The arrival of October means the last warm breezes of summer have gone, spring 2014 fashion shows have wrapped up and you have settled into fourth-quarter selling. It also means that restaurants and catering companies are entering their busiest time of the year, with weddings and holidays dominating business until 2014. Busy is good for revenue, but messy for uniforms. Come Jan. 1, your clients will need new aprons, chef hats and button-ups. Here are eight ways to spot uniforms that will last through 2014.
1. Some end-buyers are open to new ideas, but not all are.
Some of your clients may be willing to shift the styles and colors of uniforms from year to year, but some won’t even consider it. “It really depends on what the company is looking for, what their colors are and whether they can stray away from the color of their brand or not,” explained Ashley Adams, marketing coordinator for S&S Activewear and Americana Sportswear, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. For example, unisex styles might be all the rage with a restaurant, but uniforms for a boutique hotel may want to adapt trends by using feminine silhouettes.
2. A uniform needs more than one garment.
Once you figure out what your client is looking for, consider each job at your client’s company and the different garments needed for each one. Pam Pennington, national accounts manager for Aprons Etc., Greenville, S.C., pointed out that uniforms rarely consist of just a shirt or just a hat. Your client’s employees need a full outfit, so sell it to them. “Uniform garments provide a good and consistent reorder sales opportunity,” she remarked. “Generally, when used as a uniform, a single user will be provided multiple garments instead of a single garment when used as a promotional product.”
3. Send colors to the chef.
Pennington mentioned that while chef coats are always popular, end-buyers have had a particular interest in brightly hued coats this year. “We had more requests for colored chef coats in 2013,” she said.
4. Buttons are so last year.
Pennington noted that button-free vests and uniforms are increasing in popularity across all markets. “We have seen an increase in our non-button uniform vest sales this year because of their versatile fit,” she said.
5. Look for moisture-wicking and stain-resistant properties.
Uniforms are not like the standard tees and jackets sold in the promotional industry. They need to last through hours in a busy kitchen or on a hot golf course and still look presentable. That’s why moisture-wicking and stain-resistant properties matter. “Moisture-wicking and anti-microbial—as well as stain-resistant and repellant polyester-treated fabrics—are the best when it comes to keeping an apron or uniform lasting the longest,” Adams explained.
6. With aprons, unisex styles still rule.
Many promotional styles need feminine silhouettes to attract buyers. According to Pennington, however, that is not the case with aprons. “Although we offer female sizing, we still see more popularity in the unisex styles,” she said.
7. Basics are best.
Adams mentioned that basic colors and styles still dominate the uniform market. “Uniforms typically come in more basic colors with stain-resistant properties and in fabrications such as polyester blends that withstand many washes and wears,” she said.
8. Fashion has a place in the uniform market.
Though unisex styles and neutral colors are the most popular, Adams noted that a few select companies are finding feminine silhouettes more appropriate for their consumers and employees. “Many companies have begun thinking outside of the box when it comes to women’s uniforms and going with something a little more fashion-forward like a fitted tee, ladies’ cut sweater or sweatshirt, etc.,” Adams said.
