There are countless decisions to make on a daily basis when you are running a hospitality business. You have to manage all that while ensuring that your team drops a solid first impression on customers. Easier said than done, unless your team is outfitted in all the right ways.
From a cozy bed and breakfast to a bustling downtown restaurant, your team’s appearance can make a difference for the business. Staff uniforms might seem like a minor detail, but they significantly influence your brand image. The easy part is ensuring uniformity in staff outfit. The challenge is knowing which uniform to choose.
Let’s look at America’s two go-to uniform apparel options – polo shirts & woven shirts. Both options can deliver style and substance for your hospitality staff. One is just more versatile, and hence more popular than the other as a choice of uniform.
Polos & Woven Shirts for Hospitality Teams: Impact on Appearance
Guests notice details. If they see someone wearing an ill-fitting uniform, they perceive it as a lack of competence. A well-fitting uniform conveys care and competence. Polos and woven shirts can deliver on that front – the former with a smart-casual look while the latter with a formal appearance.
Polo shirts with neat collars and toned button plackets make the wearer seem approachable without compromising on professional appeal. Because the garment isn’t considered overly formal, it is a top pick for diverse hospitality settings. They can be worn by relationship managers and F&B staff alike.
Woven shirts, on the other hand, elevate the formality. Classic button-downs and blouses offer a more traditional and refined aesthetic that suits front-of-house staff, management, or any role where a more elevated presence is desired. The tailored fit of a woven shirt projects authority. If an employee wearing a polo stands next to another employee wearing a woven shirt at the hotel you check into, who would you approach first to inquire about check-in? The one that projects authority. And you identify that from the woven shirt the employee is wearing.
Both polo and woven styles can be branded with embroidery or printing, to reinforce your establishment’s identity.
Comfort, Durability or Both?
Workers in a hospitality business will be walking around a lot, for hours even. You don’t want to outfit them with uniforms that get damp quick or make them uncomfortable after a while. At the same time, you don’t want the uniforms to be unusable in a short time. When your team feels good in what they’re wearing, they’re better able to focus on providing excellent service. This could help deliver more positive experiences for your guests.
When it comes to unrestricted movement, comfort, and durability, polo shirts are excellent choices. Particularly cotton-poly blend polos. They are soft against the skin, quite durable, and can maintain shape well. Many Port Authority polo options, for instance, are made from breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics that help keep active staff cool and dry all day. For durability, you can go for brands that specialize in workwear polos. CornerStone polo shirts, for example. Or maybe performance options from Sport-Tek.
Uniform woven shirts are typically engineered to be breathable. You can also find wrinkle-resistant styles. The breathability of these shirts can make them a good choice for kitchen staff or outdoor service staff. Brands like Devon & Jones are known for workwear wovens. For executive-class woven shirts, Mercer + Mettle offers a few amazing styles. As long as you choose the right fabric, you can keep employees comfortable during busy shifts and won’t have to replace the uniforms more than half a dozen times a year.
Brand Consistency
Whether you choose polos or woven shirts or both, your brand should benefit too. The choice of uniforms should also take customization well. The brands mentioned above cover that part. But that’s not all. Consistent branding needs consistent sizing and colors. That’s the key to maintaining a unified team appearance, which in turn bolsters your hospitality brand’s identity.
Guests should see organization and professionalism in the appearance of the team serving them during their stay. This perception essentially builds brand trust and could lead to potential word-of-mouth on your service quality.
Cost-Effective Uniform Solutions
On to the most important factor for many businesses when it comes to uniform decisions – budget. Fortunately, the American wholesale uniform market has more than enough brands to choose for various budget ranges. For premium-looking uniforms at reasonable prices and specifically engineered to impress, Port Authority is near unrivaled. For very budget-friendly uniform solutions, Port & Company is the go-to. And they don’t lack in terms of quality either. For durable and comfortable uniforms, brands like Sport-Tek and CornerStone offer just the right kind of polo options. Mercer + Mettle, Devon & Jones, and Red House will definitely have functional and durable woven shirts that would make exceptional uniforms.
But to get the most value out of the investment, always buy uniforms in bulk with a little extra volume for quick replacements when needed. This gives you better prices from wholesale platforms that offer bulk discounts on top of low per-unit pricing. The investment you make here pays dividends through reduced turnover costs and enhanced brand image.
Versatility Across Departments
Different hospitality roles require different approaches to uniforms. Front desk staff look more approachable wearing woven shirts. Restaurant servers and guest service staff need comfortable polos that don’t restrict movement. Housekeeping teams need moisture-wicking and snag-resistant uniforms. So choose based on roles.
Making the Right Choice
To conclude, your uniform selection for hospitality teams should consider quite a few factors and finally the establishment’s atmosphere too. Uniform polos are commonplace at casual dining and hotel establishments. Woven shirts are seen more at upscale restaurants and formal reception areas. An investment in durable and comfortable uniforms gives you more value in the long run, by reducing replacement costs and enhancing brand image.
Start by ordering samples to evaluate fit, comfort, and appearance. Once you’ve found the perfect match, buy in bulk from a reputed wholesale source.
