CONTACT: William Fisher,              
Clothing Care Council (888) 622-1901 
-or- Rick/Lynda Wood, 866-267-4560                                  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2006             

Davis Imperial Cleaners Takes High Honor
Quality and Service Recognized by Award of Excellence

With so many dry cleaners in the Chicago area it’s not easy to tell what kind of quality you’re going to get. Buttons missing, bad attitudes at the counter, and “sorry” stickers are taking the joy of out of having someone else do your cleaning.

Dry cleaning customers can expect quality dry cleaning and service from Davis Imperial Cleaners, 3325 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL.  In December, Davis Imperial Cleaners passed a rigorous set of cleaning evaluations to achieve the Award of Excellence for Quality Garment Cleaning & Customer Service.

The Chicago cleaner worked hard to earn the honor, and Rick/Lynda Wood proudly accepted the award. “I know it’s very tough for a consumer to know who’s a good cleaner, much less find one,” Wood said. “In having met the Award of Excellence requirements, the AOE seal gives for the first time an independent verification of our commitment to quality customer service.”

“It’s very easy to differentiate yourself as a dry cleaner by price or speed,” Wood added. “But it takes a great deal of knowledge and expertise to differentiate yourself by achieving the Award of Excellence.”

Qualifying for the Award of Excellence is just the first step.  In order to remain in the program, Davis Imperial Cleaners must adhere to rules designed to ensure customers get the service and quality they deserve on every trip.   

            A dry cleaner must complete a stringent application process to become an Award of Excellence cleaner. Because of these requirements, Award of Excellence cleaners will remain few compared to the general population of dry cleaners. Requirements include:

• Meeting or exceeding a specific initial level of education and training on an ongoing basis.
  
  
• Acceptance and good standing in a national dry cleaning trade association that offers  education, research, monthly periodicals, training and technical support.
  
  
• Annually passing a Cleaning Quality Performance Test to ensure good cleaning.
  
  
• Annually passing the Stain Removal Test, comprised of six difficult stains on white silk.
  
  
• Displaying and upholding a set of customer service principles that guarantee:
  
  

  Prompt attention to your inquiries or concerns. Technical competence and professional quality. Return of your garments when promised. Adherence to non-gender-based pricing. A commitment to environmental responsibility. Free cleaning of the American flag. A money-back service guarantee.

If Davis Imperial Cleaners fails to ever live up to the pledges outlined by the Award, the Customer Service Principles encourages customers to bring the matter to the attention of the store manager or the Clothing Care Council itself at the toll-free number listed on the poster. “Finding a good cleaner that will consistently treat you like a valued customer shouldn’t be a guessing game,” said Clothing Care Council spokesperson Bill Fisher, a 40-year cleaning industry veteran. “Having become an Award of Excellence cleaner, Davis Imperial Cleaners is proof that quality cleaners do exist—and now customers know where to look.”

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The Clothing Care Council (CCC) was formed to represent the interest of the cleaning industry, clothing manufacturers, and consumer advisors in identifying those cleaning plants that provide the level of clothes care that should always be met. The group began accepting applications for the Award of Excellence for Quality Garment Cleaning & Customer Service in June 2005.