You surely figured this out a long time ago. If you’re a columnist in a trade publication, you don’t get to write about current events. There is no “scoop” for which they “stop the presses” to print your exclusive story. However, – in all likelihood…- the Clean Show took place in Orlando last month and it was great.
For the past 20ish years, I’ve taken on a task that I now consider to be my responsibility. I began by approaching each shirt press manufacturer and asking them to demonstrate their newest model. There were roughly 10 brands back then. For every machine, I would learn about them, get a full training session on how to press on the machine and take lots of picture and movies. I would make a video of myself pressing on the machine as a way to show that someone with little experience with the machine can be using it quickly. I would do this for every company and it was exhausting but I considered it to be my responsibility. I never felt that this contribution was a replacement for attending the Clean Show but rather a supplement to it.
My columns that followed the show numbered three or four and featured as many companies each month. There were photos and explanations and my opinions of the equipment that I saw, along with QR codes to visit first my website and then later my YouTube channel to view an array of movies. This has proved to be very popular. The movies are still there on YouTube and, in some cases, have over 10,000 views.
Enter 2025. Last year, I barely knew what a podcast was and now I have the only active podcast for drycleaners in the world. Scan the QR code to subscribe. It’s 100% free. (really). The podcast is on Spotify and Apple Podcast, but the Video Podcasts are only on Spotify which is important because that is where the Clean Show movies will be this year.
At this writing, I haven’t decided how this will play out. Most of my podcasts are under 30 minutes long. I am not sure if one podcast will feature one company-one product. But what is important is that you will have a thorough look at some great equipment.
Assuming that I have time, I plan to also feature products and drycleaning equipment so this will be a wild ride.
Donald Desrosiers
Don Desrosiers has been in the laundry and drycleaning industry for over 30 years. As a management consultant, work-flow systems engineer and efficiency expert, he has created the highly acclaimed Tailwind Shirt System, the Tailwind System for Drycleaning and Firestorm for Restoration. He owns and operates Tailwind Systems, a management consulting and work-flow engineering firm. Desrosiers is a monthly columnist for The National Clothesline, Korean Cleaners Monthly, The Golomb Group Newsletter and Australia's The National Drycleaner and Launderer. He is the 2001 winner of IFI's Commitment to Professionalism Award. He has a website at www.tailwindsystems.com and can be reached at tailwindsystems@charter.net or my telephone at 508.965.3163
