Even the weather was fantastic for the nearly 100 industry members in attendance for the 2011 WFI March Convention & Trade Show in Manitowoc. The festivities commenced Friday night with dinner, followed by a progressive game of Texas Hold ‘em in which David Cass was the $100 first-place winner, and Mary Braden and Michael Duchaine tied for second earning a cash prize of $25.
The hospitality event after dinner offered another opportunity for networking and conversation. As always, thank you to our allied trade members who sponsored our hospitality suite for our cleaners.
Saturday morning began with Shane Fell of Top Floor Technologies returning by popular demand, and presenting a session on how social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked in can fit into a marketing strategy. Shane explained that communications have drastically changed it the past few years especially due to social media. Consumers are increasingly controlling dialogue about companies and defining brands. “Marketers must reach consumers through social media since that is where the conversations about brands is taking place,” he reiterated. “Consumers trust reviews more than corporate advertising. Ninety-one percent of people say consumer reviews are the #1 aid to buying decisions.
Shane presented examples of how a corporate Facebook page might look and how to develop and manage a successful social media marketing effort, using coupons, events, and referral programs through your page. He explained how to use Facebook to drive consumers to your website and the synergistic effect both can have on your ability to contact consumers. This is especially true for younger generations.
Matt Cruise of Robertson Ryan & Associates explained the benefits of the new Allied Drycleaner Insurance Program and answered any questions for our members. Matt cleared up some confusion existing with insured parties, that you may cancel a policy at anytime, switch insurance carriers, and be refunded any premium paid for coverage periods paid in advance. Matt also introduced a virtual human resources website for policyholders with Roberson Ryan & Associates, another benefit of insuring through their office for the Allied Drycleaner Insurance Program.
Karl Loepke, technical and product development manager for DrySolv, an alternative solvent gave a presentation on the qualities and comparisons of DrySolv with perc and other solvents. DrySolv is n-propyl Bromide introduced in 1995 and is a direct replacement for perc with minor alterations/retrofitting to existing machines. According to Karl, the typical cost of conversion from perc cleaning is approximately $2,000 to $3,000 depending on the condition of the equipment. Cycle time and steam consumption are reduced and hazardous wastes costs are reduced. Tri-Supply is the authorized distributor of DrySolv in Wisconsin, and John Kratz asked that that if any cleaners are interested in touring a plant using DrySolv, to please contact him.
The Supplier tradeshow featured the “Tabletop Dessert Reception” where attendees enjoyed desserts while visiting the displays and networking with the exhibitors, and drycleaners. On behalf of our cleaners, a huge Thank You!! to our Allied Trades companies for sponsoring and participating in the event!
The Saturday afternoon auction was once a gain a resounding success, bringing in $20,656 to help fund WFI and member programs and services! Thank you to our donors and bidders! Some bidders have generously added a cash donation with their auction payments as well as other members who missed the auction, but want to help fund our educational programs and support our advocacy and lobbying for the states’ Drycleaner Environmental Response Program (DERP). One recipient of DERP clean up funds made a $1,000 contribution as a “thank you” to WFI for continued efforts with DERP.
At the Saturday evening banquet, WFI Executive Director Brian Swingle thanked all the sponsors and had representatives from their companies stand for applause. Brian introduced President Dennis Schmitt who held a moment of silence for the passing of Jerry Rauwald, long time member and Charter Member of the WFI Hall of Fame.
President Schmitt thanked the Allied Trades for their continued support of our Association and Jim Fitzgerald, Chair of the Fitzgerald Scholarship Committee for the Fitzgerald Scholarship contributions for DLI scholarships, WFI spotting clinic registration scholarships, and donations for speakers for our educational programs.
Jim Fitzgerald, Jr. thanked all the golfers and sponsors of the 2010 Fitzgerald Scholarship Golf Outing and noted the 2011 Fitzgerald Scholarship Golf Outing is being held June 29th at the Silver Spring Country Club in Menomonee Falls and Jim invited everyone to sign up. He announced and presented a certificate to David Cass of Martinizing, Inc. for Heather Teasdale who has been selected as the 2011 Fitzgerald Scholarship recipient and will be awarded up to $2000 to cover her tuition and expenses. Jim further announced that Jerry Rauwald’s long time tradition of sponsoring the Longest Putt Contest during the Annual Fitzgerald Golf Outing will be continued by Jim and Matt Cruise of Robertson Ryan & Associates.
Certificates for Drycleaner re-certification were awarded to Ed Tutkowski of National One Hour Cleaners a 4-star cleaner, Tracey Abkes and Rick Nettum of Leather-Rich a 3-star cleaner, and Art Imig of Art Imig’s Clothing Care Center a 4-star cleaner. Leather-Rich was awarded their re-certification of 3 Star status and Art Imig was awarded his re-certification for 4 Star status. President Schmitt advised that we have the educational tools available to us for excellent dry and wet cleaning and we should use them to attain and maintain the highest performance standards.
Thanks to Scott Wallem of Pure Enviro Management, who is also a professional sports photographer, a surprise drawing was held for a number of his coveted 8” x 10” photographs of Packers from the 2010-11 season! Smiling winners were Ken Bull, Brian Cass, Mary Cass, Brett Donaldson, Jim Drought, Brett Donaldson, Jim Fitzgerald, Rick Nettum and Jessica Wilson. Members enjoyed the rest of the evening savoring their daily catch of wonderful auction purchases, prizes, and newfound business knowledge with other drycleaners refreshments and snacks in the hospitality suite.
The convention concluded Sunday morning with guest breakfast speaker Scott Manley of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce who provided a State Legislative Update including the January Special Session’s efforts on tort reform, tax and economic development, and regulatory reform. Mr. Manley also delved into the Budget Repair Bill and the efforts to remove public employee collective bargaining and its role in balancing the current budget and that of the next 2011-2013 biennium.