At an industry event I covered several years ago in New York, Paul Charon, then-president and CEO of Liz Claiborne Inc. summed up a key element of his strategy for business success, calling on executives to, “Always strive to see things as they are—never as we wish they would be.” In today’s recessionary climate, I’d argue that Charon’s realism is also apropos for today’s textile service company leaders.
 
Candor wins trust
 
One company that seems to have taken this view to heart is Walker Towel & Uniform Service, Kansas City, MO. “To me, this ...