Hong Kong, October 17, 1996 - Federal Express Corporation unveiled a new, more functional uniform for all its couriers, ground operations employees, and World Service Center agents throughout the world.
Designed by fashion industry consultant Stan Herman, the new uniform provides employees day-to-day variety with an updated classic-casual look in the workplace. It also provides more comfort and new safety features, including 80 percent more outerwear reflectivity.
"We conducted extensive employee surveys and focus groups around the world to determine how the new uniform could better meet their needs," said Gayle Christensen, managing director of Corporate Marketing for FedEx. "We're especially proud of the uniform because it was a true team effort, taking the needs and desires of a global work force into account, and extending our new identity."
"The new uniforms are another important step in transitioning to our bold new corporate identity," said Mike Ducker, senior vice president, Asia Pacific division. "While revitalizing our look, these new uniforms provide greater flexibility and comfort to our couriers, agents and employees who work in a variety of climates throughout Asia."
Employees will receive uniform pieces at launch and throughout the year; the full roll-out will be completed by December 1997."Over 80 percent of employees said they wanted new, updated uniform components," stated Christensen. "The current uniforms - also designed by Herman - were revolutionary for their time and have served the FedEx team well. We're making the new uniforms bolder and more comfortable to meet the needs of the company's employees."
Uniform Designed To Perform
Meeting the various needs of an international work force is a challenge. For example, U.S. employees prefer wash-and-wear clothing; international employees prefer all natural fibers in apparel. Therefore, FedEx compromised: while most uniform components are the same around the world, FedEx developed one short-sleeved golf-style shirt that is different overseas. In the U.S., the shirt is made of a very high percentage of cotton blended with synthetic fiber; the international shirt is 100 percent cotton.
"We chose slightly different material for some U.S. and international uniform components, based on employee requests and climate differences around the world," explained Christensen. "Our employees told us that they needed uniforms that were easy to care for, so we developed a cotton/poly blend that contains as much cotton as possible."
A Distinct Appearance
The new uniform incorporates a variety of components so employees can mix separates to meet their individual needs. Some of the new pieces include a variety of shirts, sweaters, caps and outerwear. The shoulder epaulets on the current uniform will be replaced with modern pins worn on the collar or chest to display and employee's years of service.
"We updated the uniform, not only to correspond to changing job requirements, but also to allow employees the opportunity to express their individuality within the confines of a uniform," said Herman, president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. "FedEx's desire to work with its employees in designing a new uniform exemplifies the company's forward- thinking nature."
Federal Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable services for more than 2.5 million items in 211 countries each working day. The company employs approximately 124,000 people and operates more than 560 aircraft, 37,000 vehicles and over 400,000 Powership® and FedEx ShipTM automated systems in its integrated global network. Federal Express reported revenues of $10.3 billion for its fiscal year ended May 31, 1996.
FedEx currently services the Asia Pacific market with nearly 3,700 employees in 30 countries and territories. The company provides the most extensive trans-Pacific air lift of any major competitor with wide-bodied MD-11, DC-10 and A310 aircraft flying daily, linking its FedEx AsiaOne network for overnight delivery to major commercial and financial centers throughout Asia. It is the only express transportation carrier in the world using its own aircraft and crews to provide an integrated service into and out of the People's Republic of China.
