How aware companies have become of cognitive lock-in can be traced to UniFirst's apparel processing operations. Isaacson points out that the company produced nearly 12 million personalized, embroidered emblems for its uniform programs last year. That number represents a 7% increase over the company's previous year's production numbers.
To appreciate the scope of such personalization efforts, Isaacson says that just the amount of embroidery thread used for emblems by UniFirst last year could encircle the globe nearly eight times. "Is it any wonder," Isaacson asks tongue-in-cheek, "why companies with personalized uniforms have their customer bases all tied up?"