Exhibitions and trade shows provide a unique opportunity to promote and advertise your business, product(s) and / or Service(s). They also provide the perfect events via which to network as well as size up the competition. Hence, this is one arena in which getting branded workwear matters.
Then, here are three top tips to make sure you do exactly that, and to ensure your workwear doesn’t just get you noticed, but does so for all the right reasons.
- Logo and / or Text
Whether you opt to have a business name, logo or both branded onto a clothing item, it is imperative to keep the design simple, clean and clear. Think of the Nike tick, the Coca Cola typeface (which itself, being created for the logo is trademarked to the Coca Cola company) and the McDonald’s ‘M’. These are three of the biggest brand and business logos and so three of the most recognisable going. The reason they are so is because they are simple, first and foremost.
Complex or complicated logos or illegible, overly fussy typefaces, whether generic or custom made, confuse and overwhelm the senses. The more complex a logo is the longer the brain takes to ‘read’ and process it. At worst this prevents a logo from becoming synonymous with your business and prevents a brand from taking off; people simply forget it.
Equally though, a logo or business name that is not visually memorable and distinctive may be confused with another business or brand or go unnoticed altogether. Hence, ahead of having a potential logo emblazoned on workwear, take a moment to refer to the Creative Blog’s 65 expert logo design tips. Alternatively turn direct to the experts and have the likes of Logo Geeks design and devise a logo for you.
- Colour
Colour is an aspect of branded workwear that is often thought of as secondary or even superfluous. Yes, a colour or a combination perhaps will need to be chosen in order for a brand, logo or business name to be adorned to a garment. That said, all too often the colour of said garment is decided based on the colours contained in or which clash with a logo in order o make a logo ‘pop’. For example, a black business name or logo paired with a white shirt, a purple logo on a yellow fabric or a blue logo on an orange backdrop.
There is nothing specifically wrong with this approach. That said, it doesn’t mean there is much right with it either. It is certainly far better from a design standpoint to think more consciously and carefully about a colour scheme as this is, after all, as likely to become synonymous with your business or brand as the logo itself. Again, think McDonalds and red and yellow instantly come to mind. Red and yellow though are also synonymous with, of course, the two most popular table condiments used across North America: American mustard and tomato ketchup. Hence, it makes sense to use these colours. The decision was by no means a happy accident.
Then, think carefully about the associations different colours have as well as which colours clash, match and how together different colours work. At the very least, ahead of choosing a colour or colour scheme with which to represent your business, head over to the Colour Affects website. There you will find an informative lo-down, titled: Psychological Properties of Colours, as well as ‘Corporate Colours’ case studies, and much more guaranteed to better your understanding of how colour is used in business and advertising to boost a business and even make or break a brand.
- Quality
It isn’t just the colour, logo, style or type of workwear you opt to brand that infer things about your company and / or brand. In a less direct and explicit way, the quality of the branded workwear your staff and those representing and promoting your business wear will tell those who see it a lot about the quality of your business, and as well your approach to business.
This means, to reiterate, that to cut corners when buying branded workwear by opting for cheaply made, transfer bearing and generally poor quality garments of any kind will potentially result in losing out on securing custom from a percentage of potential clients. This is doubly detrimental when wearing said workwear at trade shows as you do not only stand to lose clients but may also lose out on wowing and so making important contacts and strengthening your business network.
Hence, only ever opt to invest in quality made branded workwear (whether having anything from baseball hats to aprons to hoodies or shirts branded). This also means only ever having your logo and / or business name embroidered onto garments by a reputable and established name such as Stitch Embroidery, rather than opting to have your name or logo cheaply transferred onto items. Transfers are instantly recognisable as ‘cheap’ and in time will crack, peel and wear, making a branded garment that looked cheap and tacky to begin with look even worse in the long run.
