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June 1, 2010
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Medical
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Written by Jackie Rosselli
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Friday, 28 May 2010 08:22 |
 In an age where employers seek out only the highly skilled and best educated, the qualities that most attract Barco Uniforms President and CEO Michael Donner are harder to quantify.
"I look for people who like people," he says flatly. "Finding people who like animals or who are passionate about things is easy, but finding heartfelt, high-caliber human beings who value others is more difficult."
Finding the passionate – and cultivating that passion – in employees, customers and life -has served Donner and the 80-year old Barco well. Its ability to see beyond the expected, indeed, to nurture the unexpected, has led to a string of successes and innovation throughout the years. They were the first, for instance, to merge fashion with uniform design, and pioneered the use of nylon in nurses' uniforms back in the ‘40s, improving both the look and performance of the outfits, while setting the tone in the healthcare apparel industry for years to come.
And now Barco is at it again. Last week, the company announced a retooling of its brand, complete with new logo, tagline, a hip website, and a revamped product line infused with hi-tech fabrications designed to meet the needs of an ever demanding work environment. It's a move, they hope, that will differentiate the company from competitors. But make no mistake: as Barco refreshes its approach, its core principles remain. In fact, they're at the heart of the rebranding initiative.
 Take, for example, the new tagline, "Love What You Wear™," a reaffirmation of current corporate culture and past history. "Retailers are looking for products that excite customers, and consumers want something new, something that they'll love wearing," notes Donner.
Of course, they also want value, which in some markets has been code for inexpensive clothing. Barco bristles at the inference. "We have a ‘best in class' mentality here," says Kyle Weiner, Executive Vice President and COO. "Consumers want choice and a great experience, and at Barco, we want to have the best product available, no matter the price point."
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Last Updated on Friday, 28 May 2010 10:05 |
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Uniforms
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Friday, 28 May 2010 08:43 |
 Originally, uniforms were meant to be worn by a single class of people: Healthy, youthful-to-middle-aged men. They were homogenous, built pretty much the same, and lived about 46 years.
Depending on the service required, a uniform was designed for a particular duty and rank. A sailor wore a different outfit than an infantry man; an employee wore a different outfit than the boss. The old joke is that uniforms used to be made in two sizes: Too big and too small. There were stock sizes, little custom tailoring or adjustability, and no stretch fabrics as everything was made from natural fibers and standard designs.
The word uniform meant "one shape," as it does today. Uniform apparel was about identity and task. It also served as a protection: Nothing more. It was not a fashion statement; nor was it meant for comfort. It was utilitarian, and it was worn with great pride. It was one of the aspects of the profession that a man valued most--the apparel that went with the job.
It didn't matter whether a uniform was meant for land or sea, town or country. Many of the uniforms were made by kinfolk, local seamstresses, tailors, undertakers, or the leather tanner. For the military, there were groups of people who labored for this purpose.
It wasn't until later that women had uniforms, and they were different. First of all, women were built differently; also, they did different things. Usually classified as domestics, working women generally wore uniforms to indicate a kitchen, hospital, restaurant, or chores done in the home.
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June 1, 2010
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