Advice for Creating Professional Employee Uniforms
Regardless of the industry you serve, if your staff is customer-facing, the quality of the employee uniforms your company uses will project the face of the organization.
Well-established (and followed) uniform guidelines will make your organization appear more professional and organized, whereas poor protocols (or no established protocols) will adversely affect the perception of your brand.
Here are some basic tips to help you establish professional, branded employee uniforms.
Establish a Budget
The first thing you need to do is figure out how much you have to spend in order to design and manufacture (or order) these uniforms. The main goal here will be to strike a balance between the quantity of the uniforms you’ll be ordering and the quality they will exhibit.
While establishing a budget, consider things such as:
● How many uniforms will we need?
● What sorts of materials will we be using?
● Will there be any extras (shoes, employee name badges, custom metal lapel pins, etc.)?
● How often will uniforms need to be replaced?
● How much turnover or employee mobility is there?
● What type of work do the employees do on a daily basis?
Once you have answered all these questions, you should be able to form a preliminary number for how much you’ll need to complete the project.
Consider Branding
Even uniforms that are wisely designed and consistent across the organization won’t produce as great of an impression if they are not brand-integrated.
Consider the image of your brand. Is it rugged and blue-collar or is it professional and polished? Will the use of coarse materials or fine, exquisite materials produce a better effect in your target market?
Also, consider the color of the uniform. Not only the fabric, but the details like buttons, trim, embroidery, stitching, and so on. These are all opportunities to add a touch of brand spirit.
Comfort and Quality
When designing and rolling out employee uniforms, it’s important to remember that you should not only develop high-quality uniforms, but uniforms that support your staff and keep them comfortable during days on the job.
All things being equal, the clothing your employees wear at work should be as comfortable as the clothing they might wear on their own time. You don’t want to outfit them in an uncomfortable uniform that brings down morale.
Consider also the quality of the materials used and opt for high-quality materials. Wool and cotton are both very durable but can be expensive, and are often blended with performance synthetics like viscose and rayon. Still, you want to make sure you choose quality.
Create a Prototype and Solicit Employee Feedback
Before purchasing a whole fleet of new uniforms, create one (or a few prototypes) sample a few employees, have them wear them on the job for a few days, and ask for feedback.
Take what your employees tell you into account and make revisions accordingly. Remember, happy employees reduce turnover and it’s in your interest to consult them when designing uniforms.
The Devil’s in the Details
Once you’ve designed a basic uniform, you can get creative with the details that will put the finishing touches on them and really make your brand stand out.
Consider adding details like:
● Standardized employee headwear, like hats.
● Ties that feature your brand’s colors or logo.
● Employee name badges that are custom-designed and feature your logo, slogan, or other details.
● Custom metal lapel pins, badge talkers, or other similar accents. Quality lapel pins can add a little bit of color to a uniform and also give you the opportunity to celebrate employee achievements on the job, like tenure of service, awards, or other recognitions.
● Consider including accessories such as gloves and sunglasses.
Now that you have a basic framework for creating a branded employee uniform that will improve your customer service, all you need to do is bring your vision to life. Get started planning today!
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