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March 20, 2013
Maytag Commercial Laundry Honors Standout Distributor Performances

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Companies recognized for excelling in on-premise, coin, and multi-housing laundry markets in 2012

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Maytag® Commercial Laundry recently recognized standout distributor performances at its 55th Annual Meeting in Amelia Island, Fla. The following companies excelled, Maytag says, in the coin laundry, multi-housing and on-premise markets in 2012:

  • Fred Maytag Award — Receiving Maytag® Commercial Laundry’s most prestigious award was Intertrade Chile S.A., Santiago, Chile. The award is presented to the customer that best emulates the founder’s marketing philosophy and supports Maytag® Commercial Laundry brand with professionalism and integrity, Maytag says.
  • On-Premises Laundry (OPL) Excellence Award — Pierce Commercial Laundry, Mandeville, La., was recognized for effective and efficient service to OPL market customers.
  • Maytag® Red Carpet Service® Excellence Award — BDS Laundry Systems, St. Paul, Minn., was recognized as the distributor that best exemplifies excellent service and dependability.
  • Top Quota Award — Tri-State Technical Services/TLC Equipment Co., Waycross, Ga., was honored for exceeding its annual sales target by the highest percentage this year.
  • Maytag® Marketing Excellence Award — Equipment Marketers, Cherry Hill, N.J., was honored for its development and implementation of marketing and sales programs and overall support of Maytag® Commercial Laundry offerings.
  • Maytag® Energy Advantage™ Excellence Award — Hercules, Hicksville, N.Y., was honored for exceptional promotion and marketing of energy and water efficiency.
  • Shaping the Future Award — Mac-Gray Corp., Waltham, Mass., was recognized for its history of innovation and long-time leadership in the industry.
  • Multi-Housing Excellence Award — Coinamatic Canada, Mississauga, Ont., was honored for its outstanding service to the multi-housing market, including colleges and universities, condominiums and apartment buildings.
  • Outstanding Achievement Award — Richard Jay Laundry Equipment, Adelaide, Australia, was recognized for its “unmatched sales performance and use of marketing and social media.”

“We’re honored to collaborate with quality partners, such as those recognized at our recent annual meeting,” says Bob English, general manager at Maytag® Commercial Laundry. “Our successes are a direct result of the dedication and support exemplified by these outstanding customers. We congratulate and commend them for their superb efforts.”

January 22, 2013
2013 Panel of Experts Ready to Answer Industry Questions (Part 3 of 3)

CHICAGO — Meet its representatives from the chemicals supply, equipment manufacturing, and uniform/workwear manufacturing sectors

Chemicals Supply: Philip L. Bodner, Metro-Chem, Kearny, N.J.

Philip BodnerHello, my name is Phil Bodner, and I am a “soap-man.” I get to wear many hats and mean many things to the customers I serve. I’m pleased to be a part of American Laundry News’ continuing effort to bring new ideas and beneficial information to our industry. I hope to contribute to the conversation and provide whatever insights that my experience will allow.

I live in South Jersey with my wife, Penny. My likes include family, golf, history, politics, current events and dining out with our friends. For the past 28 years, I have worked as a sales representative and sales manager for Metro-Chem Inc., and my expertise in laundry technology extends from shirt laundering, hospitality and institutional, to linen supply and industrial uniform plants.

My responsibilities have included new product ideas and testing, hiring and training field technicians, procurement and engineering of automated injection systems, marketing and sales meetings, as well as maintaining many long-term customers in my own Philadelphia area territory.

At Metro-Chem, we manufacture more than 100 laundry-specific products for all laundry needs. We provide innovative, top-quality chemistry to all segments of the industry, but we believe that you can only be as good as your ongoing commitment to service in the field. It is this combination of effective products and a true consultative approach to technical service that I believe helps fuel our sales growth and delivers the greatest good to our individual customers’ businesses.

As a company, we stay abreast of everything from local water conditions and water restrictions, to wastewater regulations and new types of textiles and garments. As such, we’ve been busy in 2012 developing a new activated chemistry to help perform well in lower temperatures, lower pH and with fewer oxidizers required. This concept is moving us toward shorter wash formulas with importance placed on less water consumed per load.

We have also done our due diligence and created several new non-NPE surfactant-based detergents with exciting results. These formulations are more readily biodegradable for those that desire, or are required to take, a greener path toward laundry production.

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, and I hope that 2013 will provide opportunity, renewed prosperity and happiness to all in our industry and our country.

Equipment Manufacturing: Steve Hietpas, Maytag Commercial Laundry, St. Joseph, Mich.

Steve HietpasSince graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing, I’ve spent the majority of my career—more than 15 years—in the commercial laundry industry, with a focus on the OPL segment.

Currently a senior sales manager, I joined the Maytag® Commercial Laundry team in October 2007. To date, I have managed OPL sales throughout the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Canadian markets, and I work directly with distributors to ensure our products meet the needs of their customers. Previously, I was a regional sales manager for another commercial laundry equipment manufacturer covering a similar territory. My background also includes working with national accounts that purchase equipment directly for their own use, as well as selling to franchisees.

Maytag® Commercial Laundry offers a full range of commercial washers and dryers to the OPL market through an international network of distributors. Our company is dedicated to developing energy-efficient solutions and dependable products for the commercial laundry market. And in 2008, Maytag® Commercial Laundry celebrated the 50-year anniversary of its entry into the commercial laundry business.

As the industry continues to evolve, so does commercial laundry equipment. From a manufacturer’s perspective, this can create challenges. An excellent example of this is the ongoing objectives to increase the energy and/or water efficiency of equipment, while decreasing the amount of time it takes to do laundry—therefore decreasing labor costs—and providing exceptional cleanability.

2012 was a busy and successful one for Maytag® Commercial Laundry. We introduced an industrial line of soft-mount washer-extractors available in 180-, 230- and 275-pound models. We also enjoyed continued growth within the OPL market segment and are continuing to work on new product introductions for 2013 and beyond.

Uniforms/Workwear Manufacturing: Scott Delin, Superior Uniform Group, Seminole, Fla.

Scott DelinI have expertise in image apparel and uniform program management, specializing in healthcare laundries. With more than a decade of supplier sales experience, and another 15 years in a mixed-plant linen supply company, I believe my hands-on knowledge base is unparalleled.

I, alongside my father, grew up operating a women’s apparel cut-and-sew operation. I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with others and helping them build successful partnerships.

The company I work for, Superior Uniform Group, was founded in 1920 as Superior Surgical Manufacturing. By 1926, its Fashion Seal Uniforms brand was created. After acquiring several other manufacturers over the years, Superior Surgical officially changed its name to Superior Uniform Group in 1998 to better reflect its greatly expanded clientele base.

Superior Uniform produces more than a dozen catalogs, outfitting employees from various industries that include healthcare, restaurant/food service and governmental/public safety. The company has also created a call center division called The Office Gurus, and a digital apparel division called everyBody Media, which were both launched in 2008 and 2011, respectively.

I am a board member for the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA), where I develop and present in-house training programs that can be used in laundries as they seek new, innovative approaches to selling uniforms to the healthcare industry. I am also active in the American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA), where I serve on its board of directors, and am a member of the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) advisory board. I hold a bachelor of science degree in textile and apparel management from Philadelphia University.

A couple issues that will present challenges in the new year include market changes and how our healthcare customer base is looking for a new type of uniform look, with new kinds of user-friendly fabrics. I’ll also be thinking about more employee purchase programs as hospital and healthcare budgets continue to be cut.

December 18, 2012
Shriners Hospitals Admits New Equipment to Rightsize OPL

ERIE, Pa. — Laundry needs changed with transition to outpatient care

ERIE, Pa. — Following the installation of a new washer-extractor from Maytag® Commercial Laundry, a Shriners Hospitals for Children® site here is experiencing improved energy and water efficiency and increased staff productivity, the hospital’s manager of environmental services reports.

Pleased with the performance of a Maytag 55-pound multi-load washer-extractor installed seven years ago, the hospital opted to replace an older 135-pound washer with a 55-pound Energy Advantage™ soft-mount, high-speed multi-load washer-extractor, to help rightsize its laundry operation.

Recently transitioning from a 30-bed acute-care hospital to outpatient care, Erie Ambulatory Surgery Center and Outpatient Specialty Care Center has a four-day-a-week laundry operation, which cleans about 3,400 pounds of laundry. The 135-pound machine coupled with the existing 55-pound washer was more than it needed. For guidance in its equipment choice, the hospital connected with Maytag distributor Equipment Marketers, Cherry Hill, N.J.

“We strive to be as energy- and water-efficient as possible, and running correct load sizes for our needs is a natural way to accomplish that,” says Laurie Bowe, CHESP, manager of environmental services for Shriners Hospitals for Children®. “We were pleased with our first Maytag washer, as well as the company’s customer service. … Equipment Marketers was versed in the product and our specific application—they were the perfect partner for us.”

“Being environmentally conscious and finding new ways to operate more efficiently and within budget is crucial in the laundry rooms of today’s healthcare facilities,” says Bob English, general manager of global commercial laundry at Whirlpool Corp. “Upgrading to new multi-load, high-speed washer-extractors can significantly reduce energy and water consumption, leading to lower utility bills and more efficient operations for the facility.”

“Our laundry facility is now optimally sized, and we’ve also become more efficient from a staff perspective, completing more loads of laundry in less time,” Bowe says. “Everything has turned out wonderfully.”

November 29, 2012
Maytag Commercial Laundry Sales School Arms Attendees with Tools to Compete

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Sessions delve into company’s energy calculators, financing options, and market discussions

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Attendees of a recent Maytag University Factory Commercial Laundry Sales School received in-depth, hands-on training of the company’s multi-segment product portfolio. In addition, education sessions delved into the company’s energy calculators, financing options and market discussions specific to the on-premise, coin, and multi-housing and segments.

“Whether you’re new to the business or a veteran, our sales school is designed to arm you with the necessary knowledge to compete in the marketplace,” says Rex Braden, national sales manager at Maytag® Commercial Laundry. “The sales school combines selling information into a collaborative and educational setting.”

The 16 attendees representing Canada and the United States toured a local hospitality facility, explored Maytag’s state-of-the-art testing lab, and compared competitor offerings.

“We learned about what works and what doesn’t work when selling commercial laundry equipment and route services,” says attendee Kellie Blumberg, president and owner of Texas Coin and Commercial Laundry. “This experience will help me close even more sales.”

“We provide our distributors with the competitive advantages of Maytag® Commercial Laundry equipment, as well as the latest industry information,” Braden explains. “Attendees have the knowledge necessary to best support their customers and close sales.”

September 26, 2012
Maytag® Commercial Laundry Recognizes Karn for 30 Years of Service

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — National sales manager joined Maytag team as service trainer in 1982

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Maytag® Commercial Laundry says it is proud to recognize National Sales Manager Randy Karn for 30 years of dedicated service to the company.

“After 30 years with Maytag® Commercial Laundry, Randy continues to be a valued member of our team,” says Craig Kirchner, global director of Maytag® Commercial Laundry. “He plays an integral role in our company’s continued growth and success, and he is as dependable as the machines he has helped bring to market.”

Karn’s interest in the commercial laundry business grew out of his years as a teenage installation and service technician for an appliance dealer. He joined the Maytag® Commercial Laundry team in 1982 as a service trainer, following his graduation from Iowa State University, and worked his way up the ranks to national sales manager.

From communication methods and office equipment to the many technological machine advancements, Karn has witnessed many changes in the industry throughout his career.

To Karn, the past 30 years have been an enjoyable journey of never-ending discovery, all the while surrounded by great people.

“I enjoy the people I meet and work with each day—whether they are colleagues or customers, I’m always learning something new from them,” he says. “It amazes me how many people spend their whole careers in the commercial laundry industry and always maintain that passion to be the best they can be every day. They’ve been a great inspiration to me.”

April 26, 2012
Worldwide Laundry Receives Maytag's OPL Excellence Award

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Honor acknowledges effective, efficient service to OPL customers

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Worldwide Laundry Inc., Miami, was recently recognized with the On-Premises Laundry (OPL) Excellence Award during the Maytag® Commercial Laundry 54th Annual Meeting in Marco Island, Fla.

The honor acknowledges the distributor’s effective and efficient service to its OPL customers.

“Worldwide Laundry consistently delivers exceptional results by responding to customers’ inquiries in less than 24 hours, through its strategic direct-marketing efforts and by fostering relationships within the OPL market,” says Bob English, general manager of global commercial laundry at Whirlpool Corp.

“Our reputation as an efficient and dependable distributor is a top priority for us,” says Marco Giancola, vice president at Worldwide Laundry. “Maytag® Commercial Laundry manufactures top-of-the-line products with industry-leading warranties, which help meet and exceed customer expectations daily.”

Worldwide Laundry is a full-service laundry equipment, parts and supplies company with 40 years of combined experience in the distribution of on-premise, coin laundry, and drycleaning equipment at competitive prices worldwide.

Marco and Chuck Giancola and Robert Gonzalez were on hand to receive the award for Worldwide Laundry. Also present at the awards dinner was Fritz Maytag, great-grandson of founder Fred Maytag.

December 22, 2011
IHMRS: Laundry Exhibitors Seeing Pent-Up Demand for Goods Among Hotels (Part 1 of 2)

NEW YORK – Manufacturers of laundry machinery, textiles and chemicals reported renewed interest in their products from the hotel industry at the 96th annual International Hotel, Motel+Restaurant Show (IHMRS) here in November.

Exhibitors at the Jacob Javits Convention Center on Manhattan’s West Side expressed satisfaction with increased foot traffic at the show. Attendance peaked at 23,953, up 2,800 from the previous year, including managers and executives from major hotel chains and independent properties, according to show management.

The increase in show attendance may reflect a rebound not only in New York’s economy, but also in the hotel and motel industry, following three years of recession.

There were indications at the show that the hotel industry is beginning to increase demand for on-premise laundry machinery.

“There are many pockets of pent-up demand now because spending had declined during the recession,” says Craig Madson, national account sales manager for Alliance Laundry Systems, manufacturer of laundry machinery that includes the UniMac brand.

Other manufacturers of laundry machinery echoed that view.

“It’s been a great show for us,” says Thomas Kindy, regional sales director for Chicago Dryer Co., which shared booth space with Pellerin Milnor. “People in the hotel industry have ignored their needs for the last couple of years because of the recession. Now they’re starting to make purchases again and trying to reduce operating costs in their laundries through automation. There’s been a lot of action.”

Chicago® exhibited its Comet Executive Ironer and Air Express Small-Piece Folder. Milnor exhibited a 300-G-force washer-extractor; a 60-pound-capacity washer; and a 35-pound-capacity cabinet-style washer with EP-Express control.

Although floor traffic didn’t measure up to its level of five years ago, it was still much improved from where it was in the depths of the recession, according to Joseph Leo, sales manager for equipment distributor PAC Industries. The show generated strong foot traffic in particular on the first day, he adds.

Dick Ruel, national sales manager for Maytag Commercial Laundry, described the level of interest from the hotel industry as “fantastic.”

“Sunday [Nov. 13] was the best day we have seen in several years,” says Ruel. “People who are building hotels are interested in cost savings and control for their laundry operations. The interest has been so strong that we can’t keep up with it. There’s been a real steady growth in demand for laundry machinery among hotels and institutions.”

Some manufacturers of laundry machinery suggested that it was still important for them to have a presence at the show, even if attendance figures had not quite rebounded to match those of halcyon days.

“It’s important for us to be here for the exposure to the industry,” says Pamela Simonetti, director of marketing for G.A. Braun.

Next Thursday: The show provided manufacturers an opportunity to tailor their products to the hotel industry...

August 19, 2011
Maytag Commercial Laundry Fall Factory Sales School

The Maytag Commercial Laundry Fall Factory Sales School. To be held Oct. 17-20 at the Maytag Commercial Laundry Headquarters and Test Labs in St. Joseph, Mich. The four-day event will cover the coin, multi-housing and on-premise markets, as well as specific product training on the new HE front-load pair and stack washer/dryer, marketing, high-speed extraction, equipment sizing and additional topics.

July 25, 2011
Maytag Names Winners of Red Carpet Service Excellence Award, OPL Service Award

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Maytag Commercial Laundry awarded John Morris Equipment & Supply Co. of Springfield, Mo., this year’s Red Carpet Service Excellence Award. Pride Laundry Systems of North Hills, Calif., took the On-Premises Laundry (OPL) Excellence Award. The honors were presented during Maytag’s 53rd Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Red Carpet Service Excellence Award is presented to a company that best exemplifies the excellent service and dependability characterized by the Maytag Commercial Laundry brand, Maytag says.

“John Morris Equipment & Supply Co. has been affiliated with Maytag Commercial Laundry for more than 50 years,” says Craig Kirchner, global director of Maytag Commercial Laundry. “Year after year, their dedication to quality service, our brand and their customers is truly remarkable.”

“Dependability and reliability are a major part of our job, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best service available,” says Terry Gideon, general manager of John Morris Equipment & Supply Co. “This award demonstrates our dedication to the long-standing Maytag Commercial Laundry brand, and our current and future customers.”

John Morris Equipment & Supply Co.’s territory covers Missouri and portions of northern Arkansas, eastern Kansas and western Illinois. The company is a past recipient of Maytag’s OPL Excellence Award.

But this year’s On-Premises Laundry (OPL) Excellence Award, an honor that recognizes a company’s effective and efficient service to its OPL customers, went to Pride Laundry Systems.

“Excellence, dependability and exemplary service are synonymous with the Maytag Commercial Laundry brand,” says Kirchner. “Pride Laundry Systems embodies what our company stands for, and we’re pleased to recognize them with this distinguished honor.”

“We take great satisfaction in our reputation as an efficient and dependable distributor to the OPL market,” says Mark Goodman, president of Pride Laundry Systems. “Our loyal association to the dependable Maytag Commercial Laundry brand reinforces our dedication and promise to provide the best equipment and service to our customers.”

Pride Laundry Systems, Inc. serves Southern California and Nevada as a commercial laundry equipment specialist and an authorized Maytag Commercial Laundry distributor. The company specializes in developing coin-laundry stores, multi-housing laundry sales and services, OPL equipment and design, and laundry equipment parts and service.

June 21, 2011
Maytag® Commercial Laundry Invests in Technician Excellence

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Maytag® Commercial Laundry recently hosted 22 service technicians, from as far as New Zealand, during its on-premise laundry (OPL) Factory Service School here.

The five-day event provided attendees with instructional training designed to give them the best possible tools to troubleshoot and perform repairs in a variety of situations.

“Maytag Commercial Laundry is dedicated to providing the industry with highly proficient OPL technicians,” says Robert Small, global commercial laundry service manager. “Downtime in a facility’s laundry operations is a costly inconvenience, and our training equips attendees with the knowledge and experience necessary to diagnose and resolve a situation quickly.”

Attendees received basic operation, programming, diagnostics and installation training for Maytag’s single-load washers, single- and multi-load dryers, rigid-mount washers and soft-mount washers.

In addition, attendees took part in breakout sessions that encouraged the sharing of ideas and the development of service best practices.

“The hands-on experience gained from the service school was incredibly beneficial,” says Joe Baber, service manager at J.H. Stuckey Distributing. “The service managers leading the field training understand the needs of today’s customers first hand, and I’m a better prepared service technician as a result of my experience.”

Maytag Commercial Laundry’s next Factory Service School is scheduled for October. Contact Rick Trama for more information.

May 12, 2011
Pierce Commercial Laundry Earns Maytag’s Top Honor

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Pierce Commercial Laundry, Mandeville, La., recently received the prestigious Fred Maytag Award during Maytag® Commercial Laundry’s 53rd Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Fred Maytag Award, with a history of more than five decades, is the longest-running award in the commercial laundry industry, Maytag says.

April 25, 2011
Maytag Salutes Distributors

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Maytag Commercial Laundry recently honored exceptional distributors at its 53rd annual meeting, held in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Fred Maytag Award went to Pierce Commercial Laundry Distributors, Mandeville, La., for outstanding achievements and remarkable performance. The Maytag Red Carpet Service Excellence Award went to John Morris Equipment & Supply Co., Springfield, Mo., for exemplifying the excellent service and dependability for which Maytag is known.

September 20, 2010
SEBCO Laundry Systems Celebrates 40th Anniversary

GREEN BROOK, N.J. — Commercial laundry supplier SEBCO Laundry Systems, which started with one man and a few pieces of laundry equipment, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Originally operating from a single location in The Bronx, N.Y., the company now provides Maytag® Commercial Laundry equipment to apartments, condos, co-ops, military installations, and college and university laundries in nine states along the East Coast.

March 24, 2010
Maytag Commercial Laundry Honors Exceptional Distributors

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Maytag Commercial Laundry recently honored its exceptional distributors, including top award-winner Equipment Marketers, during the company’s 52nd Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

March 3, 2010
Maytag, Whirlpool Name J.H. Stuckey Distributing New Distributor

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Maytag and Whirlpool Commercial Laundry have added J.H. Stuckey Distributing Inc. to their family of distributors. J.H. Stuckey now distributes Maytag and Whirlpool products to self-service laundries, hotel and motel guest laundries, and apartment and health club laundries in parts of Nebraska and Iowa.

December 9, 2009
China’s Fledgling Professional Textile Care Industry Perfect Draw for Texcare Asia

BEIJING, China — While many see the United States as a mature market for laundry and drycleaning services, China’s professional textile care industry is just starting to learn what’s possible in process automation, energy-saving equipment and enviro-friendly products.

China’s continued economic growth, improving living standards, and thriving tourism are generating a huge demand for sophisticated laundry and drycleaning systems, says Messe Frankfurt, organizer of the Texcare exhibitions.

October 30, 2009
Texcare Exhibitors Eye Extending Brands in Rapidly Growing China Marketplace

BEIJING, China — With two days of Texcare Asia under their belts, representatives of exhibitors based in the United States or with significant operations there spoke favorably of the event during interviews Thursday.

While still carrying a great deal of activity, the show floor at the China International Exhibition Centre wasn’t as busy on this second day. Final attendance figures won’t be available until after the show.

August 10, 2009
Maytag Team Volunteers at New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Maytag Commercial Laundry team members volunteered at a New Orleans Habitat for Humanity build as part of the Coin Laundry Association’s (CLA) LaundryCares Foundation just before the Clean Show. Maytag Commercial Laundry contributed 18 volunteers to a team of about 30 commercial laundry industry professionals.

During the full day of work in the New Orleans heat, the volunteers worked on siding and exterior painting. Clay Jackson, the Maytag Repairman advertising spokesman, visited the site to help keep morale strong.

June 20, 2009
Standard Door Opening No Longer a Barrier for New, Slim Washer

NEW ORLEANS — Managers of on-premise laundries now have their answer to the question, “Will it fit?”

Maytag Commercial Laundry has introduced at Clean ’09 a new 50- to 55-pound soft-mount washer-extractor that fits through a standard 36-inch door opening.

The new smaller-framed model still offers large cleaning capacity and plenty of useful features for on-premise launderers, Maytag says.

June 4, 2009
Maytag Names Loomis Bros. Distributor

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Maytag Commercial Laundry has added Loomis Bros. Equipment Co. as a distributor to coin-operated self-service laundries, hotel and motel guest laundries, apartment and university laundries, and appliance dealers throughout Kansas and parts of Missouri and Illinois.

January 13, 2009
Maytag HE Front Loaders Cut Utilities up to 60%, Clean Better, Tests Report

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Recent lab tests determined that Maytag Commercial Laundry High Efficiency (HE) front-load washers cut utility costs up to 60% and clean better than the competition, the company says.

The tests, performed in an approved testing facility to the American Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) HLW1-2006 laundry industry standard, concluded that the washer achieves superior cleaning performance while providing energy savings.

February 19, 2008
Maytag Distributor Network to Celebrate Golden Anniversary

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — In 1958, Maytag organized a network of commercial laundry sales distributors to provide dependable equipment to both laundries and apartment buildings. This group came together the same year in Newton, Iowa, for the first Maytag commercial national sales meeting.

February 11, 2008
Whirlpool Reports Record Fourth-Quarter Profits

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Whirlpool Corp. has announced that its fourth-quarter profit climbed 72%, aided by its Maytag acquisition, an improved product mix and the weak dollar. Whirlpool’s net earnings for all of 2007 rose 48%.

Whirlpool, which bought Maytag in 2006, reported fourth-quarter earnings after preferred dividends increased to $187 million, or $2.38 per share, compared to $109 million, or $1.37 per share, in the previous year. Quarterly revenue grew 7% to $5.33 billion from $5 billion a year earlier.

April 5, 2007
Maytag Introduces New Young-at-Heart Repairman

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Maytag® has selected Clay Jackson of Richmond, Va., as the next Maytag Repairman, portraying the storied advertising and marketing icon that’s represented the equipment brand since 1967.

Jackson, at 33, becomes only the fourth person to play the role. And he sports a new uniform and a new attitude reflective of Maytag’s intent to revitalize the 100-year-old brand.

February 8, 2007
Maytag Launches Nationwide Search for Next Repairman

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Maytag Corp. is launching a nationwide search for a new Maytag Repairman as part of a brand revitalization under its new owner, Whirlpool Corp.

Created in 1967, “Ol’ Lonely” is the longest-running live-action advertising icon on American television. Only three actors have portrayed the Maytag Repairman since its creation: Jesse White, from 1967 to 1988; Gordon Jump, from 1988 to 2003; and Hardy Rawls, whose contract ends next month.