Preventing stains, caring for clothing, washing, drycleaning, and storing are all part of your picture, because it's part of your customers' picture. Your customers don't want their clothing ruined by stains and neglect, and they certainly don't want it compromised by poor drycleaning or incorrect washing methods. This is where you can be of service.

If you do you feel a responsibility to help your customers take care of their purchases, after you've made your sale and your profit, then put a plan in place. Do you want repeat business from these customers? Of course, you do. We all know that it takes much more time and money to bring in new customers than it does to retain old ones.

Clothing retailers that complain about flat sales are not doing all they can to be a full-service company to their customers. Better clothing --- designer and couture --- requires exceptional care to last a long time. If you don't go the extra mile to offer value-added services, then you are missing some excellent profit centers and you are not making the most of the opportunities that await you.