Stay Sharp Blog

Buy New Zealand Made is an iconic kiwi trademark that guarantees consumers the significant manufacturing process of a product took place in New Zealand.   Read more to learn the of the advantages of buying locally. At the end of the day, who wouldn’t want a product made in New Zealand?

Investing in a uniform for your company is a great idea for a number of reasons. It’s an excellent way to present your team in a professional, well-branded manner while making sure they’re comfortable and protected where need be. Once you’ve decided to invest in uniforms, it’s important to take some time to choose where your money is going, and what elements in particular you want to spend your hard earned cash on. Where to spend your money 1. Durability As a business owner, spending more money than the minimum can initially sound unproductive. But the reality is, spending a little more money in the short term will save you money in the long run as you don’t have to constantly replace uniforms. Studies have shown that increasing the active life of all clothing by nine months would reduce the annual carbon, water and waste footprints of clothing by up to 30%, and cut resource costs by around $10 billion NZD. The more durable clothing is, the longer it will last - meaning not only do you spend less money buying new things, but less time sorting out issues and sourcing replacements. 2. Ethics Think about your company values and what you stand for ethically, then make sure your uniform providers line up with these values. Sometimes shopping ethically is slightly more expensive, but when you remember you’re getting a uniform that’s ethically made from sustainable materials and well-paid workers - it’s all worth it. Promoting ethical uniforms will also attract workers with similar values, while making your employees feel good as they put on their uniform each day. At Arrow, we're proud of our ethical standards. You can check out our commitment statement and environmental policy online, and read more here about the ethical questions you should be asking your suppliers.  Where to Save your money 1. Management inventory systems Technology is helping businesses everywhere save money and time, and an excellent example of that is uniform management inventory systems. Luckily the My Arrow Uniform Management Software can help you streamline your inventory system. The software is tailored to your companies branding and prices, and staff can only see what they’re personally allowed to wear. This means it is perfectly tailored to your business and eliminates any confusion. And while your staff can order for themselves to save time, as a manager you also have the ability to approve or reject requests, keeping you in control. 2. Retrieve AND REISSUE uniforms  If your company has a high staff turnover rate, so may your uniforms. This could be an area where you’re losing a lot of money, that you could actually be saving. Taking a few simple steps to ensure tighter regulations of uniform retrieval, such as including a clause in your contract and following through with it. It may just seem like one or two uniforms, but over time this can become build up significantly. Retrieving uniforms is not only financially beneficial but hugely environmentally beneficial as you will be helping to cut down waste.  So choose to spend your money on what matters to you. Investing money in ethical and durable clothing is not only your most sustainable option but also pays off over time as your employees will be wearing more lasting clothing. Save your money by creating a workplace that has an efficient inventory system and good practices in place to protect your uniforms, save time and make sure you’re not replacing items you shouldn’t have too! Book a consultation now to find out we can help you manage your uniform spend!  

As a business, there often comes a time where you'll consider whether or not to implement a uniform for your staff to wear. There are a lot of factors that go into this decision making process, but one of the main ones is return on investment (ROI). You want to be sure that there's a business case for investing in a company uniform and that you're going to see measurable results from your new fit. So how does a uniform effect your bottom line? In our experience there are a few proven ways that businesses see results and justify the expenditure. Here's our top 5 tips for increasing ROI from your company uniform investment. 1. Leveraging your Uniform for Brand and Advertising It's no secret that uniforms are a great way of getting your company's brand out in the market. From the moment your employees leave your workplace and interact with customers and clients, they promote the name and branding of your business. Designed correctly and with branding in mind, this will help to grow your client base and attract new enquiry, ultimately growing your business. At the end of the day, first impressions do count, so it's really important that when you invest in a uniform you consider how it looks and what message it sends to potential customers or clients out in the community. A great example of effective branding and design from a New Zealand brand you're probably familiar with, is VTNZ (one of our fantastic customers). If you live in New Zealand and drive a car, you'll already be familiar with the giant, orange signage that signifies a VTNZ vehicle centre. To VTNZ, their staple orange branding represents a level of professionalism and trust that Kiwis are familiar with - so their uniform design was built to match. Simple and effective, the VTNZ branding on their uniform is a clear match with their company. When you see the uniform, you know who it is. 2. Uniforms Generate Repeat Business You're probably thinking "there's no way that a company uniform would influence a customer's decision to return to my business or not". To that we'd say, when you consider the fact that 60% of customers are willing to pay more for a better consumer experience and a huge part of that experience is the level of professionalism they receive, you can begin to imagine the effect that a professional grade uniform might have. When customers walk in store (or on premises) and are immediately made aware of the level of professionalism that a uniform demonstrates, they'll get the right impression of your business from the get go. This is important, because professionalism builds trust confidence and recognition. The second piece of the repeat business puzzle, is customer loyalty. Your customers will build a relationship with you and continue to come back time after time if they feel a sense of genuine loyalty. Interestingly, 26% of customers feel more loyalty to brands, while 21% of customers feel more loyalty to products. That means that even if you're serving up the best quality goods and services, if your brand isn't carefully crafted and represented, the customer wont have any real ties to your company. That's where a uniform offers its value Considering that Repeat customers are responsible for generating 40% of a store's revenue - we'd call that a pretty strong ROI business case. 3. Uniforms Increase Productivity No matter what kind of business you operate, one of the common detonators of ROI that managers and business owners alike struggle with is productivity. To be operating at peak performance and generating the most revenue possible, your employees need to be doing their jobs with utmost productivity. Of course, there is more than one way to increase productivity for ROI, but one of the more proven methods is to roll-out a company wide uniform. Uniforms can indicate a sense of professionalism and a sense of purpose and unity within a workplace, which in turn, improves performance. This productivity value increases exponentially when you factor in industries that require specific uniform requirements in order to perform a job. Imagine - if Chef's didn't wear the correct attire that protected them from the heat and hazards of the kitchen, they'd undoubtedly be less productive. The same goes for industries that require a significant portion of outdoor work - if their uniforms weren't sunsmart, considerate of outdoor conditions and heat, as well as visibility, the workers' ability to perform their tasks productively would be significantly impaired. 4. Uniforms vs. Clothing Allowance Supplying a uniform for your employees is quite the considerate feat, especially when for some people bringing their own work wear can take quite a toll on their budget and it can be difficult to meet work wear requirements without the cash to fund it. It's an opportunity to ensure a bit of equality in the workplace, and even draw in quality staff who look for this in an employer. You'd be surprised how many people are thankful to not have to choose their outfit every day! This is particularly relevant when it comes to corporate sectors who opt to provide a 'clothing allowance' for employees to buy their own corporate-wear, rather than manage a uniform inventory. If you're supplying an annual budget for clothing allowances, you are also: Risking the maintenance and upkeep of those garments. There's no guarantee that your employees will by quality clothing and maintain garments to a high standard, resulting in the risk of your brand image not being upheld by client facing staff. Removing the possibility of the 'return of uniform' at the end of an employees service term. The money you have spend on a clothing allowance then stay with said employee, rather than the well-kept uniform being returned and used for the next employee in the same size. This process is less sustainable, and therefore provides less ROI. Essentially, through rolling out a company wide uniform, you have complete management and control over the costs involved with work attire. While many corporations opt to provide a 'clothing allowance' when an employee first starts, this only lasts for as long as the staff member maintains their work-wear, and there's no regulation on what kind or how many garments your employee buys. Uniforms regulate this, which comparatively can prove to be quite a return on investment. 5. Uniform Quality Increases ROI The best way to increase the return on investment of your uniform is to quite literally ensure it lasts for a considerable period of time. The less you're having to replace staff uniforms, the more money you save. The only way to do this effectively is to work with a uniform provider who can advise you on the best possible materials that fit within your budget and design constraints. This could either be the best quality materials available, or a generic material that's durable and suitable to your business).It's always best to do your research with your uniform supplier into what type of uniform best suits your specific working conditions, to ensure durability. Often, compromising on design, function or quality means risking a high uniform turnover and lowering your ROI.   If you want to know more about how uniform quality impacts your bottom line, we'd be more than happy to talk you through it! You can get in touch with one of our friendly team members, below. 

First off - congratulations on becoming the new owner of a collection of employee uniforms for your company! That's a big step to take in terms of safety, branding and quality assurance. The good news is, you've done the hard yards of designing a uniform that meets the needs of your business and the individual employees within it - but the process doesn't end there. Here's what you need to consider once you've designed and purchased your new company uniform to make sure things run smoothly and you get the maximum return on your investment. 1. Write a Uniform Policy The first thing to consider is how you're going to manage the individual's responsibility to look after their uniform and adhere to your processes within your company. At the end of the day, you want your employees to stay safe and presentable, so it's important to create a guideline that enables them to do so. Consider: Writing a uniform policy that's tailored to different roles. If your company is multi-faceted with different roles and teams, sometimes a 'one-size-fits-all' approach isn't always the best. Ensuring that your uniform policy is fair and understanding of diversity. it's important not to have discriminatory rules towards different genders, religions and races. Being very precise with language and instructions. Tell your employees exactly what you expect from them in writing, so that nothing can be misconstrued. If you want your uniforms washed every second day - state this. Try not to use words like 'smart-casual' and 'semi-formal' which are entirely open to interpretation For more information on the do's and don'ts of writing a uniform policy, check out our recent blog: Guide to Creating a Foolproof Employee Uniform Policy. 2. Create a Uniform Inventory You've just made a big investment in a uniform you're proud of, and it's been sent out to the staff you currently employ. It's really important that you set up a robust process for managing your uniform inventory from the get go, so that you're always aware of how many uniforms you have on hand, sizes, turnover and the costs you're incurring. Fortunately, there are some great, free uniform management software solutions available for use, that range from simple spreadsheet capability, to drag and drop platforms that allow you to manage multiple staff, and locations. Of course, if you're a larger scale business, we'd recommend looking into investing your dollars into a user-paid software for managing uniform inventory. This way you'll be able to account for a high number of staff, locations, garments and their cost. At Arrow Uniforms, we run a software solution that will take the time-heavy task of managing uniforms off your hands, as well as affording your staff the autonomy they need to always be well equipped and presented professionally: you can check out the full range of benefits, here.   3. Arrange Laundry and Maintenance If you want your uniform to be maintained and upheld to a high standard, it's likely that you, the employer, will need to consider how you're going to clean and look after your employees uniforms. Typically, this requires a regimented schedule and plan. If you have the amenities and resource to wash your staff uniforms on site, this is a fantastic option to consider as it can be quite cost effective. Of course, if you don't have those resources, it's important to arrange an outsourced laundry service to take care of your uniform maintenance. Whichever option you choose, make sure to document your processes, look into the costs thoroughly and communicate to your staff the expectations you have and deadlines for turning their uniforms in for maintenance. 4. Plan for Change In a business environment, there are so many things that can change quickly and effect the way you operate your uniform inventory: Staff leaving and incoming new staff (turnover) means new people requiring new sizing, and old uniforms made redundant Different roles emerging as your business grows might require rethinking your uniform materials/functionality Design updates and changes. In a very short time, the entire branding of a business can change Financial growth or decline might effect your ability to upkeep or purchase new uniforms Now that you have a full uniform for your company, we'd recommend taking some time to consider how things might change in the future, and having a plan in place for how you are going to negate this. 5. Ask for Feedback Last but not least, always ask for feedback. The people who are going to know in-depth how your uniform is performing and what can be improved are you staff who wear your uniform every day. Once your new uniform has been in rotation for a few months, we'd recommend asking for feedback from your staff. That way, if you need to make any changes to your uniform or design a new one in the future, you're armed with insight.   Want assistance in your uniform inventory management? We can help. Get in touch with our friendly team and they'll provide useful advice and point you in the right direction.  

When it comes to working efficiently and looking good while doing so, the clothing and uniform you wear and the fabrics and materials that these clothes are made of can completely alter your comfort and professionalism. Learning about the different types of materials can help you make a more informed decision about how to look and feel good in any type of profession. Work clothing is made from a wide range of different materials, and depending on your profession, different fabrics will suit your needs more.  Dress for Success In a front-facing job, your visual impression on a client is vital. For your business and corporate apparel needs, dress to impress, and set a high standard from your first impression. Perma-Crease is a unique application that has been applied to the fabric of many workwear items. This technology ensures the clothes look sharp for every wear, wash after wash. This fabric is highly beneficial for busy workers who want to look sharp without spending an excessive amount of time ironing. Polywool Z stretch is a high-quality fabric found in many workwear jackets. It drapes and stretches with ease, bringing exceptional comfort to any workplace environment. While quality products can cost more, the benefit of buying quality products that last, outweighs the short term savings.  These are some of the best materials and fabric options for work uniforms, and help create smart, professional-looking outfits that are well suited for the office, retail, service and transport industries.  Dress for Stress In a fast-paced pressured environment, such as those in the medical and hospitality sectors, style is very important, yet functionality is key. Being able to react and move quickly, while remaining comfortable requires durable, light yet tough fabric. The ideal fabric for this kind of industry is Polycotton. This blend of polyester and cotton is lightweight yet extremely durable. The use of cotton helps keep the fabric cool and breathable, even in stressful, pressurised situations. While the use of polyester ensures the fabric is tough and durable for any hardy situation.  Jobs found in messy environments, such as chefs, may also require a fabric such as Nylon, which is durable and easy to be wiped down. Nylon can be found in a range of our aprons which both protect the clothes and the worker. Dress for Mess Heavy-duty, messy jobs such as construction, safety and even beauty therapy, require a well thought out uniform. These uniforms need to be functional and provide safety, yet still be stylish. Garments that contain a Teflon coating in the fabric, such as work pants, means the clothes will help repel stains. This technology means the uniform will last longer, but will also help the worker to stay looking presentable, despite their messy circumstances.  For those working in the beauty sector, such as a nail salon, a tunic is a common uniform. Try opting for a Linen blend tunic. Linen fabric is breathable, allowing workers to stay cool in hot environments, while also looking fashionable.  Decisions There are so many factors that help dictate what uniform fabric is best suited for your uniform. Not only is the industry important, but don’t forget to evaluate the ethics behind your uniform fabric suppliers. Here at Arrow Uniforms we are encouraging our clients to move to biodegradable cotton-based clothing, introducing uniform recycling options, monitoring our factories ethics. You can check out our sustainability policies here.  Choosing your perfect uniform can be overwhelming, and that’s why we are here to help! If you’re interested in finding a uniform perfectly suited to you and your workplace, get in touch today and we can start designing together!

Looking for a new summer uniform for your company? There are a number of benefits of a workplace uniform - promoting a cohesive team environment, encouraging a sense of belonging within the company, evoking brand-awareness, and maximising safety. The uniform you choose is a reflection of your business as a whole, and there are a number of important factors to consider when selecting the perfect uniform for your staff; Style, audience, brand representation, ethical awareness, and sustainability. Finding a dedicated and experienced uniform supplier, like Arrow Uniforms, who will incorporate these aforementioned factors with the individual needs of your company can make a world of difference. Brand Identity The best place to start when considering uniforms is brand identity, and the image you’re aiming to convey with your prospective uniform. Your brand identity is more than just your company logo or a fun slogan - it’s an emotional embodiment of your company’s personality - the lasting impression people get when they interact with your brand. It’s the cohesive look and feel of your organisation as a whole, reflecting your target audience, your goals, values, and interactions, and it is largely shaped by the visual identity that your company presents. This is where uniform comes in to play. By identifying the values that are important to your brand, you can identify what your business needs most from a uniform, and choose accordingly. Target Audience Uniforms are one of the many ways your brand reaches out to your target market, meaning that identifying your target audience is important when considering uniform options. A uniform is one of the most effective forms of marketing, and targeting them appropriately can be the difference between your brand being taken seriously or not. For example, if your brand identity is aimed towards young people, a more fashion conscious uniform will probably assist in promoting your product/service. By the same notion, no business executive is likely to be willing to take advice from someone in shorts and sandals. Sustainability If your brand is focused on sustainability, ensuring your chosen uniform walks the walk is an important part of your brand identity. The fashion industry is currently known to be the second biggest contributor to pollution worldwide, so choosing a uniform supplier that specialises in ethical work-wear, created using sustainable practices and eco-friendly resources, ensures you can sleep soundly knowing that your uniforms are better for the environment, and free of carcinogens, toxins, and other harmful chemicals. Sustainable clothes also tend to be of higher quality and contain fewer allergens, meaning that not only is your brand as a whole supporting sustainable practices and human rights, your workers are also getting the best possible quality uniform. Unsure how to find out whether your uniform provider uses sustainable practices? Check out our blog: A question of ethics: 4 things to ask your uniform provider. Alternatively if you’re considering changing providers, check out Arrow Uniforms commitment to corporate sustainability here. Design Considering the ‘whys’ of your uniform can dictate many facets of uniform choice, including design, colour, materials, branding, and supplier. Consider the goals of your company. How does a uniform benefit them? Why do you need a uniform? Is it for safety? Fashion? Advertising? Brand cohesion? Identification: Psychologically, wearing uniforms has been found to significantly boost productivity, a phenomenon known as “enclothed cognition”. When a person is wearing a uniform, they feel more positively engaged with their workplace, and are more likely to commit to their tasks. Uniforms have also been found to create a more cohesive team, boosting employee’s productivity and morale, and contributing to a more positive work environment. Advertising: Uniforms are an extremely effective form of advertising, and have been found to increase brand awareness, with specific uniform colours boosting recognition by up to 80%. Many well known brands have formed their identity around their uniforms, utilising them to deliver a message about their product/service. Our team at Arrow will work with you to create a uniform that shows who you are and what you do, without compromising style or comfort. Safety: Your team’s safety is a top priority. You need to factor in the risks of your workplace before deciding on a uniform. For example, you don’t want anything loose that can get caught in heavy machinery. If you’re working in wet or cold conditions you need something that keeps your staff warm, dry and healthy. Arrow will help you to consider these risks before making your final call to reduce workplace injury and keep your staff and customers happy and safe. Longevity: Uniforms are worn every day, and they need to be able to last the distance. Ensuring your uniforms are made with the highest quality fabrics and materials is crucial to ensuring your uniform stays looking its best, and to reduce replacement costs. Arrow take pride in producing long-lasting, affordable products. Comfort: Your staff need the right fit of uniform to ensure your team can complete their day being confident and comfortable in their workwear. A full range of movement and your staff feeling confident in their uniform will boost employee satisfaction and therefore maximise productivity. We have a handy sizing chart for our range, and can provide samples for your staff to try out before you place your order. Service You know what works for your company, so reward yourself with a uniform provider that understands your needs, and works not only for you, but with you to deliver the best results. We at Arrow Uniforms aim to create an engaging, ongoing partnership, and to provide our valued customers quick and efficient service, to help your business thrive.   Choosing your ideal uniform supplier is about much more than just the right price, it's about choosing someone with design capability, an ethical approach, and the right people to support. We want to help! To find out more about Arrow Uniforms, or to get a no-obligation quote, call us now on 0508 643 676.

If you're running a business, large or small, you probably already know the importance of implementing a durable, professional and comfortable uniform for your staff. It's a brilliant way to present your team and offer an outstanding first impression, as well as making sure your team are in the best possible, safest materials to suit their particular profession. While the decision to introduce a new uniform to your team might be a no-brainer, often companies forget to take into account the administrative and operative time it takes to maintain and manage a large rotation of staff uniforms. These often-overlooked tasks can include: Managing regular dry cleaning and upkeep Listing inventory Administering uniforms to new staff upon arrival Returns when staff leave Placing new orders Managing work-wear budgets Replacing old uniforms when they've run their due course This is often an underestimated, logistical and administrative heavy task, which only exponentially increases with larger  businesses and the more staff involved. Fortunately, there are ways that you can keep your uniforms (and the staff wearing them) happy and in-check, as well as being confident that you won't blow the budget from implementing top of the line work wear. There's plenty of software available that can take care of the mundane, inventory-based tasks for you, and we've got your guide to picking the right systems & software for managing uniform inventory for your business. 1. Assess your business' uniform needs The first thing we'd recommend doing, before beginning to look into systems & software for managing uniform inventory, is to assess your business' uniform requirements. Different businesses will vary significantly in what they need to stay on top of their uniform turnover. For example, if you're a business of between 15-20 people, and your uniform consists of a few polo shirts with company logos, you're probably only going to need a great uniform supplier to work with and a well thought out and maintained spreadsheet to keep track of your uniform allocations. However, if you're a large casino with hundreds of staff members, who each require a full set of professional uniforms - you're going to need something with a little more capability than excel. You'll have to take into consideration cleaning, replacement, returns and new uniforms - not to mention the constant intake of orders for the hundreds of staff members you're clothing. This is why, before looking to buy into any uniform management software, we'd suggest doing a full report on your requirements. Here's what we'd suggest taking into consideration: Your number of staff Your rate of staff turnover How frequently your uniforms need replacing (particularly if your industry means your staff's clothing is prone to wear and tear) The complexity of your uniform (how many parts are there to it, do different staff wear different combinations of clothing, does your uniform have to meet industry specific requirements) How much money you currently spend (both staff time and resource wise) on uniform management Once you've considered these factors, you'll have a good idea of what you will need from your systems & software to manage your uniform inventory. 2. Track your inventory Now that you've outlined the uniform management requirements specific to your business, we'd suggest beginning with creating an inventory of uniforms that you already have in circulation. Make sure that it's up to date, and includes a stock take of every piece of uniform that your current staff members are in possession of. This may seem like quite a labourious task but, with the right software, you can actually manage and track your inventory quite easily. Fortunately, if your business is small to medium scale, you won't have to pay a fortune to do so. There are some great, free uniform management software solutions available for use, that range from simple spreadsheet capability, to drag and drop platforms that allow you to manage multiple staff, and locations. Of course, if you're a larger scale business, we'd recommend looking into investing your dollars into a user-paid software for managing uniform inventory. This way you'll be able to account for a high number of staff, locations, garments and their cost. 3. Plan for a rate of replacement and maintenance There are a number of factors that can affect the rate at which you're likely to have to replace your team's uniform, ranging from the types of material you're using and their durability, to the type of industry your staff work in. For example, if you're in the construction sector and your staff wear a variety of PPE clothing, it's likely that their uniforms will deteriorate at a rate faster than that of an office based business. Similarly, if your uniforms are made of lower quality materials, it's likely that they'll need replacing at a faster rate than uniforms made with top of the line materials. Make sure to record the frequency at which you need to check in with your staff and take a look at the state of their uniforms. 4. Get a software system that affords your staff autonomy (with Their manager's approval) One of the biggest problems that companies come across when managing staff uniform procurement is finding the dedicated time to place orders, monitor usage and manage stock levels. For this reason, we'd recommend looking into a solution that allows you to give your staff the autonomy to order their own uniforms on your behalf. One of the risks with this is sticking to a set budget and making sure that your staff aren't overspending, ordering incorrect garments, or over ordering. Fortunately, we've come up with a software solution that will take the time-heavy task of managing uniforms off your hands, as well as affording your staff the autonomy they need to always be well equipped and presented professionally: check out the My Arrow Uniform Management Software. A glimpse at the benefits? The software is tailored to your own company's colours, branding and prices, so there's no confusion. Your staff will only see what they're allowed to wear, eliminating the risk of orders being placed that don't fit the role. You can set up automatic renewal dates, and allocate garments by quantity or dollars, removing the risk of over-expenditure. Your staff can order themselves. You no longer have to keep their uniforms up to date, or worry about managing the process. You still get the final say. You, as a manager, get to approve or reject order requests, and review budgets and reports whenever you feel necessary. Time is money, and the biggest benefit of having an efficient, uniform management software in place is that you no longer have to spend your valuable time on logistics, or paying someone to do it for you. Interested in revolutionising the way you manage your uniforms? Contact us today

Uniforms are made to very high standards to ensure longevity. When they are worn all day every day they need to be able to last the distance and perform better than high street fashions that change annually. If there's one thing we've learnt from the fashion industry, it's that sometimes cheaper can often come at a cost to our environment. You'll also likely find you're having to replace your purchases more frequently, which only equates to more, more, and more waste. In this blog, we take a deep dive into the well-established industry of fast-fashion, and weigh up the pros and cons of always going for the cheaper option. The effects might be more substantial than you'd think. What is fast fashion? Fast fashion is the practice of taking on-trend clothing that's debut in popular collections or on the catwalk, and very quickly imitating and mass producing them to be sold to the consumer in large, chain stores. Think of your standard, big clothing companies, like Zara, Kmart or H&M - these are all fast fashion chains that take popular or trending designs and mass produce at pace. Typically, rather than re-stocking or replacing a line of clothing once it runs out, fast fashion stores will move in a brand new, trendy line to replace old stock. Sometimes, this will happen multiple times in one single week. The psychological effect this has on consumers is unprecedented. There's a sense of urgency created, where consumers feel that if they don't buy it in that moment, they may not ever have the opportunity to again. We can understand the temptation. It's clothing that does the job, looks pretty good, and comes at the fraction of the cost of other fashionable and sustainable options. On a surface level, it's a pretty tempting option. If you're not sure how to tell if your favourite store is a fast fashion brand, here are a few tips on what to look out for: Hundreds of styles available Very short turn around times between 'becoming trendy' and appearing in store The garments are manufactured off shore There's a limited quantity of a particular line available Cheaper, low quality materials that degrade after a few wears The uglier under-belly of the fast fashion industry Of course like most things in life, if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. There's a hugely devastating downside to the fast fashion industry, and what consumers aren't paying in price, they are paying for in other ways. Environmental impact To cut down the cost to purchase a garment, fast fashion suppliers cut costs by using cheaper textiles and dyes. The devastating effect that fast fashion has on our planet is undeniable and evident. In fact, the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters of clean water, globally, second only to agriculture. The primary reason for this is the cheap and toxic textile dyes used to colour fabrics. The harmful chemicals in the dyes are leaking into our fresh waterways, polluting our sources of clean water. Cheap textiles are also increasingly becoming problematic. One of the most popular fabrics used in the fast fashion industry is polyester, which is derived from fossil fuels. The manufacturing of polyester materials contributes to global warming and can shed microfibres that add to the levels of plastic in our oceans. It's very clear that while fast fashion is inexpensive, the dangerous effect it's production has on our environment isn't so positive. Social impact It's fairly well known that fast fashion industries often employ cheap, off shore labour to create their garments quickly and for a low cost. These workers are often subject to terrible working conditions, that can put them endanger and force them to work long hours for far less than an adequate living wage. There have been many reports of fires breaking out in sweatshops, and entire buildings collapsing and killing workers due to a lack of maintenance and regulation. Within the supply chain, factory workers are often asked to use pesticides and toxic chemicals that can severely effect both their mental and physical health. There's no doubt that fast fashion needs further scrutiny around the working conditions of the factories they are manufactured in as well as the polluting effects of their outputoffshore, cheap labour. Throwaway culture The nature of the industry is in the title - it's fast. Consumers are encouraged to throw away garments and replace them quickly with newer, more fashionable clothing items. The pressure of keeping up with trends, responding to the urgency created by short-lived clothing lines, and constantly being seen in new looks is taking a toll on the reusability of clothing. Of course this means a lot more waste going into landfills, rather than recycling. In fact over 85% of clothing waste goes straight to landfills, with only a few communities taking part in textile recycling programs. The garments are cheap, and naturally, don't last as long. Is there a more sustainable approach? There are plenty of counter options emerging in the market that offer a more sustainable approach to the clothing industry. From using more sustainable textile options to regulating the supply chain that creates the garments, companies are considering more responsible options. At Arrow Uniforms, we take our environmental and social responsibility seriously. Here's how we've been innovating to counter the fast fashion trend: We undertake audits by internationally recognised environmental organisations. We check our own suppliers and rate them on their ethical and environmental sustainability before we engage with them. We regularly visit and inspect the factories we use, so we can be sure everything is safe and running as it should be. Our factories utilise computerised cutting machines which has increased fabric yields by up to 15%, meaning a lot less waste. We are now working closely with our suppliers to limit the use of chemicals and reduce the amount of water and energy required to successfully dye our fabrics. Instead of purchasing new garments every time a staff member requests them, we clean and store re-cycled uniforms on behalf of our clients. We recently switched all our delivery satchels to 100% plant based bags, reducing our use of soft plastic bags by 40,000 plus units per year. And that's just the beginning. If you're interested in our full sustainability policy, you can check it out here. We understand the demand that fast fashion has created and know it's important to do our part in reversing the damage. Where to from here? Next time you're making either a small purchase at your local mall, or considering refitting your entire team with a new uniform, make sure you do your research on fast fashion chains and their lack of sustainability. The best approach to clothing is an informed one! Keen to work with our team and fit your crew out with a sustainable kit? Get in touch below.

When it comes to the presentation of your business - and specifically the uniforms on the backs of your employees - appearance is crucial. Not only does one’s appearance represent the person wearing the uniform, but also the business they work for, promote, and look to do good by. A business that is uniformed can provide a sense of cohesion, commonality and unity that otherwise might not be there. Dressing to Impress The importance of a uniform for the working professional is not to be underestimated. Take Fred, for example. Fred is going for an interview at ABC Industries. Fred doesn’t wear shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals because Fred is smart and knows that wouldn't make a good first impression for ABC Industries. Instead, and this will come as no surprise, Fred wears a nice button shirt, a pair of dress pants, and black leather shoes proudly polished by Fred himself the night before. Although this may not be typical day-to-day uniform, it’s still how Fred represents himself in a professional manner, and in turn, Fred’s uniform for this point in time. Good work, Fred. The same logic applies once Fred has landed the job at ABC Industries (again, nice work, Fred) - he wears what he believes is the appropriate attire for his field of work, dresses to impress and always has a smile. His uniform of choice represents his values, work ethic, and motivation - just as it represents the best qualities of ABC Industries. When to Bring in a Uniform Policy To flip this point of view away from the employee to the employer, one might ask “Why would an employer decide to bring in a uniform policy?” Are there any benefits to doing so? To start with, a uniform has the potential to increase team morale. Bringing a uniform into the workplace that is not only appealing, but also enjoyable to wear shows that you care for your employees well-being and comfort.  A well-fitted, and high-quality uniform can bolster employee’s self-esteem, attitude, and morale, helping to increase their motivation to complete day-to-day jobs to a high standard. To further that, a team is only as strong as its weakest member, and if one member of a team is feeling isolated, unmotivated or feeling any sense of bitterness towards any part of their day-to-day work, this can be detrimental to your business. Companies that have utilised a uniform policy, where all employees are wearing the same uniform, creates an even playing field, and is great first step to creating the team spirit you’re looking for. Creating commonality between employees is a perfect way to strip down barriers and include everyone. Finding a Balance You may be sitting there and thinking, “Yes, I want to bring a uniform into my work, but how do I find the right balance in a uniform?” Great question and we're glad you asked. Taking the first step into creating a uniform is not an easy one. First of all, it needs to keep a professional look and feel. Secondly, it needs to be comfortable enough for employees to wear multiple days of the week while keeping its durability. Trying to cut down on costs at the expense of quality probably isn’t a good idea as employee uniforms will receive a lot of wear and tear. Lastly, it has to be look good enough that your employees aren’t going to feel like they’re committing a fashion crime. What to Prioritise - Form or Function? If your team are customer/client facing, the answer is form. As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. When you first meet a person, he or she makes a judgment about you in approximately four seconds, and this judgment is finalised largely within 30 seconds of the initial contact, so you want to make the most of this opportunity. Picking a suitable colour is the best place to start - think colours that best reflect your industry, colours you wouldn’t mind seeing if you were being served in a cafe or restaurant, or talking to your lawyer or accountant. Once you’ve settled on a design, find the best suitable materials for the job. There’s no point in investing in cheap uniforms if you’re employees are going to come back in three month's time asking for a new set. Investing in good clothing is investing in your employees. If you’re still feeling a little lost when it comes to designing your next uniform, talk to us! Arrow Uniforms makes quality uniforms and clothes inspired by ideas from all over the globe. We craft practical garments that look great, fit well and are cared for easily. Get in touch with us here, or download the free design guide and start designing the right uniform for your business today.