What to Look for in a Uniform Rental Service: A Buyer’s Guide

If you’re shopping around for a uniform rental service, you’re ready to make a valuable investment in your business. After all, having a consistent, customized work uniform program can enhance your business’s safety, professionalism, cost savings, productivity, and brand image while also boosting camaraderie within the team. It’s wise to research providers and weigh your options, as choosing the right service could be the difference between rolling out a successful program and struggling with employee adherence. As you explore providers, here are six things to look for in a uniform rental service.

1. Options for customization

A premier uniform service provider will offer customizations that make your company stand out, especially in a crowded industry. The right provider will have the knowledge to provide you with the right recommendations based on your business needs. Beyond simply offering different colors and adding your logo to the workwear, look for customization when it comes to sizing and resizing. Since people’s sizing can change, for instance, finding a provider that offers a service to size up and down uniforms instead of buying new ones makes sense. Additionally, when you onboard new team members, it’s important for them to be sized and given the right uniforms in a timely manner.

When looking for a uniform rental service, it’s important to ask about routine workwear inspections, automatic repairs, and replacements. Some suppliers include these as part of the monthly cost, while others may charge extra. This can help you avoid any surprise costs.

2. A process to quickly identify and repair damage

Quickly identifying and making repairs to workwear can increase its longevity. Ask service providers about how frequently they inspect uniforms and the process they follow. If a company has well-defined inspection criteria and processes, you’ll have greater peace of mind that uniform repairs will be handled promptly.

3. Timely pick up and drop off

There’s nothing worse than implementing a program and having uniform pick-up and drop-off be inconsistent and unreliable. That’s why choosing a company with a reputation for reliability is important. Not only do you want uniforms to show up on time, but you’ll also need to trust that the right uniforms will be there. Look for companies with reliable management systems and clear communication about pick-up and drop-off procedures. Tenure and certifications are also important factors to consider. You should choose a supplier with long-tenured and expertly trained service-certified professionals.

4. Availability of add-on items

While work shirts and pants may be your primary consideration when choosing workwear for your staff, you’ll also want to ask a uniform rental service provider about add-ons. These items may include hats, belts, rain jackets, and other accessories that augment the uniform. Add-ons can be especially valuable for certain employees. For example, providing an employee who works outdoors with a wide-brimmed hat with sun flaps can offer them extra sun protection and comfort for a nominal fee.

5. Responsive and knowledgeable service professionals

When you outsource your uniform rental to a third party, you’ll need to feel confident that they’re handling all aspects of your uniform program. Hiring a company with reliable and knowledgeable customer service and support staff means you’ll know from whom to get your questions answered.

Even better than having one point of contact is having a service team entirely dedicated to ensuring your program is running smoothly and that you’ll get everything you need each week. Look for providers with representatives who are expertly trained (service-certified professionals) in the uniform rental business. Work with uniform partners who are committed to learning about every aspect of your business, the industry you are in, details about your account and your delivery route to provide the best value add.

6. Transparent pricing

When you hire a vendor, the last thing you want is to wonder how much you’ll pay each month. The right uniform service provider will be transparent with pricing, so there are no surprises. You’ll also want the provider to notify you about any volume discounts or other incentives your business may be eligible for.

The bottom line

It makes sense to talk to multiple uniform rental providers before you make a decision. As you assess options, look for vendors that offer customization, regular inspections, reliable delivery, quick repairs, great customer service, and transparent pricing. Companies that check off these critical boxes may make the best partner in the long term.