First off, let me say that the Martinizing name is just that.  The name the guy gave the business that started the martinizing dry cleaning franchise back in 1949.  It’s been around a while and is actually a very well known name and process.  They have been able to tie the process with the name and that is what a lot of people know it by.  You might have heard of this name or process and wonder what it is.  Let me try to explain it.

Martinizing Dry Cleaning is a business name and franchise business within North America as well as outside those borders in other parts of the world.  What you may not know is that the number of locations has been steadily decreasing over the last 10 years.  As a business, it is not doing so well, even though it is one of the oldest and most recognized brands in the dry cleaning business industry.  The reason is that they were the first to market a one hour dry cleaning service.   This was made possible by the discovery, or invention of dry cleaning products and chemicals that allowed for local stores.  The chemical changes allowed for easier use, storage and a lot less harmful fumes.  Not only were the original dry cleaning services larger , they also used far harsher and dangerous chemicals.  Technology allowed for the change in the industry for smaller machines and easier chemical use for smaller more convenient locations.  You could then do your cleaning on site and within an hour.

Today, there are many other one hour dry cleaning services and Martinizing dry cleaners are no longer the only specialized dry cleaners.  This is probably the reason for the decline in franchises around the United States and Canada over the last 10 years.  I have actually had a hard time finding any other documentation about it, so we can only speculate as to the reasons.

Many of todays dry cleaning businesses offer the same services that a martinizing dry cleaners do. Such services as, same day service, one hour express, VIP services, etc.  Many locations also offer home delivery and pick up services, which is no longer unique to the martinizing stores.  One hour dry cleaning is available in nearly every city and area.  Being able to dry clean clothes fast requires on-site machines.  Today, the dry cleaning machines are faster, smaller and more efficient. They are also almost all computer controlled and can dry clean clothes effectively and quickly.  So no longer are the days that you had to go to a specialty dry cleaners for one hour or same day service.  Almost every dry cleaners today can do it within an hour.

The dry cleaning process is fairly standard across the industry and involves the cleaning machine and chemicals to clean the clothing.  I will discuss the dry cleaning process in more detail in a future post.  I wanted to look at the differences of the martinizing dry cleaners and the rest of them out there… and in the end, there really is no difference.

Some of the marketing for Martinizing dry cleaners is focused around specialty care for your clothing.  It has been in the top and number 1 position for many years.  Entrepreneur Magazine has also rated the Martinizing brand as the Top Dry Cleaning Franchise, but that was some years ago.  They do use 100% environmentally friendly chemicals, but then again, so do many other dry cleaners.

In the end, the Martinizing dry cleaning service is a brand and marketing system, not a unique process.  As a franchise however, they do offer better training for their business owners and have a lot of experience.  So, taking your clothing to a martinizing store is not a bad thing, it’s actually good.  However, if there is not one in your area, don’t sweat it, you can get as good, if not, the same service and quality at your local dry cleaners.