USA
The Round Table of Launderers and Dry Cleaners held its annual event in Aruba during 26 February to March 4, 2017. “We find great value in the exchanging of ideas in our group and we see the value of bringing in successful people outside of our industry,” said this year’s host and chairman Gary Glover, the president of Puritan Cleaners.
“This year we brought in Marcus Sheridan of The Sales Lion who presented a full day session on inbound marketing, which is a great opportunity for us all.”
The week long event began with an opening dinner followed by member led sessions regarding route growth, best and worst ideas from the past year, an in depth introspective of sales, expenses and margins and more.
At the closing dinner, Gary Glover passed the gavel and chairmanship to Rob Walker of Max I. Walker Cleaners of Omaha. Walker announced that the 2018 annual conference will be held at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. “The exchanging of ideas is the life-blood of this group,” said Walker. “All of us are expected to take an active part in the presentation of at least one subject to be considered part of the price of admission.”
The Round Table of Launderers and Dry Cleaners is an informal group of top executives in the laundry and dry cleaning business who meet twice each year to discuss industry best practices and exchange ideas across the conference table. In addition to an annual conference, the group meets in the autumn for a “Fly-In” where the host company receives a critique and the group plans the annual conference.
Round Table members represent 379 stores, 108 routes, over 2,100 employees who profitably process over 20 million pieces per year. While membership is limited, Roundtable is open to adding one or two new members for 2018.
Current Round Table members include Zengeler Cleaners of Chicago, Illinois; Red Hanger Cleaners of Salt Lake City, Utah; Puritan Cleaners of Richmond, Virginia; Pratt-Abbott Cleaners of Westbrook, Maine; Porter’s Cleaners of Bossier City, Louisiana; Pilgrim Cleaners of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota; Model Cleaners of Charleroi, Pennsylvania; Max I. Walker Cleaners of Omaha, Nebraska; Hallmark Cleaners of Jackson, Mississippi; Dependable Cleaners of Denver. Colorado; Classic Cleaners of Indianapolis, Indiana; Avon Cleaners of Dallas, Texas; Anton’s Cleaners of Boston, Massachusetts; Admiral Cleaners of Annapolis, Maryland; and A Cleaner World/Shores Cleaners of High Point, North Carolina.
Tripp Penninger of Tripp’s Fine Cleaners joined the group as an invitee this year. “I had high expectations coming in but the information exchanged and the bond of this group confirms that this group will make a positive difference in our operations and our profitability,” said Penninger.
