February 2012
National Clothesline
On the horizon. Two actions from the Environmental Protection Agency that could effect the
future regulation of perchloroethylene are expected soon, according to industry
sources.
Adco acquired. Equinox Chemicals has acquired Adco Cleaning Products as part of its strategy to
build a global portfolio of laundry and drycleaning chemical companies and
ventures.Get on the web. DLI is offering free website creation and hosting to all members through a partnership with Directory Networks.
Keep collecting. When the deadline for Anton’s Cleaners 2012 Coats for Kids drive passed, the company had collected 56,000
winter garments, a bit short of the goal 60,000, so continued collecting past
the deadline.
Always a neighbor. Parkway Cleaners of Edmond, Oklahoma, opened its doors in 1959 on the first birthday of Mark
Neighbors. Started by his father, Ed, and his uncle, Bud, Mark’s earliest memories center on the family business.
Fully featured. Computers should make life easier and productive, but sometimes they can limit
your ability to get data that helps market to current customers. James Peuster
highlights key features a computer system should have for running routes.
Time for a change. Frank Kollman loved his drycleaner and sent a lot of work to him. But soon
after he sold the business to another cleaner, it was clear the new guy was not
going to work out.
Greatest hits. Don Desrosiers says his January 2006 column about rope ties has been by a wide
margin the most read article on his website. Tme for an update.
Troubled by trim. Many trimmings used by manufacturers can cause staining and the cause and origin
of the stain may not be easily traced. Dan Eisen offers clues and cures.
Start talking. Set up a schedule for weekly or bi-weekly meetings with staff to cover various
areas of the business. What is there to talk about? Plenty, says Harvey
Gershenson.
Working smarter. Mobile devices have instigated a rapid change in the way businesses communicate
with clients. Neil Schroeder has tips on how to keep up with these advancements.
The current issue in its printed format, including all advertisements, is
available as a pdf download (16MB) here.
Having a “Gran” time
With temperatures in the 80s and a clear blue sky, about 90 cleaners gathered in
Puerto Rico for the first-ever joint conference by the National Cleaners
Association and the Drycleaning and Laundry Institute. The Gran Melia Resort
was the venue for a weekend of workshops and socializing with NCA and DLI
members basking not only in the warm sunshine but also the camaraderie that
flowed as they worked together to better their businesses. Previously the two
associations have sponsored separate winter conferences — NCA’s Brainstorming and DLI’s Five-Star. Hence the Jan. 12-15 conference became the Five-Star Brainstorming
Conference.
“It was great to be able to bring NCA and DLI members together in one space,” said Brian Johnson, DLI’s director of education and analysis. “It’s interesting how businesspeople, no matter where their businesses are, all come
up against the same issues.”
The joint gathering was an outgrowth of conversations that began at last summer’s Clean Show in Las Vegas as the two associations discussed cooperative
ventures. Plans for the joint conference were announced at NCA’s Texcare exhibit last fall where DLI CEO Mary Scalco joined with NCA Executive
Director Nora Nealis in a presentation during the show’s seminar program. More…
