Workwear works as powerful advertising Looking the business

A crisp, well put together professional uniform broadcasts professionalism and pride. ‘Looking the business’ makes the business look good, builds trust with customers and employees alike, and ultimately helps boost the bottom line. Work apparel is an ideal means of defining the company profile. But what makes workwear work? Here are some clues.Contract cleaning companies perform their services on the premises of their customers. In other words, the impression they make is not only a function of the quality of their work, but also of their appearance. Consequently, a professional approach to providing cleaning services must be matched by a professional look. According to Cologne, Germany-based workwear specialist Larosé, experience shows that a service provider who presents a coordinated and groomed appearance sends a strong signal to the customer. It conveys quality and attention to detail – two key aspects of contract cleaning. In fact, the uniform makes the employee a part of the message. Company workwear is also key to establishing and consistently reinforcing the recognition factor. This is a valuable plus in a competitive industry. At Boco in Dreieich, at the outskirts of Frankfurt, management is fully aware that what employees wear automatically reflects on the perception of the employer’s competence. That is why Boco, a rental services provider, recommends a crisp appearance and clean, appropriate workwear. This is confirmed by DBL, a textile service provider in Zirndorf, whose experience underlines the fact that the expression “You are what you wear” also applies to the work environment. DBL goes so far as to say that professional clothing influences the decisions of potential customers. It is a visual criterion that serves to distinguish between a competent and a less competent supplier, the difference between a good choice and a bad choice. The success of companies like Kübler Workwear in Plüderhausen, Germany, tells the same story. Customers instinctively put greater trust in personnel who wear high-quality, neat work clothing than in people who come to work in dirty jeans and grubby T-shirts. A smart appearance is associated with high quality and expertise. It also makes potentially higher costs more acceptable to the customer. Workwear has an important outward effect: it works as a calling card for contract cleaning companies and it spells high standards of quality at a glance. Outfitting your staff takes full advantage of the fact that every employee is an ambassador of the company’s values. The people at Pionier Workwear in Herford couldn’t agree more, adding that a high-quality, purpose-designed professional wardrobe also has a positive inward effect. It reflects the employer’s sense of responsibility towards and appreciation of the employees. It implicitly demonstrates management’s confidence in the quality and dependability of the staff. This is true, however, only if the employees feel comfortable in their workwear and identify with their job and their employer. Another positive effect is that a sharp uniform underpins a sense of belonging and team spirit. It also strengthens self-awareness and builds a greater sense of empowerment. Having a team appear in public, at the customer’s premises or elsewhere, wearing the company colors underscores an engaging and professional profile. What makes workwear work? Professional clothing should essentially fulfill the functional requirements of both the employee and the employer. A modern cut that also provides sufficient freedom of movement is an important aspect because you want employees to feel comfortable on the job. The degree to which it addresses specific on-the-job requirements and the range of available sizes also contributes to employees feeling at ease in company clothes. All of these factors eventually determine whether workwear will be worn enthusiastically or perceived as being just more ‘work.’ When selecting company clothing, the range of available variations must be taken into account. Some employees feel most comfortable in a polo shirt, others prefer a T-shirt. Even if smocks and jackets have become established apparel in the cleaning trade, many women much prefer to wear pants. These and other preferences should be considered when putting together the company wardrobe. Image factors also play an important role. Like tasteful color coordination. Professional clothing colors are usually inspired by the company’s logo and/or colors that tend to be associated with the industry. Aligning workwear colors with industry colors is a sound approach when employees not only have to don company clothes, but also regulation-compliant protective gear. The protective overalls used for cleaning tanks are a good example here. Since the selection of colors for many lines of protective clothing is restricted, sticking with the colors that are typical of the industry can make it simpler to design company workwear that projects a strong visual identity. Bespoke workwear and accessories are also effective in more clearly identifying the various specialist departments of a cleaning services provider. This aspect is worth keeping in mind when several crews of the same company are busy doing different jobs at the same customer’s premises. Small differences in colors and accessories, like shirts or hats, help to keep distinguish the cleaning teams and still make it easy to associate them with one company. Another trend is gaining ground: uniforms showing distinctive tastes in color and cut. Businesses want to stand out and an effective way to achieve this is to opt for workwear with bright and unusual color combinations. Here, working with fluorescent accents has less to do with safety than it does with clothing sophistication. Thinking it throughIn addition to an extensive range of standard products, Fristads Kansas in Norderstedt proposes bespoke workwear and protective clothing solutions. The Company Apparel department is dedicated to handling special professional clothing requests. Once the customer’s corporate identity is clear, the team at Fristads Kansas looks beyond color and design aspects to also integrate functional requirements and legislative guidelines in the area of work safety. If certification is necessary, Fristads Kansas will coordinate the process as well. The first step in developing company workwear is a thorough needs analysis. This involves meetings with various company representatives and employees; open and precise feedback is very important. During this initial stage, the focus is on gathering the individual requirements of the company’s desired appearance and mission-specific apparel. In addition to a professional and functional clothing type, this can include additional details such as special pockets or material that is less susceptible to soiling. This approach enables Fristads Kansas to reliably meet the expectations of all those who will be wearing the clothes. Once the functional aspects are sorted, it’s time to address the ways in which the company’s brand and values are to be reflected in the workwear concept. Usually, several proposals are submitted, each with fabric and color swatches. Once the client has chosen, sample clothing sets are manufactured and supplied to the customer for extensive testing as to functionality and wearability. If the test is successful, the bespoke company workwear collection goes into production and is then delivered to the customer in the specified sizes and quantities. There are limitations – sometimesGoing for custom apparel involves several important considerations, however. For one thing, you want to make sure you are working with the right clothes manufacturer. Next, be aware that costs vary widely depending on the quantity of items you order. Lastly, the time factor cannot be ignored. If, for instance, you want your outdoor workwear to be waterproof but breathable, you will need to source a supplier specialized in this area. Workwear featuring a Gore-Tex membrane is only available from licensed manufacturers. Another potential obstacle to company-specific work clothing is the minimum order quantity. Very few vendors spring into action for orders of less than 800 items. And it takes patience. Several months can pass between the needs analysis and the first wearability test. The same holds true for the time between final approval and production. Since manufacturing, depending on the manufacturer, is mostly done in Eastern Europe and Asia, delivery times can easily exceed 16 weeks. Cleanliness sells cleanlinessIn practice it quickly becomes clear that ordering neat and professional-looking workwear is only the first step in enhancing the company’s image for the long term. Ensuring proper workwear care, replacing clothing items and repairing damaged clothing – these are just some of the key aspects that need to be sorted as well. Adequately addressing these points is key to living up to the promise of cleanliness and tidiness that a contract cleaning services provider makes through the staff uniform. Here, textile rental service providers can be of invaluable help. In addition to delivering professional care specifically designed for work clothing, they can also assist with workwear selection when it comes to image aspects. With apparel rental companies, customers can choose the desired items and colors from a catalogue of general clothing lines, which also include some specialized items. This also makes it easier to understand workwear characteristics and determine which type of functionality is actually required. What follows is an intensive wearability test to validate the workwear choice. The next step is to determine the required sizes and fits and address any specific alterations that might be necessary. Finally, the company logo and other emblems are applied to the clothing. Locations that stand out – such as on the upper sleeve or the side of the leg – are becoming quite popular. The important thing is to clarify well in advance to what extent a rental service provider can offer these extras because the industry works with standardized processes in many areas. In short, if you are looking for a very special design or special colors for your staff wardrobe, a specialized supplier will be your best bet. Dipl.-Ing. Sabine Anton-Katzenbach | markus.targiel@holzmann-medien.de

Workwear works as powerful advertising Looking the business

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