Search for Waldo Shirts Ends with World Record - From "Success Stories"
By Jen Zorger
May 2009
Where in the world do you find a supplier for 650 shirts based on the attire of the cartoon character Waldo? And why in the world would you want them?
In short, insurance company Acuity envisioned a “Book of World Records” theme for their annual report. They figured the ultimate touch would be to include their own record, so they resolved to break one. Consulting Guinness World Records, they set sights on the “Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Waldo.” The existing record was 128.
Outfitting the Waldos fell to Hans Schuette, sales rep for Towsleys Inc. (asi/345900). “I had worked with Doug (Stayman, president) of In Your Face Apparel (asi/62494) on a previous project,” Schuette says, “and he had always been responsive, so I started talking with him. He and I had multiple conversations, and we developed a viable solution within the timeframe available.”
The timeframe – just 2½ weeks – was critical, because a rep and photographer from Guinness were flying in to document the event. “Many companies might have tossed their hands up at the time-sensitivity of this project, but not In Your Face Apparel,” Schuette says. “They put the extra effort in all the way to the end.”
They ran into problems outside their control at every step – from the PMS number not matching when wet-screened, to carriers losing track of packages during the fabric’s trip to the cut-and-sew facility and again when the finished product shipped. “Then we had to screen-print, fold, and ship 650 pieces to our client, all on the same day,” Schuette adds.
Due to his team’s high level of service, the shirts arrived on time. Acuity shattered the record with 577 Waldos – and they loved the shirts. “They were very pleased with the quality of the In Your Face Apparel shirts," Schuette says, “They exceeded their expectations by far.”
BIZ TIP: Don’t Shy Away from Custom Products
In Your Face Apparel (asi/62494) can produce a custom order in as quick as 2 weeks with stock fabric. With more time, the fabric can be dyed to match a PMS color or even knit to a specific weight. Here are some other advantages:
Private labeling extends branding so your client can really own the garment.
You can use the right sizing for the audience. (No need to give someone who usually wears a misses’ M, a juniors’ XXL.)
IYFA’s custom garments are domestically sewn, supporting U.S. manufacturing.
