not just buying clean clothes, but they also are paying for attractive surroundings, good service and courteous counter people who are dressed professionally.
Having a clean store doesn't simply inspire consumer confidence, but it improves employee morale, as well. By investing in the appearance of the store, a business owner shows his staff that he is serious about succeeding, Petrozzi added. "Employees appreciate a nice environment." he said.
According to Petrozzi, the first step that all cleaners should take on the road to improvement is to step back and look hard at their store. "Ask if it looks nice and clean. Do the personnel look professional? Start with the basics," he said. "Make a wish of all the things you'd like to change. Don't consider cost."
Once the ideas are in place, then cleaners simply have to go about implementing them. A few quick and easy steps, such as cleaning windows and floors and painting the walls, are very inexpensive, yet they can have a substantial effect. Other steps may be more costly, but the long term picture needs to be considered. Besides, the renovations will pay for themselves, he stressed.
After all, he reminded cleaners that they cannot increase, or even maintain, their business without first investing in it. "Image doesn't cost, it pays." he said.
During the Neighborhood Cleaners Association's recent TexCare 2001 program, political lobbyist Don Halperin discussed how cleaners can help NCA influence the political process.
Halperin, a former state senator, currently serves as a lobbyist for the association trying to impact legislation that directly affects the industry.
One way cleaners can help NCA is to establish open lines of communications with political figures. After all, every politician needs the service of a drycleaner, Halperin noted.
Cleaners can also make an effort to procure good relationships with legislative figures by participating in community events and local political activities, such as NCA's annual Albany Day, which Halperin believes generates a "tremendous impact" by increasing the industry's visibility.
Halperin spent much of his discussion stressing the importance of NCA's CLEANPAC (Political Action Committee) fund that provides a financial means for the association to help support candidates who are serving the interests of drycleaners.
"If every cleaner gave $50, we would have one of the state's biggest PACs," he explained.
Cleaners who are interested in donating to CLEANPAC should contact the association by calling (212) 967-3002.
In New York, state Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamara awarded $774,500 in penalties against Damshire Cleaners & Launderers of Colonie, NY, for repeatedly violating air pollution laws.
The favorable judgment for state prosecutors was issued on Sept. 26 and was one of the largest ever financial penalties levied in an environmental lawsuit against a New York drycleaner.
Most of the judgment, $762,500, was imposed on the company as the result of its ongoing violation of a consent order issued by the attorney general in 1999 to shut down drycleaning equipment. The remaining $12,000 of the fine was for actual air pollution violations.
Damshire Cleaners Ltd. and owner Paul Dambrowski were cited twice by the state Department of Environmental Conservation for having a drycleaning machine that leaked perchloroethylene emissions that were as high as five times the level allowed by law.
Assistant Attorney General Michael Myers noted that the case was the largest fine ever for a Capital Region drycleaner for pollution violations. He also pointed out that the fines would have been much less if the faulty equipment would have been shut down sooner.
"It's one of those tiered penalties and beyond 30 days, the penalty was ($2,500) a day," Myers told reporters. "This was ongoing for almost a year."
Damshire Cleaners was shut down in March by the DEC, the same month Dambrowski filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation. During the case, Dambrowski had argued that the lawsuit against his company should be stayed because of the bankruptcy filings; however, Supreme Court Justice McNamara ruled that the bankruptcy protection does not apply to a government regulatory action.
Though Dambrowski will be personally responsible for the $12,000 fine against him and the company for violating environmental conservation laws, Myers believes that it will be difficult for the state to collect the majority of the fine.
"The hope is the large penalty assessment is something that will get the attention of other folks in the drycleaning industry," he said.
In the span of seven years that Anton's Cleaners has participated in the Coats for Kids program, over 82,000 coats have been donated, cleaned and distributed to those who need, but cannot afford, extra protection during the harsh winter months.
The program has been honored by U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, U.S. Representative Marty Meehan and former Governor Paul Celucci.
Last year, Anton's cleaned 32,234 coats free of charge, costing approximately $263,674 to the company.
This year, the drycleaning chain hopes to reach 30,000 coats again when the program runs from October 15 through January 15.
Helping them in their annual quest for coats will be co-sponsors Fox 25, the Boston Bruins, the Salvation Army, the Massachusetts Community Action Program Directors Association, and several other supporting partners, including Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., Graham Communications and RAM leather.
In order to reach the goal, Anton's Cleaners will once again be relying on some help from area schools which account for two-thirds of the donated coats. Last year, 135 schools from eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire took part in the program.
"On behalf of our co-sponsors and supporting partners, I want to thank everyone who has donated a coat to this very important program," said Charles A. Anton, president of Anton's. "Donating a coat is a simple, yet very meaningful way of helping those who are less fortunate."
Those who wish to contribute a coat to the annual drive may go online to www.antons.com for a complete list of Anton's 41 stores. A Coats for Kids hotline has also been set up at (800) 659-0069.
Southwest cleaners will only have two more opportunities this year to learn the ins and outs of stain removal from the Southwest Drycleaners Association.
Two separate courses are planned in November at the Southwest Research Center for Laundry & Drycleaning, SDA's school at the International Textile Center located on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.
Both will be taught by SDA's chief instructor Jane Zellers.
The first class will be for Stain Removal and it will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 12 and 13, and from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 14.
The two-and-a-half day course will cover training on proper stain removal techniques, including how dyes, pigments, prints and finishes are all vital factors in the drycleaning process. Students will also learn the proper use of stain removal tools and how to recognize terms such as wetside, dryside, alkaline and acid.
The second course will be for Advanced Stain Removal. It is scheduled from Nov. 14-16. Class times are from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, and 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
Advanced training on proper stain removal techniques will be taught. Students will gain a better understanding of fiber content, weaves, garment construction and how to test fiber content by burn testing.
Those who attend the class will also gain knowledge on using bleaches and digesters.
Both courses are designed to divide time between lecture, class discussion, demonstrations and hands-on experience.
Class space is limited; maximum capacity is 25 students, so early registration is highly recommended.
SDA members pay $280 for tuition. Other IFI members pay $345 and non-members pay $410.
A special room rate has been reserved at the nearby Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Lubbock. Attendees will pay $51 plus tax per night for single occupancy and $5 each for an additional guest up to four people if reservations are made far enough in advance.
For more information, contact SDA by calling (210) 826-6423 or visiting the association's web site at www.sda-dryclean.com.
SDA has also announced plans for its "Big 2002 Show" and 95th annual convention.
The event will be held from April 12-14 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX.
Convention activities will include SDA's Quarterly Board of Directors Meeting, the Annual General Membership Meeting, a golf tournament and a welcome reception.
To date, over 100 exhibiting booths have already been sold. The exhibit hall will be open on Saturday and Sunday.
Educational seminars will be scheduled throughout the weekend, including a session by Jan Hargrave, who entertained "Big Show 2000" attendees with a discussion on "The Importance of Non-Verbal Communication in Customer Service."
The headquarters hotel for the event will be the St. Anthony, a national and state landmark that lies a block away from San Antonio's famous Riverwalk.
For complete exhibit booth details or other show information, contact SDA at (210) 828-4660, (210) 826-4684, or e-mail: de.sda@ix.netcom.com.
The South Eastern Fabricare Association will be continuing to offer drycleaning seminar opportunities to southern cleaners in the month of November.
So far, SEFA has spent the Fall season presenting classes on a wide variety of topics from employee relations to customer service to creating successful routes. After reaching cleaners in Florida and Alabama, the association will be expanding its educational reach to Georgia and South Carolina.
On Nov. 17 and 18, SEFA will simultaneously present a comprehensive course on Basic and Advanced Drycleaning and Basic and Advanced Spotting in Columbia, SC, as well as Atlanta, GA.
On the first day of the course, students will learn the basics of fiber and fabric classification, weaves, dyes, prints and finishes. In addition to learning how to get the most out of their drycleaning machines, cleaners will also have a chance to achieve a true understanding of pre-spotting and preparing garments for the cleaning process. The course will also cover the soil release curve and the effects of humidity and moisture content of solvent.
The second day of the course will expand to include the importance of spotting chemicals and the correct uses of acids, alkalis and lubricants. Advanced cleaning techniques will also be demonstrated as students will be able to recognize the proper tools for an effective cleaning department.
For additional information, cleaners should contact the SEFA office by calling (877) 707-7332 or (912) 355-3364.
Information is also available on the association's web site at www.sefa.org by clicking on the link to "Events."
Milnor will be offering its second service seminar for Continuous Batch Washer Systems from Nov. 5-9 in New Orleans, LA.
The condensed five-day course is structured to train personnel how to rapidly and accurately diagnose and treat various field problems for the Continuous Batch Washer Systems. Students will also gain an overall understanding of how the equipment operates. Also included in the seminar will be training on a variety of Milnor controls.
The fee to attend is $450 per person.
For more details, contact Randy Stiver, Supervisor of Training and Education at Pellerin Milnor Corporation, P.O. Box 400, Kenner, LA, 70065; call (504) 467-9591, ext. 514; or visit www.milnor.com.
R.R. Street and Co., Inc. will be sponsoring two educational seminars on Effective Stain Removal in December.
Both seminars will feature Kenney Slatten, the "Cowboy Cleaner" who currently serves on the board of directors for the Western States Drycleaners and Launderers Association.
In addition to having over 30 years of experience in the industry, Slatten has been teaching educational seminars throughout the U.S. since 1990.
During both courses, Slatten will discuss and demonstrate the art of basic stain removal utilizing Street's Portable Stain Removal Board and Display.
The first seminar is scheduled to take place at Phenix Supply on Saturday, Dec. 8 in Decatur, GA. For more details, contact Phenix Supply by calling (770) 981-2800.
The second seminar will be hosted by Morris & Eckels in Marietta, GA, on Saturday, Dec. 15. For more details, contact Morris & Eckels at (770) 428-5545.
Other information on R.R. Street and Co., Inc. can be accessed online at the company's web site: www.4streets.com.
Street's was originally founded in 1876 to provide dyes and textile chemicals to the newly-born drycleaning industry.
The popular Spot Rite series will be coming to Shreveport, LA, on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22 and 23, of next year.
The seminars, recently announced by the Louisiana-Mississippi Drycleaners & Laundry Association, will be presented by Dennis Schmitt and Tom Swink of Lindeman's Cleaning, Inc. of Green Bay, WI.
Schmitt, who began a term as president for the Wisconsin Fabricare Association in Sept. 2000, managed the plant for many years before he bought out the previous owner, Ken Lindeman, in 1996.
He and his partner, Tom, who now serves as the manager of Lindeman's, have over 46 years of combined experience in the drycleaning industry. They began the seminars over ten years ago and they have grown in popularity ever since.
The course set for Feb. 22 and 23 will be specifically designed to cover hands-on spotting techniques for both beginners and advanced students.
LMDLA also released news on its annual meeting and convention for 2002. The event, which will take place from March 8-10, has been scheduled at the Sheraton/Argosy Casino Convention Center in Baton Rouge, LA.
For more information on next year's annual meeting and convention or the Spot Rite seminar, contact LMDLA at (601) 936-7007.
Kenny Slatten, the "Cowboy Cleaner," will be speaking out west at two separate seminars in the month of November.
The first one will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Kelleher Equipment Supply, Inc. at 2121 E. Curry St. in Long Beach, CA.
Slatten, an industry consultant and board member of the Western States Drycleaners & Launderers Association, will discuss "Effective Hydrocarbon Stain Removal."
In addition to the seminar, there will be live demonstrations of the latest Multitex hydrocarbon drycleaning machine. Attendees are encouraged to bring their problem garments for testing.
Because space is limited, those who wish to attend should register as soon as possible by calling Laura Calvillo of Kelleher Equipment at (562) 422-1257. The seminar is free of charge and open to all drycleaners.
Exactly one week later, Slatten will appear at the Little America Rouge Room in Flagstaff, AZ, for a 10 a.m. spotting seminar sponsored by R.R. Street & Co., Inc.
The seminar will cost WSDLA/IFI members $15 each. Non-members pay $125 per person. For additional information or to register, contact the WSDLA office at (602) 253-9186.
The Small Business Association will present a wide range of seminars in November designed specifically to help small businesses succeed.
On Nov. 13, "Business Principles for New and Existing Businesses" will be presented from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at National University-Kearny Mesa at 3580 Aero Court in San Diego, CA.
The agenda for the full day workshop will cover: the owner/manager's role and the business plan; issues for a small business; business records and taxes; business organizations and regulations; financial factors and sources of capital; marketing and advertising; and sources of information.
The course costs $45 if pre-registered. Call (619) 557-7272 for information.
"Your Competitive Advantage," scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, will teach business owners how to successfully identify and market their advantages over their competition.
The class will take place at Chapman University, 7460 Mission Valley Road, in San Diego, CA. The cost for the course is $45 if pre-registered. Call (619) 557-7272 for information.
Entrepreneurs can learn how to improve their marketing techniques with "All You Need to Know About Marketing" from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 21.
The seminar, which will be held at SBA's office on 330 N. Brand Blvd. #190 in Glendale, CA, costs $20 at the door. Call (818) 552-3204 for more information.
In San Francisco, "How to Hire and Keep Happy Employees" will be held at the SBA Entrepreneur Center at 455 Market St. from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 28.
The course, which focuses on recruiting, hiring and keeping the right employees, costs $15. For more information, call (415) 744-4244 or register online at www.acteva.com/go/sba.
The Small Business Association lists all of its classes and related information on its web site, located at www.sba.gov.
Copyright © 2001, National Clothesline Maintained by: Hal Horning