How Uniforms Promote Your Company Brand!

Branding is important on every level. It is what distinguishes your company from others.  So whether starting a new company or refreshing an on-going company’s image, you want to have a specific company identity/brand.
Contrary to what many people think, branding is not just about a new logo or signage.  It is about your company identity and culture infiltrating all aspects of your organization from the customer service reps to employee training to the appearance of your staff.
As most of you know, the United Parcel Service is known for its iconic shade of brown. You can see a UPS employee a block away and without seeing the logo or truck you know they work for UPS.  What is the significance of this brown?  Originally, when the color was chosen in 1916, “Pullman brown,” which they have since patented, was supposed to make people think of transportation since it was the same hue as the Pullman railroad cars that were used as sleeper and dining cars.   That “ brown” is now synonymous with the UPS name.
Another example of how uniforms are an extension of a brand can be found in the Apple stores across the country.  When the company went into the direct retail business in 2001, they opted for a less formal uniform. Even for Silicon Valley, Apple’s corporate culture has always been known as one of the most creative, forward thinking and unconventional companies. The products have a simple, clean design and are known for being pretty user friendly. Mirroring this image, the Apple store employees are permitted to wear jeans, so long as it is accompanied by one of the Apple t-shirts, with its iconic logo.
I.Buss and Allan has been involved in many re-brands over the years.  We’ve worked with a variety of industries including hotels, world famous office buildings, and a variety of other private companies. Each time, we do something distinct to make sure that the employees of the company are an extension of the new identity.  This can take the form of custom dying fabric and/or buttons, creating unique ties and signature trims and designing new styles that align with our client’s brands.  All these details give our clients unique looks while also making their employees recognizable.
We have to look at all aspects of branding as opportunities to further company identities.  The uniforms should be as distinct as your new logo, letterhead and entryway as it will make as much of a difference in the overall impression your company leaves.