CLS Member Spotlight
Many companies have a story. Ours dates back to 1899. What started as Kalamazoo Laundry Company nearly 125 years ago has grown into the CLS of today. While our name and technology have changed, our underlying attention to quality and customer service has remained the same.
In the beginning, we used horse-drawn carriages on unpaved roads to pick up and deliver soil. We initially served the personal laundry needs of households, but the introduction of automatic washers and dryers soon made it more desirable for people to process their own laundry at home. In the 1920's, Kalamazoo Laundry Company experienced the decline in laundry and dry-cleaning services. As a result, we strategically expanded our services to suit the evolving needs and preferences of the community.
Our old pictures and memories are more than artifacts; they’re a reminder of how our company has thrived through generations of change. One of the most impactful pictures is an old delivery van with the “3-2551” phone number. Some 124 years later, we have the modern version of the same phone number(269-343-2551).
Over the years, we’ve expanded our capabilities and service area. CLS’s services include linen and garment rental, floor mats, dust control products, and sanitary supplies. Our reach now includes all of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and part of the Upper Peninsula, with northern Indiana, northern Illinois, and Ohio. CLS has branch offices in Grand Rapids, Cadillac, Alpena, Saginaw, and Livonia. Every night, our -trucks leave the Kalamazoo plant to deliver the next day’s goods to the local community branches that deliver the goods to our long standing customers. Soil is then returned to Kalamazoo for processing the next day. Three of the locations are production facilities and the others are service branches. Our headquarters, and two production facilities are located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
OUR FAMILY LEGACY
Kalamazoo Laundry company became part of the Vander Meer family in 1966. Ted Vander Meer was working for the company when it was available for sale, and the rest is history. With the purchase, he changed the name to Continental Linen Services (CLS) to better reflect the next chapter of the business.
Like many family businesses, Mr. Vander Meer’s two sons, Ron and Kurt, joined Ted to operate the company. Today, Ron is the Chairman of the Board and Kurt is the President. In 1994, Ron’s daughter, Sarah Wrubel (Vander Meer), joined the family business and today serves as Senior Vice President and co-owner with the family members.
The business has prioritized succession planning, allowing Ron to reduce his day-to-day role 2020, when Sarah assumed leadership over production and operations. Kurt is also executing a transition plan to help facilitate the next growth chapter of the business.
CHALLENGES OUR INDUSTRY FACES
Our industry has many challenges; the biggest of which may be replacing generational leadership.
Family-owned textile rental businesses have teams of talented executives and management nearing retirement, and the need for an effective succession plan is vital for the health of the business moving forward. Next generation operators often have an interest in leveraging data and technology to advance the business and are continually seeking out new ways to innovate in the industry. This appetite for innovation creates opportunities for operational improvements.
While technology and operational efficiencies are table stakes, the ability to maintain and nurture personal relationships is evergreen. Our new leaders must continue to balance emerging technologies with the relational connections to customers, team members, and communities that have allowed our industry to thrive for generations.
OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH AND CHANGE
The greatest opportunity for growth and change in our industry is the value of working with local and family-owned businesses. The social and political climate in the country following COVID has reinforced the desire to partner with local, family owned businesses. Our customers want to do business with a Route Sales Professional who is empowered to do their job and valued by their employer. CLS has a culture of Investment. We are constantly reinvesting in our facilities and equipment, but most importantly in our team members! From day one, team members are welcomed into CLS with a family video and are asked to sign a paper leaf. That leaf is added to the “Family Tree” on our headquarters’ wall. The tree is symbolic of the generational branches, cultural roots and growth we share as a family.
CULTURE IS EVERYTHING!
CLS will celebrate 125 years in business in 2024. Our success is the direct result of our team members. They are the heartbeat of our company. To keep our team engaged, we are constantly playing games at lunch, texting wellbeing information, providing free lunch and snacks, and organizing events like “Prom” or an Easter Egg hunt.
We prioritize team communication. Whether it’s social media, tvs in the breakroom, newsletters, email, or text messages, we want to empower and encourage our team. We also have created our own Team Member website to easily share company news, recognition, and much more!
MAJOR PROJECTS
With over a century of growth, we needed more production capacity. With a four-year planning process, we focused our expansion across three phases. First, we installed a soil sort system that included overhead customer bag soil storage, vacuum sorting, automated monorail, and storage of soil slings ready for the wash aisle. Phase one was completed in June of 2019. Despite a Covid-induced delay in 2020, we launched phase two in January 2022, to add two additional autobaggers, another small piece Iron and folder, and automated/gravity fed monorail with eVue software. Phase three began in April 2022 with the addition of 11,000 square feet to our building. This new addition houses our first tunnel washer, five dryers, clean product storage monorail, and our Maintenance shop. The tunnel and new dryers were brought online in October 2022. The expansion planning included a forecast to accommodate another tunnel washer and five additional dryers in the future. These thoughtful additions have doubled our wash capacity, with room to grow!
We held a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 7, 2022 to reveal the new addition and equipment to our Team Members. We plan to invite in community partners and customers very soon for tours also.
CONTINENTAL LINEN SERVICE
SARAH WRUBEL - Senior VP/Owner
Continental Linen Services (CLS)
4200 Manchester Road
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
269-343-2551
CSC Member since 1985
