Syndicate: The Mob, Publishers, Columnists, and Me

So here I am on Skype, Twitter, Facebook, Linked-in, with a blog [TheGrownUpsTable.com], a website [CustomUniformCompany.com], and emails. I'm a Syndicate.  I'm told that this is what I have to do in order to "participate."  If I want to write, hobnob, "connect with people;" blow my own horn, introduce myself to the world. Tra la. What ever happened to the "Coming Out Party?"  I thought people were supposed to come to meet me (invitation, only, of course), rather than I having to extend and meet them...  I guess social media is just that.  Only I give my own party and introduce me to you. Hello, out there!  

Once, the Syndicate was about Al Capone and the Mob.  The big boys in the killer "zoot suit with a drape shape and a reep pleat;" fedora pulled down low over the eyes, wide lapels, pinstripes; a machine gun hidden in the violin case, and cement shoes to be worn in the East River if one didn't pay up on time.  Yes.  "Da boyz" who were stationed here and there with their icy fingers reaching across the nation, creeping in to folks' pockets for the murderously desperate payola.  Drugs, booze, prostitution, and dough--bigtime. The Syndicate.

Or, there are the monolithic publishing houses:  Remember Citizen Kane? Great movie.  Yes.  William Randolph Hearst, San Simeon, and the Hearst Corporation: Harper's Bazaar, Seventeen, Esquire, Town & Country, Cosmopolitan + books, TV, newspapers. Conde Nast, and the vast empire of New Yorker, Architectural Digest, Wired, Vogue and more.  Today's world is about technological delivery via APPs instead of a stamp and bulk mail. But syndicated is still syndicated.  In this newsstand, or that grocery store. Fashion, food, computers, news, entertainment; what's posh or smashing, new and different, in this world.    Multiple mags, multiple pages and layouts, appeal to multiple types. Syndicated.

Columnists were published along with their periodicals when the newspaper was king.  Remember Art Buchwald, Dave Barry, Erma Bombeck?  Louella Parsons, Drew Pearson, H.L. Mencken? Syndicated in every paper that was worth reading.  Today, some of the greats include Dennis Prager, Charles Krauthammer, Thomas Friedman, Robert Samuelson. The comics, of course. A ubiquitous name across the country's printed page that means "quality, reliable, familiar and famous."  Syndicated:  Income, fame, speaking engagements, opinions worth discussing at the dinner table.  Can I look forward to this?  Gee...

Yes, at last, I'm my own syndicate.  Only not by choice so much as necessity. Splattered all over the place.  Instead of fame and fortune, however, I'm struggling like mad to keep up with contacts, sites, and responses.   A desperate attempt to appear interesting, clued and tuned in, infinitely wise, witty, and without another thing to do but connect & communicate.  I don't get paid, don't get recognition, don't get someone to do my editing, layout, or P.R.  I can never remember where I put my book of passwords.  The only thing that's "coming out"  is my waistline from sitting so much in front of the computer.  But yes, I'm it.  The new syndication.  Me, myself, and I: The Syndicate. 

The Old Bags

The other day I went to the grocery store, fully prepared to get some vacuum cleaner bags for my uprights at home and work.

Much to my surprise, I was told that vacuum cleaner bags are no longer sold.  Yes.  I was flummoxed.  It's bad enough that clothes lines are for the most part, long gone; it's awful when underwear that fits or lipsticks that flatter, are discontinued without a "by your leave, or a kiss my rear."  The extinction of "dumb phones" and PCs is expensive and dreadful, so OK.  But vacuum cleaner bags?

I went down every possible aisle three times.  To no avail.  Not a receptacle to behold.  Finally, in complete disarray, I located the head clerk.  With a rueful smile she shook her head, plainly disturbed by the situation. "No more vacuum cleaner bags. People don't buy them any more, so we stopped selling them." 

"You don't sell vacuum cleaner bags any more?!"  I was almost at a shriek.  It may seem like a simple thing to you but, to me it was a rite of passage.  Did I pass the age of civilization when people vacuum their rugs?  It appeared that vacuum cleaners had gone the way of rectal thermometers. 

The clerk explained that people now use "bagless" vacuums; it wasn't the store's fault at all she went on, but rather that times had changed.  I couldn't stand it.  I really couldn't stand it.  I stuttered, stammered; with arms akimbo, I huffed and puffed. "I know just how you feel," she nodded.  "Why, when I heard about the store discontinuing vacuum cleaner bags, I thought to myself, that's just Un-American. Un-American!"  Visions of  Norman Rockwell paintings, Hoover or Kirby magazine advertisements, and my mother, came to mind...

But there you are.  Upon hearing the terrible news, I immediately drove to the small vacuum cleaner store down the street.  The tattooed balding ex-Marine, none too pleased to hear what I had to say roared, "Who the hell do they think they are, saying that???!! I've been in business for 30 years, plan to be here for 20 more.  All I sell is used and re-furbished vacuum cleaners.  With Bags.  Here! See these?  Thousands of 'em.  THOUSANDS of 'em!" His open arms spread behind him as if in song, across long layered shelves that spanned his shop.  

I took the bags he sold me and left.  It was nothing, really.  Still, there was something about it: Vacuum cleaner bags.  Something so simple, so necessary, seemingly around forever.  All at once rendered useless, outmoded, and unprofitable.  Just like that: Gone.

Suiting Up For Santa Claus: UniformMarketNews.com

Every year, Santa puts down his pipe, fluffs up his whiskers, and makes sure he has his fabled list that he’s checked twice.  He puts on his Christmas best and gets ready to spread love, good cheer, and goodies to children all over the world. 

It seems that Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas, evolved with various cultures over time:  The Greeks knew him as Poseidon, god of the sea; the Romans changed his name to Neptune.  Early European Christianity drew on these images of this powerful sea god, the benevolent Christ child, and the notion that children should be good Christians, and called him Hagios Nikolaos (Latin for Saint Nicholas).  There doesn’t seem to be proof that there was an actual person named Nicholas.

Saint Nicholas, protector of sailors and schoolchildren, gradually became a rescuer and benefactor who rewarded children everywhere so long as they were properly behaved, did their studies, and said their catechism. 

The name of Santa Claus came from the Dutch who, when they first came to America and settled in New Amsterdam (New York), pronounced Saint Nicholas “Sinterklass,” aka Santa Claus. 

How did Santa’s appearance evolve?  The answer is an American one:  In 1809, New York writer Washington Irving (“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”) wrote a series of satirical works referred to as “The Knickerbocker Tales.”  In these “‘Tales,” St. Nicholas is promoted as the patron saint of New York society.  Riding over tops of trees and bringing presents to children, Irving refers to him as small, elfish, with a pipe, and capable of sliding down chimneys.

By 1821, New York printer William Gilley put forth a poem about “Santeclaus” who dressed all in fur and drove a sleigh pulled by one reindeer.   Clement Clark Moore—New York, 1823, wrote the classic poem, “Twas The Night Before Christmas” a defining image for Santa and his swift team of reindeer, now totaling eight. 

According to Snopes.com, Santa remained elfin until about 1841, when J.W. Parkinson of Philadelphia hired a man to dress as Santa for his mercantile, and climb down a chimney outside his shop—the first time Santa is recorded as a full-sized person, and connected with retailing.

In 1863, the cartoons of Thomas Nast were presented in “Harper’s Weekly.”  Santa got a beard, fur from head to foot, and his first red suit; George P. Webster, who wrote copy for Nast’s drawings, gave Saint Nicholas the North Pole as his home. 

By 1885, when Louis Prang of Boston, an illustrator of Christmas cards, chose red over all the other Santa suit colors (green, white, purple, brown, blue), Saint Nicholas took on the style and appearance that he has today. 

There are those who think that Santa Claus, in his famous red suit with white fur, was a figment of Coca Cola’s corporately colored imagination.  Nope.  During the 1930’s, the era of the Great Depression, an illustrator named Haddon Sundblom did a drawing of Santa holding a bottle of Coca Cola as a marketing idea.  It was an instant success, galvanizing the notion of Santa’s already red suit, and also reaping excellent rewards for Coke.  But the colorful image of Santa Claus was cemented long before the 1930’s.

What about the Santa suit today?  For one jolly old soul, this multi-million dollar business sells hundreds of thousands of garments per year.   There are over 25,000 Santa suit purchasing sites online, alone.  It’s mostly seasonal, but with sales occurring year round.  Volume wise, Santa suits are second only to Halloween in the costume/uniform business.

Halco is one of the 2 largest Santa suit manufacturers in the U.S.  “We’ve been in business since 1945,” says principal, Terri Greenberg.  “We produce 52,000 suits per year.  We used to have 72 fulltime stateside sewing operators.  Now, we have ten.”   What used to be an American business is going more and more offshore because American manufacturers can’t compete with the pricing.  Terry, herself, lives in the Far East part time, in order to maintain quality control at her plants both here and abroad. 

Shari McConahay, co-owner of retail SantaSuits.com, purchases from wholesale manufacturers like Terri.  Shari is adamant about buying American and feels strongly that American suits are better made; with offshore garments, quality control is a mixed bag.   Her business has been selling the Santa uniform since the early ’70’s.  Shari dedicates 20% of her company’s 18,000 sq. ft. warehouse space for the Santa suits, alone. 

A Santa suit can be purchased retail anywhere from $27.95, for a one-size-fits-all stretch, to a plush satin-lined fully trimmed out custom garment at $700.00.  With accoutrements, such as padding, beards, eyebrows, glasses, boots, belts, gloves, etc, that’s about $1,000 for the complete suit.  Depending on the vendor, profits can be plus or minus 100% above cost.

The costumes can come in red, burgundy, white, green and even blue.  But red is by far and away the best seller.  There are variations of style and quality with coats, hoods, brocade, and period pieces—in polyester, flannel, felt, vinyl, leather, satin, velvet, velour, or plush fur fabrics. 

“There are those who purchase for parties, office gatherings, and family scenes.  Then, there are the ‘professionals,’ who work the malls, hospitals and charitable organizations, photography displays, parades, and street corners,” according to retailer, Larry Meidberg, at Clicket.com. 

There’s something special about a uniform that commands both kindness and respect.  Like true elves, all three companies are working 15 hour days to get everyone suited up in time for the Christmas season.  “For many Santas it’s like a calling,” said Shari.  “Every year they will spruce up their accessories or their uniforms, so that they are perfect.  Children are the first to tell you if something is wrong.” 

Lisa Stewart: Superior Design & Merchandising: UniformMarketNews.Com

Lisa Stewart is the kind of woman they make movies about:  Single, a veteran career executive, born in Atlanta, moved to New York at 23, and now the Vice President of Design and Merchandising with Superior Uniform Group in Florida.  Interested in the apparel business since childhood, Lisa worked 18 years for Hart-Marx before switching to Superior.  A marathon runner, golfer, skier, Lisa has always been a type A+ personality; on the go, yet sensible and measured every step of the way.  "One of the things I've learned about when participating in sports, is the incredible fabric variances and all that they can withstand," says the excited and highly motivated young woman.

"I'm always thinking of the big picture," Lisa emphasizes.  She is at once working on both internal and external design projects;  what's new and best for Superior's offerings to its customers, as well as designing directly for Superior accounts.  Not only is she dedicated to customer support, but she focuses a savvy eye toward growing the business aspect of her company.   While she was with retail-based Hart-Marx, she was head of design in the women's division of the primarily men's tailored clothing corporation.  Working with Superior on several projects, she gradually moved over from one company to the other. 

Now,  Lisa brings a new perspective to Superior Uniform Group--the wholesale/retail apparel trade.  "I've worked with designers for Ever," Lisa remarks in her Southern drawl.  "I see things from a business point of view, and I'm very fussy about fabrics, fittings, and style.  I know what's right.  Uniforms can be attractive for street wear, as well as for identity."

Superior had had several exciting projects in place before Lisa came on board:  Tailored products, eco-friendly recycled fabrics, and 100% polyesters  that are machine washable and dryable.   "There are great merits in these new fabrics for the consumers and the economy--and the technology is out there!" 

Lisa insists, "It's all about marketing-generated awareness.   We've got tailored apparel that is good for 30 washings.  You don't wash suiting every time you wear it, or it would destroy the tailored product.  If you clean it once for each of the four seasons, it is good for seven years!  We are tailoring in recycled polyester, poly and Lycra, and poly wool.  It's unbeatable."

In all categories, Lisa Stewart is infusing her own background, as she combines with the Superior focus: Eco-friendly fabrics are emerging in polos, wovens, trousers, and more.  "People are committed to doing something about the environment at our corporate level.  Knowing that Superior will lose customers if it doesn't,  has made a huge difference," Lisa smiles.  "Caps, aprons, cotton garments--we're doing so many things for both the retail trade, and for branded companies."

The general trend is for tailored garments to make a re-emergence, but in reality, it may not happen.  As it is now, Superior is very big on sportswear.  What's fabulous is that so many other companies, such as Under Armour, Nike, etc., are presenting with whole new fabric technologies.  Superior is taking advantage of that technology in a big way.   "Things like wicking, stain release, Teflon coating-- these are all processes that used to be new; now, they're just taken for granted.  People who are active expect SPF protection, anti-bacterial coverage and more, as part of the garment," Lisa reveals.

Aesthetics?  Lisa focuses the tailored garments in charcoal, black, navy, and brown's.   The accessories may vary with the customer.  Superior is very careful not to date itself.   "It's a challenge," Lisa reminds, "to be fresh and maintain longevity at the same time.  We're doing color-blocking with two and three different areas of bold different hues, contrast stitching, brighter colors--more creativity with fewer price points.  We're doing branding with logos at every level of the customer's needs: The front and back of the house.  We do stores and private customer accounts; small independent boutique hotels to huge corporations."  Superior's catalogues are being completely re-designed to focus on these changing times.

"Superior has often been portrayed as being very plain--a brass tacks organization.  I wouldn't have joined if that were so.  Marketing has everything to do with reality and how we're portrayed," Lisa comments.  "We have a great marketing team, a tremendous design team, and we're all moving forward together!"   

  

Unisync Group Re-Brands Itself: UniformMarketNews.Com

Ryan Beliveau, Marketing Coordinator for Unisync Group, Ltd., tells all about Kilmer Capital Group's ingenious concept of linking three varied and outstanding identity companies to form a single entity.  Since 1929, the superb Hammill Company, Canadian leader that rivals Carhardt, VF Industries, and Tough Duck, for workwear and back-of-the-house service apparel, has maintained its integrity, quality, and fine name in the uniform industry.  Now, it has morphed to become an arm of Unisync.

York,  custom manufacturer of frontline service for casinos, restaurants, and VIP venues, has also transitioned to Unisync.  York is a full-service company with designers, representatives, artists, patterns, and multiple fabric & notions vendors on hand to provide every necessity in order to complement high-end corporations with the most stunning of garments.  Recently, one of their cocktail waitress uniforms won the award for "Outstanding Casino Design" (Niagara Falls Casino Resort), at the North American Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors convention, in March 2010.

Finally, Show Room One, a promotional products entity, with scads of items from ballpoint pens, mugs, gizmos, and identity apparel-- everything to enhance customer image while remaining within any given budget--also has joined the Unisync family.  Both embroidery and screen-printing services are available in-house.  "These things generate excitement for the consumer," emphasizes Ryan.

The amalgamation of these individual corporations began in 2003, and has slowly but surely brought both customers and employees of each into what is now known as Unisync.  "The good thing about having the three brands under one roof," says Ryan, "is that it's very good for the customers  to have one-stop-shopping.    We've taken our time, so that customers who are loyal to one or another of the separate companies, feel comfortable with the newer Unisync concept and understand that standards and familiarity with the brands will not be lost with these mergers.   At the same time, they have three times as much to choose from, when purchasing garments and identity items for their establishments."   

Located in Ontario, Canada, Unisync is run primarily out of a single facility, encompassing over 100,000 square feet.  While it has a few items manufactured offshore, Unisync prides itself on being a privately held Canadian firm.  It has reps who travel and project managers who are assigned to each regional area or larger single projects; ultimately, the company is under one roof.  "We don't find it difficult to ship to the 'States at all," says Ryan.

"We have worked very hard to re-brand, and instill in our employees that we are a single unit, and whether it's our new website, our soon-to-be-released catalogue, the way we answer the telephone, or our signature, everything about us is concentrated on the Unisync concept of being one flexible company.  A customer can come here and receive full service for everything and anything desired."

Beliveau mentions that some of the Unisync customers are grocery chains, Burger King, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut.  Its focus is on big projects; however, Ryan states, it works with smaller companies, too.  "We sell direct when we're dealing with larger accounts, but we also distribute wholesale to others.  We understand how the smaller cities and towns make use of the commerce in their individual uniform shops,  and we have no desire to undercut our customers, no matter who it is."

The focus at Unisync is terrific looks, fit, and comfort.  "At Unisync, we have some of the best people in the industry who can bring an image to reality, " says Ryan Beliveau.  "Total Program Management differentiates us from other companies and if a customer needs his merchandise in a rush, he gets it in a rush! Three days or three weeks to do an entirely customized operation is not a problem for us; it gets done. "