Supplying law enforcement with uniforms, including outerwear, shoes, gloves, and other accessories, according to most in the field, has become more competitive in the last few years. From manufacturers to distributors, this specialized field has emerged as one that caters to the needs of police departments, as well as to the individual officers who work for these departments. Services range from small "mom-and-pop" types of facilities to huge "one-stop" shopping centers that supply everything from handcuffs to cars. Uniforms for police agencies are usually obtained in one of three ways: an agency will put out a bid for the uniform that will include specifications for what they want; a voucher will be given to an officer to purchase a uniform; or a yearly budget will be allocated to the officer for a uniform allowance; the officer can then buy the uniform where he/she chooses. The "quartermaster" concept, where the manufacturer sells to the distributor who supplies the entire uniform, appears to be a growing trend in the industry. The companies that supply this industry agree that changes, such as quartermastering, are needed to keep up with growing competition and lowered profit margins. Many of the smaller companies find it more difficult to do business in this changing market and hope they will be able to continue to supply the service and quality that has been the foundation of their success. If bidding alone becomes the crucial factor and that bidding depends only on price, the industry will be radically changed. If enough agencies and individuals continue to demand service and quality in addition to a fair price, then the change will not be as dramatic.