NURSES ARE PEOPLE. PEOPLE LIKE SWAG.

National Nurses Week begins on May 6th and wraps up on May 12th each year. It’s time to start planning your Nurses Week activities. You want to show appreciation for your nurses, but how do you get started? Try a gift. Gifts with a company logo or company motto are a common practice and generally, well-received. Research shows branded gifts foster a sense of connection and pride to an employee’s organization.

IT’S PROVEN. PEOPLE LIKE SWAG.

83% of people like promotional products
81% of people hang onto promotional products because they are useful
8 out of 10 people own at least one promotional product
53% of people use a promotional product at least once a week
47% of people hold onto promotional products for more than a year

Find ways to incorporate company branded products with larger campaigns and initiatives to help give the gifts meaning and purpose. With so many different items and price points that fit any budget, you are sure to find a gift for your entire staff without breaking the bank.

KEEP IT SIMPLE AND USEFUL.

Let’s look at the numbers. A recent survey showed of the respondents:

50% had branded writing instruments
44% had promotional shirts
31% had bags
22% had desk/office supplies
13% had drinkware

The take-away? Pick an everyday item every nurse needs – pen, pen light, scissors, coffee mug, water bottle, tote bag – add your logo, and you have a great nurses week appreciation gift.

IDEAS WE LOVE.

Healthcare Survival Kits

Put together a Survival Kit for different groups of staff as an easy way to add a little fun to your Nurses Week activities. Add an assortment of helpful items, an inspirational note, and voila! A creative and unique way to say thank you to your teams. Some groups to consider include rookies, leaders, and nurses by designation. A quick online search for items to include will help get you started.

Nurses Week T-shirt

What about a Nurses Week themed t-shirt that staff can wear to work during Nurses Week? For one week, this t-shirt is considered dress code compliant and can be worn as part of a standard uniform program.

Employee Recognition Awards

Employees crave recognition: A whopping 85% hope to be recognized at least quarterly, if not more! Give your nurses the shout out they deserve during with a Nurses Week Award Ceremony.

Here are a few of our favorite award categories to get you started:

Going the Extra Mile
Rookie of the Year
Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Calm in the Eye of the Storm
Healthy Living Promoter
Excellence in Organization
Incredible Innovator

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how you choose to celebrate. Your staff will appreciate the heartfelt thank you and recognition for the value they bring to the job every day.

Why You Need On-site Fitting Events.

Don’t let poor program adoption derail the success your new standardized uniform program!

Program adoption. Change management. Uniform policy compliance. A variety of names for the same concept – getting your employees to wear uniforms that meet the new dress code standards for your hospital or healthcare organization by the established deadline. Don’t panic. Instead, design-in opportunities for employees to shop for new uniforms when you are planning your standardized uniform initiative launch.

WHAT IS AN ON-SITE FITTING EVENT?

A pop-up uniform store at your location.

In the simplest terms, an on-site fitting event is a pop-up uniform store where employees can shop, try on, and order uniforms. You decide when and where to set up the store, and encourage your staff to take advantage of the convenience.

As a uniform provider with over 30 years of experience, we provide support specifically designed to help with adoption. Pre-event marketing tools, milestones, planning and execution of the fitting event, and post-event debriefs. This short video takes you inside one of our pop-up uniform stores, helping hospital employees find their perfect scrub set.

WHY HOST AN ON-SITE FITTING EVENT?

Get large numbers of employees fitted and in uniform at one time. Save administrative time.

When organizations are launching a large standardized uniform program, there are often thousands of employees that need to comply with the new standard – on the same deadline. The whole idea behind a program adoption event is to get as many employees fitted and in uniform as possible. In addition to being convenient for the employee, these events save a tremendous amount of time for your program administrators. This is an opportunity for employees to touch and feel different brands, try on available styles in their assigned color, ask questions, and place orders. Employees can shop the store before or after their shift, or on a break during their workday.

HOW MANY EVENTS DO WE NEED?

Host a fitting event to kick off the new uniform program. Offer periodic onsite fitting events to support your program.

Every organization is unique – some groups need one large fitting event, and they achieve their compliance goal. Other organizations need multiple events to get started, and several more to support the program in the longer term. When we are working with a customer to launch a new standardized program, we recommend at least one event for each location impacted by the new dress code policy. For the best results, host a large event for the launch and support the program with smaller events throughout the year.

HOW DO I HOST A SUCCESSFUL EVENT?

Get the word out about the event – early. You want, no… you NEED the events to be well attended.

Use your newsletters and other internal communication tools to promote your uniform fitting events. Offer a sneak peek of available styles and encourage participation. The more employees that place orders at fitting events, the better. Fitting employees and answering questions on an individual basis is time-consuming and less effective. The risk of dealing with returns and other delays increases when the employee doesn’t have the opportunity to try on the uniform before ordering. Start promoting the event at least 8 weeks out, and use posters and emails to continuously remind staff as the event approaches.

If you are in-charge of this project, or part of a team responsible for the initiative, not only are you personally invested in the success of the program, but you have organizational goals to meet also. Leveraging program adoption events can help you meet your compliance targets, and keep employees in compliance with the dress code standard after the hype of the initial program launch settles.

 

RELATED TOPICS:
Launch a Great Uniform Program in 3 Easy Steps
5 Ways to Boost Your Brand Identity

About Uniform Advantage

Uniform Advantage has represented style, quality and, above all, customer satisfaction for more than 30 years. The retail chain was launched with a single South Florida store in 1985. Today, the company operates 29 retail locations in key markets across the U.S.; e-commerce and print catalog divisions; plus designs and manufactures its own proprietary healthcare apparel lines. The company’s corporate office is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a distribution center near Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more at https://uacorporate.wpengine.com or call 844.694.8358.

Believe it! These are real uniforms worn by real professional athletes. There are bad uniforms and then there are these. We’ve posted some of our favorites below:

1. 1999 Ryder Cup Shirts

The U.S. team’s come-from-behind victory was incredible, but even more incredible was the willingness of Tiger Woods, David Love III, and Phil Mickelson to be photographed in this shirt!

2. Bogota Humana team riders at the women’s Giro Toscana race in Italy in 2014

No, these cyclists aren’t half naked, but their uniforms were deemed ‘unacceptable,’ for obvious reasons, the Colombian women’s cycling team uniform caused quite a stir. As some point out, the garment’s light-colored section appears to make the riders look partially nude.

3. Fresno Grizzlies, The Price is Right jersey, 2007

Wow. Just Wow. Brings to mind Happy Gilmore – the price is wrong, Grizzlies!

4. 2012 Olympic Silver Medalists

Most biking uniforms aren’t the most flattering, but come on! The cut and seams of these uniforms are in all the wrong places.

5. 1976 Chicago White Sox

This uniform is just extremely confusing… baseball player meets elementary school dress code? The open collar, the shorts, the high white socks – all fashionable during this era. Just not all together at the same time!

6. Last, but not least … Australia’s Men’s Discus Team in London, 2012

Yes look again, that is a uniform. The team found seriously creative way to show off those muscles!

While we don’t focus on sport uniforms, we do specialize in outfitting large groups, organizations, and businesses. Whether you are in the medical field, culinary, or hospitality, UA Corporate Solutions’ uniform programs make uniform shopping, options, and overall experience a breeze. Contact UA Corporate Solutions to learn more or get a quote for your business.

Surprise! You are suddenly responsible for managing your organization’s corporate uniform program! Until now, your exposure to the world of uniforms may be limited to the dress code policy included in your New Hire Handbook, but don’t panic. Launching a new program or revitalizing an existing one doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Today, we are sharing a simple guide to help you design a uniform program.

1. START BY CHOOSING THE FEATURES AND SERVICES YOU NEED

Before you do anything, take a moment to think about what you want your uniform program to do.
Why does your organization want the program – to streamline the purchasing process? Enhance your brand image? Increase caregiver recognition?
Do you want one person to be responsible for placing orders and handling day-to-day administration tasks?
Or, do you want this system to take the process out of your hands with employees placing orders and choosing where the order will be delivered?
Once you zero in on what you want to get out of the program, make a list of “must-have” and “nice-to-have” features and services. At this stage, you should be able to answer the following questions:

• What are my logo and personalization needs?
• Do we need a web-based uniform portal?
• How will we order and what payment methods will we offer?
• Will we need an online tool for program administration?

If you take the time to identify your must-haves early in the process, you are more likely to be pleased with the resulting program.

2. DECIDE ON YOUR APPROVED BRANDS, STYLES AND COLORS

In our 30 plus years in the uniform business, we have yet to find two identical corporate uniform programs. Your business is unique to you, so flexibility to design the right program for your team and specific corporate branding mission is a key part of the process. The most successful programs provide specific guidelines outlining approved uniform styles and colors. Some organizations choose one color for all employees, some select a specific color for each department, some don’t dictate a color or style, but rather the way uniforms are ordered. There is no right answer, so use these tips to help move through this stage:

• Find a vendor with a large selection of styles in standard colors.
• Consider including long-sleeve tops and jackets.
• Decide if color coordinating teams make sense for your business.
• Have samples in the full range of sizes when collecting initial orders

3. READY TO PLACE ORDERS AND TAKE DELIVERY

Now that your employees know what to wear, you will need to tell them how they can buy their new uniforms. Work with your vendor to set up a system that makes sense and is easy to manage. You will need to decide how orders will be placed and how items will be delivered. Don’t be afraid to ask for uniform services you need to cut down the time you spend placing orders and distributing uniforms. In many cases, there are routine services for the uniform vendor that are included for no (or very little) extra cost.

Where can we buy uniforms?
Custom web portal; retail store; telephone; traveling (onsite) store

How are orders placed?
Employees select items and order; department level bulk orders

How do we receive our uniforms?
Delivered to employees home; bulk delivery to business; orders bundled and labeled by employee and delivered to business (pack-by-employee)

Breaking down the complex process into smaller, more manageable steps is a great place to start. Know what you want to get out of the program, and start evaluating corporate solutions providers using your list of must-haves. Your uniform program will begin take shape in no time at all!

Do you have any tips for implementing a company uniform program? Help a colleague by sharing a pro tip or lesson learned in the comments!

Happy Shopping!
UA Corporate Solutions Team

It takes a person mere seconds to evaluate you and form a lasting impression. The same is true for your business, regardless of the industry. Make the most of the opportunity to impress potential patients by shifting the way you view uniform programs. Sure, you want uniforms to be durable, to be available in the range of sizes you need, and of course budget-friendly. But have you considered the impact your uniforms have on your brand identity? Patients say they associate a neat, clean appearance with competence and professionalism.

Studies show customers are simply more inclined to do business with employees who wear uniforms. Independent survey results make a strong argument in favor of using uniforms to help shape the perception of your business.

75%

of consumers prefer employees in uniform*

97%

of the public believes uniforms make your employees easier to recognize**

70%

of your customers think uniforms make your employees look neater and more professional**

60%

of your prospects feel that uniforms make your workers look better trained

*survey by J.D. Power and Associates, 2008
**survey by Weintraub Associates, a national management consulting firm, 2008

BUILD AN ATTRACTIVE BUSINESS IMAGE

Coordinate a look that reinforces your brand identity by selecting quality garments, and add your company logo. When evaluating uniform options, remember “neat” and “clean” were important factors in patient perception. Reduce effort from your employees to maintain the appearance standard you want by including some of the stain-resistant, wrinkle-free fabric options available.

PROMOTE COMPANY PRIDE

Foster a sense of belonging and pride among employees with stylish uniform options, designed to be comfortable and functional. Uniforms promote a work culture of teamwork and unity which can, in turn, improve worker productivity.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT

In some instances, work uniforms are viewed as an additional benefit, or perk, for the employee. The reduced wear-and-tear on the employee’s personal clothing is considered a positive, and depending on your industry, laundering and replacement may be handled by the employer. Add in the time saved selecting an appropriate work outfit each morning, and you can really start to see the upside.

IMPROVE SECURITY

When you have a uniform program specific to your business, employees are easy to identify. Also easy to identify are people that are in areas or on sites where they do not belong.

BOOST THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

While we are on the topic of identification, nearly every survey respondent agreed that uniforms make your employees easier to recognize. Show your customer you value their customer experience by making it convenient to find assistance.

In an era where healthcare facilities are learning to compete within a patient-centered care model, set your caregivers apart with a smart, stylish, flexible uniform program! Creating a positive perception of your approach to patient care is critical to shaping your brand identity, and it often starts with the right uniform. Uniforms are more than just colors and logos.

Read our post Launch a Great Uniform Program in 3 Easy Steps or contact us to learn more.

Good luck!
UA Corporate Solutions Team