National Clothesline

Karen Swink (right) of Lindeman’s Cleaning, Inc. received the 2009 Fitzgerald Scholarship at Wisconsin Fabricare Institute’s convention in Green Bay, WI, in February. Jim Fitzgerald (left) made the presentation. Swink will receive up to $2,000 in scholarship and travel expenses to attend one to three weeks of drycleaner training at the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute in Laurel, MD.

Swink thanked WFI members in attendance, many of whom sponsor and play in the annual Fitzgerald Scholarship Golf Outing, which raises money for the scholarships. The 2009 event will be held at the Silver Spring Country Club on June 10.

FRSTeam has added Cappy’s Cleaners as an independent licensed operator focusing on the greater Baltimore and District of Columbia area. Located in Baltimore, FRSTeam by Cappy’s offers restoration services for fabrics and textiles damaged by smoke, fire, water and mold.

FRSTeam provides insurance carriers and damage mitigation contractors restoration services for fabrics and textiles damaged by smoke, fire, water, and mold.

“As a fourth generation drycleaner celebrating 65 years in business, FRSTeam’s family values mirrored our commitment,” said Mike Capobianco of FRSTeam by Cappy’s.

FRSTeam now offers fabric restoration services in 34 U.S. states. Since signing its first independent licensed operator in August of 2006, FRSTeam has grown to a network of 28 independent licensed businesses in addition to its seven company-owned locations. FRSTeam also maintains an operator in Ontario, Canada, and an affiliate relationship with Johnsons Fabric Restoration Services in the United Kingdom.

Irving Weber Associates (IWA) has added the California Cleaners Association (CCA) to its list of endorsing organizations bringing to 16 the number of associations in the IWA fabric care insurance program.

The program is produced and underwritten in association with the Great Central Insurance Co. division of Argo Group US.

“This has been a long-time coming,” said David Suber, president of CCA.

“IWA is well respected for providing unmatched insurance protection and service to the fabric care industry. They have already demonstrated their worth to many of our members and the added benefit of their dividend-paying workers’ compensation safety group is just icing on the cake.”

Suber added that in California, where workers’ compensation costs can make the difference between staying in business or not, cleaners need every advantage. CCA members can use any broker they chose or work directly with IWA to access the program.

Established in 1946, IWA is a fourth-generation insurance agency that specializes in the design, development, and marketing of insurance programs to the fabric care industry and offers added advantages to the members of endorsing associations.

IWA’s comprehensive insurance program includes business owners, automobile, umbrella liability, and workers’ compensation and pollution liability coverage.

Other industry associations that endorse IWA include the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute; the MidWest Drycleaning and Laundry Association; the Iowa-Nebraska Cleaners Association; the Illinois State Fabricare Association; the Midatlantic Association of Cleaners; the Minnesota Cleaners Association; the North Carolina Association of Launderers and Cleaners; the Northeast Fabricare Association; the Ohio Cleaners Association; the Pennsylvania & Delaware Cleaners Association; the Rocky Mountain Fabricare Association; the Western States Drycleaners & Launderers Association; the Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network; and Americas’ Best Cleaners.

“We are proud to have earned these endorsements,” said Adam Weber, president of IWA. “They clearly illustrate what we have accomplished and further validate our many advantages.

Douglas Adams and Steve Schachtel have teamed up to form US Funding LLC, which specializes in drycleaning equipment financing among other industries.

Adams and Schachtel have a combined 40 years of experience in the equipment financing business.

Adams previously served as director of the garment care financing division of Butler Capital Corp. Previously, he was president of Delphi Capital Corp.

Schachtel served as long-time divisional president of Lakeland Bank and operated his own leasing company for 14 years.

“With many financing companies struggling, there is a void in the marketplace,” said Adams. “In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever to give the customer more flexible financing options. We provide competitive rates and superior customer service.”

US Funding offers small-ticket “application only” financing up to $100,000 as well as funding for larger transactions including business expansions and acquisition financing.

US Funding also offers loans up to $10,000 in working capital along with equipment financing. These funds can be used for any purpose such as remodeling, paying suppliers or obtaining additional equipment.

In addition, US Funding also offers flexible financing programs. One option involves having the first six months of the lease or loan payments at $99 per month with two required advance payments of only $99. This program lets the customer obtain financing for minimal out-of-pocket costs and five months of nominal payments.

For more information, contact Doug Adams at dadams@usfunding.us or call (973) 339-9900.