Restoration drycleaners form alliance
More than two dozen independent
restoration drycleaners, with combined annual revenues of
nearly $100 million, have formed the Alliance
of Professional Restoration Drycleaners (APRD).
The nonprofit organization, which
continues to recruit qualified members, will provide insurance
carriers, claims managers and disaster restoration specialists
a single, soon-to-be nationwide source for high-quality,
reliable restoration drycleaning needs.
“APRD was formed to respond to a
critical demand in the marketplace,” said Eddie Mannis,
owner of Prestige Cleaners of Knoxville, TN, and chairman of
APRD board of directors.
“Individuals and companies who
manage the claims process stressed to us a need for a single
organization of experienced restoration drycleaners to whom
they can turn for technologically advanced, guaranteed cleaning
with predictable and consistent results.
“In December 2002, we invited many
of the most well respected restoration drycleaners from around
U.S. and Canada to discuss forming an alliance of businesses
that would work together to address this need. The reaction was
overwhelmingly positive, and thus APRD was born.”
Restoration drycleaning involves the
cleaning of clothing, household fabrics and other items after a
disaster in a home or business, i.e., fire, flood, etc. APRD
members work closely with insurance carriers, adjusters and
others involved in the claims process to return items to the
insured as quickly and economically as possible.
Restoring these items, instead of
replacing them, can save insurance carriers thousands of
dollars on a single claim. APRD members use of advanced
restoration techniques can help insurance carriers restore more
items and, thus, realize higher claims savings.
Mission and vision
The mission of APRD is to respond to
homeowners needs by restoring damaged garments caused by
disasters while providing insurance carriers and restoration
professionals the best drycleaning services in a timely and
economical fashion.
The immediate goals of APRD are two-fold.
First, the organization is establishing
preferred vendor relationships with insurance carriers, third
party claims managers and disaster restoration specialists. The
objective is to provide these regional and national companies a
single point of reference to locate the most qualified
restoration drycleaner in a specific area.
Second, APRD is increasing its membership
to expand its network to cover major markets in the U.S. and
Canada.
“The response from drycleaners has
been remarkable,” said Mannis.
“Companies recognize that APRD
allows operators to continue to build their business as they
see fit, to decide how to best utilize revenues and resources,
and to have access to our growing network that is designed to
assist them in expanding their restoration business.”
Select membership
APRD employs a rigorous selection process
that ensures members will provide responsive service and
unsurpassed quality.
“Our members are leaders in their
market. They are recognized and respected as a trendsetters
within the industry,” said Mannis.
“Each is an established drycleaner
with ethical business practices, dedicated to growing the
restoration segment of their business and committed to
developing and implementing the best practices, processes and
techniques to provide better solutions to clients.”
APRD members also have the capacity,
processes and systems in place to manage a myriad of insurance
claims. All members:
• Have significant restoration
drycleaning experience.
• Ensure satisfaction for all work
with a non-restorable guarantee. This means that an insurance
carrier (or restoration specialist) is only invoiced for items
that are restored and returned to the homeowner or business.
They do not have to pay for cleaning of items that were unable
to be restored.
• Utilize computerized billing and
inventory control systems.
• Employ industry accepted claims
management programs to ensure consistent, predictable and
measurable results.
• Operate proper equipment and
facilities to do professional restoration work.
“Each member brings a number of
strengths to APRD,” said Mannis. “By working
together, we help each other improve our operations and
increase the level of service we can provide to insureds,
contractors and claims specialists.”
The insurance industry
For the insurance industry, which is
seeking ways to reduce claim costs while maintaining high
standards of customer satisfaction, APRD members can restore
garments in an efficient and timely manner to help defray claim
costs and reduce expenditures for replacing damaged clothes.
“Insurance carriers realize that
restoration drycleaning is the most cost-effective way to
handle many of their claims,” said Mannis. “With
rising claims costs and tight deadlines, carriers want a
reliable drycleaner who can get things done the right way and
right away. Our members make the claims process easier for all
involved.”
In addition to Mannis, the APRD board of
directors is comprised Chris Edwards of A Cleaner World, High
Point, NC, immediate past chairman; Paul Billoni of Colvin
Cleaners, Kenmore, NY, vice chairman; Tony Milto of Milto
Cleaners, Greenwood, IN, treasurer; and Arthur Weiss of Betty
Brite Cleaners, Windsor, NJ, secretary.
For information about APRD, call (800)
540-APRD or visit www.aprd.com.
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