NAUMD Awards: Image of the Year & Public Safety Uniform of the Year In May the North-American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) announced the winners of its two perennial awards programs: the image apparel industry’s Image of the Year Awards, and the Public...

Money doesn’t buy happiness, but I would rather be sad in a Mercedes-Benz than on the back of a bicycle.”That’s just one of many pearls of wisdom from Vernon Fox of Houston’s Lone Star Uniforms. In a state known for doing everything big, Fox is the larger-than-life personality...

  The uniforms students wear now are pretty similar to the uniforms students have worn for generations. Nevertheless, school uniform companies have had to work hard to keep up with the times and changes in a business that used to be considered a sure thing. Some firms combine...

The fabric came in shaded. Perhaps there was an extended dock strike. Or maybe the emblems were sewn on the wrong side. These are just some of the horror stories that can cause serious problems in our industry. Since unforeseen events do occur, it’s important to build in as many safeguards...

Ideally, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system manages all aspects of a manufacturing or distribution business, including initial quotation, sales order entry, warehouse management, production, inventory control, quality control, shipping and accounting. These systems usually require a...

In towns across the country, the strongest sense of community is usually at the local coffee shop. In New Britain, Conn., it’s at Security Uniforms. To hear owner Ross Gottlieb speak about his clientele is to hear a man who is both devoted to serving and passionately respectful of the...

The story of badge manufacturer Smith & Warren is a story of the successful transition of a multi-generational business over the course of two decades. It is a testament to the power of holding fast to sound business principles as well as family values. Smith & Warren is a...

Michael Saxon refers to himself as the last of the mavens – “maven” being a Yiddish word for one who understands; an expert. He is an expert. He’s been in the uniform business for more than 70 years, and he’s learned a thing or two along the way. And although he’s now a 92-year-old...