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With some already in school and the rest of the
country’s children going back this week, UniformMarket
decided to take a look at the business of school uniforms
and the trends emerging for the 2006-07 school year.
According to The National Retail Federation, consumers
will spend more this year. The average family will spend
$527.08 on school clothes and supplies, $83 over last year's
average of $443.77. Apparel is expected to be a big performer,
with the average consumer expected to spend $228.14, up
from $205.31 in 2005.
One in five (15.9 %) parents with school-aged children
have kids that are required to wear a uniform. According
to the trade group, those parents will spend more on apparel
and accessories ($233.73 vs. $228.14) and shoes ($119.91
vs. $98.34) than parents who do not have to buy uniforms.
And more consumers with children who are required to wear
uniforms will shop at department stores (56.8% vs. 53.3%),
specialty shops (36.2% vs. 30.9%), and through catalogs
(7.1% vs. 5.0%) than those with children that do not wear
uniforms.
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By Jackie Rosselli
 Joe
Talkington, owner of Star Uniforms, is somewhat of a
risk-taker by industry standards. In his never ending
quest to attract customers, he has conceived a number
of marketing efforts, including a talking parrot that
will soon greet visitors at his Springfield, IL, location. “It’s
our answer to the Wal-Mart greeter,” says Talkington. “With
all the competition out there, we’re always looking
for interesting, off-beat ways to get people in the store.”
So when Andy Lane, regional sales manager for Dickies
medical, approached Talkington about opening The Dickies
Shoppe within his three Central Illinois locations, Talkington’s
curiosity was peaked. “While I’ve heard of
it, the ‘store within a store’ concept is new
for the uniform dealer,” notes Talkington.
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Labor Day marks the unofficial end to Summer for many,
but there’s still plenty of warm weather to be found
throughout the country. Warm weather, however, can present
dangerous challenges for many occupations, particularly
those working in law enforcement. Officers working in hot
climates have found it difficult to strike a balance between
staying comfortable and wearing the proper protective equipment.
That is, until now.
To deal with the problem of protective equipment
raising body temperatures, glove manufacturer Hatch,
a part of Armor Holdings Product Group, has developed
a product designed to dissipate heat while providing
maximum protection.
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While Cool Tac Gloves protects the wearer in warm
climates, the Elastique Trouser, a new item recently
introduced by Elbeco, is designed to be worn during the
coldest months.
The new winter trouser, designed exclusively for the United
States Postal Service, features heavy weight 15 oz., 100%
polyester Elastique with Moisture Control System (MCS).
The new fabric will provide increased warmth and moisture
wicking to enhance comfort while keeping the wearer dry.
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That unkempt, sloppy look may be a thing of the
past thanks to a new product from a two-year-old company
named Staytux.
It was while walking his dog that inventor Rick Hamlet
made the first of many observations that led him to his
patent-pending invention, StayTux. His dog’s sweater
kept riding up over her legs, and no matter which way she
shifted or pulled, the material always moved in the same
direction.
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This month’s final entry comes from Precision
Custom Coatings LLC (PCC), a U.S. manufacturer of nonwoven
and coated fabrics for apparel industry and industrial
market applications.
The company recently introduced Comfort Stretch Thermal
Bond Nonwoven, which offers unsurpassed stretch, recovery
and comfort. Stretchable Nonwoven Style CS85 and CS96 are
targeted at apparel manufacturers requiring interlinings
for stretch areas such as waistbands
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By Jackie Rosselli
It's been a good year. Your sales results exceeded
expectations. That new product launch was the talk of
the convention circuit. Your marketing department scored
big, developing a program that garnered positive publicity
while bolstering profits. You’ve clearly earned
the right to brag.
So what are you waiting for? Why not end the year by
telling the world about your accomplishments?
Entries are now being accepted for the third annual UNIVATOR
Awards, a UniformMarket competition that showcases the
best industry ideas and achievements of 2006. If you've
launched a new and successful line, implemented marketing
or sales strategies that have added to your company's bottom
line, creatively used technology to enhance your business
or produced a public relations campaign with positive results,
we want to hear from you!
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ONLINE
ENTRY FORM.... available here |
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