The Smart Apron Company Inc., located in sunny Mesa, Arizona, was incorporated on May 12, 1999. However, the first Smart Apron was created almost 10 years ago, in 1993. Company president and CEO, Kevin Hoy, was waiting tables at a Red Robin Restaurant when he decided to build a better apron. An apron that would organize his pens, order book, coins, paper monies, coupons, wine list etc. Therefore, Mr. Hoy took a fanny back, cut off the bottom and sewed on two small zipped pockets. Although this new apron was quite basic and downright ugly...it worked! The crude design allowed Kevin to keep certain work items separated, while being able to serve more customers, with decreased mistakes and increased tips. From 1993 until 1999 the Smart Apron evolved from its hand sewn version to an overall design of seven total pockets, two which are zipped, a locking waist band and two attached D-rings to help the wearer hold a tethered computer key.
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The Smart Apron Company became a C-Corporation in 1999 and set out to produce 500 Smart Aprons to test the market’s demand for such an innovative product. The product was well received by countless food servers and surprisingly by several other markets, such as, vendors, nurses, casinos and hotels. Therefore, the company continued to improve upon the Smart Apron and was awarded a United States patent in 2001 for its innovative and multi-functional design. The newest generation Smart Apron is made from a 600 Denier polyester fabric, which is superior to cotton or a cotton/poly blend because it is more durable and better suited for the environment it will be used in.
Currently, the Smart Apron comes in seven bright and warm colors: Black, Burgundy, Hunter Green, Khaki, Navy blue, Red and Royal blue. In addition, the Smart Apron is being marketed by a national network of manufacturing representatives from coast to coast. These experienced manufacturing representatives work closely with many of the largest restaurant supply dealer organizations in the United States. This relationship assists the Smart Apron Company in channeling the product into the appropriate target markets and in establishing hundreds of dealer locations. Other Smart Apron products are in the developmental stage, specially designed to assist the customer like no other apron. Examples include: a Smart Apron bib attachment, a Medical Smart Apron (Nurses, EMTs) and a Flight Attendant Smart Apron.
The future for the Smart Apron and additional Smart Apron versions look bright indeed, and it is anticipated they will revolutionize American, as well as global, apron design. The Smart Apron Company has strived to set a higher standard in apron performance and has succeeded by giving the customer an apron which is selfishly devoted to them.
We want to thank all of our friends and family for their support over the years, to the customer for their critical and welcomed product comments and to all of the devoted company staff members for their years of hard work!
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