Unitec has been managing uniform programs for organizations of every size since 1927. Here’s what sets our approach apart, and how it works for your team.
Unitec provides a full-service managed uniform program that goes beyond basic supply. Our system includes personalized employee ordering portals, in-house branding and customization, inventory tracking, administrative controls, and bag by employee distribution, all managed through The Proximity System™, our proprietary online platform.
If your organization is managing uniforms through spreadsheets, paper forms, or manual distribution processes, a managed program can dramatically improve efficiency and visibility. Unitec’s program is ideal for organizations looking to eliminate administrative burden, reduce costs, and gain real-time control over their uniform spend.
Unitec’s managed uniform program reduces payroll overhead, eliminates the need for on-site storage space, and minimizes shrinkage through improved tracking and control systems. Our clients see measurable savings by centralizing their uniform logistics with a single managed provider.
When employees are ordering on the portal, they only see the items authorized for their specific job role and department. The Proximity System™ enforces dollar limits, quantity restrictions, and category controls with real-time tracking, ensuring every order stays within your organization’s approved parameters. When an order would exceed those limits, the system offers three configurable options based on your preference: (1) the order can automatically route to a designated approver, who can review purchase history and approve or deny; (2) the employee can pay for the overage using a personal credit card; or (3) the order is stopped before it can be placed. Your organization decides which approach applies, and the rules can vary by department or role.
Unitec offers an extensive selection of uniformed apparel including flame-resistant clothing, high-visibility ANSI-compliant apparel, and job-specific uniforms with gender-specific fits and extended sizing options. We work with hundreds of vendors to ensure every member of your workforce has access to properly fitting compliant uniforms.
Yes. Unitec has extensive experience with government RFPs and cooperative contracts at the federal, state, and local levels. Our team understands the compliance requirements, documentation standards, and procurement timelines that government agencies require.
Yes. Unitec Distribution Systems holds multiple supplier diversity certifications recognized at both the federal and state levels: Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) through WBENC, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) through the Maryland Department of Transportation, and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) through the U.S. Small Business Administration. These certifications make Unitec a qualified partner for corporations and federal, state, and local agencies with supplier diversity goals.
Yes. Unitec holds a current cooperative purchasing contract awarded through RFxPremier, the cooperative purchasing division of the Procurement Professionals Alliance, established in collaboration with NASPO. Eligible state and local agencies, public school districts, higher education institutions, and healthcare organizations can purchase through this contract without conducting their own competitive solicitation. Contact our team for full details and to confirm your agency’s eligibility.
Yes. Unitec partners with diverse corporate clients supporting multi-location programs and layered organizational structures. Our managed uniform program scales to accommodate complex corporate hierarchies, multiple departments, and distributed workforces.
Unitec provides full in-house customization services including embroidery, screen printing, heat sealing, emblems, professional tailoring, and custom manufacturing. All customization is handled at our facility to ensure consistent quality and faster turnaround.
Yes. Unitec stores and manages your company-owned uniform inventory at our warehouse facility, shipping items only as employees place approved orders. Remote inventory management is ideal for organizations with 300 or more employees, where maintaining on-site stock creates storage costs, shrinkage, and administrative burden. If your organization is interested in a remote warehouse, contact us to discuss a timeline that scales with your workforce.
Yes. If your company owns its uniform inventory, garments can be returned and reissued to your employees, whether they are new hires, transfers, temporary employees, or full time, reducing waste and lowering your per-employee uniform cost. We offer two return options: you can send items back clean and quality-checked for a lower per-piece cost, or send everything back mixed and we’ll launder, inspect, and re-inventory each piece for you. Either way, reissued items are tracked in The Proximity System™ just like new orders.
Unitec specializes in managed uniform programs where your company purchases the uniforms, giving you full control over quality, branding, and long-term cost. Unlike rental programs that lock you into worn, used clothing, recurring fees and limit your customization options, purchase programs mean you choose the exact items, branding, and vendors that fit your workforce. We handle all the logistics, including warehousing, inventory tracking, and distribution, without the drawbacks of a rental contract.
Yes. The Proximity System™ is built to handle specific issuance rules for new hires and existing employees alike. You define the starter kit. For example, three polo shirts, two pants, and one jacket. The system enforces those quantities automatically. Employees only see the items that they’re eligible to order, choose their sizes and preferences, and the system prevents over-ordering. It’s the simplest way to onboard new employees into your uniform program without manual tracking.
Yes. The Proximity System™ lets you configure role-based access so each department, job title, or location sees only the items approved for them. Maintenance technicians see flame-resistant and high-visibility options. Office staff see corporate apparel. Supervisors see their catalog. Employees place their own orders, and the system enforces your rules automatically, with no manual gatekeeping required.
Yes. The Proximity System™ is designed to enforce the specific allotments, item restrictions, and spending limits dictated by collective bargaining agreements. Every CBA uniform entitlement is tracked at the individual employee level, giving you auditable records that demonstrate full compliance. Whether your agreement specifies exact item quantities, annual allowances, or replacement schedules, the system enforces those rules without exception.
Yes. The Proximity System™ supports hybrid allowance structures. For example, an employee might have a $500 annual budget but is restricted to one coat per year. The system tracks both the dollar balance and the item count simultaneously, preventing employees from exceeding either limit. This gives you budget control and item-level oversight in a single program.
Yes. Work boots and safety footwear can be included in your managed uniform program. Because proper fit is critical for safety footwear, many of our clients choose to let employees purchase shoes from a preferred local retailer or shoe truck while tracking the cost through The Proximity System™. An administrator simply deducts the amount from the employee’s overall uniform allowance, keeping your reporting and budget tracking centralized even when the purchase happens off-platform.
Unitec partners with hundreds of uniform vendors and offers access to tens of thousands of SKUs, from flame-resistant workwear and high-visibility safety apparel to corporate polos and outerwear. If your program requires a specific product or vendor not currently in our catalog, we can source and add it. Every item in your program is customizable with in-house embroidery, screen printing, heat sealing, and tailoring.
Yes. The Proximity System™ supports tiered access based on each user’s role. Leadership and HR can view every department and employee across the organization. Regional managers see only the locations that are their responsibility. Local administrators see all areas, or only the area(s) they manage. Employees see only their own ordering portal, allowance, and order history. Access permissions are configured to match your organization’s reporting structure.
Getting the right fit the first time, understanding how returns work, and knowing which industries we serve. These are the practical details that matter when you’re running a uniform program.
The most reliable method is keeping a “fit kit” (a size run of sample garments) at your location so employees can try items on before ordering. For pants, Unitec provides garments with a built-in measuring guide along the inseam so employees can identify their correct length without alterations. Your dedicated account manager can help you set up a sizing process that minimizes returns and ensures first-order accuracy.
Unitec’s managed uniform programs serve a wide range of industries, with deep expertise in transportation, manufacturing, government, public utilities (including water and wastewater), healthcare, security, distribution and warehousing, food service, facility maintenance, HVAC, and home services. Our solution works in any industry that uses uniforms. If your organization manages a uniformed workforce and is looking for centralized control, in-house customization, and bag-by-employee distribution, we’d welcome a conversation about your needs.
Yes. Unitec offers full in-house customization including embroidery, screen printing, heat sealing, emblems, and professional tailoring. For organizations requiring fully custom-manufactured garments (unique designs, proprietary fabrics, or branded pieces built from scratch), we can accommodate custom production for programs with sufficient volume. Contact us to discuss your requirements and we’ll determine the best approach for your organization.