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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
There is an old Russian proverb that says, "When you meet a man, you judge him by his clothes; when you leave, you judge him by his heart."
That first impression is key, and Utah Woolen Mills in Salt Lake City knows just the secret. The company has been assisting people to dress for success for more than 98 years. One of the oldest and finest clothing stores in the valley, Utah Woolen Mills continues to operate through the fourth generation of the Stringham family to serve the men and women of the state who desire the finest quality of raiment.
I recently sat in the beautiful store located on South Temple Street. Bart Stringham told me how his great grandfather, Henry Stringham, a son of an original Utah pioneer, became involved with Utah Woolen Mills. The company had over 400 salesmen traveling all over the United States and Canada carrying sample cases and offering suits, dresses, shirts and even underwear to many people who couldn't come to the big cities to shop and buy. Orders were wired to Salt Lake City where the clothing was tailored and sent back to generations of delighted customers. Bart's grandfather Briant and then his father Briant Jr. continued the family mission of providing the finest of clothing to a discerning public.
I walked about the store and recognized some of the famous labels such as Oxxford, one of my favorite brands of suits. Bart reassured me that this line is still one of the finest, but he also showed me some of the Brioni suits and sport coats that are even a step up in style, tailoring and yes, price.
Many of the lines feature hand tailoring during manufacturing. Hundreds of details are done by hand, which ensures a perfect fit. Bart showed me the lapels on an Oxxford suit and explained that over 3,500 hand-sewn stitches were used to guarantee a natural looking lapel that softly rolls instead of the cheaper pressed collars.
It was interesting to see that though many of the items in Utah Woolen Mills are top of the line in price, there are beautiful items for every budget and need.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
