CHICAGO — After an extra year off, The Clean Show is returning to the world stage, setting up shop in the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida, for a four-day show beginning Saturday.
In Part 1 of this series, we examined the industry atmosphere in which this year’s show will take place, as well as some of the specifics of the event. Today, we’ll conclude by looking at educational opportunities, as well as strategies for making the most of your time before, during and after the event.
Education Focused on Today’s Realities
The educational programming for Clean 2025 reflects the industry’s evolved priorities, with a notable shift toward customer-facing challenges rather than traditional back-of-house operations, says Mary Scalco, CEO of the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI).
“We tried to focus on dealing with today’s consumer,” she says of DLI’s sponsored educational opportunities. “In the past, we’ve done sessions about equipment and plants. Now, all our educational sessions are more about dealing with consumers.”
DLI’s sessions will cover community involvement strategies, social media initiatives for consumer engagement, and techniques for becoming customers’ top choice regardless of price point. “We’ll be presenting more management-type issues this time,” Scalco says.
For a full listing of the educational sessions, see the Clean Show Education page.
Making the Most of Your Time
With the scope and scale of Clean 2025, strategic planning becomes essential for maximizing the time, money and energy you invest. Attendees are strongly urged to do their homework before arriving.
“You’re going to be overwhelmed. There’s no doubt about that,” Scalco says. “I would go online and get the show floor map and then ask, ‘OK, here’s where I want to go. What’s the best way for me to get there?’”
The OCCC’s layout doesn’t segregate by industry sector, meaning drycleaning equipment might be next to industrial laundry systems or coin-operated machinery.
“It’s all intermixed,” Scalco says. “So, you could be running around that show floor trying to figure out where to go, and you’ll never get to where you want to get to.”
Greg Jira, group show director for event organizer Messe Frankfurt, also emphasizes the importance of pre-show research: “Review the show’s floor plan. Look at the exhibitor directory and the education schedule. Familiarize yourself with the layout of the floor and then set up your own show objectives.”
Also, Orlando’s summer heat requires practical preparation. “Hydrate,” Jira urges. “You might not feel that in an air-conditioned area, but it’s still important. Dress comfortably. Don’t wear new shoes — that is not going to help you.”
Smart Evaluation Strategies
When evaluating new technology or services, attendees should approach vendor conversations strategically. The sales environment of a trade show requires careful questioning to get beyond the marketing messages.
“You’re going to see the people on the show floor, the people who work for the company — they’re salespeople,” Scalco says. “So, I would always ask, ‘Can I have a contact for somebody I can talk with? Somebody who’s using your piece of equipment?’”
Focus key questions on practical implementation: volume requirements, garment mix compatibility, space needs and real-world performance metrics.
“If my mix of garments is this, is a hands-free finisher appropriate for what I’m trying to do?” Scalco suggests as an example.
The show floor itself provides opportunities for peer-to-peer learning.
“You can usually find somebody at the show that’s standing next to you because they’re looking at the same piece of equipment you are,” Scalco says. “Chat with them and say, ‘Hey, what are you thinking about? Why are you putting this in?’ Nine times out of 10, you won’t know the person, so they’re not in your sales market. They’ll share with you.”
Post-Show Follow-Through
The value of attending Clean 2025 extends well beyond the four days in Orlando. Sharing information with people and getting involved with industry associations can provide ongoing support for connections made and ideas generated during the show.
“The peer-to-peer calls that we have are a great way to see if somebody is using what you’re looking at adding to your company,” Scalco says. “You can get on a call and ask people, ‘OK, who has it? Tell me what the benefits are. Tell me what the downside is. Tell me what your volume is. Tell me your mix of clothing,’ and they will share with you.”
Local associations also provide continuing opportunities for the kind of face-to-face networking that makes Clean invaluable.
“In many cases, the local associations are right in your backyard,” Scalco says.
Looking Forward
With Clean returning to its traditional odd-year schedule in Orlando, Las Vegas will host the next show in 2027, to be followed by New Orleans in 2029. That makes this week’s event particularly significant as the industry’s major gathering for the next two years.
Strong participation numbers for the 2025 show would suggest an industry ready to invest in its future.
“I think it’s going to be a really good show,” Scalco says. “The people who are in the industry today are well-equipped to attend a trade show. They want to improve, and update their plants and the way they interact with their customers.”
Or, as Jira puts it, “Everybody’s ready to get together — and Orlando is a good place for it.”
For Part 1 of this series, click HERE.
Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].
