Uniforms Provide A Selling Advantage

What employees wear to work helps make the sale.

When choosing a company from whom to buy, both consumers and business-to-business buyers preferred to use companies who had uniformed employees to those who did not, according to a comprehensive study conducted for the Uniform and Textile Service Association by JD Power & Associates.

The study showed uniform wearing can be a deciding factor. Quality and price are considerations, but when these are equal, uniforms give you the edge in getting, and keeping, business. Who couldn’t use an edge in today’s competitive marketplace?

A strong majority of those surveyed felt the quality of the product or service provided was higher when workers were uniformed. The customer perception study showed individual and business buyers felt uniform wearers were more trustworthy, credible, and were more confident the uniformed professionals could get the job done. These findings extended to areas and settings where uniforms were not typically expected. Uniforms provide you with a clear advantage with customers whether you sell cars or fix heating systems.

In today’s busy marketplace, uniforms are a simple, cost effective way to get new business. A senior executive at Toyota Motor Sales agrees: "What our Associates wear during those important first moments with a Customer can form their opinion of the entire experience. We consider our image apparel program a very important part of our business growth model in the service area."

So where do you go? A uniform service provider! There are hundreds of companies that can customize work apparel specific to your company’s needs and desired image. Everything from traditional work shirts and pants to business casual cotton and denim shirts, polos, khakis, dress slacks, and shorts. Offerings also include executive wear, such as blazers and button down shirts, and other identity apparel, like lab coats, aprons, and smocks. Uniform service companies offer wide selections of colors and styles and can provide customized catalogs to assist in employee selections. Uniforms can be rented, which includes cost effective cleaning and delivery services, or they can be leased or purchased.

The uniform and textile service industry provides reusable textiles (uniforms, floor mats, linen, shop towels, and other items) to millions of business in all industries, including light, heavy and hi-tech manufacturing; healthcare; restaurants; service, retail, construction and transportation industries and institutions.

Release date: 04/30/2001

Contact: Jerry Martin, V.P. of Sales & Marketing (949) 250-4850 ext 275

Source: UTSA (Uniform Textile Service Association)

By: Jerry Martin, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Prudential Overall Supply