Potack Briefs Aussie Laundry Execs on TRSA Projects

David Potack, TRSA chair and president of Unitex, Elmsford, NY, recently addressed a conference of Australian laundry association members as part of a broader outreach effort aimed at advancing the competitiveness of companies both here and in “the land down under” through collaboration on key issues.

“I think that the outreach has a benefit to our members because there are common challenges and common opportunities among the members of both organizations,” Potack said. “This creates the chance for enhanced communication and information sharing. Both organizations can gain from this.”

Potack’s address was well received by the Australian launderers who attended his presentation on Aug. 4 during “Twin Clean Conference 2018.” “We were delighted to welcome from the USA, David Potack, chairman of the TRSA, who proved to be very knowledgeable, personable and an all-around great bloke,” said Shirley Naylor, editor/publisher of National Dry Cleaner and Launderer, a leading Australian trade publication. The event, co-sponsored by the Laundry Association of Australia (LAA) and the Drycleaning Institute of Australia (DIA), drew roughly 150 attendees.

Potack’s presentation highlighted various TRSA initiatives, including Hygienically Clean certification of textiles and outreach efforts to various international groups, including laundry organizations in China, the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as Australia.

Potack also touched on trends and development in the U.S. linen, uniform and facility services market. For example, he noted that U.S. Census data compiled by Robert W. Baird & Co. indicates a growing diversification of textile product offerings beyond a traditional industrial-market focus. He also cited survey data in which 48% percent of respondents in the linen supply business in the U.S. said that their quarterly revenues were exceeding expectations, while 10% said they were falling short of projections.

The conference, which had as its theme “The Power of Connection” was held at the Crown Plaza Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia, from Aug. 3-5. Located near Brisbane on the country’s East Coast, the conference included meetings of the boards of both the LAA and DIA. There also was a general meeting of LAA members and several speakers who addressed a range of business-related topics.

As part of an accord between TRSA and the LAA, both organizations have agreed to exchange information on issues such as equipment efficiency, energy conservation and safety. A TRSA representative, such as Potack or TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci, also will sit in on (via conference call in most cases) LAA board meetings in order to help further cooperation in key areas affecting both organizations. An LAA representative also may sit in on TRSA Board meetings. In both cases, the LAA and TRSA representatives will have nonvoting observer status during the meetings.

For more information on these and other global outreach efforts by TRSA and partner organizations, contact Ricci at jricci@trsa.org.