July/August 2008 - Fast Forward
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Edwards Garment Co. (asi/51752) has acquired HMB Inc./Andrew Rohan (asi/58794) in a cash deal. Terms were not disclosed. “When we approached the owners, timing wise it worked out because they were ready to move on into retirement,” says Edwards CEO Gary Schultz. “They felt very comfortable turning the company and relationships over to us.” The purchase gives Edwards a full line of sweaters, which it had only dabbled in over the years. “We felt that sweaters were an important segment, but didn’t know how we were going to add them to our line,” says Schultz. “We’ve offered a few over the years, but we found that if you are going to be in a category, you need to have more than one or two items. With Andrew Rohan we get a full line from a brand name that is well-known and respected.” Edwards is in the process of moving the inventory and customer service to its main office in Kalamazoo, MI, over the next 30-60 days. Some employees, including several in sales, product development, inventory and production planning, will also be making the move. The company will continue to use the Andrew Rohan name but will not retain its ASI number. “This purchase plays into our strategic goal to broaden our line and offer more solutions and options for product to the promotional product industry,” says Schultz. “We will use it to capitalize on our position in the market and continue to grow.”
Uniforms get a renovation, too It’s no joke: The Holiday Inn Select in Clearwater, FL has won a uniform makeover courtesy of Cintas.
But, after five minutes of arguing back and forth with Cintas’s marketing team, Falk finally realized this was no prank call. To qualify for the award, (which includes a free style consultation and image management seminar from Roberta Hughes of Avidere, LLC and $10,000 for new uniforms), executives in the hospitality industry were asked to tell Cintas why their property was in need of a corporate apparel makeover. On the entry form, Falk says there was ample room for detail and photos. But his entry was short and sweet. “I didn’t go into any of that,” he says. “I just said, ‘Hey, I need this, this is why, and that new uniforms would be an unbelievable reward as our hotel was going through major renovations.’” Last October, Holiday Inn made public its intentions of a brand redesign which includes new signage, renovated rooms, a new color-scheme and updated employee uniforms. All franchisees are required to comply by 2010. Falk’s hotel is undergoing renovations now. “I’m pushing very hard to be the first property in the Florida market to have the new stuff,” he says. The new Holiday Inn color boards feature earth-tones, and once the renovations are totally complete (Falk hopes by November) the hotel will have an “urban, modern feel with a homey, relaxed atmosphere,” he says. After being awarded the prize money, Falk says his staff, Roberta Hughes and Cintas took a closer look at the uniforms already previously budgeted for. “We spent a lot of time on this, coordinating styles to be consistent with the color boards and the theme of the hotel.” The front desk employees will be wearing black, open-collared blouses with black slacks and neck tie or scarf. The rest of the staff, including the van drivers, maintenance/housekeeping crew and kitchen staff will be more complementary to the color scheme in beige, brown, and khaki with subtle green accents. No uniform was selected without employee input. “We really put some thought into this,” he says. “To me, an employee who looks good, feels good, and that shows in the service they provide. You have to give them the tools to do that, and the uniform is the biggest tool.” Uniforms HotSheet
But the scenario doesn’t end there. The customer’s FitPrint is transferred electronically from your store to the uniform manufacturer, where the garment pieces are custom-cut by computer control. The completed custom uniform is shipped directly to the customer in about three weeks. “Once someone gets a custom-made uniform, it’s hard to go back to the rack,” said Rob Weber, president of Intellifit, a Philadelphia firm that markets a patented 3-D full body scanner. “Our process brings custom-made uniforms into a price point where many more customers can afford them.” Intellifit’s Virtual Fitting Room allows customers to use their profiles to shop at retail and online for custom made uniforms as well as select ready-to-wear garments. To date, Intellifit has measured over 230,000 individuals, representing the largest sizing database of its kind in the world. Intellifit plans to leverage that data to create happy customers and profitable sales for retailers. For example, the system will either instantly identify stock items that can provide a good fit, or create a pattern for a custom uniform.
Hung out to dry?
Dry cleaners say the tariff comes too late to protect American manufacturers, most of which have already closed their doors. The National Cleaners Association (NCA) (www.nca-i.com) says a dumping lawsuit was filed years ago, and while U.S. manufacturers won their argument, a tariff was never imposed, and another American manufacturing industry became virtually extinct. The one remaining U.S. manufacturer, M&B Metal Products, filed a petition with the DOC on July 31, 2007, and less than eight months later, the tariff was imposed and hanger prices jumped as much as 100% almost overnight. “While they are reluctant to do so, cleaners nationwide are working on such slim margins that they will have to increase prices to consumers if they want to stay in business,” says NCA Executive Director Nora Nealis.
Get Schooled
Seminar presenters will be Robert A. Kapp, former president of the U.S.-China Business Council, and Art Carver, president of Sourcing Resource Group, Inc. Attendees will receive an overview of the economic and political trends in China and the country’s new labor laws, and how they impact footwear manufacturers and raw material suppliers. “Dramatic changes are taking place in footwear manufacturing in China, making for an unsettling situation,” says Carver. “Factory owners are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain control of their cost structures, and are no longer willing to take the risks they have in the past.” Details at www.materialsatwsa.com. Shirts My Way
“Companies who have shirts made with logos often find out, too late, that the shirts don’t live up to their company identity,” says Peter Crawfurd, who founded ShirtsMyWay.biz with partner Michael Yang. “Buyers are losing out on the marketing potential of their shirts.” Crawfurd attributes the disappointment to a lack of personal guidance and professional marketing input from shirt makers, and that’s where ShirtsMyWay.biz aims to make a difference for corporate apparel programs. Their plan is to offer free design and marketing consultations designed to produce high-quality corporate apparel that packs marketing and promotional punch. “An updated look is a significant part of the corporate image,” Crawfurd says. “But maintaining consistency of presence becomes possible with corporate apparel only when garments are fully customizable and usually when personal consultation is involved.” To learn more, go to www.ShirtsMyWay.biz. Pony Up
U.S. Olympians will be wearing smart Polo Ralph Lauren uniforms when they march into National Stadium in Beijing next month. By Jay Gordon
The United States Olympic Committee designated Polo Ralph Lauren as an official outfitter of the 2008 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. Polo designed the official opening ceremony and closing ceremony parade uniforms for the U.S. teams, in addition to an assortment of “village wear” pieces the athletes will wear when they are not competing. “We believe Ralph Lauren is uniquely suited to deliver an outstanding product,” says the U.S.O.C.’s Norman Bellingham. “Polo Ralph Lauren is a quintessential American brand that represents a timeless and classic look which we believe our athletes will be excited to wear.” Ask Bob
Ta-da! Bob found it! Karen, your best bet is to call Chefwear (asi/49670) and ask for their Regal (#4130 Premier; see photo) chef coat. It comes with navy, black or green piping and in sizes XS-5XL. Material-wise, it’s also one of the best on the market: 100% royal fine line 6-oz. cotton twill, double-breasted and with a cross-over Mandarin collar. 3111 N. Knox, Chicago, IL 60641, (800) 568-2433; www.chefwear.com. Time’s running out! Wow, deadline coming up? Unfortunately, polyester seems to be the choice of fabric here, but I did find several options that come close to your specs: Sunrise Wear (asi/90203) sells short-sleeve, woven epaulet pilot shirts (item# 7270S/S). They’re made of 65/35 cotton/poplin and have top-fuse stand collars, hemmed cuffs, seven-button plackets and two adjustable button cuffs. Get ‘em at 1819 N. Floradale Ave., S. El Monte, CA 91733, (800) 237-9333; www.sunrisewear.com. If it’s for a client specializing in the law enforcement or military fields, try Galls. This supplier offers a Flying Cross long-sleeve uniform shirt with shoulder epaulets (style# SH018). It’s available in 65/35 Dacron polyester/combed cotton, however. You can reach them at 2680 Palumbo Drive, P.O. Box 54308, Lexington, KY, (800) 477-7766; www.galls.com. Or how about Edwards Garment Co.’s (asi/51752) short-sleeve safari shirt? There are two functional epaulets, a straight-back yoke seam, and it has stain-release and wrinkle-resistant technologies (item #1215). It’s made of 65/35 polyester/cotton poplin. They’re at 4900 S. 9th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49009, (877) 355-0183; www.edwardsgar Hope I’ve been able to help!
Of course, Lisa! One of my all-time favorites is Aprons Etc. (asi/36558). I know you’re looking for something custom, but just thought I’d point this out: They’ve got a snazzy-looking 65/35 poly/cotton twill executive chef bistro apron with a fold-down front and black piping (style# 3049CU; see photo). I took a look at the product myself and thought, “Oh, my! This would be perfect!” They’re in Mauldin, SC, at P.O. Box 1132, (800) 467-1996; www.apronsetc.com. That said, I like the folks at Augusta Sportswear (asi/37461), too. This supplier has an apron available in the same type of fabric, with 1/2” wide, extra-long waist ties with reinforcement at stress points, a packet pocket on the right and single-needle hemmed sides (item# 2125). P.O. Box 14939, Augusta, GA 30919, (800) 237-6695; www.augustasportswear.com. I once chatted with the owner of ERB Safety & Fame Fabrics (asi/51204) and found him to be a great guy, too, so definitely give him a call. This supplier’s got a full line of half- and full-waist aprons, in a variety of styles. Try the E28 Essentials apron. 1 Safety Way, Woodstock, GA 30188, (800) 800-6522; www.e-erb.com.
Rich, I tried searching for the company you asked for, but couldn’t find them. Did you mean Bayside (asi/30244), by any chance? They’re in Anaheim, CA, at P.O. Box 17219. Give them a ring: (800) 379-9969. The Web site is www.astsportswear.com. That’s the closet match I came across. Anyway, I checked ESP and found a few suppliers you can try. One, Staton Corporate and Casual (asi/89380), has a 100% cotton jersey in the color you wanted (item#2410). However, it’s long-sleeved. [P.O. Box 801309, Dallas, TX 75380, (800) 950-6611; www.statononlline.com.] Ditto with S&S Activewear (asi/84358), the only difference being that it’s made of pre-shrunk cotton (item# 2410). 581 Territorial Drive, Bolingbrooke, IL 60440, (800) 523-2155; www.ssac tivewear.com. But finally, after scrolling down some more, I discovered this: Heritage Sportswear Inc. (asi/60582) sells an adult, 6.2-oz., pre-shrunk, 100% combed-cotton pique polo shirt (style# 1000; see photo left). It’s short-sleeved and is available in safety lime. Close enough? You can reach them at P.O. Box 760, Hebron, OH 43025, (800) 537-2222; www. heritagesportswear.com. That’s it for now! Till next time!
Speedy deliveries
That’s why the Trevose, PA-based company made the commitment to receive the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) certification from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP). The certification process calls for importers to allow USCBP to review security measures at each point in the supply chain, from offshore factories to brokers, freight forwarders, transport carriers, distribution centers – even the procedures used to check visitors in and out of buildings. “This certification, while strengthening border security, also allows us to clear goods through customs quickly. This is essential for speedy customer delivery and inventory control,” says Girisha Chandraraj, Broder’s vice president of marketing. Once its security measures were audited, Broder had to implement some new procedures (such as a visitor log for all offices), retrain personnel on some existing ones (verifying container seals before they are received, for example) – and then have everything independently verified. The process involved virtually every Broder department and took a year to complete; the company also had to pay for third-party inspections and verifications along the way. |
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When Bob Falk, area general manager of the Holiday Inn Select in Clearwater, FL received a phone call from Cintas saying his hotel had won the company’s “Define Your Design” contest earlier this year, his response was, “Okay, very funny, who is this really?” he says.
Imagine a buyer comes into your store to get fitted for a uniform. He enters a glass-walled, see-through fitting room that’s 8’ high and 7’ wide. He is fully clothed. Within 15 seconds, a series of safe, low-power radio waves collect over 200 accurate body measurements – a personal “FitPrint” including bust or chest, waist, height, seat and crotch elevation (inseam) – and the customer then chooses uniform tops, bottoms and accessories.
Like gasoline and food, the price of dry cleaning is also skyrocketing thanks to a tariff imposed by the federal government. In late March, the Department of Commerce ruled that steel wire hangers from China were being dumped on the U.S. market. A subsequent tariff has doubled many dry cleaners’ hanger costs. 
A seminar entitled “The Future of Footwear Manufacturing in China” has been added to the agenda for the Materials at WSA Expo & Conference, July 27-29, 2008 in Las Vegas.
Thousands of companies use dress shirts as marketing and promotional tools, but relatively few have the distinct touch of quality and design that positively increases a customer’s (or prospect’s) perception of a brand. 
When the Olympic opening ceremony parade uniforms for the U.S. team are unveiled to the world on August 8, the outfits – designed by Polo Ralph Lauren – will give a nod
to the heritage and sensibility of the 1920s and 1930s, but will also reflect an elegant and contemporary style with a tailored and modern silhouette. 
Navy blue piping, please!
Bistro apron
It’s green we want!
When you manufacture apparel products in 50 different factories in 30 different countries, the speed with which raw materials and finished products move between points A and B can be either a significant competitive advantage – or a serious liability. Broder (asi/42090) wanted to ensure it would be the former.