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The dry cleaning services industry is a relatively quiet one, but it represents a huge market utilized at one time or another by most consumers. It isn't a glamorous, trendy industry or one with "top-of-mind" status with consumers or prospective business owners. And that is somewhat surprising considering the breadth of the industry in the United  States and throughout the world. The fact is that dry cleaning and laundry services are required by most consumers on an ongoing basis, creating a consistent demand with little fluctuation throughout the year.
The market for dry cleaning services is broad and deep since a vast section of the population requires the service on a regular basis. And the demand for dry cleaning within a specific market is highly predictable since having clean garments is not discretionary--it is a requirement. In any given market, there is a certain amount of clothing to be cleaned this week and every week in the future. Further, the potential market continues to look bright as manufacturers' increase the production of garments labeled as "dry clean only." Additionally, due to tight time scheduling, busy consumers are choosing to dry clean garments over washing and ironing to save personal time. These strong consumer fundamentals have allowed the dry cleaning industry to survive many economic swings through the years, resulting in a strength and resiliency envied by many other industries.
There are several alternative cleaning processes available in the dry cleaning marketplace today. While all dry cleaners must adhere to certain regulations regarding the use of various cleaning chemicals, there is an emerging trend toward the use of more environmentally friendly processes and cleaning solutions. Newer dry-to-dry technologies have resulted in better containment of noticeable fumes that are common in older dry cleaning businesses. And both potential landlords and insurance companies embrace this migration to "greener" cleaning processes and high-tech equipment.
The term dry cleaning is a bit of a misnomer since it isn't really dry at all. Liquid chemical solvents are utilized in the cleaning process. A dry cleaning machine is designed to balance the chemical properties of the cleaning solvent and the tumble dry temperature of the machine. Actually, garments are placed into a self-contained dry cleaning machine when they are dry. The garments are cleaned using a cleaning solvent, tumbled dry and removed for pressing and finishing. Utilizing this dry-to-dry technology, there is no need to transfer garments from the dry cleaning machine to a separate dryer.
And while the marketplace for dry cleaning services is huge, it is a highly fragmented market predominated by small, independent "mom and pop" cleaning operations. Just like so many other industries, the dry cleaning services market is ripe for consolidation. During the past several years, the office supply, pizza, video rental, home improvement, neighborhood coffee shop and flower industries have evolved from fragmented industries to markets dominated by national players with a regional or national affiliation. Dry cleaning is one of the few unconsolidated industries left, creating an opportunity for a successful rollout of the CD One Price Cleaners value priced, customer focused and operationally efficient "superstore" concept in dry cleaning.
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