Los Altos plant to host wetcleaning showcase
Aqua Cleaners in Los Altos, CA, will host the last in a series of alternative
cleaning solvent showcases sponsored by the Institute for Research and
Technical Assistance (IRTA).
The Bay Area plant, which opened last year, uses both liquid carbon dioxide and
wetcleaning. Owners Kati Heilmann and Yasmina Das and their employees will
demonstrate the equipment and discuss their spotting, finishing and cleaning
practices with cleaners.
The showcase will be held Sunday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the plant,
which is located at 325 1st Street in Los Altos. Food and drink will be
provided.
IRTA, a technical non-profit organization that demonstrates new and emerging
technologies, has been sponsoring the showcases at various California cleaning
plants under a grant from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). IRTA is
working with cleaners who have converted to carbon dioxide and water-based
technologies to serve as showcase facilities to feature the alternatives.
CARB also is providing grants to cleaners in California to replace perc machines
with non-toxic, non-smog forming alternatives under AB 998, a state law that
also charges CARB with developing a demonstration program to make cleaners
aware of eligible alternative technologies, which include carbon dioxide
cleaning and various water-based cleaning processes.
Information on the CARB grant program will also be provided to interested
cleaners at the March 9 event.
CARB has adopted a regulation that phases out perc in California by 2023, so
cleaners will have to adopt alternatives over the next few years. As of January
1 this year, no new perc machines can be installed in California. Between now
and 2023, existing perc machines will have to be removed when they become 15
years old. Any perc machine that is already 15 years old must be removed by
July, 2010.
IRTA recently completed a project sponsored by Cal/EPA’s Department of Toxic Substances Control and U.S. EPA to identify, develop and
test alternative low-VOC, low toxicity POG spotting agents. IRTA has developed
a fact sheet on safer alternative spotting agents which will also be available
at the showcase.
Previous showcases featured wetcleaning plants in Santa Monica and San Diego and
wetcleaning/Green-Jet shops located in Fresno and Tustin.
IRTA plans to hold an exposition for cleaners to find out more about carbon
dioxide and water-based cleaning technologies. It will be held in April, 2008.
For more information on the showcase, the IRTA’s Aqua Cleaners case study, the spotting chemical fact sheet and the exposition,
contact Katy Wolf, director of IRTA, (818) 244-0300. The Aqua Cleaners’ mailout, including the case study, is available on IRTA’s website at www.irta.us.
San Diego Hangers returns to Fast 100 list for fourth year
Every year, the San Diego Business Journal’s Fast 100 list compiles 100 local, private-held businesses who are riding a
quicker path to success than their peers.
For the fourth consecutive year, Hangers Cleaners made the list, and the
drycleaning company was recently honored with an award at a posh reception in
front of hundreds of fellow San Diego business leaders at the Westgate Hotel.
According to plant owner Gordon Shaw, one of the tricks to sustaining high
growth rates for a period of years is to have a Unique Selling Proposition.
Shaw found that unique niche when he became the first drycleaner on the West
Coast to utilize carbon dioxide (CO2) cleaning 100 percent of the time.
He initially opened Hangers in April of 2001, following a stretch of over two
decades as a perc cleaning plant owner.
After making the switch, Shaw found himself in unfamiliar territory.
“I went into this new phase with equal parts excitement and anxiety,” he said.
He was awarded for his efforts early as he became San Diego County’s only 2001 Clean Air Award recipient in recognition of his Outstanding
Contribution Implementing Innovative Clean Air Technology.
Consumers also voiced their approval, as well. Three years, later, the company
made the San Diego Business Journal’s Fast 100 list for the first time.
In the fall of 2004, Hangers Cleaners jumped all the way up to the ninth
position on the list. Shaw was able to crack the top ten thanks to a 200
percent increase in revenue between the years of 2001 and 2003.
In the following year, the CO2 franchise returned to the list at the number 28
position after a 93 percent revenue increase from 2002 to 2004.
In 2006, Hangers made the list at the number 57 spot due to a 60 percent
increase in revenue between 2003 and 2005.
For the 2007 list, Hangers jumped back up all the way to the 38th position as
the result of a 105 percent increase from 2004 to 2006.
Since 2001, Hangers Cleaners has expanded to include four locations in San
Diego.
Though the number of CO2 cleaners in the country has also grown in the past
seven years, it still averages out to less than one per state, which is fine
for Shaw. He prefers to keep his Unique Selling Proposition.
“Being the only CO2 cleaner in San Diego allows me to offer something no one else
presently can,” he explained. “While not everyone is a target customer for my higher priced CO2 drycleaning, I
have no competition for the service I offer. That is what allows me to continue
my strong growth with high prices year after year.”
Since becoming a CO2 cleaner, Shaw has been the focal point of numerous magazine
and television news stories.
All the attention simply reinforces the idea that he has found a niche market
that enjoys what he has to offer. Thus, he sees much more revenue growth for
Hangers Cleaners in the future.
“I plan to make the list several more times as I continue to open more locations,” he said.
For more information on Hangers Cleaners, visit the company’s web site located online at www.hangerssandiego.com
Deadline near for DLI board candidates
February 15 is the deadline for nominations for two seats on the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute’s board of directors to be filled in an election this spring.
DLI members will elect new directors for Districts 7 and 8 to fill the expiring
terms of Dave Silliman and Barry Gershenson.
District 7’s Silliman of Phoenix, AZ, became DLI’s treasurer in a special election in November and will remain on the board as
DLI president-elect.
District 7 covers Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon,
Utah, Wyoming, and Washington.
District 8 includes DLI member companies in California and Hawaii.
Eligibility requirements include being a drycleaning plant owner and an active
DLI member in District 7 or 8.
Anyone in Districts 7 or 8 can nominate a candidate by contacting the respective
director. Contact Silliman at dlidist7@ifi.org or (602) 264-0701. Gershenson
can be reached at dlidist8@ifi.org or (310) 261-1087.
The nominating committee for each district is made up of the current director
and the president of the DLI partner association or associations in that area.
DLI members in Districts 7 and 8 will receive ballots by March 25. Ballots must
be returned no later than April 15.
