Master plan comes to fruition at Lapels Dry Cleaning Franchise as first Lapels Earth Friendly dry cleaning plant is launched in Salem, MA.

DATELINE: HANOVER, MA…You can hear the excitement in the voice of Lapels CEO Lawrence Friedman as he describes the upcoming opening of the franchise's first Earth Friendly dry cleaning plant in Salem, MA on March 11th.

“We're securing our future by putting the hub of our Master Plan in motion,” notes Friedman. “We will now be strategically positioned to provide our retail store franchisees with better outsourced dry cleaning services through franchised Lapels Earth Friendly dry cleaning plants that will meet our exacting specifications, while providing a better product at a better price.”

The first Lapels Earth Friendly dry cleaning plant, located at 7 Paradise Road in Salem, MA, will also feature an attached Lapels retail dry cleaning store. The plant will immediately begin servicing 2 or 3 Lapels retail dry cleaning stores located in the area, providing an immediate source of business for Lapels franchisee Jim Beauvais of Ipswich, MA who is the owner/operator of the new Salem Lapels Earth Friendly dry cleaning plant and Lapels retail store.

Beauvais, who had formerly launched and operated a brewery, is “cautiously confident” about his prospect for success in his new venture, a confidence he says he gained by speaking with Lapels CEO Larry Friedman.

Beauvais has been well trained for his new role, having received specialized training from Laidlaw chemicals in the handling and use of environmentally friendly dry cleaning chemicals; a primer in dry cleaning and pressing from Forenta, the manufacturer of Lapels made-to-order earth friendly equipment; schooling on running the machine and plant from an engineer for the manufacturer; and an individual one-on-one course in spotting conducted by specialists from the National Cleaners Association who flew up to Massachusetts just to train Beauvais.

In the Works
The Salem Lapels Earth Friendly dry cleaning plant is the first of many franchised Lapels dry cleaning plants planned for Massachusetts and across the country. Additional plants will be located in greater Boston, the metro southwest area, and the metro south area. Franchisees will all receive intensive training similar to Beauvais'.

Each plant owner will have the opportunity to generate revenue by providing a complete line of garment care services to retail customers through the retail Lapels store attached to each plant and by servicing wholesale accounts for any Lapels Dry Cleaning retail stores within the area. Additionally, they will be able to provide wholesale dry cleaning service to non-competing retail dry cleaners in their area.

A Rising Star
In 2005, Lapels was ranked in Entrepreneur's “Franchise 500” as well as Entrepreneur's “Top 50 New Franchises,” identifying Lapels as one of today's top franchise opportunities. Entrepreneur's “Franchise 500” is the best and most comprehensive rating of franchises in the world and is based on objective, quantifiable measures of a franchise operation.

Entrepreneur's criteria for the Franchise 500 has been honed and perfected over the years, utilizing a formula that yields a ranking procedure that accurately identifies today's top franchise opportunities. Numerous factors are considered in the rankings including financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the system.

The Lapels Difference
With Lapels' unique outsourcing advantage, Lapels storeowners outsource dry cleaning operations, providing the best possible service and quality to customers while caring for the environment. With the establishment of franchisee owned Lapels Earth Friendly dry cleaning plants in Massachusetts, Lapels retail store franchisees will have unprecedented access to wholesale dry cleaning that meets Lapels rigorous standards, providing better quality at a better price.

Lapels franchise owners benefit from exclusive territories, group purchasing power, job security and unlimited earning potential. Lapels offers franchisees full training and support in every aspect of the business and a comprehensive start-up package that includes: a point-of sale computer system; an automatic clothing conveyer; a wedding gown program; retail products to sell; indoor and outdoor signage with all needed permits; a grand opening marketing package; and advertising promotion to 10,000 homes. Lapels also provides franchisees a custom web site with email, on-going training and support, custom counters, start up supplies, and much more.

Store Locations
Lapels has stores in Massachusetts (Abington, Boston, Concord, Dedham, Easton, Framingham, Halifax, Hanover, Newtonville, Norton, Quincy, Rockland, Salem, Westford, and Westwood); New Hampshire (Hudson and Manchester); Rhode Island (Lincoln); Texas (Garland); Washington (Kirkland); Louisiana (Baton Rouge).

Lapels - Earth Friendly Cleaners
A full slate of services are offered at each Lapels store, including: same-day dry cleaning; shirt service; tailoring; shoe repair; wedding gown heirlooming; suede and leather processing; box storage and fur storage.

Lapels corporate offices are located at 962 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Lapels, call toll free (866) 695-2735 or email admin@lapelsdrycleaning.com. Additional information and up-to-date company news can also be found on the company's Web site, www.lapelsdrycleaning.com.