Evidence of a coming economic slowdown in the U.S. may be mounting but not according to one under-the-radar barometer: uniform patches.
World Emblem, the largest maker of emblems and patches that go on uniforms worn by workers in a broad swath of industries, says sales are up 13% so far this year and showing no signs of losing steam.
“We’re not seeing it,” says Randy Carr, CEO of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based company. “It’s hard to believe there would be” a pullback.
Through May, the company has sold 26.4 million patches to the nation’s leading uniform makers, up from 22.1 million during the same period in a strongly performing 2023. And orders have steadily risen month-to-month, Carr says.
The company’s patches are embroidered on the uniforms of employees of freight delivery services, auto service stations, hotels, restaurants, janitorial services, airports and many other businesses, Carr says. Because World Emblem’s products span such a large assortment of industries and are worn by newly hired employees, he says they provide a reliable gauge of hiring plans before monthly jobs reports are published.
Most of the company’s pieces are manufactured quickly, shipped to uniform makers and donned by workers within two weeks of the orders. Still, they represent a solid measure of likely job growth over the next couple of months, Carr says, adding that a slowdown would be foreshadowed by a drop-off in orders.
By contrast, official indicators are signaling…
