National Clothesline

NORRISTOWN, PA — DCCS has announced software revision 26.0.1 in line with its 24-year commitment to software development for the drycleaning industry.

Changes and new choices for users include the release of DCCS’s second generation GPS integration for Windows. Drycleaners can now select their route and transfer their stops for the day to a Garmin GPS device.

With the device on the delivery truck, the GPS unit will guide the driver from stop to stop, decreasing the time to run the route and allowing anyone to run the route efficiently. Before transferring the route to the GPS the route can be optimized via Microsoft Mappoint.

DCCS has also introduced a newly integrated accounts receivable package that gives Windows owners two choices for customer charge account billing. The new DCCS package was designed for ease of use, speed and flexibility. It allows users to customize their billing cycles, statements, fees, discounts and postings and can automatically bill to credit card on file.

For those customers who use Intuit QuickBooks for charge account billing, DCCS will continue to support that alternative in addition to the new software.

NEW YORK, NY — BizTrader.com has launched an on-line global marketplace for buying or selling a company, valuing a business, and finding a lender or investment.

Geared specifically for small businesses, BizTrader.com’s services incorporate Web 2.0 functionality, including blogging, video capability, mass listing syndication and distribution, RSS feeds, chat boards, and real-time, automated translation between English, Spanish and Chinese.

With the launch, BizTrader.com unveiled its free business valuation software that provides a comprehensive overview of a company’s worth by evaluating financial data alongside historical transactions within the same industries. The new proprietary software is available at www.biztrader.com.

In addition to the valuation software, consumers can access information and resources, including:

• Bartering through a special section for business owners and operators who want to barter one set of services or products for another.

• Comprehensive online ad distribution in which business sellers can distribute their business for sale listings all over the web with the click of a button. Sellers who use this service will have their ad distributed to six additional websites.

• Lead qualification software that helps sellers qualify potential buyers.

• Information verification with which visitors can check a company’s credit rating on BizTrader.com and verify information posted in a company’s advertisement.

• BizTrader.com has partnered with Microsoft’s Franchise Gator to offer direct access to its extensive database of franchises for sale across the country.

• Financing assistance through easy-to-understand loan applications.

• The “Find a Pro” Database helps business owners connect with lawyers, accountants, painters, computer repair services and other professional services.

• International investors can search a database of businesses in the United States seeking a buyer or an investor with highlighting American businesses that would provide the buyer/investor with an investment visa to live and work in the United States.

ERIE, PA — A slogan designed to attract more customers and garments to drycleaners has been trademarked and is available for licensing from J. L. “Doc Spot” Swaney.

Swaney believes the slogan “Drycleaning is the preservation of garments” will increase sales for cleaners who use it in all their promotions, including radio, television, capes, plastic newspapers, posters and signs. Swaney notes that research conducted at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro shows that a drycleaned item will last five times longer than a laundered item.

He said that a percentage of the proceeds from the licensing of the slogan will be donated to state drycleaning associations, the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute and the Fabricare Foundation.

Swaney has been involved in the industry for more than 50 years, beginning as an employee and then manager of a drycleaning business in Erie, PA. He opened his own plant in 1967 which he operated until 1985 when he sold the business and went to work for Adco. He retired from Adco after 23 years and formed a new company, Doc Spot, to advance the trademarked slogan he has developed.

TULSA, OK — Royaltone’s Ink Magic can be used in drycleaning, wetcleaning and laundry without hardening rayon or acetate fabrics.

Ink Magic can be used in drycleaning, wetcleaning and laundry. It is thick, concentrated and clings to ink spots so there is no wicking and spreading of the ink.

All types of inks can be removed from all fabrics, both natural and synthetic, including ball point ink, stamp pad ink, writing ink, marking ink, felt tip ink, duplicating ink and colored ink on clothing, household items, upholstery and carpets. Ink Magic is also safe on cloth and leather.

Ink Magic is packaged in 12-oz. drip-proof bottles for safer and more cost efficient ink spot removal.