NASSAU, Bahamas — The Round Table of Launderers and Dry Cleaners—an informal group of top executives from laundry, linen, industrial and drycleaning companies—convenes annually to address mutual concerns and openly exchange ideas. Fifteen members, invited to join the organization based on their company’s demonstrated best practices, gathered here earlier this year for the organization’s 75th Annual Meeting.
The gathering featured a week of meetings covering a variety of topics that are key to running a successful business in today’s economic environment. Topics covered included How’s Business, focusing on the financial health of the industry; marketing and advertising; pricing strategies; and working with a board of directors.
In keeping with the Round Table’s tradition of hearing from an invited guest (and potential new member) each year, the 75th Annual Meeting included a presentation by Classic Cleaners of Indianapolis.
“This year’s Round Table focused on five strategic areas of our operations,” says Tom Zengeler, president of Zengeler Cleaners, Northbrook, Ill. “This exchange of strategic ideas will help each of us improve several areas of our businesses, from meeting the evolving needs of today’s customer, compliance with industry regulations, and implementing technological advances into our business.”
The Round Table never has a paid facilitator; the responsibility is passed from member to member. And because an open exchange of ideas is the lifeblood of the group, each participant’s “price of admission” is to play an active part in the presentation of at least one topic at the conference.
Since no two operations at the Round Table conference are competitors, it has become an accepted practice to exchange this kind of highly confidential information. Attendees are also encouraged to visit each other’s operations to further the learning process.
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