MILD launches management series
In drycleaning, “Profits = Plant + Personnel Productivity.” That formula sounds simple, but the difficulty lies in the implementation. This
February, Jan Barlow will begin teaching a four-part educational series
sponsored by the Michigan Institute of Laundering and Drycleaning.
The series is designed to help plant owners and managers learn various way to
make their businesses more successful.
All four segments will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on their respective
days at the MILD office, located at 3225 W. St. Joseph in Lansing, MI.
The first session will take place on Saturday, Feb. 2 and will focus on
goal-setting and planning, time management, accounting/financial management and
budgeting.
Some of the topics on the itinerary include: the correct uses of machinery and
saving power; percentages to aim for on your P&L statements; figuring the cost of producing shirts; and the cost efficiency of
adding routes and stores.
The second session will be on Saturday, March 15. It will emphasize internal
operations, the plant and equipment, system procedures and technology.
Cleaners will gain knowledge on everything from employee training to plant
layout and progressive workflow to how to figure numbers for pieces per hour.
On Saturday, April 5, MILD will present the third part, which will outline legal
regulations and ethical practices for effective human resources.
Attendees will learn about employee handbooks and job descriptions; wages and
incentives; employee retention; benefits; proper training for employees and
expectations.
The final session will be held on Saturday, May 3, and will be devoted to sales
and marketing, client and vendor relationships, and diversificiation of
services.
Barlow will examine types of media; different marketing and advertising plans;
customer surveys; advertising philosophy; budgeting; ad presentation; and
analyzing effectiveness.
All sessions will cost $200 each and include continental breakfast and lunch.
Those who sign up for all four simultaneously will receive a discounted rate of
$600 per person. There are also discounts for plants that send three or more
employees to the same session.
WFI to host convention in Green Bay
This February, the Wisconsin Fabricare Institute has lined up several guest speakers for its annual convention.
The event will take place at the Radisson Hotel in Green Bay from Feb. 22 to 24.
Saturday will begin with a session entitled “Plug Into High-Tech Fabrics” by Andrea Marcinkus, who teaches textile science, fashion show production and
knitting at the Mount Mary College of Fashion in Milwaukee.
Conducting the second seminar of the day will be Tony Busch, who will discuss “Cash Flow: What It Means to You, Your Business and Your Banker.”
Busch knows a lot about bankers, having had a career in the field that spanned
30 years.
His presentation will explain the intricacies of cash flow and how it works.
On Sunday morning, Jon Meijer from DLI will begin the day with a program on “The Buzz on Alternative Solvents and New Equipment.”
Meijer has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Maryland and is an
active member of ASAE and the Cleaning and Laundry Association Executives.
Rounding out the educational sessions, WFI will offer a special DERF panel
discussion on “The Deadline for New Applicants is August 30, 2008—What You Need to Know.”
The panel includes Don Gallo, WFI’s legal counsel; Jeanne Tarvin, a DERF council member as an environmental consultant; Terry Evanson of the WDNR-DERF
Remediation and Redevelopment Program; and a cleaner who has participated in
the cleanup.
In addition to the programs, WFI will offer a tabletop trade show, a silent
auction and a Saturday evening banquet.
WFI has reserved a block of rooms at the Radisson Hotel at rates of $99 for a
single or double and $109 for a triple or quad. Call (800) 333-3333 or (920)
494-7300 for reservations.
For more information about the event, contact WFI at (414) 529-4707.
