Rolling out a new staff uniform can be exciting. It’s a whole new look for your business.
It's also an opportunity to improve fit, durability, functionality, and showcase new company branding.
But launching new uniforms across a large workforce can be complex. Different job roles, uniform sizes, and sites can all have specific requirements.
Here, we’ll share how to plan a successful company-wide rollout and explain how we can help at SMI.
Implementing new company clothing for staff can be more complex than you might expect.
Here are some of the challenges that are often faced:
Replacing existing uniform stock all at once can be complex. However, running old and new uniforms simultaneously can cause confusion.
At SMI, we’re more than just a uniform supplier.
We support uniform rollouts with a range of solutions, including in-house branding and dedicated account management. The MY-SMI® procurement platform gives you visibility over uniform orders across your sites.
As you can see, there are lots of moving parts to contend with when you’re planning a company-wide work uniform rollout.
Here are five essential steps to help you kick off your uniform launch successfully.
Before you start looking at specific products, it’s important to define exactly what your requirements are.
Points to consider include:
You’ll also need to set boundaries around the scope of the project itself:
Importantly, make sure that you’re not rushing through a uniform rollout at the last minute. Instead, plan it into your company schedule ahead of time and set out a timeline that allows you to give proper thought and consideration to each phase of planning.
At SMI, we offer dedicated account management from sector experts. With one experienced point of contact for all your uniform needs, we’ll be there to support and guide you through every step of the process.
Employee buy-in can be difficult to achieve, but involving your team from the start can make a real difference.
This can improve adoption and reduce issues with how uniforms are worn later down the line.
Opportunities to engage staff include:
The earlier you start engaging with staff and the more you involve them in the process, the easier it will be to gain buy-in.
You’ll also need a clear written uniform policy explaining when uniform must be worn, cared for, and replaced.
Getting staff input beforehand can help ensure the uniform policy reflects the needs of the people wearing it.
HOW WE CAN HELP: Our wearer trials let employees test selected PPE or workwear in the workplace. This helps improve adoption and gives you confidence in your chosen range.
When picking out products, make sure to take the following into account:
Your product range should cover all relevant job roles and offer a range of sizes and fits.
However, avoid choosing hundreds of products.
Limiting approved product options will help you maintain a consistent appearance across your sites, standardise procurement, and improve stock management.
HOW WE CAN HELP: Our MY CATALOGUE feature within the MY-SMI® procurement portal lets you create a digital catalogue of approved products. This gives your teams a clear selection to choose from when ordering.
Getting approved products to the employees who need them can be one of the most complex parts of the process.
You’ll need to make decisions like:
Distributing new uniforms across all departments and sites at once is possible. However, it can be a complex and labour-intensive task.
Rolling out by region or department can help reduce disruption and give you an opportunity to learn as you go.
HOW WE CAN HELP: Our MY-SMI® procurement platform helps you stay in control with real-time tracking and reporting.
Set role-based permissions, streamline approval workflows, and maintain visibility across every order, delivery, and spend.
Replacing existing stock can also leave you with old stock to manage.
Our workwear and PPE recycling scheme provides a simple way to responsibly dispose of unwanted uniform and PPE.
A successful new uniform rollout doesn’t stop at launch day.
You’ll also need to consider how you'll manage uniforms and related policies in the long term.
This includes thinking about:
It’s also important to continue monitoring the performance and use of new uniforms in the workplace.
Take the time to gather employee feedback through surveys or workshops. You can also carry out compliance checks to ensure uniforms are worn correctly and consistently.
HOW WE CAN HELP: At SMI, you get one point of contact who understands your business, sites, products, and requirements.
From repeat orders and approved product recommendations to scaling your uniform supply, they'll be there to support you.
We offer more than just uniform supply.
Here are some of the ways we can support businesses like yours and make uniform rollouts easier.
Improve consistency by procuring all your uniform items from one reliable uniform supplier.
Keep branded uniforms consistent, high-quality, and turned around quickly with our in-house service.
Take greater control of uniform procurement with the MY-SMI® platform:
Test products and gain employee buy-in with wearer trials that let you try before you buy.
Dispose of old uniforms efficiently and sustainably with our workwear and PPE recycling scheme.
In 2021, we were engaged to support Hermes’ evolution and rebrand into Evri.
As part of the project, we:
Here’s what they had to say about us:
“SMI really came to the table to support us: from 'go live' date to delivery was about 6 weeks.”
“It was impressive work from SMI to achieve that delivery date.”
Read the case study to learn more about how we helped Evri roll out new uniforms within such a tight timeframe.
Rolling out new staff uniforms is a challenge, but you don’t have to do it alone.
At SMI, we’re experienced in managing branded uniform rollouts, with solutions designed to support you at every stage.
Want to learn more about how we can support you?
Employers can generally set workplace uniform or dress code requirements.
However, these requirements need to comply with employment, equality, and health and safety law.
Uniform and dress code policies should be reasonable, applied fairly, and should not unlawfully discriminate against employees.
A work uniform generally refers to clothing employees are required to wear as part of their role.
This could include branded company clothing or personal protective clothing (PPC) required for particular tasks.
Employers can generally require employees to follow a reasonable workplace uniform or dress code.
However, employers need to consider individual circumstances, including:
If an employee raises concerns about a uniform requirement, these should be fairly considered before taking further action.
Written by Charlotte Maplesden
Charlotte Maplesden is a National Account Manager at SMI, working closely with customers across the logistics sector. She uses her sector knowledge to understand the challenges of fast-moving operations and help customers access the products and support they need.
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