National Clothesline

Sanitone, a division of Fabritec International, will feature Al Lautenslager as the keynote speaker for its 2006 Sanitone licensees seminar Sept. 14-16 at the Millennium Hotel in Cincinnati, OH.

Lautenslager is a public speaker, author, business owner, and marketing consultant who takes audiences to a new level of thinking with his insights on finding opportunity, business networking and guerrilla marketing gained from more than two decades of business, marketing and development expertise.

He is the co-author of the best-selling book Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days and author of the recently released book, The Ultimate Guide to Direct Marketing.

Other speakers scheduled include Mike Nesbit of MW Cleaners who will discuss how Men’s Wearhouse entered the drycleaning business; Amy Kahn of Dynamic Development Solutions, will speak on the impact of hiring great employees, Jerry Sampson of Prime Digital Printing who will discuss personalized mail and and Paul White of Roth Cleaners will fire up everyone.

Fabritec International manufactures drycleaning, laundry and professional wetcleaning products under the Sanitone, Stamford and Fabritec names. The company is headquartered in Cold Spring, KY.

The Wisconsin Fabricare Institute have announced the topics for its Fall Conference & Golf Outing to be held at the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells.

The three-day event will take place from Sept. 15-17. Highlighting the weekend will be a special panel focussing on problem garments, trims and buttons, fabrics and labeling, chemicals and dyes, and customer service.

Attendees can bring their questions and problem garments with them for the discussion. Also on the schedule is a session on “Affordable Health Insurance” that will help small business owners and self-employed cleaners sort through their health insurance options.

Finally, Strategic Wealth Management Group, LLC, will be on hand to answer the question “Who Will Buy Your Business When You Are Ready to Sell?”

In addition to the seminars, WFI will host its golf outing at the Reedsburg Country Club.

Accommodations at the Great Wolf Lodge can be secured for a special rate. Call the WFI office at (414) 529-4707 for more information on making hotel reservations.

The Indiana Drycleaners & Launderers Association has enlisted the services of cleaning expert Jane Zellers to speak on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN.

First, she will discuss “The Art of Drycleaning” from noon to 4:30 p.m. During that session, she will cover the topics of fibers and fabrics, the basics of drycleaning, basic stain removal, determining the correct level of quality, managing individual and department production numbers and lot integrity in the drycleaning department. and tagging systems.

Then, from 5 to 8 p.m., she will take a look at “Producing the Perfect Shirt.”

The session will examine: how to dress shirt equipment; how to produce the perfect collar every time; determining production standards; calculating individual and department production numbers; and maintaining lot integrity. Using paper tags, bar codes or RFID chips will also be discussed.

For more information, call IDLA at (800) 401-0703.

Business of the Year award to Peru cleaner

The Peru/Miami Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Development Center honored One Hour Cleaners of Peru, Indiana, as the 2006 Small Business of the Year.

“Small businesses were the only businesses at one time, and I believe they are still a vital link to the community,” noted plant owner Chris Birk, CED, CPD, CPW. His family has owned the cleaners since 1966.

Birk served recently as president of the Indiana Dry Cleaning and Laundry Association and has written numerous technical articles and bulletins on the aspects of drycleaning.

The business was singled out for its years of expertise in drycleaning, as well as its involvement in the community.

One Hour has donated to numerous local charities and cleaned more than 3,000 winter garments for its annual Coats for Kids’ campaign.