National Clothesline

Fabric Restoration Service Team (FRSTeam) has been named to Entrepreneur magazine’s “Franchise 500” as well as the publication’s “Top 50 New Franchises” for 2009.

In the 30th annual “Franchise 500,” FRSTeam was listed as number 416 in terms of overall location and revenue growth among qualified franchise businesses in the country.

FRSTeam’s growth also earned it the rank of 35 in the publication’s list of the top 50 new franchise businesses in the U.S.

The company provides restoration services for fabrics and textiles damaged by smoke, fire, water and mold. The company’s marketing program, service model, accounting systems, and operational assistance with production formulas, plant layouts and processing offer drycleaners a model for expanding into fabric restoration.

Since signing its first licensed operator in August, 2006, FRSTeam has added 25 licensed businesses throughout the country and expanded its coverage to include most of the continental United States.

“We are extremely proud to be named to the Franchise 500 and Top 50 new franchises for 2009 by Entrepreneur, the authority on franchise businesses and opportunities,” said Jim Nicholas, president of FRSTeam. “This national recognition illustrates the success of our unique model for licensed independent drycleaners to offer fabric restoration services to the insurance industry and damage mitigation contractors.”

FRSTeam has announced plans to expand its business into New England and upstate New York and is interviewing drycleaners who are interested in adding a fabric restoration division under the FRSTeam brand and network.

Arthur C. Anton, Jr., vice president of Anton’s Cleaners, has been appointed the 2009-2010 president of the New England Chapter of Sanitone’s worldwide network of drycleaning professionals.

Members are independent drycleaners that are authorized to use Sanitone clothing care products. They work together to improve efficiency, strengthen training and performance and adhere to environmental standards.

“In these economically challenging times working together to pool ideas, resources and initiatives helps our industry and significantly benefits our customers,” said Anton.

Anton's Cleaners is a family-owned business with 44 stores in eastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Anton's Cleaners is also the sponsor of Coats for Kids and Belle of the Ball community relation programs.

Paul Wiljanen has been promoted to executive vice president for the Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network (CRDN).

Wiljanen joined CRDN in 2001 as vice president of franchise development with responsibility for building CRDN’s national footprint. As the CRDN organization grew to encompass 94 percent of the United States, Wiljanen’s role expanded into working with CRDN franchise owners and sales professionals on sales management and marketing strategies.

In his new position, Wiljanen will become even more involved with CRDN’s overall sales process.

Wiljanen’s experience includes 40 years in sales and nearly 20 years in franchising. Previously, he served as president and chief operating officer of the 1-800-Dryclean franchise system and was executive vice president for the corporate office of Molly Maid in Ann Arbor, MI.

“Paul has been an integral part of the CRDN team since its beginning,” said CRDN President Chip Bifano. “In addition to his thorough knowledge of franchising, Paul’s sales acumen has contributed to the growth and success of many of our business owners and their sales professionals.”

CRDN franchise owners specialize in insurance restoration laundry and drycleaning services for all types of loss that currently operates in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

The mayor of Santa Cruz, CA, proclaimed Tuesday, January 27 as Classic Cleaners Day, recognizing the company’s annual drive that brought in more than 6,000 coats this year.

Pamela Whittington, owner of Classic Cleaners, received the proclamation from Mayor Cynthia Mathews.

Whittington is District 4 Director for the California Cleaners Association. She purchased Classic Cleaners in 2006 and initiated the coat drive in 2007. She also conducted a back-to-school fund-raiser last fall in which hundreds of students received school supplies.

Customers who donated coats received discounts on their cleaning, the proclamation noted, in addition to time given by Classic Cleaners and its employees to gather, clean, repair and distribute the coats.

Classic Cleaners was nominated as Business of the Year by the Aptos Chamber of Commerce and was the recipient of the 2008 Metro Gold Award.

The Cleaning and Laundry Association Executives held their annual meeting at Shephard’s Beach Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL, January 8-10 where they discussed topics concerning technical aspects of cleaning and laundry association management and ways to help their members through troubled economic times.

New officers of CLAE elected at the meeting were Brian Wallace of the Coin Laundry Association, president; David Cotter of the Textile Care Allied Trades Association, vice president; Kenney Slatten of the Western States Drycleaners and Launderers Association, secretary; and Carol Memberg of the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association, treasurer.