A well-dressed and professional-looking staff can drastically influence the company’s reputation and the impression it leaves on customers. This rule applies especially when working in high-end branches of the economy, like retail fashion stores, spa centers, fitness, and salons. Supermarkets and other retail places are no exception, and a nice-looking uniform with a bit of personalization harmed no one. If you are out of ideas on making your staff look more in-line and professional, read on as we’ll discuss some helpful tips and tricks.
The 3 rules
The three rules of dressing are to incorporate three essential and key elements into your outfit. The same 3 rules can be applied when creating the perfect uniforms for your employees. The first two times are the shirt and pants (or skirt), and the third part of the outfit is a “special“ something, a unique feature giving the whole look a touch of individual personalization. It can be anything, from a piece of jewelry to a watch. This third item is a matter of choice and preference of the employee.
Think of the uniform items
Think of a few clothing items first. Will you go for T-shirts with vests, or shirts and ties? Or will an apron with a few pockets and the company’s logo do the trick? The idea of a uniform is to make the company look more professional if employees are well-dressed and in tone. It also makes it easier for the customers to distinguish the employees from visitors in case they need help regarding something.
A professional tip is to make the uniform in the colors of the company’s logo and add other items of relevance like a cap, vest, and belt. Shoes can be optional and left to the employees to choose for themselves. However, in designer stores, spas, and salons, it would be preferable if the shoes were in tone with the whole uniform. Waiters in fancy restaurants should be obligated to wear the same color shirts, ties, maybe jackets, and vests depending on the occasion and need.
Personalization
A nice detail is to give the employees a chance to customize and personalize their uniforms with little pieces of jewelry or even pins. Pins can contribute to the overall appeal of the uniform, as you can opt for different designs and even materials. As the folks at Custom Pins Now explain, you can choose from a variety of models such as soft or hard enamel pins or die-cast pins, which are perfect when the pin is in the shape of a particular word. If you find the look stylish, you can incorporate pins as an obligatory uniform item and make it a must-wear. It can be the company’s logo or some saying regarding your policies. Pins are easy to put on or take off when needed and give a special touch to the whole outfit. For example, you can make a little coffee-cup-shaped pin and put it on the apron of every employee working in your coffee house. This detail will leave an impression on the more aesthetic customers, and it also bonds the team more closely.
Categorizing
In supermarkets, make sure you distinguish your employees. Employees handling customers and cashiers should distinguish themselves from the manager or people working in the back. Different colored shirts or T-shirts should do the trick. But, remember that the uniform should include two dressing items, so choose wisely. In the case of aprons, you can go for a full-cover one or a shorter version covering only the lower part of the body if you prefer your employees to wear a company shirt or T-shirt.
Functionality
Gloves in gastronomy are a nice touch and have a functional purpose as well. With gloves, you’ll spare the fine glasses any fingerprint stains. Name tags are another item on the list to make the uniform look more in line with the company’s politics of professionalism. Name tags express a sense of closeness, and your customers will feel less reluctant to ask for help around the store if they call the employee by name.
Seasonal outfits
A really nice touch and a professional look are created when your uniform follows the seasonal flow and changes depending on the weather or holiday. Little reindeer and snowflake jumpers are preferable during the Christmas season in December, maybe long sleeve shirts or jackets during colder days and T-shirts with casual cotton pants in the summer and spring. Or you can even make these changes a bit more subtle. For example, if you find it hard to digress from your regular uniform during holidays, you can incorporate patterned socks into the outfit instead.
We hope you’ll find these tips more than useful in creating your uniform and making your staff look more professional than ever.
