United Supermarkets, an enterprise that operates grocery stores across Texas and New Mexico, was facing a challenge that many retailers and others in customer service industries have faced — Uniform fulfillment for employees.

In the early days it was easy to simply have a new or existing employee either communicate with a team leader or fill out a paper form to request new uniforms. These paper forms would then be collected and occasionally sent to a warehouse where boxes and boxes of uniforms were piled high on shelves collecting dust. This process was timely, left new employees without uniforms, current employees in old uniforms, and the company spending a large portion of funds on uniforms only to have them sit in a warehouse until they were needed.

As the grocer was expanding rapidly, it was clear that this process needed improvement to be fiscally responsible and to uphold the brand’s image — old, dirty, and torn up uniforms had the potential to send the wrong message.

The solution, contract directly with an apparel and embroidery supplier who was capable of managing the volume of orders and quick to deliver directly to employees.

Barrett Reynolds came into the picture to build the technology necessary to implement the solution. First, the paper order forms had to go. We built an intranet solution that gave United Supermarkets’ employees access to a catalog of uniforms that they could browse and order from. The orders would be submitted directly to the supplier who handled procurement, embroidery and screen printing, and delivery of the items.

With the warehouse of uniforms gone and a system in place that only produces uniforms that are needed when they are needed, United Supermarkets was able to drastically cut their spending on uniforms, improve employee satisfaction, and ensure that their employees are always looking their best. Today, United Supermarkets operates 97 stores under the United, Market Street, Amigos, United Express, and Albertsons Market grocery brands. In addition, they operate other businesses from distribution to manufacturing. All of whom have greatly benefitted from this effective process of uniform ordering.