Look nicer, feel nicer

Experiments have repeatedly shown that the type of uniform you wear can affect your daily work life, and even your deep rooted psychology.   

In one example, through simply donning a laboratory coat, experiment participants became notably more observant and were able to focus longer on a series of tasks.  This phenomenon, known as enclothed cognition, comes as a result of the wearer ascribing a particular role to a uniform (such as a scientist, doctor, or labourer), and then fulfilling that role more completely whilst wearing the uniform.

Enclothed cognition is affected both by the symbolic meaning and the physical experience of wearing the clothes.

I want to be nice…

But I just don’t feel it.

Imagine – you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to face another day. You dress in your work uniform and slip on your work boots. Throughout the day, you stock product, answer customer questions and meet & greet customers at the front of store. The only problem is, your top rises at the waist when you put stock up on shelves, or your trousers are not well-fitting and restrict you when bending, your feet are hurting from the hours spent on them every day in boots and as a result, your level of customer service is gradually reducing throughout the day.

This is not an uncommon story, particularly in the retail environment. Getting a single uniform that suits all shapes, ages and job roles across a business is near impossible.

Maintaining a high level of staff engagement is key to the success of any business and ensuring a well-made, well-fitting uniform meets the core functions of the role as well as well-being is paramount to achieving this – not only for the sake of your employee happiness, but also, as a consequence, for the sake of your customers.