The Uniformer

Jeff Mergy is the Vice President of Product Strategy, Partnerships, and Innovation for Bold Metrics. The company has a mission to change the way the world’s most innovative brands design, produce, and sell apparel. This talk with host Jeff Mason presents creative thoughts around how we as manufacturers and distributors can better approach sizing, garment production, inventory management, sustainab...

Join eCommerce Director for Military at Galls, John Arquette, and Josh Sandhaus, Vice President of Operations at US Patriot Tactical (a Galls Company). Both John and Josh, military veterans themselves, embarked on the US Patriot Bravery Tour this summer. Spanning 90 days, these Galls executives and a number of other team members covered 25 military bases and journeyed an impressive 6,500 miles. Th...

Mark Smith is the President of LION Americas, which serves the personal protective equipment, uniform and logistics needs for fire departments and law enforcement agencies, emergency services and military markets. In this episode we talk about how the needs of these first responders have evolved, as well as where innovation will come from in the coming years. Mark stresses the importance LION plac...

Rhiannon McMahan is the Sales and Operations Manager at Midsouth Solutions. She is a passionate leader driving herself and her team with a "can and will do" attitude. Together with host Jeff Mason, they discuss specific ways Midsouth is recruiting and retaining employees which allows them to be fully staffed. The pair talk about the growing importance of technology in driving business and customer...

Charles Wang is the Chief Operating Officer for Winnitex. He has an extensive background in workwear textiles and apparel manufacturing. The company has factories in China, Vietnam, and Central America, making their service attractive to North American workwear brands. For example, Winnitex helps solve the problems of sourcing cotton and other materials from different regions, making consistency d...

Jeff Mason is the owner of North59, LLC, a sales and marketing agency representing various public safety and outdoor brands. He has worked at Oxford Industries and Propper International. Over his career, he has also developed a well-respected approach to the customer experience. His company SimpleBiz360 has a mission is to assist companies with identifying and implementing simple business principl...

Enzo Cancellieri is the Vice President at GAME Sportswear & Workwear. He is an experienced and passionate executive of workwear, outerwear, and safety apparel. Together with host Jeff Mason, the conversation dives into customer service and thoughts on accommodating the needs of long-time customers. Game is adept at understanding the importance of listening and responding to both the market and cus...

Jill Coleman is the Vice President Of Business Development Alvanon, Inc, a global innovations company that helps apparel brands improve their fit to reflect modern-day consumers. Jill's background with Alvanon and years at Avery Dennison give her a rich perspective on how we as an industry are handling a number of processes related to sizing, supply chain, and production of uniform garments. She d...

Andrew Ashcroft is the International Business Development Manager for Carrington Textiles, a global workwear textiles manufacturer with factories in Asia and Europe, producing over 130 million metres per year. Andrew has worked with a number of brands, including uniforms, on strategies for opening markets and selling in the Middle East, Africa, India, and now North America. He talks with us about...

Louise Becart is a Business Strategy Analyst at Pincroft Dying & Finishing. Louise is relentless in her pursuit of improving processes and eliminating waste. Pincroft is part of the Carrington Textile group. The company is involved in the preparation of fabrics worn by the military in a number of countries, textiles for corporate uniform programs, and much more. The conversation gets modestly tech...

Bob Getto is the President & CEO at Fechheimer - a Berkshire Hathaway company, makers of the Flying Cross & Vertx brands. Bob is a leader within the public safety and military uniform markets. For the past 15 years, he has been at the helm of the 180-year-old Fechheimer company. We talk about current events in the world and industry. We discuss how to show up for all of your company stakeholders....

Tom Wheeler is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Martex Fibers, a leading textile recycling company. He has held the CEO role at the former uniform  Fashionaire, at Special Markets Group and Bitwell Clothing for Hartmarx, at Wormser Apparel, and at Wigwam Mills. His knowledge of custom image apparel production, textiles, and uniform program management is extensive. Listen as we discuss his...

James Bottoms is the EVP of Strategy & International Business Development for Logistic Unicorp Inc. He is a comprehensive, fast-paced business leader with diverse global experience. A veteran executive at multiple uniform companies he offers his perspective on how to build successful organizations, manage uniform programs, and create value for stakeholders.   More info at: https://www.logistikunic...

Lara Mazzoni is the CEO of Bodi.me , a fashion fit technology company that is helping solve the uniform industry's size matching dilemma. Lara has extensive experience in advising brands on uniform design, sizing challenges, and technology solutions. We discuss the balance required between uniform styles and helping an employee find the right fit when ordering. For more info visit: https://bodi.me...

Brigid Rumpf is the Creative Director of Broome Uniform Accessories. She is a veteran designer of uniform accessories and neckwear. There is a significant amount of detail to be considered when it comes to making accessory components for top uniform programs, and Rumpf is a recognized expert. Her work philosophy and operations flow are inspiring lessons to us all. More info about Broome Uniform Ac...

Harvey Klein is currently an executive and advisor to a number of companies serving the uniform and image apparel industries. He works with HUB1916 on clothing made from 100% recycled plastic, with BodiData on sizing technology solutions, and others. Harvey was the President and co-owner of Red The Uniform Tailor (RTUT) for 40 years. RTUT had thousands of uniform customers in the public safety, ho...

Tom McCauley is the President of Kentucky Uniforms. For over four decades he has focused on how best to service his uniform customers to the very best standards possible. We discuss the secrets to running a long-standing retail operation, outlasting the competition, and staying true to the mission of good service. Tom offers a matter-of-fact, common-sense approach to owning a uniform company. More...

Mukesh Vijaywargi is the Area Director for Klopman International Branch Middle East. He is passionate about uniforms. For decades he has focused on how textiles affect the lives of workers first, how companies can get more from their uniform spend, and only then does he sell products as a result of the conversation. We discuss the emerging uniform markets in the Middle East and India, the differen...

Mike Marmor is the President and co-owner of Hero's Pride. Mike and his business partner Dave Steinman have known each other since they were 14 years old and have been working together on the company for 30 years. Mike brings an authentic, do-the-right-thing philosophy to his management style. The company has grown from start-up to manufacturing, warehousing, and distributing over 10,000 SKUs acro...

Benny Belcher is VP of Stationwear at LION. He is a true pioneer in the apparel, workwear, and uniform sourcing business. Playing key roles at Fruit of the Loom, Carhartt, Galls, and now LION, Benny has seen much of the past 30 years of evolution in uniform sourcing and merchandising. We talk about LION's stationwear plans, about industry trends, the challenges of global sourcing, and the challeng...

Ed Gribbin is Executive Advisor at 3DLOOK, Winds Group and CEO at Gribbin Strategic LLC. He has roots in the uniform industry spending a dozen years at Angelica Corporation. He then on to become a pioneer in the sizing technology and research space, assisting major brands worldwide. He runs a strategic advisory practice focused on growth strategy, business development, branding, marketing, product...

Leslie Watt McArdle is a Sr. Merchandise Manager at Aramark, working in the Merchandising/Design Department for Uniform Services. Aramark employs over 14,000 people. They work with over 300,000 companies, and say that no two are exactly alike. Leslie talks with The Uniformer about a job that is equal parts producer, uniform program developer, garment specification technologist and much more. She i...

David Lurio is the President and co-owner of Elbeco. He started with Elbeco in 1985, after trying a variety of jobs outside of the industry. Elbeco, previously known as Wide Awake Shirt Company, was founded by his great-grandfather in 1907. While he is responsible for the entire company and its performance, he is now concentrating his day-to-day focus on business and product development, two areas...

Harvey Arfa and Caroline Massel are the dynamic father/daughter team that leads Gruner & Co. Since 1949, Gruner & Co. has been a global leader in designing and manufacturing outerwear, rainwear, and tailored overcoats. They have developed extensive uniform programs for leading airlines, hospitality chains, and real estate companies. Listen as we discuss family business partners, uniform fashion, o...

Mike Fadden is the CEO of Galls, LLC. As the son, grandson, and nephew of three retired police officers, Mike has a great passion for the public safety industry. As a hands-on leader, he understands the importance of a company that fosters the internal trust of its leadership. Mike is currently building a culture at Galls that is relentlessly focused on the customer. He is personally invested in h...