Say Goodbye to Uniform Rentals

Why Owning Uniforms Could Be Your Business’s Smartest Decision

By Steve Baruch | Vice President, National Accounts

As someone who works closely with procurement professionals, my role is to provide solutions that ease their operational challenges. In my experience, one of the recurring dilemmas they face is whether to rent or purchase uniforms for their workforce. Let me share with you the results of my extensive experience analyzing real-world applications of both.

Cost Savings

For most, the idea of purchasing uniforms can seem costly. However, when considering the long-term financial landscape, the benefits quickly become clear. Rental agreements too often come with hidden fees, such as under-wash fees and size change fees, which can significantly inflate costs over time. By purchasing uniforms, a business makes a one-time investment that eliminates recurring rental and maintenance fees, and that leads to substantial savings. According to research, this approach can be up to 45% cheaper in the long run. [1]

Control Over Uniforms

Purchasing uniforms provides a company with greater control over the design and quality of its workwear. It allows a business to customize uniforms to accurately reflect its brand, by adding logos and department identifiers, as well as personalizing items with employee names. This level of customization ensures a professional appearance and fosters a sense of unity and pride among employees.

Employee Satisfaction and Responsibility

Transitioning to a purchase model is also likely to positively impact company employees. What I have witnessed is that allowing them to wash their own uniforms fosters a sense of responsibility and ownership. Employees take better care of their apparel, which further enhances their professional appearance and satisfaction. Moreover, washing uniforms at home allows them to use the detergents and washing methods they prefer, which contributes to improved personal comfort and hygiene standards.

As an added benefit, home laundering is more environmentally friendly compared to industrial laundering, especially with the use of energy-efficient appliances.

Enhanced Product Choice and Innovation

Direct purchase programs offer a wider variety of products, including innovative designs and different fits, making wearers very happy to switch out of rental programs because they have a choice. Additionally, there are typically more color options available. Rental programs tend to keep offerings very narrow and are reluctant to replace products. Innovative products come out yearly, but rental programs almost never allow these selective changes.

The Role of Portals in Business Operations

Portals play a crucial role in modern business operations by centralizing various processes and making them more accessible and efficient. An effective portal is intuitive and easy to use, providing a seamless experience for both administrators and employees. For instance, in the context of uniform management, a well-designed portal can streamline ordering, tracking, and inventory management, reducing the time and effort required to maintain uniform standards.

Operational Efficiency

A good portal enhances overall operational efficiency by integrating multiple functions into a single platform, enabling better communication, real-time updates, and comprehensive data management.

Streamlined Operations & Increased Value

In addition, a portal that is intuitive with a quick and easy process will streamline operations and increase overall value, according to Michael van Keulen, Chief Procurement Officer at Coupa. [2]

This means that businesses can reduce administrative burdens, improve accuracy, and foster better engagement among employees, ultimately driving greater productivity and cost savings.

Your Next Step

In sum, switching from renting to purchasing uniforms and having employees wash their own can lead to significant cost savings, greater control over uniform quality and branding, improved employee satisfaction, reduced environmental impact, and streamlined logistics.

By evaluating the specific needs and capabilities of their workforce, businesses can make informed decisions that best align with their financial goals and corporate values.

Are you a uniform renter or buyer? I’m eager to hear about your experience.

1. Keller Executive Search; 2. Procurement Magazine