Spotlight on Business & MarketPlace:
NAUMD's 2007 Image Of The Year Awards

By Jackie Rosselli

Five Manufacturers, 2 Dealers Take Top Honors at Image of the Year Awards Banquet

Some of the country’s best known manufacturers and distributors of corporate apparel were honored recently at an awards banquet sponsored by the Image Apparel Institute, a division of the NAUMD. Held in Atlanta during the association’s annual convention, the event showcased the winning designs of the 2007 Image of the Year Awards, a program dedicated to recognizing the industry’s most outstanding and effective design concepts for corporate America.

It was a big night for Cintas, who took home 3 awards, as well as Disney, who walked away with 2. Brookhurst, All-Bilt and Blade Uniforms each received one Image Award, as did retailers Mag & Son Clothing and Unitex Direct.

The black-tie event, attended by about 300 industry professionals, was held on April 14, and was hosted by Bob Eubanks, best known for his role on the popular ‘60s and 70s television show, “The Newlywed Game.” “All of you who serve in the uniform industry are truly in the relationship building business,” said Eubanks during his opening remarks. “Your products constitute a critical link between government and corporate America on the one hand, and the broad range of consumers in America. Uniforms are the ultimate communicator of an organization’s style – and create a solid impression even before the employee has spoken. Uniforms are the unspoken language of an organization.”

In past years, the Image of the Year Awards was held in the morning, during the NAUMD’s membership breakfast meeting. The addition of Eubanks as master of ceremonies and the switch to an evening time slot gave the event an element of prestige and professionalism that had been missing, and in the opinion of some, sorely needed.

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Learning Experience

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

It may seem like a paradox but we want for ourselves not what we are missing but more of what we already have. Management consultant Richard Farson, author of the book Management of the Absurd, found the following through his research: Olympic athletes want greater athletic ability and scholars want more knowledge. A person who speaks two languages desires to learn a third.

While this may be a natural tendency, is it the most productive and successful strategy? My mentor, Jim Rohn noted, “how strange we humans are. We curse the effect and nourish the cause.” A contributing strategy to your success would be to resist the natural tendencies and question the status quo. Someone defined insanity as doing the same thing in the same way and expecting different results.

Change is not easy. Otherwise, very few of us would be overweight. Instead, we would be well-read. But you have to start somewhere if you want to see changes and awareness is the first step. So now you know it’s normal to keep doing the same things and more of them. We first must get over our fear of change and criticism. That’s why it is important for a chief executive to have board of directors or an entrepreneur to have a board of advisors. If you don’t have someone to hold your feet to the fire there is a great chance you will devolve. That’s not an encouraging concept but if you’re the boss and typically surrounded by “yes” people, who is going to tell the emperor that he has no clothes?

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Product News

Penn Emblem, SanMar, Red Kap and 5.11 Tactical all have new products to boast about this month. Here’s a look at their offerings:

The Penn Emblem Company, based out of Philadelphia, PA, has announced the newest line of embroidered emblems that, according to a press release, allow for complex design details never before possible using traditional embroidery.

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SanMar, a leading supplier of wholesale apparel and accessories, is introducing new product arrivals for the spring and summer 2007 selling seasons.

“The rules have changed,” said Lee Strom, SanMar’s senior marketing manager. “Like retail, there are compelling reasons to introduce new products seasonally rather than once a year. Short sleeve styles make a bigger impact when launched in the spring and summer.”

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Red Kap has two new product announcements this month. First, it is expanding its lineup of shorts styles for men and women. New styles for 2007 include the PT27 Women’s Plain Front Short, PC26/PC27 Men’s and Women’s Cotton Casual Shorts, and the PC42 Cotton Side Elastic Short.

The Women’s Plain Front Short is the perfect complement to the PT26 Men’s Plain Front Short. The Women’s version has an updated fit and cut, ensuring a professional look. The 7.25 oz. 65/35 poly/cotton fabric also gives you the durability you expect from Red Kap.

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Finally this month comes news from 5.11 Tactical. Endusers who wear 5.11’s All-Terrain, All-Conditions (ATAC) boots on duty can now get them in coyote brown.

Customers wanted that same “athletic shoe” feel in an off-duty and range boot. 5.11 met their request in April 2007. The new “coyote boot” matches 5.11’s 30th Anniversary Tactical Pants, also available in coyote. The ATAC 8” Side Zip boot features 5.11’s moisture-wicking lining and lightweight Shock Mitigation System™ for comfort, stability and speed. The molded Phylon® mid-sole, Hypertex® lasting board and nylon flex-fit composite shank deliver ultimate support for high-impact activity, while the non-marking, oil- and slip-resistant outsole boosts traction.

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UniformMarket Store System Welcomes New Manufacturer Users

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

	Midway Cap Company: www.midwaycapcompany.com
	Southeastern Shirt www.southeasternshirt.com

Looking to improve you web site and online customer service?