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Q: Some friends and I are considering opening a dry cleaners/alteration shop. Do you have any advice?

Aug 17 2005

Answered by: Philip Wilkinson Ask a question

The Textile Services Association (7 Churchill Court, 58 Station Road, North Harrow, Middlesex HA2 7SA tel: 020-8863 7755, www.tsa-uk.org) is willing to give advice about how to start up a dry cleaning business. The association will put you in touch with some of its auxiliary members, who provide specialised equipment, fixtures and fittings, to help you fit out the shop. Alternatively you could consider buying premises which already operate as dry cleaners. However, if you want to become a member of the association you can only apply after completing one year in business. Then a ‘mystery shopper’ will be sent around to see whether your shop meets its strict and detailed code of practice.

The Cleaning and Support Services Association (020-7481 0 881, www.cleaningindustry.org) can give advice on statutory matters, such as health and safety, with which dry cleaning businesses must comply.

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