Parkers is Dry Cleaning and Greening Toronto at Record Pace

Added at 4:03pm, Tuesday March 23rd 2010

Parkers Custom Clothing Care in Toronto, Ontario set major goals for themselves in 2009, mostly under the umbrella of being as eco-friendly as possible, and have seen a huge success! As a drycleaning operation using multiple processes, one of the main goals for Parkers was to rely more on environmentally friendly options, such as their Solvair Cleaning System and less on conventional drycleaning. Two specifics were to reduce both their water and perc consumption. It was recently reported that their consumption of perc was down 65% from 2008 to 2009. Also, from 2008 to 2009, their water consumption was reduced by 35%. Both of these decreases are significant in Parkers’ ongoing commitment to being environmentally friendly.

Toward the end of 2008, Parkers became the first cleaner in Canada, and one of the first in the world, to install a Solvair Cleaning System. Parkers not only implemented this system into their business, but they took the initiative to launch a marketing and PR campaign in 2009 to promote Solvair and engage their customers to jump on board with their green movement. The nature of the technology allowed them to offer some striking and unusual promotions. For example, Breakfast Television did an interview with Gary Fine, inviting people to bring their baseball caps in for a free cleaning at their central location, which brought in approximately 700 hats to the Parkers Yonge Street location in one day! 

Parkers has taken every opportunity to inform customers of their green service, from a gigantic sign in the window of their store front, to a flat screen constantly looping a presentation on Solvair’s benefits. In-store promotions were designed to get customers to try their eco-friendly service, such as their “odor-free or your order is free” offer. Parkers associates even wear vests inviting customers to ask them how they can try Solvair. Outside of the actual stores, Parkers president, Gary Fine sent a personalized letter and package to several media outlets in Toronto, inviting them to “Air Your Dirty Laundry with the President of Parkers.” This package contained a reusable bag and instructions to fill it with dirty clothes and bring them in for a complimentary green cleaning in their Solvair system.

By offering this environmentally friendly service at all 8 Toronto locations, Parkers is making it accessible for anyone to have their clothes cleaned in a truly green system. They understand it is important to educate current customers on their eco-friendly option, and have demonstrated to consumers in the greater Toronto area on how everyday choices like drycleaning, can make a difference to the environment. Parkers also makes it easy for customers to do their own part, encouraging them to return hangers and bags for recycling, reducing their waste as much as possible. Moving forward with phase two on the quest of being as eco-friendly as possible, Parkers is in the process of providing reusable bags for their customers, ultimately reducing poly bag and plastic usage.

Parkers Custom Clothing Care is at the forefront of the garment care industry by offering the newest and most effective cleaning available. Adoption of new technologies, particularly ones that represent a significant business investment, represents an unknown risk for any business. Parkers, however, had the foresight to recognize the importance of this green and game-changing technology. The environmental benefits of Solvair are multiple and customers have taken notice, which is due to Parkers’ dedication to promoting their green cleaning to Toronto.