PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — America’s Best Cleaners (ABC) recently hosted a Live Accelerator Meeting in Scarsdale, NY. The theme of the meeting was “Fashion,” and Affiliates explored the latest trends in style, materials, and sustainability.
The three-day event, held on Sept. 13-15, 2023, was hosted by ABC Affiliate Embassy Cleaners and provided attendees with the opportunity to participate in educational sessions. Affiliates provided guidance and advice on how Embassy Cleaners’ new production facility can maximize its space to deliver luxury-level quality and services for the elite of the New York City region.
“We were thrilled to connect our Affiliates with fashion insights from John Jones of MR Magazine and Mitch Gambert of Mel Gambert Custom Shirtmakers,” says ABC Executive Director Chris White. “Building on that foundation, our agenda assisted our Affiliates in refining their risk assessment and coverage for haute couture apparel.”
The event kicked off on Wednesday with a Custom & Couture Clothing welcome reception featuring Mitch Gambert. The evening offered information on the latest fashion trends and hands-on creativity, as Affiliates had the opportunity to create couture-quality garments of their own.
Thursday morning started with Affiliates touring Embassy Cleaners’ 24/7 retail location and production facility, followed by a session on marketing to the next generation of fashion elite presented by Dave Troemel and Kate Quintero of BC360.
“I am honored that Embassy Cleaners was asked to host the recent National Accelerator meeting for America’s Best Cleaners,” says Andrew Rivkin, owner of Embassy Cleaners. “As part of the event, 57 Affiliates and industry luminaries toured our new building. The ensuing comments and insights offered by each Affiliate provided invaluable guidance, informing many actionable steps my staff and I have taken to improve our business further. I feel so privileged to be part of such a forward-thinking organization and to have the opportunity to share fresh ideas and exciting perspectives with some of the industry’s best and brightest operators.”
The afternoon continued with MR Magazine’s Fashion & Digital Editor John Jones as the featured speaker. He discussed the latest trends in the world of fashion, including how the circularity movement will impact design and where there will be growth opportunities. Next, Harry Carranza of Select Risk Insurance led a discussion on risk management and the new fabricare insurance marketplace. The day ended with an Affiliate reception and dinner at Michelin-recognized Goosefeather restaurant at Tarrytown House Estate.
White kicked off Friday morning with a thorough update on all of ABC’s current activities and programs, including updates on the latest trends in couture fashion embellishments through ABC’s program with Swarovski Crystals, various fashion houses and new approaches to catering to the fashion elite. Affiliates participated in a workshop on creating a great client service culture led by Francis Flair of Flair Consulting, followed by an Affiliate Hot Seat to discuss new programs and challenges.
“We workshopped on how to deliver a personalized client experience that mirrors the luxury retail landscape,” White says. “Together, we delved into practices to attract and sustain the next generation of luxury clientele to position our Affiliates for a prosperous and sustainable future. The bonus was that everyone designed and ordered their custom wardrobes.”
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