United Linen Blog

introducing: United Linen's Dan Jenkin

We hope you enjoy getting to know one of our Customer Service champions, Area Route Manager, Dan Jenkin.

"This isn't your mother's washing machine."

We're making way for another Ellis washing machine in our wash room.  But there are some things that need to happen before the Ellis shows up.

Improvement to United Linen website

We've added a new feature to our Contact us page of your United Linen website, a map. We hope this added feature helps improve your web experience with United Linen. The map is powered by Google and is extremely easy to use. Unfortunately our location does not have the cool Street View that google offers in larger markets. Below we've embedded a video to show you where to find the map on United Linen's website.

Special shout-out to @mattgalloway for mentioning the usefulness of maps on business's websites.

A Recollection of Events Leading Up to the ORA Tradeshow by Shannon Moad

Scott's Note: Allow me to introduce today's guest blogger, Shannon Moad, Marketing Director, Oklahoma Restaurant Association.  Today, Shannon gives us a look behind the scenes of planning and executing this year's ORA Tradeshow which took place in Oklahoma City, OK.  Shannon uses a "journaling" approach to telling her story. 

March 13, 2009.

Okay, it’s time to start planning the 2009 Oswalt Culinary Cook-off and Ice Carving Competitions.  With the Oklahoma Restaurant Convention & Expo moving to September, we have about 6 months to plan this thing.  There’s a lot to do, so I’d better set our first committee meeting.

 

April 16, 2009.

Had our first committee meeting today; got a lot accomplished.  Made a few changes to the heat schedules, and decided to announce the winner of the Ice Carving Competition at the same time we announce the winner of the Culinary Cook-off.  Tomorrow we’ll release the application forms on our website, and we’ll send out a blast email to everyone in our database and our past participants.  If the release goes like last year, we should see at least a few applications come in over the next 2 days. 

 

Need to work on sponsorships. So far, we have a few people who have noted their interest in sponsoring the event, but this year’s economy is a lot different.

 

April 17, 2009.

Our first 2 culinary applications have come in! It’s a first-come, first-served deal, so we need 10 more by the July 31 deadline.  Have scheduled a few more blast emails.

 

May 29, 2009.

Second committee meeting was today.  Was able to report that we had 7 culinary applicants and 3 ice carvers; we might just make it to a waiting list-only soon!  Confirmed 3 of our culinary judges and all 4 ice judges, plus the emcees. The committee is doing such a great job securing sponsorship dollars, too. We even have some new ones coming in. Still have a long way to go though.

 

June 25, 2009.

A month to go before the application deadline, and we are officially full for the Culinary Cook-off!  Even have some new faces this year. Chefs are getting curious; I’ve had several phone calls and emails from anxious participants wanting to know who they’ll be competing against. Have 5 ice carvers, and we need 3 more.  Need to work on that. 

 

July 10, 2009.

Third “official” committee meeting today.  Zena Dater of Oswalt has secured our fourth culinary judge – a food editor from Chicago! She writes for several industry publications and is a recipe contributor for others!  She’d heard about our little ol’ Oklahoma competition before and seems genuinely excited.  I can’t believe how big this thing has gotten over the past few years!

 

More sponsorship dollars are coming in, but we’re still behind from where we were at this time last year. Thinking of ways to expand the ROI for sponsors. 

 

August 3, 2009.

Sent out confirmation letters via email to all competitors today. Will follow up via phone tomorrow.

 

August 4, 2009.

Made 42 phone calls today.  Confirmed all culinary participants, plus our wait list; our ice participants; judges; emcees; culinary students from OSU-Okmulgee. Also released the final 12 culinary names to Carol Smaglinski, one of our judges who also happens to be the food editor for the Oklahoma Gazette. She’s going to run it in an upcoming publication.

 

August 14, 2009.

Last committee meeting before the show, which is in 2 WEEKS!  Looks like we will only have 5 ice carvers this year; not too bad, since they’ll have more room to work. Our incredible committee has outdone themselves this year: we currently have almost $14,000 in sponsorship dollars, more than we’ve ever had!  I wonder if they know how much I appreciate them?  We’ve done a couple of media interview so far, and United Linen’s Scott Townsend, who I just met last night, and I talked about the benefit of social networking for the event. We’re new to this field – we don’t even have a Facebook page! – but Scott is an expert, so we’re going to see what we can come up with.

 

August 27, 2009.

Everything is finalized. The winners’ checks have been written, the trophies and medals are in, everyone knows the time and place I need to see their shining faces.

 

September 2, 2009.

It’s here – the beginning of the end. It’s 9:30 a.m. and our first 3 culinary competitors have checked in, plus a few others that will be competing later on. The kitchens are set, the pantry is filled, the judges are taking their places, and the emcees are checking their microphones.  We just drew names to see which culinary students will work with which chefs, and Scott Townsend has started “Tweeting” about the first heat. 

 

(Later on that day) – So far, so good. Everything is going smoothly. We decided to use basic ingredients in our mystery baskets this year, and it’s been fun to see what the chefs do with them. They’re all so talented, and I find myself feeling bad for the chefs who don’t progress to the Semi-Finals.  Scott is Tweeting like crazy and doing such a great job – we actually have people following the competition via Twitter!  What a cool way to communicate to the public, especially since this is a private, industry-only event.

 

(Later still…) – The first day is over. We have 4 chefs progressing to tomorrow’s Semi-Finals.  Must get rest. Tomorrow is the really crazy day.

 

September 3, 2009.

Ahhh.  Today is going to get exciting!  We have two back-to-back Semi-Finals, move over to the Ice Carving Competition, and then back to the Culinary Cook-off for the Finals.  I can’t wait!

 

Semi-Finals are over – it’s going to be Brad Johnson of Hal Smith Restaurant Group against Jed Kronholm of Oak Tree National.   The Ice Carving Competition has started – a huge crowd is over watching these guys use their chainsaws and chisels and hairdryers on a block of ice. Talk about talent – these chefs are amazing artists.  Okay, I’ve checked on this area; I’d better get back to the culinary section to make sure everything is set.

 

And it is!  The stage has been draped, and people are already taking their seats for the Finals, which is 45 minutes away! 

 

It’s time.  I can’t believe how many people are here to watch – it’s standing-room only at this point. The chefs have an hour from the time they see the Mystery Basket until the timer goes off and their plates must be turned in.  The Mystery Basket is amazing – our coordinator Eddie Hartwick always does such a good job working with sponsor Super Cao Nguyen to get cool things.  This year is no different; it’s one thing – shrimp.  But there are about 6 different varieties, all flown in this morning from places like Nigeria!  Scott is Tweeting again, and we have even more followers.  I have got to learn this Twitter thing…

 

Plates are done.  The judges are working.  While they judge, we’re announcing the Ice Carving Competition winner – John Wheeler from Chaparral Energy!  Kudos to him; he’s been a runner-up too many times!  He’s the Grand Champion and is now $1,500 richer.  And the judges are done tabulating. 

 

We’ve counted the scores 4 times - just to be sure.  This is a $3,000 decision, so we’d better pay close attention.  And the winner is…Brad Johnson.  Jed Kronholm takes home a $1,500 second-place.  This was one heck of a competition! 

 

September 4, 2009.

I can’t believe it’s over.  I’m so lucky to get to work on this project – it’s definitely the highlight of my job!   And the best part?  In 5 months, I get to start all over.

Want to be a guest blogger on the United Linen blog?  Send us an email.

Please let us know your thoughts about this blog post.  You can leave a comment in the Comments section below.

You can Retweet this article by copying and pasting the following text:

RT: @unitedlinen  A Recollection of Events Leading Up to the ORA Tradeshow http://bit.ly/15eZm3

 

The New and Improved United Linen blog

I can't believe it, but September marks the 1 year anniversary of The United Linen Blog.   The time has gone by so quickly and you guys have been so cool to follow along.  (I'll save the review of this blog for an upcoming post.)

Today I am excited to share with you a product we have added to our blog, the Odiogo application, that turns text to speech.  The first time I saw this used was with the SodexoCareers blog, where Arie Ball was the Guest Blogger, and was impressed with the application's ability to,

    (1) Turn text into speech, and,

    (2) Turn our blog into a podcast, allowing our readers to take us with them where ever they go.

So now, you the reader, no longer need to rely on your computer or mobile device to read the blog.  You can now have the blog read to you while you are in your car, on a walk or, anywhere.

Let us know how you like this new feature.  You can add your thoughts, ideas and comments in the Comments section below.

You can Retweet this blog post by copying the following text:

RT: @unitedlinen  The New and Improved United Linen Blog  http://bit.ly/tHQvP

The Wall Street Journal...Who Would Have Thought

Just out of the blue I get an email from Shel Israel, the author of the book Twitterville, giving me a heads up that the Wall Street Journal would be getting in touch with us regarding our use of Twitter to reach our customers.

And sure enough, I spoke with Sarah Needleman, who writes for the Wall Street Journal and we had a nice, brief conversation.  So I'm thinking the article will have a little blurb in there somewhere about United Linen.  Great.  Very cool.

Then Sarah emails me in a day or two and says she would like a picture to go along with the article.  Wow.  A picture.  So we submit a picture.

At this point I'm still thinking this is going to show up only in their online edition of the WSJ.

You can imagine my amazement when, on Tuesday morning, on page 5 of the Marketplace section of the WSJ is my big mug next to a picture of a guy named Gary Vaynerchuk.

I am very grateful to Shel Israel for suggesting the reporter get in touch with us and I am very grateful for the use of our picture to go along with the article.  Thank you.

To see the article, click here.

The Tulsa Chamber's Networking Breakfast

Robin Black and I attended the Tulsa Chamber's Networking Breakfast at the Renaissance Hotel this last Tuesday morning.  This is the 2nd time I have been and have enjoyed the format both times.

The purpose behind the event is to help businesses make connections and to help you practice your pitch.  It goes something like this:

    1st things 1st...have breakfast and drink lots of coffee...get yourself psyched up.

    Find your first table and visit with those at your table while having breakfast.

    Once the program begins...

    Everyone passes their business cards and brochures around the table so that each person gets one.

    Each person gets 1 minute to introduce themselves and their business.

    Then after everyone has made their introductions, you got to another predetermined table and start all over.

    You make your way around 3 tables and your done...back to work.

Below are a couple of pictures taken during the Networking Breakfast.

United Linen's Robin Black and Gloria Kelley of Jacobi Kelley Personnel.

Some presentations being made before the Networking exercises begin.

One of the business representatives giving their pitch.

The participants at Table 2.

Some of the cool people I got to meet are:

Morgan Dickson of The Melting Pot .

Beverly Atteberry of Creative Memories .

Brian Greer of Maxim Health Systems .

Ballroom Revolution - 918-994-5550.

Bambi LaTray of Phoenix Residential.

Carlos Moreno of Performance Magazine.

Alicia Branson of Cox Marketing Solutions.

Vancrete Decorative Concrete.

Norbert Gallagher, DC of Gallagher Wellness Center.

Rebecca's Flowers.

Stacy Guilfoyle of Great Skin.

Janice Ruh of Marketwise.

Lindsey Mersman of Post Oak Lodge.

Dori Howard of American Diabetes Assoc.

Jack Majors or Farmers.

Gloria Kelley of Jacobi Kelley Personnel.

If I met you and I missed getting your name above, I apologize.

Please meet United Linen's Kristin Crawford

In this new feature of our blog, we thought you might like getting to know some of the staff here at United Linen & Uniform Services.  This week we start with our Human Resources Director, Kristin Crawford.

Say Hi, leave a comment and let us know how you like this new feature of our blog.

Looking Back On the ORA Convention and Tradeshow-2009

Last week we spent a good deal of time at the Oklahoma Restaurant Association Convention and Tradeshow in Oklahoma City, OK.  On Wednesday and Thursday (setup on Tuesday) many of us from United Linen & Uniform Services worked the booth, strolled around the various displays, visited with customers and had some great opportunites to start some new relationships with some who may just be future United Linen customers.

Every year the ORA tradeshow has a different flavor, so to speak.  The last two years, we had the honor of winning "Judges Choice for Best Decorated Booth for 2 or more booths."  This year we revealed our new tradeshow booth.  This new booth is going to allow us to attend more tradeshows, spend less time setting up and taking down, transport easier and deliver a consistent message. 

This year was different in that we had the opportunity to attend the Oswalt Culinary Cookoff and be the official company sending "live Tweets via Twitter" during the competition.  This put a new spin on our participation in the ORA tradeshow and helped promote not only our company, but others as well such as the ORA and the chefs and their restaurants competing in the cookoff.

Below are some pictures taken during the ORA tradeshow for you to enjoy.

 

Bob Pickle (Sales Manager, United Linen), Bill Biard (Owner, Hammett House), and Bryon Long (Regional Route Manager, OKC)

 

Arthur Drain (OU Food Services), Bob Pickle and Scott Brown (Sales Rep, United Linen)

 

2nd place winner Jed Kronholm (chef at Oak Tree National), 1st plce winnner Brad Johnson (chef of Hal Smith Restaurant Group), Zena Dater (Oswalt Restaurant Supply) and Tiffany Adkins (Miller Brokerage)

 

Bryon Long and Corey Kirklin (Tobey Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill)

 

ORA's Shannon Moad talking about the Oswalt Culinary Cookoff

For more pictures of United Linen and the ORA tradeshow go to our Flickr account by clicking here

Labor Day Schedule

We are trying something new this Labor Day.  Usually we take off on Labor Day, but this year, we have decided to work through Labor Day and create as little a service interruption for our customer as possible. 

For the most part, our routes will be running normal on Monday, Sept 7th, (Labor Day).  There are some routes that will not be running because most of the customers on that route will be closed.  Below we have listed the routes that are running on Labor Day.  You can find the route that makes your deliveries on any of your invoices (see picture below).

 

Here is a list of routes running on Monday, Sept 7th

Rt 1, 9, 11, 15, 17, 19, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 50, 51, 70

Routes not mentioned in the list above will resume service on Tuesday, Sept 8th.

Our hope through this holiday experiment is we will minimize service disruption for our customers and reduce the bottleneck in our production facilities typically created by holidays. We will see how it goes and determine if we want to try this approach to the next holiday.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.  Please let us know in the comments below whether or not running on Labor Day was a help to you and your business.