Production Spotlight: Clothes Barcoding

St Croix | White Way Cleaners does a lot of dry cleaning; 19 stores worth to be exact. With the amount of drycleaning and laundry we do, you may wonder how we keep track of it all.

Some cleaners use permanent marker to write a customer’s name on their clothes; others use less invasive systems like temporary plastic tags or wash resistant paper. While these options “work” they are not ideal, and can easily lead to lost garments, especially when dealing with high volumes.

At St Croix | White Way we’ve gotten keeping track of garments down to a science. Using a sophisticated barcoding system we’re able to keep track of your items no matter where they are in the process.

Barcodes like this one identify store information about your garment in our computer.

The first time you bring in a new garment, a barcode is added to that item. This barcode is then associated with your account and preferences, so that anytime you bring the item in we can instantly see who it belongs too. We can also see your cleaning preferences, such as starch levels or boxes vs. hangers for your dress shirts. It also identifies the garment by color, pattern, fabric and brand label so that we can easily identify which of your garments we have and where they are in our process at any time.

Garments move through many stages to restore them to their optimum condition.  Each step of the way we read the barcode and record data about who, how and when it was processed.  All of this information is available to us in our computer system.  Once your garment is cleaned, pressed and inspected, it is sent to our automatic assembly system.   There an employee scans your item’s barcode and places it on a hanging conveyor system attached to the bagging machine.

The computer system is smart enough to read the barcode and group it with your other garments, being careful to never put more than 4 garments inside an order. Once four of your items are on the assembly system, the computer system offloads the garments together with a printed ticket and advances them to the automatic bagger, all without human intervention!!! The bagger then pulls a custom, biodegradable plastic bag over the clothes, careful not to waste any extra plastic.

The barcoding system is extremely useful. It lets us know all the details of your garments very quickly; how many times we have cleaned a garment, who pressed it, who marked it in and where it is stored can all be figured out with one quick scan.   There have been many times where we’ve noticed a customer dropped a garment in our parking lot on the way to or home from one of our stores.   We give the garment a quick scan and know everything about the garment in an instant. Without our barcode we’d never know whose garment it was, much less who to contact!

Keep watching our blog for more Production Spotlights!

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Keep Your Clothes Looking Cool This Summer!

With the weather getting warmer and summer approaching, we thought we’d take some time this week to give you a few tips for keeping your clothes looking their best no matter what your summer has in store for you!

Perspiration shows up particularly in underarms, collar, back and waistbands of garments. It may not be noticeable at first, but oxidizes over time, becomes darker and it ultimately stains clothing. Garments should be washed or dry cleaned regularly so the perspiration residue is removed when fresh, thereby preventing permanent damage.

Sunscreen and sun tanning lotions contain ingredients that can cause stains. It is best to apply the lotion and let it dry before dressing. Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your clothes. When cleaning your clothes, follow the care instructions carefully. When washing, pre-treat the stain with a prewash product, then launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric or have it Dry Cleaned. Remember to point out and identify the stain to your drycleaner.

Spills seem inevitable in the summertime – outdoor parties, barbecues and light color clothing can spell disaster. If the stain is water-based, like soda, coffee, juices, wine and most fruits, and the item is washable, dab, do not rub, the stain carefully. As soon as possible, wash the item according to care instructions. Remember that sugar-based stains such as those from fruits should be washed within 24 hours to prevent yellowing.

For oily stains, such as salad dressing, cooking oil, meat juice, butter, and lipstick, the best approach is to blot, do not rub, the stain carefully with a dry, clean white cloth. Do not use water and do not rub the stain as this can set it and break the surface fibers. Oily stains are most safely removed by dry cleaning when the stains are fresh; so do not delay in having the garment cleaned. Be sure to identify the stain to the drycleaner. If you do not know the nature of the stain, it is safest to assume that the stain is oil-based.

As always, if you have any questions about fabric care or stain removal, let us know! Our world famous “Dry Cleaning Geeks” are more than happy to help!

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Merrick Employee Spotlight: Matt

Following him into the office building with the rack of clean garments, smiling, and excited to see his customers, it would be hard not to imagine that Matt has been doing this for over ten years. A seasoned veteran when it comes to delivering dry cleaning, Matt loves his job, and can think of nothing he’d rather do.

But Matt is no ordinary delivery man.

For the past 10 years, White Way/St Croix Cleaners has worked with Merrick Inc., a local charity based in Vadnais Heights, to offer mentally handicapped employees a chance to be a part of the community.

Merrick offers mentally handicapped individuals opportunities for community inclusion and participation, social relationships, skill building, and/or person futures. Each individual is assessed based on their unique passions, values, gifts, interests, skills and preferences so they are placed within a job that aligns with their needs. At White Way and St Croix Cleaners, about 8 individuals help with the delivery services.

“Each person has their own individual delivery stops and customers.” Amy Jacobsen, one of the managers and delivery drivers explains. Four days each week, the crew packs up the finished garments at White Way’s main plant on 7th Street in St Paul. They will then deliver the garments to apartments, condos, office buildings and residential areas, while picking up new bags to be checked in and cleaned for the following days.

Today he is dressed in nice black pants with a burgundy White Way jacket embroidered with his name. Matt was born with Downs Syndrome, but has never let that set him back. He tells me today (Tuesday) is his busy day. He knows all his clients, exactly where to place their clean clothes and where to pick up the dirty. He knows all their names, and their garage codes. He tries to make sure he can listen to Johnny Cash on the Radio at 12:15 each lunch hour.

His favorite part of the job is meeting new people. He tells me one of his stops is at a retirement home where he is able to talk with all the people there and they sometimes give him popcorn.

He looks and acts very professional, even showing me his homemade business card. This week he is a Ranger, while last week he was a Police Chief, and the week before, a Blacksmith. Before he loads the van with the recently cleaned garments, taking great care as though they were his own, he tells me about John, the White Way employee with whom he says is his good friend. They have “man-to-man talks” and he explains that John is even teaching him how to use the computer.

When Matt isn’t working, he is an avid musician. He likes to “Just mess around” playing guitar and using the turntables in his basement, both of which he claims he is pretty good at. “But not as good as Johnny Cash!” Matt claims, and tells me that he makes sure to listen to the 12:15 lunch hour on K102 each work day when the delivery van is driving around.

Matt is proud of his regular customers, whom he has known since he started working the delivery truck. There is nothing else he’d rather be doing, saying “I like it here.”

“A lot of customers have cards, treats and even Christmas presents for Matt and the others,” Amy says. The relationship between White Way/St Croix Cleaners and Merrick has been extremely beneficial for everyone involved, and is expected to continue for years to come. “It gets [these individuals] out into the community. They’re not just people with disabilities.”

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Merrick Employee Spotlight: Brian Jensen

You know that moment when you wake up in the morning and you never know what the day’s going to bring?  Brian Jensen, one of the eight delivery employees with White Way Cleaners, does. Brian, who was born with Down Syndrome (and what seems like an eternally positive attitude), loves his job at White Way Cleaners. He considers himself the professional in his line of work, and he’s right.

Today Brian is dressed in nice black pants, polished black shoes and a burgundy White Way jacket embroidered with his name.  He is proud to work for White Way, and believes he’s one of the luckiest men alive to be able to deliver his customers’ garments to them.

On the day I meet him, he seems more interested in interviewing me, than answering the questions I have for him.  He’s excited to meet another new person, “I love meeting new people! I know all the firemen and policemen.”  One of the first questions he asks me is, “Do you know any fireman?”  He mentions he’s proud of them, and proud to know them.  When I ask him what his favorite part about his job is, he mentions he’s proud of his co-workers, and his boss, Amy.  Amy is one of the delivery drivers for White Way Cleaners, but actually works in an affiliate program through Merrick, Inc.

Merrick offers mentally handicapped individuals opportunities for community inclusion and participation, social relationships, skill building, and personal futures.  Each individual is assessed based on their unique passions, values, gifts, interests, skills and preferences so they are placed within a job that aligns with their needs.  At White Way | St Croix Cleaners, about 8 individuals from Merrick help with the delivery services, including Brian.

Twelve years ago, White Way | St Croix Cleaners began talks to work with Merrick Inc. to offer mentally disabled employees a chance to be a part of the community through White Way’s delivery routes.  White Way employees check the clothes in, clean, press and package, and then it is up to the Merrick team to deliver the garments back to the customers.

During the delivery routes, Brian and his co-workers have their own customers to drop off and pick up garments from.

“Each person has their own individual delivery stops and customers.”  Amy Jacobsen, one of the managers and home delivery drivers for White Way and Merrick, explains.  In the morning, four days a week, the crew packs up finished garments at White Way’s main plant on West 7th Street in St Paul. They will then deliver the garments to apartments, condos, office buildings and residential areas, while picking up new bags to be checked in and cleaned for the next available delivery date.

Brian has been considered an important part of the St Paul community for years.  He is an honorary firefighter, and has attended several banquets for them.  He was even given the opportunity to speak at one of their special events.  To this day, it seems that every fireman and policeman in the city of St Paul knows who he is.

John Miller is the Store Lead at White Way’s location on West 7th St in St Paul and mentions how proud he is of Brian, “I’m always impressed with how hard he works.  I never have to ask for help with bringing clothes out to a customer, I just turn around and hear Brian shout, ‘I’ll get it John!’ Before you know it, you have too much help!”

When Brian isn’t working, he is an avid to movie watcher.  He enjoys hanging out on the weekends with his girlfriend and listen to 80’s music as well.  He tells me he’d love to be a comedian, and even tells me a few jokes.  “What do you call Batman and Robin when they get run over by a steam roller?”  “Flatman and Ribbon!”

Brian is proud of the work he does for his regular customers at White Way Cleaners, whom he has known since he started working on the delivery truck 12 years ago.  There is nothing else he’d rather be doing, and not even any tasks he wishes he didn’t have to do. “I like it here,” he says.

“A lot of customers have cards, treats and even Christmas presents for Brian and the others,” Amy says.  The relationship between White Way/St Croix Cleaners and Merrick has been extremely beneficial for everyone involved, and is expected to continue for years to come.  “It gets [these individuals] out into the community.  They’re not just people with disabilities anymore.”

Be sure to stay tuned for the second part of our Merrick Employee Spotlight, when we’ll feature Brian’s fellow employee Matt!

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Keeping the Royalty of the Winter Carnival Looking Good

One of the many community activities we love to participate in annually is the Saint Paul    Winter Carnival. Giving back to the community is very important to us, so it is our pleasure to provide Dry Cleaning for the Senior Royalty’s jackets and capes. Here’s a picture of this year’s court and the program for the Senior Royalty Coronation event.

Thanks again to the Winter Carnival and the Senior Royalty for making us a part of this fantastic event!

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