Waubonsee SBDC client Karen Olsen and her husband, Brian, recently purchased the family uniform business from Brian's uncle, assuring another generation would carry forward this small manufacturer in Oswego, IL. 

Master Uniform manufactures everything from uniforms to aprons, laundry and tote bags, banners and other specialty items.  They specialize in smaller order sizes, and custom colors and designs that aren't available from larger manufacturers.  Customers include retailers, grocers, medical facilities, and non-profit organizations, from as far away as Texas and South Dakota.

The company began in the 1940's on Wabash Street in Chicago. Brian's uncle worked in the business, and ultimately purchased it in 1980.  In 1981 he relocated the business to Bedford Park, and moved again in 1991 to its current Oswego location at 2101 Albright Road.

Brian began working in the business when he was 12 years old, ultimately working his way up to shop manager.  He left the business in 1990 when he joined the Aurora Police Department.  When Karen was in high school and dating Brian, she folded T-shirts on weekends - earning money that helped pay for their wedding.  Years later, their son also joined the business as screen printer.

Last year, Brian's uncle announced his plan to retire and sell the business. After several other potential buyers were unable to obtain financing, Karen and Brian began looking into purchasing the business. Karen visited the SBDC for assistance with a business plan, and obtained an SBA 504 loan to purchase the property and assets of the business. 

Since taking over the business in February, Karen has already made many changes to ensure that the business will grow and prosper for another generation.  Key improvements included getting employees more involved in business operating decisions.  This had an immediate impact on the bottom line, as employees made suggestions that resulted in reduced scrap, and increased operating efficiencies.

Karen has also been steadily relegating years of older equipment to storage for eventual sale or disposal.  As you can imagine, the facility is a fascinating snapshot of the history of a small manufacturer, and she is determined to make the business more efficient but still retain its heritage.  For instance, they have the pattern for every item the company has every designed (and a sample of most.) 

Karen is in the process of working with a web and graphic designer to modernize their logo and put up a web site, which should be up and running soon: www.master-uniform.com.  The new company tag line is "A thread of Quality runs through everything we do." When you talk to Karen Olson, you know immediately that this is not just a marketing slogan, but a philosophy that she has applied to running the next generation of the family business.