The idea of custom work uniforms sounds nice.
Your company brand is embroidered so everyone in the community knows your business exits. Your team looks amazing in the best workwear for their environment.
You've even added a few extra items to the uniform program to give your business an edge in the market.
Everyone in the company loves the uniform. You're winning.
But this is where you need to be careful.
Adding tons of new products, especially custom work uniforms, can start becoming a problem. So, what do we mean by custom work uniforms?
In this article, we'll work on defining custom work uniforms. We'll look at how easy it can be to start complicating your uniform program with them. And we'll give you some things to look out for so you can avoid them.
The plan should be to keep the uniform program simple. The best way to do that, is to avoid custom work uniforms.
So first up: what are custom work uniforms?
In the spirit of keeping things simple, let's define what we would call custom work uniforms.
Custom work uniforms are workwear styles that are unnecessary.
That definition seems a bit basic, honestly. Let's take it a bit further.
Custom work uniforms are styles that your employees don't need to do their job. They're workwear items that don't enhance your company's image.
That said, let's give some real-world examples of custom work uniforms we've seen that just don't serve a purpose.
One example that jumps out is when a top garment (shirt, jacket, etc.) is decorated in almost every spot on the garment. We've seen companies start with their company logo on the left chest area. This is a no-brainer and makes sense for branding purposes.
Where things get ridiculous is when they add the following to that same item:
You can see how this can easily get away from you.
It's unnecessary and is almost always done at the discretion of company leadership. There aren't any safety regulations that require it.
In the spirit of moving forward, let's now look at the main issues with custom work uniforms.
Custom work uniforms often come with a hefty price tag, posing a significant challenge for businesses. And as mentioned, these costs are often completely unnecessary.
The cost of high-quality fabrics alone can be substantial, especially when seeking durable and comfortable materials. Moreover, the labor involved in sewing and constructing custom uniforms can further drive up expenses, particularly if skilled workers are required.
This might be the most impactful factor. In the previous example, with all of the added emblems, such a garment might cost anywhere from $25-$100 more per garment. This really ought to make the decision to add that customization an easy one.
Shipping and handling costs can also accumulate, especially when uniforms need to be delivered to multiple locations. When applicable, businesses must factor in the cost of storing custom uniforms, which can be a concern for those with limited space.
The financial implications of custom work uniforms should be carefully evaluated to determine if the investment aligns with the company's budget and goals. Businesses must weigh the costs against the potential benefits. Are enhanced brand recognition and employee satisfaction THAT measurable?
This is the best way to make an informed decision about whether custom uniforms are the right choice for their organization.
Cheap, low-quality fabrics used in custom work uniforms will always exist. And sometimes they can be useful.
But if a large enough business that can afford to buy uniforms for their team can afford it, why would they buy the cheapest materials?
As technology advances, materials are making leaps in their advancement as well. Manufacturers are working to develop the most comfortable products, especially for custom work uniforms. To stay competitive, it's a necessity.
And we're not talking about the latest polo or lightweight jacket designs. Even tee shirts are getting the attention that most outerwear has gotten in recent years. Tee shirts can be a great way to keep your brand visible while making sure your team is comfortable.
Because of too much customization, ill-fitting uniforms can also contribute to discomfort by restricting movement and causing tightness or looseness in certain areas. Furthermore, uniforms that require special care should be avoided. Uncomfortable materials, such as those requiring dry cleaning, can be inconvenient and costly for employees, adding an unnecessary burden to their daily routines.
It's our belief that delays in production rank up there with the cost of uniforms.
Think about it. When you have a new hire, you don't have long until they need to be up and running. And part of that is getting them in uniforms. This is a great reason to keep things from getting too complicated.
One factor to consider are rush fees. Often, manufacturers and wholesalers will allow for rush orders to be placed. They can be tracked from the time the order is turned in until the day it needs to ship. But are rush fees necessary?
If you're ordering custom work uniforms, you can expect to pay these fees at some point. The uniform company will need time to add all of the customization your uniform requires. And if they're keeping other orders from processing so yours can be rushed, you'll pay.
Another factor is just the time it takes to produce the final product. Sewing is a bit of a dying art, so not many people have the skills to produce a high volume of customization. If your business is asking for this high-touch service, it will take longer than if you weren't getting so much done with the clothing.
And this doesn't consider any hold-ups from the manufacturer if you're buying from a uniform company. If the uniform company can't get your styles from their vendor due to any number of reasons, your order is most definitely going to take longer.
The time required to finish your products is reason enough to avoid custom work uniforms, if possible.
The last issue is one we touched on earlier, but can be expanded on a bit.
The question we always try to ask when customization gets mentioned is:
"How necessary are these customizations?"
Don't misunderstand. We're familiar with required customizations. ANSI/ISEA 107 standards apply to the visibility properties of workwear. Work done in low-light conditions is one of a handful of examples where customizations are required.
Our argument here is that plenty of garments are already customized to meet the required regulations. The fabric itself is already made from the appropriate number of high-visibility colors. The required amount of reflective striping is almost always added to the garments, based on the work environment.
The same goes for adding the numerous flag emblems all over your workwear. We understand, though. We love our country, too. We're proud of where we're from. But if you're a customer of ours, your community knows you're an American company. So is having the American flag or your state flag as well, necessary?
In summary, we're fans of building consistent-looking uniform programs for our customers. It's what we do.
But too many custom work uniform options aren't good for business. Having too many options increases prices, often unnecessarily. It also slows production times, which no one likes.
We'd encourage you to consider these points when reviewing your uniform program. If you need to build one from scratch, let us know. We can help you get started on the right foot.