Jason Loeb Named MDGLCC Business Person of the Year

SUDSIES’ JASON LOEB HONORED AS “BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR” BY MIAMI-DADE GAY & LESBIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

- SATURDAY, JUNE 27 -

The Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) presented Jason Loeb, CEO of Sudsies, with the AT&T Business Person of the Year Award at the organization’s 8th Annual Gala Awards Celebration on Saturday, June 27th. The event took place at Miami’s Hilton Miami Downtown Hotel, 1601 Biscayne Boulevard. Honorees were selected for their long-term commitment to fostering diversity, as well as their contributions to the overall wellbeing and quality of life in South Florida.

For the past several years, MDGLCC has selected a different color for the theme of the Gala. The theme this year is “Red,” a symbol of courage, honor, success, passion and love, all of which are driving forces in Jason’s business and personal endeavors. Guests were requested to embrace the theme by wearing something red in their attire.

Jason’s love of business and his dedication to the community are the cornerstones of his success. Shortly after joining MDGLCC, he took on the role of Membership Chair, spearheading an aggressive campaign that resulted in a significant increase in Chamber members. His strong philanthropic history includes serving as chair of the Young Founders of Mount Sinai Medical Center and the City of Miami Beach Board of Adjustment. He also sits on a number of other non-profit boards, including the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 2001.

Always connecting with people, building strong relationships is one of Jason’s strongest assets. A major industry consultant and motivational speaker, he has propelled Sudsies into a multi-million dollar chain, among the most recognizable brands in its industry.

Sudsies began as a coin-operated laundromat in 1994, evolving into a full-service laundry and dry cleaning company in 1996. In response to both a changing marketplace and customers’ needs, Jason began offering free home pickup and delivery in 2001.

In 2007, Sudsies launched its sister company, Rugsies, specializing in residential and commercial carpet, drapery and upholstery cleaning. A recent addition is Bugsies, offering pest extermination services for home and office.

Sudsies has received numerous accolades, including “Best Quality Dry Cleaners in South Florida” seven years in a row from The SunPost, the 2006 Diamond Palm Excellence in Business Award from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and “Best Dry Cleaner in South Florida” in 2006 and 2007 by Citysearch.com

Jason joins three other distinguished honorees at the 8th Annual Gala: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, recipient of the Bacardi/Grey Goose Vodka Business of the Year Award; Dade Community Foundation, Wachovia Bank “Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year;” and Michael Aller, to receive the Hilton Downtown Miami “President’s Award.”

With a roster of more than 600 members, MDGLCC is the largest not-for-profit corporation in the state of Florida for gay and lesbian businesses, also welcoming those who promote diversity and acceptance within their organization. With membership on the rise, the Chamber's mission is to promote a unified and thriving, gay and gay-friendly, business and professional community throughout Miami-Dade County. Their goals are to promote networking within the existing gay and gay-friendly business and professional community, to promote business opportunities for Chamber members, to promote Miami as a year-round, gay and gay-friendly tourist destination, to provide resources for our members, and to provide outreach from our community to other organizations.

Go Green Even When You Dry Clean!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or in a cabin out in the woods (and that would certainly be ironic), you’ve heard a lot lately about “going green.”

It seems the tide has turned permanently toward a greater protection and stewardship of the environment, and Americans of all stripes are making more of a concerted effort to reduce their “carbon footprint” – or at least thinking about doing so.

Green automobiles. Green energy. Green business. Green politics. It seems everywhere you turn, green is the dominant color.

Things are no different in the professional dry cleaning industry. An emerging “green movement” is challenging some long-standing practices, such as the process of “wet cleaning” with regular water, which is a less toxic alternative to what is now in use. So please make sure to find a dry cleaner that is educated in and uses this eco-friendly method.

Other ways a dry cleaner can “go green” include instituting systemic recycling programs, conserving more energy and water, investing in technology or services that exceed regulatory requirements and educating and training staff in environmental regulations and matters.

There’s even a Green Cleaners Council hard at work to promote and reward “green marketing” and expose “greenwashing”. The council represents a wide cross-section of the industry, including customers, attorneys, engineers and waste management experts. The council has established a set of benchmarks to judge dry cleaners on their environmental sustainability, and also provides them with a forum to champion their successes and discuss strategies for further growth. The scores achieved on the “blind review” also help customers determine just how green their cleaner is.

Thanks to ongoing innovations like a plastic hanger recycling program and an EPA Design for the Environment program-endorsed wetcleaning process – along with many invaluable suggestions from caring customers – Sudsies.com performed very well on the review, earning four out of five leaves.

So do the right thing and go Green today. See how your favorite dry cleaner rates on the Green Scale by visiting the Green Cleaners Council online at www.greencleanerscouncil.org.

Preserve Your Wedding Day Memories – and Your Dress

It’s about that time of the year. Spring has sprung. Love is in the air. And, for many, so are wedding bells.

We can’t help you when it comes to planning your Big Day. But if it’s tips on preserving your wedding dress you’re looking for…well, you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s a traditional gown that’s been passed down for generations or a new contemporary designer dress you’re looking to protect from the ravages of time, it should always be treated with the utmost care. Here’s how.

First off, be sure to save the bag your dress came in to protect it en route to the dry cleaner. As soon as you can after your wedding, bring the protected dress to the dry cleaner you’ve selected, or have a friend or family member drop it off while you enjoy your honeymoon (the better option, if you can trust them).

Remember that not all dry cleaners specialize in this intensive, hands-on kind of work – although at Sudsies, we do. You might want to ask married friends or your bridal shop or seamstress for recommendations. Just be wary of any so-called “bargains” – cleaning and preserving a pricey and elaborate wedding dress requires time, expertise and equipment.

Once at your dry cleaner, alert them to any stains – a drop of champagne, a smudge of lipstick or wedding cake – as well as any glued-on ornaments and any loose stitches. The more your cleaner knows about your dress, the more detailed and personal care they can provide.

Your cleaner should provide a special acid-free box to store your dress in, and pack it in acid-free tissue paper. This specialized packaging method helps control humidity, purging oxygen and replacing it with an inert gas that makes further oxidation virtually impossible. This treatment also helps protect your gown from mold, mildew and insect damage. Just be sure to take a few moments to inspect your dress prior to boxing it up. Sometimes, even the pros miss a detail here or there.

Once back home from your honeymoon, store the dress in a temperate, dry place. Always keep it away from direct sunlight. You can also hang the dress by the bodice by sewing straps that are a bit shorter than the bodice onto the waist, placing it on a padded hanger and wrapping it in a clean white cotton sheet.

Once a year – perhaps on your anniversary – carefully inspect the dress to check for any discolored areas or stains. This is also an opportunity to allow your dress – and you – to “breathe” a little bit.

Remember, if you take as much care in preserving your dress as you did in selecting and preparing it, it can be cherished and worn as a family treasure for generations to come.

Caring For Your Designer Duds

So you wear a Giorgio Armani® power suit. Or a Christian Dior® silk gown. Or a Bottega Veneta® leather belt. Or maybe even all of the above (Hey, we don’t judge here at Sudsies). Your wardrobe is now like you. Special. Classy. Intricate. Stylish. Sophisticated. Complete.

But how do you give these luxury garments the care they deserve? How do you make sure they retain all the luster and allure that comes with the power of the label (and the sheen of freshly minted designer duds)?

Generally, the best rule of thumb when caring for your designer or custom-made clothing is to always follow the care instructions on the label. Keep in mind that different types of clothing material need different degrees of care. Some types of clothes simply won’t survive if you wash them with detergent. Others will magically shrink and shift shape if you tumble dry them. Pay close attention to the label. And follow it to the letter.

Remember that silk is protein fiber similar to human hair, and is very delicate. Silk clothing can often be effectively hand-washed as well as dry cleaned, and better quality silk often looks better and lasts longer when hand-cleaned in water.

If hand-washing silk:

• use cool or lukewarm water with a small amount of mild detergent or soap
  
• avoid soaking, as this may fade the dye
  
• avoid machine washing (even on gentle cycle) and drying – a surefire way to damage the fabric when most of the water is out, finer silk should be hung up to dry, while coarser varieties like bourette should be dried on a flat surface (away from sunlight)

To avoid any confusion and hard labor, you could always take your luxury clothing item, even those that carry a hand-wash care instruction, to a dry cleaner. But not just any dry cleaner. For the best results, look for a dry cleaner who is professionally trained (there are only two accredited dry cleaning schools in America, but if a cleaner cares, he’ll go), and find one who specializes in hand-spotting, hand-pressing and hand-finishing treatments. Remember that a hands-on, attentive approach is key here. Your dry cleaner should personally and meticulously examine every inch of every piece according to material type, ornamentation, construction of garment and designed detail.

Whatever course of action you follow, be sure to take special care of your designer clothing. If you don’t maintain your designer or custom-made items properly, you’ll likely end up throwing them away, which equals hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars wasted. And there’s nothing stylish about that.

Dust Mites & Allergies

Eighty percent of allergy and asthma sufferers test positive for dust mite allergy which can actually cause asthma. Dust mites are tiny microscopic bugs that lurk in carpet, on upholstered furniture, in automobiles, on clothing, and on your bed.

Your pillows, they seem harmless enough but ironically they are havens for dust mites. Each night that you sleep, your face is pressed against the very allergen that triggers symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, stuffed sinuses and a sore throat. Killing dust mites in your pillows isn't easy but people who are allergic to dust mites will not find relief unless their pillow is allergen-free. If you want to do it yourself here is a link with a 6-step process, http://www.ehow.com/how_2363398_kill-dust-mites-pillows.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art.

It’s a scary thought but another place where dust mites lurk is in your child’s stuffed animal. Do you remember when was the last time you cleaned your child’s favorite stuffed animal? If your child suffers from allergies this is a great place to start.

Nearly two-thirds of the dust in our home is tracked in from the outside. Here are some tips to minimize dust, keep a mat at the entryway, use grates to scrape dirt off shoes, encourage your family to remove their shoes while inside and use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. While all these things make a difference it is still recommended that you clean your carpets once every 6 months which dramatically reduces pet allergens, dust mites, mold spores and bacteria.

It’s the last place you would ever think of cleaning, however it’s probably one of the most important places in your home or office – your ducts. Replacing your air filter is great, but to be completely protected from pollutants such as dust, dander, pet hair, dust mites, pollen, drywall, etc, we recommend cleaning your air ducts and air vents. Not only are these hidden contaminates harmful to your health to breathe in every day, but they can also reduce the efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

No time to clean your pillows, comforters or stuffed animals? Leave it to your personal clothing and fabric concierge, Sudsies. Did we tell you about our sister company, Rugsies? Rugsies cleans more than just carpets. We can clean air ducts, furniture, and even window treatments. For more information visit our websites, http://www.sudsies.com/ and http://www.rugsies.com/.

We're Going Vertical Baby!

Your current marketing strategy probably includes targeting and bringing in new clients. Your marketing strategy probably includes retaining your existing clients as well. These are both basic and sound principals of marketing. However, these are trying times for businesses and you have to start thinking outside of the proverbial box.

At Sudsies we have been successful at creating a loyal client base through our commitment to quality and superior customer service. Our clients have come to know what to expect from Sudsies. That got me to thinking…What other similar services could I offer my already loyal client base?

Here is where the vertical part comes in. Sudsies has created various sister companies offering rug cleaning (Rugsies), duct cleaning (Ductsies) and soon to come exterminating services (Bugsies). By now you probably get the idea. I’ve targeted my loyal customer base that trusts Sudsies to provide a great service. Now we’ve introduced other services for their home. They already trust us to pick up and deliver their clothes - why wouldn’t they trust us taking care of things in their home as well?

So think about going vertical with your marketing strategy!!

Time is Money

According to an AOL survey, the average American spends two hours a day conducting personal business or running errands. As we all know, time is money, and with the economy at its present state, no one can afford to lose either one.

So what is a busy person to do? You can’t stop doing your errands; however, you can change how you get them done. An alternative that many have resulted to is outsourcing. Let others do the work for you.

Here are some examples of companies that get it done for you…..
Sudsies understands how busy you are, and how important your time is. This is why we offer complimentary pick-up and delivery services for your dry cleaning, laundry and tailoring. We pick at your house, your office or even your yacht. To set up your personal account go to http://www.sudsies.com/ and click on “Sign Up” then request a pickup. Or you can call (305) 864.3279 and your personal clothing concierge will take care of the details for you.

Ideal Lifestyle Concierge is a full service concierge company that offers on-demand personal assistant services. They offer many time-saving services to help balance your personal and professional lifestyle including bill paying, personal shopping, errand running, and moving assistance. For a personal consultation call 305-371-0077 or visit http://www.ideallifestyleconcierge.com/.

My Mobile Meds is committed to the Miami community, supplying its residents with specialized medications to fit anyone’s health needs. The company prides itself on its extensive selection of medication. Best of all, they provide free delivery. Visit their website at http://www.mymobilemeds.com/ for more info.

Feeling under the weather and can’t make it to the doctor’s office? Do you need to take your child to the doctor, but can’t take time off from work? My Home Doctor is your life saver, literally. Call 24 hours a day for an appointment, and a board certified physician will arrive at your door, usually within an hour. Now that’s service. For more info or to schedule an appointment, visit their website at http://www.myhomedoctor.com/.

Whether it’s dry cleaning, a physician, prescriptions, or concierge services, outsource. Save your time for more important things, like figuring out what to do with those extra two hours.