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A number of the founding members, including Ken Adams, Ellen Amirkhan, Buzz Dohanian, Tim Horrigan and Jeff Jones, owners and managers of rug cleaning plants around the country, are all past presidents of the former Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR).

When ASCR morphed into the Restoration Industry Association (RIA), the focus of that organization shifted to members of the restoration industry (flood and fire damage). This left less and less interaction with those whose focus is mainly on rug cleaning and other areas of the cleaning industry. Those small business owners and cleaning plant managers saw the necessity arise for a trade association that could cater to their specific needs.

Formation

A meeting to launch ARCS took place in March of 2010 at Sharian’s, Inc., in Decatur, Georgia.

In November of 2010, the founding members met in Dallas, Texas, formed the new association and elected Bill Foulds, general manager of Deep Eddy Rug Cleaners in Austin, Texas, as their first President. The original founding members will serve on an Advisory Committee to pass on their expertise to the rest of the membership. The officers of the new association include Thea Sand, Phil Ziegler, Armen Dohanian and Tim Horrigan. These officers will be handling the day-to-day operations of the association.

Organizational Goals and Benefits to Members

The ARCS pledges to advance the art and science of rug care by:

• 1. Education of rug care professionals.

  This will be an invaluable benefit to new members. Exceptional educational opportunities will be available with basic as well as advanced classes taught by seasoned veterans. Key issues to be addressed in these classes will include highly specialized techniques in spot and stain removal as well as rug identification methods. Included in the curriculum will be an advanced certification designation. Courses will be complimented by plant tours where members can experience cutting edge rug cleaning technology first hand.

• 2. Raising consumer awareness about the nature of quality rug care.

  A committee has been formed to put together and disseminate consumer-friendly rug care information. This will be housed on the association’s website and will also be sent to other media such as industry magazines. An ARCS Trade Journal is also planned.

  Opportunities for working with rug manufacturers in this consumer outreach program will also be important as rug care specialists are an important contact point for consumers.

  Membership in ARCS will help to build marketplace credibility and long-standing customer relationships. Consumers will be able to feel confident that ARCS members uphold the highest industry standards. Consumers will be able to search for ARCS members on the website.

• 3. Helping members to become better business managers in the areas of marketing, strategic planning and human resources.

  Some of the country’s best business schools will be tapped to help provide these types of opportunities. The ARCS will be aligning itself with other larger organizations to keep its members informed and to give them a voice and better representation on small business issues such as employee relations, health care and others.

Membership is open to any firm that cleans, repairs, services or otherwise maintains area rugs. An important additional requirement is that 95% of their business must be performed in a cleaning plant as opposed to in a customer’s home or business or subcontracted out. Quality rug cleaning is only possible in a plant where rugs can be cleaned on both sides, colors can be stabilized, fringes can be addressed properly and rugs can be properly dried. The organization is interested primarily in the quality of a member’s in-plant rug care, not in the size of the member’s plant.

Over 1000 companies, nationally as well as internationally, meet these criteria and will be contacted. ARCS expects to have more than 100 members by mid-2011. Eventually, ACRS will also reach out to rug appraisers and dealers, designers, consultants and others as associate members.

Collaboration with Other Trade Associations

ARCS plans to collaborate fully with the RIA, especially on rug care issues as well as with The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). The ARCS will only be focusing on rug care and cleaning while the IICRC has a wider focus. Both organizations will most likely be sharing some members and both are expected to work together in the future.

First Educational Offering

The first educational offering was a well-attended two day tour and educational event which took place on April 29th and 30th, 2011 in Austin, Texas at Deep Eddy Cleaners. This learning event included a demonstration of the latest innovative cleaning procedure as well as hands-on participation in the care and cleaning of rugs for rug professionals at all levels of experience. A question and answer period was provided as well as many opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing. The Education Committee of the ARCS is working on an entire curriculum of upcoming educational events.

A tour of the Navajo Reservation is also planned for November of 2011. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the famed Navajo rug weaving facilities and observe the unique Navajo culture.

Contact Information

www.rugcarespecialists.org - ARCS website

membership@rugcarespecialists.org – to join ARCS

info@rugcarespecialists.org – Bill Foulds, President

ken@abcclean.com – Founding and Advisory Committee member

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