Webinar: Workwear Fundamentals Strong, Economic Impacts Uncertain

As U.S. federal policy promises to continue to complicate business forecasting, it’s difficult to say how the economics of uniform rental and direct sale could change. Benefits to employers of outfitting their teams appear likely to be continuous. However, panelists in a Feb. 20 webinar concluded that workwear providers need to make it a priority to strategize for uncertainty.

“Uniform Rental and Direct Sale in the 2025 Economy” (view with a TRSA.org log-in here) provided insights into what’s driving the demand for uniform rental and purchase, and the potential for the continued coexistence of both. Panelists explored how buyers’ present-day money and social concerns are impacting their growth.

Presenters from TRSA were John Auriemma, president, American Wear Inc., East Orange, NJ; and Josh Wildman, CEO, Wildman Uniform & Linen, Warsaw, IN. Joining them in the discussion were representatives of the Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors: Executive Director Rick Levine and Leslie Watt-McArdle, owner, LMAC Solutions, and merchandising and planning director, Fabian Group, Boston.

They identified trends that could emerge as potential economic shifts take hold:

• Reshoring of industries could increase domestic manufacturing, increasing heavy-soil occupations, boosting rental.
• With the labor market tightening and return-to-office growing in popularity, employers may be more likely to enforce disciplined uniform policies overlooked in recent years.
• In maintaining partnerships with customers, especially large ones, more service agreements may need both parties to accommodate the possibility that costs could dramatically change over time.
• To address uniform purchase cost uncertainty, supply-chain depth will be more important, especially for direct sale. Accordingly, uniform providers will need to pay more attention to suppliers’ costs, such as the impact of U.S. tariffs on where they source or manufacture.

Also covered were factors that continue to drive wearer organizations to either rent or purchase:

• Generational impact. As Levine put it, direct-sale benefits from younger employees’ “interest in the apparel available and the types of finishes and fabrics that may not be conducive to laundry.”
• Traditional benefits remain. Wildman called rental’s appeal a “trifecta quality, image and safety.” Rental uniforms don’t match their direct-purchase counterparts as image-builders for wearers and their companies.

Having issues registering for a TRSA.org account to view the webinar? Contact Meredyth Ellington at 540.613.5252.