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National

Clothe sline

January 2021 Volume 62 Number 4 www.nationalclothesline.com

Forecasting fabricare’s future

While most people are eager ten. Since then, McCann has
to finally see 2020 end — Time managed to grow the staff back
magazine called it the “worst up to 30 employees, and the way
year ever” on a recent cover — that was accomplished was by
there is still considerable con- making a plan and correcting the
sternation among cleaners as to course on the fly to adapt to each
what will unfold for the industry new day’s reality. Her company
in the new year. has come out stronger, but the
In recent months, financial battle isn’t quite over yet.
experts around the globe have “In my mind, in the industry,
pondered what to expect from there’s going to be less owners,”
the economy in 2021, and the she said, referring to the future.
outlook seems mostly positive. “I think there’s going to be better
During the recent Fall Fest quality, which will drive bigger
EXPO, economist Chris Kuehl During the latest installment of America Best Cleaners’ “Leadership Forum” series online, margins. I think the efficiencies
cautioned that 2021 will likely (top row left to right) moderator Chris White, The Route Pros’ James Peuster, DLI Executive that we’re all driving at —
not be “the year of rainbows and Director Mary Scalco, (bottom row left to right) Unipress’s Tom Stites, Catherine McCann of forced by a pandemic — like go-
unicorns,” but there is some rea- Best Cleaners and Tony Stephens, president of Tower Cleaners, all discussed a topic that has ing cashless, going more deliv-
son to believe better times lay been on the minds of many recently: What will happen to the drycleaning industry in 2021? ery, more app pickups so people
ahead. “There’s about 75% sup- of America Best Cleaners’ sically taking our yearly budget works double duty as owner of aren’t interfacing with each
port for pretty solid growth in (ABC) “Leadership Forum” se- and reviewing that every day.” Best Cleaners and a partner of other... will make us bigger mar-
2021, so among the markets and ries last month, Unipress’s Tom Nothing is certain in recent ABC, noted during the same on- gins.”
among the economists, there is Stites discussed how the major times, but that applies to the line session that her company’s Representing the Drycleaning
confidence going forward.” manufacturer of drycleaning good as well as the bad. Stites plans were thrown out com- and Laundry Institute, Executive
Many in the drycleaning in- equipment is preparing for what noted that he had been person- pletely last March. As she Director Mary Scalco has ap-
dustry have echoed these senti- lies ahead. ally affected by the coronavirus. summed it up: “What comes in peared at numerous online
ments during recent online con- “For the first time in our ca- “We did have one covid case every week is what our plan is.” events, and her assessment is
ferences and webinars, offering reers — and I’m sure it’s the that happened to be my 94-year- Her New York cleaning busi- that COVID-19 has sped every-
much-needed hope for business same for everybody else — old mother-in-law,” he said. ness dropped 89% during the thing up in the business world.
owners that financial numbers we’re actually in uncharted wa- “But, she’s fine. She’s doing first week New York went on It made customers crave con-
will be better improving. ters. No one’s ever been through quite well now.” lockdown. The staff size plum- venience more than ever and it
During the fourth installment this before,” he said. “We’re ba- Catherine McCann, who metted from 80 employees to Continued on page 10
DLI revs up its online offerings

With coronavirus cases in the professionals need to survive bers (on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. following day.
U.S. back on the steep rise, it this crisis,” noted Brian Johnson, EST and Wednesdays at 3 p.m. During the second week of
may be a while before the DLI’s director of education. “So EST), DLI will offer two webi- this month, there will first be a
Drycleaning and Laundry Insti- far we’ve produced more than nars weekly all month. presentation on wetcleaning
tute can open its school back up 50 webinars and we’re not slow- That means eight DLI webi- with Dan Goldman of Laundry-
for in-person instruction. How- ing down anytime soon. nars are coming up, beginning lux on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and
ever, that doesn’t mean school Drycleaners need this informa- with “Using LinkedIn to Gener- then one on “Little Known
won’t be in session frequently tion. We’re here to help them ate Business” with Lou D’Auto- Covid Tax Benefits” with Puz-
in the coming months. survive this and come out rio on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Beth Z, zleHR on Jan. 13.
“Our school may be closed stronger on the other side.” Your Nerdy Best Friend, will On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Dale
for now but DLI is committed to In addition to hosting Zoom present “29 Tech Tools to Create Kaplan of Kaplan’s Careful
sharing information drycleaning meetings twice a week for mem- Social Media Content” on the Continued on page 10 Brian Johnson

Sneak Peek

Inside

6 Riding on the open road

Cleaner Mark Watkins is not one to stay still long.
That’s how you get a target on your back.
16 Calculating route values

James Peuster examines ways to determine the value
of pickup and delivery routes.
18 Covid as a catalyst

The pandemic has forced the industry to speed up
many much-need improvements.
The Association of Wedding Gown Specialists met early in 2020 in Santa Barbara, CA, and Covid as a complication
toured Ablitt’s Fine Cleaners. Unfortunately, the group’s next annual meeting, originally 20
scheduled to take place next month, has been postponed — the first such postponement from The good news is that vaccines are coming; the bad
the association in 30 years. The next annual meeting will now take place in Jacksonville, FL, news is that employees might refuse to get them.
in 2022.