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Ryan Beliveau, Marketing Coordinator for Unisync Group, Ltd. tells all about the ingenious concept of linking three varied and outstanding apparel and identity companies to form a single conglomerate. In 2003, Kilmer Capital Partners began an amalgamation of these individual corporations with its first initial purchase—York Uniforms, Limited. Slowly but surely, it has since brought both customers and employees of each into what is now known as Unisync.
York, custom manufacturer of frontline uniforms for casinos, restaurants, and VIP venues, is a full-service company with designers, representatives, artists, patterns, and multiple fabric & notions vendors on hand to provide every necessity, in order to complement high-end corporations with the most stunning of garments. Recently, one of its cocktail waitress uniforms won the award for "Outstanding Casino Design" (Niagara Falls Casino Resort), at the North American Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors convention, in March 2010.
Since 1929, the superb J.P. Hammill Company & Son (Canadian leader that rivals Carhardt, VF Industries, and Tough Duck, for workwear and back-of-the-house service apparel) has maintained its integrity, quality, and fine name in the uniform industry. Now, it has morphed to become an arm of Unisync.
Finally, Showroom One, a promotional products company, with scads of items from ballpoint pens, mugs, gizmos, and identity apparel—everything to enhance customer image while remaining within any given budget—also has joined the Unisync family. Both embroidery and screen-printing services are available in-house. "These things generate excitement for the consumer," emphasizes Ryan.
"The good news about having the three brands under one roof," says Ryan, "is that it's very good for the customers to have one-stop-shopping. We've taken our time, so that customers who are loyal to one or another of the separate companies, feel comfortable with the newer Unisync concept and understand that standards and familiarity with the brands will not be lost with these mergers. At the same time, they have three times as much to choose from, when purchasing garments and identity items for their establishments."
Located in Ontario, Canada, Unisync is run primarily out of a single facility, encompassing over 100,000 square feet. While it has a few items manufactured offshore, Unisync prides itself in being a privately held Canadian firm. It has reps who travel and project managers who are assigned to each regional area or larger single accounts; ultimately however, the company is under one roof. "We don't find it difficult to ship to the United States at all," says Ryan.
"We have worked very hard to re-brand, and instill within our employees that we are a single unit, and whether it's our new website, our soon-to-be-released catalogue, the way we answer the telephone, our unique logo, or customers’ end-experience overall: Everything about us is concentrated on the Unisync concept of being one flexible company with consistency throughout. Customers can come here and receive full service for everything and anything they desire."
Beliveau mentions that some of the Unisync customers include behemoth grocery chains, Burger King, Rogers Communications, Husky Energy, and Securitas. Its focus is on big projects; although, Ryan informs, it works with smaller companies, too. "We sell direct when we're dealing with larger accounts, but we also distribute wholesale to others. We understand how smaller cities and towns make use of commerce in their individual uniform shops, and we have no desire to undercut our customers, no matter who they are.
"Our focus is a packaged whole that consists of terrific appearance, fit, and comfort. At Unisync, we have some of the best people in the industry who can bring an image to life," says Ryan Beliveau. "Total Program Management differentiates us from other companies, and if customers need merchandise in a rush, we get it done in a rush! Three days or three weeks to do an entirely customized operation is not a problem for us; it gets done." Unysinc's future growth will continue to come from a combination of organic initiatives and select mergers & acquisitions within the highly fragmented uniform markets both in Canada and the United States.
Look for them at www.unisyncgroup.com
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