Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1148140
second set when they purchase their uniforms. And suggest they buy a few extra for the kid that losses his or for that added player. Hiskey: Our hat customizer has really helped dealers show their customers what their hat will look like, changing fabrics and colors in real time. This tool has gotten rid of the guess work and allowed them to better manage their appointents and sales strategies. Is there are growing demand for quicker turnaround? If so, how is your company addressing this? Richardson: Everyone wants it faster. Simplifying the customization part and using technology for designing and placing orders is key to delivering a custom made cap faster. Kennedy: Yes, definitely. In the past year we have started utilizing more of our production capacity in our New York facility. In addition, we have updated all our embroidery machines in our Alabama facility. Quick turnaround on stock items is the fastest growing part of our business. With that we have almost doubled our domestic embroidery capacity in the last year to handle this demand. Hiskey: Always. Unfortunately, with a quicker turn you are going to sacrifice price or quality. Finally, where is the cap market headed in 2020 and beyond in terms of looks, technology and demand? Hiskey: Technology will continue to drive demand and Pukka is set up for growth well into 2020 and beyond. Richardson: Baseball players are still pretty tra- ditional when it comes to style, so we don't see much change happening in the shape and look of on-field caps. But lighter, more performance fabrics and new decoration techniques will continue to grow in popularity. Technology and making the ordering process easier for the dealer will be a big focus of ours in the coming year. Kennedy: Customization will continue to be at the forefront, with innovative new performance fabrics and headwear applications. Technology such as Build A Caps and user-friendly ordering software are going to be very important. Ease- of-ordering and speed-to-market are areas of extreme focus for us as we look ahead to the future. n 30 Team Insight ~ July/August 2019 teaminsightmag.com APPAREL HEADWEAR The GP100 from The Game features Brrr cooling fabric, lightweight performance fabric and enhanced breathability.