PDCA announces speakers, topics for Atlantic City Expo
With so many business owners struggling in seemingly shallow economic waters,
the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association has designed the educational
programming for its Expo 2008 event to help cleaners turn the tide.
Educational sessions will run from 9 to 11 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday,
Oct. 25 and 26, at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
The Saturday sessions will pose a question to attendees: where are you headed?
To help find the answer, Barbara Harvey will present a seminar examining how to “Get the Right Resources.”
Harvey, who is currently serving a term as president of the Drycleaning and
Laundry Institute, is the owner of Fabricare By Fran, a successful family
drycleaning business in Severna, MD.
Also on Saturday will be a program titled “Wow Your Customers” by Trudy Adams, a dynamic speaker who is Director of Customer Service and
Supplies at Cleaners Supply.
Sunday’s breakfast program will focus on answering the question: Can you survive in
this business?
Cleaners can learn how to cut their expenses by listening to a session headed by
Joe Schmidt, a.k.a. The Handyman.
Schmidt is the past president of PDCA and a successful cleaner who currently
runs a drycleaning maintenance company.
Rounding out the weekend seminars will be one called “Boosting Profits: I Did It and So Can You” by Sto Fox, the executive director of the North Carolina Association of
Launderers and Cleaners.
He is also the owner of Fox Cleaners in Greensboro, NC, which has rapidly
increased its profits this year while many other plants have struggled.
In addition to the educational programs, Expo 2008 will offer an exhibit hall
full of up-to-date drycleaning equipment, products and services.
The hall will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and again from 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
This year’s headquarters hotel is the Sheraton Atlantic City. PDCA has reserved nightly
rates of $161 for single or double occupancy, provided attendees contact the
hotel by Sept. 22 and mention their affiliation with Expo 2008.
For reservation details, visit PDCA’s web site at www.pdclean.org or call the association’s office, (215) 830-8495.
Drycleaning courses, webinars at DLI
Introductory and advanced courses in drycleaning will be offered this month at
the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute’s School of Drycleaning Technology.
The one-week introductory course, which emphasizes drycleaning basics, will
begin July 21. The course covers fibers and fabrics; principles of drycleaning;
workflow, assembly, and invoicing; drycleaning machines; cleaning and drying
cycles; basic stain removal procedures; and finishing procedures for pants,
coats, and skirts.
The two-week advanced course begins July 28 and is for those who have completed
the introductory course. It emphasizes specialty fabrics and fiber
identification; advanced stain removal procedures and bleaches; finishing
blouses, dresses, ties, pleats, pile fabrics, silks, and rayons; wetcleaning;
solvents, detergents, moisture, filtration, and distillation; and
troubleshooting the drycleaning system.
DLI also has announced a series of upcoming on-line seminars. Each of the
webcasts begins at 6 p.m. eatern time. Dates and topics are as follows:
July 17, “Growing Your Routes” with James Peuster.
Aug. 14, “Increasing Profits” with Harvey Gershenson.
Sept. 25 “Solvair Cleaning” with R. R. Street.
Oct. 16, “GreenEarth Cleaning” with Tim Maxwell.
Dec. 18, “Stain Removal Tips” with Jim Kirby.
For more information or to register for the courses or webinars, call DLI, (800)
638-2627.
CRDN plans 6th annual convention
The Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network anticipates more than 300 people to attend its sixth annual convention, planned
from Aug. 14 to 16 at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA.
CRDN will host three evening events, including an opening reception, a theme
night and a black-tie awards gala.
Exhibiting vendors will be on display all day Friday and Saturday, and the
association has allotted plenty of time for general educational sessions, as
well.
There will be a golf outing on Thursday morning prior to the afternoon’s welcome reception.
For more information, visit the association’s web site at www.crdn.com or call the office at (248) 246-7878.
CRDN is an international organization of drycleaners who specialize in textile
restoration, drycleaning, processing garments and other fabric items exposed to
fire, smoke, water and mold.
