National Clothesline

It was “last chance” in Atlantic City the weekend of Sept. 21-22 — the last chance to see and hear what’s going on in the industry at the final U.S. trade show for 2002. More than 2,700 people

took advantage of the opportunity afforded by the show sponsors, the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association. With 125 companies in 278 exhibit booths and a full complement of seminars, the chances for coming up empty were slim.

For example, Kenney Slatten (top left), one of the industry’s top teachers, provided stain removal demonstrations in the exhibit hall. Among the seminar speakers were Darcy Moen (bottom left) of the Golomb Group, who traveled from Regina, Saskatchewan, to discuss marketing, and Abe Cho (top right) of Satec USA, who spoke to a Korean audience on “Success in Drycleaning.” Throughout the weekend the exhibit hall floor was busy as attendees rounded up information and made some of the best deals in town.

Dry Clean Depot is continuing its efforts to grow despite meeting some heavy resistance from communities along the way.

The drycleaning chain, which already has 11 locations throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia, captures consumer dollars with discount cleaning on a grand scale, offering all garments at a price of $1.75 each.

Most recently, the franchise was approved to commence with plans for a 6,600 square foot plant at August Drive and Route 7 in Sterling, VA, despite opposition from nearby residents in the adjacent Westerly subdivision. They were up-in-arms at the prospect of having such a large drycleaning location so close to their homes. Most Dry Clean Depot plants typically run between 5,000 and 6,000 sq. ft., over three times the size of most drycleaning plants.

Believing that a larger drycleaning plant would increase the risk of perc exposure to them and their underground drinking water supplies, Westerly citizens voiced their opposition before the local Board of Supervisors.

However, the facility’s plans were approved by Loudoun County Zoning Administrator Melinda Artman. Westerly residents may still oppose Artman’s decision. In such a case, the issue will be brought before the Board of Zoning Appeals.

This isn’t the first time that Dry Clean Depot has battled against resisting forces in order to expand.

Previously in Fairfax County, VA, a group of Korean-American drycleaners, along with other mom-and-pop cleaners, banded together in a community effort to restrict the size of drycleaning stores in local shopping centers. Many smaller cleaners feared losing market share, and, ultimately, their livelihood, to the large discount chain.

Eventually, Dry Clean Depot agreed to a local restriction of size for its stores in exchange for the county grandfathering its Falls Church location under the ruling.

The deal would soon come back to haunt the franchise when a similar debate rose up in Prince Georges County, MD, where the franchise was seeking to open one of its stores in Bowie.

Republican councilwoman Audrey Scott sought council support for legislation that would limit the size of drycleaning stores to 3,000 sq. ft. in neighborhood shopping centers and strip malls.

After a heated community debate, the legislation was unanimously passed in June; however, due to an impassioned plea from two Dry Clean Depot managers, councilmembers voted 8-2 to amend the bill so that Dry Clean Depot could be grandfathered in and open a large facility in Bowie.

The legislation prevents Dry Clean Depot from opening stores over 3,000 sq. ft. in size in the future in the heart of other Prince Georges communities, including Upper Marlboro where the franchise also sought to expand.

The Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association will co-host an Oct. 19 seminar with the International Fabricare Institute. The topic will be customer service.

IFI’s Education Department Manager Jane Rising will discuss how customer service representatives can improve their skills and bring a more professional image.

The session will be held at the offices of Frankford Associates at 4500 Torresdale Ave. in Philadelphia, PA.

For information, call PDCA at (800) 822-7352.