Buying workwear, whether for yourself or for your employees, can be surprisingly difficult to get right. There are so many variables to consider, from cost per unit to regulatory concerns, that it can end up feeling like solving a puzzle with missing pieces.
Looking for workwear for the first time can be particularly stressful, which is why we put together this quick guide. From regulatory compliance to bulk discounts, these are a few important things to look for during your search.
Regulatory compliance
Depending on the sector you or your workers are in, you may find that there are certain safety-related regulations that you need to comply with.
For example, clothes that are designed to guard against fire or heat must be designed to EN ISO 11612, while items that are designed to provide high visibility need to be designed in compliance with EN ISO 20471.
This is particularly important to check if you’re buying clothes for a workforce under your duty of care, as failure to get it right could leave you legally vulnerable.
Quality
When looking at the cost of workwear, especially if you’re buying for a whole company, it’s easy to get caught in a trap of short-term savings.
Sure, you might save a bit by buying the cheapest options available, but in the long term, you’ll likely end up wasting a lot of money.
Workwear needs to last, and it needs to remain fresh to cleanly represent your brand. Choose high-quality items that are able to achieve both of these goals, and you’ll find that the initial investment more than pays for itself in the long run.
Customisation
In many cases, it will be worth it to spend a little bit more and get your workwear customised by a company like Screen Textiles. There are plenty of customisation options available, from embroidery to screen printing, and you’ll definitely find one that matches your brand.
Whether you’re a freelance gardener working as part of a team of two, or run a company with 200+ employees, branded workwear helps to improve the perceived legitimacy of your business amongst everyone who deals with you or your employees.
Bulk discounts
Another thing you’ll want to look for is some kind of bulk discount. Especially if you’re buying for your own workforce, you could potentially need to buy tens or even hundreds of the same item, and the costs will quickly add up.
Look for a bulk supplier that passes on the benefits of their ability to operate at scale and can customise your items for you. Talk about two birds with one stone!
Getting the right workwear for your needs takes a bit of thinking about, but it’s not really all that difficult. So long as you keep the factors outlined above in mind, and are able to identify a suitable supplier that can provide the garments and – ideally – customise them for you, you should be good to go.