Laundering your home furnishings with Barker Group, Dorset

Soft furnishings are the perfect place for dust mites to live - how often do you launder your cushion covers and occassional throws? With many allergies and even asthma pointing to mites as the cause, it is essential that our home furnishings receive regular laundering, as well as carpets, mattresses and bed linen. 

At Barker Group, we will launder your throws, blankets, cushion covers as well as offering a full bed linen service, making your life easier....and healthier too. To save you time, we will collect and deliver your laundry, to home or work also.

How To Grow Your Business - Barker Group Dorset

Barker Laundry is one of only five dedicated true domestic laundry’s in the country that specialises in the collection and delivery of laundry to the general public. We cover the central southern part of England delivering between Oxford, Bath, Bridport, Brighton & London and everywhere in between. Our customers are amongst the elite of British society and include members of the Royal Family and many other well known people. The business has evolved from a small, backstreet, laundry, which, until 2005, operated from the original site in Latimer Road, Winton. The history of this laundry goes back to 1861 when the Argyll Family started trading as the Argyll Laundry providing door to door weekly collection and delivery of laundry to households and guesthouses throughout Bournemouth. Such was the popularity and subsequent growth of Bournemouth that by the 1930’s there were some 30 laundry’s operating in the conurbation, many situated in the Winton and Moordown area but with the advent of the household washing machine in the 50’s and 60’s, the days of many domestic laundries were numbered. 

The growth of Barker’s Laundry has come, primarily, from the demise of many smaller domestic laundries which have been acquired and absorbed into the main production facility at Winton. Fenton Laundry in Southbourne, Gainsboro in Sherborne and Anton Laundry in Andover have all been acquired in the last ten years. There are now fewer domestic laundry’s to provide growth but far from being a predicament, we see this as the time to continue developing our skills and becoming the No 1 provider of fully finished laundry services to the general public. 

We shall continue to provide high quality finishes to bed linen and table linen but also we are developing niche services such as starched detachable collars where we have become the world leading providers to an international market. We now remake feather pillows for a growing number of clients and every year the number of duvets we clean is growing. Our clients will soon be able to purchase fine linens and clothes care accessories from our drivers, in our shops or from the website. Our database of clients may not now grow significantly but the list of specialist services we provide to them will and these will be services that are hard for anyone else to provide. 

Matthew Barker

Managing Director

Barker Group

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What is Barker Total Laundry Care - tlc
Matthew Barker - Dry Cleaning in his Blood

What is Barker Total Laundry Care?

Barker tlc, (Total Laundry Care) is a new offering from Barker Group providing a one stop shop for all fabric care needs. Barker tlc is a combination of professional dry cleaning and a launderette which delivers a 4 hour turnaround for dry cleaning on 6 days of the week at the counter as well as fully serviced launderette facilities. Barker tlc is a total fabric care centre offering advice and solutions to difficult laundry problems. 

Laundry is a regular weekly chore and Barkers understand this. That is why you can now set up a regular free collection and delivery service from your home or place of work for your laundry and dry cleaning. “Why? Because there are better things to do than laundry” say’s Barker Group Managing Director, Matthew Barker. “Why do your washing at home when, for very little money, you can drop off all your laundry or have it collected by us, washed, folded and returned within a time frame to suit you.” 

Bournemouth based Barker Group are a leading dry cleaning and laundry company in Southern England and are World leaders in the provision of starched dress wear to an international market. Call now for more information on 01202 291295

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About Barker Group
Find Our Stores

Barker Group Dorset - November E-Newsletter

Welcome to our third e-newsletter with news from Barker Group. This month we are featuring our detachable collar service which is currently receiving international press via the movie Sherlock Holmes and the series Downton Abbey.

Dorset Dry Cleaners on the Sherlock Case

What do super-sleuths Sherlock Holmes and Poirot have in common? 

They use the services of Barker Group, the Dorset dry cleaning and laundry company.

The business, which has seven branches stretching from Bournemouth to Andover provided 150 starched collars for the latest Sherlock Holmes film starring Jude Law, says owner Matthew Barker, who has also supplied all the collars for the Poirot television series. 

To read more on this article by Tim Saunders please visit the Dorset Business Website here

Barker Group - Back from the Brink

In this very uncertain economic climate, it is interesting for anyone owning or operating a business to see how other companies in their market or region are performing, good or bad.

With this in mind I thought I would comment, over a number of weeks, on how we are finding the current conditions, the problems and challenges we are facing and our general outlook and opinion of the future for Barker Group.

I will explain our development in the last few years, the troubles we experienced following a disastrous event that nearly caused the business to fold. How we staved off disaster and got back to profit. The good and the very bad decisions that I made during our recovery and how, using what I’ve learnt from the troubled last few years, we plan to grow profits over the next few years.

I think it is important to explain the developments of Barker Group in the last few years. If you are interested, this blog chronicles the history of the company and how I entered the family business in 1990. I bought the company in 2000 and spent the following five years building our network of agents throughout central Southern England and Greater London. Our turnover grew from £1M to £2.4M. Profitability increased accordingly and we greatly reduced our borrowing. We were extremely healthy, everything looked good but then disaster struck one September afternoon in 2005. 

Please visit us over the next few weeks to read more.

Matthew Barker

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Fire in our Dorset Depot

Managing a Rural Business

Despite being Bournemouth based with most of its branches in the local conurbation, Barker Group generates 60% of their revenue from rural communities. “Probably 80% of our operation is in the town but it is from the country that we get the largest part of our turnover” say’s Managing Director Matthew Barker, “Our Laundry Collection & Delivery service is widely used throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. It is in the country where the real wealth of the nation resides.”

Barker Group operates towards 30 routes every week delivering to nearly 2000 clients. A newly installed internet based tracker system ensures that each vehicle is maximised. Fuel wastage can spell disaster on a fleet covering approximately 500,000 miles a year. But the biggest advantage of the tracker system will soon be realised when Barker Group launch their internet based dry cleaning collection & delivery service across the South of England. “We are now in a position to direct our nearest vehicle to a client request on demand if required” continues Matthew, “Convenience is the most important factor in this busy age and this is even more critical in rural areas.”

One of the biggest drawbacks of operating in the country, however, is the weather. It may only be once or twice a year and for a brief period in the South but snow is the scourge of delivery services. This last January was the worst for many years and much of the country ground to a halt. Barker Group operated in some of the most inaccessible lanes and drives in the heart of the countryside. “We had one van stuck in a clients drive for two days this year. The customer received their laundry though and we managed to continue as much of the rest of the rounds with other vehicles but there were obviously a few we could not serve” explains transport Manager Miles Robbins. “The tracker system would have helped us keep tabs on the worst affected areas but we didn’t have it in January. Fortunately, these conditions are rare, I can’t remember the last time we couldn’t get a van to a customer and hopefully it won’t happen again for a long time.”

Much of the countryside depends on collection & delivery services and Barker Group sees much of its future growth coming from the countryside. The company intends to continue its growth in rural areas of Southern England and the new tracker system will ensure that the business continues to operate viably. Bournemouth based Barker Group is one of the largest independent Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company’s in the country.

Dry Cleaning at the Barker Group

Our dry cleaning operatives ensure, by thorough examination, that every mark and blemish that can be removed has been removed. Then through the application of the craftsman's art, each item is finished and pressed.

With generations of experience and expertise, as well as using state of the art technology, our Dry Cleaning Service (across the counties of Southern England) ensures that all garments are dry cleaned to perfection - from a suit or curtain to a very special garment such as a wedding dress.

When your cleaning is returned to you it will look as good as new, presented to you in packaging designed to protect your garment from the elements. Blending 21st century technology with the 19th century artisan's skill has made Barker's quality a benchmark of the Dry Cleaning industry.

Win £50 of Dry Cleaning Vouchers Here

Congratulations to August/September winner of £50 of dry cleaning vouchers - Alan Adair of Extra Dimension.

Welcome to our third monthly special give-away of £50 of dry cleaning vouchers. Please 'click to enter' at the bottom of the page and press send in your email server. You will automatically be entered for our draw on 30th November 2010.
All vouchers must be used within 2 months and are applicable for any of our stores. Why not use them to try out our delivery and collection service and see how this will give you more free time. Minimum order for delivery is £12 per collection.

Click here to enter 

Barker Group Newsletter August 2010

Barker Group Dorset Announces New Growth

It has been a good summer for the cleaning and laundry business and particularly for us/ Barker Group. Not only have our Dry Cleaning shops been busy but our laundry division, which provides bespoke and high quality laundry services to the great and the good, has performed better than expected. Most companies in this sector have not had a bad summer by comparison to last year, reporting that stagnation is a good result after the dismal trading of last year but Barker Group would appear to be bucking the trend by increasing like for like business by nearly 5%. Not content with this, Barker Group has taken on two new contracts, Lush cosmetics, early in the summer and more recently, Sunlight Laundries, Europe’s largest commercial laundry group, has commissioned Barker Group to undertake all their domestic laundry to private end users. Overall the increase in turnover for this financial year will be approximately 10% taking annualised turnover to approximately £2M.

“This is a benchmark figure for us following a slow recovery and return to profit following our fire in 2005.” Says managing director, Matthew Barker “We now have the momentum to continue this growth in the Domestic laundry market to £3M and we are currently exploring varies potential avenues to achieve this.”

Special Offers for Your Shirts

Do you need to make more time for yourself but still need your shirts laundered? At Barker Group, we recognise that your weekend should be your time, not spent with laundry and ironing.

Drop your shirts in to any of our branches and our specialist team will wash and iron them, giving a superior finish not achieved with conventional machines. We also offer an express service if you are pushed for time.

With 5 shirts for £6 and 10 shirts for only £10, think of how much time this will save you, to enjoy yourself.

Let us do all the work for you and leave you with a smart, professional look.

Background of the Detachable Collar

Detachable collars originated in the 19th Century and were either detachable or disposal. Cloth collars were made of either linen, cotton or celluloid which was an early synthetic material, with disposable collars consisting of paper or card.

The principle behind using a detachable collar was that a separate laundry finish could be applied to the collar i.e. starching, leaving the rest of a shirt ironed only. Several benefits of using detachable collars emerged immediately, it was more economical to launder a collar only, potentially getting several days wear from a shirt, so cutting down on laundry costs and time. Since washing a shirt was a lenghty process involving scrubbing by hand and often boiling, the process of laundering detachable collars saved time and cost. Also replacing a collar was far cheaper than the whole shirt.

Depending on the fashion, it was possible to achieve a higher or lower collar height, vary the colour, although white collars were the most popular. Detachable collars are still used today, predominantly within the legal profession and gentry. As the leading launderer of detachable collars in the UK, we strive to offer the same laundering techniques ensuring our collars are still as popular as in the past.

Visit here to see our Detachable Collar Laundry Service

Managing a Business in the Rural Community

Despite being Bournemouth based with most of its branches in the local conurbation, Barker Group generates 60% of their revenue from rural communities. “Probably 80% of our operation is in the town but it is from the country that we get the largest part of our turnover” say’s Managing Director Matthew Barker, “Our Laundry Collection & Delivery service is widely used throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Surrey. It is in the country where the real wealth of the nation resides.”

Barker Group operates towards 30 routes every week delivering to nearly 2000 clients. A newly installed internet based tracker system ensures that each vehicle is maximised. Fuel wastage can spell disaster on a fleet covering approximately 500,000 miles a year. But the biggest advantage of the tracker system will soon be realised when Barker Group launch their internet based dry cleaning collection & delivery service across the South of England. “We are now in a position to direct our nearest vehicle to a client request on demand if required” continues Matthew, “Convenience is the most important factor in this busy age and this is even more critical in rural areas.”

Barker Group Sponsors Party in the Park, Ashley Cross, Poole

This year we are proud to be able to sponsor Party in the Park which is held on Sunday 5th September at Ashley Cross in Poole. 

This event is the 10th anniversary and we are donating 25% of all proceeds from sales from the event to the Richie Keefe Life and Soul Trust. We will be handing out leaflets on the day for use in our stores.

With great music and entertainment, it's not to be missed....

See you there on Sunday

Matthew Barker

Managing Director

Wedding Dress Cleaning in Dorset

Barker Group understands how important your wedding dress is to you and takes pleasure in offering a complete cleaning package for your dress.

Why choose Barker Group to clean your dress?
We offer a free collection and delivery service across the South of England that includes Hants, Dorset, Wilts, Berkshire, Glos, Oxon and Surrey
We use our own vans and our own professional and courteous drivers
We clean your dress by combining our skill and 21st Century technology
We select the correct cleaning method for your dress
We deliver the cleaned dress wrapped in layers of acid-free tissue paper and beautifully presented in a ph-neutral storage box to your home.
The overall cost depends on the value of the dress but prices start from £87.50 fully inclusive with no hidden extras.
Check our competitive prices

How We Clean Your Wedding Dress
All dresses are carefully inspected upon receipt to search out any marks or small damage. Based on the fibre content of the dress, our experts select the correct cleaning method; Aqueous process, Perchloroethylene or Green Earth. After cleaning, the dress is again carefully examined so that your satisfaction is assured. Experienced staff then steam finish your dress to perfection

The cleaned dress is delivered back to your home wrapped in layers of acid-free tissue paper and beautifully presented in a ph-neutral storage box. Included in the cost of cleaning your dress is a collection and delivery service using our own vans and courteous, professional drivers.

We will arrange for the dress to be collected on the agreed date and time between 9:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. Your cleaned dress will be returned on the arranged date at the agreed time between 9:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. Our usual processing time is 3 weeks. However, if your request is urgent please specify at the time of order.

For more information on wedding dresses contact
Online Wedding and Bridal Boutique

Recommendations from our clients

“I have used the services of Barker Group on many occassions and everytime, the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. More importantly, the results of the service are excellent from the turn around times to the detailed cleaning of garments. An excellent service, worth a try to make your own option!”

"Barker Group always put the customer first and provide a superb service".

Check out our first e-newsletter at Barker Group, Dorset

Suffering from Dust Allergies

If you suffer from dust or other allergies, you may be interested in Barker's pillow service which is guaranteed to kill all organisms present in your pillows. We will remake your feather pillows and, using UV light, eradicate all oganisms which contribute towards allergic symptoms.

 Barker Group Pillows - for an allergy free sleep.

Fire in the Dorset Depot - How Barker Group Survived

Today starts the first of a series of posts detailing a major fire within our warehouse and how we pulled Barker Group Dorset back from certain disaster. Over the next few weeks we will chronicle what steps we took to put the business back on it's feet again.

At 2pm on Tuesday 20th September 2005, I was showing 2 members of our staff from our Andover depot around our facilities in Bournemouth. We were just entering the main entrance of our laundry in Winton when I was greeted by my Operations Director, Ian. As he approached me I became aware of the mass of staff that had collected in the yard to the side of the building. A small fire had started following an electrical wire arc-ing. Ian and another Manager had managed to put the fire out and little damage had occurred but within 2 minutes of the fire starting, all staff had been evacuated to the muster point and the fire brigade were on their way. The fire brigade were brilliant. They arrived within five minutes of the call and spent the next hour damping the area and checking for hot spots with infra red heat seeking equipment. 

All the time the 70 staff employed at that site remained in the yard whilst fire officers diligently searched for potential hot spots and I walked the factory with the chief fire officer looking at potential future hazards that we could eliminate. All the while I was getting more agitated that I was paying 70 staff to stand around whilst our production was getting further behind. I was discussing the merits of removing a false ceiling in the centre of the factory when we heard a telling and frightening crackling sound above our heads. The Fire Chief called to an officer to get a ladder up into the ceiling void. As the officer lifted the ceiling panel, his whole body tensed as he dropped from the ladder to the ground and shouted “Get out now, she’s going!”  These guys know what’s coming but I am a business man and all I could think of was what I could take with me as I left the building. £1000’s of customers work and equipment was all I could see as the Fire Chief pulled me towards the exit. Within 45 minutes the whole building had burnt to the ground. 

Matthew Barker

Managing Director

Barker Group

Dorset

Read previous article here

Save On Your Dry Cleaning....

If you'd like a fresh spring feel to some of the items in your wardrobe, then take advantage of this great offer. Bring in any four items* and we'll clean them from only £12.

Available from 7th June 2010, for a limited time only at selected branches.


* A suit counts as two items. Offer also excludes household items e.g. curtains, duvets as well as suedes and leathers and wedding dresses.

Barker Group, Dorset - The Early Years

The Barker dry cleaning heritage goes back to Ken 'Rab' Barker, who started dry cleaning in the 1940's, and it would be true to say that without his influence the industry might well look very different today.

 Ken Barker set out to be, and was trained as, a land agent in Kent but the recession in the 30's changed all that and he joined the Ford Motor Company working for Lord Perry, where he became involved in the introduction of the first V8 Fords into the UK. It was endeavouring to sell Walter Knight one of these that bought them together.

Walter Knight, having returned from Kenya, a white hunter with a wife homesick for England, had to find a new career, Dry Cleaning and with Castle Cleaners of Hadleigh in Essex he needed a works manager and fellow Director. Ken having contracted TB in the 20's was exempt from military service and was thus able to operate the business during the war years, weekending as a member of Dad's Army - The Home Guard.

With military contracts and clothes rationing the business thrived. The Dying business, in particular, boomed, as more and more clothing needed to be dyed black with so many relatives loosing loved ones during the War. These Wartime profits allowed them to buy Collins Cleaners of Bexleyheath, Armfield and Son's Ltd, an old established Cleaners and Dyers and Household Services, a carpet cleaning business in Welwyn Garden City.

The First Step on the Cleaning Ladder

In 1947 Ken liked the business so much, he bought the company and moved his offices to Bexleyheath from where he built the business through the late forties and early fifties. By 1958 Collins Cleaners had some 40 shops and three factories.

Ken's sons, Anthony and David, having completed National Service in the Army, both joined Armfield & Son's Ltd. In the mid 1950's. In 1959 Ken became President of the National Federation of Dyers and Cleaners. This organisation was, in 1967 to become the ABLC and in 1989, the TSA. 

The Sale of Quality Cleaners to Sketchley Dry Cleaners

In 1960 Ken Barker sold Collins Cleaners to the 1940 Group of companies run by the Pickles Family. The 1940 Group was later sold to Sketchley's. Shortly after this Ken became Deputy Chairman of Quality Cleaners of Worcester and finally retired when he brokered the deal that was to see Sketchley Dry Cleaners double in size with the purchase of Quality Cleaners. At that time more than half the Sketchley branches had been created by Ken Barker.

Read more of Barker Group's history here

Your Brand on our Dust Mats

Barker Logo Mats are a fantastic way of enhancing and re-inforcing the appearance and existing branding of your business premises, while also providing excellent cost saving protection of your flooring.

Significant enhancement of brand promotion

Designs that are submitted and approved by you!

Flexiblity of having logos, mottos or messages on your mat

Landscape or portrait design position
Variety of sizes available

With a Barker Logo Mat you are able to put your own company logo, motto or message, including up to eight colours onto three different sizes of mat to suit its location.

Barker Group Reusable Packaging

At Barker Group we are constantly striving to maintain a good carbon footprint. For several years we have been using reusable packaging for our delivery and collection service. For our larger customers we provide wicker hampers for their laundry which the client keeps and uses to return their laundry to us.

The majority of our other customers have their laundry delivered in black fibre board boxes which are guaranteed to last for up to 10 years. When discarded, these boxes breakdown leaving little surplus. Our remaining customers receive their laundry in handpacked polythene which can be recycled also.

It is our aim to minimise the disposable packaging as far as is reasonably possible for the future.

For more information on Barker's Delivery and Collection service click here

Barker Group Laundry Services

At Barker Group, we offer and extensive range of laundry services, from dry cleaning of clothes, duvets and sleeping bags, to a full laundry service for general clothing and wedding dresses.

Depending on which service you prefer, we can collect and deliver, or offer several high street stores throughout Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire where you can drop off and pick up your laundry items.

To find our stores go here 

See our delivery and collection service here

Matthew Barker - Dry Cleaning in his Blood

Anthony's Son and current Managing Director of Barker Group

"I grew up in Dry Cleaning. Modern machinery and legislation have changed things slightly, but the whiff of Perc.* is one of those smells that takes me back to my childhood. The business is in the blood, and I love it. Many people have said that to work in this industry is not just a career, it's a disease and there are few cures. But when my Parents bought the laundry, I thought they were mad. Life changed overnight. The hours were long and took their toll. They started using swear words when talking about work. There was a new language I didn't understand. The only 'overs' and 'shorts' I'd known were in the cricket pavilion after a match, not as a reference to unsatisfactory laundry production. I could only wonder what 'stiff collars' were!"

Matthew continues "I was appalled by the laundry business, it seemed like a daft way to make a living, and I was having nothing to do with it. That was until, in 1989 when I was operating my own company publishing a discount directory. The first Gulf War occurred and oil prices went through the roof. We were plunged into the worst recession for fifty years, I needed cash badly and Dad needed a driver, and that was my entry into the laundry business."

The Barker Group is Born

 

In the last fifteen years, the Barker Laundry has gone from strength to strength. In 2000 Matthew bought the company from his Father, re-branding to Barker Group in 2002. Barker Group consists of four divisions:

Barker Laundry now services more Dry Cleaners than any other laundry in the country as well as providing the much required weekly door-to-door collection and delivery of a domestic laundry service. Back in 1986 Anthony Barker sold the companies dry cleaning interests to Johnson Cleaners UK but in 1995 Barker Dry Cleaning returned to the High Street and now have an expanding chain of cleaners in the Southern Counties. Barker Workwear supplies many of Dorset's workplaces with uniforms, dust control mats and washroom services on a purchase or rental basis, and Barker Collars is the world's largest manufacturer of collars for formal dress wear supplying Royalty, Admiralty, Judiciary and the general public throughout the world.

So what next for the Barker Group? The final word must go to Matthew Barker "I am a Barker and we don't stand still, all I can say is - keep visiting our website for news!"

Look After Your Curtains

Dry Cleaning versus Washing of Curtains

All processing of curtains provide an element of shrinkage. Washing curtains at home provides the most risk, as the facilities to rectify shrinkage are limited. Most curtain manufacturers will advise that as much as 5% to 8% can be lost from the length through cleaning. Barker Dry Cleaning can minimise that risk with the only 'Sandershade' curtain machine in use in Central Southern England.

Relining Curtains

Curtain linings subjected to the sun can deteriorate rapidly and the fabric can disintegrate during any process. We can advise you on the risk and the most effective form of processing to minimise damage. We can also provide a relining service. 

Cleaning & Alterations to Curtains

Barker Dry Cleaning offer a comprehensive curtain cleaning and alteration service. We offer a free estimating service without obligation, at your home or office, to take down, clean and re-hang your curtains. Alternatively you can bring your curtains to any of our stores. 

Remove Common Stains from Clothing

It doesn't matter what time of year it is, we all take pleasure in entertaining our relatives and friends to dinner. Yet food and drink can play havoc with fabrics such as table linen, upholstery and clothing.

Usually in the event of spillage of food or drink substances, stains can be prevented if items are washed immediately, but be sure to always follow the instructions on the fabric care labels and if unsure, contact Barker Group for professional laundry and fabric care services as soon as possible.

Enjoy a stain-free way of life by taking note of some simple advice, courtesy of the Barker Group;

1. Remove chocolate by firstly placing it in the fridge within a plastic bag to allow it to go hard. Once you have removed as much as possible, the stain can be sponged with warm soapy water, rinsed with cold water and then washed in a biological powder.
2. Treat red wine stains by absorbing as much of the liquid as possible, then rinsing overnight in lukewarm water with a well diluted mixture of washing powder. NB, This is not advisable for silk materials.
3. Lipstick stains can usually be removed from fabrics through the use of a suitable stain remover, although check the fabric care label first.
4. Coffee and tea can usually be removed if washed immediately with biological powder, before the drink has the opportunity to dry.
5. To remove grease and animal fat stains on fabrics that can be laundered, remove as much as possible and then wash in warm water. For fabrics that cannot be laundered, use a stain removal product.
6. Beer stains are easy to remove if treated with a biological powder as soon as possible.
7. Candle wax must be left to go hard, and then removed by sandwiching the fabric between several layers of kitchen roll or brown paper and then pressing a warm dry iron to melt out the remaining wax. A stain remover can be used to wash out the last traces, and then the item should be washed normally.
8. Curry stains are particularly difficult to be removed, and should only be attempted by a specialist laundry company.
9. Finally, if anyone should fall ill through over-indulgence or otherwise, remove vomit from fabrics by running the area under the cold tap, then treat by immersing it in a solution of biological detergent, then wash normally.

Have you got a BarkerCard?

For many years we have consistently provided our dry cleaning and laundry customers with a prompt, reliable and professional service which focuses on value for money and customer satisfaction. We have also realised the need for local branches and have opened new shops in many new areas. Now we want to offer you even more via our BarkerCard Discount Scheme for only £10 a year.

Benefits of a BarkerCard:
A half-price dry cleaning voucher on dry cleaning orders up to the value of £20
10% off the price of your Dry Cleaning
10% off the price of your Laundry (bed linen & table linen)
Monthly and seasonal offers on the services you use most often
Gives you a FREE £10 Barker Dry Cleaning Gift Voucher when you refer a friend or colleague to the BarkerCard Scheme
£10 off the cost of cleaning a Wedding Dress

Apply today by clicking here and we will send you an application form in the post.

Once you are a BarkerCard Member why not refer a friend or colleague and receive a £10 Barker Dry Cleaning Voucher FREE.

We will then send you an application form in the post. Simply enter your BarkerCard Membership Number in the appropriate box and pass the application to your friend or colleague for completion. On receipt of the completed application we will send you £10 worth of dry cleaning vouchers absolutely FREE.

View BarkerCard Terms and Conditions here

About Barker Group

Barker Group is a locally based, independent laundry & dry cleaning company in Dorset, offering a wide variety of products under one roof throughout the South of England. From domestic dry cleaning and laundry services to uniform and health and safety solutions to businesses of all sizes, we believe our professional and customer orientated approach offers great value.

Barker Group consists of 4 divisions:

Barker Dry Cleaning is the largest independent Dry Cleaning company in Dorset.

Barker Laundry is one of only a handful of laundries in the UK dedicated to the provision of a weekly, fully finished laundry service to the general public. Our collection and delivery of laundry only serves to enhance this service.

Barker Workwear is a one stop shop for the purchase or rental of work apparel, dust control mats and washroom facilities for businesses throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire and surrounding counties.

Barker Collars is the only international supplier of a detachable starched stiff collar laundry service.

For more information on any of our services please email or telephone us, or why not visit one of our branches at:
• Bournemouth town centre
• Charminster
• Lower Parkstone
• Boscombe
• Ferndown
• Andover
• Sherborne

To find our branch locations click here

How To Care and Store Your Fine Linen

Regular and careful laundering of linen is essential to the maintenance of its life and colour. Never store used linen. Never store starched linen. The starch will discolour turning your linen yellow.

Always keep linen in well ventilated cupboards, covering the shelves with acid free tissue paper. Barker Laundry return your freshly laundered linen packed with acid free tissue and you could make use of this, or obtain it from a good stationary store.

Look After Your Skiwear

Take note of these few hints, they will help to prolong the life and quality of your purchase.

Read the care label. If the item is washable take care not to exceed the temperature indicated and always dry at a low temperature, heat will contract the interlinings. Likewise, dry damp ski wear away from direct heat.

The proofing. As a rule, synthetic fabrics retain their proofing and cottons do not. Washing cotton renders it absorbent, however in the dry cleaning process it is possible to reproof fabric.

Deal with stains quickly. Deal with stained clothing as quickly as possible - stains left unattended develop and damage the fabric. Never store stained skiwear away for the next season.

Never rub at stains. Blot with a white absorbent paper towel, one piece in front of the stain and one behind.

Wool Stains. Rubbing wool causes pile damage, only rectifiable by shaving the surface.

Hard to remove stains. However well you wash or dry clean skiwear it is not usually possible to remove stains on the seat caused by the T Bar and Button lifts. The friction of the lift forces the stain to the core of the fabric.

Repairing damage. If a small swatch of fabric is supplied with your skiwear make sure to keep it, even the worst damage can be repaired if a matching fabric is supplied.


Barkergroup are here to help

Remember that zips can be replaced, tears can be mended and fabrics can be reproofed - all without drama. Barker's expertise is here for your convenience.

Shoe Repairs

Don't throw away those favourite shoes...have them repaired for a fraction of the cost!

We offer an excellent shoe repair and accessories service that includes:

New soles
New heels
Stitching
New comfort insoles
Laces
Now available through all our branches.

Curtain Cleaning with the Barker Group

Let Barker Dry Cleaning take all the work out of having your curtains cleaned. Our specialist staff will come to your home, and give you an estimate of the cost of having your soft furnishings cleaned to perfection.

Once accepted they will take your curtains away and 48 hours later return to re-hang them.To try this unique, time saving, and professional service all you have to do is arrange a convenient time for an on site visit.

The Start of Anthony A. Barker Ltd.

Anthony Barker arrived in his Battersea office one day to find that he was working for Fred Pickles, Chairman of the 1940 Group. He was quickly promoted to Group sales Manager with approximately 80 shops and 5 Laundries to promote. Later that same year Anthony left the 1940 group and joined Marlow Cleaners run by an ebullient Irishman. In 1961 Anthony left Marlow Cleaners and with three friends, Tony Stevens, Ian Tuson and Simon Murray, opened Harlequin Cleaners and later Commodore Cleaners subsequently to become Columbine Cleaners. In 1972 Anthony took three shops in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch founding Anthony A. Barker Ltd.

The Move South

Looking for larger premises with which to operate commercial dry cleaning, Anthony came across a small laundry in Bournemouth. The Argyle Laundry, as it was then known, had existed since 1861 providing domestic laundry services to households and latterly to hotels and guesthouses in the area. The premises were not large enough and the capital did not exist to pursue commercial laundry activities in the same way that most laundries were at that time.

The End of Domestic Laundry?

Thousands of small laundries had survived on the door-to-door domestic service, but the numbers had been decimated with the advent of the domestic washing machine, and by the considerable financial benefits to be gained by larger laundries in concentrating their efforts on linen rental and thus stopping the domestic service. Domestic laundry, the provision of a weekly washing service to the public, with the massive variety of different items and finishes, required at least four times the amount of labour and plant as were needed to provide commercial laundry services.

In 1950 there were 6000 laundries in the United Kingdom. Today there are a mere 600.

Keeping The Traditional Alive

Undaunted by these facts, Anthony and his wife Valerie decided that the future of the Anthony A. Barker laundry lay in the provision of high quality Domestic laundry services not just to the general public through door-to-door collection and delivery but also to a wider market by supplying the service to dry cleaners. After all, this was a market not unfamiliar to them.

Read previous Barker Group history here 
Read the next chapter in Barker Group history here

The Rug Doctor - available from all Barker Group Shops

The Rug Doctor ® carpet cleaner is available now to hire at our Charminster & Parkstone branches, or can be sent to your nearest store for easy-pick-up.

The Rug Doctor ® carpet cleaner is available to hire daily. If you can vacuum, you can use a Rug Doctor ®.

Also available at our Charminster & Parkstone branches: Rug Doctor ® cleaning products and at our Central Bournemouth Branch, the Rug Doctor Emergency Repair Kit. This kit provides all the solvents and tools for those annoying mishaps!

How your carpets get dirty
Your carpet serves as a magnet that collects a variety of pollutants and contaminants from various sources. Indoor sources include air conditioners, heaters, pets, trash cans, stoves, furnishings, tobacco smoke and food particles. Outdoor sources include pollen and spores from trees, plants and other vegetation as well as exhaust fumes from cars, fireplaces and barbecues. It's estimated that 80% of all carpet soil comes from matter tracked in from outside.

Why you must clean your carpets
You would be surprised to know how much dirt, pollen, and other contaminants can hide in a carpet, though it may look clean. Frequent vacuuming helps considerably, but nothing replaces the kind of deep down clean the Rug Doctor ® carpet cleaner provides.

Continuous Towel Machines

As a complementary service to our workwear division, we supply two types of Towel machine designed for use in either a retail or industrial environment. Our machines provide the most efficient, hygienic and environmentally friendly method of hand drying available.

Our service provides full laundering back up of continuous towels to enable the permanent provision of efficient hand drying.

Industrial Towel Dispenser
Already widely in use in many factories and garages throughout Dorset, the Barker Industrial Towel Dispenser provides 40 metres of hygienically laundered towel to ensure both a clean, tidy washroom and rapid hand drying for a busy workforce.

Retail Towel Dispenser
Barker Towel Machines are now in use in Hotels and Restaurants for use by both catering staff and clients. Containing a 20 metre towel, the Retail Towel Dispenser is a neat, slim line machine at home in any retail environment.

Dust Control Mats

Dust control mats are a necessity in most workplaces, especially in manufacture or industrial industries. Our mats are an extremely effective way of stopping dirt, dust and moisture from either entering or moving around your premises. They are also a fantastic way of protecting your flooring, ensuring good health and safety practice and saving cleaning time and costs. We are able to supply our superb dust control mats for either direct purchase or rental, which includes collection, laundering and delivery.

Key Benefits
Our highly effective Dust Control Mats offer:
Substantial preservation of flooring and interiors
Vast reductions in the cost and time of cleaning
Increased safety for staff and visitors
Different sizes to suit your requirements
Dissipation of static electricity
Able to buy diect or rent
Our own Barker Collect and Launder service

Dust Control Mat Rental Service
The majority of our Standard Dust Control Mats are supplied on a rental basis. This is an extremely efficient and cost effective way of possessing a dust control mat and having it regularly exchanged and cleaned fortnightly. By having your mat professionally cleaned and tumble dryed regularly, you will be assured that your mat constantly performs to its optimum efficiency. This also means that you do need to buy the dust control mats from us directly , because we absorb this cost with the cost of the cleaning and offer this excellent service at a small weekly charge over a fixed contract term.

Sizes
We are able to supply three standard mat sizes to suit your requirements:

4' x 3' - 120cm x 85cm
5' x 3' - 150cm x 85cm
6' x 4' - 175cm x 115cm

Practical Benefits
The Barker Logo Mat has all of the practical properties that you would expect from one of our standard Dust Control Mats. Dust Control Mats are an extremely effective way of stopping dirt, dust and moisture entering your premises (up to 94%).

An average building receives up to five hundred pounds of stone, glass and grit per year - 70% of this is either wheeled or walked in on peoples feet.

By utilising the space just in front of your door with a Barker Logo Mat, you can retain four and a half pounds of dirt. Dirt that if not retained is then tracked further into your premises, causing irreparable damage.

It is also worth bearing in mind that we offer all logo designs as portrait or landscape positions on the mat. This enables you far more options for your floor space.

How Dust Control Mats work best
Dust Control Mats will not work to their full capacity unless cleaned and tumble dryed professionally every two weeks, but this is at your discretion. The advantage of our Barker Logo Mats is that you are under no contract - the Mat/s are purchased directly from us, then we collect, take to the laundry, professionally wash and tumble dry, then deliver back to you!

Workwear

We can cure the headache of dealing with workwear in both dirty and clean environments. Things like oil stained overalls are no longer a problem. Whether you buy or rent from us, your staff are assured of a constant supply of clean workwear.

Our flexible packages are designed to give you the freedom of choice with your workwear needs and at the same time guaranteeing a level of service not available from conventional workwear suppliers. This service is only available across the South of England which includes Hants, Dorset, Wilts, Berkshire, Glos, Oxon and some parts of Surrey.

Garment Rental
We are able to offer you rental of workwear from our wide range of clothing for the workplace. We can offer bespoke corporate designs and badging service to enhance your company image. All rental agreements are individually tailored to suit you, providing supply, collection and delivery, and cleaning to your specification.

Cleaning and Repair
Have your own garments collected, cleaned, repaired, and returned on a weekly basis. Charges are per garment which includes the collection and delivery.

Garment Sales
We offer an extensive range of high quality workwear garments at very competitive prices. You may wish also to enjoy one weeks free cleaning of your new garments, including collection and delivery.

How To Care For Your Dry Cleaning

Hang clothing outside the wardrobe for at least two hours before putting away.

Wardrobes should ideally have a free flow of air through them - louver doors, ventilation ducts, etc.

Cover the shoulders of clothing in the wardrobe with Barker shoulder covers supplied with all finished dry cleaning cover to prevent dust - do not leave in the wardrobe completely covered - the air cannot circulate.

Deal with stained clothing as quickly as possible - stains left unattended develop and cause damage to the fabric.

Collection and Delivery of Your Laundry

Fully Finished Laundry - Barker Laundry provides a fully finished weekly collected & delivered from your door. Even if you are out, our driver will collect & deliver from the pre-arranged location. Join the hundreds of domestic and business clients already using our service.

Whatever day is convenient to you, whether you send laundry every week or not, our driver will call regularly to provide the most convenient laundry service available.


Our collection & delivery service is also available for any dry cleaning orders including large items such as curtains.

In every case, the Barker Collection & Delivery service is designed to meet your needs.

For more information on Barker's Reusable Packaging go here

Barker's Stiff Collar Service for Detachable Collars

Who Uses Our Collar Laundering Service?

Most of our shirt collars are produced for retail markets in the UK, Europe and South Africa, but we also launder and restarch collars for Royalty, the Judiciary, The Armed Forces and the General Public throughout the UK and the rest of the world.

We provided the collars for the Sherlock Holmes movie....Our collars can also be seen on stage, screen and television. "Passage to India", "Titanic" and "Shacklet" are just a few of the period productions that have used Barker Collars. We have also supplied 1000 collars for the Inspector Poirot TV series. Well known Theatre and Production Companies are amongst our clients including: The Almeida Theatre, New Shakespeare Company, Bill Kenwright Productions and the Scottish National Opera.
Barker Group Detachable Collars
Although fashions and style change over the years, we at Barker Group in Dorset, have always realised the value of tradition and quality.We actively take part in the manufacture of over 90% of the world production of new detachable stiff collars. It is estimated that the world market is somewhere in the region of 65,000 - 80,000 new collars sold every year.

We launder in excess of 60,000 detachable stiff collars every year and the numbers are continuing to grow. By ensuring that antique equipment is maintained, and that the craftsmen's skills are passed on, Barker Collars has become the largest launderer of detachable stiff collars in the world.

What Types of Collar Do We Launder and Restarch?

We launder and restarch all types of collars, including Turndown Collars, Wing Collars and Straight (Imperial) Collars. Please note that in addition to providing this exceptional service, we also clean and starch dress shirts and Marcella waistcoats, as well as white ties and barristers tabs.

How Do I Get My Stiff Collars Laundered Cleaned?

Five generations of craftsmans knowledge is used to return client's stiff collars to pristine condition. Our despatch department then ensures that the cleaned stiff collars are returned to their owners as quickly as possible.

Local Residents in the Poole/Bournemouth/Andover/Sherborne areas can contact any of our Barker Dry Cleaning Branches. Click here for details of your nearest branch.

Worldwide (and UK wide) by Post - from Australia to Austria, Boston to Bombay, all over the world, our parcels of stiff collars are on route to their owners. Processing from receipt to return posting takes approximately a week.

Contact Us

For more information on any of our services, or to find out how we can help you please contact our Head Office:

121 Charminster Road, Charminster, Bournemouth. Dorset. BH8 8UH

Tel: 01202 291295
Email: sales@barkergroup.info

Prices for Wedding Dress Cleaning

Our prices are based on the value of your dress at the time of the order. It is important that you advise us accurately as in the unlikely event of loss or damage, the correct amount of compensation may not be paid.

Dress Value	Up to £600	£600-1000	£1001-2000	£2000+
Small Box	£87.50	£106	£130	£155
Large Box	£92.50	£111	£135	£160

All prices include VAT, presentation box and our collection and delivery service PLUS the free cleaning of your veil.

Guarantee
It may not be possible to remove every mark from your dress and as a reputable company, we would not make a claim that we could. Further, if your dress has beads and/or sequins, we have to rely on the quality of the manufacturer. However in all cases, we assure you that we will always do our best to achieve the best possible results for your satisfaction.

BarkerCard Terms and Conditions

Parties to the agreement. 1. 'Barkercard' of Barker Group and 2. 'The Cardholder''

1. In this agreement the following words or phrases shall have the meanings indicated: Card shall mean the discount card issued by the Barker Group from time to time in accordance with these terms and conditions. Cardholder shall mean the person to whom a card has been issued. Membership shall mean the holding of a card by the Cardholder. Discount shall mean such discount as the Cardholder shall be entitled to receive upon the purchase of goods or services from a Barkers branch only or any discount supplier in accordance with the terms and conditions hereinafter provided. Discount Supplier shall mean such firms, organisations, establishments and businesses as from time to time offer discounts to the Cardholder. The Annual Fee shall mean such sum as may from time to time be required by the Barker Group for the issue or renewal of the card.

2. The Barker Group may determine the Cardholders membership at any time upon written notice to the Cardholder.

3. All cards remain the property of the Barker Group and must be returned to the Barker Group upon demand and may be retained by any discount supplier or any other person acting on behalf of the Barker Group.

4. In the event of membership being terminated by the Barker Group in accordance with clause 2 above, the Barker Group shall refund to the Cardholder an appropriate proportion of the annual fee to be assessed by reference to the proportion of the years membership unexpired at the date of such termination.

5. The period of membership shall be for one year from the receipt of the annual fee upon the expiry of which membership shall determine unless membership is renewed either: a) by payment of the annual fee then prevailing in response to an invitation to the Cardholder to renew his or her membership or b) automatically if the fee is paid by bankers standing order or direct debit and in either case such renewal shall be on the same terms & conditions as herein contained save as notified to the Cardholder in writing prior to or at the time of such renewal.

6. The Cardholder may at any time cancel his or her membership by notice in writing to the Barker Group. In such an event the card must be returned to the Barker Group with the notice.

7. In the event of the Cardholder cancelling his or her membership in accordance with clause 6 then he or she shall not be entitled to any refund whether full or partial of the annual fee unless such notice is given within 14 days of the commencement of renewal of membership.
8. The Cardholder: a) Must sign the card immediately upon receipt b) Shall not use the card outside the validity period or after the card has been withdrawn or membership cancelled c) shall not assign membership d) shall not use or allow the use of the card to obtain discount by or for any other person e) shall not give sell or otherwise dispose of the card to any other person.

9. If the Cardholder shall at any time be in breach of any of the conditions herein contained: a) Barker Group shall be entitled to determine membership forthwith by notice in writing and require the return of the card and without prejudice to the right of the Barker Group to seek damages or other remedies for such breach b) the Cardholder shall indemnify the barker Group against any loss or expenses suffered by it or any discount supplier arising directly or indirectly out of such breach.

10. No discount supplier shall be required to offer discount to the Cardholder other than upon production of the card and such other identification (if any) as may reasonably be required by the discount supplier.

11. It is hereby declared by the Barker Group and acknowledged by the Cardholder that no warrantee is given by the Barker Group as to the number, identity, location of discount suppliers nor as to the extent of discount that may from time to time be offered by discount suppliers nor as to any period or times during which the discount will be offered.

12. The Barker Group hereby agrees to provide a regular newsletter providing up to date information upon current participating discount suppliers.

13. For the avoidance of doubt it is hereby declared and agreed that the Barker Group shall not be party to any contact or other arrangement between the discount supplier and the Cardholder for the supply of goods, services or credit by the discount supplier to the Cardholder.

14. The Barker Group reserves the right to assign or subcontract all or any of its rights and obligations hereunder without prior notice or consent.

Find Our Branches in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire

Charminster Branch & Head Office

121 Charminster Road, Charminster, Bournemouth. Dorset. BH8 8UH
Tel: 01202 291295
Fax: 01202 290402
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Barker Group - Laundry
The Laundry, Rear of 3 Dominion Road, Wallisdown, Bournemouth. Dorset. BH11 8LH
Tel: 01202 291295
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Bournemouth Branch
26 Richmond Hill, Bournemouth. Dorset. BH2 6EJ
Tel: 01202 587999
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Parkstone Branch
27 Church Road, Parkstone, Poole. Dorset. BH14 8UF
Tel: 01202 748751
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Boscombe Branch
28 Ashley Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth. Dorset. BH1 4LH
Tel: 01202 720271
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Andover Branch
136 Weyhill Road, Andover. Hampshire. SP10 3BG
Parking available in front of the shop.
Tel: 01264 352815
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Sherborne Branch
3 South Street, Sherborne. Dorset. DT9 3LN
Tel: 01935 816070
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Ferndown Branch
123 Victoria Road. Ferndown, Dorset. BH22 9HU
Tel: 01202 871007
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