Clothing Care Council to Oversee Criteria for New, National Quality-in-Drycleaning Program

With its strict compliance requirements, the Award of Excellence is based on professional principles and practices reviewed and overseen by the 11-member national Clothing Care Council. Its members represent the Good Housekeeping Institute, well-known apparel manufacturers, the academic sector, and consumer advocates such as national columnist Heloise. The AOE thus far has been earned by only one-half of one percent of all American drycleaners. Additional award earners operate inAustralia,Canada, theBahamas, andMalta, and drycleaners internationally are being urged to undertake the program's requirements to enhance their businesses and provide customers with assurance about the quality of their service.

Via rigorous testing of stain and soil removal proficiencies, ongoing professional education, and commitment to customer service principles, participating business owners earn the AOE designation and become eligible to display award citations attesting to their cleaning prowess at their places of business. The award must be re-earned annually and is viewed as a credibility-enhancing measure of proficiency and high operating standards.

    The Clothing Care Council is comprised of:

    -- Nora J. Carpenter, Senior Vice President of BBB Capacity, Council of
       Better Business Bureaus

    -- David Eiselle, Senior CEO, Founder, Owner, Davelle Clothiers, Reston,
       Va.

    -- Charles Riggs, Ph.D., Faculty Member and Program Director, Production
       Management Institute, Texas Woman's University

    -- Norma M. Keyes, Director, Product Standards, Cotton Incorporated

    -- Heloise, Columnist and nationally known speaker

    -- Mary W. Ballard, Senior Textiles Conservator

    -- Carolyn Forte, Director, Home Appliances and Cleaning Products, Good
       Housekeeping Research Institute

    -- Shirley Lattimore, Fabrication Specialist, Doncaster of Tanner
       Companies

    -- Ralph McElroy, President, Hart Schaffner Marx University

    -- Sharen Mirell, Director, Corporate Consumer Relations, Liz Claiborne,
       Inc.

    -- Manfred Wentz, Ph.D., Director, Hohenstein Institutes (USA) Inc.; Head,
       Oeko-Tex Certification Body - U.S.A.

Commenting on the launch of the AOE Web site and the public education campaign to alert consumers about the program, William Fisher, chief executive of the industry trade group Drycleaning & Laundry Institute International, noted, "Professional drycleaners who undergo training and who work hard to refine their craft and serve the public have long needed a form of validation that consumers can recognize and rely upon. The Award of Excellence is such a tool for assuring the public that skillful cleaning partnered with excellent customer service are not lost arts today."

Fisher added, "The AOE Web site, www.gooddrycleaners.com, also contains extensive clothing care tips, including practical advice for consumers' own care of their garments, as part of the further commitment in the program to be of service to the public.

The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) has been the premier international trade association for garment care professionals since 1907. Representing over 9,000 retail drycleaning facilities inthe United States alone, DLI is the world's leading professional garment care organization. Through legislative and regulatory policy development, education, professional training, information, garment analysis, research, and textile testing, DLI offers solutions to help member businesses maintain a competitive edge. Consumers are invited to visit DLI at http://www.ifi.org.

SOURCE Drycleaning & Laundry Institute

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Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

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