Professional Services in Charlotte

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It’s hard to forget your wedding day, especially with shutterbugs from Strauss Studios Professional Photography on hand to document every moment. The studio specializes in wedding photography and its packages range from basic 500-shot portfolios to comprehensive coverage including bridal-portrait sessions, multiple photographers, and a reception photo booth to chronicle guests’ smiles. Outside of the wedding realm, stand-alone portrait shoots capture families and kids or already-wed brides as they trash their white dresses in messy yet scenic locales, such as the beach or a beautiful mud pit.

The professional cleaning techs at Cunningham Cleaners have cared for casual wear, business attire, uniforms, and fine fabrics with expert dry-cleaning services for more than 50 years. They deftly handle the usual suspects such as shirts, blouses, suits, and dresses, as well as specialty items such as gowns, shams, and duvet covers. Using the utmost care, they also tend to household items ranging from heirloom quilts to linens and drapes. Cunningham offers same-day service for last-minute cleans on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as well as a drive-thru window so that clients don’t have to get out of the car or off of their pogo stick.

Martinizing Dry Cleaning commits to staying on good terms with Mother Earth, using recycled hangers, biodegradable packaging, and the GreenEarth cleaning process that shields customers from exposure to chemical residues. According to a 2007 Charlotte Weekly article, “The [owners] say some of the benefits of using the solvent include clothes that are softer and brighter. The garments also don’t have the smell from perchloroethylene—a common dry cleaning agent.” Though relatively new to the Charlotte area, Martinizing Dry Cleaners have been around since 1949 and have used their more than 60 years in the business to streamline their process. They launder and dry-clean clothes, linens, and such precious garments as wedding dresses or the dresses worn by babies in their first ultrasound photos. For their work, corporate headquarters presented Martinizing with the Rookie of the Year award in 2007, the Best Customer Service award in 2010 and 2012, and the Franchisee Leadership Award in 2012.

Like many good ideas, the one for this business came from Dan Rather. A group of friends interested in starting a business venture together were watching CBS Evening News one night when a report on the high costs of dry cleaning drew their attention to the profession. With an entrepreneurial spirit, the founders scoped out local dry cleaners and developed a business model that allowed them to clean all garments for a fee that’s as flat as the planet we walk on. Today they clean more than 1,200 items each day and continue to grow, thanks to their onsite, environmentally friendly equipment that cleans consciences as well as garments.