Wanderings

by Bob McBride

           Happy New-Year. As I am typing this up it is New Years Day 2010.
            It is a time to make our new-year resolutions, to make plans for the coming twelve months to improve our lives and develop our resources.
            As the New Year came in last night at midnight, I could only say goodbye to 2009 and good riddance.
            For most of us, it was a climatic time. Not only was business bad but there were so many other negative experiences that we endured. The market melt down, the banking disasters, auto manufacturers going bankrupt. And on, and on.
            Unfortunately, over all, it was not that great a year.
            In addition to the reclining economy and the loss of discretionary spending for the services we provide, there were other issues to be confronted.
            Various states and communities have decided that drycleaners are bad neighbors and have initiated regulations or attempted to that would exclude us from being able to do business in certain areas, unless we eliminated Perc as a solvent and started to use alternative solvents. In New Jersey, our neighbor to the east, there have been restrictions that make me wonder. Needless to say, in California where Perc has been basically made illegal after deciding that, they have come down on hydrocarbon and in some areas the greatly promoted CO2 is now a considered hazard. Reason does not seem to be concern to some of these agencies. As this is being written the fate of Perc in Philadelphia is yet to be determined.
            On a positive note, your associations have been representing the interests of us all by being present and voicing the concerns of how these unnecessary changes are affecting us as an industry in trying times. Your representatives from DLI and PDCA, other industry groups and individual drycleaners have met the challenge and stepped up to voice our position in unwavering opposition to the less than practical recommendations of regulatory committees that do not have full understanding of the efforts industry wide that have been made over the years to improve the development and efficiency of the control of hazardous waste and air quality.
            This has been a tough battle dealing with often closed minds that do not understand or wish to understand the true position of what we care to achieve.
            We will continue to represent your interests with all the energy at our disposal.
            It seems we are an embattled industry. Many who I have spoken with indicate that their business is had a down year. However, this is nothing new to those of us who have been around for a while.
            If nothing else, we are resilient and tough enough to overcome what appears to be overwhelming difficulty
            It is time to pick up the pieces and get on with business.
            As the late great Frank Sinatra pointed out in the song ‘That’s Life’, “You’re riding high in April, shut down in May, but I know I’m gonna change that tune when I’m back on top in June.” (I hope I got the words right)
            As an industry, isn’t it time for us to get back on top? It’s time to pick up the pieces and get on with our chosen careers. We still have some soldiering to do, but by developing a more positive attitude, providing better quality service and management skills, we can over come the difficulties facing us.
            Your best support team is your DLI/PDCA affiliation. So many valuable sources for your success are awaiting your discovery.
             Expertise in production, management, environmental and money saving service is available at your fingertips.
            All you have to do is get involved and make use of these tools for success.
            Happy New Year. ‘ Let’s get ‘er done,’ as Larry the Cable Guy likes to say.

See you on the Road.