NCA adds restoration session to class schedule
Treating garments that have been damaged by fire, water or mold requires unique
training and care, so the
National Cleaners Association has decided to host its first-ever two-day training session on the subject.
NCA has plenty of experience on providing restoration services — about 60 years of it. In fact, many insurance companies worldwide rely on NCA
members to handle restoration drycleaning catastrophes.
The weekend restoration program will be held on June 23 and 24 at the
association
’s New York School of Drycleaning, located at 252 W. 29th St.
It will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The cost is $795 for NCA members
and $995 for non-members.
Attendees will be taught how to effectively remove odor, stains, grime, mold and
soot from materials that have been damaged. Among such items are many
sentimental heirlooms, including wedding dresses, that a majority of cleaners
might declare as unsalvageable.
“A fire or puff back from a furnace or flood can be a traumatic experience for
your customers; even the smallest catastrophe can cause major damage such as
odors, stains and mold, which can damage clothing, draperies and other
household items,
” said Alan Spielvogel, NCA’s technical director at the New York school. “It takes specialized training and detailed care to properly treat garments and
fabric items that have been damaged by fire, water or mold.
”
The restoration training course will not be the only offering from NCA in the
near future; the association will have several choices for cleaners who would
like to spend their summer brushing up their technical skills.
On June 2 and 3, the association will host its two-day DEC certification course.
It will meet from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a total of 16 hours. The cost is $595
for members and $1,095 for non-members.
Also on the horizon is a one-day, eight-hour course on “Intensive Inspection and Innovative Packaging.” It will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 15. Members must pay $250
each to attend. The cost goes up to $275 per person for non-members.
More webinars
Another popular educational program from NCA is its ongoing webinar series,
which allows cleaners to
“virtually” attend a seminar via telephone and/or computer, saving them plenty of time and
money.
Alan Spielvogel will participate in a webinar on “How to do Good Shirts” on Wednesday, June 6. He has also been scheduled for two programs later in the
year: one on
“Problem Fabrics” on Sept. 5, and one on “Winterizing Your Plant and Save on Utilities” on Oct. 3.
Other upcoming webinars include an outing on “Networking and Referrals” on June 20, one on “Restoration Tips: Discoloration, Graying and Much More” on Aug. 1, and Joe Hallak will discuss “Innovative Packaging” on Aug. 15.
All seminars take place at 6 p.m. EDT on Wednesdays. Registration costs $69 for
telephone and Web-based participation. That price includes an audio tape of the
seminar for everyone and PowerPoint files for Web-based participants.
It also costs $69 (plus $7 shipping) to obtain a webinar CD.
For more information, contact Ann Hargrove at NCA by calling (800) 888-1622.
Cleaners can also visit the association
’s official web site located online at www.nca-i.com.
