The American Drycleaner Podcast

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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

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."

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.

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.

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 disaster. Learn more now about how you can diversify with CRDN and be considered an essential service, allowing you to be in demand in the best and worst of times. CRDN offers an experienced home office team ready to provide you with support from day one! Listen, learn and call today.

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.

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.

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.

Practical, real-world tips, from today's new hiring market, on how to find the right employee to fit a drycleaning operation from Sasha Ablitt, owner, Ablitt's Fine Cleaning.

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.

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.

Discover what it takes to be an effective partner today in the supply chain from Mike Ross, owner of Aristocraft Supply. He'll talk about those vital relationships distributors develop with both vendors and drycleaning owners.

Press pads are an essential part of the last step in processing a professionally cleaned garment. Michael Oh, owner of Air World Pads and Covers, talks about why you need them, when to replace them, and reminds you that your customer always looks for that finely pressed garment at pickup.

Learn about the different spotting tools and types of garment stains, along with some "magic words" (tips for spotters) from the Stain Wizard himself Jeff Schwarz, regional vice president for A.L. Wilson Chemical Company.

Learn practical tips on how to choose the right boiler capacity for your drycleaning operation from Mike Leeming, national sales manager with Parker Boiler Company.

From leases and locations to transitional costs and welcoming a new team into your operational family, Dan LaCarte, president of the drycleaning division of Model Cleaners, talks you through the highs and the learning experiences of making a buy in the drycleaning market today.

Kyle Nesbit, senior vice president of business development at Edit Texas LLC, a franchisee of Tide Dry Cleaners, tells you what it takes to "brand and expand" in today's drycleaning market, and why it's important to have a consistent and complementary company identity across all your marketing channels and at all your client touchpoints.

John Riddle, owner of Riddle & Associates, and the man behind the Clean Show for decades, is the special guest of host Bruce Beggs, editorial director of American Trade Magazines. Riddle discusses professional baseball, the coming Clean Show, and his retirement.

How do you reach out to peers in the fabricare industry to get help and discuss ideas? Nora Nealis, executive director, National Cleaners Association, shares ways drycleaning owners can connect with colleagues.

Are your routes covered? Your tech? Your customers' clothing? Ann Hawkins, vice president, NIE Insurance, talks coverages, claims, and drycleaning owners' most commonly asked insurance questions.

From site selection to cutting the ribbon, what it takes to design a drycleaning plant, told by the grand-prize winner of American Drycleaner's 58th Annual Plant Design Awards, Tide Dry Cleaners, Sarasota, Fla.

Do you want to drop 20% profit to your bottom line? Dave Coyle, owner of In The Bag Cleaners, shows you by sharing his views on, not "cost controls," but on managing "investments," and on being a caring, trusted advisor to your clients and team members.

Jan Barlow, owner, Jan's Cleaners in Clio, Mich., former DLI president, chair of NFPA 32 for fire safety, and an owner in the drycleaning industry since 1981, talks about changes, new hiring trends, and reminds fellow owners of dust control tips.

Dan Miller, popular American Drycleaner columnist, and Mulberrys Garment Care owner, shares tips on expanding a drycleaning business into new markets, including positive surprises along the way to building a brand.

Come along for the ride with Salomon Mishaan, owner of OXXO Care Cleaners, as he explains how he journeyed from his home in Bogota, Columbia, to Florida, to become a drycleaning owner and franchisor.

Martin Young, popular American Drycleaner columnist, talks about growing up in a drycleaning family, learning stain removal from his dad, and giving back to the industry.

 Bruce Barish, owner of Winzer Cleaners, talks about his drycleaning business winning a Tony Award and 110 years of cleaning — truly the longest running show on Broadway!

Diana Vollmer, popular American Drycleaner columnist, talks about growing up in the rural midwest, along with hobbies, interests and her writing.

Bob Devaney, well-known in the drycleaning industry, gives out great tips all about drop stores; why they are growing in popularity — and value!

Mark Battersby, well-known tax and finance writer, explores 2018 tax law changes with Bruce Beggs, editor, American Coin-Op.

Bob Hilker, Brothers Cleaners, winner, 2018 Plant Design Awards, recounts how his plant was rebuilt after a devastating fire.