Mills Uniforms Gets Students Geared Up for School

By Heidi Massie, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Area Private Schools Depend on Mills for Uniforms, Custom Accessories

The new school year is rapidly approaching, so business at Mills Uniforms is booming. "This is our Christmas season," says store manager Sandy Gutierrez. "August through mid September is our busiest time of year as parents are buying up school uniforms to get ready for the first day of school."

Mills Uniforms, located at 4833 Hopyard Road in the Gateway Shopping Center, moved to Hacienda in February from Dublin, where they had been located since 2000. "We were looking for a new location, one with more room, better facilities and parking for our customers," explained Gutierrez. "We are really happy with our new location. Our neighboring businesses all came by to say hello and we feel very welcome."

Mills, the leading provider in school uniforms since 1947, has retail locations throughout California, Texas, Georgia and Hawaii. The Hacienda retail store provides uniforms for several schools in the Tri-Valley, as well schools in the Diablo Valley area. "We carry uniforms for Valley Christian, Quarry Lane, Carden West, and Carondelet High School in Concord, to name a few," says Gutierrez.

The store is well organized with a variety of clothing choices organized by each school, style and size, with several dressing rooms and plenty of room to browse. "We are more than just uniforms," added Gutierrez. "We have many accessories such as backpacks, shoes, socks and other school supplies that are available for all students of any school in the area."

Because Mills is experiencing its busy season, the store has extended its hours of operation and hired more employees in order to meet customers' needs. "Most of the year we have about three employees working here," explains Gutierrez. "but during the months of August through September, we hire more help and are open seven days a week."

Though business will slow down by the end of September, customers still come in throughout the school year to buy uniforms. "Kids grow and play hard, growing out of or wearing out clothing, so parents come in to buy clothing all during the year."

Founded by Sue Mills in San Francisco, the company was the first to introduce plaids and colors, and all-cotton polos, sweaters, pants and shirts to schoolwear. Mills provides the latest in designs so that their clothes are fun to wear. The company's mission is to make parents' job of choosing and purchasing school uniforms simple and uncomplicated, accomplished by offering self-service retail locations and online shopping.

To learn more about Mills, visit the company's website at www.millswear.com, or call the Hacienda store at (925) 924-0360.

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