SDA ready for “Fun Central” showcase
This year, the Southwest Drycleaners Association has dubbed the Arlington, Texas
location of its Cleaners Showcase 2008 event as “Fun Central.”
The show will take place from April 4-6.
Attending cleaners will be heading to the Arlington Convention Center and
staying at the headquarters hotel Arlington Sheraton, both of which are located
in the heart of the city’s Entertainment District.
The area is also home to the top theme park in the central U.S. — Six Flags Over Texas — and the big and wild waterpark known as Hurricane Harbor.
Sports fans should also recognize the local setting which houses the Texas
Rangers’ ballpark, and the new state-of-the-art billion-dollar stadium that will be the
playing field in 2009 for the Dallas Cowboys.
With so much to do in the area, it would be easy for cleaners to forget there is
a convention, as well. Fortunately, SDA has made sure there will be plenty of
reasons to remember.
Those interested in viewing the industry’s latest and greatest equipment, supplies and services can walk through the
exhibit hall, which will offer a sneak preview from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday.
It will also be open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and from 9:30 a.m. to
3 p.m. on Sunday.
When it is a time for a break from walking up and down the aisles, cleaners can
rest their feet and work their minds during SDA’s many educational sessions on the weekend.
The first program will begin on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. when DLI Executive
Director Bill Fisher presents “White Paper — An Overview of DLI’s Solvent Evaluations.”
Fisher will discuss details of DLI’s comprehensive study of current industry solvents in an attempt to provide
critical information for cleaners who are trying to decide which solvent is
right for their business.
On Saturday morning, guest speaker Laura Barron will head a seminar on “Becoming the Drycleaner of Choice” at 8 a.m.
She will divulge some of the many proven techniques in her arsenal that create
excellent word-of-mouth marketing. Attendees will learn what it takes to get a
customer to recommend your services to everybody they know.
Insurance will the topic of discussion at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning. Anne Cobb
and Myong Kang will inform cleaners how they can “Prevent Costly Insurance Mistakes.”
Both women have been handling fabricare insurance full-time for over 15 years,
and they have dealt with virtually every insurance problem a drycleaner is ever
likely to face.
Afterward, popular speaker Chris Allsbrooks, long-time garment analyst for DLI,
will deliver a session “Common Mistakes Drycleaners Make and How to Avoid Them” at 8:45 a.m.
With years of experience under her belt, Allsbrooks will break down the ten most
common mistakes she sees drycleaners make. Not only will she offer ways to
avoid such problems, she will also provide some practical, useful guidelines
for successful stain removal.
In addition to the educational seminars, SDA will also host several social and
association-related events at Cleaners Showcase.
An “Attendee/Spouse Hospitality” is planned at the Sheraton at 9 a.m. on Friday. Later in the day, SDA will
presents its General Membership & Awards meeting at 1 p.m. DLI President Barbara Harvey will be the guest
speaker.
Afterward, attendees can steal away for some fun at an optional Sports Complex
Tour, which will begin at 2:45 p.m.
The tour includes the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum and Learning Center,
the Texas Rangers ballpark, and Humperdink’s restaurant.
The cost is $20 per person, which includes transportation.
On Saturday, SDA will host its Past President’s Breakfast at 7:15 a.m., and, in the evening, will present its President’s Reception at 6:30 p.m. Those who attend will have a chance to mingle with
exhibitors, SDA officers and directors and other cleaners.
Full registration packages are available for $74 per person if paid before March
14. Those who miss the early bird deadline must pay $85 each. Individual event
registration packages are also available.
Those seeking to procure room reservations at the Sheraton Arlington Hotel can
take advantage of a special discounted cost of $119 per night for single/double
occupancy provided they call and identify themselves with SDA’s Cleaners Showcase prior to March 11. The number for reservations is (800)
442-7275.
SDA has information available on overflow hotels, as well. To find out more
about them, or anything else to do with the upcoming show, contact the SDA
office at (210) 826-4684.
Information and registration forms are also available on SDA’s web site, www.sda-dryclean.com.
