Uniform News - March 2008

Casino Gaming Landscape in Connecticut Continues to Grow

Springfield, MA, February 19, 2008 (The Republican) - Traveling along Route 2, a maze of construction, designed to accommodate a projected 9,000 additional daily visitors to the area, is just one sign that something big is afoot as drivers approach Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn.

The other is a 30-story tower, rising from the surrounding reservation woodlands, and crowned with a symbol of Las Vegas - the shiny MGM Grand marquee with its signature lion.

"We're on schedule and on budget, and that's a good thing. Right now we're running two shifts, seven days a week," said Gillian Murphy, senior vice president and general manager of the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, in mid-January.

When it opens in May, the $700 million MGM Grand at Foxwoods will be Connecticut's third largest casino. Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, was Connecticut's first casino.

The neighboring rival Mohegan Sun Casino, run by the Mohegan Tribe, is undergoing its own $740 million expansion, which will add a 1,000-room hotel, House of Blues club and 64,000-square-foot casino by 2010.

The gaming industry has traditionally been one where "competition is very important," according to David G. Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.

"Just look at the Vegas strip. We've got volcanoes and Paris Hilton having parties at night clubs and top chefs from around the world - all because of competition," Schwartz said.

"And I think you are seeing that trend nationally," added Schwartz about Connecticut, where "when you get one casino in the market who upgrades, the other has to follow suit."

Foxwoods officials prefer not to use the word expansion, instead calling the MGM Grand a "destination" for New Englanders who want more than slots and gaming tables.

The MGM Grand will be connected to Foxwoods Resort Casino by a pedestrian concourse featuring a moving walkway, dropping visitors into the conference center at the MGM where they can take an escalator directly onto the casino floor. The business deal between the two casinos involves the MGM Grand licensing its name to the Mashantuckets as operators of the property.

Murphy, a former vice president for Harrah's in Las Vegas, said the MGM-Foxwoods collaboration is "bringing a bit of Las Vegas to Connecticut."

"There was a shift a number of years ago in Las Vegas from just a site for gaming to a destination spot for shopping, theater, night clubs ... and in many ways that is what we are bringing to Connecticut," she said.

Before announcing the expansion in February 2005, the tribe carefully planned out its strategy, talking with various consultants for a period of several years to help envision the right size and mix of amenities for the new casino, said Saverio Mancini, director of public relations at Foxwoods.

According to Mancini, the tribe "always wanted to brand their property," and eventually approached the MGM Grand which didn't have a presence in this part of the country.

For MGM, the opportunity to form a strategic relationship with the Mashantucket tribe was "obviously mutually beneficial and therefore attractive to us," according to Gordon M. Absher, vice president of public affairs at the MGM Mirage in Las Vegas.

"Foxwoods is undeniably one of strongest forces in the gaming industry on the East Coast and has risen beyond the arena of tribal gaming to one of most successful casinos in the world," Absher said.

Adjusting her hard hat on a recent tour of the site, Murphy stood on the stage of the performing arts theater that she called the "signature piece of the property."

"It's really going to be something quite luxurious and different for the region. Think Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles," Murphy said of the theater whose decor will include rich burgundy and brown appointments.

"This is a larger venue for us and gives us more flexibility in term of bringing more Las Vegas-style, theatrical entertainment like Cirque du Soleil to the area. We plan on having a major headliner here almost every weekend," she added.

The MGM Grand will feature a nightclub called Shrine, located off the casino floor.

"I don't think there's anything quite like it to be seen in this area. It's comparable to the famed Tao nightclub in Vegas," Murphy said about its two large dance floors, cozy seating areas, and an iced down vodka bar. A second floor in the club will house an Asian bistro.

Among all the glitz and glamour of the resort's design, Murphy noted what is special about the building is they have managed to leverage the beauty of the natural surroundings through its exterior wall of windows.

For the warmer summer months, a fan-shaped outdoor swimming pool will cool off visitors who can also step into two whirlpools-hot tubs.

But the MGM Grand isn't all that's new in Mashantucket. To complement the MGM Grand, the tribe will embark on a $55 renovation project they are calling "the next generation of Foxwoods."

The original Foxwoods Resort Casino features more than 7,200 slots, 380 table games and the only World Poker Tour room in New England. There are 1,416 guest rooms and suites in three hotels, more than 30 restaurants, a luxurious spa, more than 50,000 square feet of premium meeting and event space, 24 retail shops and five entertainment venues, including the 1,400-seat Fox Theatre.

Set to be unveiled by summer, the renovation will bring two new dining experiences by David Burke, acclaimed celebrity chef best know for his New York City restaurant, as well as a new luxury retail corridor and 6,600-square-foot, ultra-hip lounge.

Although Foxwoods does not release its financials, a news release posted on its Web site in September noted that in August the casino reported to the Connecticut Division of Special Revenue a net slot win of $71.9 million, a $687,000 increase from August 2006. The tribal nation also reported a $17.9 million contribution to Connecticut for August, increasing to $2.531 billion given since January 1993 when slot machines were introduced at Foxwoods.

International News:

Hartindo AF21 Meets the Requirements for Fabric Used in Armed Forces Uniforms

Corunna, ON, February 26, 2008 (Earth Times) -- MSE Enviro-Tech Corp. in collaboration with Megola Inc. announced today that Hartindo AF21 Fire Inhibitor is undergoing further testing at CTT Group for the textile industry. Various fabrics are being tested in accordance with ASTM D 6413, Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test). Initial reports show that both 100% cotton fabric and a specific nylon/cotton blend used in the manufacturing of uniforms for the Armed Forces have already met the requirements of the test.

A report by the Freedonia Group states that "the US demand for flame retardants will rise 3.6 percent per year to 1.1 billion pounds in 2008, valued at $1.3 billion. In value terms, growth will increase a robust 5.9 percent annually as higher value specialty flame retardants increase their share of the market."

Currently, many of the approved fire retardants have been shown to have negative environmental and health effects. In addition, many common fire retardant fabrics sacrifice breathability and comfort for safety. Hartindo AF21, being non-toxic and non-irritating, is a potential solution for the problems surrounding this hotly debated topic. With AF21, there is great potential in the production of lightweight, breathable, fire resistant clothing and personal protective equipment.

Hartindo AF21 is water-based, environmentally friendly, multi-purpose, non-toxic and non-corrosive fire inhibitor. As opposed to the numerous, and often times toxic, fire retardants on the market that simply delay the spread of fire, AF21 renders materials non-flammable, thereby preventing the spread of fire. It can be applied to all natural fibers and many synthetics materials. Recently, AF21 has met or exceeded the following test standards: NFPA 701 (100% cotton); NFPA 2112 (100% cotton); ASTM E 84-07 (Douglas fir lumber); and 16 CFR 1633 (mattress)

The CTT Group (www.groupecttgroup.com), located in Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, is a dynamic, multi-service organization dedicated to assuring the prosperity of textile, geosynthetic and para-textile companies by adding value to their business processes.

The Textiles Division of the CTT Group offers a complete range of services to customers in the field of Primary Textile, Textile Products and Clothing. The CTT Group's ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 17025 certifications ensure that their growing network of customers receive an additional pledge of quality and professionalism.

Lenzing Supplies Specialty Fiber for US Armed Forces Uniforms

Austria, February 14, 2008 (Fibre2 Fashion) - The Lenzing Group will supply flame retardant specialty fibers for the new generation of US armed forces combat wear.

The US president recently signed the National Defense Authorization Act for the financial year 2008, enabling the long-term supply of the US armed forces with TenCate Defender fabric for uniforms. The key component of this novel fabric is the heat protection fiber Lenzing FR.

Lenzing supplies the fibers to its US partner TenCate Protective Fabric (TenCate) from Austria. The company is the leading producer of flame retardant fabric for the US armed forces. By legislation, only fully US-made clothing may be provided to the US armed forces. The recent waiver permits Lenzing to supply the required volumes of the specialty fiber Lenzing FR for the next five years.

The new uniform fabric Defender M meets US soldiers’ enhanced need for flame protection caused by the rise in attacks with improvised explosive devices. Unlike other fibers, Lenzing FR not only offers inherent FR properties but also active moisture management and excellent comfort of wear, and last but not least – fast and reliable delivery capability of sufficient quantity to an industrial scale.

The close cooperation of TenCate and Lenzing combines excellence in FR fabric development and production. TenCate Defenderm M fabric with Lenzing FR fiber offers superior protection and the high comfort of wear of conventional non-protective fabrics.

Soldiers to Get High-Tech Combat Uniforms

Seoul, South Korea, February 27, 2008 - Korean soldiers of the future operating in winter will wear cold-weather clothing equipped with temperature-adjusting mechanisms. Their color-shifting uniforms will use digital camouflage patterns that mimic their surroundings, be it rocks or trees. Their bulletproof helmets will be outfitted with global positioning systems (GPS), image-transmitting devices and long-distance communications equipment. Previously imaginable only in sci-fi movies, this kind of high-tech gear will be supplied to South Korea's servicemen by 2020.

The Defense Ministry on Tuesday said it plans to equip military personnel with upgraded battle uniforms and equipment under a three-phase plan through 2020 in order to maximize their individual combat capabilities in future battle environments.

In the first phase, planned for completion by 2012, the current olive green camouflage combat fatigues will be replaced with gray fatigues with a digital design, similar to those currently worn by U.S. Army soldiers. In the final phase, the combat fatigues will be installed with temperature-sensitive mechanisms that will automatically absorb or discharge heat depending on the temperature of the air. They will be made of a high-tech material with an automatic camouflage function.

Soldiers will also be equipped with micro personal computer systems and anti-biochemical capabilities. By 2016 their helmets will be upgraded to resist small arms fire from one to two meters away. They will also be equipped with short-range communication devices, including headsets and image-transmitting equipment.

By 2020, soldiers will be outfitted with long-range communication devices, such as voice recognition microphones, video cameras and displays, as well as GPS devices.

Military News:

Contractors Can No Longer Wear Marine Cammies

Washington, February 4, 2008 (Marine Corps Times) - Soon, it’ll be even easier to tell who is a Marine — and who isn’t. A new servicewide directive prohibits civilians from wearing the Corps’ standard-issue, camouflage uniform while deployed.

After several years of allowing contractors, technicians and some government civilians to suit up and blend in with Marines downrange, the Corps is drawing a line in the sand. And it comes as no surprise to uniform expert Owen Conner.

“You can’t have any slob wearing the uniform,” said Conner, curator of uniforms and heraldry at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. “If you have too many people wearing it, they start looking like park rangers or postal employees rather than military.”

Nobody will mistake a bearded contractor with a beer gut and unbuttoned blouse for a real Marine after the policy takes effect June 30.

“Leaders are directed to stress the importance of proper wear of the [Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform] by all personnel and enforce regulations,” said the Jan. 30 administrative message issued by Commandant Gen. James Conway.

Civilians will be permitted to wear the Defense Department-issue three-color desert utility uniform.

Troops used to spend hours ironing and starching uniforms, shining boots and polishing brass belt buckles. But much of that has changed. The new policy may mean a renewed focus on uniforms.

“Over the years, we’ve seen devolution in the formality of the uniform. Uniforms are becoming less and less formal and more and more like sportswear or working clothes. It’s sort of been devalued to the point where other people will throw them on like coveralls,” Conner said. “Maybe the Marines have become concerned about the blurring and decided they still need a little control over that. A uniform is a badge of pride, and you want to show that.”

Army Tests Uniforms Built for Afghan Terrain

Washington, February 1, 2008 (USA Today) - Soldiers will slide down rock-strewn hillsides in Hawaii to test the seats of new prototype uniform pants to replace those that have come apart at the crotch during fighting in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan, Army officials say.

"These guys are actually sliding down the mountainsides on their butts," said Fred Coppola, an Army official working on the problem. "In a lot of cases, it was too mountainous, too rugged, and too steep to try to walk down."

The new uniforms could reach soldiers in Afghanistan as early as this spring, traditionally the time when Taliban insurgents have mounted offensives. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently announced the Pentagon is sending 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan this spring. They will join about 26,000 soldiers already there.

Finding the proper solution to the uniform problem has been difficult. In one case, researchers sprayed the pants with the same type of rubbery material used to protect the beds of pickups. That effort failed because the material was flammable, Coppola said. "It went up like a torch."

A flame-resistant substitute was found, and it now bolsters the bottom of one uniform to be tested.

Another contender is a patch of tough fabric sewn onto the seat and inseam. Finding the right balance between strength and comfort isn't easy, Coppola said.

"I could put steel plates in the butts, but that's not going to be very comfortable," he said.

Hundreds of the uniforms will be shipped this month to soldiers in 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii. The soldiers will "scooch around on their butts" to test them out, Coppola said.

"They have the lava rocks, and the lava formations in certain parts of Hawaii that we can use to replicate the same severity of the Afghan theater," he said.

If a uniform stands up to the abuse, it could be fielded in as little as three months, Coppola said.

Brig. Gen. Mark Brown, who commands the Army's Program Executive Office Soldier, which fields gear for soldiers, learned of the problem with the pants during a visit to Afghanistan in August.

The demands of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in other changes to Army uniforms.

• Flame-resistant uniforms - Improvised explosive devices have burned soldiers severely in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since late 2006, the military raced to issue flame-resistant uniforms to troops.

For the first time in January, all four of the uniforms issued to soldiers headed to Iraq and Afghanistan will be flame-resistant. They cost $145 per set, about double the price of the regular uniform. The uniforms resist burning and give soldiers several seconds to escape a burning vehicle.

"As soon as you have the blast, you have fire," Coppola said. "If the blast doesn't kill you, the burns and the fire can."

• Combat boots - Like the standard-issue uniform, the regular boot gets battered in Afghanistan. They get torn up by rocks, and the sole isn't sturdy enough in the mountains, Coppola said. Troops requested 2,500 pairs of mountaineering boots.

• Cold-weather gear - In August, the Army began sending troops to Iraq with seven separate garments, from underwear to parkas, to deal with harsh winters. The Army sped up the program by six months, Coppola said.

"We are constantly moving to upgrade equipment and to ensure that our soldiers always have the best, most technologically advanced gear available," Brown said.

Medical Apparel News:

A New Take on Uniforms

Vancouver, February 25, 2008 - Vancouver-based Studio Scrubs plans to bring today's health care uniform into the modern world by offering fashionable knit outfits made from organic cotton, bamboo and soy.

Company founder Cassie Dee says her scrubs are not only stylish, but anti-bacterial, hypo-allergenic, wrinkle-resistant and, best of all, derived from renewable resources.

"They're all sold individually," Dee said in an interview. "We started selling in November and we've been selling to nurses and dental hygienists. Our customer satisfaction has been pretty good."

Dee, 23, came up with the idea while attending the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design, where she now works part time as an assistant teacher in the pattern-making and construction classes.

"I met a lot of nurses, so I had the idea in the back of my head. They told me that [their scrubs] were made of polyester, were pretty stifling and hot and were boxy looking."

Dee said her scrubs are not only softer than traditional scrubs and better for the environment, but have a discernible waistline and are made with comfortable fabrics in different colors.

As well, she said, her outfits embrace an "ethic of wellness" using very soft organic cotton, bamboo and soy.

The clothing line, which incorporates three top styles and two pant styles, is also chemical free, Dee added.

"When I was at fashion school, I learned the benefits of organic and soy. And are all those chemicals [in traditional scrubs] necessary?"

Dee, who runs the business with her partner Trevor Riauka, said sustainability is part of her small company's philosophy. As part of that philosophy, manufacturing is outsourced to a local company.

"We design and manufacture [outfits] sweatshop-free in Vancouver. If it was manufactured overseas, there's all the transportation pollution. And we ship out uniforms in recycled boxes. I just ask other companies for their used boxes."

Dee, whose outfits are more expensive than traditional scrubs, has sold about 35 uniforms since Studio Scrubs (www.studioscrubs.com) started up three months ago. "We started out with $10,000 for the machinery for sewing, business cards, the fabric and website. In November, we sold about $500 [in outfits], about $800 in December and $1,000 in January. And I'm happy with that. We've worked hard and our sales keep rising."

For now, Dee sells her uniforms online or at booths set up in Lower Mainland hospitals, often in partnership with hospital foundations.

The company sources most of its material from Syka Fabric in Mission, she added.

Dee said the potential market is huge and she's also getting interest from nurses in California.

"In six months, we should be selling two uniforms a day or 60 a month. In two years, we think we'll be selling eight uniforms a day."

Dee, a first-time business owner, said her most difficult challenge so far is simply getting out the word. "The hardest thing is getting people to know about our business."

Dana Mills, a student nurse at Trinity Western University, bought a Studio Scrubs uniform after finding out about the product on the Internet.

"I love them," Mills said in an interview. "I was a dental assistant for several years before and I'm always on the lookout for something new and different rather than the same old scrubs. And I like to support things local."

Mills said her new scrubs are far more comfortable. "They're like wearing pajamas or lounge wear. They're nice soft cotton, not like a uniform. And they're a bit more stylish. It doesn't feel like you're wearing a tent.

"I'm also a bit larger and, though it's fitted, it doesn't feel revealing."

Mills said when she first wore her new scrubs, her colleagues immediately asked where she got them. "Everybody asked for the website. I don't see anything like this in the market. Before, I often made my own uniforms, because everything else was the same."

Mills said she thinks Studio Scrubs is a winner, just for the comfort level.

"As nurses, we spend 12 hours on a shift. And you have to be comfortable."

Uniform Advantage Takes the Guess Work Out of Online Shopping

Weston, FL, (PR-USA.Net) - Uniform Advantage, one of the leading manufacturers and sellers of medical scrubs and nursing uniforms both online and in stores across the country, kicked off the New Year with the launch of a new shopping assistant on their website.

The shopping assistant is essentially, an advanced search box that sits prominently on the upper left hand side of the home page. It is designed to help website visitors quickly find specific items they are looking for such as branded medical uniforms, or specific styles of nursing shoes with just a few drop-down menus.

The interface is surprisingly easy to use. Customers can either do a quick search for all results in a particular category or do an advanced search. The fields allow the customer to filter products by department, style, brand, color, and size, as well as sort by price and collection. Additional features allow the customer to select whether the items are on sale and can see results for men, women or both. The shopping assistant results page shows high resolution images of every garment and provides information such as price, available colors, and sizes, making the search easy and efficient. "Our goal was to empower the consumers and allow them to find specific sizes, colors, or styles quickly on our site. The launch of our Shopping Assistant does that and more. Thus, securing our leadership role through innovation, while providing a great shopping experience." said the Director of eCommerce & Internet Marketing.

Uniform Advantage has been providing the medical industry with comfortable, high-quality nursing scrubs, surgical caps, nurse uniforms, and medical lab coats for decades. Uniform Advantage not only carries name brands such as Cherokee Uniforms, Dansko Shoes, and Dickies Scrubs, but they also sell their own product line of UA Branded discount scrubs and UA Branded nursing shoes

For more information and to view their garments, visit Uniform Advantage at www.uniformadvantage.com, or call 888-433-5522.

Colorful, Patterned Scrubs Abound at Area Hospitals

Chicago, February 10, 2008 (South Town Star) - On the day that Tricia Kinahan wore a Hello Kitty top to work, her colleague Danielle Glas opted for a skunk pattern.

Both women are registered nurses at Oak Lawn's Hope Children's Hospital, where the dress code is as colorful as the playroom where young patients like to hang out.

Being able to choose your work wardrobe does wonders for morale, said Heidi Weszely, interim manager of clinical operations. "When we found out we could wear whatever colors we wanted, everybody ran out to buy more scrubs."

It's good for the patients, too, said Lynn Curran, especially for the estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of the population afflicted with "white-coat syndrome," a condition in which a patient's blood pressure spikes when someone wearing a white uniform enters the room.

When Curran started in the nursing field 28 years ago, there still were some A-line dress hold-outs.

"They wore the clunky solid white shoes, the white dress, the cap," said Curran, a registered nurse and professional nurse educator at Advocate Christ Hospital next door in Oak Lawn. "Back then, nurses used to dress up. One woman even wore pearls."

Today, the traditional nurse's uniform has gone the way of the house-call-making doctor.

They've been replaced by the scrub, a garment that back in the early '80s was seen only in the operating room (or episodes of "M*A*S*H"). And even then, the wearer often pulled a lab coat over them.

"Scrubs were considered downgrades back then," Curran said.

Today, scrubs are as common as thermometers in most hospital arenas.

The pullover tops and drawstring bottoms are comfortable and easy to clean, and with their plentiful pockets can hold an assortment of supplies, including pens and instruments. And they come in all kinds of colors and patterns. They even come under designer labels.

Working Class Uniforms, a store in Oak Lawn, sells Baby Phat, Katherine Heigl, Apple Bottoms and Grey's Anatomy Professional Wear Scrubs by Barco Uniforms. Owner Nancy Armstrong said nurses today value style as much as comfort and price.

That is not to say the color white went willingly or easily.

Even when it dawned on hospital officials that it made much more sense for bending, lifting and sometimes running nurses to wear pants instead of a dress or skirt, Curran said the switch from white to today's rainbow of options was not swift.

"I always thought white was such a funny color for nurses to wear, especially in certain units where there is so much wound care.

At Christ, scrubs are color-coded by department. Adult rehabilitation staffers wear hunter green and respiratory therapists wear navy blue. And at Hope, where children are treated for everything from broken bones to serious illnesses, the brighter and sillier the pattern, the better.

Palos Community Hospital follows a similar directive, with the cardiovascular unit dressing in khaki and the medical surgical unit donning navy and white.

But that doesn't mean it's anything goes at local hospitals, said Nicole Warchol, assistant unit supervisor at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park.

"We work hard to maintain our professionalism," said Warchol, a registered nurse. "It's not always easy when you come to work in gym shoes."

Nevertheless, she said, there are standards. Denim scrubs, for example, are not allowed. Neither are acrylic nails. And long hair must be pulled back.

An essential part of every nurse's outfit is a properly displayed badge. Scrub colors may distinguish one department from another, but for patients' sake, it should always be clear what their title is by a person's badge.

Nevertheless, Warchol says, patients at Little Company of Mary still tend to lump all hospital employees into two groups: Women are nurses and men are doctors.

"It doesn't matter what you're wearing."

Company News Releases

Cintas, Gillett Evernham Sign Sponsorship Deal

Cincinnati, February 4, 2008, (Business Courier) - Cintas Corp., a supplier of corporate uniforms and other business services, has agreed to a multiyear sponsorship deal at Gillett Evernham Motorsports beginning with the 2008 season.

Cincinnati-based Cintas will become the official uniform supplier and safety supplier for all three of GEM's teams, which gives the company associate sponsorship positioning on the Nos. 9, 10 and 19 Sprint Cup cars.

Cintas also will be a primary sponsor on Patrick Carpentier's No. 10 Dodge for the March 9 Sprint Cup race at Atlanta, marking the first time Cintas has been a primary sponsor on a Cup car, the company said.

Terms of the deal were not available.

A major component of the agreement is a business-to-business relationship with many of team owner George Gillett Jr.'s other operations, including ski resorts and car dealerships.

Cintas also has status in NASCAR as the preferred uniform and first-aid supplier, a relationship that began in 1999.

In addition to sponsoring GEM's Sprint Cup teams, Cintas will have access to drivers Kasey Kahne and Elliott Sadler. Cintas intends to use the drivers as part of its "Lifetime Experiences" program for Cintas clients.

Gillett Evernham, based in Statesville, N.C., fields racecars on the NASCAR circuit. Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS) manufactures and supplies corporate identity uniforms and provides ancillary products and services to businesses in North America.

Vantage Apparel Wins Three Industry Awards

Avenel, NJ, February 15, 2008 - Vantage Apparel, leading manufacturer and decorator of logo apparel, was honored with 2 Gold Awards at the 52nd annual PPAI Suppliers Achievement Awards competition sponsored by Promotional Products Association International and a first place finish in the 2008 ASI Distributor Choice Awards for Decorated Apparel.

The Gold Embroidery award was won with a 140,000 stitch multi-media logo, the Shell Game. This unique logo successfully conveyed the picturesque scenery of the event location through a variety of embroidery techniques. Appliqué, 3-D puff, metallic threads, creative color choices and impeccable registration all contributed to the award-winning design.

The Gold Web award was presented to Vantage Apparel in the category of Functionality/Usability. The company’s website provides customers with an easy-to-use environment showcasing a broad line of products, extensive decoration and custom services and distributor sales and marketing tools. Real-time inventory and password protected account information also helps to streamline and enhance the sales process.

Vantage Apparel took first place in the 2008 ASI Distributor Choice Awards for the category of Wearables – Decorated. They have been a winner or finalist in the ASI Distributor Choice awards since its inception.

For additional information on Vantage products and services, contact Vantage Apparel at 800-221-0020 or visit their website at www.vantageapparel.com.

A+ Career Apparel Takes Customers Behind the Seams

San Bruno, CA, February 1, 2008 – A+ Career Apparel continues to build its reputation as the leading manufacturer of everyday apparel for business, casual and custom outfitting. From tops to bottoms, A+ Career Apparel can service all your needs.

“Many organizations have historically been buying their uniforms and corporate logo’d apparel from re-distributors that masquerade as manufacturers,” says George Collinger, national sales manager for A+ Career Apparel.

“These re-distributors offer fixed product assortments, limited sizing, and are unable to actually custom manufacture a variety of products whose design best fits the brand image or application of the end-users,” Collinger adds.

“Our company can create, manufacture and fulfill the branding needs of our customers. By being the manufacturer, we understand the equity behind our clients’ brand, and go to great lengths to protect its interpretation,” Collinger emphasizes.

Collinger continues, “The company’s manufacturing heritage in the school uniform industry has carried over to the A+ Career Apparel division because we’re highly experienced in producing products for the toughest of end-users – kids. Now, our career apparel, uniform and image-wear clients can benefit from our heritage by enjoying our exclusive Wear-Tested™ Guarantee on everything we make – If any garment does not stand up to one year of normal wear, we’ll replace it. It’s that simple.”

To take a further look “behind the seams,” please visit our website at www.apluscareerapparel.com or call Customer Service at 1-800-227-3215.

About Retail:

New Mobile Device Apps Impact Marketing & In-Store Experience

February 7, 2008 (RetailWire) - As penetration of mobile devices tops the 250 million in the U.S. alone, retailers are not only looking at the mobile device as a new marketing vehicle, but also as a new opportunity to improve the in-store shopping experience. With the emergence of the iPhone and other smart phone devices, new applications are emerging that allow the mobile device to merge the rich media experiences of the web with the personalization of brick & mortar shopping.

"With over 250 million Americans owning a mobile phone -- more than a computer or TV -- mobile marketing is becoming a necessity if retailers are looking to optimize customer interaction," said Alex Muller, CEO of Slifter, a mobile solution provider that's worked with stores like Toys "R" Us, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Macy's. This year, Slifter will also be launching web-based tools to manage and share mobile shopping lists.

Slifter enables consumers to enter the name of product they want along with their zip code to attain information directly onto their screen. The phone displays a photo of the item, along with product description, local availability, store location, phone number, and a map to the retailer. "Slifter is about making a consumer's life a little easier," said Muller.

A new application from StoreXperience, Shopping, is designed to act as a Personal Shopping Assistant, offering suggestions and recommendations via the mobile device. StoreXperience offers the capability to design, implement, and monitor campaigns in real time, at the local level.

"Mobile devices provide a largely untapped opportunity for retailers to connect with consumers, particularly those in the 18- to 40-year-old demographic, in real-time as they shop," said Herve Pluche, president of StoreXperience. Built on the Microsoft software platform, StoreXperience easy Shopping leverages 2D Datamatrix technology - interactive bar code-like symbols that can be placed next to product information cards, on posters, on signage or on websites. By downloading a simple software application via a text message to their mobile phones, consumers can then "scan" 2D Datamatrix tags with their phones' cameras while they shop, receiving rich, in-depth product information supplied by participating retailers and brands.

"With the introduction of feature-rich mobile phones and data capable telecommunication networks, brands and stores have a unique opportunity to reconcile these two fields, and inform and influence consumer behavior in the field before a purchasing decision is made," said Mr. Pluche.

Study: Event Marketing Drives Purchases

January 29, 2008 (RetailWire) - A new survey by the Advertising Research Foundation shows in-person events can boost purchase intent as high as 52 percent.

The study found that "purchase intent" - a customer's stated interest in buying a product - rose from 11 percent to 52 percent among consumers who attended brand-sponsored events, including sports championships, walkathons and theme parks. Such purchase intent translated directly to sales about 50 percent of the time, the report states.

ARF studied 12 companies including Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay and State Farm that ran such events. Harris Interactive polled about 5,000 consumers online after the events' conclusion.

"We used two research firms and three different analyses and it all ended up at the same place: experiential marketing works," William Cook, ARF's senior vice president of research and standards, told Brandweek.

Success results included companies like State Farm that have no product to give away at such events. "It's an added opportunity to create awareness about your brand in relevant situations," said Mark Gibson, assistant vice president of advertising at State Farm.

On the B2B side, similar results were found. According to a survey of 2,000 attendees of trade shows in the spring or summer, 20 percent said they would have bought the brands that were exhibiting regardless of their attendance at the show. However, purchase intent rose to 54 percent when customers interacted with the 14 different brands studied. Cisco, Dell and Microsoft were among the brands measured across four different trade shows. Nearly half (46 percent) of attendees felt they had an "emotional connection" with the brand after interacting with it at a trade show. Only 15 percent said they would have made that claim regardless.

"The special value of events, sponsorships and trade shows has to be considered," Raymond Pettit, co-author and svp at MarketShare, told Brandweek. "There are many connection points you can build at an event whether it is emotional, aspirational or awareness building - it goes beyond just counting audience attendance."

Drew Livingston, owner of TrashTalkFCM, a non-traditional agency that also participated in the study, believes more research still needs to be done to understand the value of event marketing. "The goal is to level the playing field with traditional media."