Posts tagged Sudsies
Dry Cleaning. Give your clothes a second life.
Oct 26th
We all know that times have been tough for a while now. And with all the downsizing and belt-tightening going on across the country, shopping and consuming habits have shifted – in some cases, dramatically.
Take clothing sales, for example. In the second quarter of 2009, the TJX Companies (the parent of discounters Marshalls and T.J. Maxx) reported a rise in both sales and profits. On the other hand, Saks, the parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, slid down in both categories. So as you can see, all those belts are now getting tightened around much more affordable pants.
Of course, there’s little sense in belaboring or dwelling on all these changes (clothing and otherwise). In the words of a great anonymous American philosopher…It is what it is.
What we can do is find ways to help make what we do have go a little bit further. And share those nuggets of information with one another.
Forming a search party to scour the cluttered racks of Marshalls for fresh new arrivals is one way to do this. But there’s also another approach you can take – restoring your own damaged or discarded clothes. After all, why deal with the guilt and pressure of spending big (or medium) money on new clothes if you can spend even less money to breathe a “second life” into the clothes that already hang (often sadly) in your closet?
Clothing restoration just so happens to be one of Sudsies’ specialty services. Mildew stains on your old leather jacket. Smoke damage on that once-favorite dress of yours. Fraying around the collar of your favorite golf shirt. Damage from another dry cleaner. We can address all of these issues and more with our clothing restoration services and on-site tailor and seamstress. We even use a state-of-the-art odor treatment process to get rid of any “old” or just plain “ugly” smells that may be hanging out back there with your neglected clothing (misery loves company).
If you’ve had clothes damaged due to natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, or fires, we can help you itemize your clothing restoration billing in a format that’s easily accepted by insurance companies. Just remember, the longer your damaged and neglected clothes are left to wither and weather away, the more effort will need to go into reviving them from the dead.
So go ahead. Break out your forgotten old pants (just maybe not the Zubaz). You’ll be surprised how well that tight belt fits them.
Service, Service, Service!!!
Oct 13th
Remember back in the day, when businesses used to go that extra mile to assure your satisfaction and convenience at every step?
From the personal tailor in the luxurious department store to the hand-delivered, ice-cold gallon of milk on your front porch, it’s those special personalized touches that are often lacking in today’s hectic, need-it-now society. Sure, the word “convenience” is everywhere, but how often is it really and memorably delivered upon these days?
Well, Sudsies hasn’t forgotten what it was like then. And we’re dedicated to keeping that special feeling alive today.
At Sudsies, we pride ourselves on being eco-friendly, designer dud-savvy and prompt and professional. But if there’s one thing we truly hang our hat on, it’s our FREE pickup and delivery service.
Free pickup and delivery have been part of the Sudsies story since Day One, yet we’ve found that our customers aren’t always aware of this convenient and cost-saving offering.
So allow us to give you a quick primer.
It all starts at Sudsies.com, our interactive and easy-to-use website. Once there, just click on the “Free Pickup & Delivery” button along the left-hand side, then click the “Sign Up” bubble. That will take you to a fast form where you’ll be asked to enter relevant contact information, including service details and cleaning instructions.
Once you’ve signed up here, you can put yourself on a fixed schedule – daily, weekly, biweekly, whatever works best for you. If you want us to pick up your dirty clothes every Monday and deliver them freshly cleaned every Thursday, we can do that. If you’d like us to pick up every Tuesday and deliver every Friday, that’s cool too. You name it. We’ll make it happen. The choice is all yours.
And of course, if you happen to suddenly find a stain on your favorite dress and need us to swing on by, you can always go online to request a pickup – and we’ll alert one of our drivers in your neighborhood right away.
It’s that easy. That personal. That convenient. And best of all, it’s entirely free of charge.
It’s all part of our dedication to going the extra mile to make you happy. Without ever stopping to check the odometer along the way.
So what are you waiting for? Visit Sudsies.com today. And get reacquainted with the time-honored art of personalized convenience.
Jason Loeb Named MDGLCC Business Person of the Year
Jul 1st
SUDSIES’ JASON LOEB HONORED AS “BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR” BY MIAMI-DADE GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
- SATURDAY, JUNE 27 -
The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) presented Jason Loeb, CEO of Sudsies, with the AT&T Business Person of the Year Award at the organization’s 8th Annual Gala Awards Celebration on Saturday, June 27th. The event took place at Miami’s Hilton Miami Downtown Hotel, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard. Honorees were selected for their long-term commitment to fostering diversity, as well as their contributions to the overall wellbeing and quality of life in South Florida.
For the past several years, MDGLCC has selected a different color for the theme of the Gala. The theme this year is “Red,” a symbol of courage, honor, success, passion and love, all of which are driving forces in Jason’s business and personal endeavors. Guests were requested to embrace the theme by wearing something red in their attire.
Jason’s love of business and his dedication to the community are the cornerstones of his success. Shortly after joining MDGLCC, he took on the role of Membership Chair, spearheading an aggressive campaign that resulted in a significant increase in Chamber members. His strong philanthropic history includes serving as chair of the Young Founders of Mount Sinai Medical Center and the City of Miami Beach Board of Adjustment. He also sits on a number of other non-profit boards, including the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 2001.
Always connecting with people, building strong relationships is one of Jason’s strongest assets. A major industry consultant and motivational speaker, he has propelled Sudsies into a multi-million dollar chain, among the most recognizable brands in its industry.
Sudsies began as a coin-operated laundromat in 1994, evolving into a full-service laundry and dry cleaning company in 1996. In response to both a changing marketplace and customers’ needs, Jason began offering free home pickup and delivery in 2001.
In 2007, Sudsies launched its sister company, Rugsies, specializing in residential and commercial carpet, drapery and upholstery cleaning. A recent addition is Bugsies, offering pest extermination services for home and office.
Sudsies has received numerous accolades, including “Best Quality Dry Cleaners in South Florida” seven years in a row from The SunPost, the 2006 Diamond Palm Excellence in Business Award from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and “Best Dry Cleaner in South Florida” in 2006 and 2007 by Citysearch.com
Jason joins three other distinguished honorees at the 8th Annual Gala: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, recipient of the Bacardi/Grey Goose Vodka Business of the Year Award; Dade Community Foundation, Wachovia Bank “Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year;” and Michael Aller, to receive the Hilton Downtown Miami “President’s Award.”
With a roster of more than 600 members, MDGLCC is the largest not-for-profit corporation in the state of Florida for gay and lesbian businesses, also welcoming those who promote diversity and acceptance within their organization. With membership on the rise, the Chamber’s mission is to promote a unified and thriving, gay and gay-friendly, business and professional community throughout Miami-Dade County. Their goals are to promote networking within the existing gay and gay-friendly business and professional community, to promote business opportunities for Chamber members, to promote Miami as a year-round, gay and gay-friendly tourist destination, to provide resources for our members, and to provide outreach from our community to other organizations.
Go Green even When You Dry Clean!
Jun 10th
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or in a cabin out in the woods (and that would certainly be ironic), you’ve heard a lot lately about “going green.”
It seems the tide has turned permanently toward a greater protection and stewardship of the environment, and Americans of all stripes are making more of a concerted effort to reduce their “carbon footprint” – or at least thinking about doing so.
Green automobiles. Green energy. Green business. Green politics. It seems everywhere you turn, green is the dominant color.
Things are no different in the professional dry cleaning industry. An emerging “green movement” is challenging some long-standing practices, such as the process of “wet cleaning” with regular water, which is a less toxic alternative to what is now in use. So please make sure to find a dry cleaner that is educated in and uses this eco-friendly method.
Other ways a dry cleaner can “go green” include instituting systemic recycling programs, conserving more energy and water, investing in technology or services that exceed regulatory requirements and educating and training staff in environmental regulations and matters.
There’s even a Green Cleaners Council hard at work to promote and reward “green marketing” and expose “greenwashing”. The council represents a wide cross-section of the industry, including customers, attorneys, engineers and waste management experts. The council has established a set of benchmarks to judge dry cleaners on their environmental sustainability, and also provides them with a forum to champion their successes and discuss strategies for further growth. The scores achieved on the “blind review” also help customers determine just how green their cleaner is.
Thanks to ongoing innovations like a plastic hanger recycling program and an EPA Design for the Environment program-endorsed wetcleaning process along with many invaluable suggestions from caring customers - Sudsies.com performed very well on the review, earning four out of five leaves.
So do the right thing and go Green today. See how your favorite dry cleaner rates on the Green Scale by visiting the Green Cleaners Council online at www.greencleanerscouncil.org.
Cleaning and Preserving Your Wedding Dresses
May 20th
It’s about that time of the year. Spring has sprung. Love is in the air. And, for many, so are wedding bells.
We can’t help you when it comes to planning your Big Day. But if it’s tips on preserving your wedding dress you’re looking for…well, you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s a traditional gown that’s been passed down for generations or a new contemporary designer dress you’re looking to protect from the ravages of time, it should always be treated with the utmost care. Here’s how.
First off, be sure to save the bag your dress came in to protect it en route to the dry cleaner. As soon as you can after your wedding, bring the protected dress to the dry cleaner you’ve selected, or have a friend or family member drop it off while you enjoy your honeymoon (the better option, if you can trust them).
Remember that not all dry cleaners specialize in this intensive, hands-on kind of work – although at Sudsies, we do. You might want to ask married friends or your bridal shop or seamstress for recommendations. Just be wary of any so-called “bargains” – cleaning and preserving a pricey and elaborate wedding dress requires time, expertise and equipment.
Once at your dry cleaner, alert them to any stains – a drop of champagne, a smudge of lipstick or wedding cake – as well as any glued-on ornaments and any loose stitches. The more your cleaner knows about your dress, the more detailed and personal care they can provide.
Your cleaner should provide a special acid-free box to store your dress in, and pack it in acid-free tissue paper. This specialized packaging method helps control humidity, purging oxygen and replacing it with an inert gas that makes further oxidation virtually impossible. This treatment also helps protect your gown from mold, mildew and insect damage. Just be sure to take a few moments to inspect your dress prior to boxing it up. Sometimes, even the pros miss a detail here or there.
Once back home from your honeymoon, store the dress in a temperate, dry place. Always keep it away from direct sunlight. You can also hang the dress by the bodice by sewing straps that are a bit shorter than the bodice onto the waist, placing it on a padded hanger and wrapping it in a clean white cotton sheet.
Once a year – perhaps on your anniversary – carefully inspect the dress to check for any discolored areas or stains. This is also an opportunity to allow your dress – and you – to “breathe” a little bit.
Remember, if you take as much care in preserving your dress as you did in selecting and preparing it, it can be cherished and worn as a family treasure for generations to come.
Caring for your Designer Duds
May 8th
So you wear a Giorgio Armani® power suit. Or a Christian Dior® silk gown. Or a Bottega Veneta® leather belt. Or maybe even all of the above (Hey, we don’t judge here at Sudsies). Your wardrobe is now like you. Special. Classy. Intricate. Stylish. Sophisticated. Complete.
But how do you give these luxury garments the care they deserve? How do you make sure they retain all the luster and allure that comes with the power of the label (and the sheen of freshly minted designer duds)?
Generally, the best rule of thumb when caring for your designer or custom-made clothing is to always follow the care instructions on the label. Keep in mind that different types of clothing material need different degrees of care. Some types of clothes simply won’t survive if you wash them with detergent. Others will magically shrink and shift shape if you tumble dry them. Pay close attention to the label. And follow it to the letter.
Remember that silk is protein fiber similar to human hair, and is very delicate. Silk clothing can often be effectively hand-washed as well as dry cleaned, and better quality silk often looks better and lasts longer when hand-cleaned in water.
If hand-washing silk:
- use cool or lukewarm water with a small amount of mild detergent or soap
- avoid soaking, as this may fade the dye
- avoid machine washing (even on gentle cycle) and drying – a surefire way to damage the fabric when most of the water is out, finer silk should be hung up to dry, while coarser varieties like bourette should be dried on a flat surface (away from sunlight)
To avoid any confusion and hard labor, you could always take your luxury clothing item, even those that carry a hand-wash care instruction, to a dry cleaner. But not just any dry cleaner. For the best results, look for a dry cleaner who is professionally trained (there are only two accredited dry cleaning schools in America, but if a cleaner cares, he’ll go), and find one who specializes in hand-spotting, hand-pressing and hand-finishing treatments. Remember that a hands-on, attentive approach is key here. Your dry cleaner should personally and meticulously examine every inch of every piece according to material type, ornamentation, construction of garment and designed detail.
Whatever course of action you follow, be sure to take special care of your designer clothing. If you don’t maintain your designer or custom-made items properly, you’ll likely end up throwing them away, which equals hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars wasted. And there’s nothing stylish about that.
We’re Going Vertical Baby!
Dec 9th
Your current marketing strategy probably includes targeting and bringing in new clients. Your marketing strategy probably includes retaining your existing clients as well. These are both basic and sound principals of marketing. However, these are trying times for businesses and you have to start thinking outside of the proverbial box.
At Sudsies we have been successful at creating a loyal client base through our commitment to quality and superior customer service. Our clients have come to know what to expect from Sudsies. That got me to thinking…What other similar services could I offer my already loyal client base?
Here is where the vertical part comes in. Sudsies has created various sister companies offering rug cleaning (Rugsies), duct cleaning (Ductsies) and soon to come exterminating services (Bugsies). By now you probably get the idea. I’ve targeted my loyal customer base that trusts Sudsies to provide a great service. Now we’ve introduced other services for their home. They already trust us to pick up and deliver their clothes – why wouldn’t they trust us taking care of things in their home as well?
So think about going vertical with your marketing strategy!!
Here Comes the Holidays!
Nov 10th
There’s no denying the holidays are finally here, whether you are ready for them or not. Here are some tips from your friendly dry cleaners at Sudsies to get you through the season looking your best.
Party Clothes – The holidays usually mean lots of parties and events. Are you sure your party clothes are ready? Make sure that you try on your outfits before that special event. Check the hems, seams to make sure they are not coming apart. Check for any stains. Do you have to take your garments in or out? Do they need to be cleaned or pressed? Are there any buttons or beads missing? Remember Sudsies offers on-site tailoring as well as cleaning and laundry services.
Leathers – We live in South Florida and you may only use your leathers a few times a year. Make sure that the South Florida humidity hasn’t found your favorite leather jacket. Even if it has Sudsies can recondition any leather garment and make it look like new.
Tree Skirts – Did you have your tree skirt cleaned last year before packing it away. No worries, even if you didn’t Sudsies can remove left over pine needles and sap and make it look as beautiful as the day you bought it.
Holiday linens, tablecloths, napkins – Be ready for those holiday get togethers and dinners. Have your linens cleaned and pressed and ready to impress friends and family.
The holidays are about enjoying time with your family and friends not about stressing and running around. Let Sudsies take care of your dry cleaning, laundering and tailoring needs and remember pick up and delivery are always free.
