1-800-DryClean, LLC Franchise News

1-800-DryClean of Ann Arbor, MI has been honored with a recognition by Entrepreneur Magazine in its selection of "Top 500 Franchises."
ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Announcing a special recognition appearing in the January, 2012 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine published by Entrepreneur Media. 1-800-DryClean was selected for the following honor:
"Top 500 Franchises"
A spokesperson from 1-800-DryClean commented on the recognition: "This is quite an honor for us. The fact that Entrepreneur Magazine included 1-800-DryClean in its selection of 'Top 500 Franchises,' signals that our constant efforts towards business excellence are paying off. We are proud to be included in this recognition."
About 1-800-DryClean (a short profile by and about the honoree)
1-800-DryClean franchise owners provide quality dry cleaning with free pickup and delivery...

February 16, 2011 // Franchising.com // Shannon Toler-New, president of 1-800-DryClean franchise, was formally recognized as a Certified Franchise Executive by the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. To earn this prestigious designation, she completed a comprehensive course of study in franchise management offered by the institute, which is the academic branch of the International Franchise Association's Educational Foundation. The International Franchise Association honored her during its annual convention in Las Vegas this week.

"When I joined IFA as President and CEO, I was immediately impressed by the number of highly respected franchise executives who have earned their CFE designation," said IFA Chief Executive, Stephen J...

February 04, 2011 // Franchising.com // Dry-clean delivery franchises offer 11 reasons why having your clothes picked-up, laundered and delivered will relieve you of more than just an inconvenient and time-consuming errand in 2011.

11. You always get stuck behind someone going the wrong way at the drive-thru.

10. Your little dog thinks the clean clothes hanging in the back seat are big play toys.

9. Your personal trainer recommends you avoid starches.

8. You are squeezed in the middle seat on a three-hour flight wearing yesterday's shirt because you were two minutes late to the cleaners.

7. Your dry-cleaner is next door to a Godiva Chocolatier.

6. When you deliver clothes to the dry-cleaner, your new car smell becomes a dirty laundry-basket musk...

January 10, 2011 // Franchising.com // ANN ARBOR, MI — The 1-800-DryClean franchise once again ranks among America's top franchise opportunities as evidenced by the brand's 2011 Franchise 500 ranking in the January issue of Entrepreneur magazine.

"We continue to solidify our market position as the leading dry-clean pick-up and delivery service franchise," said Shannon Toler-New, president of 1-800-DryClean franchise. "The Franchise 500 ranking validates the consumer demand for our services, the simplicity of our business model, the success of our owners, and the effectiveness of our franchise owner training and support."

Entrepreneur bases its Franchise 500 rankings on several objective, quantifiable criteria including financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the franchise system...

October 05, 2010 // Franchising.com // 1-800-DryClean franchise owners donated their time and vans to deliver women's apparel items from Robert Half International, Inc., offices to Dress for Success locations across the country.

"Robert Half sponsored a suit drive to benefit Dress for Success, a nonprofit organization that we support to help women excel in work and in life," said Shannon Toler-New, president 1-800-DryClean franchise. "The Robert Half branch offices collected the women's apparel and accessories, but they needed a way to transport the donations to local Dress for Success offices. Our 1-800-DryClean owners generously volunteered their services to make the deliveries."

"I never say no because there's a valuable payoff when you see the smiles...

August 02, 2010 // Franchising.com // Shannon Toler-New, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, formally announced that the dryclean franchise opportunity has increased its VetFran discount to $6,000, which represents a 40% savings off the brand's franchise fee.

"1-800-DryClean can be a rewarding franchise business for our military veterans," said Toler-New, from the company's headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "Increasing our VetFran discount is our way of saluting veterans for their military service and making our dryclean franchise business more affordable and worth considering as a civilian career."

VetFran—the Veterans Transition Franchise initiative—is a voluntary effort of International Franchise Association member-companies to encourage franchise ownership by offering financial incentives to honorably discharged veterans...

January 25, 2010 // Franchising.com // Shannon Toler-New, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, recently announced positive results from the leading dry-clean delivery service franchise's "We Miss You Call Program."

"In November we introduced this program where home-office support staffers call franchisee customers who for whatever reason have dropped our free pick up and delivery dry-clean service," said Toler-New. "We found that 85% of the people we talked to still considered themselves satisfied customers they just became less frequent users over the casual-dress summer months. By calling, 12% immediately put our signature bags on their front doors."

The purpose of the "We Miss You Call Program" is fourfold: 1) to maintain the dry-clean delivery franchise's relationships with its customers, 2) to provide a platform for customers to voice possible complaints, 3) to support busy owners with another level of customer service, and 4) to encourage customers to use the company's high quality dry-clean service...

December 24, 2009 // Franchising.com // Shannon Toler-New, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, recently welcomed the company's newest franchise owner, Wynn Zheng, to the leading dry-clean delivery franchise opportunity.

"Wynn was attracted to our dry-clean delivery business because it will afford him the opportunity to continue his passion for learning," said Toler-New. "As a 1-800-DryClean franchise owner operator, Wynn will have the financial security and the time to pursue the personal interests that he richly deserves such as online college courses."

Zheng joins the 1-800-DryClean franchise family from a leading eye-care company after his clinical programming job was moved overseas.

"Wynn lives by the adage that if you're not learning, you're dying," added Toler-New...

September 21, 2009 // Franchising.com // Shannon Toler-New, president of 1-800-DryClean franchise, formally welcomed new franchisees, Tim and Andrea Noonan, owners of 1-800-DryClean of Farmington Valley, Connecticut.

"The Noonans came to us from Davenport, Iowa, where Andrea worked at Aloca's 130-acre facility overlooking the Mississippi River," said Toler-New. "The company began downsizing last October, and Andrea wanted to get to high ground before the flood of pink slips washed over her department."

"We could see it coming, so we began exploring franchise opportunities. It was time to take ownership of our future," said Andrea. "We also knew that we'd have more options back east in Connecticut where we have family...

1-800-DryClean Franchise Sponsors Girls Softball Champions August 25, 2009 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI – Shannon Toler-New, president of 1-800-DryClean franchise, recently commented on the franchise system's commitment to local community involvement and acknowledged franchisees, Jeffrey and Patricia Stumpp, owners of 1-800-DryClean of Greater Lorain County, Ohio, for their sponsorship of a local girls' softball team.

"We're greatly involved in events and activities that benefit our neighbors and customers in the county," said Jeffrey. "We've found that it more than pays for itself in goodwill and good business."

"This summer we sponsored a nine and 10-year old girls' softball team that won the 11th Amherst Athletic Association Minor Girls' Championship," said Patricia...

July 20, 2009 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI,- Shannon Toler, president of 1-800-DryClean, announced that Michael Shinabarger has joined the leading dry-clean delivery franchise as an owner serving the western suburbs of Orlando, Florida.

"Michael was born listening impaired, but the handicap hasn't hindered his desire to live a full life or diminished his ambition to succeed in the business world," said Toler. "We were able to combine Michael's company knowledge with effective phone technology to create a seamless customer-service process."

Michael is the son of Earl and Maria Shinabarger, owners of 1-800-DryClean of Northwest Detroit. The Shinabargers have been with 1-800-DryClean since 2000, and are based in Livonia, Michigan...

June 05, 2009 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI, - Shannon Toler, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, announced that the leading dry-clean delivery brand has introduced another program to support franchise owners.

"It's easy for franchisees to get pulled in different directions and struggle to maintain the high level of customer service that we're known for," said Toler. "Our We'll Recruit for YouÔ program relieves the burden owners experience recruiting staff. We know how to do it, and owners can now invest more time building relationships and serving their residential and business customers."

Through We'll Recruit for YouÔ, support professionals at the home office draft and place recruitment ads, screen applicants, and forward qualified candidates to 1-800-DryClean owners for final interviewing...

Proprietary software focused on building and maintaining relationships with customers

May 04, 2009 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI, - Shannon Toler, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, announced that the leading dry-clean delivery brand has introduced a proprietary software system to enhance customer satisfaction.

"Route Runner is a web-based business management software program that automates service reminders through phone calls and e-mails," said Toler. "It also helps our franchise owners better organize and track residential and office route efficiency."

Franchisees can access the software from any computer, which gives them the flexibility and freedom to meet customer needs from any location...

Prestigious award recognition from Dun & BradstreetApril 01, 2009 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI,- Shannon Toler, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, announced that Dun & Bradstreet has recognized the brand as an "AllBusiness AllStar" franchise for 2009.

"This a well-deserved honor for our team," said Toler. "We've built 1-800-DryClean into a leading national franchise that's known for quality, service and value, which has served our franchise owners well as more customers want convenience and savings as the economy struggles to recover."

The criteria used to select The AllBusiness AllStar Franchises list for 2009 includes Web visibility and the latest financial strength scores from Dun & Bradstreet...

Winner from Camas, Washington receives $500 free gas card January 21, 2009 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI, - Shannon Toler, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, awarded the 15 environmentally responsible customers with their free gas cards won during the company's fourth quarter 2008 ongoing Go Green initiative.

"From October through December last year, each time customers used our free pick up and delivery drycleaning service, we entered their names in a drawing to win free gas," said Toler. "1-800-DryClean franchise customers save themselves time and money, and help save the environment by car-pooling their clothes."

"Whether customers use our service once a month or twice a week—one garment is fine—we're helping to reduce carbon emissions and cut our dependency on foreign oil," says Toler...

Only franchise system to aggressively market both home and office services December 12, 2008 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI, - Shannon Toler, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, introduced the nationwide chain's new office pick up and delivery service.

"We see free home and office pick up and delivery as complementary services. Other franchisors only focus on one or the other," said Toler. "In these difficult economic times, this additional service provides more options and convenience for our customers, and for our franchise owners, it improves their route efficiency and it's another revenue opportunity.

"Customers interested in office service—or home pick up and delivery—need only go to our website, www...

Franchise Chain offers vets $2,500 discount as part of IFA VetFran Program
November 04, 2008 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI, - Shannon Toler, president 1-800-DryClean franchise, hailed the more than 700 veterans who have acquired nearly 1100 franchises as part of VetFran, the International Association's Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative.

"We salute all the men and women who courageously served our country, and who are now experiencing their American Dream as franchise business owners," said Toler. "At 1-800-Dryclean, more than ten percent of our owners are veterans. They rank high in our franchise organization because of their military training, sense of duty, and commitment to our mission."

Several of the 1-800-DryClean owners with military service include Michael and Brandy Pope of Oahu, Hawaii...

Top prize $500 to winner drawn January 5, 2009
October 22, 2008 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI., - Shannon Toler, president of 1-800-DryClean Franchise Company, announced details for 15 environmentally responsible customers to win FREE GAS.

"Now until December 31, 2008, each time customers use our free pick up and delivery drycleaning service, we'll enter their names in a drawing to win free gas," said Toler. "The more entries the better the odds with the winner ringing up $500 at the pump."

1-800-DryClean franchise customers save themselves time and money, and help save the environment by car-pooling their clothes--reducing carbon emissions and cutting our dependency on foreign oil.

"We want to reward our customers for going GREEN...

August 25, 2008 // Franchising.com // As 1-800-DryClean continues to grow, not only is it important for us to recognize franchise owners who exhibit outstanding performance, but it's as equally important for the system to recognize the employees of our businesses. Beginning this year, we put a call out on Team Site for nominations and are pleased to recognize Driver Bill Frothingham from Steve and Carmen Nashland's organization in Apex, NC as our inaugural Franchise Employee of the Year Award.

"It takes great, dedicated employees in order to build a successful and profitable business," said Shannon Toler, President of 1-800-DryClean.

The Nashlands started their business in 2002 and currently operate a two-van business with a customer base of more than 4,000 who have used their service...

Darrell New, vice president of Guerrilla Marketing for 1-800-DryClean, started the concept in 1988 during his last semester of college. Today, 1-800-Dryclean franchise serves more than 30,000 customers across 25 states.

August 12, 2008 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI., – Shannon Toler, president of 1-800-DryClean franchise, lit 20 candles marking the brand's 20th anniversary.

"We're celebrating the durability of our franchise concept, and the increasing value that we provide to our customers across America," said Toler. "As prices at the pump remain high, our free pick-up & delivery service not only saves our customers precious time, but also expensive gas."

"I started this business in 1988 during my last semester of business school at the University of Central Florida," said New...