The Future Uniform Store:
Part 3

By Jackie Rosselli

In December, UniformMarket ran the second in a series of articles examining the state of today’s uniform stores and the changes they are undergoing to assure success and viability.

This month, we’ll take a look at where the industry is in terms of inventory and product mix, and what the future may hold in these areas.

Part 3 – Mixing it up: New Products, Trends and Niche Markets

In the industry’s nascent years, uniforms were predominately made-to-measure garments and the marketplace limited to the law enforcement, military and transportation sectors. The introduction of an in-stock program in the 1940s, a growing American workforce and technological advances all combined to push the business of uniforms past its traditional boundaries, giving the nation’s manufacturers and distributors’ entrée into new markets and an expanding U.S. economy.

But while the marketplace may have been changing, the merchandise was not. Few fabric options existed; products were prosaic and ordinary. Uniforms were, by and large, uniform.

Not true of today’s uniform landscape. Today’s uniforms come in a variety of styles, colors and fabrications. Uniforms can wick away moisture, repel stains, provide ease of movement and protect against hazardous situations. And, of course, they must do so while being stylish and comfortable. “The greatest change I’ve seen is in the level of product diversity,” says Fred Levin of Siegel’s Uniforms, whose store serves the law enforcement, fire and EMS markets. “There are so many options available now that it can be sometimes difficult to keep up with it all.”

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Don’t Discount Feasibility

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

Many presidential hopefuls today claim the mantel of ‘change’ as their campaign slogan. I am sure that one of the major changes they desire is the name on the door to the Oval Office. All of you know that in business, we deal with change every day, whether it is a long range plan that we design or daily variables beyond our control.

How can a leader keep their organization on the successful path to growth and profitability in the future? What can be done to manage change to assure attractive rewards versus reacting to stimuli seemingly beyond our control?

One answer is our own ability to organize creative thinking. We humans have marvelous capacity, but what methods are available to extract the most return from invested thinking time? Do great ideas occur to you but don’t seem to get implemented? Do you recount your actions and wish you had programmed solutions before forced to face negative results?

I have, and I am glad to know that since others have as well, some bright minds have continued to research the issue of how we can use our resources to improve. For instance, on a Saturday morning before each new semester begins, my graduate school, U Penn Organizational Dynamics, hosts a brunch. Attendees include current students, graduates and professors along with a guest speaker. This January, we were joined by the author Richard A. Harriman co-author with Jeff Mauzy of Creativity Inc., which is available on Amazon.com.

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His and Hers

By Debra Hindlemann Webster

There are more women in the world than men, and women live longer than men. In some parts of the country, there are more female business owners than male. There are more women in college than men, and there are more women in professional graduate schools, such as law and medicine, than men. Simply put, there is every reason to believe that our workforce, where both men and women are working, would have at least as many uniform choices for women as men. But it doesn’t.

I talked with one uniform company representative today who said that their sales are 90% male-oriented. We’re not talking deep-sea diving-suits, here. This is about high class corporate apparel. Another one volunteered that it was at least a 2 to 1 shot, men over women in terms of sales in today’s workplace. The sheer volume of garments, styles, fabrics, and items available to men compared to those accessible to women is amazing. In general, uniform manufacturers gear themselves to a predominantly male population in spite of the preponderance of female workers.

The why of it, in addition to the reality that our working class society has evolved more rapidly than the offerings of the uniform manufacturers, is largely that women simply don’t want to look like other women—particularly when a uniform is merely utilitarian and without a sense of style. As one R.O.T.C. officer said when she tried on her new military togs, “This isn’t just about being in the Army; I want something that shows off my figure!”

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Product Roundup

The first product announcements of the New Year bring news from DuPont, Edwards Garment and Red Kap.

DuPont
DuPont continues to expand its production capability and product offering with DuPont Protera, a new line of inherently flame resistant fabrics specifically engineered to protect against electric arc hazards and meet NFPA 70E as well as the new National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) requirements.

In a press statement, Dale Outhous, global business director – DuPont Personal Protection, said: "DuPont Protera has a patented engineered fiber blend to produce one of the lightest weight and most comfortable NFPA 70E Category 2 fabrics on the market today. In addition, Protera meets all categories of the NESC standard. As a result, electricians in industrial segments and utility workers will now be able to work in greater comfort without sacrificing the protection they require,"

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Edwards Garment
The people at Edwards have added a number of new product offerings to the existing line.

First up, the company has added a new in-stock casino shirt in five color offerings. Stylish details include a Nehru collar, decorative black/gold onyx button at the neck and covered placket, squared-tail hem line with side vents, straight back, and a long sleeve with two button cuff. The 100% microfiber fabric is wrinkle-resistant, moisture wicking, machine washable and laundry friendly. The shirt can be enhanced with trim or embroidery, adding value and giving the customer that “something extra” he was looking for.

The newest addition to Edwards’ Service Mate Collection is a CottonPlus Twill shirt for both men and women. This garment is a soft touch, hard working twill shirt with button-down fused collar, traditional front placket, left check pocket, pencil track, and back box pleat with locker loop for men. The women’s shirt body has a contouring fit to flatter the figure, shortened shirt tail, soft collar, narrow feminine placket, no pocket and straight back yoke seam; long and short sleeve with matching buttons on collar, placket and cuff. These easy care garments are treated with Teflon, and are completely laundry-friendly.

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Red Kap
There are also a host of new product items available from Red Kap. The company has introduced new colors in its line of utility work shirts and pants, as well as feature upgrades on the utility work pants.

The long sleeve and short sleeve utility work shirt highlights include convertible collar with stays for a crisp look, functional flap pockets with pencil stall, and soil release to ensure a clean look wash after wash. Four new colors bring the total colors offered to six. Available colors include Navy, Khaki, Black, Silver, Charcoal, and Olive Green.

The 8 oz 65/35 polyester/cotton twill pant has a jean-style waistband with hook and eye closure, wide belt loops for durability, and soil release. The garment is available in colors designed to complement the work shirt. The complete outfit is ideal for builders, carpenters, tradesmen, and any time a durable work shirt with the softness of home wash is desired.

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UniformMarket Store System Welcomes New Users

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

iD By Landau, MS www.idbylandau.com HT Uniforms, TX www.htuniforms.com Sites Coming soon.... • Lark Uniforms, WI • Global Uniforms, NJ • J.A. Uniforms, FL • Low Country Uniform, SC • A & H Uniform, DE • Uniforms Etc., LA • Image Experts, NY • M Direct, IL • Wilsons Uniforms, CA and others...

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