Whether it’s to serve customers better or to offset a tight labor market, dry cleaners are increasingly turning to automation. We discuss this trend with Christopher White, executive director of America’s Best Cleaners, and Will Waterstraat, ma

Buying Out the Competition

Mar 21st, 2023 12m 46s

When dry cleaners want to expand, they can either open new stores or buy out competition looking to get out of the business. We explore this topic with Gary Glover of Puritan Cleaners and Arthur C. Anton, Jr. of Anton's Cleaners.

Training and Promotion

Dec 13th, 2022 14m 3s

Mark Scott came up through the ranks to become the owner of Bakker’s Fine Drycleaning in Kirkland, Washington. Here, he provides owners with tips on identifying team members who are ready for more responsibility.

Special Report: LA Cleaners, Associations Fight Proposed Poly Bag Ban

Dec 7th, 2022 6m 7s

Lawmakers in Los Angeles recently met to consider banning single-use plastic bags, and dry cleaners feared that the poly bags they use would also be affected. Industry trade organizations quickly rallied to make sure the drycleaner’s voice was

Preventative Maintenance for the Win!

Oct 12th, 2022 21m 26s

Jerry Moore of Moore Services highlights the benefits of performing regular preventative maintenance on your equipment — and warns of the risks of neglecting this important task.

Continuing Education

Aug 10th, 2022 12m 8s

Brian Johnson of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) joins us to examine the value of taking part in virtual and in-person continuing educational opportunities.

Pleasantly Surprising Customers

Jun 7th, 2022 11m 54s

Kyle Matthews of Detroit’s Janet Davis Cleaners offers ideas and outlooks for boosting the customer experience in your store, making you the only cleaner your clients consider.

Making the Most of a Trade Show

Apr 12th, 2022 11m 27s

Messe Frankfurt’s Greg Jira joins us to discuss the benefits of attending industry trade shows, including ways to prepare prior to the event to get the most out of your time there. We also get a preview of Clean Show 2022.

Cleaners, Raise Your Prices!

Feb 8th, 2022 13m 51s

Kermit Engh of Methods for Management explores why dry cleaners should not be afraid to raise prices when their own cost of production is on the rise. We discuss reasons why most customers will understand this trend, as well as strategies for d

Building a Cohesive Staff

Dec 15th, 2021 17m 59s

Jeff Jordan of Fabritec International shares ways he’s found to form a team atmosphere in a business. We discuss why it’s important in a drycleaning company, the role of management in fostering this feeling in a plant, and how to avoid common m

Building Up Your Online Reputation

Oct 13th, 2021 18m 50s

Dave Coyle of Maverick Drycleaners joins us to explore online reputation management — what it is, why it’s important and what dry cleaners can do to make sure they are putting their best foot forward online to attract and keep customers.

Succession Planning: Becoming Your Dry Cleaner's Next Leader

Aug 11th, 2021 17m 2s

Monika Manter of Balfurd Dry Cleaners discusses growing into a leadership role in a family business, the decisions that need to be made along the way and, when the time comes, how to make a smooth transition for everyone involved.

What It Takes to Create a Drycleaning Plant

Jun 16th, 2021 19m 27s

Jon Simon of Parkway Custom Drycleaning shares his experiences of starting a new plant, from selecting the location to moving his operations to setting up shop — along with the surprises he found along the way.

Dealing With Difficult Customers

Apr 13th, 2021 18m 17s

Brian Butler, president of Dublin Cleaners, joins us to discuss how to deal with customer complaints, including ways to train your staff to deal with customer claims, methods to avoid conflict with customers, what to do when conflict is unavoid

Selling Young Adults on Dry Cleaning's Value

Feb 9th, 2021 19m 55s

Jennifer Marquardt, a partner in Arthur’s Executive Cleaners, shares her experiences of adding young adults to her client base — including what they’re looking for, what they expect and what they might not know a cleaner can do.

Being Charitable: Doing Great Works for the Community

Dec 15th, 2020 8m 25s

Tom Zengeler, president of Zengeler Cleaners, discusses the value of charity drives — how to start them, how to operate them and what they can mean for both your community and your cleaning business.

Marketing: How to Stand Out In a Crowded Field

Nov 11th, 2020 15m 20s

Diana Vollmer, a managing director and senior consultant for Ascend Consulting Group, joins us to discuss the importance of marketing for dry cleaners in any type of economic condition, what goes into a successful campaign and more.

Offering Wash-Dry-Fold: Expanding Services in the Casual Era

Oct 14th, 2020 15m 27s

Joel Jorgensen, VP of Sales for Girbau North America, discusses the advantages that offering or expanding your company's wash-dry-fold services can bring during these uncertain times.

Workplace Safety 101: Guidelines, Cleanup Time, and Using Good Sense

Aug 12th, 2020 10m 31s

Brian Cass, co-owner of Martinizing Metro Milwaukee, shares some practical daily, weekly and other tips for keeping the drycleaning workplace safe and clean.

To Buy or to Lease: Compare the Differences

Jul 13th, 2020 15m 54s

Listen as Joe Hebeka, owner of The Belding Group, talks about both sides of the equation: buying and leasing a garment care property. "It's all about the cash flow," Hebeka says, "look at every situation individually."

Workplace Security 101: What to Do, How to Do It, and Why You Should

Jun 8th, 2020 14m 54s

Security begins with the garment care location. Alex Yearout, owner of Complete Cleaners, discusses leadership, the power of a smile, having lighting to reassure clients and staff, and using video to solve "the mysteries of missing pieces." Sec

Counter Dream Team: Be Unforgettable to Clients at the Front Counter

May 11th, 2020 11m 59s

Coaching, collaboration and teamwork help create an unforgettable front counter team, relates Todd Ofsink, CEO of Todd Layne Cleaners. To nurture that customer-first mentality, he says it's sort of like being a parent. And he's looking for that

Diversify With CRDN and Stay Essential

Apr 24th, 2020 19m 10s

DIVERSIFICATION IS CRITICAL TODAY MORE THAN EVER. Learn how CRDN trains and helps dry cleaners diversify the services they provide. CRDN is the largest textile and electronics restoration franchise network in the world with 152 locations throug

Having Backup Equipment: If You Have One, You Have None

Apr 14th, 2020 14m 42s

Let redundancy permeate your cleaning operation and all throughout your business, relates Zach Kinzer, owner of Bridgestone Cleaners. He describes having backup coverage in equipment and people as the key. Always "be able to flow," he says.

Opening New Channels: Lockers, Kiosks

Mar 10th, 2020 14m 20s

Consumer habits have changed. It's a convenience-first society today, says Wayne Wudyka, CEO of The Huntington Company, the Martinizing franchise and CRDN. He talks about new opportunities for owners to diversify. One he calls, "Life-changing."