J.D. Powers and Associates conducted a survey that was commissioned by the industry trade association, the Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA). The survey was titled “Customer Perceptions of Uniforms in the Workplace,” and it supported previous findings and literature on the psychology of clothing and uniforms that suggest that uniforms elicit two responses in customers. First, uniforms transmit an image of positive personal attributes related to the uniform wearer, and second, employees in uniforms are perceived as a symbol of the company’s brand, and therefore advance the company’s brand to the customers. The survey showed that customers prefer to do business with employees in uniform. Additionally, they feel more confident in the quality of the product or service when dealing with employees in uniform. The survey showed that uniforms can be a deciding factor for customers when choosing a company from whom to buy.
A great benefit for the consumer is in identifying appropriate personnel who can provide assistance or service. A uniform makes it much easier to identify who to go to for help. In addition, consumers prefer a clean, consistent image. Uniforms can assist with this image. When a uniform matches the consumer expectations for the specific setting, increased sales of products or services will result.
Attiring employees in an appropriate uniform can influence buyer’s choice of service providers. In the survey, consumers judged employees in uniforms to be competent, knowledgeable, attentive and courteous. Consumers felt that the product or service was of higher quality when employees were wearing uniforms.
Dress is an important part of business. In certain businesses, uniforms should be considered as the clothing style because they provide an opportunity to advance an organization’s brand image and present a professional image to those the employees interact with. A uniform makes it much easier to identify who to go to for help. Uniforms can assist with a clean, consistent image. When uniforms match consumer expectations for the specific setting, increased sales of products or services will result. No business should overlook the importance in uniforms and the competitive edge they can offer in obtaining, and keeping, business.
Uniform Style Tips
If you are working with a staff of males and females there are several things that you can do to ensure that your whole staff looks well pulled together. Of course taking the time to carefully plan out the uniforms will ensure that everything flows together perfectly, but this is not always a simple task. After all, if running a business was simple there would be no employees. Everyone would own their own business, but there are many different businesses and of course, you can always take some help to make the best selection.
Formal wear is best used if you are running a very upscale type of restaurant. Consider for a moment how silly would the staff at your local McDonald's look in formal wear? Imagine the chaos from the grease and other food on the uniforms. Now imagine that you own a high upscale restaurant, the type of restaurant that requires a jacket and tie for men. Would you find it strange to see waiters and waitresses in the building wearing t-shirts and jeans?
As you can see from the examples, your business has an image to portray. Picking out the right uniforms can go a long way towards matching that image. Without the right uniforms for your business, you are looking at some potential problems with trying to ensure that your business is giving the right impression to customers. Remember, before your employees even go to speak to any customer, the customer has already gathered an opinion about your business and you as the owner simply based upon the image of your employees.
While many owners do not see the importance of a good uniform, a great owner will know the exact reasons why a good uniform is so critical. If you are careful and plan the exact way that you want your employees to look, you will be giving all of your customers a very powerful message about your business. This combined with effective management and a great product will help to ensure that you are around in business for a very long time. There is no reason at all why you should stress over uniforms, but selecting the right uniform is a very large task.
As you look around at the various uniforms that are available, take your time and carefully consider your options. You do not want to rush into a decision that you may regret once you have had time to thoroughly consider your options.
Formal wear is best used if you are running a very upscale type of restaurant. Consider for a moment how silly would the staff at your local McDonald's look in formal wear? Imagine the chaos from the grease and other food on the uniforms. Now imagine that you own a high upscale restaurant, the type of restaurant that requires a jacket and tie for men. Would you find it strange to see waiters and waitresses in the building wearing t-shirts and jeans?
As you can see from the examples, your business has an image to portray. Picking out the right uniforms can go a long way towards matching that image. Without the right uniforms for your business, you are looking at some potential problems with trying to ensure that your business is giving the right impression to customers. Remember, before your employees even go to speak to any customer, the customer has already gathered an opinion about your business and you as the owner simply based upon the image of your employees.
While many owners do not see the importance of a good uniform, a great owner will know the exact reasons why a good uniform is so critical. If you are careful and plan the exact way that you want your employees to look, you will be giving all of your customers a very powerful message about your business. This combined with effective management and a great product will help to ensure that you are around in business for a very long time. There is no reason at all why you should stress over uniforms, but selecting the right uniform is a very large task.
As you look around at the various uniforms that are available, take your time and carefully consider your options. You do not want to rush into a decision that you may regret once you have had time to thoroughly consider your options.
Friday, February 13, 2009
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