Its time to stop over looking uniforms

[patrick6411]

i must admit the one thing I am not doing and should be doing is uniforms. I do have a dress code. I have technically two crews. Myself and another guy and a second of three guys. I require everybody to wear black shoes, blue or black pants and tan shirts. We would look a lot nicer if we were all in uniform. Would more than likely get us more business in the long run. A couple of questions: Would you guys have the uniforms washed or require them to? Should I charge or cover the expenses myself? Can some of you guys post ideals on hats and shirts? I would like to see what everybody is using. I have ideas from the local guys but would like to sit down and really think about doing this right with something that stands out.

[CHEESE2009]

Lawn care business tips

Hey Pat, great question! I have lots of custom uniforms made, and I can tell you a few things. Polos actually suck, and I don't want you to listen to anyone's opinion but mine! They might look professional, but they require too much maintenance after washing. The collars bend out of shape, and any embroidery will need to be ironed before wearing every single time. The polos I own aren't that bad; however, every now and then they can become itchy (lots of stitching), feel heavy, and I always end up feeling like a McDonald's employee. lol. - T-Shirts are obviously very comfortable, loose fitting, and very inexpensive. I don't need to go on... - Wife beaters are AMAZING. Some may say that they would look unprofessional, but in practice, mine look very professional. We do labor, and we need to have mobility. A wife beater with your logo plastered on the front or back will look fantastic to ANYONE who sees it. I'll take pictures to show you all of my shirts, if I can find them... lol

__________________
Keeper of Peace
Security Officer Cheese2009
Gopher Security Central (G.S.C)
4th Floor, office 112

[patrick6411]

I am leaning toward t-shirts. I might get a couple of polos for when I go on bids but not to actually work in. I tend to keep an extra couple of shirts with me when working, in case I get them dirty. I don't want to ever show up to a job dirty from another job.

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by patrick6411

I am leaning toward t-shirts. I might get a couple of polos for when I go on bids but not to actually work in. I tend to keep an extra couple of shirts with me when working, in case I get them dirty. I don't want to ever show up to a job dirty from another job.

It's a good idea to keep a spare shirt, but for me; I show up however I am, I don't like to be invited inside clients homes lol.


T-shirts are a good choice. Vistaprint.com will have the best price, especially when it comes to quality (color fading, etc); they also ship early every time!

[Steve]

Would you guys have the uniforms washed or require them to?
Should I charge or cover the expenses myself?

If you are just going with shirts/polos, I'd figure the employees could wash them along with their other clothes.

How many shirts would you be giving each employee? One for each day of the week?

[hansenslawncare]

Originally Posted by patrick6411

i must admit the one thing I am not doing and should be doing is uniforms. I do have a dress code. I have technically two crews. Myself and another guy and a second of three guys. I require everybody to wear black shoes, blue or black pants and tan shirts. We would look a lot nicer if we were all in uniform. Would more than likely get us more business in the long run.

A couple of questions:

• Would you guys have the uniforms washed or require them to?
• Should I charge or cover the expenses myself?

Can some of you guys post ideals on hats and shirts? I would like to see what everybody is using. I have ideas from the local guys but would like to sit down and really think about doing this right with something that stands out.

Currently I am the only employee in my business. But...if I hire next year I will be requiring matching pants, shirts and hats, boots are the only area of flexibility on choice.

I think that you should probably buy the uniform to ensure they have the right clothing, etc. but then take it out from their first paycheck. I can remember jobs in high school where the employer would take the uniform cost out of my first paycheck. It's fair and it ensures your employee is wearing exactly what you want them to.

[patrick6411]

Originally Posted by Steve

If you are just going with shirts/polos, I'd figure the employees could wash them along with their other clothes.

How many shirts would you be giving each employee? One for each day of the week?

5 a week. One for each day we work. I think I am going with hats also.

[willshome]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

Wife beaters are AMAZING. Some may say that they would look unprofessional, but in practice, mine look very professional.

I get customers that hated their old lawn guy because of showing up in wife beaters

customers laugh at us because we wear hawaiian shirts but people now know us for it.

[dpld]

i have tried many things over the years from T-shirts, hats , sweatshirts etc etc and even with that you still have guys showing up with different cloths because they did not do their laundry.

i currently use cintas and they supply 2 jackets, and twelve pants and shirts per employee as well as through them they supply T-shirts and hats that i purchase.

they give each employee 2 weeks worth of cloths because one set is being cleaned while the other is being worn and they come once a week and pick up the dirty cloths and drop off the clean ones.
this eliminates the excuse that " i did not do my laundry " for why they are not in uniform.

the rules are you wear your uniform or you go home and miss a days work as well as i absorb all costs but if you don't bring in the dirty cloths on the day they pick up for the week you get charged for that weeks service.

i only charge them if they fail to bring in the cloths because my contract charges me for the cleaning whether they wash them or not so if someone fails to bring them in then thats their problem.

in the event they quit they do not get their last paycheck until all company uniforms are returned, even the T-shirts and hats that i purchase and give out.
when someone leaves my company i do not want them wearing my name if they are not a employee.

it does cost more money but it definitely is more professional as well as is 100% tax deductible.

[696 Signs]

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