Investment analyst Robert W. Baird & Co. (Milwaukee) saw a glimmer of hope for the uniform rental sector’s 2014 growth as third quarter 2013 began. Not a floodlight of optimism. An indication that economic conditions appear right for continued expansion, just not a return to the sunnier days of the mid-2000s.
 
Employment in key uniform-wearing industries tracked by Baird’s Add/Stop Index had a net gain of 53,000 jobs in October: the firm views a monthly rise between 50,000 and 80,000 as supportive of “reasonable organic growth” for industrial laundry. The October rise was comparable to August and ...