Winners leverage employee appearance and brand as a business differentiator in a competitive market
 
Winners of the 2010 Image of the Year (IOY) awards were named during the North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors (NAUMD) Annual Banquet and Awards dinner. The 14 winning designs were selected by an independent panel of judges representing a cross section of the fashion industry's most celebrated designers, journalists and fashion authorities.

For more than 31 years, the NAUMD IOY awards have recognized high achievement in the design, creation and manufacture of imagewear apparel. The winning programs reveal innovative concepts that merge fashion and function with brand image. They are the result of careful collaboration between manufacturer and client and demonstrate an attention to market demands.

This year’s IOY award winners include:
 
CASINO RESORT:  Unisync for Niagara Fallsview Casino
HEALTHCARE: Cintas for Florida Hospital Cardio Institute
HOTEL MULTI-UNIT: Superior Uniform Group for Hilton Corporate 
HOTEL SINGLE UNIT: Omega Frontline for Pan Pacific Vancouver
Hotel Single Unit –Luxury - Cintas for The Pierre Hotel
RESTAURANTS MULTI-UNIT - Superior Uniforms Group for Ruby’s Diner
RESTAURANTS FAST FOOD - Cintas for Panda Express
RESTAURANT FINE DINING - The Walt Disney Company for Sanaa
RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS - G&K Services for Ruby’s ampm
CRUISE LINES - Cintas for Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas
TRANSPORTATION - Apparel Solutions for Hawaiian Airlines
SERVICE/INDUSTRY - Brookhurst Inc. for Mary Kay
SPORTS ARENA OR FACILITY -  Walt Disney Company for ESPN Wide World of Sports
SPECIAL RECOGNITION - G&K Services for Class V

“The IOY awards recognize progressive and leading businesses in several key industries,” said Richard Lerman, president and CEO of the NAUMD. “This year’s winners are a dynamic group of companies who have created a competitive edge in their business by placing a strong focus on the image of their staff. As markets become increasingly competitive, imagewear can make a truly significant difference between a customer retained and a customer lost.”

Winners in each category represent apparel programs with varying purposes or functions within their industry. While specifically designed to assist customers and clients in the identification of professional staff, imagewear can also extend a company’s brand, increase safety, enhance interior décor and improve employee morale. For example, healthcare organizations that invest in apparel programs as opposed to employee-purchased scrubs often find a noticeable improvement in patient satisfaction.

“As businesses look for new ways to become more competitive, providing employees with a fresh and exciting look can be a cost-effective way to attract existing and new customers,” added Lerman.

Source: Company release, Las Vegas, March 8, 2010