From running a marathon to running a kitchen, the right branded apparel is essential in making a positive impression on your audience. In this article we discuss why this is so important.

You may have heard that “first impressions are lasting impressions”, but did you know that as much as 57% of how people perceive you is based on visual cues alone? Not only do we humans size each other up with a once-over, but we also tend to struggle to change our opinion – no matter how much evidence is presented to the contrary. Changing the first impression you make is sometimes possible but takes a lot of hard work.

People you (and representatives of your company) come into contact with initially only have how you look to evaluate their perception of you and your personal and business brand. They do not know you, so your appearance, body language, and demeanor are all they have to go on. A picture really is worth a thousand words when it comes to first impressions.

Are you thinking that this sounds too shallow to be true? It is proven fact by the enormous number of clothing stores (online and in malls), myriad appearance-related TikTok videos, and the recent sale of Kanye West’s used sneakers for $1.8 million! Fashion is a 1.5 trillion-dollar industry – with estimates that its value will grow to 2.25 trillion dollars by 2025.

However superficial it may be, your appearance counts.

In the same way, your branding creates a visual identity for your business. Branding forms the all-important first impression that draws (or repels) customers to (or away from) your establishment. A company brand sets the tone for what customers can expect. Blend creativity and expertise with an impactful strategy if you want to make sure that the tone your brand sets is strong and helps to establish your reputation.

Because the market for just about every product or service is flooded, consumers are inundated with options. In order to differentiate yourself and stand out from your competition, your brand must catch the attention of prospects, then entice them to give you a chance. Branding that has a complimentary impact on your target market creates a demand from your customers and, ultimately, improves your revenue and profit margin.

Carefully curating the identity of your brand gives you control of the narrative about what makes your business unique:

#1. Identify the keywords that define your brand, and then use them to form the voice, tone, and visuals of your company. You should boil down what you represent into a few words. Consistency and repetition are key to making these words catchy.

#2. Develop a personality for your brand to increase lasting brand loyalty. Using the keywords, align every marketing campaign with the personality your brand portrays.

#3. Use your branding to share your story and its essence to connect emotionally with the public. Humans are natural storytellers – so much so that cultures are defined and guided by their stories. A memorable story is an invaluable way of tapping into the sentiments of potential buyers.

#4. Self-image is the way we see ourselves – and therefore the way your customers and prospects see themselves. They also all have an ideal self-image, which is how they would ideally like to be viewed. Consumers use self-branding to align their own self-image with the concepts of a brand they regard as representing their self-image.

#5. Do not try to appeal to everyone. That is a sure way to fail. Rather, use your story and reflect your beliefs and values in your branding. This way you will connect to like-minded individuals. “Find your tribe and love them hard.”

#6. Being unique goes hand in hand with also being different. But the risk of being labelled as such is worth the reward. Owning who you are and what you stand for shows your organization’s self-confidence.

#7.  Confidence begets confidence. From a consumer’s point of view, well-executed branding symbolizes quality and confidence in your associated product or service. In this case, confidence and trust are synonymous. Leveraging the trust you foster in your clients pays off in real bottom line benefits. Pondicherry University research found that even the illiterate, rural, and/or poor prefer to pay for branded products because they trust that the quality will be better.

#8. As your brand proves itself, your business will start to gain recognition and establish a name for itself. The belief in your brand builds momentum that extends to completely new lines you launch. The status your brand earns can even allow you to charge a premium price.

#9. On the flip side, when it is time to freshen up your image, rebranding offers an opportunity to re-connect with existing clients while also attracting new ones. Publicly updating your branding creates hype and excitement about your business.

#10. As well as attracting buyers, effective branding also draws in the type of people you want to have working for you – individuals who appreciate and share your organization’s ideals. As branding nurtures a favorable company culture and a sense of belonging, so employee morale increases along with it.

Branded Apparel Extends Your Company’s Visibility

Combining branding and fashion, branded apparel is the perfect way to extend your visibility.

Picture the players in your home sports team, the waiters and waitresses at your favorite restaurant, or the friendly stewardess on your last flight. What makes them stand out as qualified and united? It is undoubtedly the proprietary apparel, branded aprons, or elegant uniform worn by each of them.

Branded Apparel Makes Your Employees Brand Ambassadors

A professional business image is achieved with workwear that makes brand ambassadors of your staff. As we determined in the beginning of this article, looking the part goes a massive way toward creating the most favorable first impression in the eyes of the public.

After putting in the effort required to create a brand that best represents your company, display it on the employees who are your company’s representatives. Use specific styles of company uniforms to reinforce the story, values and beliefs, and the quality of your business.

Ultimately, your branded clothing will be sought after outside of the workplace. Think of the resurgence in popularity of retro Pan Am clothing and accessories. Consider relative prices for branded versus no-name Athleisure items. Which father out there does not own a “King of the BBQ” apron he was gifted?

From t-shirts and polos to outerwear and aprons, promotional clothing becomes a walking advertisement for your brand. Members of the public can continue to spread the word about your business with branded gear.

Reasons Why Sports Uniforms Are So Important

Can you even visualize a sports team without a uniform? Watching your favorite team sport would require immense concentration for you to distinguish who is who and how your team is performing.

More to the point, how would opposing sides know who is on their team if everyone was dressed differently? Without uniform active wear, it would be nearly impossible for teams to execute their winning strategy. Today’s sports teams all use uniforms to communicate their unique identity.

As the traditional sports uniform has moved from being purely purposeful to being viewed as a fashion statement, sports team supporters don their team’s colors with a sense of pride.

Does What You Wear Affect Your Athletic Performance?

Not only does appropriate attire help to foster team spirit, but “what looks good, feels good too”.

Many studies have proven that feeling good about your appearance boosts self-esteem and confidence that, in turn, mediates better performance and achievement. Sports uniforms influence the perception of a sportsperson as well as their performance.

Not only does appropriate clothing offer a mental edge, but the technology that is now used to design and produce workout clothes is mind-blowing! It literally can enhance your performance.

Nowadays you don’t need loose clothing for comfort, movement, and accessibility. Wearable technology provides breathability, safety from risk of injury, and better performance or playing ability.

Why Aprons, Smocks & Vests Should Be in Every Kitchen

Questioning why aprons, smocks and vests should be in every kitchen is much like asking why the sky is blue. The first item of clothing you ruin with oil spatters or other stains will attest to why chefs wear aprons.

Far from the modern suggestion that apron wearing symbolizes female oppression, a durable apron is an essential tool in the kitchen and beyond. Aprons can be used in a restaurant or home kitchen, when housekeeping or when being creative.

Modern aprons are made of fabrics that can ward off germs as well as the occasional spills. When preparing healthy meals, cleanliness and hygiene are critical. You don’t want the bacteria from raw meat and chicken to contaminate your vegetables and so on. Because an apron is always on you and easier to wash than oven mitts, using it to hold dishes is a clever move.

The Four Most Popular Apron Styles

The type of apron you choose depends largely on the coverage you require.

1. A bib apron ties around your waist and has a neck strap that loops over your head to hold up the bib that covers your upper body and thighs.
2. A smock apron goes over your head and ties at the sides to cover you front and back, but only to about the top of the thigh.
3. Chef coats cover the arms as well as the torso and front of the legs.

The Importance of Wearing A Uniform

From soldiers to students, from sportspeople to surgeons, uniforms have both united groups and differentiated them from others.

A uniform is the ultimate in reinforcing your brand.

Workplace uniforms can be as simple as vests (buttoned vests and unbuttoned vests are popular) or in the medical field, scrubs, in your company’s branded colors and are:

• Are a source of unity for your staff.
• Contribute to improved customer service. Especially high visibility, uniforms help customers recognize employees in a crowd and your team is perceived to be more responsive.
• Increase awareness of your brand – during and after work hours. Seeing your company’s colors and logo reinforces brand recognition.

The Benefits or A Branded Work Uniform

The value of your brand cannot be overemphasized – branding is everything. A managed workwear program is the ideal place to start:

• Employees dressed in uniform instill more trust in customers than those that are not.
• Company pride swells when you treat workers as brand ambassadors.
• For a professional look, some employees might not quite grasp a traditional dress code. Save yourself from embarrassing confrontations when a staff member is inappropriately dressed.
• Similarly, well considered workwear should boast functional benefits too. Wearer safety and worker productivity will be enhanced.
• Issuing uniforms also helps to cut costs for your staff.
• Properly turned-out company uniforms make walking advertisements of your employees.

Red Iron Brand is Your Branded Apparel Partner

Red Iron Brand Solutions is the go-to expert on branded and blank event display marketing products. We are a specialized niche company that is innovative and at the forefront of new products and growth. With our innovative product offerings, industry knowledge, and unique techniques, we are leaders in the early advancement of new and original event displays and branded apparel. Contact us today or call 800-325-3824 to discuss your wearable branding needs.