The Clean Show, the premier event for the commercial laundering, drycleaning, and textile maintenance and rental industry, will be held June 18-21 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. Fourteen thousand people are expected to attend and view more than 200,000 net square feet of exhibit space, according to Riddle & Associates, the show’s management firm.If you attended the show in the past, you know that there’s much more than exhibits and education. Not only do you get a chance to see all the latest equipment and innovations for the self-service laundry industry, you also get to pose questions and mingle with a host of industry representatives, including manufacturers and distributors from all across the country. In addition, you’ll get the chance to chat with and pick the brains of your fellow laundry operators, be it on the show floor, at an educational session or even over lunch or drinks.If you haven’t attended a Clean Show in the past, here’s a brief rundown of what this industry extravaganza is all about.The Clean Show, which is among the top 100 North American trade shows and the largest industry show in the world, was “born” in 1977, and the show’s sponsors include the Coin Laundry Association (CLA), Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI), Association for Linen Management (ALM), Textile Care Allied Trades Association (TCATA), Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA), and Uniform & Textile Service Association.The sponsors provide educational sessions focusing on the specific needs of their members, generally focusing on new technologies, training, business management and environmental issues. This year, the show also invited other related associations from the United States, Canada and Europe to participate in the formal educational program.The Clean Show’s audience includes store owners, plant operators, technicians, institutional laundry managers, distributors, consultants and buyers. The exhibitors include the manufacturers and providers of products, supplies and services to the industry. Ninety-five percent of attendees are owners or managers of their companies, the show’s management firm says.This marks the fourth time that the Clean Show has been held in New Orleans. It’s also the first time the show has returned to the Crescent City since Hurricane Katrina.HONING YOUR SKILLSMore than 40 hours of educational sessions focus on the latest technical information and trends, business management, and environmental and regulatory issues. All sessions are open to all Clean Show attendees.Sessions will be held on all four days of the show, and the coin laundry sessions are sponsored by the Coin Laundry Association (CLA).The coin laundry educational sessions include:Thursday, June 189 a.m.-10 a.m.: Survival Skills: How Laundry Owners Will Profit in Today’s Economy — Listen to a frank discussion between laundry owners who know what it takes to run a successful business. This hand-selected panel talks about the trends facing the industry today and five to 10 years in the future.Friday, June 198 a.m.-9 a.m.: Developing a Marketing Plan with Punch — A single Yellow Pages ad no longer cuts it. To maximize brand awareness in today’s competitive environment, laundry owners must have the right mix of new and traditional marketing media. This session will cover Internet marketing and direct-mail strategies that pay off in terms of customer development and growth.9 a.m.-10 a.m.: Garment Care Toolkit: Stain Removal Basics — If you offer — or are thinking about offering — drop-off laundry service, this is the one session you must attend. Garment-care expert Jane Rising shares proven removal techniques for the everyday mishap, as well as tough stains found in commercial laundry. You might want to bring staff members to this session.Saturday, June 208 a.m.-9 a.m.: Alternative Payment & Card Systems — Vend price strategies and rising utility costs are shedding new light on alternative payment systems. This session guides you through the options, how to integrate a system and how to use it to your advantage. Card systems have been around for nearly 20 years. Isn’t it time you researched them?9 a.m.-10 a.m.: Equipment Replacement: Cost vs. Benefit Analysis — One of the CLA’s most respected presenters, Richard Weisinger, gives laundry owners practical advice on equipment replacement from an accounting vantage point. Payback schedules, depreciation options, government programs and timing the purchase of equipment will be discussed. Walk away with the tools you need to fully evaluate your next purchase.Sunday, June 218 a.m.-10 a.m.: Evaluating an Investment in Coin Laundry — This “crash course” covers the basics of laundry investment and management. Take the guesswork out of the research process with this balanced and comprehensive overview. The two-hour seminar is designed for potential investors, yet also acts as a refresher for owners thinking of adding another location.GETTING THERERegistration includes admission to the exhibit hall and all educational sessions. The pre-registration fee is $60 per person, and the pre-registration deadline is May 22. After May 22, registrations will be processed on-site at the cost of $95 per person. Registering online is the quickest and easiest method.Clean ’09 has blocked rooms at several hotels. The New Orleans CVB Housing Bureau handles reservations. If you wish to stay in a sponsor’s headquarter hotel, please indicate that when making reservations. Absolute deadline for hotel reservations is May 15. Complimentary shuttle buses to the convention center will stop within two blocks of all official hotels. To make hotel reservations, call 800-424-5250.Discounted airport transportation is available. In order to book your discounted airport/hotel shuttle reservations online, you must book no later than 1 p.m. the day prior to your departure date. Changes to an existing reservation can be made online or via phone (866-596-2699) only if you made your original reservation online.To make plans, and for more travel information, go to www.cleanshow.com.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].