GREENVILLE, S.C., May 2, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OOBE, Inc., one of the country's leading providers of custom-designed corporate uniforms, has designed and produced an energetic apparel collection available to employees of the nation's 2,703 YMCAs. Multiple styles combine the five vibrant colors and contemporary design of the Y's new brand image with high performance fabric favored by professional athletes.
Along with the introduction of the new Y uniform, OOBE has also been named a preferred vendor of the YMCA of the USA (Y-USA), the national resource office for the nation's 2,703 Ys. This status is reserved only for companies with an established YMCA customer base, national reach and high quality products/services.
"Y-USA is pleased to announce OOBE Inc as a new national YMCA Preferred Vendor. After careful evaluation, we felt that OOBE could provide quality uniforms to the Y while adhering to our new brand standards," says Val Castaneda, Director of Strategic Sourcing for YMCA of the USA.
OOBE began its pursuit of the Y's business nearly one year ago when company executives learned of the organization's plan to rebrand the venerable 166-year-old nonprofit. Although no one at OOBE knew what the new brand would look like, executives made a commitment to produce a new design as soon as it was unveiled in July 2010. Once the contemporary, colorful visual system was revealed, OOBE's design team began work to match colors with fabrics that could withstand the physical demands associated with working at a YMCA while maintaining a clean and inviting appearance. It was also important for the uniform to become a unique extension of the revitalized Y brand.
OOBE believes uniforms play a critical role in the success of a brand because of the impression it leaves with a customer and for the intangible effect it can have on an employee's attitude and performance.
Providing more insight behind the role of the uniform and his company, OOBE Founder and Co-CEO Tom Merritt explains, "Our design team has set out to produce Y staff apparel that upholds the Y brand with its new vibrant look. OOBE is a firm believer that our role as a strategic partner is to enhance brand equity for our clients."
After six months of design and testing, OOBE presented the Y Collection to Y-USA executives who were delighted with the results.
The Y Collection features three styles each available in five color combinations: a men's performance color block polo, a women's performance color block polo, and a unisex long-sleeve tee. The color combinations are red/white/orange; blue/white/purple; green/white/blue; orange/white/green; and purple/white/red. The design features a wide, arching band of color across the shoulders, collar, sleeves and sides of the bright white shirt with contrast piping. The Y logo is printed with a performance rubberized application on the back yoke and left chest and even the buttons are engraved with "YMCA." The shirt is made of a Hydrovent™ Performance, quick-dry, 100% polyester waffle-knit weave that minimizes wrinkles and is treated with antimicrobial technologies that make it quick- drying and odor resistant.
The Unisex Long-Sleeve Tee is gray with a dual band of white and contrast color stretching across the back and down the opposite sleeve and arching upward on the opposite front side. The Y logo is featured in a rubberized print application on the cuff of one sleeve, providing a clean finish to an athletic, polished look. Like the Signature Polo, the Unisex Long-Sleeve Tee is made of a 100% polyester Hydrovent™ Performance fabric in a waffle-knit weave with special wicking and odor resistant treatments.
In addition to the custom-designed Y Collection, OOBE also offers eight additional shirt styles from the OOBE Core Classic Collection, an off-the-shelf performance apparel line. The eight Core Classic styles include a Men's and Women's Briggs Polo, Men's and Women's Flog Polo, Men's and Women's Body-Mapping Polo, and Unisex Short- and Long-Sleeve Backcourt Performance Tees. Each of these comes in a variety of solid color performance fabrics with an embroidered or screen-printed logo on the left chest. OOBE plans to introduce additional Y branded performance pieces within its exclusive collection in the coming months.
Some Y facilities are already outfitted in the new uniforms with all employees participating, including management, front desk staff, lifeguards, gym staff and trainers, camp counselors and more.
"I love the way the shirt fits and feels," exclaims Keith Doster, Executive Director of the Eastside Family Y in Greenville, S.C. "I really like the layered look of the long sleeve tee and polo, and the shirts have brightened our lobby!"
OOBE continues to sell quickly through its initial stock, but is prepared to accommodate all 2,703 YMCAs for years to come and has taken an aggressive stance with regard to inventory and continued design innovation to ensure they become the premier apparel provider to Y staff members nationally. For pricing and ordering information, call toll-free at (877) 632-6623 or email info@oobe.com.
OOBE, Inc.
877.632.6623
info@oobe.com
About OOBE, Inc.
Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., OOBE, Inc. provides corporate uniform apparel for some of the world's most recognized and reputable brand name companies, including Wolverine and Chick-fil-A. It is one of the country's only corporate uniform companies that designs and provides custom apparel for the needs of each individual client, believing that well executed uniform programs can improve corporate brand equity. Custom uniform programs have proven to improve productivity, employee morale and influence consumer brand preference when the uniform has a superior design, fit and construction. To learn more about OOBE, visit http://www.oobe.com.
This information was brought to you by Cision
The following files are available for download: