Rogers Uniforms, 700 W. Third St., has been serving the area since 1999, and owner, Jodi Rogers, with networking in mind, recently decided to join the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.
"No matter how long you are in business you always have people who say 'we never knew you were here'," Rogers said, noting his decision to join the Chamber was fueled by his desire to get the word out.
The West Third Street business specializes in uniform apparel for a variety of purposes, including public safety.
According to Rogers an "overwhelming" portion of his sales originate from fire, police and emergency medical apparel, while a smaller portion of sales come from nursing, culinary arts, postal service and industrial apparel.
The emphasis on public safety has been the driving force behind the directions the family-run business has headed over the last decade.
"We've evolved over the years," Rogers said. "Now to go along with the police and fire uniforms, we outfit police and fire vehicles and offer periodic training."
In the garage, Rogers Uniforms installs light bars, scanners and decals in vehicles for police and fire departments. The training offered at the business varies but has included introductory courses for new police officers on topics such as handcuffing and use of a baton.
"Not many, if any, businesses offer the whole gauntlet," he said of the services offered by Rogers Uniforms.
The shop recently added seamstresses to the payroll to offer custom embroidery, monogramming and screen-printing on-site.
"We're more in control of our destiny now that we can do our own embroidery and monogramming," Rogers said.
Much like many other local business, Rogers Uniforms is feeling the impact of the natural gas industry.
The industry has especially meant increased sales of fire retardant clothing for Rogers.
"One of the most important things we've done to date has been taking on the fire retardant clothing," Rogers said. "Because of the gas industry, it is an unbelievable opportunity for us."
The business, Rogers said, uses a new product from a company called Tecgen for its fire retardant clothing line.
He said this is Tecgen's first full year in operation and they were rated the best new product by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
Tecgen is the lightest-weight fire retardant material available, according to Rogers. The material has an added benefit of being moisture-wicking, meaning it wicks sweat away from the skin.
"It's not just fire retardant; it's also a uniform material people actually want to wear," Rogers said, noting he is confident the fire retardant clothing line will come to dominate his business because of the gas industry.
Overall, Rogers attributes his success to the business's uniqueness.
"You don't have this type of business everywhere," he said, adding the nearest comparable businesses are in Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
Despite the small size of Rogers Uniforms, Rogers said he is able to stay competitive with those larger operations and is branching out into the world of e-commerce with the business's website. The website has helped him drive sales, sending merchandise to numerous other states and Puerto Rico.
Rogers Uniforms is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For more information, visit the website, www.rogersuniforms.com or call 329-2111.
