MAP Pricing Focus:
Manufacturers Weigh Benefits of Industry-Wide MAP Agreements

By Jackie Rosselli

Many of the nation’s biggest manufacturers of uniforms and career apparel are considering incorporating MAP agreements into the list of terms under which dealers may sell their products. If adopted on a wide scale, the system could alter the selling and advertising patterns for retailers throughout the country, and may benefit the industry’s overall price structure.

UniformMarket conducted phone interviews with the industry’s better-known manufacturers during the month of August, after receiving a tip that suppliers were mulling the pros and cons of such agreements. While most consented to interviews, no one would do so on the record, a fact unprecedented in the history of this publication. In order to bring you the complete story, UniformMarket has complied with these requests, and will refer to respondents in only generic terms.

For those unfamiliar with the term, MAP is an acronym which stands for Minimum Advertised Price. MAP is a voluntary agreement that all legitimate authorized retailers enter into with their authorized supplier, usually the manufacturer. According to such agreements, retailers can usually sell MAP restricted items for any price they choose, but may not display in any print or online advertising, a price below the Minimum Advertised Price.

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New Products

Fall in upon us, and two of this month’s four featured manufacturers are introducing products perfectly timed for the season. Continue reading for news from Red Kap, 3M, 5.11 Tactical and Cherokee.

Red Kap is offering its customers a new line of jackets just in time for the cooler months.

Styles include the JN10 Nylon Crew Jacket, JM32 and JM33 Men’s and Women’s Two Tone Microfiber Jackets, and the JN30 and JN31 Men’s and Women’s 3-in-1 Systems Jackets.

The JN10 Nylon Crew Jacket is 100 percent water resistant nylon with a 100 percent polyester fleece lining. It features elastic cuffs with adjustment tabs, elastic waistband, nylon sleeve lining for easy on-off, and interior chest pocket. Also included is a zip-in armhole for easy embroidery access. The jacket is available four colors.

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Also in time for the fall season is 3M’s new Scotchgard Protector Repellent Finish for outerwear fabrics. The formula is one in a number of new proprietary next-generation protective treatment products from Scotchgard protector that not only have excellent protection performance characteristics typically associated with products bearing the Scotchgard Brand name, but have a very favorable environmental, health and safety profile.

The new Scotchgard Protector Repellent Finish is designed specifically for synthetic fabrics popular for both active and casual outerwear, where lasting water repellent characteristics are critical for the performance and life of the garment.

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5.11 Tactical Series, maker of uniforms, tactical apparel and gear for law enforcement, military and public safety professionals, has just launched the 5.11 Covert Khaki.

Designed specifically for plainclothes and undercover operators, the flat-front pants feature eight pockets, including two stealth thigh pockets along the seams. Comparable in weight to 5.11’s Tactical Pants, the Khakis are made of wrinkle and fade-resistant 8.8-oz., 100 percent cotton twill that is treated with Teflon for enhanced dirt and stain resistance.

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Finally this month, there’s news from Strategic Partners Inc., nationally known manufacturer of Cherokee Uniforms.

Unveiled in Las Vegas during the recent MAGIC show, the Cherokee Authentic Workwear collection, as it is being touted, breaks the mold of stiff, coarse industrial apparel with a soft yet durable twill of ring-spun cotton and polyester, engineered to repel and release stains. Most importantly, it is constructed to comfortably and correctly fit the over 31 million people in the United States who wear some of type of uniform to work.

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UNIVATOR AWARDS

The end of summer not only marks a return to school and structure, but here at UniformMarket it also signals the beginning of our quest to find the best and most innovative ideas, programs, products and services created over the past year. In short, it marks our first call for entries in UniformMarket’s annual UNIVATOR awards, a competition which honors you – the manufacturers and distributors of uniforms, identity and school apparel.

UNIVATOR is one of the few awards programs out there that recognizes the accomplishments of individual companies, both big and small. Past winners have ranged from the nationally known industry powerhouse Cintas, to smaller, regionally-based firms.

As in the past, this year’s winners will be featured in the January online issue of UniformMarket, as well as the Spring/Summer edition of Made to Measure Magazine. A press release announcing the results will also be issued to various media outlets, thereby increasing your exposure and marketing possibilities.

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ONLINE ENTRY FORM.... available here

UniformMarket Store System Welcomes New Users

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

	American Wear (School Site) www.americanwearstore.com
	Uniform Solutions, PA www.uniformsolutions.net
Sites Coming soon....	Primo Uniform, NY MP Uniform, PA Nu-Crisp Apparel, CO Leonard Sloan and Assoc., TX Uniform Kingdom, CO and others...

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