As I write these words in late April, few would dispute that the first quarter of 2009 was a dismal period for business. Textile service companies are particularly vulnerable to economic swings, given that customers such as restaurants, hotels and manufacturing are sensitive to changes in consumer spending. However, in recent weeks we’ve seen a slight uptick in economic indicators.  While the stock market remains volatile, various banks are reporting profits, and new unemployment claims dipped slightly (610,000 vs. 654,000). The University of Michigan’s Consumer Sentiment Survey also showed a slight upward move in April to 61.9 from 57.3 in ...