When it comes to customising uniforms, selecting the right decoration method is crucial. With many different options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which technique suits your specific business’ needs.
This blog examines four popular decoration methods that are ideal for uniforms and their unique characteristics. Whether you’re looking for a subtle embroidered logo or an eye-catching all-over design, this guide will help you make your uniform memorable.
Embroidery: Adding Elegance and Detail
Embroidery is a classic and sophisticated decoration method commonly used on the left-hand chest of shirts, caps and beanies. It involves stitching the design onto the fabric, creating a raised, textured effect. Embroidery is particularly suitable for showcasing logos, monograms, or intricate details. Its durability and professional appearance make it a popular choice for corporate uniforms and team apparel.
Heat Transfer: Vibrant Colours and Fine Detail
When it comes to designs with multiple colours, intricate patterns, or short runs, heat transfer is a versatile and cost-effective option. This method involves using heat to transfer a design onto the fabric. It provides excellent colour vibrancy and allows for intricate details to be captured accurately. Heat transfer is an ideal choice when you need to customise a limited number of shirts or when the design requires precise colour matching and shading.
Screen Printing: Versatility for Large Designs
Screen printing is one of the most widely used decoration methods, renowned for its versatility and ability to create bold, high-impact designs. It involves applying ink through a mesh screen onto the fabric, resulting in vibrant and long-lasting prints. Screen printing is particularly suitable for large design areas, making it a popular choice for t-shirts, hoodies, and the backs of work shirts. Its affordability, durability, and ability to reproduce intricate artwork make it a go-to method for many uniform customisations needs.
Sublimation Print: All-Over Design
For those seeking to make a statement with their uniforms, sublimation print offers a unique solution. This method enables you to achieve an all-over design that seamlessly covers the entire garment. Sublimation involves using heat to transfer dyes onto the fabric, resulting in vivid, permanent colours and exceptional detail. It is particularly effective for designs that cannot be achieved through screen printing or embroidery alone. Sublimation print is perfect for sports uniforms, event apparel, and situations where a visually impactful, customised look is desired.
Selecting the right decoration method for your uniforms is a crucial step in creating a visually appealing representation of your brand. If you need help choosing the right technique, we can provide personalised recommendations based on your desired outcome, budget, and timeline.
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.
As a business owner you potentially wear many hats, but perhaps Graphic Designer perhaps isn’t one of them. So we’ve put together a quick guide to printing, files and what you need to know to ensure you get quality, consistent branding across all of your printed and designed items.
COLOUR CONSISTENCY
It’s a possibility that you have had or continue to have different people working on packing, uniforms, social designs, websites and more. You will have your final products and designs shown across different devices, tvs, mobiles, tablets, computers, printing surfaces etc. To maintain consistency for both print and digital colours we use different names to describe the “colour” we are using, depending on the medium it will end up on. There are four main types of colour descriptions we use PMS, CMYK, RGB and Hex.
PMS
CMYK and PMS are the two colour types we use for printing and embroidery. PMS (Pantone) is used for offset printing and ideally for stationery, one or two colour jobs and a few other instances.
PMS (or Pantone) are patented, standardised colour inks made by the Pantone company. They have a formula guide of over 1750 colours that are sold to printers either premixed or as a formula that printers mix on premises. Designers and printers use the same colour guides to select and print the PMS colours. So when you work with a designer be sure to find out what colour system they have provided you the information for.
CMYK
Also used in offset printing as well as digital printing is CMYK. more commonly used for flyers, posters, cards etc. CMYK or four colour process is where the four coloured inks, cyan, magenta, yellow and black are printed as transparent dots that overlap each other to create a wider spectrum of colours. This is different to Pantone being that PMS is one single solid colour. So again be sure to find out from your designer if you have the CMYK colour combination.
RGB
The RGB colour term is used for on screen or digital designs for computer screens, phones and TV. RGB is the process by which colors are rendered onscreen by using combinations of red, green and blue. RGB is specifically used for digital applications only, not print. You won’t be able to achieve the same colour in print as you can with RGB as the RGB colours are vibrant because they are illuminated. So if you have digital designs in RGB be sure to talk to your designer about similar colours in CMYK and Pantone for printing purposes.
HEX
The Hex colour term is used for websites, designers and developers use HEX colours in web design. Meaning you don’t need to worry about the HEX colours.
SO WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
We work with our designers to convert colours for example is something is produced onscreen in RGB but we need to know the CMYK or Pantone colour match we can change the profiles over in our software. However, you do need to know some of your branding colour combination codes, for example if you have a red brand that looks like this you would need to know your CMYK or Pantone number:
If you don’t have your brand colours and the type we will always speak with you about how we can help. It is great if you have access to this information from your designer but if not that’s completely fine. As a business owner you have a lot to juggle and we want to make the process of ordering uniforms and promotional products as easy as possible for you.
If you have any questions at all about printing types, colour types or anything in between you can always give us a call on 07 3255 8755 or send us an email to [email protected]
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:
Now that it’s July a “new” year has begun! What a strange space we were in during the last quarter of the financial year with COVID-19. But, hopefully the EOFY celebrations were still had (with appropriate distancing). If you have a good relationship with your accountant you will know that you can claim deductions for buying and cleaning new uniforms. Especially those with logos, protective clothing and unique or distinctive uniforms specific to industries.
Uniform Budget Formula
If you haven’t forecasted your uniform budget don’t panic, luckily, for you we have created an easy to understand formula that will help for the 2021 financial year. Firstly you take the number of staff you have and times this by your uniform allowance per person. You can use the numbers from last year if you have them. Then times this number by the uniform turnover rate. Depending on what industry and jobs your employees perform this will be different for each business as the longevity of the uniform will range depending on its use. Voila! You will now have your uniform budget for the 2021 financial year. If the above explanation wasn’t clear enough then check out the graphic below!
Budgeting for your uniform allowance and making allocations for merchandise is an important part of your marketing strategy. It also heavily impacts the way that your brand is viewed. It’s said that customers will form an opinion of your business within 30 seconds of meeting your team member. Therefore wearing a branded, clean and industry related professional uniform will reflect well on your business as a whole. It will also, specifically in the mind your customers, show you operate a professional, expert and quality business.
Employee Uniform Checklist
The below checklist will help you ensure your employees are representing your business well. Ask yourself do our employees:
-Look professional when out in the field
-Have the logo easily visible, recognisable and reflecting your brand image
-Display clean uniforms free of stains, rips or fading
-Wear clean shoes (or as clean as possible) that are appropriate for their work environment
-Have appropriate belts, accessories and look put together in a way that customers will find respectful
If you said no to any of the above then it might be time to look at your uniform or the turnover rate. We offer a personalised service that can help you put together a look for your employees that will represent your brand well. You don’t even need to know the specifics of what you want, that’s what we are here for, to help!
You can view our uniform ranges here or contact one of our friendly staff for a free consultation.
Please note that this article provides general advise only. Refer to your accountant or the ATO for financial advise specific to your business and industry.
For uniform inspiration you can head over to our Instagram page @redrooaustralia
