CONVENTION 2001 ~ REGINA ~ MARCH 10th
President Larry Tessier opened the Convention welcoming the delegates and suppliers. Larry talked about how B. C. is moving ahead with a training school and working on a Certification Program with the B. C. Government and Federal Government.
Federal regulations are moving ahead at Environment Canada. The regulations are written and have been published in the Gazette.
With the lack of funds the CFA has come to a standstill, but still moving ahead with Daniel Child in charge. Daniel is Chair of the Care Label Review.
Insurance, Insurance — what do we know about it and the drycleaning industry? Thomsen Fisher Insurance of Medicine Hat, Alberta discussed “Do you know what you are covered for,” “How much risk have you taken with your current insurance?” Next up Rob Kinley of Arthur Rose Cleaners in Saskatoon discussed Leather and Suedes. He provided so much interesting and relative information, the delegates learned too.
The City of Regina provided a speaker from the Environment Department. His discussion focused on the decontamination of the Old Queen City Cleaners site, the process and what steps are being taken. In an interesting note, here is what they have found:
975 Litres Perlex
60 Litres Chloroform
115 Litres Sulfuric Acid
10 Litres Acetic Acid
23 Litres Paint
205 Litres various amounts
Jim Rowe of MSP Computer Systems talked about how computers can be such a huge benefit and are only limited to the drycleaning humans using them.
After lunch the Annual General Meeting was held. Financial Report was tabled and Elections of Office were held.
The new Board consists of:
President:
Larry Tessier
Vice-President:
Lloyd Dobrescu
Sec./Tres.
Shane Bancescue
Past President:
Terry Thorsteinsen
Directors
Bob Telfer
Brenda Lee Deck
Arlene Clarke
Greg Wilchuk
Kenney Slatten spoke in the afternoon. His talk centered
around “Price Structuring”.
Our 12th Annual Convention is
2002 CONVENTION
SASKATOON
MARCH 8, 9, 2002
C H E C K I T O U T . . . .
OUR SPDA WEBSITE ADDRESS IS:
WWW.DLCWEST.COM/~SPDA
HSIA recently initiated a comprehensive study of drycleaning workers in four Nordic countries to assess whether workers exposed to perchloroethylene have an increased risk of cancer. The new study will look at potential cancer endpoints defined by previous epidemiology studies that were complicated by exposure to other cleaning solvents and an inability to eliminate the influence of confounding life-style factors like alcohol and tobacco use.
The HSIA-sponsored study will look at drycleaning workers identified from the 1970 censuses in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The number of workers is expected to total over 7,000 individuals. The Nordic countries were selected because of the availability of comprehensive employment and medical records. Use of the 1970 census data provides 30 years of medical follow-up and reduces the potential for exposure to other cleaning solvents used prior to that time. According to industry data, 75% or more of drycleaning operations in the Nordic countries used perchloroethylene in 1970, while the U. S. figures is estimated to have been only about 50 percent. (See Table Below).
Percent Use of Drycleaning Solvents in 1968
Perc Petroleum Flurocarbon 1 Other 2
Denmark 75 20 1 4
Finland 85 <1 <1 14
Sweden 71 4 9 16
United States 50 50 <1 --
United Kingdom 8 14 1 2
1 ValcleneTM, for example.
2 Trichloroethylene and other solvents.
Source: Nordick Tidsskrift for Rensning, Farvning og Vask
1968 (Feb); 80:21-6.
The study will look at the incidence of seven cancer types, including cancer of the bladder, cervix, esophagus, kidney, liver, and pancreas as well as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It will include both record review and personal interviews with the individuals or their next of kin. The interviews will help to fill gaps in the information available from other sources and to allow collection of data on potential confounding factors.
The ability to identify life-style and other potential confounders is critical to the study and has been a major limitation of previous studies. Cigarette smoking, for example, is an established risk factor for cancer of the bladder, esophagus, kidney, and pancreas. Alcohol consumption has been associated with both esophageal and liver cancer. In addition, kidney cancer has been tied to obesity, and cervical cancer has been associated with sexual habits.
Incidence of the various cancers among the group of Nordic drycleaning workers will be compared to an age and gender-matched population of laundry workers.
Also critical to the success of the study is an accurate assessment of relative perchloroethylene exposure. This information is expected to be available in each of the four countries, based on surveys of working conditions undertaken by health inspectors, trade associations, trade unions, and academics, and on data concerning the introduction of new equipment types and regulatory changes. n
Dow’s Redesigned Web Site Provides
Comprehensive Information for Drycleaners
The Dow Chemical Company redesigned its web site to meet the requirements of drycleaners worldwide for information. Now a wealth of new material on drycleaning with perc and on DOWPER solvent, Dow’s drycleaning grade of perc, has been posted on the newly revised web site, which can be accessed at www.dowper.com. The site can also be accessed through Dow’s corporate web site, www.dow.com, and the company'’ chlorinated solvents web page, www.chlorinatedsolvents.com.
“We surveyed the people who come to our Web site to determine what they really need,” says Elaine Murphy, Dow’s drycleaning industry manager. “We used their feedback to make our site the most complete, helpful, and informative place on the web for drycleaners who use perchloroethylene.”
The redesigned web site provides drycleaners and other inquirers throughout the world with access to the full range of Dow’s information on perc, its use in drycleaning, and the company’s services, resources, and business contacts relative to DOWPER solvent. Among the new offerings at the drycleaning site is Dow’s online Troubleshooting Guide, which offers drycleaners answers to a variety of cleaning issues that may occur in the course of a workday, from poor cleaning and discoloration of whites to short cartridge life and solvent foaming.
In addition, the up-to-date Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on DOWPER solvent is available for downloading whenever required. Article reprints, safety posters, and the widely respected Basic Handbook for Drycleaners are also included at the site. Much of this literature is available in a variety of languages, including Korean, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese. Persons who enter Dow’s web site are offered a menu of further choices, which include valuable information on product stewardship, such as facts about environmental impact, regulations, health profile, safety and handling. Also included is a directory of Dow’s network of dedicated solvent distributors, as well as full information on the Closed-Loop Delivery System for DOWPER solvent, which ensures accurate and environmentally safe delivery of perchloroethylene.
For additional information about the new drycleaning web site, please
visit the web site located at www.dowper.com, www.chlorinatedsolvents.com,
or the Dow corporate site at www.dow.com.
SIZING OR STARCH:
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
By: Kenney Slatten
In our drycleaning and laundry world of cutting costs, we sometimes shop like the homemaker who travels to the five & dime store in search of spray starch. Some plants have these 99-cent cans of spray starch all over the place. Some have cans of spray sizing all over the place. It ends up on the suzy, all over the floor (a great OSHA concern for slippery floors) and generally into the air where it is lost. What a waste. But again, what’s the difference between starch and sizing?
Generally speaking sizing is something we put into our drycleaning solvent and/or injection method while cleaning. Starch is something we inject or add to a laundry wash load (with water) to impart stiffness into fabrics of the cellulose or plant nature. I am here to tell you that we cannot do without either product in order to produce quality drycleaning and laundry. Many operators try to abolish the use of sizing in the drycleaning wheel to save money. Nonsense! It makes no sense. If you feel your gentle protein fibers such as wools and silks are too stiff from D/C sizing, then do a rinse or make a separate program for these items.
By the way, silks and other protein fibers should be given a separate short gentle cycle anyway. So let’s not use that as an excuse. If you use the proper amount of sizing in the wheel, you will need less starch or sizing at the press. For garments that are wetcleaned, the use of liquid sizing and/or starch in the final; wetcleaning rinse will give the most economical and satisfactory results for body, hand and feel that you desire for today’s fabrics. The old, “sizing in my drycleaning makes the silks too stiff” is a statement based on no research or fact. Again, as with all chemicals, it is not the use of them, but rather the misuse of them that causes problems.
Some say that spray sizing has softeners that avoid that stiff feeling imparted to the fabric that some folks do not like. Could be. All the more reason for the dollar value to use sizing in the wheel. Spray starch will give the crisp feel we are looking for in cottons and linens. The mistake we make is trying to spray this stuff on with aerosol cans. Why not invest in a good water based sizing/starch that can be mixed with water. Now you have a real economical product that is hooked up to a pressure spray gun and this will work the best. This will last for weeks without going through a can of spray for every garment!
These spray tank “set ups” should be in the back of the plant near the washers. No spray of any kind should be at the press. It is not the product but rather the application of it at the press that causes a build up on the pads. When these products are sprayed on at the press, it is still wet and naturally it sticks to the pad. All spray starches should be added in the wash wheel rinse of wetcleaning, or sprayed on AWAY from the press. It is the drycleaner’s job to send a properly stiffened garment to the finisher. Every garment sent to a finisher should be stain free, rip and alteration free and properly sized. The finishers job is difficult enough without us sending garments to that department that are not ready.
Does starch add all the benefits to a garment that sizing does? You bet! Is it more costly to use? No, not if used according to the methods I have described above. When used properly one can expect creases to be more pronounced, wrinkles to be easier to steam out and brightness, crispness and beauty to be added to a garment.
So for everyone thinking they do or do not need sizing in the drycleaning machine or starch/ water based sizing in a tank to spray on garments for finishing, well you are missing out on the most economical and professional method of finishing clothes. Don’t be “penny wise and pound-foolish.” See your distributor today about a five-gallon pressure spray tank and a case of good water based sizing/starch for those plant fibered garments. That’s why customers bring them to us, because they cannot do as professional a job as we can. We have the proper tools and products at our disposal if we will use them.
That’s all for this month. I’m gonna go to the wagon now, these boots are killing me!
Kenney Slatten is a third generation drycleaner-laundryman. His
company can provide you with “on the job” training and consultation.
Garment analysis service is also available. For more information
phone (800) 429-3990 or e-mail: kslatten@aol.com.
Crucial testimony by IFI Textile Analyst Iqbal Khan helped a member cleaner obtain a favorable ruling in a costly customer dispute. Khan, a textile analyst and CPD, CPW in the International Textile Analysis Laboratory, appeared in Virginia Small Claims Court on December 5, 2000 to testify in a case between a cleaner and a customer. The customer was unsatisfied with a comforter after cleaning and was seeking a reimbursement and legal costs. The comforter was part of a set that cost $1,100.
The member sent the comforter to IFI’s International Textile Analysis Lab requesting an analysis. Kahn’s report dated May 18, 2000, stated that the pockets of the comforter were too large to accommodate for filler clumping during normal use and cleaning.
The report concluded that it was not the fault of the cleaner and was an inherent manufacturing problem.
The reporter stated, “The synthetic non-woven batting material is of a loose construction and is susceptible to separation and shifting of the fiber which causes the insulating material to become distorted. There should be some quilt stitching forming small pockets to restrict the batting from extensive shifting during use and care.”
The report’s conclusion said that the lab attributed the “flat” and “lumpy” appearance of this item to a direct result of the quality of materials and method of construction. “(The damage of distortion) cannot be attributed to any improper care process.”
A copy of the report was sent to the member, who in turn showed it to the customer. The customer, unsatisfied with the report, took the cleaner to small claims court seeking compensation of $1,100 for a new bed set plus additional money to cover costs and attorney fees.
On December 5th Kahn was called upon to testify. “The attorney asked me many questions concerning drycleaning, laundry, pressing and heat drying of a garment,” Kahn said. “All the answers were given in a technical and easy to understand manner. I supported my explanation with the relative TABS (Technical Analysis Bulletins) and IFI bulletins I carried with me to court.”
“The judge agreed to my technical explanation about the poor fabrication of the comforter. The consumer was awarded only a small portion of the claim. The judge made the cleaner responsible for a very small amount for being negligent for not informing the consumer about the consequences and outcome of the article after the cleaning procedure,” Kahn said.
In the end, the member cleaner was required to pay $250 for not warning the customer that the outcome was a possibility before the customer agreed to have it cleaned.
“That’s the most important part,” Kahn said. “If the people working up front are not trained to look for such things and do not get releases signed by the customers when they do come up, then they may have to pay.”
This is just one example of how IFI’s International Textile Analysis Laboratory reports save members money all the time. Whether in court or settling a dispute with a customer over the counter, ITAL’s analysis reports have proven to be an authoritative and credible source that aid cleaners.
Anyone who has questions about ITAL’s analysis services may contact
an ITAL textile analysis at (800) 638-2627, ext. 128 or 129. Copies
of ITAL’s new Request for Analysis form can be obtained by calling the
lab through IFI’s Fax-On-Demand service at (800) 283-9569, item/menu No.
201. ITAL’s analysis services are available to IFI members only.
Sheer fabrics need expert attention
Sheer fabrics are fashionable because they provide garments with a soft,
free-flowing drape and a transparent look that is both sensuous and alluring.
Sheer fabrics are very thin, and lightweight fabrics may be woven with
fewer yarns and very fine yarns, characterized by open space between the
yarns. Manufacturers can easily duplicate fine yarns with synthetic
fibers by the invent of micro fibers.
Some typical sheer fabrics are chiffon, organdy, batiste and ninon.
Sheer fabrics can be made of any fiber and usually take on the make of
the fiber.
For example they may be referred to as silk organdy, rayon chiffon,
etc. Sheer fabrics are used for gowns, blouses, capes, slacks and
scarfs. Sheer fabrics are also used for curtains. Ninon is
a sheer fabric used for curtains.
Fabric Problems
The problems associated with sheer fabrics may be due to fiber content,
loose weave construction, sizing or bias cut construction of the garment.
1. Yarn slippage and snagging are due to the fine years and loose
weave.
2. Distortion may result because of loose weave and the loss
of sizing which kept the fabric stabilized.
Bias cut garments, which give it a billowy appearance, are especially
susceptible to distortion.
Creped yarns are likely to become distorted because the highly
twisted yarns absorb moisture and cannot be held in place by the loose
weave construction.
3. Cloudy or ringed areas may appear where water-soluble sizing
has been used, and moisture, perspiration or spillage during wear has partially
dissolved the sizing.
4. Color loss, which usually appears as streaking or dye crocking,
is characteristic of dye loss in heavily sized sheer fabrics.
Inspection
When receiving sheer garments, examine them carefully. Uneven
hem lines and seam puckering usually indicate stretching, shrinking or
distortion. Bias cut garments are almost always distorted to some
degree. Note the distortion on the sales slip. Examine the
entire garment for snags and pulls.
Pay special attention to seams, arms, seats and collars. When
examining seams, look for fabric unraveling due to stress. Look for
rings and swales that may have been caused by perspiration or liquid spillage.
Garments are best examined while on a hanger.
Drycleaning
Place sheer garments in a net bag. Dryclean for no more than three minutes. Classify with a silk load with no moisture.
Do not dry higher than 140o F. Mechanical action or moisture may cause distortion, yarn slippage or dye loss.
Spotting
Because chiffon is a sheer fabric, stains are frequently not noticeable
when the fabric is placed on the spotting board. Note stains with
a sticker or stain tag.
Hold the steam gun at least six inches from the fabric to avoid yarn
separation and shifting.
Do not brush chiffon. Instead tamp lightly with a special padded
silk brush, or a brush wrapped with a towel. Do not tamp over a screen.
Spot in small areas with a steam gun to avoid ringed areas, light areas
and shrinkage due to the dissolving of water soluble sizing.
The air gun, too, must be held at least six inches from the fabric.
Most wet-side stains respond with only the steam gun since stains are absorbed
by the fine yarns and loose weave.
Prespotting
Use a leveling agent on a wet area to prevent rings. Allow to dry before drycleaning. Sheer fabrics will dry quickly. The use of the air gun will aid in drying.
Wetcleaning
Do not wetclean sheer fabrics made of silk or rayon. Thermoplastic fibers (acetate, nylon, polyester) can be soaked in cool water (under 100o F) with a mild lubricant. Rinse and hang to dry.
Finishing
Sheer fabrics should be placed on a steam air finisher with the
expansion of the bag restricted either by string, straps, special bags
or placing on a steam air finisher that is functional for dresses due to
its limited expansion.
Most sheer fabrics need only light steaming to remove wrinkles.
Some touch up can be accomplished by the puff iron or the use of an iron
while the garment is hanging.
If hard wrinkles prevail, the garment may be placed on the buck
of the press.
Avoid using head pressure on bias cut garments since the lay
of the garment may be affected. Use hand pads, or touch with irons
making sure the iron is free from rough areas.
The garment is always pushed away from the operator to avoid
snags, pulling, dragging and distortion.
Summary
Sheer fabrics range from limited, serviceability to unserviceable.
Distortion may result because of the loosely woven fine yarns. Distortion
is especially a hazard if the fabric has been bias cut.
The use of moisture in rayon and silk sheer fabric in any step
may be hazardous because the sizing may be water soluble. Rings,
swales, light areas and shrinkage will result in loss of sizing.
Be sure to inspect chiffon garments before accepting them for
snags, pulled yarns, distortion, uneven hem lines and discoloration.
Dan Eisen is chief garment analyst for the Neighborhood Cleaners
Association. His book “The Art of Spotting”, is a compilation of
many of the articles he has written over years for National Clothesline
and NCA organized and indexed for quick reference. The pages are
assembled in a three-ring binder so the book can be opened and laid flat
in the work area. He also teaches “Principles and Practices of Drycleaning”
course at NCA, a course that covers all aspects of spotting and stain removal
procedures. For more information contact NCA (212) 967-3002.
THANK YOU to the Members
who have joined SPDA for 2001
Albert Street Martinzing
Andres Cleaners Ltd.
Arthur Rose Cleaners
Bregg Cleaners
Busy Bee Drycleaners
Central Cleaners
Clean Shoppe
Classic Glamourizing
Custom Cleaners
Custom Cleaners College Park
Cypress Cleaners
Dresswell Drycleaners
Hangars Fabcare
Kwala-T- Cleaners
One Hour Martinizing Swift Current
Rapid Cleaners
Suppliers:
Bearspaw Carbon
FJL Services
Keats Brothers
Lavanette Equipment
Tessler Fabcare Ltd.
Thomsen Fisher Insurance
Twin Industries Sales & Service
United Chemical Inc.
Pressing Issues is the member newsletter
of the Saskatchewan Professional Drycleaners Association.
| Larry Tessier | President |
| Lloyd Dobrescu | Vice President |
| Shane Bancescue | Secretary/Treasurer |
| Terry Thorsteinson | Past President |
Directors
SPDA NEWSLETTER
P.O. Box 3482
Regina, S4P 3J8
E-mail: sbancescue@regina.dominionco.com
| Management
Seminar
"Planning for Change" |
What to Look for ..."
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| On August 21, 1998 the Saskatchewan Professional
Drycleaners Association sponsored an all day management seminar entitled
"Planning for Chan-e". The presenter was Ms. Debra Rechneitz of Methods
for Management located in Gig Harbour, Washington. Methods for Management
have been consulting to the Drycleaning and Laundry industries for over
40 years. The seminar was designed and presented to drycleaning owners
and operators who were interested in improving their profitability by identifying
various strengths and weaknesses in their operations.
The program covered a wide spectrum of business and drycleaning related topics. Tile first area of review was the personal goals and lifestyle of the owners. From this, each operator can set their own agenda for corporate and personal success. Next was a review of existing personnel, equipment and financing. Innovative financing options were discussed. The next module was about finding, selecting, retaining and compensating staff. Many interesting ideas, especially about the interview process, were shared. Some simple but effective prescreening tests were introduced and demonstrated. Labour rates as a percentage of sales were reviewed and price points as they relate to bottom line were calculated. Volume, packaging, promotion and distribution points and their relationship and dependency was explored. New markets, and expanding existing lines was discussed at length. All of these topics and Much more, made for a very Successful seminar. All in attendance were pleased with the professional quality of the presentation as well as the depth of experience of Ms. Rechneitz. You may find her articles in many industry publications, including the American Drycleaner. Approximately 20 association members were in attendance. |
From the seminar of the same name, we are pleased
to be able to run these tips on finishing inspections for a variety of
drycleaned garments.
Check Points in Dress Finishing - I
A - Collar and facings smooth. Lapels are not creased. B - Bow is pressed, edges rolled. C - Fabric at zipper is not puckered. D - No impressions or glazing of seams. E - No wrinkles on pocket flap or impression underneath. F - Pleat edges are sharp, inside of pleat is smooth. Pleat lines are straight, uniform in depth. Check Points in Dress Finishing - 2A - Collar smooth, without seam impressions, collar points smooth under buttons.B - Sleeves Smooth, Cuff lower edge rolled. C - Loops rolled flat, no belt impressions. D - Full skirt hangs evenly, no wrinkles. E - Edges are straight, not scalloped. F - Facings are smooth
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What are We Saying to the Public? |
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| by Bill Bogus
Glancing through the National Clothesline, looking for whatever is happening, hoping to find goods news and just looking. You can never tell what's going on unless you keep looking. I see that there is a lot of drycleaning equipment advertised. That's interesting, I come across a Picture showing two guys standing in front of a new drycleaning machine that has just been installed. One is a tall guy and the other is short.. Now the tall guy must be the salesman because he is wearing a big smile. I can understand why he's smiling. The short guy is not smiling. He must be the owner. He has the genuine look of an owner. He's not wearing an expensive pin stripe suit or pointed shoes. He looks tired. You can see that he's a workaholic". He has found the American Dream -- owning his own backbreaking- business. Good Luck, sir. Turning some more pages, I see Stan Golorrib's smiling face. He's smiling- because he is a happy guy. He likes people. He must have read Dale Carnage's book. Stan knows how to win customers. His business is advertising and marketing. He is the kind of guy our industry needs. The reason I say that is that we have problems with advertising and marketing. For some reason, drycleaners prefer to fiddle around with slogans rather than advertising their expertise and services. Here is a slogan that recently appeared in Forbes Magazine. It was found by Margaret Talbot, writer for the New Republic. The slogan was on the wall in a drycleaning store. This is what she said when she saw the slogan: "At the cleaners down the street, the proprietors are forever coming up with sweetly failed attempts at sales slogans, such as the current example, imagine that you are in your clothes." Now that is is some kind of imagining. But what kind of business are they thinking about? There is a lot more to read but I'll get back to that later. I want to write about other things that are on my mind. |
False EconomizingCould it be that the need for drycleaning has slowed down, which would cause a drop in solvent usage? Or is it that there are drycleaners who are economizing in the worst way?There are drycleaning "economizers" who have become so obsessed with economizing not only with perc but with other necessary supplies. This miserly conduct has affected the quality of drycleaning and in some cases, garments don't get wet with solvent, let alone rinsing, Fortunately, this is not true with the serious professional drycleaner. However, there is evidence that "graying" is happening in the cleaning process. Filter cartridges are being used beyond efficiency. Distillation has become nonexistent, and the results of this process could be called the redistribution of dirt. In the eyes of the consumer drycleaning is a profession, and in this endeavour, the drycleaner is recognized as a professional. For this reason, consumers entrust the drycleaners with their garments. This entrustment must be respected with responsibility. Common sense tells us that both the customers and the drycleaners will benefit from this responsibility. |
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The Tools of Great Stain Removal |
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Every trade has its tools. The tools of successful
stain removal are probably the most important of drycleaning tools. In
this article, we will take a closer look at the tools of the trade and
offer tips on use and care of each tool.
TowelsIt is important to have a plentiful supply of clean, white cotton towels in the stain removal department. Towels are used to absorb water and cleaning solutions from garments, absorb stains and spots flushed from a fabric, help prevent the formation of rings, show any dye bleeding from a fabric, and prevent stain removal agents from collecting on the stain removal board and damaging the next garment. During the course of a day it is not unusual to use many towels in the removal procedures. Towels should be clean to avoid transferring stains from the towel to a garment.BrushesBrushes are used for tamping. The best brushes to use in stain removal have curved handles and are about nine inches long. This style of brush is easy to hold and control during the stain removal process. You will need three brushes: one with black bristles, one with white bristles, and one without bristles. The black brush is for use with dryside stain removal agents; the white brush is for use with wetside stain removal agents; the bristleless brush is used for stain removal on delicate fabrics. The head of the bristleless brush is covered with a white pad. Tamping helps the stain removal agents to penetrate into the fabric and break Lip stains. Place your thumb and middle fingers under the end of the brush with your index finger on the top of the brush handle, behind the bristles. Use a light tamping (or tapping) action. Be sure that the bristles of the brush hit the fabric squarely and not at an angle. Never use pressure; you do not want the bristles of the brush to bend. If you use more pressure, the brush may damage the fabric and cause chafing or yarn slippage. When the brush tamps the stained area squarely, the bristles will force the stain removal agent into the fabric and the stain. For tamping, always use a hard surface under the garment. Never tamp oil the screened area of the stain removal board or with a towel under the garment. When the bristles of your brush hit a soft surface, they tend to spread out and can damage the fabric.Brushes should be kept clean. Clean them when you have finished using them for a stain removal project; whenever they become soiled; or at the end of the day. Clean the brushes thoroughly with steam. Shake out the excess water, and then place on a solid part of the stain removal board with the bristles down. This gives the bristles a chance to drain and dry. If the brushes are placed oil the board with their bristles up, the water will drain into the wooden handle, causing damage to the brush (warping, splitting, and/or distortion). With proper care, the lifetime of your brushes can be lengthened. Spatula/BoneAnother important tool in stain removal is the spatula. The tool is flat and has smooth edges with a point at one end. It is important that the spatula be smooth and have no rough edges. A bone or plastic spatula is best because various acids, alkalis, and bleaches do not affect it. A metal spatula might be affected by some chemicals or might affect the chemicals, as metal can increase the action of many chemicals. The spatula is used to work stain removal agents back and forth over the stain and into the fabric. Since fabrics can be damaged severely if the spatula is not used properly, it is necessary to follow proper procedures. The spatula should touch the fabric at a very flat angle, not with a point or an edge. Use the rounded surface of the spatula, touching the stained area about one-half inch from the point. Use very little pressure. The spatula is not used for digging stains out; it is used to soften them by working the stain removal agent into the fabric. Too much pressure can cause fibers to break or be permanently damaged.CheeseclothCheesecloth is used for feathering on the dry side, removing pick-up dirt, testing for colorfastness, and wrapping brushes for tamping delicate fabrics.BlottersUse blotters to test for colorfastness. Only white blotters should be used.ScissorsKeep a good pair of scissors at tile stain removal board to cut small fabric samples for testing. Cut only a small sample, making sure that it is taken from an unexposed seam area of the garment.Cotton SwabsCotton swabs are used to apply agents to a small area of fabric. By using a cotton swab, you can place the agent only on the area that you wish to work in to prevent damage to other parts of the garment that may be damaged by the agent you need to use. Cotton swabs should be used only once so that staining agents are not carried to other areas of the garment.TweezersTweezers are used to hold small samples of fabric when testing for fiber identification. Always burn over a tray, or other small nonflammable containers to catch the ash or residue.EyedropperUse an eyedropper to apply small amounts (1 - 2 drops) of an agent to the fabric. Eyedroppers should be cleaned after eachuse to prevent mixing of residual chemicals. Magnifying GlassA magnifying glass is used to identify fabric construction, check for color loss, color change, stains, and fabric damage.Litmus and pH PaperLitmus and pH paper are used to insure that all agents have been flushed from fabric and to test the acidity and alkalinity of the stained area. Litmus and pH paper can be used only once.Rubber GlovesDon't forget to wear your rubber gloves. Gloves will provide hand protection when using harsh chemicals such as rust remover during stain removal procedures. Gloves should be washed and rinsed periodically to remove any agents that may have accumulated. |
Lessons UnlearnedGiven enough time, everything seems to come around again. Rampant discounting is back. Lessons of the past have not been learned. Permanent discounting has been proven to be short-lived. In order to perpetuate longevity, services must provide identifiable values that customers recognize and want.In order to grow into the future, drycleaners must provide valued services today. When discounting allows cheap to surpass good, then the future will find less need for our services. Now here is some good news that doesn't come around too often. The need for perc has dropped by 70 percent. Elaine Murphy, spokesperson for Dow Chemicals Co., explains why this is good news. She is right to a point. However, underneath the good news, there may be some bad news and here is why The Stain Removal BoardNow, let's take a took at the most complex tool for stain removal -- the stain removal board. It is the central stain removal tool in a drycleaning plant.Stain removal boards have a hard, smooth work surface, usually made of glass, marble, or stainless steel. Glass or stainless steel can be damaged by commercial rust removers. It is important to place a towel on the glass board before using a rust remover. In fact, towels should be used with any stain removal agent. Tamping and brushing should always be done on the solid area of the board. Extra care should be taken to keep the surfaces of the board, both the solid and the screen areas, clean at all times. The board should be wiped off whenever dirt dye, soil, or stain removal agents accumulate on the surface. All stain removal boards are made in sections to allow stripping down for periodic cleaning. Boards should betaken apart and cleaned at least once per week and more often if necessary. Steam or water can be used to loosen soil and lint that may build up on the surface of the board or in the areas under the screens and solid surfaces. Most stain removal boards have an area at the end of the board that is a perforated screen or mesh, called the "nose" of the board. When the vacuum pedal is pressed, a vacuum is created under the screen area. Use of the vacuum decreases drying time, helps flush stains and stain removal agents out of the fabric, and helps prevent the development of rings on fabrics. Never tamp a fabric on the screen area. The brush bristles tend to go through the fabric and spread out when they hit the open areas in the screen. This damages the fibers and can damage the garment. The sleeve attachment board is a small stain removal board that is in a raised position and can be pulled forward for use. The sleeve board is useful when you are working on small articles, or small sections that may not fit on a larger board. Foot pedals are an important feature of the stain removal board. Most boards have three separate foot pedals: one for air, one for steam, and one for vacuum. A stain removal board should have 80 pounds of steam pressure in its lines. For dry steam, slightly depress the pedal. For wet steam, depress the pedal all the way. Steam/Air GunExercise caution when using the steam gun, as it can be dangerous to use if certain precautions are not followed. Before using steam, aim the steam gun toward the waste receptacle underneath the board. Depress the steam pedal all the way to remove any moisture in the gun. If there is moisture in the steam gun, you may wet the fabric more than desired. Remove your foot from the pedal and then slightly depress the pedal for dry steam. Always hold the gun at a right angle to the fabric and at least four inches from the fabric when using steam or compressed air.The Vacuum PedalWhen the vacuum pedal is depressed, a vacuum is created in the screen areas on the stain removal board and the sleeve board. On some boards, the vacuum is started on the sleeve attachment by pulling the sleeve board toward you.Air PedalIn addition to steam and vacuum pedals, most stain removal boards have an air pedal. When the air pedal is depressed, compressed air comes out of the steam/air gun. When using air, exercise the same precautions as with using steam. Keep the gun at least four inches from the fabric and hold it at right angles to the fabric. Air and a vacuum can reduce the chance of rings forming on moisture-sensitive fabrics, reduce the chance of a dye bleed, and decrease the drying time, resulting in greater production capacity for the drycleaning plant.The TraysThere are two trays attached to the stain removal board. A tray underneath the board keeps garments off the floor to avoid unnecessary soiling. The tray should be placed about halfway between the board and the floor. A netting or cloth cover on the tray should be brushed daily and removed and washed weekly. The tray should be free of sharp points that might snag or tear fabrics. Do not store stain removal agents, clothes hangers, or anything else on the tray underneath the board.A separate tray for stain removal agents is located at the end of the stain removal board. Most stain removal boards have bowls which can be used for soaking stains or holding additional tools such as blotters. Drain ReceptacleThe drain receptacle collects waste from the board. All chemical waste should be placed in a hazardous waste receptacle.The Drying CabinetThe drying cab i net should be tall enough for a fu I I- length dress to hang in it Without touching the floor. It Should also hold more than one garment. For average drying, a temperature of 100 to 120 degrees F is desirable. The cabinet should be kept clean at all times.The Supply CabinetA supply cabinet in which to store extra supplies should be kept near the stain removal board. The cabinet provides a safe place for chemicals and supplies and makes them readily accessible.LightingLighting in the stain removal area is very important. Fluorescent lighting with a daylight tube is recommended because it has less glare than incandescent lighting and is more like natural daylight. The recommended intensity is 100-foot candlepower.ConclusionUsed correctly, these tools can lead to successful stain removal. Remember, no matter how well finished a garment may be, if the stains remain, the customer will not be happy. |
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When Yellow Pages Do Your Talking |
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| by Larry Small
Advertising is a tricky thing, What catches the eye and what pricks the ears is subjective at best. And yet, every day -- in our living rooms watching television, in our cars listening ' a to the radio, at work reading the newspaper, in a doctor's office where we pick up a magazine in the waiting, room -- we are bombarded with thousands of images,each one vying for our attention and trying to convince us to spend our hard-earned dollars. Some of these images work and some don't. As business people who rely on advertising to bring, in customers, understanding this tricky and subjective equation can seem daunting. But this understand in", is essential for every small business owner, especially when each year, 57 million references are made to the "Dry- Cleaner" heading in the Yellow Pages. Moreover, according to a recent usage survey:
The HeadlineA successful headline is catchy and draws readers to your ad
CopyBecause you are competing for the reader's attention as well as for space, keep your copy succinct and to the point.
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ColourColour can enhance your ad, and creatively illustrate your product. If you have a distinctive logo, use it to gain attention your ad. This also encourages people to associate your logo with your business.IllustrationsAn illustration is one of the most effective ways to attract attention to your ad.
BordersBorders can be very effective, especially if all of the other adds on the page use a bold or a hairline border, and you choose the opposite.Spot color
Going on-linePrint ads are, naturally, the most common form of Yellow Pages advertising. But like many other industries, the Yellow Pages are keeping up with technology and have gone on-line.The rules for creating a successful on-line ad for your dry cleaning business are much the same as those that apply to print. However, some unique tips do apply:
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Pressing Issues is
the member newsletter of the Saskatchewan Professional Drycleaners Association.
Directors
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Comments, Letters, Advertisements or membership
services inquires should be mailed to:
SPDA NEWSLETTER
|
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Issues:
June 1997
South on University Park Drive, left on Quance (2nd traffic light).
Busy Bee is behind Pizza Hut.
COST
$50.00 members per plant
$75.00 non-members per plant
RSVP
Please Reply By November 7, 1997
Phone:
1-306-7214500 -
Shane
1-306-789-9666 -
Larry
1-306-584-9555 -
Greg
1-306-522-8523 -
Terry
Fax 1-306-721-2710
- Shane
E-Mail: sbancescue@reginadominionco.com
Drycleaning machine
maintenance for better performance and mileage
Press Maintenance:
Presenters:
Ron Keats - Keats Brothers, Winnipeg
Frank Lepinski - Tessler Fabcare - Saskatoon
Memo To: All Canadian Dry Cleaners
From : Daniel Gelac
President of C.F.A
Environmental Director of REETFX
Ladies and Gentlemen
Usually communications from the Canadian Fabricare Association (CFA) come to you through your provincial association. However, the Board of CFA has asked that I address this matter to you directly.
In the last Quebec budget (March 25, 1997), a new tax was created in Quebec which I believe will result in perc users being penalized. I am concerned that this new tax will also spread to other provinces.
Here is the core of the new Regulation:
While Environment Canada did consult with industry in preparing the Strategic Options Report re Perc, when it comes to this issue the Quebec dry cleaning industry was never consulted, and we were never asked to comment on the potential impact that this tax will have on the industry as a whole. It appears Mr. Landry's only concern was to fill provincial coffers. It is my belief that this unfair proposal could also find its way into other Canadian provinces and I believe strongly that we need to act together to fight this possibility. For this reason I am asking that you agree to support the creation of a CFA Environment Fund so that we can fight this type of injustice, and prepare ourselves properly to do so. It is our hope that each member of CFA would be willing to donate $50 to this fund.
I am also asking that you actively support your provincial fabricare association in this and other issues because each is an active part of CFA, and without the input and support of all those involved, it is hard to put up a united front.
On behalf of the CFA, the Quebec Fabricare Association and all the provincial fabricare associations across Canada, I thank you for your consideration and support of this request.
Sincerely,
Daniel Gelac, President
This Update will focus mainly on the discussions and presentations at the Perc SOR Information Meeting held on August 23, 1997 (co-sponsored by Environment Canada, Center for Emissions Control and CFA) regarding the proposed Regulation that is being based on the Perc SOR Report.
The meeting was chaired by Ed Wituschek of Environment Canada, with speakers from that Department and also from various provincial fabricare Associations. CFA President Daniel Gelac co-chaired the meeting. Mr. Wituschek reviewed the steps that had been taken in the consultation process to date, noting that the fabricare industry had been very active (through CFA) in providing input and comment. He noted that there are some 3300 cleaners in Canada, representing a capital investment of some $15 million, with reported revenues in 1994 of more than $500 million (with some 75% of the cleaners reporting an annual revenue of less than $200,000). He noted that the Perc SOR had been published in February 1996 and that the process has now been started to implement a Regulation to give substance to the report's recommendations. It was noted that to overall goal of the process is to reduce perc consumption in the fabricare industry from a level of some 5.5 kt in 1994 to 1.6 kt in 2001. The main focus of the day was on the proposed Regulation and the economic analysis that had been done regarding the implementation of the Regulation. The proposal was discussed in considerable detail. While it is impossible to include all of the content in this memo, the following comments will help to receive a general overview. A full copy of the report and attachments is available from your provincial fabricare association.
The proposed regulation refers most specifically to Recommendations 1,2,3 and 6, and the collateral recommendations of the report. The proposed Regulation is divided into a number of sections. The interpretation section contains a number of definitions that caused some general comment and concern. Government representatives agreed that this would be reviewed to ensure accuracy and to reflect the concerns raised by industry.
The Prohibition section provides that new equipment must have a manufacturer's rating of 10 kg of perc for 1000 kg of articles cleaned. It also provides that after January 1, 1999, both first and second generation may no longer be used. In the section dealing with storage and handling of perc, the proposals outline that after January 1, 2000, stored perc must be kept in a "closed-loop delivery system", and that all perc that is being transported to or from a dry cleaning facility after that date must be transported in a closed-loop delivery system.
There was considerable discussion regarding the requirements that the company selling the perc is also to be responsible for the collection of perc waste products. It was agreed that this needed to be reworded to allow for the sub-contracting of this activity.
There is also a requirement for the keeping of records (re the amount of perc used in a plant during a specific period of time, the amount of waste generated and by whom it was collected, the 'mileage' being obtained in a cleaning machine). The question of where these records are to be kept and for how long is still to be determined.
It was noted that in the government's regulation development process, this Regulation is at the top of that process.
There was also a presentation regarding the economic impact that the proposed Regulation could have on the industry. It was noted that the matter of a levy on perc (as contained in the SOR) would not be part of the proposed regulation since the implementation of an economic instrument needs to be done through the federal budgetary process. It was suggested that a more thorough review and economic analysis is needed to determine the impact of the proposed Regulation on the industry, before a strong and cogent case can be made for the creation of a levy, and that subsequently the Financial Department would need to be convinced to include this matter in a Bidget, resulting in the creation of the necessary regulations. Since tha matter of education is within the purview of the provinces, this issue was also not addressed in the proposed Regulation. It is therefore obvious that the costs for the recommendations for certification and training and compliance monitoring that are part of the SOR will need to be addressed on a cost-recovery basis, unless the federal government agrees to the implementation of a levy through the Finance Department. Educational issues will need to be addressed by each province.
In the afternoon there were also a number of presentation by fabricare association representatives.
CFA President Daniel Gelac briefly reported on the Association and also on developments within Quebec. He noted that the CFA is doing well, and maintaining its role in continuing to provide a positive influence on the fabricare industry natianally. Regarding Quebec, he noted that the levy of $2.50 per litre of perc will come intoeffect January 1, 1998. He advised that the tax (anticipated to generate some $3 million annually) is to be 'revenue neutral' and that the monies would be returned to the industry by way of tax credits for upgrading of equipment. However, it is now being recognized that the tax generated would be greater than potential credits, and some thought is now being given to allow these funds to be used for training and certification and compliance monitoring. An MOU had been entered into between Environment Canada-Quebec Region and REETEX to offer training based on the CCME Code of Practice. This is a voluntary program that will be presented in 1998. Discussions are underway re the potential of a "wet cleaning" site in Quebec.
OFA Executive Director Vic Vandermolen reported on the developments in Ontario regarding the implementation of regulations that are, in nature and principle, very similar to the recommendations of the SOR. He reported that there would likely be created a "Dry Cleaners Council" and its role would be to be responsible for the overall delivery and implementation of programs for the fabricare industry and the implementation of standards that are approved by government.
ATCA President Todd Gustafson briefly discussed the current status of the fabricare industry in Alberta. He noted that the Association is closely monitoring developments in other parts of Canada and that they are concerned about the levy in place in Quebec, and also the care labeling situation that is evident in the USA through the FTC. He indicated that ATCA membership is down (the Association represents some 35% of the province's cleaners) but that equipment sales are brisk. He concluded his comments by stating that the ATCA is fully supportive of the CFA and its goals.
Center for Emissions Control Executive Director Steve Risotto provided a general overview of the fabricare industry in the USA. He noted that in 1996 the USA fabricare industry had used 45 kt of perc (5 kt inCanada), and that this reflects a 30% reduction from 5 years ago, and a 50% reduction from 10 years ago. He suggested that these reductions are largely due to upgrading of equipment
"Why Volume Doesn't Equal Profit"
In last month's column I talked about building a successful business
and the three elements required to achieve success:
Unfortunately, your time is not. This lack of time is the reason why one of the most important steps in building your business - planning - is often the n\most neglected.
Every drycleaner works very hard at bringing in more business because more business means more money.
Everyone also thinks that more money (higher dollar sales) means bigger profits. This is not necessarily so. You must invest some time every week in planning how you will build your company and how the plan is working.
This only takes a couple of hours a week. If you absolutely, positively cannot find or make a couple of hours a week to plan the future of your business, you would be well-advised to consider selling.
Lessons in building a drycleaning business
To build a business you need more customers. To get more customers
you:
In the meantime, track your drycleaning piece count for a month and your drycleaning dollar sales for a month. Divide your drycleaning pieces into your total drycleaning dollar sales and you will get your average price per drycleaning piece.
Monthly drycleaning sales divided by monthly drycleaning pieces = average price per drycleaned piece.
Do the same thing for shirts. On average, your shirt volume is about 23 percent of dollar sales and drycleaning is about 72 percent of dollar sales and the other 5 percent is categorized as "other".
If your numbers don't match these exactly, don't worry. Now take a look at your total piece count for shirts and for drycleaning. The piece count for shirts and drycleaning are probably fairly close.
Case Study: XYZ Cleaners
Average weekly drycleaning sales equal $7,290 divided by a piece count of 1,800 equals $4.05 for an average price per piece.
The average weekly shirt sales are $2,160 divided by 1,600 pieces for an average price per piece of $1.35.
Let's say that profits were 7 percent of sales last year after your pay.
You can calculate what new sales should be each month by multiplying sales for the same month in the previous year, such as October 1996 sales times 1.1. If sales were $40,000 in October last year then they should be $44,000 in October 1997 which equals a 10 percent increase.
This $4,000 increase in sales will require additional expenses in the area of advertising, couponing, improved quality and improved customer service. These costs are seldom calculated when projecting profits but they are unavoidable.
When a direct mail campaign that offers deep discounts works ell, you can fill your plant with work, work your employees overtime and absolutely no dollars to your bottom line. When you offer discounts to office parks for pick-up and delivery, the discounts are permanent. Thus a discount of more than 10 percent is a deep discount.
Fearing an increase
Increasing your prices is another way to increase your sales volume,
but it is also one that owners and employees fear most. Yes, that's right,
many of your employees fear a price increase more than you do.
Why?
Because their interest is self-serving - the counter people fear confrontation
at the counter and the production people are afraid that they will lose
hours for lack of work.
I have never seen a drycleaner go out of business because their prices were too high. You must commit to doing excellent work and getting paid for it.
To successfully build your business your action plan must include: a direct mail campaign to attract new customers; excellent customer service to retain new and existing customers; and, you must be the price leader in your area. Remember, in the game of business the more you know, the better you can play the game.
Alan Robson is a private consultant dealing with the specialized needs of the drycleaning industry. Readers are encouraged to send him questions he can address in future columns. For more information, contact him by telephone at (508) 753-6619 or send e-mail to him at: agrobson@ma.ultranet.com
(re-printed from "National Clothesline", Sept. 97)
Water, water all around and not a drop to drink. Water is the most
precious substance on earth and we abuse it, knowingly and unknowingly.
For whatever our purpose and fancy, without fresh drinking water we cannot exist. A healthy human being will not live more than a week without water. A not-too-healthy person will pass away sooner. This is an inescapable fact of life.
The water we get into our homes is clean drinking water and it comes out of a faucet. Where it comes from we are not sure, but we do know that it is not contaminated with pollutants, and we also know that contaminated water could make us very sick and even cause death.
Here in the United States, safe drinking water is regulated and tested daily for purity. However, we have an attitude towards water. We believe that there's plenty of fresh water, enough for everybody. This is not true, and this is why we can't accept pollution as a serious problem or consider ourselves to be polluters.
Pollution starts when waste water goes down the drain, when we shower or flush the toilet. We get very serious about water when we turn the faucet on and nothing comes out - not a drop. Just thinking about water makes us thirsty. When this happens, frustration and anxiety take over. Inconvenience makes us realize how dependent we are upon others for whatever went wrong. Somebody is going to fix it. Somebody did.
Since we are dependent on others, others are dependent on us. Pollution is everyone's problem, and we must all share the responsibility. Not only do we need fresh drinking water, we need clean air. The atmosphere carries, but does not store, water. It carries about 10 days supply of clean, fresh water that will fall to earth as rain. Once it passes through polluted atmosphere it washes down pollutants which are mostly acid, then clean rain becomes acid rain and acid rain destroys trees and poisons lakes.
Regulations alone will not control pollution. However, regulations are necessary. Just think, if we didn't have traffic control, the driving experience would be chaotic. With today's aggressive drivers, highways would look like General Custer's Last Stand - a bloody massacre. Driving without regulations and obedience would hasten one's demise.
However, there are times when regulations are questionable, and rightly so. Recently the Washington Post reported on four factory explosions that caused one death and a number of injuries. The factories were believed to be using air pollution control equipment mandated under EPA regulations. "Mandate" is a word that reeks with militancy and its anachronistic character speaks words of a dictator that transgresses the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the United States. No one wants to be mandated.
The test of time proves many things. It proves what will last and what will crumble. Only the best survive. Times have proven that drycleaning is necessary. It is the least of all polluters. We are all polluters, however, drycleaning uses less water than most services and manufacturing companies. It uses less water than the average household.
According to the National Geographic, a person uses approximately 100 gallons of water a day for bathing, laundering, drinking and for other reasons. Nation-wide, this amounts to about 25 billion gallons of water per day.
Of course, there is plenty of water on earth and water is indestructible. However, 15 percent of earth's water is drinkable and 85 percent is sea water. Compared to big users of water, the amount of water used in drycleaning would be less than a drop in the bucket.
Another recent article in the Washington Post revealed a bit of temperament against polyester. Prison correction guards petitioned by formal complaint through their union asking the state for all-cotton uniforms. They are asking for natural fibers.
"Polyester doesn't breathe," said one of the officers. Another officer complained, "I can't keep cool wrapped in plastic."
What would it be like if customers' clothing got slam-dunked into water and not drycleaned? It doesn't take much imagination.
Bill Bogus is president of Textile Restoration Services Inc. in Laurel, MD. He can be reached at (301) 776-4961.
Pressing Issues is the member newlsetter
of the Saskatchewan Professional Drycleaners Association.
| Greg Wilchuk | President |
| Terry Thorsteinson | Vice President |
| Shane Bancescue | Secretary/Treasurer |
| Larry Tessier | Past President |
Directors
Comments, Letters, Advertisements or membership services inquires should be mailed to:
SPDA NEWSLETTER
P.O. Box 3482
Regina, S4P 3J8
E-mail: sbancescure@regina.dominionco.com
Issues:
October 1997
|SPDA| |Related| Members| Fabric Tips|
Busy Bee Drycleaners
Harrys One Hour
Glamorising
Regal Sales
Savolite
Dobi Boiler
Bregg Drycleaners
Keats Brothers
Saskatchewan Professional
Drycleaners Association
Tessler Equipment
Arco Equipment
We Thank You For Your Support
SPDA at its 7th Annual Convention passed a Constitution and By-laws. We are now an official organization with lots of by-laws to follow. Thanks to Bob & Marion Telfer for all their hard work.
Ottawa - February 10, 1997 Environment Minister Sergio Marchi today announced that his department will proceed with recommendations to significantly reduce the release of four toxic chemicals into the environment.
A mix of federal regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), national standards and other measures will be used to reduce the release of the toxic substances. The recommendations for action came from representatives of industry, non governmental organizations, provincial governments and other federal departments.
"The need for action in dealing with toxic substances is clear," said Minister Marchi. "The federal government's decision to take action on these substances is based on our commitment to protect human health and the environment."
The four substances targeted for action (tetrachloroethylene, otherwise known as PERC, trichloroethylene, benzidine and dichlorobenzidine) have been assessed and declared toxic under CEPA. They are used in the dry cleaning industry, as degreasing solvents and in the manufacture of dyes and pigments.
Furthermore, as part of the government's campaign to eliminate toxics, Minister Marchi has made scientific investigation of the link between environmental contaminants and effects on hormonal and reproductive systems a priority. "I believe that the world community must, in particular, be co-ordinating its research efforts and sharing its knowledge to guide us in making the right regulatory decisions and policies on endocrine disrupters," added the Minister.
Since the 1970s, Canadian scientists have been at the forefront of wildlife research which uncovered reproductive problems in fish and wildlife produced by endocrine disrupters. In some cases, endocrine disrupters affect the development and reproductive ability of organisms, and there is concern that they could endanger the very survival of some species.
Federal initiatives to manage toxic substances come under the umbrella of CEPA. The government recently introduced a strengthened CEPA into Parliament to improve legislative tools to deal more effectively with emerging problems such as substances which can harm endocrine systems and reproduction. The new CEPA stresses pollution prevention and protection of the environment and the health of Canadians from toxic substances.
For further Information, please contact:
Dr. Kelly Munkittrick, Senior Research Scientist,
Environment Canada.......................................(905) 336-4864
Roger White, Office of the Minister.................(819) 997-1441
James Riordan, Environment Canada ...........(819) 997-1575
The regulation, intended to be law by next year, is supposed to reduce perc consumption by Canadian cleaners by 70 per cent by 2001.
Perc was one of four substances deemed toxic that are targeted for regulation to reduce releases into the environment in an announcement made by Canadian Environment Minister Sergio Marchi on Feb. 10. A mix of federal regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), national standards and other measures will be used to reduce the release of the substances.
The other three substances are trichloroethylene, benzidine and dichlorobenzidine. Trichloroethylene is used as a degreasing solvent in the automotive, aerospace and electronics industries and benzidine and dichlorobenzidine are used in the making of pigments and dyes.
According to an Environment Canada press release, a consensus was reached among industry representatives, nongovernmental organizations, provincial governments and other federal departments on a mix of federal regulations, national standards and other measures to limit the use of the four substances.
Recommendations for perc include developing technology based regulations to reduce its use in drycleaning, mainly through modernization of equipment. Standards for operator training and waste collection were also recommended.
Vic Vandermolen, executive director of the 1,100member Canadian Fabricare Association, said he is confident the regulations will prove beneficial to the industry. "it has been an industry initiative and an industry impetus to create a level playing field," he said.
The recommendations grew out of discussions that began in October, 1994, among industry members on how to better manage perc use. This led to a final report presented in December, 1995, which is serving as the basis for drafting the new regulations, Vandermolen said.
In 1994, when the discussions began, Canadian cleaners were consuming about 5,500 tons of perc per year in 3,400 drycleaning plants, Vandermolen said. The recommended regulations, which would phase out first and second generation machines, could cut that consumption by 3,200 tons a year, he said.
Essentially, the regulations would ensure that perc drycleaning machines achieve 1,000 pounds of cleaning per gallon of solvent.
Vandennolen said he estimates as many as 2,600 cleaners would need to either replace or upgrade cleaning machines to meet the new requirements.
He also said he anticipates that there will be a federal mandatory training requirement that will certify cleaning plant owners' and operators' knowledge of environmentally safe practices for handling perc. This could include 30 hours of instruction and passing an examination to get a license to operate. Annual inspections could also be required.
Vandermolen said the requirements would definitely have an impact on the number of cleaners in Canada, with some opting to close up shop rather than invest in new equipment. How many would make that choice is unknown.
An article in the February 11 edition of The Toronto Globe and Mail reporting on the federal initiative noted that a 1995 Health Canada study found traces of perc in 1 13 of 836 tested sites in Canada.
In 1992, the town of Manotick, south of 0ttawa, had to provide residents with bottled water and carbon filters after much of its water supply was found unusable because of improper dumping practices by a local drycleaner.
Canadian federal initiatives to manage substances come under the umbrella of the CEPA. 'My government has introduced a stronger CEPA into Parliament to improve legislative tools to deal with emerging problems. 'My new CEPA stresses pollution prevention and protection of the environment and the health of Canadians from toxic substances.
Twenty-five substances have been declared toxic under the CEPA. Five substances are already regulated. Multi-stakeholder consensus is expected in the next several months for 16 others in addition to the four named in the Feb. 10 announcement.
When in the world are we going to catch up with the rest of the industries in this country and quit giving away drycleaning services? It continues to puzzle me. There are two approaches to this matter. We can put up a sign in our call office that announces what an "environmental surcharge" is all about. Maybe a company booklet to demonstrate the same thought. Another more popular approach is to build this charge into your garment charge. Considering that few are inclined to go up on their price, you are left to lose money. Personally, I like to announce it, add it on as a separate charge and promote your effort to help clean up the environment. Complete promotion of hangers, hazardous waste, poly bags and the whole nine yards, so to speak.
Think of all your environmental costs, certain area taxes on perc, equipment and ventilation costs, certification costs, another selling point, plus to announce that you are a state (or province) certified drycleaner or have a C.E.D. from a course through IFI. Hazardous waste including waste water haul off, inspections and training would be considered to be safe and legal by someone who does consulting in that area, like me!
As long as all state, provincial and federal agencies charge the drycleaner for this kind of junk, when are we going to do the same? I urge everyone to consider this matter in depth.
Kenney Slatten is an industry consultant and trainer who can assist with your plant operations, offer you on-the-job training and planning analysis, specializing in environmental issues.
Discussions began with current and future regulations as presented by an Industry Canada representative, including an environmental update of our industry, both existing and planned. Ken Adamson from Langley Perisian Cleaners, Hamilton discussed his I year experiment with a dedicated wetcleaning only plant.
Dr. Anne Wilcock from the University of Guelph presented information on fabrics and textiles and the strengths and weaknesses of various cleaning methods. It will assist the participants in predicting "Problem Fabrics" and preventing problems that impact the reputation of quality drycleaners. Colour stability, stretching and shrinkage, and special fabric finishes were some of the topics covered.
Dr. Wilcock has extensive knowledge in the textile industry and is an awardwinning teacher with 20 years experience. Those who attended the seminar certainly came away with a better understanding of problem prevention and of the "wetcleaning!' methodology.
There are many facets of a program to consider when evaluating results. Many are overlooked and a promising promotion may be abandoned or written off prematurely as ineffective. I would like to explore the fact that there is more than meets the eye in measuring a winning promotional plan.
The first and most apparent step in determining if an advertising program was a success is counting coupons. By counting the pieces returned it is easy to create a percentage of return. If you mailed 1,000 pieces and received 50 you have a result of five percent return. Let us use this figure as an average. Next you would determine the cost of mailing and decide if it was cost effective. We need to add the dollar amount of the orders redeemed with the coupon to determine the total income as a result of the mailing.
We spend about $300 to send a direct mail piece, so we can now calculate the income created by our investment. A common result of this calculation would be 50 returns with an average order of $20, or a net return of $1,000.
This seems like a positive return. However, many believe that coupons come back with regular customers who would have come into your store anyway and by giving them a discount, you have simply thrown money away.
This is where many argue the value of a coupon advertising program. I plan to evaluate the effectiveness of this example further and hope to bring new light to the often overlooked aspects of a successful advertising plan.
Regular customers, too
Although it is true that many users of coupons are current customers,
there is a plus side here. Customers love to be appreciated and you can
solidify your relationship with customers by doing something nice for them
from time to time. It is also a fact that you can bring in more business
from existing customers much easier than trying to convince someone new
to use your service.
Therefore, the customers who bring in a coupon often bring in a $20 order or larger rather than a $10 order. In reality, customers with a coupon will bring in $50 to $100 orders. It is also overlooked that there is much competition out there and they are all fighting to get more customers - including yours.
Keeping your customers
You must always ask yourself, before writing off a promotion as not
necessary, what would I do if a competitor were to run a program like one
that you have considered. With all of the competitors out there, someone
will be anxious to try something that you may not think is a good idea.
The customer in our example may also have come in an additional time than they ordinarily would have. The coupon may have prompted them to look through their closet and find items for cleaning that they might otherwise have worn again before cleaning.
If we can make every one of our customers come to our store more often, business can be increased sizably.
Picking up a bonus
An extra bonus is that when they come to pick up that coupon order
they will probably bring in regular priced items during that next visit.
Many believe that a large percentage of customers are in our store every
week, but those who have reviewed their customer database from a counter
computer know this group is only a very small percentage of customers.
The next benefit comes from new customers we gain with our mailing. If the mailing brought in 10 new customers, we can expect to retain about half The more we do to please this new group and reward them with followup offers, the more we retain.
From these newfound customers, we can expect to average $100 per year; some will spend more, others less.
If we retain just five new customers who continue to do business with us for five years, we have gained $500 per year and a lifetime total of $2,500. These returns are conservative and can be remarkable if we repeat them on a continuing basis.
Losing money?
Another argument is that we will lose money on the business created
by the coupon since it is at a discount.
This is true, but very short-sighted. Although we are working with a narrow profit margin and could not survive on a discount price on a regular basis, we would miss the whole point if we kept our view this narrow.
The volume created by a coupon program is only a very small percentage of your over-all volume on a given week. If it amounts to 10 percent of your over-all volume, it is blended in with all of the income for the week. It will reduce your over-all price by only a small amount.
To control this you must spread out your program over the entire year, or over a time frame you are comfortable with. This gives you a good mix of regular-priced and discounted work. Since every customer will not use a coupon, you may only discount your week's work by a percent or two.
Perhaps the most important rule before running a coupon program is to be sure that your regular price leaves enough margin to allow you to work the numbers you need.
You must decide where your place in the market is. If you already have a below-market price then you do not have the ability to use these rules to your advantage in an advertising plan. You must first know what you want to earn, then work your price into the program.
Even though Neighborhood Cleaners Association International in New York City and International Fabricare Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland, have in-house training schools, it has become apparent that outreach programs are the next level in textile care continuing education. There are a growing number of trainers who are traveling to the cleaner's home-towns and as a result, have redefined training program delivery. New schools are in the works too, at various locations around the country and NCAI has offered training programs to all cleaners nationwide, wherever and whenever a group of drycleaners wants it. And the association has expanded its certified drycleaner self-study program nationwide, making it readily accessible to all textile care personnel at the individual's convenience.
In the end, it will not be regulations, proposed legislation or the battle about perc that have the greatest impact on cleaners. Consumer demands, political pressure and changes in technology wi II weed out those who don't adjust to the demands of the marketplace. Education, training and adaptability are the keys. Those cleaners, trainers and associations who recognize this and understand the need to change will emerge as the textile care community of the 2 1 1 century. The rest willlearn the lesson of evolution extinction happens!
By William E. Fisher
Q. Is perc an animal carcinogen?
A. At high levels of exposure (although
not irrationally high) perc has caused a significant elevation of liver
cancer in mice, and a much lower elevation of liver cancer in rats. So,
yes, the industry is aware that perc is an animal carcinogen.
Q. Does that mean these results
apply to humans?
A. A well-done study of the metabolism
of perc clearly identified a mechanism that explains the miceratman data
- specifically, that a protein (alpha 2uglobulin) that is present in high
levels in mice, at low levels in rats, and which is non-existent in man,
interacts with perc when it is being metabolized in the body, and it is
this interaction that leads to cancer. This study has been previewed and
published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and fits with the
results found in mice, rats and humans. In light of the scientific data,
IFI believes that the traditional "if it causes cancer in animals we'll
assume that it causes cancer in humans" assumption is not valid for perc.
Moreover, that assumption is a policy decision, not a scientific decision
- as it is clearly acknowledged by U.S. EPA and other government/private
institutions.
Q Are there other studies on
perc?
A. Yes. There have been a number
of recent studies which claim to show a possible association between perc
and human cancer. Toxicologists representing the perc producers point out
a number of flaws in these studies. Additionally, a further "slicing and
dicing" of the NIOSH drycleaners workers study claims that for a combination
of one type of cancer (esophageal) with a certain number of years of exposure
followed by a certain period of latency after exposure there was in increase.
However, the overall rate for esophageal cancer and for all cancers in
the study of perconly exposed workers was not increased. Again, there are
a number of questions that have been raised regarding design flaws with
the methodology used in the latest analysis.
Q. So does perc cause cancer
in humans?
A. Based on the best available
evidence we have seen, IFI believes that perc is unlikely to be a human
carcinogen, but at the same time, recognizes that there is no way to beCertain.
Because of this, the industry has - as IFI has recommended - continued
to reduce emissions and exposures significantly over the past 15 years,
while continuing to push for credible scientific studies to resolve these
issues.
Q. So was Consumer Repots correct
in telling people that they could have a "slightly increased risk of cancer"?
A. In our opinion, a statement
like that without any further explanation is irresponsible. Studies of
risk communication clearly show that the average person will assume much
more from that statement than the scientists/regulator meant and the scientists
and regulators are well aware of that misunderstanding.
Q. Would you explain that further?
A. The average person generally
believes that the phrase "risk of cancer" means that a substance is known
to cause cancer in humans, and that the only issue is how "risky" it is
that is, would it take a very high exposure or a very low exposure before
you would be likely to get cancer. In fact, however, the real meaning of
that phrase is that a substance may or may not be a human carcinogen in
the first place, and that the "risk" in fact may be zero at any exposure.
Additionally, regulators such as U.S. EPA assume on a policy basis that
there is not "threshold" of exposure below which there would be no risk.
This policy decision has been made despite the fact that there are substances
which have been demonstrated to have just such a threshold.
Q. Is there anything else we
should know?
A. Yes. As previously reported
by IFI, the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon,
France changed its designation of perc to a "probable human carcinogen"
a year ago and rated drycleaning as an occupation as a 44 possible" risk
primarily on the basis of the flawed studies mentioned above.
Q. What else can be done?
A. Over the past eight to ten years,
IFI has met repeatedly with representatives of the perc producers and their
trade association, the Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance, to call
for further studies of perc by the producers. The producers have the scientific
and toxicological expertise, and have been in the business of doing carcinogenicity
testing including on perc for decades. IFI believes that it is time for
the producers to step up and resolve the issue. Our industry cannot continue
to survive under the barrage of attacks from multiple studies that are
not helpful, while no new testing on carcinogenicity has come out from
the producers in the past six to eight years. William E. Fisher is Chief
Executive 0jf1cer of the International Fabricare Institute in Silverspring,
MD.
| Greg Wilchuk | President |
| Terry Thorsteinson | Vice President |
| Shane Bancescue | Secretary/Treasurer |
| Larry Tessier | Past President |
Directors
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