A Comprehensive Guide for the Construction, Trade and Mining Industries
Your staff uniforms are an essential part of your brand image. They not only reflect the style and culture of your business but also play a significant role in keeping your employees safe and comfortable while they work, especially if you are operating in the Construction, Trade and Mining Industries. In this blog, we’ll provide a comprehensive 4-step guide on how to choose the perfect uniforms for your business.
#1 – Align with your Brand Image
The first and foremost thing to consider while choosing your staff uniform is how it represents your brand image. Your uniform should reflect your company’s values, culture and style. For example, if your business is more traditional, then a classic, corporate-style uniform might be a better fit. On the other hand, if your business is more laid-back and creative, then a casual and trendy uniform might be a better option. Make sure the uniform you choose accurately represents your brand and makes a positive impression on your customers and clients.
#2 – Comfort and Durability
Comfort and durability are essential factors to consider when choosing a uniform. Your employees will be wearing the uniform for extended periods, so it’s imperative to choose one that is comfortable and breathable. Consider the type of work your employees will be doing and choose materials that are suitable for their work environment. For example, if your employees work in harsh outdoor conditions, high-visibility workwear made of weather-resistant materials would be a good choice. On the other hand, if your employees are tradespeople, breathable polo shirts that dry quickly would be an excellent option.
#3 – Safety Requirements
Depending on the industry you work in, there may be specific safety requirements that your uniform must meet. For example, if your employees work in the mining industry, they may need to wear high visibility workwear that meets Australian safety standards. It’s essential to be aware of these requirements and choose uniforms that meet them to keep your employees safe and compliant while they work.
#4 – Customisation
Customisation is another important factor to consider when choosing a uniform. Whether it is adding your company logo through embroidery or screen-printing, or simply customising the fit and style, having a uniform that is uniquely tailored for your staff can help to reinforce your brand image. Look for a uniform supplier that offers customisation options and can help you find a uniform style that is trending and uniquely customised for your business and staff.
Also consider the turnaround time when looking for a uniform customisation supplier. Did you know? Red Roo provides the fastest turnaround time on custom uniforms – ONLY 10 DAYS, compared to the industry average of 6-8 weeks.
Ultimately, choosing the right uniform can make all the difference in keeping your employees safe and comfortable while they work, as well as in creating a presentable and professional look for your staff that leaves a lasting impression on your clients and suppliers.
Life is busy! Too busy to be waiting forever for staff uniforms to be ready. Buying from one supplier and then having to find someone else to decorate them can be frustrating and a waste of precious time.
And, being the frontline of your business, you want your employees to look and feel good with quality materials and embroidery. Because seriously, what’s the point in paying good money for second-rate uniforms that don’t last the distance and have your staff looking and feeling drab?
What To Keep In Mind When Buying Your Uniforms or Promo Products!
without compromising on product quality or customer satisfaction.
What Questions You Need To Ask Yourself When Ordering Uniforms!
So, here are some questions for you – when it comes to ordering uniforms, do you:
purchase different brands from different suppliers?
purchase the garments from one supplier and then take them to be embroidered?
wait more than 4 weeks for your uniforms?
purchase blindly online not really knowing what you’re going to receive?
If you answered YES to at least one of these questions, we at Red Roo may be able to help you.
How Can Red Roo Help You!
Here are 5 great reasons why we are the best are what we do:
First: We have 80+ Suppliers
Red Roo has 80+ suppliers of uniforms, so there’s a good chance that you can purchase all of your garment brands through us! One shop! And don’t worry, if 80+ is overwhelming, we can point you in the right direction. Nothing’s a problem.
Second: We Provide In-house Embroidery & Printing
Red Roo has their own in-house embroidery and printing equipment. That means we receive the uniform, we decorate the uniform and we dispatch the uniform with no further interaction required from our clients.
Thirdly: 10 Day Turnaround For All Orders
Red Roo controls the production lead time and has an average turnaround time on uniforms of 10 days. Yep, that’s right, your staff can be looking good and feeling like they belong to your company in just 10 days!
Fourthly: Try Before You Buy!
Red Roo has a sampling policy that allows you to view the uniform, get the touch and feel of the uniform fabric and we can even provide a trial uniform if you need to see how it stacks up in your work environment. How good is that!
Lastly: ‘Just Bloody Great Service’
That’s Red Roo’s brand promise. Heck, even our existing clients say that we can be trusted to provide a fast and easy, no-fuss process where you won’t need to chase suppliers, find someone to do embroidery and then wait forever.
So don’t waste any more time! Make uniform ordering fast and easy!
Call our friendly team at Red Roo on 07 3255 8755 today.
As with most things in life, not all hi-vis workwear is created equal, and what might seem like a cheap option, can leave you lacking in safety and compliance.
There are a few standards that legislate the workwear industry. They are the following:
It’s important to understand all three, and how they impact your choices and decisions in buying workwear for yourself or for your team.
AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS/NZS 1906.4.2010 (specifies the colours to use to meet the standard for hi-visibility)
This standard explains the use of hi-visibility fabrics and retroreflective materials for daytime use. It specifies the quality of colour levels (known as chromaticity) to which fabrics need to be dyed, in terms of performance and atmospheric pressures, in order to comply with daytime safety standards.
Natural fibre garments (cotton) have a lower chromaticity level due to the nature of the fabric. However, when a polyester garment is deemed a risk to the wearer in certain applications, (eg risk of ignition – electrical, gas, welding), cotton or wool should be worn in its place.
Orange, Red and Yellow (or lime as it is sometimes referred to) are the only three colours that meet this standard for daytime hi-visibility. While we have cotton shirts available in bright pink, bright blue and emerald green, these garments will not meet this standard.
AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS/NZS 4602.1.2011 (specifies the garment requirements to meet the standard for hi-visibility)
This standard refers to how a garment is made using fabrics compliant to 1906.4 above.
There must be over 0.2m2 of unbroken flouro fabric on both the front and back of a garment in the upper torso (this does not include the sleeves). The flouro must not be broken with non-flouro fabric within the 0.2m2 area on both the front and back from the top of the shoulders to the waist and MUST encircle the body up to that measurement. This means no full side panels up to the armpit level are permitted. This standard also explains the position of the retroreflective tapes on the garment and the width and quantity used. These tapes should not be less than the 0.2m2 measurement required.
You may see suppliers referring to a garment “meeting particular classes”, they are as follows:
Class D = Daytime use
Class N = Nighttime use, using retroreflective material
Class D/N = Day/Night use
For example, if they have listed a yellow polo with no tape, they may say in the description Class D. This means it meets daytime use only.
AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS 4399:2020 (specifies the garments ability to protect from the ultraviolet radiation)
This standard refers to the capability of a fabric to protect skin against solar ultraviolet radiation (known as the UPF = ultraviolet protection factor). This standard is an additional bonus to the garment rather than an essential requirement for hi-visibility standards but is often specified from specific industry users.
This standard would be particularly important for industries that work outside – for example landscapers, roofers, concreters and the mining sector.
Something worth noting when you are decorating hi visibility clothing is how big the logo or decoration is. If you screen print the back you may be making the garment void of meeting these standards, as it would contravene the standard requiring the fluoro fabric to be unbroken to a certain amount. We are careful to select and offer only compliant products for our customers.
If you would like advice on the branding of your hi-vis workwear, or on selecting the best options for your team, give our team a call on 07 3255 8755 or visit our shop to see just some of the products on offer.
Introducing a new Hi Vis shirt from Ritemate. There is nothing else like this shirt on the market being 100% cotton and 135gsm. It’s so lightweight and designed for breathability that it’s selling fast and there is only a limited first drop so if you want to place an order we encourage you to email through your order ASAP to avoid missing out on certain sizes of Ritemate’s Lightweight Shirt.
FEATURES
RMX New Generation, RMX Flexible Fit Utility Shirt, Two Tone with Perforated Reflective Tape
Size XS – 5XL
Colour – Orange-Navy, Yellow-Navy
Weight – Ultra Light weight – 135gsm
New Generation, Flexible Fit Styling
100% Cotton Ripstop Fabric and Mesh for Comfort and Durable Performance
Triple Vented, Unique Gusseted Air Flow Vents Located at Chest, Shoulders/Back and Underarms.
Air Flow Perforated Reflective Tape
Superior Garment Assembly, Bar-Tacks and Twin Needle Stitching for Extra Strength
UPF50+ Meets AS/NZS 4399:1996
AS/NZS 1906:4:2010 and AS/NZS 4602.1:2011 for High Visibility Day/Night Wear
You can email us to check availability or for any further questions. As during the summer months it can be difficult wearing longs so this Lightweight Shirt is a fantastic alternative offering more comfortability but still meeting the government restrictions on hi vis and long arms.
We sat down and wrote a few things about cotton as a fabric for uniforms. We’re quite often asked what is the best material for polos or what shirts will last the longest or look the smartest. Have a read through of the pros and cons and make up your own mind!
PROS
– Cotton is a natural fibre so it’s better for the environment as it’s biodegradable. When you select sustainable cotton you aren’t contributing to the growing problem of microplastic pollution. So in a nut shell it’s better for the environment.
-Cotton is a breathable fabric. The natural fibre lets your skin breathe. It also absorbs moisture to keep your body temperature stable.
-Doesn’t hold body odour and when you wash cotton the material releases odorous substances more easily so no more smelly gym clothes or sweaty work shirts!
-Naturally hypoallergenic cotton is good for sensitive skin because it’s not dipped in chemicals like some polyester materials. Garments that are at least 60% cotton are less likely to be itchy, irritating, stiff or clingy.
CONS
-Cotton is a durable fabric but it can lose its colour and shape slightly when washed regularly. The overall life span may not be as long as other fabrics. So if you’re selecting darker colours like black and charcoal the colour may fade quicker.
-Cotton is not the easiest care fabric. If you’re ironing uniforms make sure the iron stays hot because you’ll be using it a lot! Cold wash, line dry and an iron is what is required to keep the fabric going for as long as possible and looking presentable.
So in the end it depends on your personal preference what material you select, cotton has great reasons both pro and con as to why you should/n’t select cotton for uniforms and it’ll come back to what you do while wearing the uniforms and what will work best for you and your needs.
The good news is if you’re ordering over 25 polos we will give you a trial one first to wear for a week to make sure that’s the one! If you want to order a test trial polo, contact us directly.
Industrial workwear has come a long way. Choosing protective garments accepted by workplace safety standards is always a huge consideration for business owners, especially those in the trade and construction industries. However, blue collar workers are becoming more and more fashion conscious when it comes to what they wear on site. Selecting quality, functional and stylish pieces of clothing that meet industry regulations is becoming the norm.
Uniforms are no longer just for safety and functionality. Dressing for work is something that is part of our day, five days a week. Employees who take pride in their presentation and appearance take pride in their work, which positively impacts your business. This also encourages your employees’ relationship with your company and generally leads to an increased responsibility they feel towards their actions and how they effect your business.
Uniform policies
Implementing a uniform policy can also promote teamwork and equality between employees. Uniforms can also add to an employee’s sense of purpose and belonging, help them connect with key brand messages and lead to a great first impression. So when you select your uniform, or the personalisation of uniforms with embroidery, consider the positive psychological and behavioural impacts it will have on your employees. It is important to have uniforms that your employees will be proud to wear.
Another step you can take in improving your employees uniform is to embroider their name on their shirt or polos. This is also useful for customers when speaking with your employees their names are in plain sight for them to use and refer to when providing feedback for your business.
SEVEN REASONS TO IMPLEMENT QUALITY, STYLISH & PRACTICAL UNIFORMS:
Polyester can get a bad wrap for being low quality and becoming smelly after a period of time – and yes if you skimp on quality and don’t follow wash instructions it can definitely be the case.
However, polyester does offer some great benefits, especially when it comes to uniforms.
Polyester clothes tend to way outlast a cotton-based item, making it more suitable to uniforms that are on high rotation.
Polyester will keep its shape, colour and fabric consistency long after you would need to replace a cotton garment.
It also tends to be lightweight which is great for the Australian climate. Its fast drying properties mean that those that do physical labour or spend majority of time outside in the sun, will reap the rewards of being dry in minutes, rather than hours.
Some tips when buying polyester garments:
Don’t skimp on quality
The better the quality of the garment the more likely it has been made it such a way that it will repel body odour rather than soaking it up.
Follow wash instructions
Following the recommended cold machine wash and no tumble drying will mean body odour does not get set into the fabric and the fibres won’t be compromised either, so they’ll look better for longer.
Fabric terminology
Look for mesh in the description which will mean that it is breathable. A smooth finished fabric will act like a plastic bag over a leaf on a hot day. Pique knits tend to be heavier in weight with a rough finish.
Natural fabrics have many benefits and have their place, but for long-lasting, durable uniforms, you shouldn’t rule out polyster.
