Fall Fest offers help for hard times
The North East Fabricare Association believes that cleaners need not let a struggling economy keep them from
generating more profits.
To that end seminars, at the association’s Fall Fest conference are designed to help cleaners find ways to make more
money.
The conference will be held from Oct. 3-5 at the Cape Codder Hotel and
Conference Center in Hyannis, MA.
During the weekend’s first educational session, James Peuster, also known as The Route Pro, will
discuss “Route Development: Key to Business Growth” from 8:45 to 10:15 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Since the key to business growth is to increase the customer base, Peuster will
discuss the best way to do that: establishing, maintaining and expanding
delivery routes.
He will also divulge some of the critical concepts cleaners need to know in
order to ensure they maximize their profit potential. Everything from market
definition and incentive sales to community development and capitalizing on
market pressures will all be covered.
Later in the day, Jim Goulet will take the podium from 10:30 a.m. until noon to
present “Reducing Costs and Maximizing Productivity.”
Goulet is the service manager for Steiner-Atlantic Corporation and has over 19
years of experience in all aspects of the drycleaning and laundry industry.
His program will provide attendees with the latest tools and techniques for
proper maintenance and service of drycleaning equipment in order to keep
machinery running productively and efficiently.
During lunchtime on Saturday, NEFA will host its keynote address — a panel discussion entitled “Alternative Cleaning: The Truth About What is Available” from noon until 2:30 p.m.
Those who attend will have an opportunity to hear from several experts on what
the future holds for the industry in terms of cleaning methods and solvents.
There will be representatives present to discuss each of the following:
wetcleaning, hydrocarbon cleaning, DrySolv cleaning solution, Solvair cleaning
systems and GreenEarth cleaning.
The format of the panel discussion will allow each representative to make a
presentation about the use of their alternative solvent of choice. Afterward,
the audience will be able to pose questions directly to the panelists.
NEFA also has plans to add additional sessions to Saturday afternoon’s schedule that will run simultaneously between 3:30 and 5 p.m.
Topics may include: Handling and OSHA Inspection; Contamination Concerns: Where
Do I Turn?; Coin-op Increases Profitability; and more.
More informative sessions are also scheduled on Sunday, beginning with a seminar
by Jan Barlow on “Knowledge: The Key to Prosperity” from 9 a.m. until noon.
In addition to being a Certified Garment Care Professional, Barlow is a
nationally-known speaker whose experience is derived largely from her time
spent in the trenches.
Barlow believes many cleaners know surprisingly very little about their business
and customers. She will examine many questions that cleaners should ask
themselves. The answers to such questions are critical to any operation’s financial success.
The weekend’s final session will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. DLI’s Vice President of Membership Jon Meijer will discuss “Avoiding Marketing Failures.”
His program will look at some of the common pitfalls of marketing and how
cleaners can develop a plan that will really speak to their customers.
In addition to the seminars, NEFA will offer an Allied Trades Showroom
throughout the weekend that will allow cleaners to interact with some of the
most progressive vendors in the cleaning industry.
There will also be time for socializing. NEFA will host a Welcome Cocktail
Reception at 7 p.m. on Friday and a Casino Night and Silent Auction at 7 p.m.
on Saturday.
Full registration packages for the conference will cost $295 per attendees. That
cost includes admittance to all educational sessions, the Allied Trades
Showroom and all of the social events.
Additional attendees from the same plant can sign up for a discounted rate of
$195 each for the same package.
Cleaners may also register for individual packages, as well. The cost to attend
all of Saturday’s sessions is $145 per person. There is a package for the Sunday sessions, as
well, that costs $145.
Rooms are available at the host hotel, the Cape Codder Resort and Conference
Center.
A discounted rate of $169 per night is available to those who call (888)
297-2200 and mention the NEFA conference while making reservations.
For more information or to register, call (800) 442-6848.
