National Clothesline

The North East Fabricare Association will return to Providence, RI, for its biennial trade show, Fabricare Image.

The year’s show, at the Rhode Island Convention Center April 22-23, will have the theme “Make More Money” with attendees getting advice on how to make more through diversification, investing in their businesses and using the latest equipment and products.

NEFA will raffle off six $1,000 certificates for attendees to spend with vendors of their choice at the show. A silent auction of Red Sox tickets, and pre-owned delivery step van and overnight stays is also planned.

Companies interested in exhibiting should call Peter Blake, NEFA’s executive vice president, (800) 442-6848. All exhibitors will receive complementary passes to give to their best customers or prospects. The Westin Hotel is offering a convention room rate of $179 a night; call (401) 598-8000 for reservations.

Judging by the 2006 class schedule at the New York School of Drycleaning, it will be a great year for area cleaners who want to improve their skills and brush up on their industry education.

Coming up is an intense Radical Drycleaning/Stain Removal course set on Feb. 6. The comprehensive class will meet Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a total of 40 hours.

Tuition will be $750 each for NCA members and $995 each for non-members.

NCA will also host several offerings of its ten-week Principles and Practices of Drycleaning class that meets on Mondays and Wednesday from 7 to 11 p.m. for a total of 80 class hours.

Starting dates for the course include: March 20, June 5 and October 23. The cost is $970 to attend.

Also on the agenda is the association’s Principles and Practices of Pressing course, which meets from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. The 24-hour course costs $380 per student.

The course is scheduled to begin on Feb. 13 and then again on Sept. 11.

NCA also offers several two-day courses that last 16 hours altogether for cleaners interested in obtaining their DEC certification. The courses meet from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on consecutive Sundays and costs $509 for members and $975 for non-members.

Class dates include: Feb. 12 and 19; May 21 and 28; Oct. 8 and 10; and Dec. 10 and 17.

NCA also presents the DEC certification course in Korean and Spanish. The Spanish dates are June 18 and 25.

Korean-speaking cleaners have several options: March 19 and 26; May 28 and June 4; July 23 and 30; Sept. 17 and 24; and Nov. 19 and 26.

Just around the corner, NCA will deliver a three-day, 24-hour Basic Pressing & Finishing course from Feb. 24-26. The class meets from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. It costs $455 for members and $595 for non-members.

After that, NCA will host a one-day, eight-hour course on wetcleaning that will meet from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Members pay $250 to attend; non-members must pay $275.

Things won’t slow down during the warmer months as the association has planned a one-day Technical Training at the Counter for Customer Service Representatives class on the final day of April.

After that, cleaners can take a one day, eight-hour Extreme Stain Removal class on May 7

On Sunday, May 21, cleaners can opt for a one-day Regulation and Compliance seminar.

An Intensive Inspection and Innovative Packaging course will be held on Sunday, June 11.

All one-day offerings meet from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and cost $250 per member and $275 per non-member.

Starting on Aug. 7, NCA will present a 40-hour, five-day course on Managing & Marketing For the Millennium. It will meet Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The cost is $750 per member and $995 per non-member.

Finally, there will also be a Comprehensive Drycleaning course for Korean cleaners. It will meet from 7 to 11 p.m. on Thursdays for ten straight weeks for a total of 80 hours. The cost is $970 for members and $1,170 for non-members. Start dates are March 14 and Sept. 5.

For information on the courses, call (212) 967-3002.