Company Profile:
Uncommon Threads

By Jackie Rosselli

In an industry that has seen its share of trends, Scott Verson, owner of the chef apparel company known as Uncommon Threads, says it is traditional, not trend, that is selling right now. To learn more about chef apparel and his company, read on:

Q. Out of curiosity, why is the company called Uncommon Threads?
A. Uncommon Threads is a division of V-Tex, Inc. We chose the name because of what we bring to the market: uncommonly great product at an uncommonly great price because of our structure.

Q. Can you elaborate on what you mean by structure?
A. Unlike many of our competitors, we are a U.S. company with its own factory, which is in Guatemala. This is important because it has become increasingly difficult to control quality as a result of global sourcing. Most people in this industry are not large enough to put others on the ground in factories spread across the globe, a fact which can impact the final product. This is one of the reasons I own my own factory. We want to control our pipeline and our quality. We don't use subcontractors, so we're able to control costs.

Full Interview

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.

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"Fly Someone Else"

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

The lifeblood of any business is attracting and keeping customers. But they must be profitable and they must fit into the strategic plans of your company.

As difficult as gaining customers may be, especially in these challenging economic times, sometimes we need to get rid of a customer for the assurance of our firm's future survival and success.

You may even need to jettison profitable customers. Here's a case in point. Years ago, the Skil Company, maker of power tools, decided not to continue to sell to Sears. While Sears was a major customer and profitable, the company determined that selling to smaller retail stores would enable price increases and lead to even greater profitability. The change in marketing took a few years but resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of more profitable business.

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ONLINE ENTRY FORM.... available here

Ragtime Cowboy Joe

By Debra Hindlemann Webster

I'd like to say a few words about the cowboy shirt, (or perhaps I could hum a few bars if I were a Country Western singer). For many, this particular item may be somewhat unfamiliar—either because one grew up in a part of the country that doesn't have cowboys, or because one is just too young to have been exposed to the culture of the Old West. But for those who do remember Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers, and Gene Autry, they can readily acknowledge that the cowboy shirt is as much a part of our American heritage as those cattle punchers, themselves.

The actual garment, as it is today, was developed by Jack A. Weil, who came to Colorado in 1928, and eventually perfected a shirt that appealed to the modest income of the men who worked the open range. Certainly, there were men herding cattle long before Weil, and who continued to do so even as the legend of the Wild West was coming to a close—a result of the settlers who came in droves. But Weil is the one credited with giving the official shirt its modern-day appearance. As he said, the West is a state of mind: It didn't have a specific place or time; he built on that concept, with the myth being more prominent than the reality.

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