Tips and Strategies for Selecting a Quality Vendor
By: Terry Mulhern
Is your uniform supplier a good fit? Choosing the right vendor to be your campus outfitter is a critical decision. The wrong school uniform and apparel supplier can lead to countless headaches and troubles down the road. Returns, long wait times and needless expenses are a serious, ongoing drain on resources for far too many schools. Follow these seven criteria to ensure your campus outfitter is a great fit and well-suited for your specific needs.
1. On-Campus Sales
Convenience is king. You want the easiest uniform solution for you and your students, and nothing is easier than on-campus sales. On-campus sales allow your students to try on – and take home – their uniforms the same day. The best companies will set up shop right on your campus. They will arrange the scheduling, promote the event, and even handle set-up and clean-up. You should receive personal shopping assistants assigned to your sales event, helping your students from the front door right through check-out. If your vendor is on campus, you are assured fewer returns and exchanges due to uniforms not fitting properly.
2. Online Ordering System
Complementing on-campus sales should be a quality online ordering system. Schools and students should also have the option of buying uniforms online with quick shipping of quality, in-stock clothing. The best vendors realize the Internet is the preferred shopping venue for many customers, and they will set up your school with a free, custom online store branded with your school's look and feel. These personalized online stores should be managed for you – all you and your students need to do is log on and click through a clearly guided shopping process. Make sure your online store carries only your school's inventory, eliminating ordering mistakes.
3. Casual Wear
Casual wear is another important consideration. Does your uniform supplier also carry a full line of spirit wear and branded school apparel – items such as sweatshirts, jackets and ball caps? Giving your students the opportunity to demonstrate and share their school pride is always a good idea, and a quality vendor should be able to supply you with both traditional uniforms and casual wear in today's modern styles. One vendor should provide both types of clothing, offering you and your students one-stop shopping, service and convenience.
4. Solid Retail Presence
Another good sign of vendor stability is a solid retail presence. This offers your students and families another channel for purchases, and it ensures extra inventory is always in stock should you need it.
5. Customer Service
Customer service is the glue holding a good client/vendor relationship together, so investigate your vendor's account servicing capabilities. Can you and your students' families quickly access reliable help and speak to a knowledgeable company representative? A solid telephone customer service component should come with any reputable uniform vendor, and quality assistance should always be a phone call away.
6. Inventory
Inventory issues often arise when companies aren't large enough to handle and manage enough stock to supply all of its customers. Some smaller vendors probably do not have the pull to ensure your orders – and all extra orders throughout the year – are in stock and available for quick delivery. A large national vendor with a strong local presence will likely have the inventory whenever you need it, as well as the distribution channels to put products in your hands quickly.
7. Financial Stability
A steady, reliable supply of uniforms and apparel can only come from a financially sound vendor. Ask your vendor how long they have been in business. More importantly, what is your vendor's area of expertise? Are school uniforms and apparel your vendor's specialty, or is it simply a side business attached to a larger line of clothing? You will find the highest level of service and quality products come from vendors specializing solely in education¬. Companies immersed in education day in and day out – the same way you are – will have a better understanding of your unique needs and how to address them.
You are in the education business, not the fashion industry. But you want your students looking sharp and feeling good about themselves. You also need to keep your parents and staff happy and stress-free whenever possible. By selecting the right partner for your campus outfitter needs, you will ensure the process of buying uniforms and apparel is simple and satisfying for everyone involved.
Terry Mulhern is the director of marketing for Varsity Group, a premier outsource solution provider to education institutions nationwide. Under the brands Varsity Books, Campus Outfitters, Varsity Solutions, and Varsity Finance, Varsity Group provides comprehensive solutions enabling schools to focus on their core mission – education.
Product Roundup
Kaynee
Kaynee is a major supplier of school uniform products for boys, girls, women and men in juvenile, youth and adult sizes. All are distributed through approved retailers. Kaynee has a couple of "firsts" to its credit, including being the first to patent the loop drawstring for boy's blouses and the first boyswear company to advertise its apparel. Kaynee also introduced the patented "Nexpander" collar, which helps the shirt collar grow with the wearer, making dress shirts more comfortable and providing for longer wear. All Kaynee knit and woven products are tested for sturdy quality and are guaranteed one year to give normal wear.
www.kaynee.com
Educational Outfitters
Educational Outfitters offers a fresh approach to the retail uniform industry. As an added convenience, stores provide alteration services, embroidery, screen printing, full inventory year-round and online shopping. In addition, each store offers EOAthletics--athletic wear for players, officials and cheerleaders--and an abundance of apparel options and accessories. The company also offers EOFUNdraising, a fundraising program offering logo apparel and promotional products, providing students, their families, friends and corporate America a means of additional funding.
www.EducationalOutfitters.com
School Uniform Warehouse
School Uniform Warehouse offers a large selection of school uniforms online, with many styles, colors and sizes available--even those hard-to-find Toddlers and Husky sizes. School Uniform Warehouse offers everything, from traditional styles like Peter Pan collar blouses to fun fashion items like capri pants, with styles to fit all dress codes and all ages. Uniforms are made with wash-and-wear stain-resistant fabrics, which are durable and affordable.
www.school-uniforms.com
Uniforms by Parker
Parker associates have combined service of more than 1,000 years in the uniform industry. Sales, manufacturing and purchasing departments can create and procure a uniform program that is unique to any particular school. With a proven track record, the company receives timely vendor deliveries and product consistency from year to year. More than 800 schools get their uniforms from Parker. The in-stock program allows schools to make purchases year-round at 25 stores. Additionally, the company offers an interactive Web site customized by school, gender and grade for shopping convenience.
www.parkersu.com
True Grits School Uniforms
True Grits Uniforms has been providing high-quality school uniforms to many schools around the country since 1981. The company offers early-bird back-to-school sales in its retail stores, as well as a customer-friendly "e-tail" store. Experts at True Grits can assist schools in developing a uniform program that reflects the uniqueness of their particular school.
www.truegrits.com
Dennis Uniforms
For more than 80 years, Dennis has been manufacturing uniforms with quality, style and value. Dennis offers an extensive line of classic and custom apparel, as well as comprehensive service and benefits programs tailored to meet a school's particular needs. Fabrics are custom-dyed, woven, cut and sewn to meet rigorous standards for durability and consistency. Plaids are made with DENNIScloth, an industry-leading fabric. The Dennis label guarantees quality and that a uniform will look as sharp on the last day of school as it did on the first.
www.dennisuniform.com
School Issue Collection by Trimfoot
The School Issue collection by Trimfoot Company has been developed to address a growing need in the uniform marketplace for comfortable, durable and affordable footwear. School Issue is offered as an in-stock program for immediate shipping. Sizing fits all school-aged children in both medium and wide widths in the many styles that are available. Features include non-marking and soil-resistant outsoles, full leather lining, padded collar and tongue, leather covered cushioned footbed and an extra pair of shoe laces included with purchase.
www.trimfootco.com
Home Team Sportswear
Home Team Sportswear's team apparel includes football jerseys, cheerleading uniforms, accessories and supplies. Their heart is to help you help your kids. Within their company, they strive to provide and present excellence, reliability and integrity. They make their products to represent these values. Their uniform style and appearance is designed to promote a positive self image for children without compromising high standards and Biblical principles. They care about you through exceptional customer service and personal attention and provide you with a product you can afford.
www.hometeamsportswear.com
