Credit crunch boosts business

10:25am Friday 29th August 2008

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A dry cleaning business in Putney claims its business has been booming during the credit crunch - because people are making more of an effort to reuse their old clothes.

The American Dry Cleaning Company, based in Putney High Street, has joined the small band of UK retail companies experiencing business growth as a direct consequence of the credit crunch, reporting an average increase in sales of 11 per cent this summer The company’s recent success stems principally from an increase in requests for conventional dry cleaning, as consumers seek to maintain and reuse clothes bought in more prosperous times.

Managing director Julian Stone said: “Men and women who would have, in the very recent past, bought an expensive item of clothing and worn it only once or twice are now embracing professional cleaning as a cost-effective alternative to new purchases – explaining the surge in our sales.”

As well as 95 per cent packaging waste being recycled, eco-friendly measures employed by the greener dry cleaner include using biodegradable chemicals, customers are encouraged to recycle all hangers, carrier bags and wooden hangers are used in the premium service and all machinery conforms to the Department of Trade and Industry – environmental capital saving scheme.