How KOA Scaled a National Uniform Program for 500+ Locations
For Kampgrounds of America (KOA), the world’s largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds, their iconic yellow shirt is more than a uniform. It’s symbolic of their 60-year brand promise of safety and friendly service for millions of travelers. To maintain this legacy across 500+ franchised and company-owned properties in North America, KOA needed to evolve from generic, fragmented merchandise, apparel, and uniforms, and into a cohesive corporate identity built for the rigors of the great outdoors.
The challenge was both technical and human. KOA required a partner who could solve a historical challenge they faced with yellow variance; ensuring their iconic brand color stayed vibrant across every garment, while providing a fit-first solution for a dispersed and hard-working workforce. BAMKO stepped in as a full-service promotional branding partner and engineered a specialized apparel line that balances durability with a high-performance aesthetic.
From Campground to Corporate Identity: Scaling the KOA Vision
BAMKO managed every facet of the KOA Uniform Program, from fabric engineering and inclusive design to the launch of a custom eCommerce engine, ensuring the brand’s quality standards translated to each piece. The collection was engineered to resonate with the outdoor lifestyle while providing the structural integrity required for guest services and groundskeeping.
- Solving Yellow Variance: Through intensive research and testing, we engineered textiles that keep the KOA Yellow vibrant despite intense UV exposure, fire-pit soot, and manual labor.
- Inclusive Innovation: We moved away from one-size-fits-all by introducing dedicated female silhouettes and extended sizing, ensuring every team member feels comfortable and mobile.
- Seamless Digital Storefront: To simplify ordering for hundreds of locations, we launched a custom platform with real-time inventory visibility and order tracking.
- Administrative Insight: The backend gives KOA leadership robust reporting, turning a fragmented system into a data-driven, cost-optimized program.
Cultivating Results: An Award-Winning Program
The true test was the immediate adoption by the KOA community. By combining custom-color engineering with global logistics, BAMKO ensured that KOA staff wear a high-performance tool built for their environment. The result is a professional brand image that stands strong from humid coastlines to arid deserts.
We are proud to share that this initiative was named a NAUMD 2026 Award-Winning Uniform Program. This honor from the North American Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors recognizes our innovation in design and fabric performance on a continental scale.
Whether you manage a massive franchise network or need to solve complex technical branding challenges, we have the grit to make it happen. Contact our team to start your next campaign.
