New Product Focus:
3M’s Segmented Trim Keeps Workers Visible with Comfort and Style

By Jackie Rosselli

Are your customers clamoring for comfortable styling options that are also ANSI-compliant? Then you might want to consider a new product offering from 3M.

The company is enhancing its commitment to worker safety and comfort with the introduction of its new 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material – Series 5500 Comfort Trim.

This series is composed of 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material - 5510 Segmented Home Wash Trim and 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material - 5530 Segmented Industrial Wash Trim and represents the next generation in an established line of reflective products that enhance visibility in a variety of conditions.

While not intended to completely replace traditional solid trim, its introduction does present another option available for the primary apparel marketplace. “With a growing interest in taking high-visibility safety apparel ‘beyond the vest’ to primary apparel, such as work wear and outerwear, an offering in this category is essential,” says Cory Erickson, market development manager, 3M Visibility and Insulation Solutions.

Full Story

Winning Alliances

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

With the complex challenges businesses face in today’s world, having all the competencies required in house for your company to be successful may be daunting.

Let’s assume that you cannot fulfill all the requirements to meet the demands of your clients if you want to continue to grow and be profitable. Your choices are to develop the competencies by training or hiring the right personnel, adding technology, or forming an alliance with another firm for your mutual benefit. If your business goals are compatible, this can be a wonderful and economically beneficial solution. But be careful that you plan properly and don’t let the excitement of the moment cloud your thinking or lead to quick uninformed decisions.

Before entering a new and strategic relationship, spend the proper time to plan. Consider the benefit, for example, of a business plan that forces you to think about various topics before you start the business. What a wise luxury it is to have a business plan which asks pertinent questions before you make an investment or commit time and resources to a new venture. While a business plan is typically used for creating a new venture, in practicality, before an alliance is formed, more than likely the two partners to be are already in operation. You probably don’t have the opportunity to start from zero but you can analyze the current situation of both parties and plan accordingly.

Full Story

Web Bits

Welcome to Web Bits, an occasional column focusing on the issues and trends affecting the online world.

As a compilation of reports, news and user tips, Web Bits is designed to enhance your business by giving you a better understanding of e-commerce and practical advice for improving your overall experience while online.

Here’s what’s happening this month:

Online Drives Offline

Researching first online drives purchases offline. That’s the message behind a study recently conducted by Yahoo! and Channel Force, a training and merchandising consulting company.

Although not specific to the uniform industry, the report offers a glimpse into the habits and tastes of those who surf the net before setting out to a traditional brick and mortar store.

Consumers who research products like televisions and digital cameras online spend an average of 10 percent more in-store than their non-web searching counterparts, the results say.

Full Story

UniformMarket Store System Welcomes New Users

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

	Bancroft Uniforms, CA Accessories: www.bancroft-uniforms.com
	Simon Uniform, IL www.simonuniform.com
Sites Coming soon....	Primo Uniform, NY MP Uniform, PA Nu-Crisp Apparel, CO Leonard Sloan and Assoc., TX and others...

Looking to improve your web site and online customer service?