Providing the highest-quality, VIP-level dry cleaning, laundry, and restoration services has been top priority at Classic Cleaners for twenty five years. We know the top three things customers want:

• My clothes back
• On time
• Ready to wear

That’s why, as your full-service cleaner, we’re dedicated to turning out beautiful results every time.

In today’s busy world, we know that, more than ever before, in addition to these three basic expectations, customers value speed and convenience.

Actually, this is hardly new. In fact, American history is filled with examples of the trend towards speed and convenience, going all the way back to the Pony Express in 1860, the “fast” mail service that carried messages by horseback across the prairies, plains, deserts, and mountains of the Western United States. Then, in 1930, Americans pioneered the drive-through concept that caught on throughout the developed countries of the world..  (Maid-Rite in Springfield, Illinois, is one company claiming to have had the first drive-through window.)

But speed by itself isn’t always satisfying and productive, and many companies learned the hard way the truth in the old saying “Haste makes waste”. “From the transcontinental railroads to the creation of the Web, companies have always had to balance ‘good enough now’ with ‘perfect too late’”, remarks Bob Lewis of Advice Line.

In keeping with our motto “the modern craft of clean”, Classic Cleaners constantly works to combine the latest in technology with decades of specialized professional experience to achieve both quality AND convenience. Classic Cleaners Express Service includes:

• Express Bag with ID tags holds drop off cleaning
• Heat seals ensure tracking and speed check-in and order assembly
• 24-hour drop off boxes in selected locations
• Lockers for secure 24-hour pickup
• e-mail notification when order is ready
• Drive-through service
• Secured credit card auto-pay

No need to balance “good enough now” and “perfect too late”. With Classic Cleaners Express Service, you can have perfect AND on time!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

 All dry cleaning is local, you might argue. After all, no one ships  clothes out of state to be laundered or dry cleaned! So, if your dry cleaners is locally operated, is it important whether it’s locally owned? 

Classic Cleaners - born, bred, and involved in local Indiana

CityofSoundcom thinks so. “Locally owned independent retailers contribute a vast amount to cities…  recent research from the US indicates that between 54 and 58 cents of every dollar spent at a locally-owned retailer stays in that local environment.” (The article goes on to explain why: Local businesspeople employ local accountants, local delivery services, local web designers, local signwriters, local architects, advertise in the local newspaper, and so on.

Staylocal.org of New Orleans lists no fewer than ten reasons to shop local:

1. Protect local character and prosperity
2. Community well being
3. Local decision making
4. Keeping dollars in the local economy
5. Jobs and wages
6. Entrepreneurship
7. Public benefits and costs
8. Environmental sustainability
9. Competition
10. Product diversity

Classic Cleaners is locally owned and locally operated. The first Classic Cleaners store opened in Indianapolis in January 1985.  Today, there are 17 stores in locations that include Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville and McCordsville along with Indianapolis.  Pickup and delivery service is available in the surrounding localities bordered by Fortville, Pittsboro, and Cicero.

As far as the Staylocal.org list, Classic Cleaners is certainly 10 for 10. Through membership in the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, and the Fishers Chamber of Commerce, Classic Cleaners does its part to strengthen local communities.  Through its financial support of Dress For Success Indianapolis, local Girl Scout troops,  the Museum of 20th Century Warfare, and many other local charities, Classic Cleaners stays involved in local community needs, seeks to be an employer of choice and to protect the environment in all its operations.

Local, anyone? 

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

As our customers know, “specials” aren’t just once-in-a-while affairs at Classic Cleaners.  In fact, there’s a new special offer every month of the year! November’s special, for example, is outerwear, and in December, we’ll be offering 25% off table linens.  Specials, you see, are just one more way we have of showing our appreciation to our loyal fans.

In the Mensa book of puzzles, Lateral Thinking & Logical Deduction, there’s a riddle about a dry cleaners that offered a “special” on business clothing.  We thought it would be fun to share the riddle with our blog readers:

A dry cleaners was having a one-day sale offering a 20% discount on business clothes. That day, customers brought in trousers, jackets, and skirts.

   1  more customer brought in only jackets than those who brought in trousers only.

   9  customers brought in trousers only.

 15  customers each brought in trousers, jackets, and skirts.

 26  customers each brought in skirts and jackets, but no trousers.

 13  customers each brought in jackets and trousers, but no skirts.

  5  customers each brought in skirts only.

 The same number of people brought in trousers and skirts, but no jacket as those who brought
in only jackets.

Can you figure out the total number of customers who took advantage of the dry cleaning “special” that day?

(If you’ve figured out the answer, simply put a comment at the bottom of this page, or turn in your answer with your next Classic Cleaners order.)

Hint: Our neighbor the math teacher advises using a Venn diagram to solve the riddle.

If you’re stymied by the Mensa riddle, at Classic Cleaners, we have a much simpler set of numbers for you to keep in mind:

For every $200 you spend within a six-month period, Classic Cleaners will give you $10 off your next order.  Best of all, there are no forms to fill out.  You’re automatically enrolled!

by Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team

“Good customer service is the life blood of any business,” remarks Martin Day in the eMagazineForCustomerServiceProfessionals. “A customer satisfaction survey will help demonstrate to your customers that you care and are proactive in looking for ways to improve the service you provide.”

Classic Cleaners certainly agrees.  Over the Indianapolis dry cleaners’ 25-year history, Classic Cleaners management has continued looking for ways to serve its customers in new and better ways.  In fact, this very month, each Classic Cleaners customer can earn a $10 dry cleaning coupon by filling out a seventeen-question online survey.

Martin Day points out to his customer service professional readers that customer satisfaction survey information can work in two directions:

• Customers to business:  The business obtains valuable market research data.
• Business to customers:  The customers become aware of aspects of service they perhaps didn’t know about.

In the case of the Classic Cleaners survey, information might function as a 3-way street:

1. When the results are tallied, Classic Cleaners managers will know more about the demographics of their customer base – what age groups are represented and how long customers have used Classic Cleaners for their dry cleaning and laundry needs.
2. Customers will be informed (or reminded) of the “Classic Rewards” program.
3. Central management and field managers will be able to discuss in detail with front desk customer service representatives and with route drivers whether customers have any concerns with the appearance and cleanliness of the stores, the friendliness and patience of the front desk representatives, and with the timeliness of order completion.

It’s interesting that the survey does not emphasize all the uncommon “extras” Classic Cleaners provides to its customers, including the lockers, the heat stamping that avoids the need for punch tags, the expert alterations service, the restoration of heirlooms, and the fluff and fold service.  The customer satisfaction survey would have needed to be far too long and complicated to include all the “extras” Classic Cleaners customers have come to take for granted!

Perhaps the most important statement on the survey is the one about which Classic Cleaners hopes its customers will all answer “strongly agree”:

“The customer service representative made me feel appreciated for visiting Classic Cleaners.”

If you haven’t already done so, won’t you take our survey?  Click here

By Reb of the Classic Cleaners blog team