SNEDICOR’S CLEANERS ATTAINS NATIONAL AWARD

Company’s Quality and Service Recognized by 2006 Award of Excellence

With so many dry cleaners in the Howell area it’s not easy to tell what kind of quality you are 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 better service from Snedicor’s Cleaners located at 220 S. Michigan Avenue in Howell, and as one of several assurances to support that claim, manager Jim Gilligan is offering a money-back service guarantee. Earlier this year, Snedicor’s Cleaners passed a rigorous set of cleaning evaluations to achieve the 2006 Award of Excellence for Quality Garment Cleaning & Customer Service, a prestigious national award given by the Clothing Care Council. That distinction puts Snedicor’s Cleaners in exclusive company. To date, Snedicor’s Cleaners is one of less than 100 companies throughout the United States and Canada that has qualified for the Award of Excellence and one of only three dry cleaners in Michigan to do so.

The Howell garment care specialist worked hard to earn the honor, and Gilligan proudly accepted the award. "With so many cleaners out there, I know it’s tough for a consumer to know which cleaners are the good ones who care," Gilligan said. "We are very proud to have met the tough requirements of the Award of Excellence. This award is verification by an independent national organization of our commitment to excellent quality and customer service."

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

About the Award: A New Standard in Cleaning and Service

A dry cleaner must complete a stringent application process that includes a rigorous set of cleaning evaluations to attain the Award of Excellence. Award of Excellence cleaners will remain few compared to the general population of dry cleaners because of these requirements.

They 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 Snedicor’s Cleaners fails to live up to the pledges outlined by the Award, the Customer Service Principles poster on display encourages customers to bring the matter to the attention of the store manager or the Clothing Care Council 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 veteran of the cleaning industry. "Having become an Award of Excellence cleaner, Snedicor’s Cleaners is proof that quality cleaners do exist—and now customers know where to look."

For more information, visit www.ifi.org/consumer/AOE.php and www.snedicors.com.