Everything You Need to Know Before Making Branded Polos

Whether you’re a one-person startup or a large corporation with hundreds of employees, branded shirts are pretty much a necessity for you and your employees. Whether you consider a branded polo a business uniform or simply smart business attire, wearing one has many benefits. It shows professionalism, enforces branding best practices, and can even look quite stylish if done right. But you can’t decide to design and purchase branded polos without doing a bit of research first. Failing to take particular considerations into account could be a costly mistake that does more harm than good. For that matter, here is everything you need to know before making branded polos for your company.

You Need the Right Type of Fabric

The first thing to remember is that not every polo is created equally. If you’re going to be wearing a shirt, you want it to look good, fit well, and be easy to care for. Believe it or not, many brands buy branded polos without taking those factors into account. Therefore, make sure to put some thought into what type of work you or your staff will be doing in these shirts, as well as what types of conditions they will be worn in. After all, the clothing needs of a person working in an air-conditioned office will be much different than those of a person going door-to-door in hot temperatures selling a product. A heavy cotton polo won’t be as appropriate as a light cotton blend that has moisture-wicking properties. For that matter, remember to keep the type of work and working conditions in mind when choosing custom polo shirts.

Consider How and Where to Place Your Logo

Branding a polo shirt involves more than just telling a retailer, “Here’s my logo. Put it on a shirt for me.” They’re going to want to know not only where on the shirt to put it, but also how to put it on there: printed or embroidered. Polos are great for embroidered logos because, unlike T-shirts, the fabric is strong enough to hold a stitch. The result is a professional-looking, long-lasting garment that looks great on anyone. However, printed logos may be a good choice for more lightweight polo shirts that may be worn in warmer temperatures. The choice is yours.

Additionally, consider where to place it. The left chest is a common area, but know that some people also choose the sleeve or even the back of the shirt. You may even want to have employee names embroidered on one part of the polo and your company’s name or logo in another part. The choice is yours!

Choose Your Colors

Color isn’t just a matter of personal preference. Plenty of research has been done in regard to how colors affect marketing efforts and the way consumers respond. However, once again, the nature of your work will play a big part in what colors you choose. For example, someone who works in a dirty field of work won’t want a light-colored polo shirt, since darker colors hide dirt better. If you go with a darker color, keep the color of your embroidered logo or name in mind as well. A lighter color logo will contrast better against dark fabric, making it more noticeable. Keep in mind fashion preferences also. Not everyone will enjoy wearing bright orange, but blues and blacks are much more neutral. Plus, they match better with custom uniform work pants and khakis.

Research Quantity and Sizes

When it comes to placing your order, keep in mind that it may be most cost-effective to order in bulk instead of ordering one shirt at a time. For that matter, you’ll need to create a list of all your employees and how many shirts you anticipate them needing. Be sure to account for any new staff you plan to hire as well. You’ll also need sizes. For the new staff for whom you don’t know their sizes yet, you can either play it safe and size up, or wait before ordering them. However, for the rest of your staff, don’t just assume you know their size. Present them with the manufacturer’s sizing guide so they can choose for themselves. And if polo shirts are required uniforms, be sure to order extras for when they get dirty.

Think About Other Items Besides Polos

Don’t assume that your uniform has to just be polos. For certain staff or certain lines of work, a T-shirt, hoodie, or jacket might be more appropriate. After all, a restaurant may have chefs, servers, hosts, and valet staff, but you wouldn’t expect the person parking your car to be wearing a chef uniform. Additionally, there might be other types of products, like custom company hats, that might go well with a polo shirt. Order a few and see how your staff reacts to them. You may find that they enjoy the hat so much that they wear it in their free time. Free marketing!

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when designing purchasing branded polos. But with these tips at your disposal, you’ll be sure to dress your staff for success.