If you own a restaurant, or a similar hospitality business, you probably know how important your staff’s uniforms are. When guests walk in, the people they are greeted by are the ones that will leave the first impression about your restaurant on them. And what do you think will leave a better impression – hosts and bartenders dressed in casual clothes, or the entire staff being dressed in a similar, trendy but professional manner? I thought so. But not just any uniform will do the trick, mind you. You should always spend some time to do a research before making a purchase. Here are some tips to help you make the right decision.
A Design that Reflects Your Brand
The company’s already established image is a great starting point when selecting a uniform for a hospitality business. If you’re running a casual cafe with a relaxed interior style, the uniforms should also be more casual. On the other hand, the staff’s dress code in high-end restaurants is more formal, and usually the uniforms come with all their accompanying accessories – from aprons, to bow ties, and in some cases – hats.
But the best way to reflect your business’s unique personality and achieve a unified look is by using your logo’s or interior design’s colours. Just keep in mind practicality – if your interior décor scheme is white, it won’t be very practical for your staff to be dressed in an all-white uniform. A smart solution can be to combine a darker piece of clothing, like for instance a grey apron, with white shirts and pants.
Think About Staining
As is the case for everyone in the hospitality business, your staff is bound to get food and drinks spilled on their uniforms on the regular. And some hard stains won’t come out that easily no matter how often you wash them. Plus, all those stains and the harsh chemicals you use to get rid of them, can easily discolour the uniforms.
A simple solution to this is choosing darker colours on which stains and spills are not that obvious. For instance, stains and spills can be far less noticeable on a dark grey apron, as opposed to a crisp white one. Of course, for a peace of mind you can also choose a stain resistant material which may be a bit more expensive, but in the long run it can be a worthy investment.
Comfort is Crucial
No matter how stylish your staff may look, if they don’t feel comfortable in what they’re wearing, it’s very likely that they’ll be grumpy and won’t do their best. Always consider the working conditions and choose uniforms made of materials that are appropriate for the working environment. Since the weather in Australia is warm for the most part, work clothes made of light and breathable fabrics, such as cotton, bamboo and polyester, can ensure your staff feels comfortable and fresh throughout their entire shift.
