5 Tips for Choosing the Best Workwear for your Team
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to choosing the best workwear, with all the range and choice, it can be a daunting prospect. However, branded workwear is growing in popularity with businesses realising that investing in good quality professional clothing can increase brand awareness, reduce staff turnover and increase productivity.
When choosing the finest pieces for your team, it’s important to consider staff preferences, functionality, health and safety, and your team’s varying job roles to choose the right garments that will work for everyone. It’s just as important to select an efficient supplier that fits your business needs and wants – they’ll make the job easy or hard for you!
And remember, taking a ‘like it or lump it’ approach will always result in team complaints and demotivation. Don’t risk it- involve at least some of your team in the selection if you want to create real brand ambassadors.
This blog will give you five tips for choosing the best workwear for your team and avoiding the most common pitfalls.
1. Know your requirements
As they say, “By failing to prepare, you prepare to fail”. Do your homework before you even consider approaching suppliers. If you don’t know what you want and need, it’s hard to explain your full requirements to someone else. Consider every angle, and you’re sure to find the right option for you and save precious budget in the long term.
Consider different uniform needs for multiple work roles, and consider what functionality is required- i.e. durability, protection, and comfort. Think about how many of each garment you might need, garment lifecycles, new starts, and leavers. Taking your staff’s allowance into account, e.g. how many t-shirts does your team need to do their job comfortably? When you’re planning your budget think about economies of scale. Order your workwear in bulk and choose a supplier who can store it offsite, allowing you to do call-offs whenever necessary, so your team always has what they need on hand. Remember, a supplier will also have minimum order quantities- so that’s something to plan for. Create a checklist and ensure you’re ticking all of the boxes before consulting with the experts.
2. Go bespoke
First and foremost, it’s essential to understand why you might want a bespoke collection. What is it you hope to achieve? Are you looking to increase brand awareness and improve your company image? Are you hoping to stand out from your competitors? These aspirations are achievable when you choose branded clothing unique to your business, although it is worth noting you will be looking at minimum order quantities of 250 or more for bespoke garments.
There’s nothing worse than discovering another brand is wearing a similar uniform to your team when you’re trying to stand out from the crowd. Custom branded workwear designed to your specifications and manufactured to meet your requirements is an investment in your brand. Don’t overdo it, though; you don’t want to end up with something that quickly dates or looks unappealing to the masses.
3. Affordability and Quality
What’s your budget? This plays a significant role in your decision-making. You need to know from the start and also consider the long term. Don’t choose the most expensive garment if you may end up struggling to keep up with the number required 12 months down the line.
Whilst budget is, of course, important but you also have to consider quality. If you buy cheap, you may well buy twice. Make sure you choose a high-quality supplier who won’t steer you down this road. With good quality workwear, you will make a good impression on your employees and clients.
4. Good customer service
It’s crucial for any business (no matter its size) to provide good customer service. Choose a supplier who won’t leave your team waiting while going above and beyond expectations. Ensure your team has experts to give advice and technical assistance when choosing your branded workwear. That way, you know you’ll always have the right garments for your team.
Sizing is a big issue for most companies, so asking your supplier for a sizing set is the best way to get this right. Letting your team try them to determine their size will help you get your first delivery correct and will save you multiple returns and exchanges.
5. Future-proofing
When choosing the best workwear for your team, there are several considerations to have to future-proof your range. For example, size range. Do the garments you’ve chosen allow for team members of different sizes and walks of life? You don’t want a small minority standing out because they’ve been unable to find the size they need.
Does your supplier have the wide range of garments you need, suitable for every eventuality? Can they change your range quickly when you need it? Do they offer an eco-friendly range if you are considering your brand’s sustainability?
Whilst it may feel like the considerations in choosing the best workwear are a little bit neverending, it’s never too soon to start thinking about your brand’s requirements. Hopefully, our top 5 tips can help you along the way to making the correct choice for you. If you’re looking for some help with your collection, start with a consultation with one of our branded clothing experts. Click here to enquire, or create a live chat with our team in the box below.