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By Jackie Rosselli
 Melanie
Imlay’s phone began ringing shortly after the Professional
Apparel Association (PAA) closed its doors for good last
December.
“People were very upset,” says Imlay, who
was a member of the PAA’s Advisory Council. “It
may not have been perfect, but the PAA had given retailers
a way to communicate with one another, and its dissolution
on Dec. 31st left a void and had people wondering, ‘What’s
next?’”
What turned out to be next was the formation of a new
group, the Uniform Retailers Association (URA), incorporated
in March. Imlay, who owns two stores in Ohio, provided
seed money to get the organization up and running, as did
Steve Land, owner of Tennessee-based Land’s Uniforms,
and David Johnson of Uniform Solutions, a company that
provides software to the uniform industry. Imlay serves
as its president.
Why would small business owners invest their time and
money to resurrect a group that had previously failed? “It’s
important for the independent retailer to have a strong
organization behind him,” says Land. “Retailers
need a place where they can share ideas and build the relationships
that this industry has become known for.”
Full
Story |
By Joseph Greco, M.S.O.D.
No one can do it all and all of us are smarter than
one of us. No matter how large your company may be, it’s
practically impossible to possess all the required competencies
for success within one organization. While this notion
may be a reality it is certainly not limiting to your
growth. With more and more expertise being outsourced,
many companies possess characteristics of a ‘virtual’ organization.
How do you organize and operate to realize the full and
profitable benefits given this condition?
Cooperation cannot be restricted to a small group of loyalists;
it must include peers, managers, customers, suppliers and
citizens- all those who have a stake in the vision and
mission. The concept of citizens can encompass the local
population in terms of the available labor force, or environmental
issues, for example.
It can also envelope a wider scope, such as governments
that deal with trade issues.
The apparel industry companies in Central American countries
who participate in DR-CAFTA (Dominican Republic, Central
America Free Trade Agreement) have been able to successfully
coordinate economic activities among companies and with
their governments. They have worked harmoniously to attract
the significant investment of needed textile mills in the
region. Local trade associations aligned the efforts of
apparel factories, governments and financial institutions
to promote and deliver economic value in their countries.
Full
Story |
Product
News
From FR wear to eco-friendly products, this month’s
featured manufacturers have products to fulfill all your
uniform requirements. Read on for news from Fire-Dex,
5.11 Tactical, Anvil Knitwear, Penn Emblem and Red Kap:
 Ohio-based Fire-Dex recently
introduced FX Turnout Gear, a product two years in the
making. FX Gear features the latest in comfort technology,
including patent-pending, Seamless Collar, Ergonomic Leg,
Comfort Inseam and Removable Drag Rescue Device (DRD).
Proven in the field in numerous wear trials, FX Gear has
been designed to be complaint to NFPA 1971, 2007 edition.
Full
Story
5.11 Tactical recently introduced new fire-retardant
clothing for law enforcement, firefighters and military
personnel. Created for bomb squads and special ops units,
and now in use by all types of public safety personnel,
5.11’s FR-x3 fabric doesn’t shrink, curl, melt
or drip when exposed to flame.
Full
Story
Green is not only good for the environment, but it seems
to be good for business as well, if you are to judge by
the recent success of Anvil Knitwear. Demand for
its line of affordable organic tees has prompted the company
to expand into the women’s and children’s markets,
according to the New York-based apparel maker.
Full
Story
PennTrans, a new product from Penn Emblem, is billed
as an alternative to traditional emblem identification.
Cost effective and extremely durable, it is a screen-printed
heat-seal transfer that is applied directly onto a garment.
Any design can be used, including photographs, which means
even the most intricate detail can be reproduced. Available
in a range of standard shapes and sizes, PennTrans can
be industrial laundered while retaining its vibrant colors.
Full
Story
 Finally
for this month comes news from Red Kap. The company
now offers dress pants for both men and women in pleated
and plain front styles. All four styles are 6.5 oz 70/30%
polyester/wool. They feature a hook/eye closure, brass
zipper, and executive waistband. The pants are a great
way to obtain an upgraded, professional look, with the
comfort that customers expect. They can be home laundered
or dry cleaned.
Full
Story
UniformMarket Store System Welcomes New Users
The following companies have launched new web sites using
the UniformMarket Store System:
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| Sites Coming soon.... |
Bancroft Uniforms, CA
Simon Uniform, IL
Primo Uniform, NY
and others... |
Looking to improve
you web site and online customer service?
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