6 ways a uniform can boost your brand

For small businesses, a clear and consistent brand goes a long way in establishing and sustaining relationships with your customers and community. It tells a story of who you are, what you do and why you do it.

One of your most powerful assets for your brand is your employees — how they perform and what they wear. Every time one of your team members interacts with a customer, they’re serving as a billboard for your business — and well-fitting, professionally branded work shirts are the perfect advertisement.

You can get all of that and more with an Apparel+ workwear program from Cintas. Apparel+ does more than just outfit your team in great workwear. A workwear program can raise awareness, connect with customers and help attract top talent for your team.

Discover six ways how an Apparel+ program can help boost your brand.

1. Make a good first impression

Forbes reports that it takes just seven seconds to form a first impression. An Apparel+ program ensures your employees look sharp and professional the moment they step out of the work van, setting the right tone from the start.

Apparel+ allows you to set the standard by selecting approved work clothing for your employees from our catalog, ensuring they are always presentable and on brand. You choose the workwear that works best for your team, and we handle the rest — including laundry.

Our wash and delivery service gives you confidence that your team is always looking presentable for your customers. The Apparel+ weekly delivery cycle means your team will have fresh uniforms for every shift, and our sophisticated washing system ensures your uniforms will always look great. If they don’t look great, we replace the garments at no charge to you.

We’ll also make sure your team is outfitted in properly fitting workwear, so you can ensure your employees look the part. If any of your team members need to size up or size down, we’ll exchange those uniforms for you.

2. Increase brand awareness

What’s one of the easiest ways to ensure your company stays top of mind for potential customers? Make sure they see your logo as often as possible.

Custom-branded work shirts from Cintas are a perfect way to increase exposure to your business. Now, when your employees go out for a job, it’s not just your customers who will interact with your brand. It’s anyone who sees your employees before and after the job — neighbors to random passersby, gas station clerks to restaurant workers, fellow tradesmen to local business leaders.

3. build trust

Repeat encounters with employees who represent your company well can help turn one-time customers into loyal regulars. Consistency in those encounters is key. Branded work shirts and jackets help take your brand and business to the next level.

Customers know what to expect when they see your uniformed employees. How your team is dressed leaves a lasting impression, and when they’re dressed in professional and well-fitting workwear, customers will trust they’ll get the work done.

4. Improve performance and productivity

There’s a famous saying in sports that goes, “if you look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good.” That’s true in the working world as well.

Forbes spoke to psychologists who noted that what a person wears to work could influence their performance and attention levels. And with Apparel+, you can ensure your workforce is dressed for success every shift with flexible, durable fabrics that keep team members performing at their peak. Professional, comfortable clothing can also help improve focus and instill pride in your team, making them more productive and happier at work.

5. confident, comfortable and happy employees are engaged employees

Not only does looking and feeling good boost productivity and performance, but it also improves employee engagement. According to Gallup, only 36% of employees say they are “highly involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.”

Apparel+ can go a long way in keeping employees enthusiastic and engaged at work. When you offer your workers a uniform program, you’re offering them:

• Choice — Employees have more freedom to select the work clothes they want to wear. They can choose from preselected colors and styles, down to the cut of pants, jean style and sleeve length.
• It all helps to support employee satisfaction while building a cohesive appearance. Gone are the days of everyone having to wear the same navy over navy works shirts and work pants, whether they liked it or not.
• Premium brands — Apparel+ makes it easy and cost-effective to offer your employees apparel they appreciate, like Carhartt® — a brand popular across all age groups.
• Comfort — Workers don’t want sweaty, stiff overalls or poorly fitting pants. Today’s employees want options like Cintas ComfortFlex Pro®, with fabric that stretches and moves with the wearer.
• Time and energy — After a long, physically demanding shift, the last thing your employees want to do is an extra load of laundry. With Apparel+, your team members can knock an item off their to-do list and get back some valuable free time. Cintas handles pick up, laundering, repair and drop-off, so your team can knock an item off their to-do list and gain back some valuable time.

6. level up your employee benefits

In today’s tight labor market, a strong employee benefits package is a strategic edge that can separate your business from competitors when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. An Apparel+ program is a valuable resource that you can add to your employment toolkit without breaking the bank.

Apparel+ requires no upfront investment. Compare that to an employee uniform stipend or purchase program, and your business could save as much as $2,000 per employee every year. Cintas also helps protect your investment, as our laundry and garment care process ensures workwear is always tatter free and on point.

And without a large upfront investment, Apparel+ gives you the flexibility to keep your capital in your business operations. Use your savings to invest in better equipment, upgraded facilities or additional employee benefits to further boost staff morale and retention.

Time for a managed workwear program?

When you’re running a business, you can get pulled in lots of directions. Cross work uniforms off your to-do list.

Set the list of options and your team can choose from the preselected, preapproved workwear and Apparel+ will take care of the rest. Gain a competitive edge in your market and become a recognizable asset to your community by building your brand with Cintas.