Cannon primed for future as textile industry faces tough trading
Cannon Textile Care is focusing on customer service and investing in innovation for the future while much of the industry is struggling against the toughest trading for years.
"The workwear and textile care industry is going through major transition with some cut-throat pricing, acquisitions of smaller companies and some long-established players falling into administration," says Cannon Textiles' managing director Graham Turner, "So we believe this is just the time for us to push harder than ever to achieve service excellence and invest in the future."
The recent completion of a £1million investment at its Balham facility is testimony to Cannon's 'no compromise' message. It is an approach which may fly in the face of the turmoil other textile services businesses are going through but it echoes a proven business philosophy which has already helped Cannon get to the top as a privately-owned textile services specialist.
Private ownership has proved invaluable to the company's business growth, allowing the team to push back the boundaries of service excellence even when trading is at its toughest elsewhere.
"We never dictate to our clients or limit their choices. We tailor every service precisely to clients' needs and, whatever the level of support, we will always advise on safety, legislation, suitability, style and design," explains Graham.
This expert approach is supported by some of the best 'back-of-house' systems in the business with ongoing investment not just in washing plant but in information technology which allows efficiency and accountability at a time when many businesses have seen margins squeezed in their core linen, workwear and towel care sectors. If required, Cannon Textiles can provide an accurate audit trail of the life of garments covering, for example, how many times they have been washed or repaired. This provides excellent accountability in highly regulated sectors such as healthcare and the food and catering industries.
"We have recently seen high-profile news reports of companies who are failing as they find it difficult to compete in a market driven by competitive pricing. But we believe the textile care business must move forward by taking advantage of technologies and innovative ideas to add value and generate loyalty, says Graham.
Balham in South London may not be best known as a centre for world class investment but the Cannon laundry there has just become a case study for world best practice in roll towel washing. The laundry, which supplies everything from bathrobes for boutique hotels to roll towels for restaurants, factories, universities and leisure clubs, was using nine continuous processing machines, which were fast approaching the end of their working life. In line with the company's positive commitment to the future, Cannon has now invested a total of £1.2 million in state-of-the-art washing technologies which has not only given the laundry at least another quarter of a century at the top of the washing league, but also created big opportunities to win new business by delivering the most effective, efficient, energy-saving and environmentally acceptable laundry in Europe. As a result, the laundry's fleet of 100 vehicles is now travelling over a million miles every year delivering top quality laundered products to 2,500 customers.
"Textile care is not just about collecting, washing and sending items back, it is about investing to protect the clients' reputation. This means getting the right service and advice from an expert company that knows its business and is prepared to stake its future in supporting its client's business," concludes Graham.
Cannon is one of the UK's leading providers of hygiene and environmental services to businesses and industry. Celebrating 50 years of business in 2005, the firm employs more than 2,000 personnel servicing customers throughout the UK who have confidently chosen Cannon to handle their washroom hygiene, laundry, confidential waste management, pest control, paper & janitorial products and horticultural services.
T: 01524 595526
F: 01524 595755
E: stephanie.maher@cannonhygiene.com
1st June 2007