National Clothesline

Lawrence Friedman, one of the three founders of Lapels Dry Cleaning and its CEO, has taken over sole ownership of the franchise organization.

Among his first initiatives, Friedman instituted new marketing and operations committees to enhance and expand upon existing efforts and added a “customer liaison” to help all franchisees implement new methods and programs. A cash infusion of nearly $500,000 has been used to expand upon the franchise’s infrastructure and marketing programs.

“Lapels has grown rapidly and now we are in the process of stringently standardizing all our services and branding — from store hours to signage,” noted Friedman. “With our new franchisee-led committees and quality control, we will be able to really demonstrate to the customers that Lapels is a faster, friendlier and more convenient source for their drycleaning. We need to win customers from curb to counter and are making a substantial effort to wow them at every stage of the interaction.”

Friedman’s drycleaning, management and operations experience includes running a chain of five drycleaning stores for eight years. He has been involved in the restaurant business and served as a vice president of both Chemical Bank and Chase Manhattan Bank and senior vice president of Warren, Gorham & Lamont, a professional publishing company.

Lapels storeowners, operating from 20 locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Texas, outsource their drycleaning operations. Franchise owners have exclusive territories and receive training and support, including start-up package with a point-of sale computer system, an automatic clothing conveyer, a wedding gown program, retail products to sell, indoor and outdoor signage with all needed permits, a grand opening package and ribbon-cutting ceremony, advertising promotion to 10,000 homes, tuxedo rental packages and a bookkeeping system. Lapels also provides franchisees with a custom web site with e-mail, on-going training and support, custom counters and start up supplies.

Friedman noted that the company does all the research and development, sets up the entire store and handles all marketing from the central office. Services offered at each store include same-day drycleaning, shirts, tailoring, shoe repair, wedding gown heirlooming, suede and leather processing, box storage and fur storage.

Lapels’ corporate offices are located in Hanover, MA.

Bill Fisher of the International Fabricare Institute was elected president of the Cleaning and Laundry Association executives at the group’s meeting in Clearwater Beach, FL, Jan 6-8.

Other new officers are Barry McElveen of the South Eastern Fabricare Association, vice president; Carol Memberg of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association, treasurer; and Rick Armstrong of the Indiana Dry Cleaning and Laundry Association, secretary.

The Golomb Group has merged with Direct Hit Marketing. The new company will retain the Golomb Group name.

The Golomb Group is a 25-year-old management-consulting firm that specializes in marketing strategies for drycleaners, providing information to help clients increase market share and become dominate players in their respective markets.

Direct Hit Marketing is a well-known design firm that specializes in creating new images for companies interested in maintaining their current position or repositioning themselves in rapidly changing markets.

The merger gives the Golomb Group new capabilities, such as custom-designed marketing and advertising programs for clients, and re-branding for customers who want a new image created for their companies.

The former president of Direct Hit Marketing, Neil Schroeder, will become the senior creative director for the Golomb Group.

Since graduating from Columbia College in Chicago with degrees in both commercial photography and marketing, Schroeder has managed an array of commercial accounts. As the president of Direct Hit Marketing, he was responsible for the art and marketing direction of accounts such as Discover Card, Experian, Inland Real Estate Development Corporation, Kiwanis Clubs International and many others.

Having worked with and for some of the largest advertising agencies in the Chicago area during the past 10 years, Schroeder brings a working knowledge of the creative and advertising industry to the Golomb Group and its clients.

The announcement was made by Golomb Group president Dennis McCrory, an industry writer and marketing consultant.

Dawn Molignano has been promoted from senior accountant to business manager at Dependable Cleaners in Quincy, MA. She will report directly to Christa Hagearty, president of Dependable Cleaners

Molignano’s new responsibilities include management of the company’s growing delivery service, point of sale systems, and billing and collections for Dependable Cleaners’ Restoration Division. Her expanded duties also include conducting store audits and accounting-based training. Molignano joined Dependable in 1999 as an entry-level accounting clerk.

“Dawn has been a great asset to this company since joining us five years ago,” Hagearty said. “She is capable of seeing the big picture, which makes her the perfect choice for this position. Her attitude and knowledge will help us excel as a company.”

Molignano, who lives in Weymouth, MA, has an associate’s degree in business from Massassoit Community College. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business at Bridgewater State College and plans to pursue a master’s degree thereafter.

Dependable Cleaners, a three-generation family company founded in 1944, has 17 retail locations in Massachusetts, nine of which have fully equipped cleaning plants and three have coin laundries. The company has a web site at www.dependablecleaners.com.

Union, USA, has launched its new web site located at www.uniondc.com.

The web site offers a variety of products and services including machine specifications, request forms for literature, and direct contact to the Technical Service Department.

Union manufactures drycleaning machines in capacities ranging from 35 to 165 pounds for use with perchloroethylene and all Class III-A solvents.

Union also manufactures cleaning and drying modules, tandem units, and reclaimers.

All Union machines surpass regulatory standards set forth by EPA/OSHA, Clean Air Act, and are certified by New York State DEC, and California CARB. Specially approved New York City MEA models are also manufactured.

Bret Ragland has joined Tri-State Technical Services as a sales representative for the southern Virginia territory.

He will be working from his home office in Richmond, VA, and from the company’s North Carolina regional office.

On-Site Corp. is moving its Groton, CT, training and research facility to Charlotte, NC. The company planned to take possession of its new location on Feb. 1 and to hold its first training class on Feb. 17.

There are changes in some contact information due to the move, but the toll-free number for the East Coast facility, (800) 811-9367, will remain the same.

The new address is On-Site University, 2520 Whitehall Park Dr., Suite 500, Charlotte, NC 28273. The phone number is (704) 504-8665 and the fax is (704) 504-8667.

None of these changes affect contact information for On-Site’s Coeur d’Alene, ID, office.

Hamilton Engineering has moved its company’s headquarters from Westland, MI, to Livonia, MI, to meet increased demand for production and office space. The new address is 34000 Autry St., Livonia, MI 48150. The phone numbers remain unchanged: (734) 419-0209 and (800) 968-5530; the fax number is the same, also: (734) 419-0209.

Debi Look has joined Thermopatch as a customer service representative for the western region of the U.S., which includes North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and the West Coast.

Joining regional sales manager Tim Merris, her duties include handling sales calls and sales administration for the region.

Look has a business management degree from Bryant & Stratton College and spent several years in network hardware and cabling sales. She also has experience in the medical field and interior design.

Thermopatch provides textile and garment identification, marking, and mending products and supporting supplies.