Page 4 - Clothesline - November 2020

PAGE 4 / NATIONAL CLOTHESLINE / NOVEMBER, 2020
National A national newspaper

Clothesline for drycleaners and launderers
November, 2020
Volume 62 Number 2

Catching up on the virtual learning curve

The year was 1996 and the Cowboy Cleaner was concerned. During a profile us a glimpse of what leaders from all aspects of the industry have faced in recent
interview in this publication, Kenney Slatten believed the drycleaning industry was in months, from equipment makers dealing with the logistical problems of cargo
danger of drifting apart too much. Cleaners were seeing lots of volume, Clean Show shipments coming from overseas to drycleaning plants trying creative ways to keep
attendance kept growing and so much success was resulting in complacency, a staff employed.
dangerous place to find yourself as an entrepreneur. Without question, there was plenty of valuable information there to help your
“I think we’re not hungry,” he said. “People need to get a little hungrier, a little business, and many more are forthcoming (4 p.m. EST on the 2nd Wednesday of the
more serious about their business. We’ve kind of lost sight of the brotherhood. It’s month). Perhaps the most interesting byproduct of all of these efforts is that it allows
going to take something to knock us to the knees” in order to wake the industry up. us to see and hear from people we normally only can read about. In some ways, it
He was not wrong. Fast forward through a recession in the late 2000s and a has drawn the industry closer than ever even —ironic in a time when we all cannot
pandemic a little over a decade later, and the industry is hardly recognizable from the meet face-to-face.
same one of late last century. Perhaps we’ll be able to again next year at the Clean Show, but that seems like
Almost a quarter of a century later, and the Cowboy Cleaner was still a lifetime away during the current hostile economic climate. The latest industry
concerned. That was why he was so popular in this industry; he cared so much about offering may very well help drycleaners stay in business that long... and more. Make
it. Slatten was an optimist, to be sure, but also a realist. In one of his final columns no mistake, the Fall Fest EXPO offered by the South Eastern Fabricare Association,
for Cleaner & Launderer a few months ago, he emphasized a dire need for the the Pennsylvania and Delaware Cleaners Association and the North East Fabricare
industry to band together. “Despite some people in our industry thinking they don’t Association has been prepared with the goal of keeping drycleaners open and
need our industry associations, we really do need the expert advice of these fine helping them pivot to a better position for success.
trainers, educators and experts at DLI. Be a member and utilize their services. Being The weeklong event will include about 20 hours of educational programming
a tight nit industry, we all need to band together for a unified front.” that will focus on several major themes: business development, team building,
In a time when social distancing precludes getting together in person for large production and a forecast of the future. For essentially the price of an airline ticket,
meetings and conventions, that is not always so easy. However, like most people but without the added anxiety of being in a small enclosed space with a face mask
during these Covid times, drycleaners are adapting and the truth is, technology on, registrants can let their entire plant take part in the training sessions. Too busy?
allows the industry to communicate quickly and easier than ever. And, boy has it. No problem. Videos of the programs will be available for viewing for a minimum of
For months now, industry associations have been hosting frequent meetings so three months afterwards.
cleaners can advise each other through tough times and have access to information Finally, we would be remiss if we did not mention our own free webinar
about the best practices, services and strategies that are working right now. The coming on Dec. 9 (see page 10). As a product of the times, many cleaners have
Drycleaning and Laundry Institute have offered webinars, training programs and contacted us asking questions about buying/selling plants. Some want out; some
informative meetings so the industry does not miss a beat educationally. want to grow. All want more information, so we responded. Hopefully, the industry
While trade shows and meetings will likely return in full force someday in the will respond back. With so many “brought to their knees” recently, it’s hard to
future, getting through the present will lean heavily on Zoom, Microsoft Teams and imagine cleaners will be complacent at this time. As the late, great, Kenney Slatten
cell phones. once noted: “I once thought it was unnecessary to mingle with other drycleaners
Fortunately, much of the industry has adapted accordingly and have tried to back in the 60’s and 70’s. I eventually realized I was kidding myself. I was not so
engage the drycleaning public in positive ways. Recently, we have also seen two brilliant that I could not learn something from others. Think of it this way, ‘If
installments of America Best Cleaners’ Leadership Forum series, which have given learning is by experience only, then your rate of learning will be quite slow.’”

Contents

News & Features Columns

6 Reclaiming a name It was an unusual start for the 8 Dan Eisen Understanding chemical reactions can make
stain removal easier and more proficient.
Kell brothers of Ft. Worth back in the late 1980s.

10 Buying or selling? A panel of six experts will 12 Frank Kollman Between politics and Covid, there are
a lot of issues that can pop up in the workplace.
examine real estate issues for drycleaning businesses
Departments 16 Bruce Grossman What causes vapor lock, and more
importantly, what can you do about it?

26 Classified advertising 18 Don Desrosiers It is so easy to miscalculate shirt
labor costs, and extremely hard to figure out why.
22 Peter Blake The harsh truth is you must become

Check out additional coverage at www.natclo.com including stronger if you want to survive these times
highlights from the second Leadership Forum and a touching James Peuster There is no more time to remain on
tribute to Kenney Slatten by Lynnette Watterson. 24 the fence. Now is the time to grow, or go.

BPS Carol Memberg erated by any national or regional trade association.
NATIONAL CLOTHESLINE is not owned or op-
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Advertisers are solely responsible for statements
EdITOR
Chris Pollay
communications [email protected] made in their advertising.
NATIONAL CLOTHESLINE (US ISSN #07446306)
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