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| By Jackie Rosselli
The work of eight companies has been recognized by the judging panel of this years UNIVATOR Awards. Some entrants were honored twice, bringing the total number of winning innovations to 12.
The UNIVATOR Awards was created four years ago by UniformMarket to showcase the best programs, ideas and innovations that the industry has to offer. And while we recognize there are many awards programs out there, we know of no other that honors the manufacturers and distributors of uniforms and their contributions to further their companys bottom line.
This years competition saw a record number of entries and, hence, the largest number of awardees in the programs history. In a departure from previous years, categories have been reconfigured to better reflect the quality and content of UNIVATOR recipients.
Any company doing business in the industry was eligible to win a Univator, whether national or international. A call for entries went out in summer, and the staff at UniformMarket also studied company websites to determine if any program or ideas might be award-worthy and thus included in the judging process.
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Every e-commerce site offers the ability to make purchases without ever visiting a brick-and-mortar venue or speaking with a sales rep. But few are designed to educate the customer about the benefits of the product or the industry in which it is used. The addition of Aramarks new website for flame-resistant (FR) clothing may soon change that tradition.
The Aramark Uniform Services website is 80 percent informational and serves as a convenient and more comprehensive resource for customers to shop for FR apparel. The site details issues like how fabrics differ, various ignition risks and how FR clothing can help save lives. Theres even a link where customers can find answers to their most frequently asked questions.
Additionally, the site is used as a training tool for sales teams, with reps encouraged to review the material online as a supplement to a structured training program. Reps, in turn, promote the site to their customers as a way to learn more about clothing ignition risks.
Sales reps need not wonder whether they will get credit and commissions for a sale made online thanks to another site feature. When a customer makes an online purchase using an Aramark catalog, he or she need only enter the source code from the back cover for the rep to receive sales credit. This incentive has helped expand the companys reach to customers who prefer to make online purchases.
This innovative approach of providing information and product to customers while reducing sales channel conflict, in the opinion of UNIVATOR, demonstrates Aramarks commitment to sustainability by reinforcing the brand and taking the industry in a new direction.
www.aramark-flameresistant.com
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While safety trumps comfort for workers exposed to hazardous conditions, it is nonetheless an important consideration when choosing a uniform program Now, thanks to 5.11, both receive equal attention. In 2007, 5.11 introduced what is known as FR-x3 fabric, a breakthrough in fire-retardant technology that feels broken in from day one. Although it feels great, this state-of-the-art material doesnt shrink, curl, melt or drip when exposed to flame and instantly self-extinguishes.
FR-x3 fabric was originally developed for use by special forces as a next-to-skin alternative to non-fire-retardant shirts. Over the past couple of years, however, 5.11s Tactical Series received numerous requests from first responders, firefighters and EMS operators asking for apparel developed specifically for them. The resulting apparel is ideal for all public safety personnel due to their similar operational needs.
While it is another weapon in the arsenal of FR products, it is import to note that the fabric isnt designed to provide exterior protection like turnout gear. Rather, it is worn as a base layer that delivers enhanced skin protection underneath a uniform during fire rescues and other volatile situations. Because the fabric doesnt catch fire or melt onto the skin, its safer than wearing regular cotton.
Exclusive to 5.11 Tactical, the fabric contains a proprietary blend of 51 percent S.P. cotton and 49 percent FR-x3 modacrylic fiber. It offers cottons natural breathability, comfort and ease of care, yet its fire-retardant properties are permanent. The FR assets are integral to the fabric and wont wash or wear out.
When exposed to flame, FR-x3-blended fibers create a char barrier that offers extra skin protection and greater safety. The fabrics high cotton ratio gives it excellent anti-static properties as well.
FR-x3 meets and exceeds minimum standards in NFPA 1975 requirements for no-drip, char length and after-flame properties according to ASTM D6413.
www.511tactical.com
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Red Roof Inn has more than 325 locations, serves millions of guests each year and employs more than 6,000 people. Over the last 30 years, the lodging companys commitment to quality growth has contributed to the creation of the Red Roof Inn identity, which represents value, consistency and excellent service.
To remain competitive in a fierce marketplace, Red Roof Inn recently underwent a complete redesign that extended to its employee wardrobe program. It turned to Rezenatel by Cherokee for expert advice regarding its shirt and blouse options.
Before the makeover, employees wore polo shirts colored in red, a shade which many felt was off-putting to hotel guests. Cherokee was challenged to create a professional program that had a coordinated look for both male and female employees that utilized the best in todays business casual woven fabrics.
The design process included a variety of fabric and silhouette options before a final selection was made. Blue, perceived by management as a color that conveyed friendliness, became the color from which the design team drew inspiration. Tonal shades of blue are used in both long- and short-sleeve options, giving the shirt a seasonal and flattering fit and appearance.
The female shirt is fabricated in a nylon/polyester blend with stretch for added comfort and enhanced movement. The silhouette is flattering for all sizes with double seaming on both sides of the front bodice for a look that is both feminine and professional.
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Cintas and the United Parcel Service (UPS) partnered to reproduce and enhance a new uniform program for more than 40,000 UPS employees. Today UPS is recognized as a company with one of the most recognized and admired brands in the world. The brand has progressed to reflect the evolving business strategy of the company. The new branding reflects UPS broadening capabilities that have occurred in the past few years as the company has expanded globally and introduced new supply chain services. UPS recognizes that the way its brand is presented to its customers affects its continued growth, therefore the uniform program plays an extremely important role within its business worldwide.
The uniform program designed for the UPS drivers and driver helpers includes garments such as waterproof windbreakers, trousers, shirts, hats and pullovers. Special design features were implemented to provide comfort and increase durability. The shirts have an enhanced fit, while the pants offer a specialized waistband for flexibility. The windbreakers are seam-sealed waterproof jackets. These special design features are important because of the wear and tear the drivers experience during their everyday delivery duties.
UPS is the only national account in which Cintas exclusively provides a recycling service for its used uniforms. Cintas also built STAR, an order processing system implemented specifically for UPS. It created the Garment Tracking System to meet UPS tracking needs and security measures. This system allows Cintas to perform reporting on the backend and it provides visibility from manufacturing through distribution to ensure all security measures are being met.
Cintas program management and corporate capabilities played an integral role in the launch and success of the new uniform program. UPS has experienced many benefits as a result of partnering with Cintas due to the broad range of corporate capabilities that it offers. UPS is a critical, all hands on deck account for Cintas and requires teamwork, and for this all-inclusive approach to uniforming, the judging panel is indeed pleased to present Cintas with a UNIVATOR.
www.cintas.com
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Motel 6 was founded in 1962 in Santa Barbara, Calif., by two local building contractors who wanted to build motels with rooms at bargain rates. They decided on a $6 room rate per night that would cover building costs, land leases, mortgages, managers salaries and maid service, hence the company name.
In the beginning, Motel 6 emphasized itself as a no-frills lodging chain with rooms featuring coin-operated black-and-white TVs instead of the free color TVs found in the more expensive motels, along with shower-only bathrooms and functional interior decor to reduce the time it took to clean the rooms. But in 1990, the company was bought by the French-based Accor, which immediately began to renovate all rooms.
The redesign of Motel 6 was recently extended to the apparel program for employees. The company was looking for a new program that would align with its brand proposition of clean, comfortable and affordable rooms. To carry out its vision, it turned to Rezenatel by Cherokee.
With a few simple yet important tweaks to the existing program, Cherokee was able to develop an updated look that reinforced the companys friendly, casual image. Eschewing other selections, Cherokee incorporated the hotels knit polo shirts into the new program, believing that the comfortable apparel best communicated to patrons the hotels low-price promise. A new, darker color palette was incorporated into the shirts and serves as a canvas for the companys logo while giving employees the desired clean, consistent appearance.
The final designs embraced the Motel 6 update and communicated the clean and comfortable promise. The polo shirts are fabricated in poly/cotton jersey with a ring-spun yarn for added softness and comfort. The silhouettes are male and female specific with subtle shaping to give female employees a flattering fit. The shirt placket is accented with white piping to contrast the dark navy background and draw attention to the coordinating white in the Motel 6 logo.
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The slogan for this program, A Fresh New Look, aptly defines both Jack in the Boxs approach to its apparel program and business plan.
In recent years, the company has made significant strides in reinventing its brand. More than 150 of its restaurants were re-branded, and it launched several new high-quality products. Jack in the Box also opened new restaurants and expanded its franchise program. Given this atmosphere, it was important that its uniform program was well received so it is adopted by more Jack in the Box restaurant franchises and, more importantly, by its customers.
During the re-branding process, it partnered with Cintas to create a fresh new look for 24,000 manager and crew employees. Jack in the Box wanted a uniform program that was retail inspired, yet functional and fashion forward, while maintaining a professional image. The new uniform program provided the managers with a more professional look, but it is still functional when assisting the crew with daily operations.
With its earth tone palette, the managers program reflects an image that is sophisticated and polished. Employees are attired in clothing that not only looks great but makes them feel good about the job. A variety of apparel options is available to both male and female workers and includes crewneck sweaters, vests, ties and scarves.
The goal of the crew program was to offer a fashion-forward look while providing comfort for employees throughout their daily operations. In a nod to youth, styling options include T-shirts, maternity T-shirts, slacks with front pocket and unisex long-sleeve Ts. All are comprised of 60/40 percent polyester/cotton.
www.cintas.com
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Back in 2005, Edwards Garment Co. faced a challenge. Demographic shifts and fashion preferences made producing pants that women liked more difficult. Women complained Edwards pants no longer fit them, and more sizes were needed as the working population changed in both size and body shape. On the dealer level, they too were frustrated by what they were hearing from their customers. To respond, Edwards began the largest pattern revision in its history, with the goal to create a universal pattern that would fit most women. Edwards began by underwriting the Size USA Research Project by TC2.
Enter what is called eScan Universal Fit Technology. This process combines the science and precision of body scanning and the art of an expert pattern-maker to produce a single pattern graduation that fits the diversity of body shapes and sizes. The project collected body scans of more than 11,000 people of every conceivable size and shape. In total, there were more than one million measurements taken, each precise to the smallest fraction of an inch. Edwards used the data to produce numerous prototypes that were field-tested for comfort, wear and style before the design and patterns were finalized.
The result is a stylish, comfortable pant that fits all sizes and shapes of women. Features include a waistline that sits slightly below the natural waist and a straight but not narrow pant leg. Additionally, the rise and zipper of the pant have been shortened and shaped for the unique curves that women have.
For its efforts to offer stylish, functional clothing to all uniform wearers, Edwards is indeed UNIVATOR-worthy.
www.edwardsgarment.com
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Further blurring the lines between a uniform and everyday casual wear is the professional series pant from Chef Works. While traditionalists may scoff at the trend, it is nonetheless an important element in this niche market and indeed worthy of a UNIVATOR.
Chef Works has combined and satisfied the professional chefs need to have a working pant that will transition to outside the kitchen and into the dining room or boardroom. In what is probably a first, it is the perfect back-of-the-house comfort pant and front-of-the-house dress pant.
Available in black, slate or spice, the trousers are made of a fabric known as UltraLux. UltraLux is the latest generation in woven, poly/cotton fabrics that actually increase air circulation and holds its structure throughout the day. Features of this snappy trouser include full loops to accommodate a dress belt, built-in flat drawstring, curved waistband, elastic only on the sides where it is least visible, full zipper fly with top button closure and two deep slanted pockets for easy access and for keeping items secure.
www.chefworks.com
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Food-borne illnesses are on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, food-borne diseases cause approximately 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths in the United States each year. Much of the food is contaminated at its source, in the fields and farms across America and elsewhere. More is contaminated during the manufacturing and distribution process, with unsanitary plant conditions and inadequate worker hygiene named as the culprits.
But there may also be another cause, at least according to Aramark: improperly cleaned uniforms and apparel. To help eliminate this potential source, AUS believes that uniform and apparel providers must play an integral part in the manufacturers own Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) program, which addresses food safety and sanitation concerns at all points in the facility and its supply chain. Although not required by any regulatory agency, Aramark took the initiative and rolled out its own program for its plants in 2007.
Called the Total Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Solution, it is designed to identify and address problems before they occur. Total HACCP Solution documents critical control points throughout the laundry process, from pick-up to delivery, and provides sanitation standards for uniforms used in the food processing industry.
www.aramark.com/haccp
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Like other industry leaders, 5.11 Tactical knows the importance of listening to its customers. When an officer complained that safety toe boots pinched his feet and were too bulky and uncomfortable for tactical operations, the company took notice. The customer wanted some impact protection for his toes without resorting to a full safety toe boot. Sensing a void in the market, 5.11 developed a new concept in law enforcement footwear: the patent-pending, high-strength composite Kick-Toe.
The Kick-Toe is made of a high-strength composite that protects toes against accidental impacts. The C-shaped composite rises from the footbed to about the same height as the toes but does not cover them. Thus, end users get the benefit of a hard-toe boot without the uncomfortable pinch and clumsy weight of safety toe boots.
The Kick-Toe is now available in the companys new XPRT boots, designed to deliver extreme performance for rapid tactics. XPRT Boots feature the new Talon Stabilizer from 5.11 Tactical, a first in footwear. The Talon wraps around the ankle and locks the foot securely in its grasp, giving the footwear an extraordinary level of support while keeping the boot lightweight and comfortable. Three models are available: One has a suede and nylon upper; the other two feature a full-grain leather and 1200D nylon upper.
www.511tactical.com
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Firsts are always important. Fechheimer, in existence for well over a century, continues to set the standard in the law enforcement and public safety markets and, as such, is honored with a UNIVATOR Award.
The company, in partnership with Head Lites Corporation, last year introduced the Pro Series Tactical Safety Vest, featuring VIS-MAT Certified High Visibility with 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material. These industry leaders combined resources to develop high-visibility safety products that meet the new ANSI/ISEA 207-2006 standard.
The public safety vest standard was created in response to demand in 2005 for a high-visibility safety vest differentiated from ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 compliant apparel. The primary concern was a need for flexibility of designs that would provide tactical capability not achievable with ANSI 107 garments. Users wanted a high-visibility garment standard intended for law enforcement and emergency responders that would be distinct from ANSI 107, therefore avoiding confusion with construction vests. The standard was approved by the International Safety Equipment Association in November 2006 and published that December.
The Pro Series 207 Safety Vest line was the first in the industry to acknowledge the new ANSI standard. Its five-point breakaway system gives the vests a tactical component consistent with the needs of todays public safety officer, and its shorter design allows for easy access to gear and accessories. Moreover, the professional wrap band that comes in navy and other colors helps distinguish the wearer from road workers or other non-public-safety personnel.
www.fechheimer.com
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In 2006, this Tennessee manufacturer launched its Ergonomic Garment Construction (EGC) System as part of its Matrix Series line of fabrics. Designed for Class B uniforms, Matrix features high-performance poly/cotton twill blends with stretch comfort and internal wickability. The well-received product was a recipient of a 2007 UNIVATOR.
Building on its success, Perfection Uniforms in 2007 introduced the StratusSeries line of coordinated stretch poly/rayon fabrics designed for Class A law enforcement uniforms. While the look is similar, there are subtle differences not ordinarily found in traditional Class As. Garments using the StratusSeries resist wrinkles, repel water and are highly breathable. The fabrics also feature a UPF 40+ rating for ultraviolet/sun protection, the highest standard for apparel. The result is a first-class look and fresh appearance for officers.
Unique product features also simplify the customization process at the dealer level. For example, Silicon creasing on the sleeves means store owners can perfectly center a patch on a shirt, saving both effort and time.
Other design elements resulted from the input of officers. For instance, the inside security pocket with zip closure on trousers was developed after several wear tests. The company is a strong believer in wear testing its products to assure it has achieved the level of excellence customers have come to expect.
UniformMarket is pleased to again honor Perfection Uniforms with a UNIVATOR.
www.perfectionuniformsstore.com
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EDITORS NOTE: Whats your opinion on this years UNIVATOR picks? Want to make sure your company is considered as a recipient next year? Send an email to [email protected] to share your views or to find out how to enter next year’s contest.
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