There is no denying that branding means a lot in the business world. You want your customers, suppliers, and even competitors to know who you are!
The first step to good branding is by having a memorable company name and logo. Once you’ve taken care of that, you must apply those things to your products, stationery, etc. The thing is, some businesses don’t realise the importance of branded workwear.
Does your organisation have staff that meet customers face-to-face? If so, it makes sense for them to wear a uniform. Of course, there will be some occasions where formal attire such as suits would be a better idea. But, for most of the time, having your employees wear a branded uniform is a good idea.
For a start, it shows your customers, and other people they come in contact with, the company they work for. Secondly, it’s a passive way to market your brand without doing anything as such! And, third, it gives employees a sense of belonging.
When it comes to selecting your corporate workwear, there are seven things you need to consider. They are as follows:
1. How good are they at what they do?
Experience counts for a lot in business. The last thing you want to do is opt for a supplier that hasn’t got much experience with corporate workwear.
When researching potential clothing suppliers, find out what experience they have. For example, have they worked with other companies in your industry? Do they understand what image you wish to portray to the public? And do they have experience of producing large volumes of garments?
2. Do they have exceptional customer service?
One of the sad facts of the 21st century is some businesses feel customer service isn’t essential. As you know, it’s a factor that could make or break an organisation, regardless of who they are.
When you compare suppliers of corporate workwear, you should find out what their customer service is like. Is it mediocre at best? Or are they willing to go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction?
You might be wondering how best to gauge the level of a supplier’s customer service. There are many methods that you can use, such as looking at their online reviews. You could also speak with some of their previous customers.
3. How good is their sourcing network?
Let’s face it: you will always need corporate workwear. But, what happens if the supplier you use can only source small quantities of garments?
As you can imagine, that is a nightmare scenario for any organisation, regardless of its size. An established supplier of corporate workwear should have a trusted sourcing network. In other words, they must have no problem getting small or large quantities of items. Plus, they should prove they can do so for the foreseeable future.
4. What is the ordering process like?
Believe it or not, some suppliers of corporate workwear have ridiculous ordering processes! Even in the digital age that we live in, some firms will only accept orders by post or even by fax!
When you select a corporate workwear supplier, find out if it’s simple and user-friendly to order from them. These days, the vast majority of suppliers allow you to order online direct from their secure websites.
5. Are they reliable?
When you order corporate workwear for your employees, you expect items to get supplied in a reasonable time. What you don’t want is for a supplier to complete your order several weeks or months later!
Even if you have a small to medium enterprise, you must choose a reliable supplier that can deliver your orders promptly. Again, research online or from previous customers how quick they are to supply corporate workwear.
6. Is their ordering process flexible?
Although it’s not a deal-breaker for some, it’s good to know if a supplier has a flexible ordering process. There might be times where you need to modify an order, such as requesting higher quantities. Or you may need to cancel part of an order if it is no longer needed. It’s best to ask the supplier directly if their ordering process is flexible.
7. Do they offer a vast choice of garment options?
Last but not least, your business may need specific colours or fabrics. For instance, you may want some work shirts in your corporate colours. Or, for safety reasons, you may need overalls made with fire-resistant properties.
To discuss your requirements or to place an order for corporate workwear, contact Embroidery FX today!
