Sustainable style and service for a lasting legend
Pepsi Bottling Ventures (PBV) was started 80 years ago in Long Island by one family with just four trucks. Today, it's the leading privately held bottler and distributor of PepsiCo products in the U.S. They don't just support the iconic CPG brand – they enhance it through cutting-edge operations, initiatives that preserve the environment and the care they have for their family of over 2,000 employees.
The challenge
Apparel fit for the environment,
service fit for the future
Employee's jobs often require endurance and precision, so they need clothing that can keep up and stay polished. After struggling with outdated apparel and inconsistent customer support, PBV was ready for a fresh look and an elevated experience. We were asked to create high-performance, contemporary garments that feel goods, perform well and help our client achieve their sustainability goals.
Our role
Design
Textile innovation
Employee engagement
Sustainability
Sourcing and
quality control
Program implementation
Distribution
“Our old uniforms were dated, the materials
were uncomfortable, hot. As I think about
employees, they're industrial athletes.”
Jimmy Burns, Division Vice President, Pepsi Bottling Ventures
Ease every step of the way
We also needed to match inventive apparel for all employees – including drivers, delivery specialists and associates in warehouse, management and sale – with forward-thinking customer service and technology. This mean creating comfort around agreement terms, making it easy for employees to manage their own garment and gauging satisfaction post-launch.
The solution
Innovative looks and
operations to sustain a leader
We know the best results are fueled by collaboration. PBV had previously worked with our parent company Cintas on a local level, but we wanted to ensure they were excited about this new journey together. From pricing to contract details, we worked tirelessly to shape an ideal partnership and meet all of PBV’s needs. And after a Pandemic-induced “pause” on the project, we returned ready to reevaluate and revamp with new vendor opportunities on hand supporting supply.
“It was clear sustainability was going
to be the pillar of this program.”
Emma Westerfield, Global Account Manager, Cintas
Designing for a more conscientious world
It's important to get out what we put in – to create the most value from what we put into the world, wasting as little as possible and protecting our environment. So when it came to the collection, PBV's ambition to do right by the planet and their employees was a major driver in our design and selection process.
The highlight of the program was reducing environmental waste in a way that's unique and personal to PBV. We accomplished this with Repreve®, a Unifi material made of 100% recycled plastic water bottles – so there's brand DNA in every fiber. We used this sustainable fabric in three exclusively designed pieces: a Polo Shirt, a Quarter Zip Pullover and Performance T-Shirt. Each of the pieces, on average, are diverting 17 recycled plastic bottles from landfills. We leveraged our long-standing partnership with Repreve® and knew they could deliver on a fabrication that would suit all of PBV's needs.
Clothing that makes a lasting impression
We curated a collection that performs to the highest standards in an industrial environment but still maintains a crisp look. PBV's previous apparel program had remained stagnant for many years, so we modernized it with carefully selected pieces featuring brand-right colors and contemporary silhouettes. But style shouldn't exist without substance, so we chose items constructed from materials with specialized properties – moisture wicking breathable, mechanical stretch, water repellent and insulated. Regardless of their role, each employee experiences all-day comfort thanks to this curated collection. To guarantee our apparel would win at work, we put it to the test in the field over a course of weeks.
“The comfort, the style, the durability.
These are the things employees are really
going to like about it.”
Jimmy Burns, Division Vice President, Pepsi Bottling Ventures
Outfitting that empowers
To create a seamless experience, we put the power of ordering in employee's hands. With out innovative allotment program, PBV associates can easily access the ordering website with a single sign-on, shop at their leisure or order exactly what they need. PBV leadership can still set a budget and has complete oversight, but they're freed from manually handling orders and processing, saving valuable time. We also made sure key human resources and finance stakeholders had full insight into how our allotment process worked.
Specially Tailored Service
Switching to a new apparel program and system is a big change – and we were there to manage it end to end to ensure everything went smoothly. To prepare employees for the uniform launch, we created a campaign that generated excitement. This included new professional photos for PBV's internal site and email introducing them to their new apparel and ordering system. Once the collection was launched for preorder, employees received regular communications to make sure they were using the system to its fullest potential.
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A flexible, living program
In support of the new collection, we communicate on a weekly basis with PBV about what's working, what needs work and what options are new. Because of this, we know how many employees have adopted the new program, ensuring supply is uninterrupted. As with any Design Collective program, PBV has a dedicated, expert account manager, ready to answer any question and provide essential solutions.
“The partner clients have post-launch is the same as in the beginning – we're just as committed.”
Emma Westerfield, Global Account Manager, Cintas
The result
It all adds up
Ready to Wear plus three
exclusive eco-friendly
custom pieces
An apparel program to
outfit 2,300 employees
across 18 facilities
60% employee
compliance at
time of pre-order
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