If you were asked to imagine a high-class chef, what would they look like? Maybe they’re wearing a white crew jacket, an apron, checkered trousers and one of those big white chef hats (I just found out they’re called toques). But could you imagine seeing someone wear that same uniform while paving roads, conducting an orchestra or driving a bus?
That probably sounds ridiculous, like this person is dressing up for charity. That’s because we pay great attention to the clothes that people wear when working – whether we’re aware or not.
Your clothing is extremely important in affecting the ways people think about and perceive you as a brand representative. Many businesses prefer dress codes over uniforms, which can be appropriate for some industries. However, businesses that regularly interact with customers and members of the public can benefit greatly with branded clothing for staff.
This goes beyond simply looking the part. It’s been found that when the clothes we wear align with our role, our performance improves – a phenomenon called enclothed cognition*. This could go some way to explain why we place so much value on how other people dress for their work.
Branded garments can be fantastic tools for elevating your workplace. That’s why we should explore the various ways printed workwear benefits your team today.
Here are 7 key benefits that your staff’s uniforms can offer.
1. Uniforms elevate customer trust
In the eyes of your customers, authority is essential. Being able to feel confident that the people they are speaking to are trustworthy is vital for the customer journey. When employees wear their uniform, it broadcasts that they are a representative for the company and can be relied upon.
2. Uniforms make staff members easily identifiable
If you’ve ever been unable to find something in a supermarket, the first port of call is to look for someone in uniform to ask for help. This rule applies to all businesses and is something that your customers will be thinking about whenever they need assistance. Keeping your staff clearly marked in uniform is a great way to prove your reliability as a business.
3. Uniforms elevate your branding
Your branding helps shape your customer’s perception of you. Not just in what your logo looks like, but also how and where your customers see it. Consistency is important for cultivating a positive impression. When your entire team are proudly wearing your branding it communicates your message much more clearly. This is why it’s common for businesses to use uniforms to promote special occasions such as new product launches.
4. Uniforms enhance productivity
As previously mentioned, enclothed cognition has been proven to cause a positive shift in the way people think. This has been proven to boost productivity, focus and efficiency within team members. All these benefits come from simply approaching uniforms with a more conscious mindset.
5. Uniforms boost team-building
In any industry that relies on cooperation and collaboration, looking like you belong together is a must. When your employees dress uniformly they’re more likely to focus on equal treatment among team members, leading to a stronger sense of belonging within your teams.
6. Uniforms build self esteem
On a more individual level, uniforms can be great for building self-esteem. This is almost inevitable, since it’s in a companies’ best interests to ensure their uniform reflect their values. A high-quality uniform can leave employees feeling good when they agree that the clothes they wear look good.
7. Uniforms encourage positive behaviours
The form your branding takes can be great for encouraging the specific behaviours you want to see in the workplace. Many kitchens require staff hand in their uniform to wash after each shift to maintain hygiene standards. Construction sites enforce hi-vis jackets and helmets to keep the site and its employees safe. When your staff sees you enforcing policies like hygiene and safety they’re more likely to exhibit the behaviours that promote them within their own habits. **
With all these amazing benefits that uniforms can offer, it’s no wonder why so many companies choose to get uniforms designed for their staff.
However, while uniforms are fantastic, there are still a few important things to consider when planning your team’s uniforms.
A. Uniforms must be comfortable
While we’ve discussed the benefits of uniforms for your staff, it’s important to remember the comfort of your staff. If your uniforms don’t fit properly or are made from inappropriate material they can distract, wasting all their potential benefits. Remember to consider your options available and remember to ask everyone’s clothing sizes.
B. Uniforms must be suitable for all weather and situations
The perfect uniform could go to waste if it gets in the way of your team’s work. If they’re taking it off when it’s warm or covering up when it’s cold, you may have misunderstood their needs. Many businesses take the initiative by offering multiple options to adapt to different weather conditions. This can include T-shirts or polos for summer and hoodies or coats for winter. This is especially important for anyone that operates in a hot environment like a kitchen or a cold one like a garage.
C. Uniforms must convey your branding clearly
Your staff are your brand representatives so it’s important that they express your brand loudly and clearly at every opportunity! Your colour choices should be bold, brand-consistent and your logo should be clear, on both the front and the back.
D. Staff should have input into their uniforms
After you’ve decided on your uniform options, it’s always worth going back to the people who will wear them. Check that everybody else is happy with your choices. For example, is everybody else happy with the designs? Does anyone feel self-conscious wearing short-sleeves?
At QuickPrint we have plenty of options to avoid these issues. Our garment printing service offers a wide range of colours, sizes, styles and materials to help make the right choices. With an array of options including polo shirts, hoodies, T-shirts, as well as safety options like hi-vis jackets and even a Bring Your Own Garment service, our apparel printing options are the perfect choice for uniting your team and expressing your corporate identity.