National Clothesline

Between the launch last summer of the Award of Excellence program and the end of 2005, 47 drycleaning companies representing 76 locations achieved the Award of Excellence.

The program was introduced by IFI at the Clean ’05 show in Orlando as a means of separating the best from the rest among the ranks of drycleaners and to help consumers find an answer to the perennial question, “Where can I find a good drycleaner?”

Cleaners who satisfy the requirements for the program receive a a 20" x 28" Award of Excellence framed display poster that proclaims their technical competence, commitment to customer service and environmental responsibility. They also receive advertising and public relations materials to help promote their status as Award of Excellence cleaners.

IFI helps in the public relations effort by seeking recognition of the program in national and local media. Press releases are sent to local media outlets to announce the Award of Excellence cleaners in the area and IFI plans to get media attention for the program, perhaps by challenging television stations and newspapers that have done drycleaner “stings” to test the proficiency of Award of Excellence cleaners and demonstrate that they get get out the stains that many other cleaners leave in.

Attaining “excellence” status requires accumulating points through membership in an industry trade association, passing stain removal and cleaning performance tests, pursuing continuing education and participating in local civic activities.

Ten points are derived from meeting a basic set of criteria — membership in IFI or the National Cleaners Association and passing stain removal cleaning performance tests through IFI.

The additional 20 points needed to qualify can come from a selection of items that offer 103 possible points.

Of those, 32 points are available in the Professionalism and Community Service category, including one point each for membership in a Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce or merchants’ association or participation in a qualified management group; two points for having a community service program such as Coats for Kids; three or five points for having additional Cleaning Performance Tests in the course of a year; and 20 points for having a plant evaluation by an IFI or NCA approved evaluator.

The Continuing Education and Training category offers an additional 24 points which can be earned by using approved training videos, attending approved seminars, or having in-plant training with an approved self-study course. Each of these could be worth one or two points depending on the program.

In the Extended Education or Certified Testing category, five points can be earned for attaining certification as a professional drycleaner, professional wetcleaner or environmental drycleaner. Attending resident courses at IFI or the Southwest Drycleaning Association School would earn 10 or 20 points, depending on the length of the course.

The initial cost to cleaners during the first year of the program is $400. An initial $240 application fee includes the stain removal test and the cleaning performance test.

Applicants also need to provide photographs of the call office, production areas and outside of the store along with materials that verify the points they have earned. Once accepted into the program, another payment of $160 is due. In addition to testing, the fees cover posters, frames, decals, advertising materials and public relations.

For more information on the program, call IFI, (301) 622-1900. A video explaining the program is available on IFI’s web site: www.ifi.org.