UNIVATOR AWARDS

The Toronto Transit Commission is considering changing the uniforms of its fare inspectors as well as stripping them of their batons and handcuffs. TTC staff...

The UNIVATOR Awards recognize innovation within the uniform industry and serve as a reminder that, even in times of economic upheaval, companies both large and small can still improve.

This current round acknowledges eight winners – some household names and some newcomers – who bucked tradition and questioned convention to develop unique uniform programs, inventive product ideas and eco-friendly innovations. The 2012 UNIVATOR Awards provide a snapshot of what's new in the industry, from tiny fiber structures that vastly improve a police officer's comfort to a multi-billion-dollar restaurant chain's complete uniform program overhaul. These forward-thinking companies have earned UNIVATOR Awards for themselves, and they've also helped revitalize the industry with their creativity.

UniformMarket News has named 16 winners in its annual UNIVATOR Awards – the most ever honored in the contest's seven year history. In a year when businesses faced unprecedented challenges, many, it seems, bunkered down, put on their creative thinking caps, and produced some of the most intriguing and successful concepts we've ever seen.

Winners came from all market segments – law enforcement, public safety, corporate and chef apparel, and medical apparel. Many have been cited in previous years; several have not.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JANUARY 10, 2011

2011 ENTRY FORM

UniformMarket News is now accepting entries for its annual UNIVATOR Awards, a program that honors the leading ideas, creations, services and innovators which have influenced the industry over the past year. Any company within the North-American uniform, image apparel, medical goods, or promotional products markets, regardless of size, is eligible to enter.

Readers have a chance to nominate any company they choose. It's a way to add your voice to the selection process, and for manufacturers or dealers, an excellent opportunity to further cultivate relationships with customers or suppliers. So nominate your own UNIVATOR-worthy company, or nominate another? Simply mark the "Readers' Choice," category on the entry form, supply the details and the staff at UniformMarket will take care of the rest.

Don't see a category that suits your business profile? Then create one. UNIVATOR isn't governed by stringent entry rules or requirements. Categories evolve, and new divisions are added to better reflect the type of programs under consideration. This is, after all, a competition that honors creativity. Out-of-the-box thinking is strongly encouraged.

The UNIVATOR Awards place the acclaim and attention where it belongs – with you, the manufacturers, distributors and designers who have time and again proved proactive in thought and accomplishment, even in tough economic times such as these. By giving your concepts the exposure they deserve, UNIVATOR pays tribute to your achievements, and is an acknowledgment of a job well done. Widely popular and well regarded, the awards, quite simply, are the industry's highest honor.

UniformMarket News has named eight winners in its annual UNIVATOR Awards, a program that honors the leading ideas, creations, services and innovators which have...

If you've read the article on email marketing that appears in this edition, you have a better understanding of just how powerful this tool is when communicating with customers and prospects. Indeed, it is one of the most cost-efficient, simplest methods to get your message across, and one of the best ways to provide value and demonstrate your knowledge of the industry and its services. Why is this important? The more you're viewed as an expert, the greater your odds of adding customers to your client base.

There's another tool that produces similar results: winning a UNIVATOR. Like email marketing, UNIVATOR attests to your stature as an expert, an industry pro who understands the dynamics of today's uniform market. Winning a UNIVATOR adds to your credibility, and best of all, there's little, if any, cost involved in spreading the word.

First, the staff at UniformMarket, the awards' sponsor, is here to help. We'll carry the news online, in a special commemorative issue packed with in-depth coverage, photos and interviews. This distinctive edition will remain on the UniformMarket site in perpetuity, a lasting tribute to awardees.

Over the past several weeks, we've received numerous emails seeking advice on entering this year's UNIVATOR Awards. Readers want a better understanding of the categories, with an explanation of which fits their company best.

To clear up any ambiguity, we've listed the categories below, describing each and offering suggestions based on whether a company manufactures or distributes uniforms for end use. Some categories, it seems, are better suited for manufacturers while others are perfect for store owners. Still others work for everyone.

But please note: these are recommendations; you are free to enter the category of your choosing. No matter the category, with so many possibilities, there's a good chance you'll walk away a winner:

Manufacturers:

Product Innovation – While some bunkered down to ride out the recession, many instead took a proactive stance, introducing products and increasing visibility in preparation for economic recovery. Have you come out with a new pant, developed a never-before-seen product or line that is all the rage in your market space? Toot your own horn by entering UNIVATOR.

Fabric Innovation – Poly-rayon, organic cotton, fabrics with stretch – the possibilities are endless in today's uniform market. What fabrics have you successfully incorporated into garments for end use? Do the fabrics achieve the desired result?

Innovations in Product Safety – From Anti-microbial apparel to FR to body armor, it's been a year filled with product improvements that safeguard the end user from harm. We've reported on many in UMNM, now grab further acclaim by winning a UNIVATOR.

The Oscars, Grammys, and Emmys. Much anticipated and highly visible, these awards celebrate excellence in the entertainment industry, captivating millions of viewers around the globe each year.

At the other end of the spectrum are the countless awards handed out throughout industry, business and academia that also promote excellence in a given field. Decidedly less recognized and in some cases obscure, they share with their glitzier counterparts a common element: they matter. The awards are important.

Why? No matter the field, people want and need recognition for their work. Beyond that, awards help to inspire other people to do their best, driving innovation and standards forward with each passing year.

Three-time UNIVATOR winner Perfection Uniforms agrees. "Winning the UNIVATOR three consecutive years means the bar is continually raised in terms of who we are, what we do, and how we do it," says Miranda Brock, marketing manager. "It gives us an edge in that it keeps us on our toes."

Awards can even change how people think. Consider the case of last year's Academy Awards Best Picture winner, Slum Dog Millionaire. Going largely unnoticed when released, the low-budget sleeper became an overnight sensation when it took home the top prize, earning millions for investors and launching the careers of several unknown actors.

Premier industry award has new categories, gives readers voice in selection process

Northbrook, IL, October 5 -- UniformMarket News is now accepting entries for its annual UNIVATOR Awards, a program that honors the leading ideas, creations, services and innovators which have influenced the industry over the past year. Any company within the North-American uniform, corporate apparel, white goods, or promotional products markets, regardless of size, is eligible to enter.

Past entrants will notice a number of improvements to this year's awards, including additional categories, a later award announcement date, increased publicity and marketing opportunities and, in a first, a chance for readers to make their own picks for a UNIVATOR. "The improvements should certainly add excitement, and will provide greater opportunities for companies to take home a UNIVATOR" said Rick Levine, publisher of UniformMarket News.

Have Your Say with Readers' Choice

In the past, companies have submitted their own works for consideration, and this option, of course, still exists. But the 2010 UNIVATOR now gives readers a chance to make their own picks, a first for the awards program. It's a way to add your voice to the selection process, and for manufacturers or dealers, an excellent opportunity to further cultivate relationships with customers or suppliers. So if you don't believe your company is UNIVATOR-worthy, why not nominate another? Simply mark the "Readers' Choice," category on the entry form, supply a few details and the staff at UniformMarket will take care of the rest.

For the Editors' Choice, categories have been added to increase participation across the industry spectrum, and others have been redesigned to target specific market segments. The 2010 UNIVATOR includes, among others, several categories ideal for retailers and the white goods industry. For a complete listing of categories, click here.

Innovation.  It's a key ingredient behind the success of most products or services.  As the economy continues to struggle, customers are becoming even more budget-conscious, making innovation more important than ever before. 

In a recession, the smart business owner knows that the only way anxious customers will buy is if you give them something they're never seen before, a product that makes them say; "Oh my God, I have to have this!"

That sentiment captures the essence of the UNIVATOR Awards. Created five years ago by UniformMarket, the awards showcase the best programs, ideas and innovations that the uniform and promotional products industries have to offer. And while we recognize there are many awards programs out there, we know of no other that honors the manufacturers and distributors of uniforms and their contributions to further their company's bottom line.

This year, UniformMarket has handed out eight awards, representing the creative works of seven different companies.  A summary of their winning concepts is presented below.

The winners of the 2009 UNIVATOR Awards are: