Brothers Jay, Keith and Jeff Nichols, HandCraft’s second generation owners and equal partners, say 90 percent of the company’s business now comes from hospitals and private medical practices.

“Health care is one of the most stable industries, and it’s going to keep on growing,” said Jeff Nichols.

Working mostly out of a 60,000-square-foot state-of-the-art laundry facility on Cofer Road in South Richmond, the company launders bedding, gowns, towels and a host of other laundry for its clients.

The $10 million facility, which opened in 2008, operates seven days a week and, on average, cleans 24 million pounds of laundry per year.

Their evolution from being primarily a retail dry cleaner to an industrial laundry operator is being recognized today by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

At a luncheon, HandCraft will be given the SBA’s Small Business Persons of the Year award for the Richmond district, which includes all of Virginia except Loudon and Fairfax counties.

“It really validates who you are,” Jeff Nichols said.

The award is due in a large part to the development of the South Richmond facility, which HandCraft partly financed with the SBA’s help.

“I was very impressed by the owners and the operation,” said Sally Robertson, president of Fairfax-based Business Finance Group and the person who nominated HandCraft. Business Finance Group is a Northern Virginia-based nonprofit that finances commercial real estate and equipment for small businesses.

“They’re creative and innovative and extremely knowledgeable,” said Robertson, who added that this was only the second time in 10 years that she has nominated a company.

“It’s not something I do lightly,” she said. “But (HandCraft) is so well operated and so well run.”

HandCraft, which began working with its first hospital in 1983, services 43 hospitals and 450 medical offices in Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia.

The company continues to look for new clients and has space to expand the South Richmond facility to accommodate additional business.

But even as HandCraft grows its medical laundry business, the company continues to operate five retail locations in the Richmond area, though they generate only 10 percent of the company’s volume and revenue.

The change from being primarily a retail dry cleaner to an industrial one was gradual — but necessary.

Over the years, as fabrics have changed and as people have begun dressing more casually, the dry cleaning business began to drop off, the brothers say.

Some changes have been caused by seemingly unrelated developments, among them parking garages.

Jay Nichols said he remembers at time when overcoats constantly came in to the dry cleaning locations. But as an increasing number of companies built covered parking garages, the need to wear an overcoat — and keep it clean — has virtually vanished.

“We hardly see them anymore,” he said.

The drop off in the retail dry cleaning business was exacerbated in recent years with the economic downturn and the large number of layoffs that went with it.

“I don’t know that the (retail) dry cleaning business will ever be what it used to be,” Keith Nichols said.

SBA Announces 2011 Small Business Award WinnersRICHMOND, Va. – Eight people have been selected to receive awards from the U.S. Small BusinessAdministration’s Virginia District Office, at the annual Small Business Awards Luncheon in Richmond, onFriday, June 17. The Richmond District Office territory includes all ofVirginia except the counties ofArlington, Fairfax and Loudoun and the cities ofAlexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church which are covered bySBA’s Metropolitan Washington District Office.Each year the President ofthe United States designates one week as National Small Business Week inrecognition ofthe small business community’s contribution to the American economy. The 2011 observance ofNational Small Business Week is May 16-20 in Washington, D.C. where more than 100 outstanding smallbusiness owners from around the count!)’ will be honored and the National Small Business Person ofthe Yearwill be announced.Virginia’s Small Business Week event, to be held at The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond on Friday, June 17th,will honor Virginia’s Small Business Persons ofthe Year along with five other award winners. Nominations forall ofthe awards were accepted last fall, and winners were selected by an independent panel ofjudges.Those to be honored at the annual Small Business Awards Luncheon include:• 2011 VIRGINIA SMALL BUSINESS PERSONS OF THE YEARKeith Nichols, President; John Nichols, Vice President; Jeffery Nichols, TreasurerHandcraft Services and Launderers, Inc., Richmond, Va.• 2011 VIRGINIA FINANCIAL SERVICES CHAMPION OF THE YEARTerry Elliott, Vice PresidentVirginia Commerce Bank, Manassas, Va.• 2011 VIRGINIA MINORITY SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPIONS OF THE YEARJohnny Thornton, President; Lennie Thornton, Vice PresidentThornton Enterprises, Richmond, Va.• 2011 VIRGINIA VETERAN SMALL BUSINESS CHAMPION OF THE YEARJack Beecher, Chief, Small Business OfficeU.S. Army Corps ofEngineers, 803 Front Street, Norfolk, VA 23510• 2011COMMONWEALTHAWARDWilliam C. Gill, Executive Vice PresidentBank ofthe Commonwealth, Norfolk, Va.”The individuals we are honoring on June 17th represent the fmest traits of American entrepreneurial spirit andwe are proud to recognize their accomplishments,” said Ron Bew, district director of SBA’s Virginia DistrictOffice, congratulating all ofthe award winners.For additional information on National Small Business Week festivities, and for a list ofwinners, visithttp://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com. Additional information on the 2011 Virginia Small BusinessAwards Luncheon is available at www.sba.gov/va. For more information about all ofthe SBA’s programs forsmall businesses, visit the SBA’s extensive web site at www.sba.gov.

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FRANKFORT, Ill. — The Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) accredited its 100th healthcare laundry when HandCraft Linen Services, Richmond, Va., earned the distinction in May, HLAC reports.

“We’re proud to have reached this milestone in HLAC’s history,” says HLAC Chairperson Patti Costello, executive director of the American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES). “Laundries voluntarily seeking accreditation demonstrate they understand the importance of continuous benchmarking, process improvement, patient safety, and providing hygienically clean textiles to customers.”

The non-profit HLAC was formed for the purpose of inspecting and accrediting laundries processing healthcare textiles for hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. Becoming accredited is an entirely voluntary process. HLAC does not have members, but is comprised of a volunteer Board of Directors.

Since it began accrediting laundry organizations in 2006, the HLAC has “seen a growing commitment to voluntary industry excellence and a much greater awareness of the unique role healthcare textile processing plays in national patient-safety goals,” Costello adds. “As the demand for healthcare grows, so too will the need for qualified healthcare laundry providers who are well prepared to handle the increasing needs of its healthcare customers.”

“We’re thrilled to be the 100th laundry accredited by HLAC,” says Keith Nichols, president of HandCraft Linen Services, a family-owned and -operated company that has been in business since 1969 and employs more than 250. “Seeking this independent certification sends an important message to our customers and prospects that we’ve developed a culture of high performance and excellence, which results in a product that consistently meets their needs every day. And it aligns with the ongoing HandCraft legacy of hard work, innovation, and commitment to the laundry industry.”

HandCraft’s state-of-the-art facilities process more than 27 million pounds of healthcare textiles each year and service more than 4,000 hospital and nursing-home beds and more than 450 medical office surgery centers. HLAC Executive Director Kathy Tinker presented HandCraft’s management and owners with the accreditation plaque in late June.

Northwest Health Care Linen, a healthcare linen-service provider for customers in the Puget Sound, Wash., region since 1992, also received accreditation recently.

“When you go into a healthcare facility as a patient, cleanliness is critically important to stopping the spread of bacteria,” says James Hall, CEO of Northwest Health Care Linen. “In this industry, hospitals have no way to measure what you’re doing, apart from the end product delivered. That’s what this accreditation looks at: how you provide the sanitary laundry that aids in the prevention of bacteria spread and infection.”

The HLAC accreditation process includes an evaluation of written documents; a walk-through and inspection of the facility; employee and management interviews; and more. The HLAC standards focus on a number of aspects, with the ultimate goal being the separation of clean textiles from soiled textiles at all times.

“This accreditation gives us a high level of credibility in the industry, setting us apart from those who aren’t currently accredited or who, frankly, aren’t able to meet these high standards,” Hall says.

From its start as a single dry cleaning store in Richmond, VA in the mid-1950s, HandCraft Services is becoming one of the fastest rising textile service companies in the nation. While the business has changed dramatically, including the opening of a new 60,000 sq. ft. facility last month, what remains at its core is a strong family.
At the new plant’s official opening on Nov. 25 in Richmond, the strength of this growing company was on display. HandCraft Services President Keith M. Nichols; President, Sales & Marketing Jeff Nichols and Vice President John J. Nichols welcomed more than 100 customers, dignitaries, friends and family members for the dedication. Their brother, Fr. Neal A. Nichols, blessed the facility, as each of their families looked on. The family’s matriarch, Mrs. John A. Nichols, widow of founder John Nichols, received congratulations from those in attendance.
“We are proud to carry out our father’s legacy of hard work, exemplary service, and forward thinking,” Keith Nichols said.
The entire Nichols family has reason to be proud. The facility is already worthy of being in the ranks of one of the best healthcare laundries in the country. With a fully automated wash aisle, energy efficient equipment, and an innovative design for the flatwork department, the facility will process more than 50 million pounds of textiles each year.
“This building has been our collective passion for the last decade,” Keith Nichols said. “It embodies the best of how innovation and technology can affect the design of a building, and how the design of a building can transform the process that takes place within its walls.”
TRSA President and CEO Roger Cocivera, who was at the opening with TRSA Vice President George Ferencz, Director of Government Affairs Larry Fineran and Director of Federal Affairs Tony Wagner, praised HandCraft’s accomplishment.
“The Nichols family has grown their business into one of the major healthcare textile service companies in the country,” says Cocivera. “This new plant is a testament to that growth and a sign of their dedication to remain a competitive force in our industry.”
Even for those not in the industry, the plant was impressive in its scale and automation. Virginia Lt. Gov. William T. “Bill” Bolling, who was on hand for dedication, praised what HandCraft is doing to keep healthcare affordable in the Commonwealth.
“During my term as lieutenant governor I have worked to create jobs, grow our economy and improve healthcare delivery for all Virginians,” Bolling said. “HandCraft Services supports this mission by helping hospitals reduce costs and increase efficiency, thereby being able to allocate more resources to patient care.”
City of Richmond’s director of economic development, Carthan F. Currin, III, also was at the dedication, thanking the Nichols for keeping work in the city. “The City is proud to see this Richmond company of over 40 years expanding their operations to meet new local and regional business opportunities in healthcare linen services.”
Read more about the new HandCraft Services plant in an upcoming issue of Textile Rental.

]]> http://www.handcraftservices.com/news/?feed=rss2&p=4 0 http://www.handcraftservices.com/news/?p=10 http://www.handcraftservices.com/news/?p=10#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:53:59 +0000 handcraftservices http://www.handcraftservices.com/news/?p=10

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Bruce Beggs, Editor, American Laundry News Published 02/20/2009 – 10:42 A.M. CT

RICHMOND, Va. — Dedication of the new $9.6 million HandCraft Healthcare Linen Services Facility here heralds a new era of healthcare linen management innovation and another milestone for the family-owned company that began with a single drycleaning store nearly 40 years ago.

HandCraft Services President Keith M. Nichols, Vice President John J. “Jay” Nichols, and President of Sales and Marketing Jeffrey S. Nichols — sons of company founder John A. Nichols — welcomed Virginia Lt. Gov. William T. “Bill” Bolling and other guests to the new corporate headquarters and healthcare laundry facility on Richmond’s Southside.

Their brother, Father Neal A. Nichols, blessed the facility, and family matriarch Mrs. John A. Nichols received congratulations from well-wishers.

“During my term as lieutenant governor, I have worked to create jobs, grow our economy and improve healthcare delivery for all Virginians,” Bolling says. “HandCraft Services supports this mission by helping hospitals reduce costs and increase efficiency, thereby being able to allocate more resources to patient care.”

“We congratulate HandCraft Services on opening their new, state-of-the-art facility,” says Carthan F. Currin III, director of economic development for the City of Richmond. “The City is proud to see this Richmond company of over 40 years expanding their operations to meet new local and regional business opportunities in healthcare linen service.”

Under the roof of the renovated 60,000-square-foot building — once a paper manufacturer’s warehouse — is a multilevel, state-of-the-art design driven by advanced software, the company says.

The entire plant, which opened Sept. 15, was designed primarily around three criteria: employee ergonomics, energy efficiency, and high productivity/quality control.

Every workstation was evaluated and designed to be as ergonomic as possible. Employees are not required to perform heavy lifting or to stoop to perform their tasks.

The dryers were placed on a mezzanine to reduce noise and heat transfer to the production floor.

Material-handling equipment such as the soil-sort deck and overhead sling system are utilized to achieve one of the highest productivity levels in the country, the company says.

Further, a number of “green” practices were incorporated in the operation, including the recycling of 230,000 pounds of plastic linen bags and 276,000 pounds of worn-out hospital linen annually.

The plant includes energy-saving features such as new-concept boilers, wastewater heat recovery and boiler stack heat recovery.

Besides 5,000 square feet of renovated corporate offices, the building is divided between production areas: soil sort, 19,000 square feet; dryer mezzanine, 5,000 square feet; boiler room, 1,000 square feet; and the clean side/pack out area, 30,000 square feet.

Altogether, the new facility doubles HandCraft’s processing capacity to 50 million pounds annually, the company says.

Turn-Key Industrial Engineering Services, Charlottesville, Va., aided HandCraft in the plant design and later teamed with general contractor ARCO/Murray National Construction Co., Chicago, to complete the building design, equipment installation, and construction process.

The building is the 92nd building and/or site that HandCraft looked at for its new plant.

“This building has been our collective passion for the past decade,” says Keith Nichols. “It embodies the best of how innovation and technology can affect the design of a building, and how the design of a building can transform the process that takes place within its walls.”

John A. Nichols founded the privately held company with a single drycleaning store on Richmond’s north side. In 1978, he expanded into the laundry business by purchasing Richmond Steam Laundry. Five years later, Johnston Willis Hospital approached him to handle all of its laundry services.

To meet its demands of productivity and volume, Nichols purchased a 90,000-square-foot building in northwest Richmond focused solely on healthcare. Soon, Richmond’s St. Mary’s Hospital (Bon Secours) followed suit.

Today, the company provides linen services to 38 hospitals and more than 400 physician practices, surgery centers, dental practices and nursing homes throughout Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina.

While the dedication was certainly a day to celebrate, Keith Nichols noted the significant absence of his father, who died in 2006.

“We are proud to carry out our father’s legacy of hard work, exemplary service, and forward thinking,” Nichols says.