Uniforms

[ProCareLS]

Can anyone who went from "jeans and a t-shirt" to company uniforms answer a few questions?

- how much of a difference did the uniforms make in ragards to getting more business?

- Did they help to land more commercial or residential?

- Did you notice a difference in the way you were treated when going onsite to give quotes?

- Do you feel uniforms intimidated residential customers? Meaning they initially thought they could not afford you?

I just picked up my uniforms, and it's amazing how much more professional I look wearing them. In fact I look better and more professional that some of the bigger companies in my area.

Thanks,
John
PCLS

[Phil Nilsson]

No to every question ... however, we were mostly commercial, having uniforms had no impact and in our case wasn't worth the money, time and cost of cleaning them. We discontinued using them. What did make a difference was the trucks & equip looking new, clean, sharp and me wearing a jacket and tie when going out to meet with client contacts.

Phil

[Phillip Baker]

Uniforms

Phil, I have to disagree with you on this one. I believe uniforms add so much more to an individuals look rather than jeans and a t-shirt. Uniforms add a touch of professionalism no matter what the business. My ability to land accounts was greatly improved with the uniform look. Me and my guys are all dressed the same, the trucks are labeled the same and we keep the equipment clean. when it was just me mowing I wore shorts and a t-shirt. Sometimes no shirt at all as to work on my tan,.....but now I have learned people respect a uniform look and trust my employees simply because we dont look like scrubs. I believe if you go with a uniform you will greatly improve your image and the response you get from clients and overall win more jobs. Heres an example.....since I am a Proffesional Firefighter/Paramedic would you want me to show up and provide care to you or one of your family members if I was dressed in a Budwieser T shirt and cut off shorts, or would you prefer me to show up in a clean Uniform with my certifications on it? I hope you would prefer the uniform!!!! Uniforms also show you care enough about your own look to take pride in your co. so you will prob take pride in your cust. lawn.

[Phil Nilsson]

I think uniforms are great for all the reasons you gave ... and can have an impact ... identify the workers, but with us being mostly commercial ... the "general public" as such was not our customer ... my workers dressed neat and clean each day ... blue jeans and whatever. In fact each one had a dress preference/style of their own ... were opposed to wearing a "monkey suit" as they put it. We maintained some very high profile class A properties and I can tell you it had no impact whatsoever. After about a year of doing the uniform thing ... we ditched it. Psychologically speaking I'd say that we never took a "humble approach" in dealing with customers ... take us as we are ... so yes, you could call it an "attitude" ... and no we didn't look "official" but that didn't stop Corporate America from hiring us ... I saw an increase in morale (without) uniforms required, and a decrease (with) uniforms required. And uniforms are just one more thing to deal with. I'll pass on uniforms. I think my people considered themselves "unique" individuals, so be it.

[Phillip Baker]

Uniforms

Here in my part of Tx (DFW), 95% of all commercial Lawn care Co. wear uniforms. The ones that dont usually dont have large accounts. Most of the commercial properties wont even consider you unless you have the uniform look. I know when I speak with someone thats is a potential client, the uniforms project a more proffesional appearence. I have bid jobs were as another competitor's Co.'s representitive had just left wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt, and the client told me he would not hire them merely based on his appearence. First impressions hold more value than anything else, if a person can't get past your look, then you've already lost.

[Phil Nilsson]

Phillip ... whatever works for you ... most of my guys wore blue jeans and a rather "fancy shirt" ... my best mowing man (never) wore a shirt ... I'm not kidding ... from March (it's still cold here) till around November the guy never wore a shirt. He was the fastest mowing man I ever knew and no I didn't tell him he had to wear a shirt. My guys wore relatively new clothes, clean, neat and simply didn't want to look alike. I never had a client tell me uniforms were expected or required if they had I think I would have trouble with my people complying.

Phil

[Phil Nilsson]

Seriously the guy never wore a shirt. By late April he looked like he spent all his time getting a suntan. He claimed he was part Indian and could "take" the cold. He wore a headband but no shirt ... Fast mowing man ... twice as fast as anybody else ... that's all he wanted to do was mow grass. In the winter he wore a shirt but NO coat.

[Phillip Baker]

Wow

Phil, we couldn't get away with that here. My guys have asked if they could take off thier shirts and I dont allow it. They question as to why and I simply replied "if you worked at Taco Bell would you ask then" they saw my point and have never asked agian. I do allow uniform shorts, however they choose not to wear those simply because of the weedeating factor. If I'm not selling and I'm gonna mow all day with my guys I will wear my shorts, but I only ride then and stay away from the weedeater!!!!! One new thing I'm adding this year as a requirement is a Co. hat. We've never had Co. hats before and the guys have been asking so I put 12 on order with the logo they should be ready by Wed I hope.

[Phillip Baker]

Hats

Valleywide, My guys that work for me are also offduty firemen, they wore hats last year just not a Co. hat. We drink plenty of water I keep two 5 gal Igloos on the trailor with Ice water. My guys are use to the heat we try and beat the heat at all cost so we start early and try and get done early.

[hardboiled]

I think most "uniforms" are uncomfortable, due to the fabrics and construction. Rentals use the equivalant of fishing line for stitching, and materials that can be cleaned with strong solvents without breaking down. The detergents always gave me a rash. Ones I've worn are not warm in cold weather and too hot in the heat. I believe the rentals are offering more comfortable stuff now. Call me weird, but I never liked the idea of wearing closed that were laundered with the general publics.

I think you can just as well, pick a uniform color combination and style of clothing and look good, feel good, hot or cold. I think it is important to be sharply dressed on residential properties.Cargo pants, jeans or Haggars, t-shirt, polos, or oxfords, as long as they're your colors, clean and not wrinkled. I used Timberland clothing last year and recived compliments on my appearance. Cargo pants for all the accoutermants and t's for comfort(easy to pack a midday change).

[sharp]

here uniforms are a must. best decision we made about $6 per week set up fee was free.

[Stephen M.]

We started with uniforms in 1990 and it's a great team booster, although we have had renagades through out the years who always try to buck the system. The pants can be whatever they want to wear as long as they are clean, no holes, and don't look like they were painting. Our t-shirts are a 50% cotton and 50% polyester fabric which wears well. In summer guys can wear "muscle shirts", but no tank tops. We have a sweat shirt and various styles of baseball hats.

We are the only professional company with a uniform in the area. It's a form of free advertising which may or may not bring business, but I know it has in the past. But the free advertising is only good if the person wearing the shirt is not a complete idiot.

[1Chavez]

Tshirts have co. name on left chest and nothing else. All shirts are either green, tan, or grey. Everyone gets 3-5 t's, 2 long sleeve t's and a sweatshirt to start. Depending on how fast they wear through them, I'll order more and give them as replacements. Nothing fancy, wearguard stuff. If they are people who are staying around, they get spring pullovers and for colder seasons, and winter jackets. The main mower guys get weadguard's 30 below suits. Pants or shorts are up to them, and they do all the washing. I have a few collared co. shirts to wear to meet customers and town fund raisers. All the guys like the shirts mostly because they are not flashy/gaudy. I did logo hats one year, but as stated above, the heat becomes an issue and they spent 95% of the time on the dash of the truck.
If you've been reading for a while, you will know all my trucks are identical color with gold flake name on the side, and all are kept clean.
Image is a big thing. Shirtless workers are not real professional but as long as there are no eyes around (customer will not be there and property is landscaped to block outside view) it's acceptable.
-Rich

[Image]

I tried uniforms. I discovered I got more work looking "less professional" However I do mostly propery maintenance than construction. There is a diversity of customers out there, and some don't care who is cutting their lawn as long as it is cut. I do however feel the industry needs a possitive image and I am again debating the unforms. If anything it makes me feel better knowing I am focussed on my business and how I present it..

[cjm2783]

i think wearing t-shirts and jeans or cargos is plenty. if you have the money to invest in uniforms that's fine too. i know it saves the guys wear and tear of their own clothes.