Hangers Cleaners, widely recognized around town by its catchy name and eye-catching delivery vans, got a big boost in today’s issue of The New York Times.
A times staffer, Pamela Ryckman, wrote a small business “case study” about Hangers, which Joe Runyan, a former Sprint marketing employee, opened in 2004. The story, with accompanying photo, occupies the top of page 4 in The Times’ business section. The Star did a small business profile of Hangers in 2006.
Hangers, with headquarters at 139th and Wyandotte, promotes itself as an environmentally safe dry cleaner. “It uses,” The Times said, “colorless, odorless liquid carbon dioxide instead of the aggressive chemicals applied at traditional dry cleaners.”
One aspect of the story is a challenge to Hangers by corporate giant Procter & Gamble, which opened an eco-friendly dry cleaner not far from Hangers’ headquarters two years ago. P & G now has three locations in this area and is advertising franchise opportunities in Ohio and Kentucky.
In addition to its van service, Hangers has two stand-alone stores — one at the south Kansas City headquarters and one in Lee’s Summit — and outlets at nine Hy-Vee stores, all but one on the Kansas side.
The Times’ story says Hangers has 35 employees and 2009 revenue of $1.6 million.
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 