Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-02-28
Dear Joe
A LESSON IN TACTICS
By JAMES L. HICKS

The best defense Is good OF
tense at least that's what the
Army said. wasn't 1t, Joe!
Well, why don't you remember
your army trainingH II you are
broke. beaten, down and out and
on the defensive after less thar
two years Of this so-called peace
that you fought for, why not take
the offensive awhile? Why not &c
into business for yourself? Why
not go into the dry cleaning bust,
ness, for instance Here's how.
THE DO RE MI
The Commerce Department est.
mates that to establish a new dry
cleaning plant capable Of handling
enough business to provide the
owner with reasonable income will
require about $4,000 cash. Under
the CT Bill, bank will lend you
that amount with little difficulty
because the government will repay
$1,000 Of the money IL your bust,
ness fails.
This cash will cover the down
payment on major items Of
equipment, outright payment Of
installation costs. supplies and
small items Of equipment on
which terms are not available
and still leave you an adequate
cash working capital Of about
$500.
The Commerce Department esti-
mates that II you are a shrewd
buyer you can purchase a dry
cleaning machine for $4,000, two
presses for $500, a boiler for 5000,
a steam spottinR board for 5000,
office equipment for $3.50. and de-
livery equipment for 5000. As.
suminR that you are still a good
bargainer. the Department says
you should be able to buy all this
for a 81, 800 cash down payment.
Other equipment, such as solvent
dry cleaning soaps, spotting sup
plies. bags, hangers. and miscel'
laneous supplies. will run about
$3.50. Toss in 5000 more for wei
cleaning equipment, tables, tubs
and bleach jars and add $500 fol
installation costs and freight. Now
add about SS25 for paints. coun
tiers. garment racks and renova
tons to make your place looI
pretty for the people and you owe
about $500, but you still hav'
that 81 800 cash for working CAPT
tai and you are all set to 20.
DRY CLEAN WHAT?
To keep from being taken to tn
cleaners yourself. you now must sc
out and get some business. Don
be content to clean just suits an'
dresses - clean everything. Tn
war opened up a number Of nsv
fields in the dry cleaning business
A number Of dry cleaning firm
are at work developing water re
pellents. II is reasonably certain
that watcr-proohng will make
new and profitable source Of add
tional business for dry cleaners.
Also during the war new chemi
Gals were developed which max
cotton and wooden fabrics prAc
tieally mildsw proof. This develop
msnt will add another special serv
ice for dry cleaners.
The upholstered furniture clean
ing business has never been AIDE
quatsly exploited. The future De
mand for the cleaning Of uphol
stored furniture will be great, Sue
services will require trucks and
lot Of AoOr space to do the job bu
it's good to know the market exist
Furniture covers and Automobil
seat covers offer another mArks
which . good business man in n
dry cleaning business might We
explore. The cleaning and repair
ing Of awnings and the cleaning q
venetian blinds also appear as ns'
helds TO the dry cleaning business
Oas thiag 10 certain: To tho
aI<rt dry sIsansr everything that
q psrsSa wears and NEST 81 the
fabrics u>sd In the ho@s SGsr
possibilities fsT bs~iR~m@.