The American Drycleaner Podcast - podcast cover

The American Drycleaner Podcast

American Drycleaneramericandrycleaner.podbean.com
Conversations about the dry cleaning industry.
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Episodes

Workplace Violence & Prevention

After a deadly shooting at a textile care facility earlier this year, preventing workplace violence has gained a new focus for many dry cleaners. Carol Dodgen of Dodgen Security Consulting and Jay Juffre from ImageFIRST discuss warning signs, training, prevention and more.

Aug 21, 202425 minEp. 50

Automation Must-Haves for Your Plant

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, managing partner of Seattle-based Helena Cleaners.

May 30, 202315 minEp. 49

Buying Out the Competition

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.

Mar 21, 202313 minEp. 48

Training and Promotion

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.

Dec 13, 202214 minEp. 47

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

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 heard during this discussion.

Dec 07, 20226 minEp. 46

Preventative Maintenance for the Win!

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.

Oct 12, 202221 minEp. 45

Continuing Education

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.

Aug 10, 202212 minEp. 44

Pleasantly Surprising Customers

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.

Jun 07, 202212 minEp. 43

Making the Most of a Trade Show

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.

Apr 12, 202211 minEp. 42

Cleaners, Raise Your Prices!

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 dealing with those who don’t.

Feb 08, 202214 minEp. 41

Building a Cohesive Staff

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 morale killers.

Dec 15, 202118 minEp. 40

Building Up Your Online Reputation

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.

Oct 13, 202119 minEp. 39

Succession Planning: Becoming Your Dry Cleaner's Next Leader

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.

Aug 11, 202117 minEp. 38

What It Takes to Create a Drycleaning Plant

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.

Jun 16, 202119 minEp. 37

Dealing With Difficult Customers

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 unavoidable, and more.

Apr 13, 202118 minEp. 36

Selling Young Adults on Dry Cleaning's Value

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.

Feb 09, 202120 minEp. 35

Being Charitable: Doing Great Works for the Community

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.

Dec 15, 20208 minEp. 34

Marketing: How to Stand Out In a Crowded Field

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.

Nov 11, 202015 minEp. 33

To Buy or to Lease: Compare the Differences

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."

Jul 13, 202016 minEp. 30

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

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." Security, he adds, is about providing a safe workplace.

Jun 08, 202015 minEp. 29

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

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 caring, special person who can shine at the front counter.

May 11, 202012 minEp. 28

Diversify With CRDN and Stay Essential

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 throughout the US, Canada, and the UK, and we’re growing! CRDN franchise partners have been providing emergency response as a formalized network for 19 years, working with policyholders, insurance representatives, and contractors to restore peace of mind after a...

Apr 24, 202019 minEp. 27

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

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.

Apr 14, 202015 minEp. 26

Opening New Channels: Lockers, Kiosks

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." Find out why.

Mar 10, 202014 minEp. 25

Machine Technology Equals Team Member Efficiency

Machine technology has taken enormous leaps in recent decades. Scott Bell, owner of Bryan's Cleaners, discusses the biggest advances in dry cleaning, but reminds us of the importance of your team members, who make it all happen.

Feb 10, 202017 minEp. 24

Finishing in Drycleaning Operations

Finishing is an essential part of processing a professionally cleaned garment. Mike Tungesvick, national sales manager at Sankosha USA, talks about the skill and pride of the finisher, and the various types of finishing equipment in use at drycleaning plants today.

Dec 06, 201911 minEp. 22

Wet Cleaning in the Dry Cleaning World

Learn how wet cleaning can fit into your operation so you can more fully serve your clients today, with Michael "Stucky" Szczotka, owner of Eagle Star Equipment and Poseidon Textile Care Systems.

Nov 11, 201916 minEp. 21
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