NEW CATALOGS

Soleas

Grand Rapids, MI-based Professional Uniforms has expanded its medical and hospitality apparel lines to include fashion footwear. Soleas, the new division, sells shoes, handbags, and accessories from name brands via its Soleas catalog, which first mailed in May, and its Website, which launched in February.

Vice president of business development James Maioho says that Soleas's merchandisers spend “oodles and oodles” of time choosing styles and brands that appeal to women 30-54 years old. Prices range from $19.95 for Tommy Hilfiger flip-flops to $229.95 for Birkenstock boots.

Soleas's debut catalog mailed to more than 200,000 prospects and house file names, with that latter constituting the majority of the recipients. Response was on target, says Maioho, although he won't release sales specifics.

A second catalog dropped on Aug. 24. Another six drops were planned for the fall and holiday seasons.

Product category: Shoes, handbags, and accessories First mailing date: May 2005 Size of distribution: more than 200,000 Target audience: women 30-54 years old Competitors: Zappos, Friedman's Shoes, Marmi Number of pages: 32 Trim size: 7-1/8" × 10-1/2" Telephone: 866-765-3271

District Threads

Preston, WA-based wholesale apparel supplier SanMar launched a spin-off, District Threads, in June. Breaking out of SanMar's niche of T-shirts, jackets, sport shirts, and other conservative styles, District Threads sells raglan tees, hoodies, and other clothes that follow retail fashion trends. Spokesperson Daniel Brockley says District Threads fills a gap in styling between retail and wholesale fashions, providing imprinters, and promotional apparel resellers “cooler, younger, hipper” items than those generally sold by wholesalers.

Response to the catalog has been “tremendous,” according to Brockley, although he won't release specific sales information. The company plans to expand the product line.

Product category: wholesale apparel First mailing date: June 2005 Target audience: apparel resellers, imprinters, and embroiderers Competitors: Alpha Shirt Co., Broder Bros., NES Clothing Co. Number of pages: 16 Trim size: 7-1/2" × 11" Telephone: 800-426-6399