National Clothesline

Pennsylvania cleaners will have an upcoming opportunity to take themselves out to a ballgame. With tickets at only $5 a pop, they can even take their customers and employees, as well.

For the third straight year, the Western Pennsylvania Cleaners and Laundry Association will offer a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game promotion to its members.

Members of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association may also take advantage of the offer.

The first year of the promotion proved quite successful as the association sold 225 tickets; however, last year’s ballgame between the Pirates and the Los Angeles Dodgers really took off. Altogether, a total of 1,000 tickets were reserved for WPCL and PDCA members.

This year, 1,500 tickets have been set aside for the Sunday, April 25th MLB game at PNC Park between the Pirates and the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Game time is 1:35 p.m.

With tickets costing only $5 each, which allows cleaners the opportunity to buy extra to give to customers and employees as a way to show their appreciation. One recommended promotion is to giveaway two free tickets with every $50 drycleaning order.

Cleaners who buy 50 to 100 tickets will only spend $250-$500 on a promotion that will leave a great impact on those who attend the game. Plus, companies will also get an opportunity to have their name appear on the scoreboard on game day and throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Cleaners who purchase tickets early will get the best seats available.

Prior to the game, several cleaning suppliers will chip in to help host a tailgate party for attendees. Last year, fans enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, fried chicken, nachos, potato and macaroni salads, deserts and pop and beer free of charge.

For more information, contact WPCL President Dave Beatty by calling (724) 327-5956.

Early booth sales for the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association’s Drycleaning and Laundry Expo 2004 are higher than the association had originally projected.

In 2002, the show featured over 250 booths with more than 2,000 attendees showing up. PDCA is hoping the 2004 convention will see even larger figures.

The event, which will be held from October 2-3 in Atlantic City, NJ, will be themed “Give Yourself the Competitive Edge.” It will focus on helping businesses discover ways to become more successful.

Social and networking events are planned for Friday and Saturday evening at the headquarters hotel, the Borgata. The new hotel brings more of a Las-Vegas style atmosphere to Atlantic City, featuring shining marble floors, rich wood and impressive artwork and colorful blown-glass fixtures and video screens scattered throughout. The hotel also features a 50,000 square-foot spa, 11 gourmet restaurants, 145 gaming tables and 3,600 slot machines.

It will also prove useful as it provides easy access to the exhibit hall at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

PDCA is still in the process of securing guest speakers to provide the educational programming. For more information, call PDCA at (215) 830-8495.