The problems with ordering business clothing online
It seems such a simple idea at first; you want potential customers to be able to identify your staff in public facing areas.
But it’s not quite as simple as it seems.
Firstly, there are , quite literally, dozens of clothing brands available from a number of different suppliers. Let’s look at just three random brands to see how they might vary. Study the tables below:
Unisex Fit
Fruit of the Loom
-
LARGE SIZE 41-43"
-
LARGEST SIZE 50-52"
-
COLOURS 4
Gildan
-
LARGE SIZE 42-44"
-
LARGEST SIZE 62-64"
-
COLOURS 53*
-
*ONLY 8 / 9 in LARGER SIZES
Russell
-
LARGE SIZE 40-42"
-
LARGEST SIZE 44-46"
-
COLOURS 5
Ladies Fit
Fruit of the Loom
Heavy Weight-
LARGE SIZE 14
-
LARGEST SIZE 18
-
COLOURS 14
Gildan
Medium Weight-
LARGE SIZE 14-16
-
LARGEST SIZE 18
-
COLOURS 11
Russell
Medium Weight-
LARGE SIZE 14
-
LARGEST SIZE 16
-
COLOURS 14
Youths Fit
Fruit of the Loom
Heavy Weight-
AGE 7-8 30"
-
LARGEST SIZE 18
-
COLOURS 21
Gildan
Medium Weight-
AGE 7-8 32"
-
LARGEST SIZE 18
-
COLOURS 22
Russell
Medium Weight-
AGE 7-8 28-30"
-
LARGEST SIZE 16
-
COLOURS 14
The first thing to notice is that a particular given size means different things to different brands.
A “large” size heavy weight T Shirt in the Fruit of the Loom range has different measurements to the Gildan brand and that, in turn, is different to those attributed to the Russell brand.
Then you notice that the largest size available varies widely in all three and the number of colours varies too.
Step One Take a moment or three to think about what other garments you may require in the future. Perhaps the T Shirts you want for the summer months may not be warm enough for the cooler times of the year and you will need polo shirts or sweat shirts.
Does the brand you have chosen also supply those? Typically a brand will have a certain style which follows through other types of garments in their range. Colour shades tend to be identical within the brand keeping your corporate look while buying a different make may mean you get only a near match which will look unsatisfactory.
Step Two Are staff being realistic about sizes?
Men are often guilty of ignoring middle-aged spread in the belief that they have retained the waist measurement of their youth while some ladies will want a tapered ladies fit shirt to show off their figure and others will prefer a straight cut unisex garment which they feel is more flattering for them.
Make sure you have the correct measurements and have chosen a brand which has the full range of garment styles you need, in the sizes you need and that the colour chosen is available across the range and sizes you have selected.
Step Three Get in touch with us to ensure you get Steps One and Two correct and we will provide a very competitive quotation for garments that will enhance your business, increase the morale of staff and are decorated in the most economical way according to the quantities required.
