Global Markets: TRSA Webinar Talks Recovery from COVID-19
More than 115 members of the international linen, uniform and facility services industry tuned in to TRSA’s recent webinar presentation, titled “Global Market Recovery: Emerging from COVID-19.” The webinar featured a mix of survey data, and insights from five international panelists regarding the impact of COVID-19 in their market.
Panelists included Brad Drummond, COO, Uniform & Refreshment Services, Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel (United States); Kevin Godley, CEO, CLEAN Linen (United Kingdom); Jose Luis Jacques, CEO, LAVARTEX SAPI de CV (Mexico); Narayanan Raghavan, CEO, Rent a Towel (Karama, Dubai, UAE); and Tim Topornicki, president & CEO, Topper Linen & Uniform Rental Services (Canada). The webinar was co-moderated by Jack Morgan, senior editor, Textile Services; and Jason Risley, senior editor, digital/new media.
Risley kicked off the webinar with a presentation of survey data from Germany, the UK and the U.S. Using data from surveys conducted by DTV in Germany, the Textile Services Association in the UK and TRSA’s Business Pulse Survey, he was able to compare and contrast the impact of COVID-19 in each market. Survey data included information on each market’s anticipated return to Pre-COVID-19 sales levels, sales lost by market sector in each country, workforce retention since COVID-19 in each market and more.
Following the survey results, Morgan took over and moderated a wide-ranging panel discussion, including the following questions, and more:
- What lessons have you learned in your market that can transfer to other markets?
- How did the pandemic impact your capital-improvement plans and investment in your operations?
- What has been the impact of COVID-19 on recruitment and retention?
- Are you seeing business coming back, and if so, how are you preparing for things to come back?
- What are the primary indicators you are monitoring to determine the progress toward recovery in various markets and countries you serve?
A lively question-and-answer session closed out the presentation. Several audience members submitted questions to the panelists.
In addition to TRSA, webinar partners and research contributors included the following national associations:
- Deutscher Textilreinigungs Verband (Germany)
- European Textile Services Association (ETSA)
- Textile Services Association (UK)
The webinar was sponsored by TRSA’s monthly magazine Textile Services, and the association’s digital publications Textile Services Weekly, TS Weekly Breaking News, its international and market-sector specific e-newsletters, and the Linen, Uniform & Facility Services Podcast.
TRSA offers more than 100 industry-specific programs that provide professional development and training on a range of issues, including regulatory/compliance matters, safety, best practices and strategies for enhancing productivity. Go to www.trsa.org/ondemand to visit TRSA’s On-Demand Learning Portal to view this webinar and more.