National Clothesline

The Michigan Institute of Launderers and Drycleaners has extended an invitation to statewide drycleaners to join the association’s 2006-2007 “Clean Academy” program.

Basically, anyone who attends three MILD-organized seminars in 2006 and/or 2007 will receive a Certification of Training Completion award to showcase their educational achievements in the industry. The third class must be completed by Dec. 31, 2007 in order for cleaners to qualify.

As an added bonus, cleaners who pay full price to attend their first seminar will receive a $10 discount on all subsequent sessions they attend through the end of 2007.

MILD will try to make it easier for cleaners to obtain the Clean Academy designation by offering several educational sessions in that time frame.

In fact, the association, along with co-sponsor American Training Service, will deliver a session on “Pressing Techniques” on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006.

Gary Knight will present the course, which will examine how to produce a high quality garment in a short amount of time.

It will take place at Maurer’s Sanitary Cleaners, located at 2815 E. Saginaw St. in Lansing, MI. The seminar will run from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cleaners who are frustrated with all the time and labor that goes into finishing garments will want to attend. Knight will demonstrate methods that minimize the movement and fatigue of the presser, resulting in greater productivity and quality.

Knight has over 47 years of experience in drycleaning. Both of his parents’ families owned and operated plants. Thus, he began pressing at the age of 15.

He worked daily at a plant from the age of 20 until 62, until he sold the business.

The cost to attend is $30 for MILD members and $40 for non-members.

Also on tap in 2006, will be a seminar co-sponsored by R.R. Street & Co, Inc. on “Customer Relations” on Wednesday, Nov. 8. It will be held at the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce office at 850 W. Ann Arbor Trail in Plymouth, MI.

A light dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m.; the seminar will meet from 6 to 8 p.m.

The class will be taught by Joe Simon, who began working at his family’s plant, Huntington Cleaners, in 1985.

After successfully managing his grandparents’ 40 year-old plant over the next eight years, he left to broaden his industry education in equipment design. In time, he earned the nickname of “Equipment Guy” for his ability to solve equipment and process problems quickly.

He will focus his seminar on a variety of key customer concepts, including: greetings; intelligently discussing problem garments and quality services; fiber and fabric study; stain removal challenges; specialty garments; and general drycleaning procedures.

Those who attend will learn important ways to improve customer relations and enhance customer loyalty.

The cost is $30 for MILD members and $40 for non-members.

MILD also plans to offer several educational seminars in 2007 so cleaners can obtain their Cleaning Academy certifications. Currently, seminars on the topics of spotting, management training and shirts have been planned.

For more information on MILD’s upcoming educational programming, including how to register, visit its site online at www.mildmi.org or call (517) 327-9207, extension 14.

The Minnesota Cleaners Association has begun its two-month blanket drive in an effort to provide warmth and comfort for homeless Minnesotans this winter.

The drive, which began Sept. 1, will seek donations of new or lightly used blankets. Participating MCA cleaners will clean the blankets free of charge and deliver them to Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis for distribution. The program ends Oct. 31.

Altogether, more than 100 drycleaners across the state will contribute their services.

“Our member drycleaners generously offered to provide the service for two months again this year because they saw such a great response with the extended time last fall,” said Minnesota Cleaners Association Executive Director Amber Bullock. “It’s a great way for them to partner with their communities to help people who don’t have a place to call home.”

MCA has coordinated the blanket drive for four years now. Last year, the association extended the program from one month to two due to an overwhelming need for blankets.

For more information, contact MCA at (952) 426-1670.

The Minnesota Cleaners Association represents more than 100 drycleaners in the state and is an affiliate of the International Fabricare Institute.

“Understanding Customers Wants and Needs” is the topic of an October 14 seminar sponsored by the Iowa-Nebraska Drycleaners and Laundry Association and the International Fabricare Institute.

IFI’s Jane Rising will lead the session in which she will demonstrate techniques that can increase the quality of service and customer satisfaction and retention.

The seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn in Council Bluffs, IA, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is $99 for IFI/INDLA members, $89 for each additional person from a member plant and $129 for non-members. A continental breakfast and lunch are included in the registration cost.

A block of rooms has been set aside at the Holiday Inn for participants at a rate of $102 per night. For reservations, call the hotel, (712) 322-5050.

To register for the seminar, call IFI, (800) 638-2627, ext. 1603.