National Clothesline

Don Fawcett, chairman of Dependable Cleaners in Quincy, MA, placed first at the 16th Annual Oak Bluffs Monster shark tournament sponsored by the Boston Big Game Fishing Club.

Fawcett, captain of the boat, “Magic Lady,” and his crew, which included his son, won the tournament by hooking a 235-lb. Mako in Friday and a 382-lb. Blue Shark on Saturday. “Magic Lady” tallied 618 points (one point per pound) and finished far ahead of the competition.

More than 1,500 sharks were caught off the shores of Martha’s Vineyard during the July 18-20 tournament. Most were simply released, but some were tagged and released on behalf of the apex Predator's Program, a research project based in Narragansett, RI. The shark meat — 4,500 pounds from 38 the sharks retained — will be distributed through The Greater Boston Food Bank to hungry persons throughout eastern Massachusetts.

Fawcett, who is president-elect of the International Fabricare Institute and the District 1 director on IFI’s board, said it was a thrill to win the tournament. “I’ve entered the competition the last four years in a row and the win was well worth the wait,” he said. “Even more meaningful was the fact that my son was by my side when we won.”

Fawcett and his team were awarded a custom-make Sharks Unlimited stand-up rod with a Penn International 70 two-speed reel. They also won trophies and will be awarded embroidered jackets with next year’s tournament design featuring Fawcett’s boat name, “Magic Lady.”

Pinstripes has established a marketing partnership with Brooks Brothers, the first in what it hopes to be many brand relationships connecting cleaners with the apparel industry.

“These two industries share common customers and sell to and service common products,” said Edmund Puckhaber, vice president and chief financial officer of Pinstripes. “Pinstripes provides the missing link between the manufacturing and distribution industries and aids in developing a formal relationship with the service end of the equation.”

As part of the Brooks Brothers partnership, Pinstripes’ drycleaner affiliates can offer Brook Brothers discounts to customers.

Pinstripes was founded by Marc and Jay Ellis who left banking careers in 1998 to open a drycleaning pick-up and delivery service in the Brooklyn and Harlem areas of New York. As their customer base grew, they built a web site so customers could place orders on-line. Pinstripes grew from that concept, with the Ellis brothers deciding to develop a national on-line network of garment care professionals. They now have more than 600 affiliates in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

The Pinstripes web site, www.mypinstripes.com, advertises “drycleaning, laundering tailoring and shoe repair at your convenience.” Customers can use the web site to arrange for services through Pinstripes affiliates. Services are also available through a toll-free telephone number.

Last year Pinstripes expanded its service through the acquisition of The Shirt Tailor, a web-based retailer. Through a web site, www.shirttailor.com, customers can design their own business shirts which are then custom made and shipped directly to the customer.

Pinstripes is also adding virtual customer tailoring services for dress pants and jeans though a partnership IC3D.com.

“Ultimately, we want to be known as the FTD of drycleaning,” said Puckhaber.

Holly Cleaners has opened a new location that will provide residents of Needham, MA, local access to the company’s cleaning and laundering services.In addition to the standard services of drycleaning, pressing, laundered shirts and pick up and delivery, the company also offers “Holly Craft” high-end garment cleaning and “Holly On-Site” drapery and window treatment cleaning. Holly Cleaners has been named “Best of Boston” by Boston Magazine and “Boston’s Best” by Improper Bostonian. Owners Jeff and Michael Davidson are third generation cleaners. Their grandfather, Harry Davidson, owned and operated several cleaners in the Boston area dating back to the 1930s. Holly Cleaners was started by his two sons, Eddie and Burt, in the 1950s. When Jeff and Michael took over the business in 1989, they started extending the delivery routes beyond Brookline and Newton and today have four routes that cover approximately 35 cities in and around Boston, serving about 5,000 customers.

Prestige Cleaners in Scottsdale, AZ, was the readers’ choice as best drycleaner in Phoenix Magazine’s “Best of the Valley” feature in its August issue.

Prestige Cleaners has eight location in Scottsdale and Tempe and has been owned and operated by the Frye family since 1964 when the first location opened in Scottsdale. In addition to its customer service, environmentally friendly cleaning and hanger recycling programs, Prestige has also been recognized for its free cleaning of American Flags and Santa Claus suits.

The company has a Web Site at www.prestigecleaners.com.

John R. Graham received the Ryan Editorial Award for business writing from the Door and Hardware Institute at the organization’s annual convention in Chicago in July. Graham, a frequent contributor to this publication and president of Graham Communications in Quincy, MA, was honored for his article, “First Impressions are the Last Thing a Company Wants To Forget,” which was published in the institute’s magazine and also appeared in the March, 2001, issue of National Clothesline. The article focuses on the importance of first impressions in business and how salespeople can use this to their advantage with client and prospects. In the article, Graham advises the reader to be “painfully clearer” about recognizing the type of perception that one wishes to create, taking every positive and negative message seriously, remaining clear in understanding what the customer is thinking and capitalizing on every unique characteristic.

Rynex has announced the first of what it hopes to be many cleaners in Southeast Asia to use its drycleaning solvent.

Ben Er Sock Ching, the owner of Sparkleen Cleaners in Singapore, said he switched to Rynex due to a new law that requires drycleaners who use perc to get a physical exam every 12 months.

“Our government is very different from the U.S. in that they will endorse a product that is beneficial to our citizens,” he said, adding that he thinks Rynex will receive such an endorsement.

Jeff Battiston, sales and marketing director for Rynex, said he expects two or three more installation by the end of the year and as many as 50 installations in Southeast Asia next year.

“We are very excited about Rynex’s growth potential in Malayasia, Singapore and Southeast Asia,” he said.

More information about Rynex is available by calling the company, (516) 364-0800, or from its recently revamped web site: www.rynex.com.

The Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network has announced an agreement with Xactware, a provider of software tools, date and structural estimating tools to the insurance repair industry.

CRDN members will be able to participate in the company’s direct repair claims handling system which facilitates the assignment of claims by insurance companies that use the Xactware program.

“Through Xactware’s estimating tools, we will be able to quickly and conveniently provide adjusters with an alternative to costly replacement of goods that are affected by smoke, soot odor, water and even mold,” said Wayne Wudyka, president and CEO of CRDN.

CRDN offers a systematic, single source solution for insurance companies which can save money through restoration drycleaning services.

Miele has opened its newly expanded U.S. headquarters and design showroom in Princeton, NJ. The 23,000 square foot expansion program, designed by architect Michael Graves, will accommodate the growth of the company in the United States.

With the expansion, the headquarters now totals 54,400 square feet. The design center showroom has been expanded by a third to accommodate complete working kitchen that showcase Miele products. The larger facility also will allow for an expansion of the current Miele workforce of 130 persons.

The project is the second phase in architect Michael Graves long-term plans for the 12.64 acre Miele USA campus. Future plans call for at least two additional phases. Work is expected to begin in the next five years.

In addition to commercial wetcleaning systems, Miele offers professional laboratory glassware washers, industrial parts cleaning systems and dental disinfectors. The company also sells consumer appliances, including vacuum cleaners, laundry systems, rotary irons, dishwashers, built-in ovens, cooktops, vent hoods and steam ovens and built-in coffee systems.