Since the age of COVID-19 started over 18 months ago, the virus presented many new challenges for businesses and entire industries on a global scale. Many sectors had to adapt and reinvent themselves altogether in order to stay ahead of the pandemic – one of them being the uniform industry.
The pandemic ushered in a new normal for the uniform industry. Employees now need to wear masks. Manufacturers became invested in PPE development. End-users purchase their uniforms online more than ever.
Uniform curbside pickup is a thing now. These are among the many changes the uniform industry underwent to ensure the safety and protection of essential workers in various sectors like healthcare, public safety, and many more.
Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Steve Zalkin, the outgoing President of the North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors (NAUMD), and Rick Levine, the incoming Executive Director. We discussed the current state of the uniform industry, how NAUMD members adapted to the pandemic, and what they view the future of uniforms will be like. Take a look!
KENNETH: How would you describe the current state of the uniform industry in terms of trends, technology, and the like?
STEVE: Our industry is not that different from other industries that have to deal with COVID-19.
The number one issue is the health of an organization’s employees.
The second is the supply chain.
Supply chains are fairly delayed right now. The expenses to import products from around the world has increased, significantly. Rick and I talk with a lot of our members who report that transporting containers from overseas that used to cost $4,000 to $5,000 dollars are now costing $15,000 to $20,000. And that’s if they can even book a container. It’s been very problematic.
In terms of trends, one of the biggest things I’ve seen is the number of digital sizing apps that are out there. In the past two years many software companies have targeted the uniform industry – especially because of COVID – and so innovations like sizing apps are accelerating the industry by 5 to 10 years.
In reality, sizing technology is going to save uniform manufacturers and distributors a lot of money. Yes, there is a cost to implement, but if you compare the time it used to take in the past to go out and measure 100 or 1000 people – the savings will be enormous with these newer sizing apps.
RICK: The uniform industry will always be good. Since we supply an essential service, many companies were able to continue operating uninterrupted during the pandemic. As an industry were able to respond by retooling machinery and operations to assist with PPE production.
From a corporate citizen standpoint, I am proud of how the industry was able to rise to the occasion and help outfit organizations with masks and other PPE equipment.
Of course, we were dramatically hurt as an industry when transportation and hospitality sales fell off a cliff 18 months ago. You did not want to be in the restaurant or airline industry when the country shut down. That greatly affected our members and some came to a screeching halt. Luckily, most companies in our industry do not serve just one market. So, it’s the preverbal squeezing of the balloon.
Unemployment is low which is good for the uniform industry because that means we have lots of employees to work sell uniforms. But we’ve been hearing a lot about our members’ ability to hire enough people to get the job done. That is a big challenge. Low unemployment means it is harder to find employees to help, just as all industries are experiencing.
I remain positive because NAUMD members provide something that people have to wear. We provide clothing and equipment that save lives, protect workers from harm, and from the elements. We will continue to do that no matter what the pandemic does.
In that sense, we are a solid industry. We are doing well.
STEVE: And picking up on what Rick is saying. Sometimes I describe it as a sleepy industry – meaning people don’t tend to think about uniforms. But, whenever you walk onto a plane or sit at a restaurant, there are employees wearing uniforms. Patrons don’t really acknowledge it. But to the individual wearing the uniform, it is important. And it is important to the management. It’s about marketing. It’s part of the brand.
KENNETH: Yeah, totally – especially since the industry is in a constant state of evolution with new technology emerging every day like e-textiles and “going green” practices.
STEVE: Yes, our members have lots of discussions on the sustainability of uniforms and keeping uniforms out of landfills. We have scheduled educational events in this direction at our convention this year.
KENNETH: That leads me to the next question. You touched on this earlier, but how do you think COVID has affected the uniform industry? Has it slowed things down? Accelerated things in terms of manufacturing and retailing?
STEVE: When it first started in March of 2020 and everything shut down, everybody fell off the cliff. Some companies immediately went down hugely in terms of revenue numbers.
As we all started to understand more about what COVID was, our industry came charging to the rescue. We started producing PPE for North America and around the world. All of a sudden, things were busy again.
Police departments and law enforcement agencies were receiving funding from the federal government for PPE materials. That kept our industry busy. Interestingly, an issue now for members is burnout. Revenue is not the problem. Sales aren’t. Production is. Employment is the problem.
KENNETH: What has the NAUMD done and what should others do to stay ahead of the curve in today’s uniform market?
STEVE: My quick answer is to invest themselves and continue to invest in technology.
In terms of the NAUMD, I am the old regime, going on sabbatical after this convention. Rick is the new regime. He’s taking over as the Executive Director of the association. And Rick is a technology expert.
RICK: Thanks for that, Steve. We see the uniform industry and its potential for growth. We see the trade association and its potential for growth. They go hand in hand.
The NAUMD has adopted a series of core values and all of our programming and services will be driven by those values. We believe that any uniform industry member that embraces those values will prosper and grow.
We are not worried whether the industry will go up or down, because we are an annuity. We are always going to be needed. The rest is up to the individual players, how they operate their businesses and what is left after expenses. Looking at those core values and embracing them is our outlook on how we will grow.
The NAUMD is planning a lot more educational programming, driven by business intelligence. We will have year-round programming that helps suppliers and their sales channels. We will help dealers build closer and more proactive relationships with suppliers.
As an industry, innovation and growth come from listening to end-user customers. They tell us what they need us to manufacture. They tell us what is going to help them perform their jobs better. We can come with suggestions to end-users as an industry, but ultimately if those people at the hotel or the police department do not benefit from those products or innovations, then there’s no point in the change. We grow and we evolve.
We are excited about the technology that’s coming out in the world of fibers, fabrications, PPE, and sustainability. We as an industry are paying attention to all of that.
STEVE: Yes, and growth of the uniform industry is closely tied to employment levels, which is closely tied to GDP. If you look at what’s going on in the world, will Ford trucks continue to be demanded and built? Yes. Will they be selling more throughout on a trend line going up? Yes. Lots of those folks wear uniforms. Our members maintain a positive outlook on the uniform industry’s future.
