“Together we can save a life.” Lapels Dry Cleaning pitches in to promote the need for blood donors.

DATELINE: HANOVER, MA… Lapels Dry Cleaning knows the importance of looking and feeling your best. That’s why they’re pitching in to help the American Red Cross by reminding customers at all Lapels locations that “Together we can save a life.”

Lapels is encouraging customers to give the greatest gift of all, the gift of life by becoming a blood donor during the month of May. Notes Lapels CEO Lawrence Friedman, “We will continue to take care of your clothes to help you look and feel your best, and we hope that you will continue to donate blood and platelets so that others can look and feel their best as well.”

To thank those that give the gift of life by donating blood at area Red Cross donor centers during the month of May, Lapels is giving donors a small token of their gratitude. Participating Red Cross donor centers include Boston (25 Stuart Street), Braintree (170 Forbes Road), Dedham (180 Rustcraft Road, Suite 115), and Middleboro (448 West Grove Street, Route 28).

In addition to encouraging blood donations at area Red Cross Blood Donation Centers, Lapels will host an American Red Cross Bloodmobile on Wednesday May 25, at the Westwood Lapels at 372 Washington Street (Route 1A), Westwood, MA.

May, A Difficult Month to Collect Blood
According to Pamela Leach, Supervisor of Recruitment Operations in the Donor Services Department of the New England Region of the American Red Cross, “Historically, May is a difficult month to collect blood. On an ongoing basis, every day, 1500 units of blood must be collected throughout MA, NH, ME, and VT just to meet the basic needs of area patients. Yet many people say that they have not donated blood simply because they have not been asked.”

Creating Awareness
Lapels would like their customers to consider themselves asked. Posters and informational packets will be available at all Massachusetts Lapels locations, to let customers know how they can become a blood donor. Lapels is committed to creating more awareness about the need for blood donors, sharing the community-wide responsibility to maintain a safe and sufficient blood supply.

For further information, ask a Lapels employee or call 1-800 GIVELIFE (1-800-448-3543) to help the American Red Cross help your friends, families and neighbors by becoming a blood donor, or by volunteering, or sending a donation if you can’t donate blood.

A Rising Star
Lapels recently made Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500” as well as Entrepreneur’s “Top 50 New Franchises,” identifying Lapels as one of today’s top franchise opportunities. Entrepreneur's “Franchise 500” is the best and most comprehensive rating of franchises in the world and is based on objective, quantifiable measures of a franchise operation.

Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500
Entrepreneur’s criteria for the Franchise 500 has been honed and perfected over the years, utilizing a formula that yields a ranking procedure that accurately identifies today's top franchise opportunities. Numerous factors are considered in the rankings including financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the system.

The number of years in business and length of time franchising, start-up costs, litigation, percentage of terminations, and the availability of company provided financing are also taken into consideration. Financial data is independently audited and every company with verifiable data receives a cumulative score. The franchises with the highest cumulative scores then become Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.

The Lapels Difference
With Lapels’ unique outsourcing advantage, Lapels storeowners outsource dry cleaning operations, providing the best possible service and quality to customers while caring for the environment.

Lapels franchise owners benefit from exclusive territories, group purchasing power, job security and unlimited earning potential. Lapels offers franchisees full training and support in every aspect of the business and a comprehensive start-up package that includes: a point-of sale computer system; an automatic clothing conveyer; a wedding gown program; retail products to sell; indoor and outdoor signage with all needed permits; a grand opening marketing package; and advertising promotion to 10,000 homes. Lapels also provides franchisees a custom web site with email, on-going training and support, custom counters, start up supplies, and much more.

Store Locations
Lapels has stores in Massachusetts (Boston, Dedham, Easton, Framingham, Halifax, Hanover, Newton, North Weymouth, Norton, Quincy, Rockland, Westford, and Westwood); New Hampshire (Hudson and Manchester); and Texas (Garland). Lapels is also coming soon to Concord, MA and Lincoln, RI.

All stores are open 7 days a week.

Lapels – Earth Friendly Cleaners
A full slate of services are offered at each Lapels store, including: same-day dry cleaning; shirt service; tailoring; shoe repair; wedding gown heirlooming; suede and leather processing; box storage and fur storage.

Lapels corporate offices are located at 962 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Lapels, call toll free (866) 695-2735 or email admin@lapelsdrycleaning.com. Additional information and up-to-date company news can also be found on the company’s Web site, www.lapelsdrycleaning.com.