What Your Team Uniform Says About Your Business
Your team uniform is an extension of your business – whether this is something you realise or not. Not only is what you wear important but how you wear it too. Every time an employee steps out in your business's uniform, they are representing the company. This means that anything they do – good or bad – will be scrutinised. How a uniform looks also tells consumers a lot about a brand without having to know anything about what they do. Sloppiness in a uniform portrays sloppiness in a brand, just as professionalism in a uniform portrays professionalism in a brand.
So, what does your team uniform say about your business? It’s time to take a look.
Professionalism
First and foremost, professionalism is one thing consumers can deduct based on what employees are wearing. Seeing an employee either at work or out in public sets the tone for a business. If the employee is wearing something clean and crisp, they indirectly let the consumer know that these values are mirrored within the company. How well or poorly designed your uniforms are will influence how your customers remember your brand.
A professional work-related uniform develops and maintains the customer’s standard of what he or she expects from the employees. Plus, it shows how disciplined a company is to its workers.
Alternatively, a uniform that is worn incorrectly (e.g. a skirt or dress that’s too short, clothes that are too casual for the workplace, or making adjustments to an existing uniform) can reflect poorly on a business. If your uniform doesn’t appear professional, it might be hard to get your customers to take you seriously.
Quality
One aspect of how your uniform can appear professional is through the quality of the garments used. Investing in high-quality garments not only looks better aesthetically but is a lot more durable than cheaper alternatives. Faded, torn, or creased uniforms can decrease the professionalism of your company, so ensuring that you invest in the best quality garments possible is important. Some business owners may even provide a uniform cleaning service to avoid uniforms appearing dirty or unclean.
Aside from the quality of your uniforms, the quality of any embroidery done onto your garments is essential too. If your logo is poorly embroidered or screen printed, it can look cheap and provide negative connotations with your brand. Investing in superior embroidery or printing is another way to make your uniform appear professional and reliable.
Credibility
Credibility stems from how professional your uniform looks. Uniforms that appear professional tend to be more trustworthy. One study showed that customers naturally perceive employees sporting branded workwear to take more pride in their tasks and are hence better at providing services. When creating a uniform dress code, be sure to opt for something timeless rather than trying to follow a current fashion trend to remain relevant and professional.
First impressions
First impressions are crucial when it comes down to consumers deciding what they think of your business. A team uniform that makes your employees look confident and successful will, in turn, lead to increased confidence from your customers and clients. You only get one chance at a first impression, so make it a good one!
Although they can portray an air of professionalism, having a uniform does not automatically make your brand appear more professional and credible. This is where the quality of your garments and logo quality comes in. Having a poor logo design or even a mismatched uniform can decrease the professionalism of your brand.
Brand recognition
While wearing a uniform creates brand recognition – a huge benefit for businesses – it also shows that your business is being recognised. Having a brand with instant brand recognition (and hopefully a positive recognition!) shows that your business is an established one. For example: if you see an employee walking around with a golden ‘M’ embroidered onto their shirts, you immediately know they work for McDonald’s. Whatever your view on this fast-food giant, you recognise the brand, and you know how their business makes you feel.
Competency
Not only do uniforms help consumers identify staff members in busy stores or offices, but employees wearing a uniform inspire confidence in the consumer by announcing that the individual is a professional with product knowledge and a willingness to help. A uniform puts the force of the corporate reputation behind the individual, making them look reliable and trustworthy as a company representative.
Unity
While there is a benefit of unity for employees, the unity a uniform portrays to consumers can speak volumes about your business. A survey done by YouGov Galaxy found that 94% of consumers prefer staff in uniform as they are easily recognised. Furthermore, 93% of the population believe it reflects well on a company if the staff wear a smart-looking uniform.
Identification
Having a branded team uniform eliminates frustration from consumers trying to find someone to assist. This can be applied in almost all business settings, with some being more important than others to be identified in. For example, if you see someone walking around with a gun, it’s more than likely to alarm you of something bad happening. However, if this person were wearing a police officer uniform, this would help identify the reasoning behind it and highlight them as someone you could go to for assistance.
Offering
The type of uniform your team wears will likely send a message to consumers about the nature of your business. Think of some of the below professions and what uniforms come to mind:
- Waitress
- Nurse
- Lawyer
- Real estate agent
- Sports teacher
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll see a sports teacher in a suit or a lawyer in a polo and shorts! The garments that make up your uniform will send a subconscious message as to what your business is all about.
Your team uniform can say a lot about your business – even before you open your mouth! It helps to identify your employees, what industry you represent, and the credibility of your business. Head to the Fashion Biz Canada website to find your new team uniform or refresh your existing uniform.