It’s
an obvious statement, but there is no shortage of information
to be found on line. Whether you’re
looking to grow your business, track industry trends or
research a specific segment of the uniform market, the
answers are only mouse clicks away for the veteran web
surfer. But for others (and we know you’re out there),
going on line can be a frustrating and intimidating experience.
Worse, you could become lost in cyberspace, wasting countless
hours looking for something and still coming away empty
handed.
To
help you avoid these pitfalls, UniformMarket assigned
this writer to do the surfing for you. What follows is
a review of the better known sites of interest to the
industry, a few obscure ones and some general advice
on how to find what you’re looking for. So if you’re new to
this market, a technophobe or still using slow dial up
connections, read on. You’re bound to learn something.
And even if you consider yourself a seasoned internet user,
read on too, because sometimes you can teach an old dog
new tricks.
Looking
to learn more about the law enforcement industry? There
are hundreds of sites devoted to the topic, and you could,
time permitting, spend hours reviewing each of them.
A better way is to first visit iacp.org,
the official website for the International Association
of Chiefs of Police. You’ll find plenty of general
information on police topics here, as well as links to
other important websites, including federal and research
sites, and a breakdown of law enforcement agencies by region
and state. So if you need to learn more about specific
police departments in your area, this is a good place to
start.
The
site postalserviceuniforms.com is
perfect for both the vendor and end user. If you’re
an authorized USPS uniform vendor, the site will list your
company free of charge. You can also post your catalog
here, saving printing and distribution costs. Other items
of interest include a uniform news page, price searches
and links to other postal sites, including the NALC and
USPS.
Keep up to date on the latest rules governing the safety
of workers on the job by visiting
osha.gov.
There are a host of regulations affecting the uniform
industry, and you can find out if you’re in compliance
by clicking on the statistics and data portion that appears
on the home page. Once on this screen, you can conduct
a general search or query frequently cited OHSA standards.
You can even search the alphabetical index of the SIC
or NAICS manuals. The site also provides a listing of
public hearings and offers a forum for comments.
United States businesses that manufacture, import, distribute
or sell products covered by the Textile, Wool and Fur Acts
can choose to label their products with a registered identification
number (RN) instead of their company name. At ftc.gov,
you can apply online for such a number, update your existing
RN information, or search the RN database to find the name
of the company you’re looking for. This site also
provides information on antitrust matters and links to
other federal websites.
Billed
as the “U.S. government’s
official web portal,” firstgov.gov provides
visitors with a wealth of executive, legislative and judicial
information, as well as an A-Z agency index and reference
center. By clicking on the “Businesses and Nonprofits” section,
you’ll also gain valuable insights on selling to
the government, developing a business and advice on exporting
your products. Items of interest are also broken down by
audience, tailoring advice to big businesses, small companies,
minority-owned concerns and the self-employed.
If
you’re looking to do business with governments,
there are several must-visit sites. You’ll find federal
procurement opportunities over $25,000 at fedbizopps.gov,
Vendors seeking markets for their products can search,
monitor, and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire
federal contracting community. Click on the “vendors” button
from the homepage, select “find business opportunities” and
type in “uniform contracts” at the search query.
The
General Services Administration offers businesses the
chance to sell billions of dollars worth of products
and services to federal agencies through contract vehicles.
At gsa.gov, you’ll
get advice on selling to the government, an introduction
to GSA schedules and a contractor’s guide to the
Federal Supply Service. You can also scan requests for
proposals by clicking on the “search now” button.
Get
a comprehensive list of federal departments and agency
buying sources at sba.gov,
the website devoted to the concerns of the small business
owner. To access this information from its homepage, click
on “Business Opportunities,” then click on
the “Buying Sources” line from the “Contracting
Opportunities” box. Tips are also offered on preparing
your bid, marketing your business and writing successful
proposals.
The
International Trade Administration’s site, ita.doc.gov,
helps U.S. businesses participate fully in the growing
global marketplace. ITA provides practical information
to help business owners select markets for their products,
and safeguards them from unfair competition from dumped
and subsidized products.
There
are also numerous subscription sites with an international
reach. Most noteworthy are dcicontracts.com,
a contract information service containing defense-related
opportunities from the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Pacific
Rim; and tendersinfo.com,
a site which boasts over 10,000 current live bids from
across the globe. You can search projects and RFP’s
by country, region and industry segments. This site also
offers visitors a free trail subscription.
If
you plan to expand your business or enter a new market,
you’ll want to arm yourself with the latest reports
and statistics available. With a little effort, you’ll
undoubtedly find what you’re looking for at census.gov .
By clicking on the “Business” section of the
homepage, you’ll be able to identify specific industry
segments through the North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS). You’ll also have access to the latest
surveys from manufacturers, retail trade businesses and
e-commerce statistics.
Touting
itself as the “gateway to statistics from
over 100 U.S. federal agencies is fedstats.gov.
Here, you can get an alphabetical listing of agencies and
the statistics they provide and links to their websites.
You can also search across agency websites or access an
A to Z topic of your choice.
Of
course, the above list is a mere sampling of the information
available on line. If you have the time, or have difficulty
sleeping, try looking for what you want via the various
search engines on the web. The writer is partial to google,
but a successful search can be accomplished through other
vehicles as well. Just remember to be as specific as possible.
With a little practice and patience, you’re sure
to find those sites tailored to your businesses needs.
