Have you joined the Computer Age?
ews Item: Unemployment rises to 6.1%… True figure
nears 10% due to expiration of reporting, of those who have
given up hope, of getting back to the labor pool.
Signs of the times: “Drycleaner offers one suit and shirt laundered
at no charge to help those struggling to find employment and
the value of dress for success.”
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Does all this sound familiar?
I recall the early ’90s when the
stock market took a big drop and our small drycleaning business
also took a hit, not unlike in the early ’70s, when
polyester and permanent press made their mark.
Personally I’m always the optimist
and see better days ahead. Most operations report sales figures
down 15 to 20 percent. I’m never totally sure why they go
up or when, just glad the increase finally comes along,
hopefully not too late.
The offer of a “free suit
cleaned” can dispel the image of being taken to the
cleaners. It’s good publicity and costs little!
Some cleaners truly manage their
businesses and are prepared for these eventualities. They know
the reality that there will be good times and bad and they are
quick to adjust.
Those individuals have long since made the
move of getting rid of wasteful practices, non-productive
equipment and personnel and in general made the necessary
changes to shore up the bottom line. They mean to TCB
(Take Car of Business) and make business more manageable!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dennis
McCrory’s article in the June issue of National
Clothesline, where he stressed reasons and the importance of
changing and adjusting to the problems of the future. In
particular, he mentioned the value of the computer, which is at
the disposal of perhaps 90 percent of the plants in operation
across this great country of ours. Yet how many take advantage
of this marketing value that they have at their disposal?
Do they know who their most valuable
customers are? Do they offer a “Thank You?”
Do they ever offer a discount to old customers, or are
discounts only to attract new customers? Have they diversified
into other services? How does their price structure compare to
the competition? Do they care?
Did they attend the last national or local
convention? Do they support local issues in their immediate
town, high school and locale?
Remember, all issues affect our business,
either directly or indirectly, and if we keep abreast of the
news before us, we can make the needed adjustments.
There’s good news too!
Example: IBM reports a new super-speed
weather computer, capable of 450 calculations per second,
meaning weather forecasts can be accurately made a week in
advance. In seven or eight years, it will be 48 times faster,
offering 8.6 trillion calculations per second! We will be in a
better position to prepare for and avoid the result of damaging
hurricanes, tornadoes or heavy snow/ice or water.
Yes, you as the business owner will have a
chance to predict labor cost, vacations, equipment changes, and
general business interruptions and forecast the time for
expansion, etc. Think of all the service businesses that are
affected — restaurants, hotels, clothiers, travel
and, yes, even drycleaners! It will be embarrassing to
admit that we don’t know what’s going on when this
vast amount of accurate and useful knowledge is available.
Why would you want to be computer
illiterate?
Ray Colucci, a consultant to the fabric
care industry, has revised and made available three timely
pamphlets: “Up Front Is Where It Counts” for
counter training; “Pressed for Perfection” for
finishing techniques; the popular “Route to Success To
the Home of Office” for complete route training. The
pamphlets are $20 each or all three for $50. Immediate delivery
with all postage paid is promised. Send requests and payment to
to R. Colucci, 410 Warren Ave., Mamaroneck, NY 10543.
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