Buying workwear for your team is either really straightforward or horribly complex.
The complex way to buy workwear
The complex way is to shop around each time you need something: looking for the best price and shortest lead-time on the market. Sure, you can save a few pennies, or even pounds, on the buy-price for each garment but the other 'costs' can be high, very high sometimes.
Firstly - there is your time (or 'hassle' by any other name):
Spending just a few hours to find the best price and delivery each time you need to order a new batch of workwear is optimistic. To complete the process of shopping around you will probably:
- speak to 4 or 5 companies
- fill-in 3 or 4 quote request forms
- send your logo in a couple of different formats (because you can't remember which is the best quality image file)
- have to take, or make, a call or two to clarify the questions each company will have
- check back with someone in your team about exactly what is needed
- evaluate the quotes you have received to pick the best value (or probably the lowest cost if this is your buying approach).
- organise the garment samples you want
- make the decision
- complete the request for credit process
- check the proofs you receive
Secondly - the quality/consistency issue:
When buying from a new supplier you just hope that the quality of both the garments and the decorations matches what you previously bought. It isn't just about the quality, it is also about achieving consistency or continuity of look too. You don't want one member of your team to be wearing a garment where the logo looks different from the others. No one wants to be that person!
Thirdly - flexibility, reliability, partnership
If you start with a new supplier each time you need a new batch of workwear you are also starting again with the process of building a good working relationship. As a first-time client, you might if you are lucky and you picked a high-quality professional company, get great service. But, it is also possible that you will be 'just another first time client' with what might be, for the supplier, a relatively small order.
The flexibility that a long term working relationship can bring, the partnership approach, is still a long way away. When you mess-up and need something extra in a hurry which supplier is likely to put themselves out more to help you - a company you have been working with for years or one you just ordered from for the first time.
The simple way to buy workwear
A straightforward way to keep your business/organisation supplied with workwear is to build a strong relationship with a good, professional supplier. A good supplier values your business and works with you to keep costs down while maintaining the quality of the garments needed, the quality and consistency of the decoration processes and the reliability and flexibility of the supply process itself.
All three aspects of additional 'cost' outlined above are largely absent when you maintain a good working relationship with a single supplier over an extended period.
Mistakes happen
Sure, there could be a mistake made somewhere. Either a new supplier or a long-standing one can make a mistake. And any error in your order can be very irritating. From the wrong colour thread being used for your logo embroidery to an incorrect garment being ordered. But, it is often on the back of mistakes that the business relationship grows stronger.
A long-standing supplier is more likely to spot a mistake early before it becomes a crisis because they know what you 'normally order' or what your embroidered logo looks like. A new supplier doesn't have the history with your company behind them to help identify issues
A company that has valued your business for years, one with a high proportion of regular/repeat clients, is more likely to have processes in place to ensure client loyalty is maintained and valued. On the other hand, the type of company that constantly lowballs the price to win new business from clients with a short-term ethos probably will just wave goodbye and cut their losses if something goes awry. They won't have invested in the systems and people to continually deliver great products and services or build a good client relationship because, just like their client base, they can always find new employees and new suppliers too.
Picking a workwear supplier
It doesn't matter how much anyone recommends building a long-standing and strong relationship with your workwear supplier, sometimes you need to find a new supplier.
As you have made it this far through this article, you won't be surprised to know that Actifwear prides itself on building long-term relationships with its clients. The percentage of Actifwear clients who repeat their orders for workwear, uniforms and business clothing from us and have done so for more than 5 years remains above 60% of our order book for such garments.
We value our clients and enjoy that we don't have to be constantly banging on new doors to win new clients. Sure, we advertise and we are always looking for new businesses/organisations to work with. But, knowing that a significant proportion of our business is from retained clients takes much of the pressure off us, and our clients.
So, next time you are looking for a new workwear supplier, and if you want to go down the simple/straightforward route to workwear procurement, talk to the team at Actifwear.
