Uniform News - January 2008

Expansions:

TA Associates Completes $200 Million Investment in 5.11 Tactical

Boston, December 12, 2007 – TA Associates, a leading growth private equity and buyout firm, today announced it has completed a $200 million investment in 5.11 Tactical, a rapidly growing manufacturer and distributor of apparel and accessories focused primarily in the law enforcement market. TA will hold a majority stake in 5.11 Tactical and the senior management team will remain in place.

Headquartered in Modesto, California, and founded in 2003, 5.11 Tactical provides a full line of functional products to law enforcement and public safety personnel. Built on a foundation of durability, quality and value, the company’s products enhance the safety, accuracy, speed and performance of law enforcement, military and firefighting professionals. 5.11 Tactical’s apparel includes pants, shirts, shorts, vests, belts and uniforms, as well as outerwear, underwear, footwear and accessories. The company was ranked #211 on the 2007 Inc. 500, Inc. magazine’s annual ranking, by revenue growth, of privately-held, independent, U.S.-based companies.

"We are delighted to make this investment in 5.11 Tactical, which has become a leader in the tactical/law enforcement market through creative sourcing and product development, and an innovative retail strategy," said Jeffrey T. Chambers, a Managing Director at TA Associates who will join the company’s Board of Directors. "Led by an exceptional management team, the company has a record of rapid growth across product categories and we see significant opportunity for continued expansion."

"We are very pleased to enter into this partnership with TA Associates," said Dan Costa, CEO of 5.11 Tactical. "TA has an enviable record of helping profitable companies accelerate growth, and we will leverage their proven industry and investment expertise to continue seeking new growth opportunities."

"While most public safety apparel and gear manufacturers have traditionally focused on one or a small number of product verticals, 5.11 Tactical has built a product line that we believe is unmatched in its breadth," said Jon E. Kossow, a Principal at TA Associates who will also join the company’s Board of Directors. "As the only broad-line designer and distributor of law enforcement gear and apparel, 5.11 Tactical is highly regarded in the law enforcement market. With this loyal customer base and a quality product, the company is well-positioned to continue its growth."

Founded in 1968, TA Associates is one of the world’s leading private equity firms, with extensive expertise in the consumer and retail sectors. TA’s prior investments in these sectors include AND 1, Car Toys, Eastern Mountain Sports, Jenny Craig, Lumber Liquidators, M and M Direct, PowerBar, Steve & Barry’s, Tempur-Pedic International and United Pet Group.

Goodwin Procter served as legal counsel to TA Associates. Latham & Watkins provided legal services to 5.11 Tactical.

NAUMD Aspires for Global Recognition

New York, December 11, 2007 ( Fibre2Fashion.com) - The National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) which serves as the voice of Uniform Industry is a trade association representing the interests and needs of its over 450 member manufacturers, designers, producers and sellers of uniforms and uniform accessories or providers of services to this sector.

In an exclusive interview with Fibre2fashion, Richard J Lerman, president, NAUMD, talked about the inception of this particular organization and said, “NAUM was created in 1933 to represent uniform manufacturers in many ways. In the late '70s dealer/distributors that were part of the National Uniform Dealers Association, merged with NAUM to form the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors. Early this year, at the request of the Board of Directors, the membership of NAUMD overwhelmingly voted to extend membership to the North-American uniform manufacturers & dealer/distributors thus forming the now to be known as North-American Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors.”

While talking about raw materials sources for uniforms, Lerman said, “NAUMD members source raw materials for their clients uniforms from wherever may be the best fit. However, many of our member clients have US based manufacturers only, such as the postal service and the military. Many police departments also have such a requirement. In the area of image wear, the products may be sourced worldwide.”

Recently the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Police Department won the 2007 Best Dressed Law Enforcement Contest. Talking about the wonderful journey towards this achievement the NAUMD head happily said, “Huron-Clinton Metroparks Police was one of 12 Departments winning the NAUMD Best Dressed Law Enforcement Awards for 2007. This is an annual competition to recognize excellence in the design, development and uniqueness in a number of categories based on types of officers dressed, number of officers within a department and the type of law enforcement practiced.”

Revealing the future of NAUMD, the President smiled and said, “We would like to see NAUMD serving the uniform industry worldwide and increase our membership, and the services we provide to them, expand dramatically.”

Court Ruling

California Police Win Paid Time to Don, Doff Uniforms

San Francisco, December 11, 2007 (The Chronicle) - A police uniform is not just a set of clothes, but an emblem of authority that conveys "special powers and deference in our society" - and that means the officer should be paid for the time needed to put it on and take it off, says a federal judge in San Francisco.

U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel ruled in favor of police in San Leandro who sued for about a half-hour per day of paid "donning and doffing" time - either as part of their shifts or as premium pay.

The ruling "ensures that officers get a fair day's pay for a fair day's work," said Alison Berry Wilkinson, a lawyer for the officers.

But Kathy Mount, San Leandro's lawyer, said Patel left room for the city to argue that the process takes so little time that it shouldn't be compensated. Mount said the city would try to persuade the judge that putting on and taking off uniforms and mandatory protective gear takes only 10 minutes. San Leandro officers have estimated that they need 25 to 35 minutes a day.

Patel's ruling also conflicts with an earlier decision by another judge in the same courthouse. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled in August that police in Richmond did not have to be paid for time spent putting on and removing their uniforms, but might be entitled to compensation for time needed to attach safety equipment such as guns, holsters, handcuffs and helmets. He said police must be paid if they have to put on that equipment at the station.

Putting on and taking off a uniform is not "integral and indispensable" to police work, the standard established by the Supreme Court in compensation cases, Breyer said.

In her ruling Friday, Patel said she disagreed with Breyer. A police uniform, along with safety gear, makes up an officer's survival suit, she said. It deters crime by letting everyone know the officer holds a law enforcement job, and it includes the equipment needed to catch criminals, she said.

She cited past rulings requiring employers to pay workers for the time they need to put on protective clothing in a battery plant and a silicon chip factory.

The suit was filed by Greg Lemmon, president of the San Leandro Police Officers Association, on behalf of the 54 patrol officers in the department.

Wilkinson said all police departments specify the type of uniform officers must wear and the equipment they must carry, but only a few pay for their time. Berkeley sets aside 20 minutes of each shift for uniform-related compensation, she said, and the California Highway Patrol pays uniformed officers a 3.5 percent premium.

She said an appeals court would probably have to decide the issue in light of the conflict with Breyer's ruling, and with a ruling by another federal judge last month in a suit by police in San Diego.

Hi-Tech Textiles

Electronics, Chemicals and Textiles Industries Fostering Advances in Smart Fabrics

Palo Alto, CA, November 30, 2007 (Textile Web) - The convergence of textiles, chemical engineering, materials and electronics is likely to lead to the evolution of the next generation of smart fibers and fabrics that can genuinely act in an intelligent manner.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, "Advances in High Tech Polymer Fibers and Smart Fabrics", finds that on-going developments in the field of smart fabrics hold out tremendous potential for the concept, promising their use in the likes of healthcare applications (remotely monitoring health parameters), security (detecting danger and calling for help), and display of helpful data (communication through Internet or communication between people).

“Smart fabrics/textiles comprise of smart materials and structures that sense and react to external environmental conditions and can alter their own state and functionality,” notes Frost and Sullivan Research Analyst R.Srimathy. “Potential applications for these innovative textiles include building flexible sensing systems, detection of chemicals, gases and generation of mobile power, among others.”

Furthermore, their gamut of applications could widen ever further once industry experts enable these textiles to carry data and power. Realizing this, researchers and scientists across the globe are working toward using light as the power source for wearables. Researchers from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, have developed innovative synthetic fibers that generate electricity when exposed to light. Researchers believe that the fibers could be woven into washable clothes that make it applicable in portable solar cells.

Nanotechnology is another area that is driving the development of smart textiles while continuing to provide the necessary impetus for research in this sector. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) based fibers are said to be the ultimate textile fiber, having a unique blend of properties. These fibers are fine, approximately one nanometer in size, very strong, light in weight, have high specific strength and are electrically and thermally conductive.

Interestingly, ultra-strong CNT fibers made of lightweight CNTs developed by Los Alamos scientist Yuntian Zhu are said to be tougher than diamonds and one-ten-thousandth of a human hair in diameter. The company has named these ultrastrong CNT fibers as SuperThread. Researchers envision the use of these materials in airplanes, automobiles, and sports equipment. Other applications include bulletproof vests, electronic devices and artificial limbs.

Notwithstanding such progresses in technology, development of products using smart textile technology remains a highly expensive affair, demanding enormous R&D spending. This cost factor is a major barrier to ensuring their affordability and will continue to remain unaddressed until there is a mass acceptance of products using this technology.

“In addition to price concerns, issues related to the durability and performance of smart fabrics exist” says Srimathy. “The other notable challenge is the physical integration of fabrics with traditional rigid electronics, which requires new approaches to interface and interconnect designs.”

Overall, this sophisticated and complicated technology has now gained entry in the market from research laboratories and is set to have a substantial impact on the textile industry. There is rapidly growing market for smart fabrics and in the future, wearables will be seen in biomedical devices, sportswear, communication systems, display technologies, military garments, and sensor networks.

Nanotechnology Revolutionizing Textile Surface Treatment and Fiber Properties

Hong Kong, December 31,2007 - At the recent International Conference & Exhibition on Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials held in Hong Kong in mid-December, experts and researchers in the textile and apparel industry gathered together to share their findings and vision of nano-treated textiles of the next generation.

The term nanotechnology comes from the Greek word "nanos", which means dwarf. One nanometer (nm) is one millionth of a millimeter. On this micro scope, the once-common-sense understanding of fiber properties have been turned upside down, giving fibers and fabrics such characteristics as water repellency, oil and stain resistance, wrinkle free, UV-protection, antibacterial performance, odor elimination and quick drying.

Jeff Chan says nanotechnology-laden textile products can currently mark up 30% to 50% in retail price.

"Self-cleaning probably has the biggest potential for commercialization as more fabric makers are trying to utilize the lotus-effect," said Jeff Chan, project manager and senior specialist of the Industry & Information Department of Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF).

The lotus effect, or superhydrophobicity, in material science, refers to the observed self-cleaning property found with lotus plants. Their microscopic structure and surface chemistry ensures that the leaves never get wet, hence the leaves are naturally non-sticky while able to clean themselves on their own. It has been imitated by using nanotechnology. In Schoeller's second-generation NanoSphere introduced in fall 2007, the finish's abrasion resistance on both wet and dry fabrics is greatly improved, so the protective function is permanently maintained even under heavy-duty use and frequent washing.

Another potentially attractive application field of nanotechnology in textiles is e-textiles.

"In the future, nanotechnology and flexible systems in textile material may aim at the implementation of the 'e-textiles', or smart textiles, where sensing, actuating, communication and power sourcing are integrated on a piece of textile," Mr Chen said.

Nanotechnology in textiles can also help improve the human well-being. According to the research findings of Prof. Yi Li, Prof. John Xin and Dr Fei Bin of the Institute of Textiles and Clothing at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, naonoparticle assembly on fiber surfaces offers photocatalysis (with anti-bacterial and self-cleaning effects etc) and super repellency, while nanocapsule coating on fiber surfaces can give insect repellency, skin care, fragrance and mimic diatom. Furthermore, nanosheet assembly on fiber surfaces provides fire retardancy.

According to figures of Cientifica Ltd, the potential market of nano-treated textiles and apparel, in the form of nanometer particles application, smart fabrics, e-textiles and wearable electronics, was estimated to reach US$13.6 billion in 2007 and projected to hit US$115 billion in 2012.

This huge potential has driven Toray, Toyobo and SeanDa Technology to develop and utilize nanotechnology in one way or another to increase the quality of their fiber and fabric products, apart from Schoeller. Suppliers such as DuPont, BASF, Murata, Bayer and Evonik Degussa have also been participating in the quest of new nano-finishing effects on fiber or other substances.

Despite the great potential, the textile and other industries view them as swimming in the open sea when applying nanotechnology in their products.

First, some consumers show hesitation in nano-treated garments regarding product safety. Second, producers currently do not have any widely accepted standards to follow when developing new products, nor can they show or label added performance on garments in a standardized way during product launch.

In the face of these problems, countries such as USA and China have started to establish relevant standards for nanotechnology applications.

In the Air

Northwest Unveils New Employee Uniforms – First Redesign in 17 Years

Eagan, MN, December 12, 2007 (Business Wire) - Northwest Airlines today unveiled new uniform designs for its flight attendants and airport customer service employees during a high-energy runway fashion show at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The new uniforms, the first redesign in nearly 17 years, were developed over a two-year period by Northwest employees and designer Miranda Moss to ensure ideal form, fit and functionality.

A Northwest Employee Involvement Team, consisting of employees from various work groups, led the new uniform initiative and worked collaboratively with employees and the designer on every aspect of the design process. The new uniform designs offer dynamic colors and styles, and include components that can be mixed and matched to create several ensembles, while at the same time, maintain a consistent NWA look.

The new uniform designs retain a sense of classic style while incorporating high-tech modern fabrics which are appealing to the eye, comfortable to wear and offer increased functionality. The new uniforms consist of more than 15 components for maximum versatility and feature a palate of colors including charcoal gray with a hint of red, white and periwinkle blue.

“Northwest employees undertook an in-depth process to develop uniforms that not only meet their needs in terms of choice and comfort, but uniforms that also represent the new direction of Northwest,” said Mike Becker, senior vice president, human resources and labor relations. “A runway fashion show was the ideal way to introduce our new uniforms and to highlight the excellent design work our employees created during this process.”

Flight attendants and airport customer service employees will begin wearing the new uniforms in fall 2008.

Air NZ Cabin Crew Uniforms 'Too Pale'

New Zealand, December 18, 2007 (Dominion Post) - New Zealand will make changes to its controversial cabin crew uniform, with chief executive Rob Fyfe admitting that the color is too pale.

The uniform, which is predominantly teal and schist colored, was designed by fashion label Zambesi and launched at the end of 2005.

It has been criticized for its "Thunderbirds" look, is difficult to keep clean, and is easily creased and unflattering on larger female staff.

Passengers have also confused male cabin crew, dressed in the more casual open collar shirt option, with fellow passengers.

Mr. Fyfe said the uniform would be changed to a darker shade rather than a new color.

While the uniform looked good on darker-skinned staff, European employees could look washed out, he said.

Jackets, skirts and trousers worn by management are a darker slate color.

Some accessories, such as scarves, would also be updated as part of a periodic refresh program, Mr. Fyfe said.

A spokeswoman said the uniform would continue to reflect New Zealand's natural environment, "but in some cases will go a shade darker next year to keep the look fresh and up-to-date".

Staff had been encouraged to provide feedback on their uniform, but none approached yesterday were prepared to comment publicly.

A final decision on the changes would be made early next month.

It costs an estimated $2 million to issue a single uniform to each of the 3000 staff and most employees required more than one uniform.

Mr. Fyfe said a completely new uniform was likely to coincide with the arrival of new long-haul aircraft from the end of 2010.

On the Ground

MTA Spends $2.5M on New Clerk Uniforms

New York, December 25, 2007 (Daily News) - As the MTA geared up to take straphangers to the cleaners, it spent about $2.5 million dressing up token booth clerks with spiffy new uniforms.

Over the past several months, 3,500 workers in the subway stations department have been trading in their traditional work outfits - blue shirts, blue pants - for a more formal look: white shirts and gray trousers, or skirts for the ladies working behind the glass.

The men get gray and black ties; female workers ascots. The new wardrobe also includes a burgundy vest, burgundy sweater and burgundy coat.

NYC Transit spokeswoman Deirdre Parker said the per-worker cost was approximately $738, and the total cost $2,583,245.

Subway managers decided to "provide a more professional and consistent look for all station agents," Parker said in a written response to questions.

The MTA board voted last week to increase fares and tolls. The third set of increases since 2003 is scheduled to go into effect in March.

Token booth clerk Norman Winston Pou couldn't believe the cost.

"That's absolutely outrageous," Pou said. "They could improve facilities and job conditions with that money."

An internal August memo from the chief stations officer said all workers were to be in their new threads by Dec. 1.

One clerk, who declined to give his name for fear of being penalized, panned the new outfits.

"I feel like a busboy," he said, adding that white was a curious choice for the underground posts. "It's a dirty environment. It's not an office, an open space, with a water cooler and all that. It's a train station."

Token booth clerks seeking warmth are to wear their blue vests or sweaters when selling MetroCards, the clerk said.

The worker said NYC Transit periodically buys workers replacement uniforms, every two years or so, but the new gear came on an accelerated schedule.

Deputies Dress Down to Save Otsego County Money

Gaylord, MI, December 14, 2007 - By Sheriff Jim McBride’s calculations, a switch to a more casual fatigue style uniforms for his seven deputies will save the sheriff’s department more than $3,000 in new uniform costs. They’re less expensive than the more formal style deputies have worn in the past.

“The new uniforms look sharp and they still have a professional look about them; they’re just a lot cheaper than the ones our deputies have been wearing,” McBride said of the new look his deputies will be sporting. “And, the total cost to outfit a deputy in the new uniforms is about half of that of the old ones.” The new dark brown uniforms will become the standard day-to-day attire deputies don.

Thanks to a $1,000 donation from the Gaylord Wal-Mart, McBride said, the initial savings in the uniform switch is even more noticeable. “The big thing is the savings. With the cost of everything going up we just decided this was one way we could save the taxpayers some money,” explained the sheriff.

According to McBride, at today’s costs the old style of uniform — which includes three pairs of pants, six shirts, four ties, one hat, a spring coat and a winter coat — would cost the department $924 per deputy. The fatigue style — which includes two pairs of pants, four shirts, one hat and one four-in-one style coat — costs only $476.

“One big advantage of the newer uniforms is they can be washed, where with the old ones they had to be dry-cleaned.” McBride said he expected switching to the new uniforms would result in a monthly savings on dry-cleaning bills for the department.

McBride said his deputies will continue to keep one set of the older style uniform on hand to be worn for more formal occasions. But look for his deputies on patrol in their new fatigue garb.

Officers to Get New Uniforms

Corpus Christi, TX, December 16, 2007 (Caller-Times) - — A uniform makeover is coming for most Nueces County law enforcement officers beginning in January, with sheriff's officers changing attire all at once and police officers shifting uniforms gradually throughout three years.

The Corpus Christi Police Department will switch officers' light blue uniform shirts with a dark blue version made of more-breathable material whenever the old shirts wear out, officials said. A new patch design featuring a dark blue background to match the shirt color will be included with the new tops. Officers' pants will be simpler, with cargo pockets instead of braiding that now runs the length of each leg.

At the Nueces County Sheriff's Department, patrol and correctional officers will sport different uniform styles with the same color scheme. Sheriff's deputies will have dark blue pants with braiding and a tan shirt. Correctional officers will have dark blue, military-style pants featuring cargo pockets and tan polo-style shirts, said Sheriff Jim Kaelin.

Police Chief Bryan Smith said earlier this year that blue-on-blue uniforms are an increasingly accepted standard for police departments nationwide and convey a more professional look. Kaelin said his department's uniform change is to spur a new brand, one that is more respected than the current all-green standard.

"Our new uniform says this guy is a police officer, looks like a police officer and acts like police officer," Kaelin said. "We expect much more voluntary compliance. ... A green uniform doesn't reflect the command presence that I want."

Of the department's 321 employees, about 225 are in uniform, Kaelin said. Uniforms for those employees will cost between $60,000 and $70,000 and will be funded completely with money seized from drug dealers.

After a 30-day trial period, the new uniforms should be in place, Kaelin said. The department also will have a new patch and new color schemes on patrol cruisers.

At the police department, about 260 of 445 officers are in uniform, said Capt. Steve Mylett. Officers' uniforms will be switched out as old ones get worn out, he said. The new uniforms are marginally cheaper than the current style and no extra cost will be incurred by the department because the old style gradually will be replaced with the new.

"The public can expect to see Corpus Christi Police Department officers in a variety of uniforms between now and 2011," Mylett said.

Smith said he decided to explore a uniform change after 70 percent of 308 officers taking part in an online survey said they favored switching from the current light blue. Despite the uniform shirts getting darker, the new shade is not expected to make the tops hotter.

Charleston Fire Department New Uniforms Meet National Standards

Charleston, SC, December 7, 2007 (Post and Courier) - After weeks of study, the Charleston Fire Department has selected new uniforms that are expected to provide greater protection than the 100 percent polyester garb currently worn by its ranks.

Fire Chief Rusty Thomas said the new uniforms, made from a blend of cotton and fire-resistant material, meet national standards written to protect firefighters.

Polyester uniforms don't meet those standards, which is why many departments abandoned them years ago. Polyester uniforms, worn underneath a firefighter's outer protective bunker gear, can melt and liquefy under high heat and complicate burn injuries. Cotton-based uniforms singe and char when burned.

Thomas said he followed the recommendations of a Fire Department committee in choosing the new uniforms, which look a lot like the old uniforms. The choice also echoes recommendations made by a panel of fire experts hired by the city to study the department after the June 18 Sofa Super Store blaze that killed nine firefighters, he said.

The new uniforms are widely used and fully comply with National Fire Protection Association standards, said Bill Spangler, regional sales representative for the manufacturer, Flying Cross by Fechheimer. "This (material) will not melt," he said.

Thomas said the city hopes to order the uniforms next week, with delivery expected about six weeks after that. Local businessman Gene Reed donated about $230,000 to pay for the uniforms.

Firefighters will be allowed to wear T-shirts around station houses, while duty shirts will be required for special events, such as school visits. They will be given pullover "job shirts" and a choice of high-top zippered boots instead of patent leather shoes, Thomas said.

"This is what they wanted," he said. "They want to be comfortable around the stations."

Not everyone was happy with the final choice.

Capt. Jamie Greene, a 20-year veteran who served on the uniform committee, said the panel presented the rank and file with choices about a month ago. Firefighters voted overwhelmingly to switch to polo shirts, which offered comfort and a more professional look than T-shirts. Thomas rejected that recommendation and pushed the committee to adopt the T-shirts and other changes, Greene said.

The Charleston Firefighters Association had pushed the department for years to ditch the polyester, but commanders liked the tight creases and professional look of the synthetic material.

Roger Yow, president of the local firefighters' union, said the new uniforms are a "100 percent improvement over what we had before, which was just plain dangerous. But we're also disappointed that they really haven't listened to the choices of the committee."

Mark Ruppel, the Fire Department's public information officer, said there may have been discussion on possible choices, but he reiterated that Thomas went with the final panel recommendations.

About Catalogs

Miami, December 12, 2007 - World Emblem International has recently launched its new product catalog containing almost 40 different products, including its well-known embroidered and perfect print emblems and newer offerings such as Laser Names, Magnetic Badges and PrintMax. The catalog contains informative descriptions, images, product applications, key benefits and even heat seal specifications for all of the products that World Emblem offers.

World Emblem International, Inc. is one of the world's foremost designers and manufacturers of custom embroidered, screen-printed and sublimated emblems. In addition, World Emblem is a leading manufacturer of custom transfers, direct screen printing, direct embroidery, ID tape, reflective emblems and materials, and houses a full inventory of blanks, corporate stock and hold emblems and garments. Headquartered in Miami, World Emblem's ultra-modern 60,000 square foot facility is one of the largest and best equipped in the country. True to its name, World Emblem International is a global leader in the identification market, with manufacturing facilities in Florida, California, Michigan, Georgia, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

Contact World Emblem’s Customer Service department at 1-800-766-0448 to request your free copy of our Product Catalog

SanMar Debuts Premium Collection Catalog

Seattle, WA, December 19, 2007 - SanMar Corporation, a leading wholesale supplier of imprintable apparel and accessories, will later this month debut its 2008 Premium Collection catalog. The 120-page catalog features upscale products from five exclusive brands—including Tiger Woods Collection, Red House, PING Collection, Nike Golf and OGIO.

“The Premium Collection contains over 130 products sought after by the brand-cued buyer,” said Lee Strom, senior marketing manager for SanMar. “It’s the top-notch resource for clients who outfit corporate apparel programs, management teams, incentive and gift programs, golf events or resorts. If you’re looking for distinctive branded apparel and accessories that inspire and reward, you’ll find it in this catalog.”

The catalog introduces eight brand-new designs from Red House and the PING Collection. Of particular note are the Red House 100% organic polos that are of luxurious quality in an earth-friendly fabric. OGIO is new to this catalog, too, with revolutionary gear bags and travel essentials. Along with men’s apparel, the catalog has 26 elegant ladies styles, including sport shirts, woven shirts and sweaters.

SanMar Corporation is a leading supplier of wholesale apparel and accessories. A family owned business since 1971, SanMar is based in Seattle, with six national distribution centers.

The 2008 Premium Collection catalog is available beginning in early January with custom imprinting on the back cover, unpriced or with suggested retail prices. To order, call 800.426.6399 or visit www.sanmar.com today.

Catalogs Take Place in Multi-Channel Strategy

December 6, 2007 (RetailWire) - While many may have thought that the advent of the internet would spell the end of catalogs, an increasing number of retailers are looking to this traditional advertising medium to help drive sales online, in stores and by phone.

Retailers including Sears and Target are mailing catalogs to consumers this holiday season. The move by Sears to publish a catalog is seen as especially significant since the company last printed one in 1993.

Mike Gatti, president of the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, told The News & Observer, "E-mail's gotten tough because of all of the spam and all of the stuff you get. It's tough to make it effective.

"I think some [retailers] were surprised that people would get a catalog in the mail and then just come on the website and buy it," he said. "But it happens."

Kirsten Whipple, a spokesperson for Sears, told the paper, "Our effort is really tied to the fact that all of our shoppers have different shopping habits and like to shop in different ways. Some people look at the catalog and say 'Great, I don't even have to go into the store.' But we have to make sure as a retailer that we are reaching them how they would like to shop."

Target spokesperson Jana O'Leary told The News & Observer that the retailer's catalog drives traffic to its stores and website. "It's just to get guests excited and have something tangible in their hands when they go," she said.