Pan Wei of the China Commercial Federation Laundry Committee: Breaking Away from the "Laundry Chaos"
Release Time:
2012-03-08 16:08
Source:
HC Cleaning Network
Preface: Recently, some media reporters went undercover in certain laundries to expose what they considered irregular business practices. This was widely reposted by multiple media outlets, drawing public attention to the quality of laundry services. At the same time, it sparked concerns among people, especially frequent business travelers, about the hygiene of public textiles. So, does this news exposure truly represent the industry's current state? And what should we do in response? To address this, a reporter from HC Cleaning Network interviewed Pan Wei, Secretary-General of the China Commercial Federation Laundry Professional Committee (hereinafter referred to as Secretary-General Pan).
Twenty years of military service, a lifetime of benefit
Entering Secretary Pan's office, there is a black sofa set, two fully packed bookshelves, and a dark red desk... exuding a rigorous and minimalist style. Upon our arrival, Secretary-General Pan quickly invited us to sit, and the interview began with casual conversation.
During the chat, we learned that just last night (March 1), Secretary-General Pan's son suddenly fell ill and was hospitalized, yet he still insisted on meeting us as scheduled today. This is the greatest inspiration and support from an industry leader! It can be said that Pan's many years as a soldier (1976-1995) shaped his character of keeping promises and strict self-discipline. His every gesture exudes strength, and his frequent cheerful smiles make him feel very approachable and friendly.
Furthermore, it is understood that as early as 2000, the initial idea of founding the "Laundry Professional Committee" had been repeatedly considered by the leaders in charge and Secretary-General Pan. Today, there is no doubt that the "China Commercial Federation Laundry Professional Committee" has become the most influential national association in the industry. The difficulties and setbacks it has experienced are beyond our imagination. Speaking of this, Secretary-General Pan expressed many feelings but only said: "Very tiring but very fulfilling." These simple words show us the pride and honor he feels as one of the founders of the China Commercial Federation Laundry Professional Committee, having witnessed its growth from nothing. Because of this, his views on this news event are particularly important.
Secretary-General of China Commercial Federation Laundry Professional Committee Pan Wei
Calmly view the "laundry chaos"
Recently, an online news titled "Funaite Laundry Exposes Operational Chaos: Water Washing Posing as Dry Cleaning" sparked intense discussion among netizens and attracted high attention from various associations. As a leading figure in the industry association, Secretary-General Pan promptly provided us with a professional and comprehensive analysis of the confusion and concerns caused by this incident.
Incident Review:
Recently, a reporter exposed the "clothing abuse" issue at the Beijing stores of chain laundries Funaite and Pland: almost all clothes were water washed; professional detergents were actually cheap laundry powder; dry cleaning agents were toxic chemical product tetrachloroethylene, with fading clothes dyed to cover up; single-item charges were 10 times the washing cost, etc. In response, Funaite headquarters made timely reactions, and the related companies apologized to the public through the media the next day, expressing regret for the negative social impact caused by the incident.
Secretary-General Pan stated: This news report undoubtedly attracted attention and concern from all sectors of society towards the laundry industry, which will deepen everyone's understanding of the industry and promote industry self-discipline. From this perspective, it is a good thing! At the same time, it is undeniable that there are indeed some irregularities in the domestic laundry industry, such as clothes being carelessly thrown around. Laundry worker training clearly stipulates that customers' clothes must be treated well. Therefore, this incident serves as a warning to industry professionals, making us realize what we should do.
The "excessive profit" claim — too one-sided
Regarding the excessive profit issue mentioned in this news event, Secretary-General Pan said: The laundry industry is the most open service sector in China, mostly developed through free market competition. 99% of laundries are medium, small, or micro-sized, with fierce competition, and price competition is an important aspect. In such a highly transparent market, the claim of excessive profits is hard to sustain. Specifically, the "excessive profit" calculation in the report obviously did not consider equipment costs or the seasonal fluctuations of laundries. For a standardized and regulated laundry, investment in decoration and equipment costs cannot be ignored.
"Tetrachloroethylene" — do not fear it blindly
It is undeniable that tetrachloroethylene is a toxic chemical substance, and many industries come into contact with such toxic substances, such as cosmetics. But the key is whether the final product harms us; this is the main criterion. Tetrachloroethylene has been used in the laundry industry for seventy years, and globally, 70%-80% of laundry uses tetrachloroethylene. In China, tetrachloroethylene machines account for 80%. Secretary-General Pan also said that replacing tetrachloroethylene with a more suitable solvent as a dry cleaning agent will take a long time. It can be said that its use in the laundry industry is permitted.
"Dry cleaning & water washing" — choose with standards
After this incident was reported, Secretary-General Pan mentioned: "Determining whether clothes are water washed or dry cleaned mainly depends on fabric, stain type, accessories, and manufacturing process. Professional laundries choose washing methods based on cleanliness and safety. The proportion of water-washed clothes in domestic laundries is increasing. According to our understanding, up to 60% of clothes in European laundries are water washed. In fact, the term 'dry cleaning shop' is not entirely accurate; 'laundry shop' is better. To my knowledge, there is no 'dry cleaning shop' that only dry cleans without water washing. Therefore, when criticizing irregular practices of some laundries, do not introduce the wrong concept that 'dry cleaning is higher class than water washing.'"
Improving the difficult situation of industry training
In addition, inadequate training of some employees within the industry is also a major cause of this incident. In response, Secretary-General Pan stated that the high turnover rate leads to excessive training costs in the industry, resulting in difficulties in training. Especially for sales staff in the laundry and dyeing industry, training is relatively more difficult as it requires practitioners to have comprehensive professional knowledge. Therefore, as an industry association, strengthening industry training and improving the quality of practitioners has always been a long-term commitment.
Closing remarks:
As time draws near, it urges us not to continue the conversation with Secretary-General Pan, but during this interview, I truly felt the gap in perspectives between insiders and outsiders of the industry. Low entry barriers, outdated standards, and low professionalism among practitioners... these seem to have become synonymous with the laundry and dyeing industry, but none of us can deny its social status and contributions. Now, we should try to step out of the red ocean and become a "bystander" in thought...
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