Are you thinking about introducing an employee uniform into your workplace? Depending on the type of business you own, an employee uniform can provide many benefits for your business.
Employee uniforms appear to be more professional, they can boost productivity, encourage your employees to feel confident, and keep them focused on their work. Implementing an employee uniform can also promote a sense of belonging, improve security, promote your brand, and create an attractive business image.
In a nutshell, using an employee uniform is one of the best decisions you can make for your business.
However, creating the ideal uniform can be a long and somewhat frustrating process. The best uniform involves much more than just choosing a t-shirt, a color scheme, and sending it to the printers.
To create the ideal uniform, you need to consider several factors, go through an intensive testing process, involve your employees, and have an open mind throughout the process. Fortunately, you can take some of the stress out of the process by using a few tips and implementing a few best practices.
If you want to use employee uniforms but you aren’t sure where to start, this short and simple guide is for you.
Know What You Need
The first step towards successfully creating and implementing an employee dress code is to know what you need. This largely depends on the type of business you run.
If your employees are front and center in your business, you likely need brand visibility, a sense of professionalism, and more. Make sure to take your needs into consideration before starting the process.
Consider Your Company Policies
An important step for creating an employee uniform is to revisit your employee dress code policy. The uniform you create should adhere to the policy it will be replacing. Read your policy, choose the best practices you want to keep, and use them as a starting point for creating a uniform.
Create a Budget
Before starting the design process, you need to create a budget. This is a great way to keep yourself on track while getting everything you need. When setting a budget, think about the long-term expenses you will have when it comes to providing uniforms for future employees.
Consider Your Branding
One factor you need to consider when creating uniform business attire is your company branding. Your employee uniforms are a great way to boost your visibility, which means they need to be branded properly. Make sure to implement your colors, your logo, and the overall voice of your brand during the design process.
Understand Your Employees
While you might think of an employee uniform as something you choose based on what you like, the uniform needs to be functional. For this step, consider holding focus groups with your employees so you can understand their needs and wants. This is a great way to involve your employees and make them feel valued.
Consider the Type of Work Your Employees Do
The type of uniform you choose depends on the type of work your employees do. If your employees are in retail, you can easily choose a branded polo shirt, however, if they perform physical labor, you might need another option. Make sure to consider the reality of the job while you are creating your uniform.
Opt for Comfort
Business clothes should be just as comfortable as the clothes you choose to wear at your home. While you don’t have to trade comfort for functionality, you also don’t want your employees feeling miserable in ill-fitting and uncomfortable clothing. Make sure you are taking your employee’s comfort level into consideration when designing their uniforms.
Choose Quality Materials
While you should design for comfort, you should also use quality materials. Not only will this add to the functionality of your uniforms, but it will also make them last longer, which will save you money. Make sure you opting for quality over quantity when designing employee uniforms.
Create a Prototype for Testing
One step many business owners fail to complete is to create a prototype of the uniform. This is essential because you need to test the uniforms and make sure they are fully functional before moving ahead. Create a prototype and choose specific employees to test them out.
Ask for Feedback
After testing your prototype, it’s essential to ask for feedback. The information you get from your employees can help you boost the overall functionality of the uniforms. For instance, you can ask your employees if they prefer reusable name badges or something a little more permanent.
Find the Right Supplier
While there are a variety of suppliers, not all of them are created equally. For this reason, you should choose a supplier based on their experience, expertise, reputation, affordability, customer service, and more. If you are finding the relationship isn’t working out, don’t be afraid to find a new supplier.
Be Prepared To Adjust as Necessary
While it may seem as if your employee uniform policy is permanent, it doesn’t have to be. Realistically, your first, second, or even third attempt won’t be exactly what you need and want. Be prepared to adjust as necessary as you receive more feedback and as your needs change.
Use These Tips To Create the Ideal Employee Uniform
By using this guide, you can create the best employee uniform for your company.
Start by knowing what you need and considering your company policies. You should also make sure you are designing based on the comfort and functionality of your employees. Create a prototype and conduct extensive testing before you make your final decision.
Use these tips and you’ll be well on your way to creating a great employee uniform.
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