CHICAGO — As 2023 is about to be visible in the rear-view mirror, let’s take a moment and see what the most popular news and feature stories were on AmericanDrycleaner.com, based on our readership views.
If you missed the bottom half of our Top 10 countdown, click here to see Nos. 10 through 6, and then come back here for the top half of the list.
(Click on the heading to read the story. When the Top 10 story was part of a larger series, we have provided additional links so you can easily read the entire article.)
Counting down from No. 5, our top stories from 2023 were:
5. ZIPS Appoints Four to Corporate Team
ZIPS Franchising LLC, the national chain of corporate and franchised garment care locations, announced the company has added four new members to its corporate team.
The positions filled were the company’s director of business development, digital marketing coordinator, controller and information technology manager.
“We are very fortunate to have added such seasoned and skillful new team members to our organization,” said ZIPS’ President/CEO Bob Barry.
4. Kansas City Area Selected for Nuuly Clothing Rental Fulfillment Center
It’s exciting news to hear of a huge project connected to the drycleaning and laundry industry, and the selection of Raymore, Missouri, for Nuuly’s new 604,000-square-foot fulfillment center was such news.
Nuuly, owned by multinational lifestyle retail corporation URBN, is a subscription rental clothing service for women looking for extended fashion options, and offers more than 15,000 styles from over 300 designer and contemporary brands, including Free People, Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. The company planned to locate its fulfillment and laundry facility at the Raymore Commerce Center which would create 750 jobs within five years.
3. In Memoriam: Nora Nealis, National Cleaners Association
We were saddened to hear that Nora Nealis, the longtime executive director of the National Cleaners Association (NCA), died on Nov. 12, 2023, after an illness at the age of 70.
“Nora’s impact was not confined to those she directly assisted,” the NCA offered in its statement. “Her efforts to ensure environmental compliance have left an enduring imprint on the industry, benefiting even those she never met. She was a mentor and a guiding light, offering her time and knowledge selflessly, even to those struggling to meet dues. Her compassion and commitment to inclusivity were unparalleled.”
2. Looking Ahead to 2023, Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3 — Conclusion
While there were signs of recovery as we closed the book on 2022 and entered into the new year, there were still many areas of uncertainty after a roller-coaster of economic downturns, pandemic realities and customer behaviors.
American Drycleaner asked economic and industry experts what 2023 might hold in store for those dry cleaners who had survived one of the biggest challenges to ever hit the industry, as well as lingering issues and how the tight labor market might evolve throughout the year.
1. Construction Starts on Illinois Industrial Drycleaning Facility Improvements
It was welcomed news to hear that Principle Construction Corp. had started construction on the tenant improvements of a 282,588 square-foot building at 2000 Deerpath Road in Aurora, Illinois, for Tailored Brands. Renovations to the property of the fashion retailer — who owns popular brands such as Men’s Wearhouse, Jos. A. Bank, and family retailer K&G Fashion Superstore — included a 13,491 SF boiler and dry-cleaning room with a dedicated structural pipe support mezzanine, as well as a new 4,000-amp electrical service.
“Following the pandemic, Tailored Brands has seen a rebound in the formalwear market as weddings, proms and other formal events are back in full force,” said Principle President James A. Brucato. “The Aurora facility will add much-needed capacity to support their formal clothing rental business, including infrastructure for dry cleaning, laundry, repair and storage of thousands of tuxedos and other formalwear.”
For the first part of this list, click HERE.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].
