SERIES: Your Allied Trades Team

All this month (April) we will be saluting the companies behind the scenes of your success. You couldn’t open your doors or keep them open without the Allied Trades partners you call on every day. They don’t just supply you with equipment and supplies; they come alongside you and offer expertise and encouragement.

Sid’s Story

Sid Chelsky, best know for being the Executive Director of the Canadian Fabricare Association, grew into that position by first being a hands-on dry cleaner for many years, and then a consultant to the industry. He didn’t get there alone. In this installment, he names names and calls out the best of the best who helped him succeed.

---

My company, Careful Hand Laundry & Dry Cleaners, grew from a small building at 152 Avenue Road in Toronto, until it reached its the latest (and much larger) commercial building at 120 Tycos Drive.  There were two particular companies and people that helped me along the way. 

The first is Dalex, and D’arcy  McConvey, Jr. He believed so much that the equipment I needed to grow was from Milnor, which was located in Kenner, Louisiana (a suburb of New Orleans.)   He invited me to come down to the factory and see the equipment myself. 

When we got there and discussed my immediate needs, the management called customers that had previously placed orders they were still waiting for, and got releases to let me jump the line so they could sell and deliver them to me quickly.  (At that time, equipment was built on order first.) 

His help and sage advice led to further growth of  my company to acquire the 12,000 square foot building at 120 Tycos Drive, and also helped me acquire the Jensen flatwork ironers and folders that I needed.  

The second person was none other that the great Ken Kenalty, who persistently showed up each week to have a coffee with me, even though he’d only sold us one bag of special detergent. 

When we found out that another company sold us soap filled with harsh wash compounds that was damaging the linen, I gave all my laundry needs to Kenalty Industries.  Chris Kenalty and Ian Gibson became close friends and great allied trade people.   There was never a piece of equipment sold by them to me that I was not grateful for.  Ian Gibson is and continues to be a close friend of mine.  His sons are now operating Ontario Laundry Systems.

---

What’s your story? Share your favorite memories of a supplier who saved the day, and help us salute the Allied Trades this month.
Send it to: becca@fabricarecanada.com.