Speaking at the association's 2007 annual general meeting of the Textile Services Association held at Launderers' Hall. London Bridge, London, chief executive Murray Simpson said the industry had changed immensely in the past year, and that the association would change also, by continuing to develop its services to its members in order to give a lead to the industry.
To that end, he revealed that he hoped to report on a much closer working relationship with the Guild of Cleaners and Launderers “which will be of benefit to the industry as a whole”.
Association treasurer Martyn Lewis, in his first annual report, said that a new subscription formula would be rolled out this year that promised to be a “competitive one for all new and existing members”.
Outgoing president John Shonfeld of Tibard Laundry Services drew attention to what he described as his passion for pride in the industry.
Consolidation in recent months had seen the demise of one of company, Brooks, and changes at the top at Johnson Service Group. Paraphrasing Sir Winston Churchill, Shonfeld said that the changes undergone by the industry in the past year were “not the beginning of the end, but perhaps the end of the beginning.” He urged the meeting to go away with “pride in the sort of industry we would like to have.”
Ivan Kerry of Isa Lea and TSA past president in 2005, is president for 2007/08, with Colin Hill, MD of Blue Dragon Laundry and Drycleaning, becoming vice president.
The former vice president, David Stevens, MD of Paragon Laundries, has agreed to continue as the chairman of the fledgling TSA commercial board for a further two years, and will assume the presidency in 2009.
Guest speaker Jamie Petrie, head of communications and standards at Skillfast UK, outlined his organisation's work in developing training for the textile care sector.
