Institute Training and Benefit Programs Set to Continue and Expand in 2022
Drycleaning & Laundry Institute leadership and staff work to help DLI members and the industry succeed everyday. From January 1–December 31, 2021, DLI (now in its 138th year) will have helped member drycleaners by sharing information, providing training, building relationships, serving as the industry’s watchdog and by leading the way. Here are some important developments shared by DLI as 2021 draws to a close. DLI will continue these activities and provide its other regular benefits and services through 2022 and beyond.
Institute Training and Benefit Programs Set to Continue and Expand in 2022
Sharing Information – 156 new readymade social media designs shared and archived for members on DLIonline.org. Designs are formatted for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Many of the posts are in a video format, making them even more eye-catching.
Monday Morning Marketing News – Each year DLI emails 50 Monday Morning Marketing News articles to DLI Standard, Gold, Premier and International members. All 2021 issues were written by Dave Coyle of Maverick Drycleaners, industry marketing coach and fellow DLI member. All of Dave’s items are available in DLI’s Drycleaning Encyclopedia. Coyle will continue writing Monday Morning Marketing News in 2022.
Hanger Recycling Materials – DLI reintroduced and simplified this program because members reported difficulty in getting hangers. Prevent potential supply shortages by encouraging customers to return used hangers. Downloadable poster, hanger tags and Friend of the Planet Award help members communicate this to customers.
Providing Training for Members & Employees – DLI understands the importance of communication and staying connected. As an association, DLI’s foremost purpose is bringing peer member cleaners together for training and facilitating relationship-building opportunities. DLI has re-tooled how these things happen by developing new virtual meeting opportunities and courses for members.
Virtual Training Programs – DLI produced and archived more than 75 training programs for members on many topics including:
• Diversification
• Maintenance
• Management (hiring, OSHA, security, growth, customer services, more)
• Marketing (each month one session is hosted by Dave Coyle – see Monday Morning Marketing News for more information)
• Production
• Finishing
• Stain Removal
• Business Sales & Acquisitions
Virtual Stain Removal Course – DLI held the first three sessions of the new Virtual Stain Removal Course to help members train employees during the pandemic. This course helps students understand the art and science of removing any and all stains by learning the chemical principles behind successful stain removal.
Building Relationships – 75+ Members-Only Peer-to-Peer Weekly Zoom Meetings – Looking for some advice on how to start a new division in your company? Need help with an employee issue? You’re not operating in a vacuum. Another DLI member has probably solved your biggest problem and can tell you how they did it on one of these calls.
DLI’s Marketing Labs – The pandemic accelerated change universally. DLI leadership realized the industry must adapt to remain necessary and relevant to consumers. To do this, cleaners must do things a bit differently. Joining a lab is a member’s chance to develop a new marketing strategy as part of a team of like-minded operators in non-competing areas of the U.S. and the world.
DLI’s Inner Circle – Spending too much on supplies or production labor? How would you know? DLI’s Inner Circle gives members a solid basis for comparing their business to others by looking at the hard numbers. Helmed by veteran management group coordinator Diana Vollmer of Ascent Consulting, these groups help members identify growth opportunities and cut losses by making direct comparisons between similar businesses.
Industry Watchdog Advocacy – The most important time to keep an eye on regulatory agencies is when the world is focused on dealing with rapid change. With help from the Institute, DLI members influenced favorable outcomes for several regulatory initiatives.
FTC Care Label Victory – the FTC entertained the idea of canceling the Care Label Rule. The rule remains unchanged thanks to a deluge of comments from the cleaning industry orchestrated by DLI.
Employment Retention Tax Credit – DLI sounded the alarm on an attempt to shift the ETRC’s deadline up by a full quarter. Members quickly shared their opinions with elected officials.
Leading the Way – Institute-wide Strategic Planning seeks to ensure a brighter future for DLI members by taking proper advantage of opportunities and accentuating the positive aspects of professional cleaning.
Into the Future – DLI will continue offering these programs and offer all of its regular benefits and services. Members may look forward to regular webinars and meetings, more great advocacy programs, accessing hundreds more readymade social posts and much more through 2022 and beyond. DLI is working on new initiatives behind the scenes and looking forward to Clean 2022 where the Institute will offer eight live in-person seminars on various hot topics in the industry.
Strength in Numbers – All professional drycleaning and laundry business owners are invited to join DLI and participate in these programs, access DLI’s on-demand training video library and enjoy the many benefits of DLI Membership. Call (800) 638-2627 or visit DLIonline.org/Membership for more information.
