Join the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew

Cintas launches second annual online contest honoring North America’s toughest cold weather workers

CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following the success of last year’s Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest, Cintas Corporation has launched a second annual campaign to recognize individuals in the U.S. and Canada who withstand the toughest winter working conditions. Contestants are encouraged to share their stories and explain why Carhartt workwear is essential to their jobs at http://www.cintas.com/carharttcoldcrew for their chance to win free merchandise and a grand prize trip for two.

“Last year’s contest generated amazing stories from men and women who brave extremely brutal working conditions during the winter months, and we are looking forward to another opportunity to acknowledge them.”

Entries will be accepted now through February 28, 2013, at which time Cintas and Carhartt will select finalists and begin public voting at the contest website. The grand prize winner will be announced in April, and he or she will enjoy a trip for two to the 2013 CMA Music Festival. Check out the 2012 CMA Music Festival 8/7c on Sept. 17 on ABC.

“Carhartt is synonymous with outerwear, so with colder months approaching, we are thrilled to re-launch the Cold Crew Contest,” says Brad Heizman, National Director of Garment Strategy for Cintas Corporation, North America’s largest uniform supplier. “Last year’s contest generated amazing stories from men and women who brave extremely brutal working conditions during the winter months, and we are looking forward to another opportunity to acknowledge them.”

The Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest was first launched in December 2011 in conjunction with the release of the Carhartt Rental Active Jacket, offered exclusively by Cintas Corporation as part of the Carhartt Rental Workwear line. Hundreds of entries were collected, and the public selected Brooke Boyer, a wastewater treatment plant supervisor from Mt. Shasta, CA, as the grand prize winner.

“Mt. Shasta is at a high elevation, and when I’m on equipment 30 feet in the air with icy wind blowing around, I can’t imagine not wearing Carhartt,” says Brooke. “If only my employer had the Cintas rental program, we’d have fresh, durable Carhartt apparel to wear year-round. And to have them cleaned by someone else would be nice. When you’re in wastewater all day, you want to make sure your clothes are cleaned properly.”

Cintas Corporation, North America’s largest uniform supplier, introduced the Carhartt Rental Workwear line in 2010 as part of a partnership with Carhartt, which was founded in 1889 and is a global manufacturer of premium rugged apparel. In addition to the Carhartt Rental Active Jacket, the line includes a Carhartt Work Shirt, a Carhartt Carpenter Jean, a Carhartt 5-Pocket Work Jean and a Carhartt Dungaree Pant, all of which are available exclusively through Cintas.

Workers appreciate the styling, durability and rugged performance one would expect from Carhartt with the added benefits of laundering, repair and replacement that accompany a Cintas Rental Program. Businesses can now supply Carhartt, a brand that workers recognize and trust, in a cost effective manner, while increasing morale and exuding a professional company image. For more information about Carhartt Rental Workwear, visit http://www.cintas.com/carhartt.

”We’re excited for round two of the Cintas & Carhartt Cold Crew Contest, a competition that truly highlights the hardworking spirit of men and women across the country and look forward to the continued success of our rental work wear partnership with Cintas,” said Rick Fecowicz, director of Carhartt Licensing.

About Cintas Corporation

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for approximately 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.

About Carhartt, Inc.

Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium work wear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged apparel for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with more than 4,400 employees worldwide, Carhartt is privately owned and managed by the descendants of the company‘s founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.