Custom Uniform Program Benefits
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#2: UNIFORMS CAN BE THE FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOUR BRAND
OOBE’s tag line is “Uniforms that aren’t…” We adopted this mantra because we became sensitized in recent years to the fact that “The Uniform” is at the precipice of a significant paradigm shift. Today… the brand is the center of gravity for customer perceptions and demand. And when you operate a business with a customer-facing workforce, the uniform is one of the most visible embodiments of the brand itself.
The old adage was… "It doesn’t matter how good the uniform looks if you can’t get it when you need it."
Historically, the uniform industry has executed an operating model built primarily upon the single criteria of service. In this model, almost all of the emphasis was placed upon the timely delivery and/or laundering of uniforms. That statement is completely true, but the singular focus upon uniform program service rather than product created a decision-making environment in which minimal emphasis was placed upon style, performance, quality, choice, or branding of uniform product.
Today, business entities that interface directly with consumers are waking up to the idea (and fact) that the manner in which they outfit their employees is a strategic component of their branding and marketing strategy. Other than the storefront itself, the appearance of your employees may be the first impression that is made upon your customers. How your employees look literally screams your brand message to your customer base. This “discovery” has become a catalyst to help reshape the makeup of corporate apparel selection committees to not only include representatives from procurement, but from marketing, brand development, sales, operations, and human resources, as well. Corporate apparel program criteria are expanding from the ubiquitous service requirement of 100% availability… and product requirements of durability and minimal maintenance… to include rapidly emerging brand and performance criteria. Product criteria that have taken their place alongside traditional requirements now include such considerations as fashionable design and styling details, role-engineered functionality, gender-specific fit, expanded color palettes, and performance features such as technologically-advanced construction methods, wrinkle-resistance, anti-bacterial treatments, moisture management, and stain release. For personnel that work outside, uniforms are now available that even repel insects!
Sophisticated apparel programs today must deliver an exponential increase in style, functionality, and performance at price points that represent only an incremental cost increase over programs of lesser quality and value. The manner in which you outfit your employees must reinforce your brand identity, help you look your best, and be cost-effective. The right uniform program can exert tremendous leverage upon your brand… and if strategically deployed… will propel brand recognition and brand image to levels never before attained. Because OOBE understands the need to “get it right”, we invest much resource and effort in a thorough, systematic Discovery process that allows us to gain valuable insight into your company’s culture, desired brand identity, and strategic business objectives. And we bring all of that information to life through a uniform program that clearly supports your brand identity and brand initiatives. Doesn’t sound much like a typical uniform company, does it? Well...
It’s not a uniform, it’s OOBE.
Contact us today to learn how OOBE can transform your uniform program.
