The Top Five Advantages of Work Uniforms

If you’re thinking about getting some uniforms for your office but aren’t quite sure if they are right for you, then you may want to look at the top five advantages that workwear can offer you.

1. Smarten your Appearance

First and foremost, wearing a uniform to work can help you and your colleagues to come across as highly smart and professional.

It has been argued that in some lines of work, staff who wear distin­gu­is­hable work uniforms are often more trusted by customers than those who do not. Being professional is the key to success, so it’s very important to keep your workforce looking smart and sharp. Whether it’s with a smart-looking buttoned-up shirt, plain polo or a work hat, incor­porating standardised apparel into the workplace will help both your employees and your business look more profes­sional.

2. Managed with Ease

Sometimes it can be rather difficult to get everyone looking right. Trying to ensure your employees look their best at all times can sometimes seem like a tall order, as what one person considers to be smart, another would see as quite scruffy.

Employees’ uniforms can help you to banish this problem for good, ensuring that everyone knows exactly what they need to wear at all times. Invest in some work-friendly apparel and you can make sure that you’re spending more time sorting out the issues that matter in your workplace and less time worrying about employees’ appearances.

3. Corporate Identity

Free branding alert! Alongside profes­si­onalism and manage­ability, work uniforms can also be a source of free advertising for your business.

If your logo is on staff members clothing and accessories, you will be promoting your company without even realising it. Travelling to work, taking a lunch break, even eating out at a restaurant means that company members will find themselves all across the local area and they will be promoting your company.

4. Sense of Togetherness

Do you find that sometimes your team members can’t work together? Or maybe they struggle to find some common ground over which they can build on? If so, uniforms could be the answer!

Workwear can bring people together, giving them something that they can all be part of. This experience can be rewarding and could not only help improve work relations but encourage a happier, more hardworking member of the team too.

5. Keep cost in check

Finally, it’s great to know that alongside all of these benefits, staff uniforms are incredibly cost-effective as well. When buying workwear in large quantities, you can save huge amounts of money that can be put to good use elsewhere in your business.

So, whatever you are looking for on the uniform front speak to the experts at Logos 4 Clothes on 01400 230 180 or email info@logos4clothes.com.

Work Shirts Explained

So, you are looking to find the right work shirt – we thought we would come up with a few tips to help you browse through our catalogue of personalised work shirts.

 Most customers tend to buy shirts that are described by the manufactures as “tailored” or “fitted” in the actual hope that it will look more professional and in uniform. What you need to understand is that everyone has a different body shape and only catering for two body types can be a recipe for disaster and can hit you in the pocket!

If you are buying a uniform for a team – try ordering some samples of different fits and styles such as slim fit, fitted, standard fit and tailored. You might also want to consider short, long and oxford shirts when you order.

Fitted Shirts

These are designed to hug your chest, arms and waist area. These shirts should feel snug but not too tight. If the shirt is too tight you will start spilling out. This style might not be the best style for you and your team.

Slim Fit Shirts

Slim fit shirts are designed to fit like a second skin and they are usually better for slimmer, more petite men and women. A slim shirt offers a curved hem, shorter sleeves which in turn makes the garment look perfect when it’s nicely tucked in.

Tailored fit shirts

These shirts are made for the average person. The garment offers more shape around the shoulder, sleeve and collar. They are usually a good bet for the whole team, but ensure you order the correct sizes for each team member!

Standard Fit shirts

Standard Fit shirts are made loose, with no darts or curved hems and often do not have collar buttons. This fit is very popular and it often offers a large range of sizes which all the other fits simply do not.

So, if you are looking for more advice with regards to fitted shirts, slim fit shirts, tailored fit shirts or standard fit shirts please do not hesitate to speak to the team at Logos 4 Clothes on 01400 230 180 or email info@logos4clothes.com.

Ten Ways to Upcycle Your Old Workwear

Here at Logos 4 Clothes, we understand the impact textile waste can have on our fragile environment.

As we all know synthetic clothing can take over 40 years to biodegrade, but 95% of textiles are recyclable it only makes sense that we should do whatever we can to recycle and repurpose our older pieces and save them from the landfill.

1. Safety first

If you have an article of clothing with reflective bands you can cut off the strips then attach them to whatever accessory of clothing suits you best. You could also sew these strips to jackets or backpacks for a safer stroll in the evenings, or even tie them around your ankles for some night time cycling. Also, you could repurpose an old reflective jacket for your dog to act as a little jacket for those night time walks.

2. Stay Warm and also Lower those Bills.

 No one likes paying more for their bills than they have to, and one easy way to reduce overall heating expenditure is by using draught excluders. But why not make yours yourself by using an old uniform at virtually no extra cost. Here’s a video of how to do this – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqPcDkAJVbM.

3. Make Some Extra Money

If you’re a dab hand at sewing and D.I.Y. you can experiment with all your excess fabrics and create your products to even sell online similarly to the team behind the Bike Project charity (https://thebikeproject.co.uk/pages/mission). Proceeds from products sold on their website go towards helping refugees and there are plenty more ways to support their efforts.

4. Scrub Up and Save Up

According to recent surveys, the average UK households spend £125 on cleaning products every year – money they could spend on more exciting items in life! There are some products we can easily avoid buying. Like for example wet wipes and disposable cloths. It’s a shame for them to end up as waste, but it is also incredibly easy to fashion reusable alternatives at home. If you have any old uniforms or clothing maybe in a softer fabric (or other worn underwear, t-shirts you name it!) simply cut them up and into the necessary sizes. Scrub what you need and wash when used.

5. Help a Creative

The web is home a vast array of small artists and designers, amongst whom a significant number are involved in what is probably best described as an anti-fast fashion movement. With sites like Depop (described as the creative community’s mobile marketplace) hosting over 10 million independent merchants, these designers are not hard to find. Any many of them refuse to buy virgin fabrics – which is where you could come in.

6. Pass Them Dove to The Youth of Today

Remember, you don’t have to completely reinvent hi-visibility wear. If you have enough undamaged, usable fabric, you can simply save the best bits and fashion a new child-size vest. These are always useful for schools and day-care centres that take their kids on field trips. They would appreciate the gift.

7. Good Things Come in Small Packages

Why not make a bum bag following the steps and pattern in this inspiring video by the ProperFit Clothing company – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdgOzArP4Xs.

8. Get Nice and Cosy

Remember too much fabric for your current bum bag needs. No worries.

You may want to try a bigger D.I.Y. project like perhaps making a throw blanket or patchwork quilt. All you have to do is to save the best bits of each garment and go crazy with your artistic instincts!

9. Fun for Your Furry Friend

If you have a dog, why not create a snuffle mat? Dogs love them and they are simple to make. All you need is a pair of scissors, some old clothes and fabrics and a drain mat. Once you have these materials to hand follow these steps:-

• Cut your fabric into some long strips. Vary the sizes if you like, but ensure that they are long enough to complete the following steps.
• Loop each strip through two neighbouring holes in the drain mat. With the long ends facing upwards – away from the ground. Then tie them into a knot.
• Repeat this until you have every hole filled – going over holes multiple times if necessary.
• Tie any remaining strips around the perimeter of the mat to hide the rubber edge.
• Then, the fun starts…let your dog loose!

10. Reinvent to Look

For many years the world of fashion has taken a great deal of inspiration from labourer’s uniforms, but we are starting to see it go a stage further now for the sake of the environment.

Too many used uniforms have been discarded as trash and therefore save them from the landfill and you can do the same. Here are some little tweaks that you can do to transform a look. For example, why not embrace the cargo pant trend by attaching a decorative chain to the belt loops of your work trousers – any colour works.

Chains can be bought from eBay from as little as £1.39, whereas a brand new pair of carbo trousers can cost up to £45. So even if you’d rather gift this look than wear it yourself it’s certainly worth a try!

For more great clothing and workwear ideas why not speak to the team at Logos 4 Clothes on 01400 230 180 or email info@logos4clothes.com.

5 Reasons Why Creating a Uniform is a Great Idea for your Business

1. It Promotes Trust

In the same way that a police uniform identifies a law officer to you, a uniform can identify someone which is out in the future making a service call or travelling to visit a customer home. A uniform eases the mind of the customers letting a plumber into their homes, or handing over the keys to a motorbike mechanic when their bike needs servicing.

2. A sense of belonging

Employees wearing the same clothes feel a sense of commonness and belonging. This is quite difficult to achieve otherwise and adds a degree of motivation and pride for the employee.

3. Corporate Branding

When you ask employees to wear uniforms in your distinctive colours this can have a real effect in cementing an impression in the mind of the customer. Uniforms act as a further distinguishing mark from competitors and therefore helping to reinforce your brand. Furthermore, consistency in your employees’ appearance with the overall branding effort will have a very positive impression on the customer and enhance the corporate image you portray.

4. No need for a dress code!

In today’s workplace trying to enforce a dress code is very problematic at best. Often boundaries are hazy and this can lead to resentful feelings from the employees who are told their attire is not appropriate for the workplace. Some employees often see receiving a uniform as a perk of the job. Often it can encourage people to apply for a job and represents considerable conservation of effort and time for the employee who doesn’t have to foot the bill for their work attire.

5. Projecting Professionalism

In customer-facing businesses its important to look professional, uniform and ready to serve. Uniforms make staff identifiable, letting customers seek out help in a store if they need it. Staff wearing uniforms inspire confidence by letting customers know that the person is professional and with product knowledge and also keen to help. With uniforms, employees take on the reputation of the company making them look trustworthy as the company you have built.

For all your uniform requirements speak to the team at Logos 4 Clothes on 01400 230 180 or email info@logos4clothes.com.

What is the best workwear for pub staff?

It is really important to strike a balance between clothes that look the part and workwear that helps get the job done!

When it comes to deciding on your staff’s workwear, comfort levels, cost and style are priorities likely to spring to mind first. You may also want to think about whether sustainability is a priority for you and consider that when looking at different suppliers.

For multi-site operators, a set uniform across sites can consolidate your pub brand in the eyes of customers, especially when it incorporates branded elements like logos.

However, a less formal workwear code may prove to be the more affordable way to go. Operators say it depends on your pub’s selling point and atmosphere as well as what is practical.

Individual style is what’s required!

Allowing staff members to show off their style can sometimes work better than everyone kitted out in the same clothes. This will give staff the individual freedom to be quirky and allow them to express themselves. It leads to a more carefree look and feels. Some pubs encourage smart-casual but something that at the end of the day is still practical and more to the point comfortable to wear for many hours working behind a busy bar.

Some say don’t have too many hard and fast rules and embrace the different fashions that staff members can wear. Some places even encourage staff to wear more ‘party style’ clothing on Friday and Saturday nights and go with the more upbeat feeling of the evening.

Outfits must be presentable and shoes must be comfortable but also sensible too. Tatty and dirty clothes simply won’t cut it!

Open toe shoes and sandals can also pose a problem due to risk of cuts (because of glasses and bottles etc) or bruising and as you would expect high heels are just too dangerous to wear in a working environment where you are constantly on your feet.

Create the perfect atmosphere

At the end of the day, you need to create a welcoming atmosphere at your pub and what your staff wear can also play a part with this. Jeans are great to show your not too fussy, with maybe an apron that holds what you need i.e. a pen and pad. Wearing white shirts shows you are serious about your work and also clean and smart too. Some staff could wear a brewery shirt (if it’s going to be a long customer-facing day), the shirt would match the beers they have on sale that day for example.

If for example your pub is based in the highlands of Scotland, for example, you might like your staff to wear tartan pockets on their aprons because you are proud to be Scottish and go with the theme of the pub!

Be careful with the legislation!

Be careful! Some pubs have been faced with big fines from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) after docking staff’s wages to cover the expense of uniform costs when this results in their pay being lower than the minimum wage.

Employers have a legal duty to issue their staff with protective clothing if needed and they cannot be charged for their uniforms if the result is that they receive less than minimum wage.

The dress codes can fall under (what is classed as a uniform) so please make sure that your staff aren’t charged or expected to pay for their workwear!

Changes in the seasons

As businesses look to planning summer offers and promotions, many will be hoping for a return of the scorching temperatures of last year. However, it is also important to consider if any seasonal changes needed to be made to uniforms or dress codes updated.

Lighter materials can help keep your staff looking professional in the sweltering temperatures. Ideally, you need to find the right balance of style, comfort and affordability that will ensure your staff enjoy their role more. You want to make sure that your staff are comfortable during their working shift – with no tight waistcoats or high heels… and remember a happy waitress/waiter makes for a happy pub guest and it starts and ends with comfort!

For more information on how to get the best out of your staff’s uniforms talk to Logos 4 Clothes on 01400 230 180 or email us at info@logos4clothes.com.

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