ATLANTA — Between visits to the Clean Show’s extensive exhibit floor, those attending next month’s event will have the opportunity to attend educational sessions targeting the unique issues of their industry segments, as well as some broader general sessions that offer strategies on improving operations, engaging workers and increasing business, among others.
Access to the educational sessions is included in conference registration, and is not dependent on association affiliation.
All morning sessions will be staged on level three of the Georgia World Congress Center. Afternoon educational sessions will be located at the end of the main aisle of the exhibit floor in the Sponsor Education Theater, just beyond the sponsor pavilion.
Educational sessions will take place between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., and between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., daily Thursday through Saturday.
On Sunday, the show’s final day, sessions will take place only in the morning.
Here are brief session descriptions of the Thursday and Friday sessions from Riddle & Associates:
Thursday, April 16
8-9 a.m. — Communicating in a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Protecting Your Reputation, sponsored by the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA).
Protect the reputation of your business. Learn to communicate and plan properly during crises, such as accidents, natural disasters and public health scares. Gain practical advice on building an effective crisis response plan, as well as communicating with the media and customers, and managing social media.
- 8-9:45 a.m. — Going Hi-Tech: Emerging Textile Technologies, sponsored by the Association for Linen Management (ALM).
Join this discussion on processing, validating performance and the environmental impact of antimicrobial textiles, such as MJS spun-poly sheeting and microfibers. The advantages and disadvantages of the new products, as well as an analysis of their cost benefit, will be discussed.
- 8:30-9:45 a.m. — Is Great Customer Service Worth It? sponsored by the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI).
How can great customer service affect your bottom line? A secret-shopping CEO shares insight and data from our industry about identifying weaknesses and rewarding excellence.
- 8:30-10 a.m. — Flip My Laundry: Best Practices for Remodeling Laundries, sponsored by the Coin Laundry Association (CLA).
Identify ways to design a store to maximize revenue per square foot in this session about remodeling a self-service laundry. Remodeling success stories will be shared and will include a discussion of how these projects overcame design issues.
- 9-10 a.m. — Industry Analysis: Domestic Trends and Emerging Markets, sponsored by TRSA.
A discussion of the textile services industry and its potential growth in light of economic trends and employment in key customer markets.
- 1-2 p.m. — TRSA Clean Green and Hygienically Clean Certification Programs: Quantifying Your Commitment to Cleanliness and Sustainability, sponsored by TRSA.
Nearly 50 companies have earned TRSA’s Clean Green certification, and more than 45 facilities have earned TRSA’s Hygienically Clean designations. These certifications are independent, quantitative, and conducted by a third party, and are growing quickly to become the most recognized international certification programs for textile service operators, TRSA says. Learn how your company can meet these rigorous standards and quantifiable measurements, including inspections and testing.
- 2:30-3:30 p.m. — The High-Tech Laundromat: Streamlining Store Operations Through Technology, sponsored by CLA.
Through the use of technology designed to streamline store operations and improve efficiencies, owners can now monitor stores from afar, lock doors remotely, and track revenue through a mobile device. In this session, store owners share their high-tech experiences.
Friday, April 17
- 8-9 a.m. — All Things Google: Tips and Secrets to Your Best Marketing Resource, sponsored by CLA.
Learn how to avoid an advertising agency and reach potential customers through a cheap and easy medium—Google. This session will include a discussion of some of Google’s best tools for laundries, and will identify ways to leverage those resources to reach your customers.
- 8-9:45 a.m. — The 4-1-1 on Equipment Acquisition, sponsored by ALM.
Goals play an important role in planning for capital investment in equipment. Once the goals are in place, acquiring the equipment is the next step. The RFP (Request for Pricing) process will assure that you are purchasing the right piece of equipment to meet your productivity and financial goals. Industry veteran Charles Berge will present a discussion on ways to approach this important decision.
- 8:30-9:45 a.m. — How to Sell to the #SELFIE Generation, sponsored by DLI.
Behavioral psychology can lend some insight into why customers switch companies and make purchases. Learn how to apply this science to selling dry cleaning to an Internet-connected generation.
- 9-10 a.m. — Healthcare Textiles in 2015 and Beyond: Strategies to Maximize Sales of Reusables, sponsored by the American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA).
In order to maximize the sales of reusables in the rapidly changing healthcare environment, operators will have to market smarter and more aggressively. This session offers strategies to secure profitability in this segment.
- 9-10 a.m. — Maximum Performance: Getting the Most from Your Laundry Attendants, sponsored by CLA.
Clear goals and processes will help your laundry attendants and your business reach their full potential and be competitive. Join this discussion of methods of training attendants on store cleaning, equipment maintenance, customer service, money handling, sales and more.
- 1-2 p.m. — Boiler Alert: Save Money on this Massive Expense, sponsored by DLI.
Make sure your boiler is working with you and not against you. In this session, find out how to get more work out of less energy and lower your insurance costs.
- 2:30-3:30 p.m. — Starting a Laundry on a Shoestring, sponsored by ALM.
This session will cover the issues you need to consider before starting a commercial laundry business or expanding an existing one. ALM’s panel of experts will discuss rental textiles vs. processing customers’ goods, selecting equipment, regulatory requirements and more.
Check back Thursday for the conclusion!
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Matt Poe at [email protected].