National Clothesline

Affiliates of Leading Cleaners Internationale descended on Meurice Garment Care in New York City for a three-day meeting in October.

Wayne Edelman, owner of Meurice Garment Care, welcomed LCI to critique his newly built drycleaning plant. The affiliates were impressed with the state of the art equipment and layout that was in the making since the beginning of 2007.

Along with the plant visit, a newly developed wetcleaning system for restoring heavily smoke damaged garments was demonstrated.

During the meeting the affiliates also studied management techniques, public relations and advertising with presentations by Lynda Wood, Claude Foreman and Chuck Horst. This group also focused on developmental sessions of quality packaging, production systems, customer service and emergency planning.

One highlight of the meeting was the visit and presentation of LCI’s prestigious 5 Star Award to Jack Mitchell, business owner and author of “Hug Your Customer.”

Jack and his brother, Bill, shared their company’s recipe for success with LCI affiliates at their exclusive high-end retail location in Westport, CT.

The Mitchell family has created a retail experience based on an intimate relationship with the customer that creates loyalty.

Lynda and Rick Wood of Davis Imperial Cleaners in Chicago, IL, told of their recent award as Best of Chicago and presented their exclusive new packaging products; Claude Foreman of One Cleaners in New Orleans, LA, gave an informative and in-depth presentation on emergency planning; and Chuck Horst of Margaret ’s Cleaners in southern California presented an overview on his company’s newly developed garment tracking system.

“I’m very impressed with the garment tracking presentation and I can’t wait to have this in my operation,” said LCI affiliate Jarrell Epp of New City Cleaners in Bakersfield, CA.

Also attending their first LCI meeting was newly affiliated Dublin Cleaners of Columbus OH. The company was represented by two of the three generations that have operated Columbus ’s largest home pick-up and delivery service since 1934, Greg and Brian Butler. Brian gave a 30-minute presentation outlining the history and future plans of his company.

After reviewing LCI’s 2007 intense quality control standard, The Monthly Secret Shopper Program, Barry Gershenson, executive coordinator of LCI, presented LCI ’s Shopper Award to John-Claude Hallak of Hallak Cleaners in New York. The award recognizes the affiliate with the highest cumulative score for the year.

The Leading Dry Cleaners Internationale is the sole organization that sets the standard for specialized drycleaning services which centers on the development of 5 Star Couture Cleaners.

Drycleaners interested in becoming an LCI affiliate can visit www.leadingcleaners.com or call Gershenson, (310) 261-1087.