No name change, but DLI has other plans for the Clean Show
Two years ago, the trade association formerly know as the International
Fabricare Institute took the occasion of the Clean Show to announce it was
changing its name to the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute, and then threw a huge party to make sure nobody could forget.
This year in New Orleans, nothing quite so dramatic is expected from DLI, but
there will be a party along with three mornings of seminars and opportunities
to talk with DLI staff about programs and services at the association’s booth during show hours.
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The awards honor individuals and organizations for contributions to the industry
in the areas of legislative/regulatory, technology, environmentalism,
professionalism and positive recognition. This year will mark the tenth
anniversary of the awards which were first presented at the 1999 Clean Show in
Orlando.
Once this year’s awardees have been duly honored, a panel discussion on automation and labor
savings will commence. The program will feature presentations by four
manufacturers — Mark Jones of SPOT Business Systems, Bill Odorizzi of Sankosha, Tom Stites of
Unipress and Frank Dubasik of Metalprogetti. After each speaks, cleaners who
use the automated equipment will share stories on how the technology helps
their business by making training easier and saving time and money.
The program should end by 10 a.m., in time for the grand opening and
ribbon-cutting at the exhibit hall.
DLI staff will be in the exhibit hall in the Clean Show sponsor pavilion where
each of the trade association co-sponsors will have a booth. DLI CEO Bill
Fisher will be joined by staff members Jon Meijer, Brian Johnson, Jim Kirby
Christine Hagan, Harry Kimmel, Blair McClary and Timothy Parris. They’ll be ready to discuss the benefits of DLI membership, the Award of Excellence
and the Premier Club. They’ll also be showing off the association’s newest edition of the Encyclopedia of Drycleaning, which contains just about
anything a drycleaner would need to know on a searchable CD.
Joining DLI staff in the booth will be representatives of Irving Weber
Associates to discuss business insurance and Cleaner’s Capital, DLI’s endorsed lending program, to help with equipment financing.
It’ll be a long opening day but when the show shuts down at 5 p.m. the sight and
sounds (and tastes) of New Orleans will beckon.
What goes on after the show closes is nobody’s business but yours. However, early the next day, DLI will get started again.
The 8 o’clock program on Friday morning will feature cleaners telling how the Award of
Excellence has helped their businesses. AOE cleaners scheduled to speak include
Martin Young of Young Cleaners in North Carolina, Dave Silliman of Uptowne
Drycleaning in Arizona and Dave Beatty of Murrysville Cleaners in Pennsylvania.
The AOE program, which started at Clean ’05 in Orlando, FL, provides public recognition for cleaners who prove they meet
high standards for customer service, stain removal and cleaning. Those who
achieved AOE status say it helps attract new customers and impresses existing
ones.
Following that one-hour presentation, James Peuster, aka The Route Pro, will
take the stage to tell how to establish successful routes. Readers who are
familiar with Peuster through his monthly columns in National Clothesline will have an up close and personal chance to hear his ideas and ask him
questions.
The program should conclude by 10 a.m. leaving attendees plenty of time for
booth visiting before the show closes at 5 p.m.
DLI will follow up its 100th anniversary celebration of two years ago with a
gala event at its headquarters hotel, The Monteleone, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
DLI promises not to change its name this time, but it will provide a good time
for all.
The final day of DLI programs will feature “The Great Solvent Debate,” starting at 8 a.m. Saturday. A panel presided over by National Clothesline Publisher Carol Memberg will answer questions pertaining to five non-perc
solvent alternatives. Solvents to be covered include Solvair by L. Ross Beard
of Solvair; Drysolv by Ray Roccon of Drycleaning Technologies; GreenEarth by
Tim Maxwell of GreenEarth Cleaning; CO2 by Jon Wikstrom of COOL Clean
Technologies; and hydrocarbon by Steve Languilli of Columbia/ILSA.
Wrapping up the DLI slate will be a presentation by Daniel McCrory of the Golomb
Group on web sites. Titled “If You Build It, They (Customers) Will Come,” the program will explain how to lead those 21st century googling customers to
your store with a well-designed web site.
Although that will conclude DLI’s scheduled programming, there will still be two days to visit the exhibits in
the convention center, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
Sunday.
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