Spotlight on Business & MarketPlace:
Will Ingeo Green the Uniform Industry?

By Jackie Rosselli

Can a uniform reduce global warming and break the United States’ dependency on foreign oil?

A tall order, for certain, But uniforms can play a role in protecting the environment, if a new line of uniforms and performance apparel lives up to the hype and becomes the industry standard. At least, that is what Dennis Lenz, founder and president of Mill Direct Apparel, is hoping for. He is harnessing the power of Ingeo, a manmade fiber derived from annually harvestable and renewable resources, such as corn. Lenz is manufacturing and distributing a line of performance apparel made of 100 percent Ingeo. “As concern over the environment grows, so does consumer demand for eco-friendly products,” says Lenz.

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Valuable Human Capital

By Joseph Greco, M.S.O.D.

Much of accounting is concerned with valuing and tracking tangible assets. Equipment, fixtures, accounts receivable, and real estate are physical assets that businesses measure when determining the value of a company to its stockholders. But there is an asset that is many times more precious when considering the worth of a business and in turn what the future earnings potential can be. This would be the category of intellectual capital, an intangible asset with actual and potentially enormous value. Intellectual capital has three parts: human capital- the people that work with you every day, structural capital –everything non-people- the data bases, systems, customer lists, manuals, files and checks lists and finally social capital which would include your customers, suppliers, referrals and reputation.

For now I will discuss some of the features and opportunities associated with human capital. This intangible asset can be leveraged in two ways. How can you harness this asset and multiply the value?

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Product News

New products from law enforcement and industrial workwear manufacturers Tru-Spec, 5.11 Tactical and Red Kap are featured this month, as is yet another fabric innovation from Burlington Labs.

A division of Burlington Worldwide, Burlington has announced the launch of a product called Invisible Barrier, a new stain and liquid repellent technology exclusively engineered for worsted wools. This announcement comes on the heels of the successful launch of Cocona Wool last month.

“We are setting a new industry standard in liquid and stain repellency with performance specifications that have exceeded our expectations and surpassed all previous industry benchmarks specifically for worsted wool,” said Pete Baumann, vice president of merchandising. “As the industry leader, we must continue to innovate with technologies and enhance our fabrics to provide our clients the opportunity to differentiate their product lines and to better fit the lifestyle of their consumers.”

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A popular line of BDUs will now be available in the hottest new camo pattern on the market. Tru-Spec by Atlanco, one of the leading suppliers of BDUs and other apparel to the law enforcement and military sectors, has announced that’s its TRU (Tactical Response Uniform), a new style BDU introduced earlier this year and focused specifically on the requirements of tactical team members, will now be offered in an additional camouflage pattern. MultiCam, a virtually universal camouflage pattern designed to provide concealment in varied environments and light conditions, has been added as the seventh color option for Tru-Spec’s new duty attire, which strongly resembles the US Army’s ACUs but includes a host of product improved features. The MultiCam option became available for purchase in March 2007, in TRU trousers, shirts, boonie hats and helmet covers.

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Red Kap is expanding its lineup of companion styles for men and women to make life more comfortable for the evolving workforce.

New companion styles for 2007 include the SP80/SP90 short sleeve and SP90/SP91 long sleeve Button-Down Poplin Shirts, PT20/PT21 Dura Kap Industrial Pants, and the ST61 short sleeve and ST71 long sleeve Women’s Twill Button-Down Shirts.

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5.11 Tactical has introduced a new 3-in-1 Patrol bag that employs light-colored interior for greater visibility. Working closely with law enforcement specialists to create mission-specific bags that increase efficiency, the new Patrol bag offers a completely updated design for patrol, range and travel. Just throw in your gear and go.

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Plus:

30 Years of Success: 5.11 Tactical Pants

Law enforcement and military personnel worldwide continue to choose 5.11 Tactical Pants for both on- and off-duty wear. The practical, seven-pocket pants with the trademark slash pockets and utility strap have enjoyed a loyal following for the past 30 years and counting.

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UniformMarket Store System Welcomes New Users

The following companies have launched new web sites using the UniformMarket Store System:

	Uniforms Today : www.uniformstoday.com
	The Clothes Clinic www.clothesclinic.com

Looking to improve you web site and online customer service?