Anton’s kicks of annual Coats for Kids drive
with goal of matching last year’s 60,000
with goal of matching last year’s 60,000
Every year, it gets a little bit warmer in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, but
that
’s not a reference to global warming. It’s a by-product of the goodwill generated by Anton’s Cleaners’ annual Coats for Kids project.
Now in its 13th year, the drive kicked off on Oct. 15 with one simple goal:
anybody in the region in need of a coat will have one.
Last year, the community service program distributed over 56,000 coats to local
adult and children, and this year they hope to collect another 60,000.
In an effort to meet that goal, Anton’s will be accepting good, wearable kids-, adults- and baby-sized coats at Jordan’s Furniture or any of its 43 store locations scattered throughout Massachusetts
and southern New Hampshire.
The deadline for the drive is Jan. 15, 2008.
To make sure that all donated garments are effective against the harsh winter
climate, Anton
’s maintains a high standard, asking that all coats be free of rips, tears,
missing buttons, broken zippers and/or permanent stains.
The general rule of thumb is that the coat should be in good enough condition
that you would give it to a friend to wear.
Finding 60,000 coats that meet those requirements is, by no means, an easy task,
which is why Anton
’s relies on a lot of help every year to keep the drive growing.
This year, the drycleaning chain has expanded its distribution channels by
working in conjunction with Boston University Medical Center
’s Outreach Van Project, The Lowell Wish Project and The Community Giving Tree.
Each will serve as a distribution partner along with The Salvation Army, MASSCAP’s community action agencies, Cradles to Crayons and Southern New Hampshire
Services.
Of course, before the garments can be collected and distributed, it is
absolutely necessary to get the word out.
Providing help in that department is FOX25, Jordan’s Furniture and newcomers Community Newspaper Company, 105.7 WROR and Comcast
Spotlight.
Other supporting partners include: Graham Communications, Citizens Bank and
Package Supply Co.
For more information on Anton’s Coats for Kids project, visit the company’s web site at www.antons.com.
NCA has Mexican brainstorm in its January forecast
Now in its fifth year, the National Cleaners Association’s annual “Brainstorming with the Best” conference has proven its value to cleaners who like to mix sharing business
ideas with exotic settings.
The next Brainstorming event will be held from Jan. 17-20, 2008 at the Grand
Velas Resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Having earned such accolades as AAA’s 5 Diamond Award and TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice award for “Best Luxury Hotel in the World,” the five-star hotel promises unparalleled comfort and luxury for attendees.
The educational content will be top-notch as well, as NCA has culled some of the
nation
’s top business experts for its program.
On Friday morning, Jeff Hargett of the Ritz Leadership Center will kick off the
educational sessions with
“Radar On, Antenna Up” from 9 to 11 a.m.
The ability to deliver superior customer service can determine the ultimate
success of any service-oriented company, and Hargett plans to reveal how
Ritz-Carlton employees deliver exceptional memories for their customers while
keeping overall costs in check.
Hargett, who appeared at NCA’s 2007 Brainstorming conference, will be back by popular demand.
This time, however, he’ll deliver a new message that will focus on the following topics: the three
steps of service; Olympics
— gold vs. silver; happy customers do spend more money; loyalty leads to
forgiveness; tips to connect; consistency is key; and how to motivate and train
ordinary people to do ordinary things extremely well.
Also on Saturday, best-selling author David Meerman Scott will deliver a program
on
“The New Rules of PR and Marketing” from 9 a.m. until noon.
An online thought leadership and viral marketing strategist, Scott believes the
Internet has made it easier than ever for companies to directly communicate
with its customers and target audiences.
Although, the old rules of marketing and PR no longer apply on the Web.
Scott will explain to attendees how they can harness the power of the Internet
through the use of websites, blogs, podcasts, video, and virtual communities.
His step-by-step plan will illustrate how to identify audiences, create
compelling messages (as well as get those messages out), and lead consumers
directly to the buying process.
On the following day, NCA will enlist its own president, Joe Hallak of Hallak
Cleaners in New York City, to give a two-hour presentation on
“Packaging for Profits — The Complete Package.”
The seminar, which runs from 9 to 11 a.m., will take an in-depth look at how
couture cleaners package themselves and how perception allows them to charge
premium prices for their service.
Hallak will offer his insights on the packaging process, and how customers
respond to it. Cleaners will leave with enough knowledge to be able to deflect
customers
’ questions about high prices.
The cost to attend the conference is $595 for members and $695 for non-members.
For more information pertaining to registration, the conference, or lodging
arrangements, contact Ann Hargrove at (800) 888-1622.
NCA webinars wrap up 2007; 2008 dates set
The National Cleaners Association has released its schedule of educational
offerings for 2008.
Still to come from the association this year are two more webinars. Webinars,
which are conducted over the internet, are a convenient way for cleaners to
attend educational seminars without having to leave the comfort of their home
or cleaning plant.
They take place on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. EST and the cost is $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.
NCA will host “Call Office Makeover” on Dec. 5, and “Finishing with Tensioning Equipment” on Dec. 19.
Starting in 2008, the association begin a new schedule offering a wide variety
of classes at its New York School of Drycleaning, including its comprehensive
four-week course on
“Principles and Practices of Pressing.”
The class will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. on the
following dates: Jan. 28 to Feb. 25; and June 2 to June 25. Tuition is $380.
Also on the agenda will be two offerings of NCA’s full course on “Principles and Practices of Drycleaning.”
Students in this class will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays between 7 and 10 p.m.
for ten weeks, comprising a total of 80 class hours. Tuition is $970.
Course dates are March 10 to May 14, and Sept. 8 to Nov. 24.
Those who wish to focus their educational efforts on “Radical Drycleaning/Stain Removal” will have NCA’s five-day courses to choose from.
The cost is $750 for members and $995 for non-members. The course will meet from
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 3-7, and again from August 4-8.
Finally, NCA will offer its two-day DEC Certification courses on Feb. 24 and
March 2; June 8 and 22; and Sept. 14 and 21. The cost is $509 for members and
$975 for non-members.
