National Clothesline

North Carolina drycleaners and launderers have been relieved of paying sales tax on fuel, other than electricity, used in laundering, pressing and drycleaning and on machinery, parts, accessories and lubricants attached to the machinery.

The North Carolina Association of Launderers and Cleaners said that the action by the state legislature was the result of a federal initiative to eliminate or reduce the number of special sales tax rates and facilitate collecting state sales taxes on interstate sales. Under the initiative, the legislature’s options were to raise the special tax rate from one percent, which cleaners had been paying, to the general sales tax rate of 7 percent, or to eliminate the tax completely.

Sto Fox, NCALC’s executive director, collected data for Sam Taylor, the association’s lawyer/lobbyist, who compiled and presented it to the legislature to show the impact of the alternatives on individual cleaners versus the potential tax revenue increase for the state. The result was that cleaners and launderers received a specific exclusion from the state sales tax on those items.

In order to receive the exemption, cleaners must obtain and maintain documentation of a their eligibility. NCALC has provided copies of Form E-595E, the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement Certificate of Exemption to its members. A copy of the form should be provided to each source and supplier the cleaners uses for purchasing exempt items.

If a supplier charges sales tax on an exempt item, NCALC advised cleaners to deduct if from the bill and enclose a copy of Form E-595E with the payment.

NCALC cautioned that cleaners are still subject to the 7 percent state sales tax on items that “are not classified as laundering pressing or drycleaning machinery or parts and accessories thereto.” These items would include sewing machines, tailoring supplies, protective clothing, office and janitorial supplies, employee uniforms, cash registers and office furniture.

The Tennessee Fabricare Association has recruited Jeff Lenz, the developer of the “On the Spot” seminar series, to teach two spotting sessions in April.

Overall, Lenz has given over 100 seminars in the U.S. and Canada and is well-suited to help cleaners increase their stain removal knowledge.

He will emphasize fiber/fabric classification; spot/stain classification; and offer a hands-on spot removal session.

The class is aimed at helping plant owners, managers and supervisors who wish to increase their productivity and effectiveness.

Those who attend either session qualify for one Award of Excellence point and three CED points.

The first seminar will be held from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, April 8.

It will take place at Nicholson Cleaners, located at 419 Gallatin Road in Nashville, TN.

The second session will be in Memphis, TN, on Saturday, April 29, also from 9 a.m. until noon. It will be held at Sycamore Cleaners at 2141 Sycamore View Road.

Cleaners may register for the seminar starting at 8:30 a.m. on the day it begins. However, class size is limited to 30, so advance recommendation is recommended.

The cost of attendance is $49 per member and $29 per additional person from the same member plant. Non-members pay an initial price of $99 per person and another $69 per person for additional members from the same plant.

Later in the year, TFA will present its annual show and conference from June 9-11 in Chattanooga, TN.

The event will feature a Friday evening reception with vendors, a Saturday morning breakfast with exhibitors and an educational seminar — the guest speaker has yet to be determined.

Also during the weekend, TFA will host a lunch with exhibitors and an open board meeting.

The host hotel — the Marriott Chattanooga at the Convention Center — is offering a special rate of $109/per night for single and double occupancy.

For more information, call (615) 269-5312 or visit www.tnfabricare.com.

The North Carolina Association of Launders and Cleaners will present a seminar on “Getting Your CSRs to See the Customer and Their Job in a Different Light” on Tuesday, April 11.

The session, taught by Sto Fox, will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Bowen Cleaners, 990 Smithewyck Dr. in Greenville.

The cost is $29 per NCALC/IFI member and $59 for non-members. Cleaners should register prior to April 7.

Later in the month, Lindley Smith will present a course on advanced stain removal for cleaners with at least one year of spotting experience.

Smith will review basic stain removal and take an in-depth look at wet and dry side agents, pH scale, types of stains, and fibers and fabrics.

The seminar will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday, April 19 at Brothers Cleaners, 5020 Atlantic Ave. in Raleigh.

The cost is $129 per person for NCALC/IFI members and $238 for all others.Cleaners must register by April 26

For more information or to register, call (336) 389-9011.