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Going Green: Cintas and Wyndham Hotels Collaborate on
Eco-Friendly Uniforms
By Jackie Rosselli
As part of its evolving "green" strategy, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts will introduce a new ecologically-friendly uniform line for hotel staff using recycled polyester fibers spun from plastic beverage bottles.
The program, developed by Cincinnati-based Cintas, will be introduced at select Wyndham hotels beginning this fall. "As part of our quest to find new and innovative green practices, we challenged Cintas to design a program that reflected our three Wyndham brand-defining pillars of innovation, personalization and flexibility," said Faith Taylor, Wyndham Worldwide vice president of sustainability and innovation.
Front desk and other customer-facing employees are required to begin wearing the new uniforms by the end of 2009 and housekeeping and other back-of-house staff by 2010. All new properties are required to provide the new uniforms upon opening. The new Wyndham uniforms will also be displayed at the 2008 International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show to be held in New York's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Nov. 8-11, at the Cintas Corporation trade show booth.
Call for Entries: 5th Annual Univator Awards Now Underway
By Jackie Rosselli
Creative. The dictionary defines the word as "characterized by originality and expressiveness."
It is what we here at UniformMarket seek to promote through the annual Univator Awards, this publication's year-end wrap up of the most note-worthy products, ideas, programs and campaigns that have influenced the industry throughout the year. Any company, both national and international, regardless of size, is eligible to enter the competition.
Now in its 5th year, the Univator Awards place the acclaim and attention where it belongs – with you, the manufacturers and distributors who comprise the uniform, corporate apparel and promotional products industries. By giving your concepts the exposure they deserve, the Univator pays tribute to your accomplishments, and is an acknowledgement of a job well done.
How is this exposure achieved? An in-depth feature on all award winners appears in the January online edition of UniformMarket, an e-zine with international reach. The story will also run in the print edition of the venerable Made to Measure, the magazine industry insiders turn to first for the latest trends and market reports. Past recipients have also received coverage in other trade outlets, and many awardees have showcased the news in their own publications, on websites, and have used the results in marketing efforts.
In last month's article, I discussed how you can assert a Positive No, which is the ability to express your values while declining some part of an agreement or request. As a follow on to reflections from the William Ury book, "The Power of a Positive No," here are some thoughts on concluding your negotiation to achieve a mutually satisfactory agreement.
The No you expressed will probably be construed as a rejection so you don't want to terminate the discussions there, assuming you prefer to continue the relationship. As you may be closing one door, you want to be sure to open a second door. At this juncture, you can assert real value and make progress that may not have been possible before.
After hearing the No, frustration will probably occur to the other party which may result in anger and diminish your chances for an agreeable conclusion. What can you do with that negative energy? Make a positive proposal. Express a common Yes that will show respect for the interests of the other party. Your ability to recognize and satisfy the other's interests will facilitate a mutually acceptable agreement assuming your interests will be met as well. You will be successfully persuading the other to accept your offering because you will be meeting his needs. After the suggested agreement, the other party will now have the opportunity to express a No to you. This is certainly a risk that the negotiation may break down. But unless there is a 'win-win' outcome, the agreement will be short-lived anyhow. You can feel comfortable that you expressed your No and you fairly gave the other the same chance. If he feels he was persuaded unfairly, negative feelings may persist and ruin the possibility of a joint agreement. There is an old adage that says 'a man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.' Manipulation by talking someone into something if they really don't accept the value and agree is not a successful long term strategy.
"So many things have changed," Dave Hindlemann reflects. "It used to be a handshake was a man's word. Now, it's lawyers and contracts – cut and dried. The personal element is missing." (“Made to Measure Magazine," Spring/Summer, 1997).
If you've been talking with your colleagues lately, or even if you've been involved personally, you've probably noticed that our society has changed when it comes to the way in which it does business. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac aside, credit crunch and housing markets, too, the uniform industry has been hit with the same kinds of changes in ethical behavior—not only from customers, but from our own small family of apparel manufacturers and suppliers.
More and more, companies are refusing to lend credit, expecting prompt payments with 50% down and balance prepaid before delivery. More and more customers find themselves short and not wanting to pay their bills, no matter how loyal they've been in the past. Return authorizations are being required from corporations that heretofore accepted merchandise sent back as a matter of courtesy: Good will is no longer the name of the game. One or two bad customers can shift more friendly relaxed business policies away from good will, towards harsh, stiff penalties and beyond.
As part of its evolving "green" strategy, Wyndham Hotels and Resorts will introduce a new ecologically-friendly uniform line for hotel staff using recycled polyester fibers spun from plastic beverage bottles.
Creative. The dictionary defines the word as "characterized by originality and expressiveness."
In last month's article, I discussed how you can assert a Positive No, which is the ability to express your values while declining some part of an agreement or request. As a follow on to reflections from the William Ury book, "The Power of a Positive No," here are some thoughts on concluding your negotiation to achieve a mutually satisfactory agreement. 
"So many things have changed," Dave Hindlemann reflects. "It used to be a handshake was a man's word. Now, it's lawyers and contracts – cut and dried. The personal element is missing." (“Made to Measure Magazine," Spring/Summer, 1997).