In an attempt to climb inside the minds of
cleaners, the Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA)
will soon be releasing a series of surveys designed to improve
the communication between allied trades and their customers.
TCATA hopes to identify the needs and
desires of drycleaners and launderers by asking them a variety
of questions, such as:
• What do drycleaners and launderers
expect from the allied trades?
• What are the top problems faced by
these customers, and how can the allied trades assist in
resolving these?
• In what specific ways can the
allied trades partner with customers to the mutual goal of
better communication, service and profitability?
The answers to these questions will
provide TCATA with valuable information to input into its
database, which will help member allied trades to better
understand how to improve their relationships with their
customers.
“Most businesses in the textile care
industry have faced a variety of serious challenges in the last
few years,” said Steve Katz of Kay Equipment &
Supply, Inc., the chairman of the committee designated to
handle the project. “The current shakiness of the economy
only adds to these challenges, and the gathering and use of
this kind of information can only help all companies up the
chain through better understanding and cooperation.”
Other members of the committee include:
Mike Achin of Laidlaw Corp.; Lester Cohen, Cleaners Sales &
Equipment Corp.; Dwayne Gwaltney, M&B Hangers; Mike
McBride, Cleaners Hangers Company; Brent McWilliams, Laidlaw
Corp.; Dave Pilger, Industrial Equipment & Supplies; and
Irving Tiss, Des-L Industries.
TCATA is a trade association for
manufacturers and distributors of drycleaning and laundry
equipment and supplies. More information is available on the
association’s web site: www.tcata.org.