Six Ways New Uniforms Can Help Your Business Thrive

Did you know your employees could be 40% more comfortable at work? Years ago, every mechanic at every dealership wore the same baggy, 100% cotton navy work shirts and pants. Later, the industry shifted to “color block” shirts, made from a mix of cotton and polyester to give additional flexibility to the shirts. In many cases, however, the predominant color of the ensemble was still an uninspiring navy or black. Here’s why forward-thinking auto groups are ditching their dated uniforms in favor of a new generation of workwear.

Breathability

Modern workwear is manufactured with a tremendous amount of technology that helps the wearer work more comfortably. Today’s work shirts, for instance, are as much as 40% lighter than their traditional cotton counterparts. Fabrics are now also available with micro-perforations and innovative weave patterns that allow body heat to easily escape, keeping the wearer comfortable all day.

Stretch

Your team will appreciate the integration of stretch fibers, like elasterell-p, that have significantly more flexibility than their predecessors. These revolutionary fabrics allow for upwards of 20% stretch throughout the garment and the creation of pants with up to 2” of stretch in the waistband for maximum flexibility and comfort. When you upgrade to modern workwear, you can be sure your team’s uniform won’t be what’s holding them back from accessing the hardest to reach areas of any engine compartment.

Color Options

One of the best aspects of modern uniforms is the color options. Modern synthetic fabrics are colorfast, meaning gone are the days of every technician being forced into a navy-on-navy wardrobe that fades over time. Now, you can finally select uniforms in a color scheme that compliments your business’s unique needs and not worry if your employees’ bright blue shirts will fade after a month of laundering.

Durability

While newer fabrics can shave a significant amount of weight, don’t think they can’t hold up to the daily grind! Ounce for ounce, polyester, elasterell-p, and their family of next-generation fabrics and fibers are more durable than cotton. This means employees can work freely without worrying about getting snagged on rough edges.

Morale

One of the least considered, but arguably most important, benefits of upgrading a uniform program is the morale boost it will bring your team. With 67% of franchised dealers listing motivating and retaining quality employees as a challenge and only 61% of staff members at those dealerships believing their organization shows appreciation for employees’ efforts and contributions, a new cutting-edge workwear program could be a great way to show your appreciation for your team and in turn increase retention in some of your most difficult to retain areas.

Business Image

Increasingly, auto groups are allowing front-of-house employees to break free of the traditional button-down and tie with slacks in favor of golf shirts with khaki pants. Modern fabrics are being employed in high-image clothing like collared golf shirts and performance pants to meet the needs of these employees. Today’s updated textiles will allow you to pick clothing options that ensure customer-facing employees look great every day and never have to wonder if what they’re wearing to work is appropriate.

Clearly, updating your managed uniform program with today’s current garments will be a welcome change for your employees. Factor in the convenience of included laundry and maintenance, as well as quick turnaround times to outfit new employees, and you’ll surely find that adding more of your team to a managed workwear program will be beneficial to the bottom line.

As you look to update your team’s image and modernize your managed workwear program, keep Cintas in mind. Cintas offers exclusive products that include modern fabrics, as well as brands employees want to wear like Carhartt^®. The new Cintas ComfortFlex PRO^™ line of garments is also available in a wide variety of styles with thoughtful features such as no-scratch closures and utility pockets that will help employees get the job done right. And only Cintas has the variety of apparel options you’ll need to outfit everyone from service and parts to sales and accounts payable.

For more information, visit www.Cintas.com, or contact a local Cintas representative today.

Reference: The State of Dealership Staffing, June 2021. Cox Automotive Research & Market Intelligence.