Drycleaners

Signup – MSA – DocuSign

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Good Day, Industry Friends

Kyle Nesbit

I recently had the pleasure of attending an open house at In The Bag Cleaners in Wichita, Kansas. Dave “the Maverick” Coyle graciously opened his workshop to many industry professionals, allowing us to observe his company’s new Macpi equipment. We had ample time to examine four new pieces of Macpi machinery: the quad pant finisher with auto unload and conveyor, the double legger with auto unloader and conveyor, the quad shirt unit with auto unloader, and the touchscreen steam tunnel. All of these machines have significantly improved Dave’s operation in terms of pieces per operator hour.

One aspect I truly appreciate is the willingness of many in our industry to share what’s new and what’s working well for their operations—after all, “a rising tide lifts all boats!”

In the spirit of sharing, Jeff Shapiro at Cleaner’s Supply recently published his 2025 State of the Dry Cleaning Industry Report, based on responses from 894 drycleaning operators. Here are some highlights:

  • 50% of drycleaners project higher sales in 2024 compared to 2023.
  • 50% expect sales to remain the same, as only 29% reported higher sales in 2024 compared to 2023.
  • 99% of drycleaners plan to raise prices in 2025.
  • The average drycleaner operates 6 days per week.
  • The average turnaround time to process garments is 2.1 days.

We should all be grateful Jeff and his team dedicate the time, effort, and talent to producing this report for the benefit of the industry!

This issue’s cover story focuses on diversifications. Jeff Shapiro’s Industry Report also discusses the most popular additional services drycleaners are currently offering. I encourage you to check out his report and consider adding one new service to your operations in 2025.

One diversification I’m particularly excited about is The Return. This is a new venture my father is working on—admittedly, I may be biased—but I can’t wait to see more potential drycleaning customers funneled into our locations. The Return will not only drive foot traffic to cleaners, but it will also establish a new model for consolidating returns for retail clothing brands. The first customer brand to sign on is Zara, and the initial drycleaning partners include St Croix Cleaners (Boston), Dependable Cleaners (Boston), and Oxoo Cleaners (Miami).

Lastly, I would like to commend Ray Kroner, Ryan Fish, and the entire Social Media Committee at DLI. There has been tremendous effort behind the scenes, and I hope you all take a few minutes each week to promote this great industry on social media.

A “Go Kit” or “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” campaign for our industry would be an amazing next step.

Until we see you, your families, and your businesses!

Sincerely,

Kyle E. Nesbit
Nesbit, Tide Cleaners Houston
DLI President, SDA Chairman, The Cleaners FAQ, ADC Editorial Advisory Board, Return Pro Leadership Council

Ready To Start Your New Project With The Return?

At The Return, it’s not a one-size fits all approach. We will create a fulfillment plan tailored to your business needs. Once launched, we take care of the entire reverse logistics process.