National Clothesline

If seeing is believing, then the National Cleaners Association will now have even more convincing results for the clothing it studies at its National Center for Garment Analysis.

Alan Spielvogel, director of the Center, has announced that NCA will be including full color photographs of each garment submitted for testing alongside each garment analysis report it completes.

The decision was based on the fact that cleaners and customers have both responded positively to being able to see a visual representation of the garment problem as a point of reference in each report.

The additional service has proved easy to incorporate since the NCA staff has already made a habit out of taking photos of many garments that pass through its lab for its “watchout for this garment” e-mail alert program sent out to members weekly. Such pictures have also been available for downloading in the members-only section of NCA’s web site.

“We’ve been doing this for the past year and this new analysis report format was really the next step in the evolutionary process for cleaner and consumer education,” Spielvogel explained.

The reasoning for the change is simple. The photographs provides each report with an additional layer of credibility, which will ultimately make the consumer more comfortable with the findings regardless of whether the garment problem was caused by the cleaner, manufacturer, or an incorrect care label.

A full color picture erases any doubts that customers may have that it was, in fact, their garment that was analyzed by NCA’s lab.

Spielvogel also believes that adding pictures to analysis reports will make it easier for consumers to receive a refund or credit when they try to return their unserviceable garments to the retailer, who, in turn, will have something to show the manufacturer.

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” he noted.

So far, both member cleaners and their customers have responded positively to the change in format.

For more information on the garment analysis services offered at NCA’s National Center for Garment Analysis, contact Alan Spielvogel at (212) 967-3002, ext. 233.

The “Cowboy Cleaner” is heading to New York hoping to rustle up attendees for a three hour seminar on hydrocarbon cleaning.

Kenney Slatten, president and founder of the Kenney Slatten Training Company, will be demonstrating hands-on spotting techniques on Thursday, Oct. 16 at the seminar, which is co-sponsored by the Tschopp Supply Company and R.R. Street.

It will take place at the Holiday Inn in Rochester, NY. Refreshments will be served.

Slatten will work on pre-stained garments using Street’s portable spotting board. He will emphasize spotting and cleaning procedures with the DF-2000 solvent.

Those interested in attending should register by calling Tschopp Supply at (585) 475-1510 or Kenney Slatten at (800) 429-3990. Classes fill up quickly so early registration is recommended.