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INSIDE MECHANIX WEAR header - w



JULY 2025 EDITION

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HELLO TEAM

June marked an incredible milestone for Mechanix Wear with the acquisition of Kinco, a respected, family-owned company with over 50 years of history. It was energizing to connect during our joint townhalls and begin learning about the legacy that Travis Kindler and his family have built. As we move forward in the coming weeks and months, we’ll continue exploring how we can align and grow together as one stronger organization. We're already seeing early wins—from reduced shipping costs to exciting new sales opportunities.

 

This issue is packed with great examples of our values in action across the organization, along with key updates on our critical U.S. Commercial Strategy and notable sales wins from Japan to Canada to Private Label. I’m also proud to spotlight several employees and teams who are truly living our company values and leveraging them to drive meaningful results.

 

Please enjoy this issue of Inside Mechanix Wear!

 

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WHAT's New
INSIDE MECHANIX WEAR

COMPANY UPDATES

  • Team Japan successfully completed their office move during public holidays—showing great teamwork and dedication with no disruption to operations. A true reflection of their commitment!

  • Japan hit its half-year AOP target a full month early - an impressive milestone reflecting strong execution and momentum.

  • Advance Auto Parts will add MW 50-pack Black and Orange nitrile disposables in their late summer reset—expanding our presence in the auto channel.
  • CTC (Canadian Tire Company) plans to bring in MW Vision Type-A and OTG styles—another great step in expanding our eyewear presence in Canada.
  • The Japan team secured multiple new event sponsorships, including unpaid placements at military-adjacent shows - great visibility with zero spend.

  • Snap-On USA committed to a $500K KickStart program, outside of plan, set to ship this December—an exciting win for the team.

  • Commercial Team launched Project $50M (P50), aimed at expanding our sales pipeline from $35M+ to $50M. The goal? Replicate wins across large multi-site companies. Early traction with American Airlines, Smurfit-Westrock, Boeing, and Dessert Holdings shows we’re off to a strong start.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

 

Gwen-Norfor

 TEAMWORK 

Gwen Norfor
Customer Service Associate

Gwen Norfor (Customer Service – APAC) successfully completed her probation in early June. She’s quickly shown herself to be a key team member, bringing initiative, professionalism, and a strong focus on customer support. 

 

Jun-Atsumi

 BE A PROBLEM SOLVER 

Jun Atsumi
E-Commerce/Operations Manager, Japan Office

Jun Atsumi is leading the upgrade of Japan’s warehouse and distribution this year. His drive to be a problem-solver shows in how he’s tackling complex, cross-system challenges with focus and dedication.

 

Kunal-Arora

 DO IT THE RIGHT WAY 

Kunal Arora
Supply Chain and Logistics Analyst

Kunal helps keep operations running smoothly by collaborating across teams, coordinating logistics, and streamlining processes. His proactive mindset and team-first attitude make him a dependable, positive force in daily operations.

 

Ray-Willadsen

 TEAMWORK 

Ray Willadson
Product Line Manager, Eyewear and Disposables

Ray “Super Ray” Willadson embodies Do it the Right Way and TeaMWork! From warehouse associate to Product Line Manager, his dedication, positivity, and deep product knowledge have shaped over two decades of growth.

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CPA TEAM SHOUTOUTS

TEAMWORK!
Shout-out to Maribel Castaneda (Pattern Maker/Sample Maker), Zoila Zumba (Sample Maker Seamstress), and Mercedes Jacome (Honeywell Seamstress) for turning around vitally needed pulp and paper samples in record time so that we would have them for the IFS event!

These were brand new products with lots of detail and under a one-week deadline, they were able to get the pattern updates completed, the patterns cut and finish the sewing process following sewing best practices guided by Kim Garrett and Maribel Castaneda. GREAT Job Team!

THINK BIG!                                                                                                                          Kim Garrett (Director of Design, Compliance, & Q.C.) has worked with Salisbury on the CE certification project for a year. The process included making compliant samples, compliant labels and packaging, testing of garments, and two audits. The certification was achieved on June 24, which means Salisbury can now ship the product CPA makes to Europe as well as the US and we are confident it will increase orders. Thank you, Kim!

 

CPA SKOKIE & ACUNA

DO IT THE RIGHT WAY! 
Saai Prakkash (Purchasing Specialist) has successfully completed the first phase of our Assent compliance onboarding to ensure we are getting the best information from our vendors. This is a critical project for Purchasing. Thank you, Saai!

Erica Uruchima (Purchasing Assistant) has been working hard on improving our aluminized fabric offering, holding our vendors accountable for on-time delivery and consistent quality. This has a great impact on our ability to continue to meet our customers’ demands. Thank you, Erica!

Our Acuna Team is proud to have completed workplace safety trainings in compliance with the Mexico Labor Secretary authority. Our team’s safety culture and leadership mindset continue to strengthen which is crucial for a Healthy, Productive and Successful manufacturing operation. Thank you, Acuna Team, well done! 

CUSTOMER UPDATES

CTC (Canadian Tire Company) plans to bring in MWVision Type-A and OTG styles—another great step in expanding our eyewear presence in Canada.

CTC Auto is exploring replacing Venom Steel with MW 6 Mil Black Nitrile—highlighting growing trust in our disposable glove line.

Snap-On USA committed to a $500K KickStart program, outside of plan, set to ship this December—an exciting win for the team.

O’Reilly Auto Parts has opted to remove MW Black Disposables as part of their upcoming fall reset.

Advance Auto Parts will add MW 50-pack Black and Orange nitrile disposables in their late summer reset—expanding our presence in the auto channel.

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Commercial Sales Team
Spring Update

It’s been a packed spring for the Commercial Sales Team as we continue driving our mission - protecting industrial workers with top-tier PPE from Mechanix Wear and CPA.

Our newest National Account Manager, Mike Keirns, hit the ground running with a strong start, including leading a successful Fastenal Customer Expo in Nashville this April. He’s already mastered key tools like Wufoo, Concur, ADP, Slack, and Teams - clearly ahead of the curve and well on his way.

We were also excited to welcome George Murphy to the team in early June. George joins as Business Development Manager, focusing on the Electrical and Construction channels. With years of safety industry experience, including time at Werner Ladder, George brings valuable insight and energy.

Huge thanks to the entire team for helping get both Mike and George up to speed - true TeaMWork in action!

On the military front, our team continues to support all branches with safety events from Japan to Alaska, California, Chicago, and Florida. Mechanix Wear remains the go-to brand for hand protection in the armed forces, and our on-base presence keeps growing. Hoorah!

We also launched Project $50M (P50), aimed at expanding our sales pipeline from $35M+ to $50M. The goal? Replicate wins across large multi-site companies. Early traction with American Airlines, Smurfit-Westrock, Boeing, and Dessert Holdings shows we’re off to a strong start.

Thanks to all our cross-functional partners - your support makes this possible. And as always, we’re here if you need us too!

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Logistics Team Turns Port Strike Into a Success Story

When a critical port strike disrupted our supply chain, the MWC logistics team jumped into action to keep things on track. Faced with unexpected delays that threatened key timelines, the team immediately reviewed all impacted styles, identified bottlenecks, and worked quickly to find solutions.

Their approach was detailed and collaborative - from proactively checking intercompany inventory support to coordinating with multiple departments and staying in close contact with freight forwarders through daily updates. Every angle was covered, ensuring we didn’t just spot the risks - we tackled them head-on.

Most impressively, the team didn’t stop at solving the issue in real time. They developed a contingency template that we can now use to navigate similar disruptions in the future. It’s a great example of how preparation, teamwork, and clear communication can turn a high-pressure challenge into an operational win.

A big thank you to the logistics team for their quick thinking and collaboration across departments. This was a true example of problem-solving under pressure and living out our values in action.

Canada Port Strike

We’re proud to officially welcome Kinco® into the Mechanix Wear family.

As a family-owned brand with more than 50 years of grit, craftsmanship, and trust, Kinco has earned its place in the hands of hardworking people across farms, job sites, and cold-weather climates throughout North America. With this acquisition—which also includes the respected Welch® Workwear line—we’re uniting two legacy brands under one mission: delivering reliable hand protection to even more industries, with even greater impact.

This is more than growth—it’s a powerful next step. By combining Kinco’s heritage with Mechanix Wear’s innovation and global reach, we’re doubling down on what matters most: protecting those who get the job done.

The future of hand protection just got a whole lot stronger. #UnitedWeWork

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Mechanix Wear sincerely cares about your Emotional and Physical Well-Being. A Healthy workplace starts with a Healthy mind!

Great News! We have partnered with Cigna Healthcare to present an ‘Emotional Well-Being’ webinar on Tuesday, July 22. The webinar will contain lots of helpful information and hope everyone can attend. Webinar invitation will be sent soon.


READ MORE ON CIGNA'S EMOTIONAL HEALTH SERVICES
Emotional Well-Being Productivity at Work Seminar