Proud of Recognition, UNIVATOR Winners Use Results as Marketing Tool

Last month, UniformMarket featured the winners of its first Univator Awards, a program designed to recognize the creativity, diversity and innovations of the uniform industry. A call for entries went out in the Fall, while the staff busily surfed the internet for their favorite programs and marketing techniques. We considered several dozen companies for top honors, but in the end, we decided to bestow the award on five worthy businesses. Cintas, Aramark, Creative Uniforms, Gorgonz and Barco all walked away with a UNIVATOR.

Pleased with the quality of entries we reviewed, and sure that we selected only the highest caliber programs as winners, we then wondered how else to measure the success of the first Univator Awards. Most successful programs are judged on the buzz they create, the goodwill generated, and the feedback from participants. Using this criteria to gauge UniformMarket’s first annual Univator Awards, it’s appears safe to assume that the program was an unqualified hit!

“We are very honored by this recognition,” says Stephen Donly, president, Aramark Uniform Services. “The Aramark Team Casual line is an example of the value we bring to our customers through high-quality service and innovation. The Univator award is a testament to our drive to deliver the very best in uniform programs.”

Denise Nahman, founder of the San Diego-Based Creative Uniforms, has used the results as a marketing tool, producing a flyer touting the awards that she includes in all presentations with new and established customers. “I’m a small business owner, and winning this award gives me more credibility. It gives my customers extra confidence in my abilities and my business,” says Nahman.

And while she has cemented relationships with established customers, the results have also helped her cultivate prospective leads. “This award has certainly helped the sales side of my business,” Nahman adds. And why did she decide to enter in the first place? One word – exposure. “The more exposure, the better, because everyone gets to know me, and with so much competition in this industry, that’s important. Like everyone else, I’m trying to get an edge. The Univator Awards is one way of doing that.”

Want exposure for your company? Although next Fall may seem far away, it’s never too early to start mulling over possible entries. In the coming months, UniformMarket will highlight marketing techniques used by other winners of this competition, and will share our own publicity efforts with readers. Keep checking the website for updates, and for information on how you, too, can gain a competitive edge through the UNIVATORs.