First impressions are very important in the hospitality industry, as no one likes to look at a team that looks tired and is badly dressed. In any way, first impressions are the last impressions, and having a good look for your team is not only about having good clothing but is also about brand identity and representation and helps drive benefits for your restaurant. Here are some ways you can achieve a signature look for yours.
Define Your Brand Identity
Firstly, you need to think about your brand identity and the vibe that your restaurant brings. Your restaurant could be a fast-food place, where customers get pick-ups and are more focused on getting food quick, or you could have a restaurant that has fine-dining and Michelin-star foods. You can take into consideration whether your brand has a more old-school vibe or a more modern one. In this way, you can come up with the style and fabric of your restaurant uniforms. For a casual burger place, for example, you can go for bright T-shirts and aprons, at an old-school breakfast place, you can go for aprons with cheques on them, while at a fine-dining date night type restaurant, you can go for button-down formal shirts and pants.
Choose a Color Scheme
There are many factors to consider before picking a color scheme, as dark colors like black and brown are good if you want to hide stains and are sleek and powerful. However, if your restaurant is in an area that is hot, the dark colors would make your staff extremely uncomfortable. White is stylish and classic, but it can easily stain oranges and reds have a bright and electric look on them, while green has a very natural essence to it and makes customers feel at ease.
Comfort and Functionality Over Style
While establishing the brand outlook is important, it is also important to ensure that your staff members stay comfortable and can perform their tasks rapidly, without any issues, which is why you need to come up with a uniform that is smart-looking as well as functional. Firstly, you need to ensure that the uniform is made from a breathable fabric. Servers have long shifts, walk in and out of kitchens where the temperatures are hot, and must do a lot of physical exertion, which is why it is a good idea to have breathable fabric like cotton. It should also be easily stretchable, so that staff can move around easily in it, and easy to wash, so that if anything falls on it, it can be easily removed and does not ruin the fabric. For functionality, you can add pockets in the aprons so that servers can put in pens and notebooks, and have shoes that are non-slip, have a good grip, and are comfortable, so they can make moving around easy.
Differentiate by Role and Customize
Branding is important, so that your brand name can be visible and that your name is constantly marketed. You can include unique designs and patterns that are specific to your brand, your brand logo, and the name tags of the servers so that customers can interact with them comfortably.
Not every employee is working the same role, and has a different duty to cover, which is why their uniforms should also be according to their roles. For example, cooks need to have light breathable clothes with aprons and clothes that are easily washed, as they are always dealing with some ingredients. Servers are the look of your restaurant, and they should be well-dressed while wearing functional clothes. If you have a host or a manager, they should be the best dressed as they welcome all your customers because according to studies, uniforms can influence behavior and help in team building, which is why utmost attention needs to be paid to them.
Conclusion
Uniforms at restaurants are not just clothes that your staff wear but also develop the overall look and ambience of your restaurant. While the look of your restaurant is important as it creates an impression on customers, it is equally important that your staff treat the customers politely, always have a smile on their faces, and are always ready to serve and delight them, which is why designing the best look while constantly reminding your staff to be patient and friendly will achieve the perfect look for your team.
