December 2019
National Clothesline
The renewal business. Renewing
clothes for customers is Marty
Moore’s first job but he also helps
others renew their lives.
clothes for customers is Marty
Moore’s first job but he also helps
others renew their lives.
Stocking stuffers. When it comes to
Santa, Don Desrosiers is not afraid
to ask, even for things that may not
even exist.
Santa, Don Desrosiers is not afraid
to ask, even for things that may not
even exist.
Seeing clearly. James Peuster asks
if you have a clear vision for 2020
or are you just sitting back and
waiting to see what will happen.
if you have a clear vision for 2020
or are you just sitting back and
waiting to see what will happen.
Training talk. Properly trained CSRs
can talk to customers with
confidence about cleaning issues
which will gain customers’
confidence, too.
can talk to customers with
confidence about cleaning issues
which will gain customers’
confidence, too.
Rude enough to fire? Firing an
employee for rude or uncivil
behavior is not as easy as you might
think, Frank Kollman warns.
employee for rude or uncivil
behavior is not as easy as you might
think, Frank Kollman warns.
Dirty water. Contaminants in water
is the leading cause of failure for air
operated machinery, says Bruce
Grossman.
is the leading cause of failure for air
operated machinery, says Bruce
Grossman.
Show plans. SDA is signing up
exhibitors for its Cleaners’ Showcase
in Ft. Worth while CCA is laying out
plans for return visit to Long Beach
for Fabricare 2020.
exhibitors for its Cleaners’ Showcase
in Ft. Worth while CCA is laying out
plans for return visit to Long Beach
for Fabricare 2020.
New structure. TCATA reorganizes
its leadership lineup.
its leadership lineup.
Looking for a
pendulum swing
pendulum swing
The year was 1975. A young woman fresh out of
school took a job in the drycleaning industry not
expecting to make any kind of career out of it. After
all, that was, as she remembers it, “an ugly time” for
the industry which was being decimated by the wash-
and-wear recession that knocked out upwards of half
of all the cleaners in the country.
school took a job in the drycleaning industry not
expecting to make any kind of career out of it. After
all, that was, as she remembers it, “an ugly time” for
the industry which was being decimated by the wash-
and-wear recession that knocked out upwards of half
of all the cleaners in the country.
That temporary job turned into a life’s work and now,
44 years later, Nora Nealis is the executive director of
the National Cleaners Association and once again sees
an industry in trouble. At NCA’s Texcare convention in
October she offered her analysis of the state of the
industry and some hope for the future.
44 years later, Nora Nealis is the executive director of
the National Cleaners Association and once again sees
an industry in trouble. At NCA’s Texcare convention in
October she offered her analysis of the state of the
industry and some hope for the future.
“If I look at those cleaners who were around in 1975
and are still around today, most recognized what was
happening in the market and did some things
differently,” she said.
and are still around today, most recognized what was
happening in the market and did some things
differently,” she said.
While some cleaners are adapting their businesses to
look to the future, others are thinking it may be time to
fold the tent and retire. This means finding a buyer for
the business they have spent years creating.
look to the future, others are thinking it may be time to
fold the tent and retire. This means finding a buyer for
the business they have spent years creating.
But the number-one strategy for cleaners looking to sell
and get out of the business is, according to Alan
Spielvogel, the worst of all possible strategies.
and get out of the business is, according to Alan
Spielvogel, the worst of all possible strategies.
“I get calls all the time: ‘Find me somebody. I want to
get out,’” said Spielvogel, technical services director of
the National Cleaners Association.
get out,’” said Spielvogel, technical services director of
the National Cleaners Association.
He discussed buying and selling strategies at NCA’s
Texcare Show in Secaucus, NJ, cautioning that the
knee-jerk emotional “get out now” approach is the least
desirable.”
Texcare Show in Secaucus, NJ, cautioning that the
knee-jerk emotional “get out now” approach is the least
desirable.”
Looking for a way out of the business