Sharper Uniform Blog

We thought the staff at Sharper Uniforms, were dedicated to all who wear aprons, but low and behold, we’ve come across another site with that same dedication and that site is Rick Rack Shack. We recently connected with Deci from Rick Rack Shack as we were browsing other craft and kitchen blogs and we are so happy that we discovered her and her blog. She showcases everything pertaining to aprons, from fun designs and styles, to giveaways and contests, as well as offering patterns and informative video clips to her readers. We love the pizzazz and fun spirit behind each and every post of Deci’s! She was even kind enough to mention Sharper Uniforms on her blog here. We’d love for you to lend her a visit and enjoy the posts she’s highlighted about all topics pertaining to aprons! We hope you enjoy Rick Rack Shack as much as we do!

The men and women that staff your front desk are, essentially, the face of your hotel. They’re the first and last person your guests usually see when they are staying with you. They’re often answering the phones and helping guests with problems or special requests. With all of that depending on this group of staff members, making a first impression is important!

A good rule of thumb is to dress up your front desk staff so they are the best dressed people in the hotel (an exception would be banquet servers at formal events, when required). They are your front line for everyone who enters the hotel so you want them to look and feel their best. Men look great in a suit or a vest, generally. Women can wear a suit, but they can also look sharp in a vest or sweater.

Whatever the look you’re going for, make sure you choose a high quality fabric. Not only will it last longer and show less wear over time, but your staff will feel much more comfortable. And when they’re comfortable, they’re happy and pleasant with guests.

Do you find a particular style works best for your front desk staff? We’d love to hear your favorite styles!

When it’s time to dress the staff at a hotel or resort, there is a lot of ground to cover. At any given hotel you have as many as five different groups of staff to consider, along with the different needs of the men and women on your staff. This month, we’re going to take a closer look at all the staff uniforms you’d need to run a successful resort and the issues you’ll need to tackle for each group. These include:

• Front Desk Staff - they make the first impression on your guests and need to look their best at all times.
• Banquet Staffers – usually the best dressed of all your staff, they work formal dinners and black tie events.
• House Keeping Staff – comfort and a neat appearance are key for these crucial staff members. They need to be able to do their job with ease and still look professional.
• Maintenance – the crew that keeps everything running smoothly needs heavy duty uniforms that can withstand extra dirt and wear from a hard days’ work!
• Spa or Salon Staff – more and more hotels and resorts are adding a spa to their property so it’s important to dress your spa staff in professional, clean looking attire.

Next week we’ll dive in to the in’s and outs of your front desk staff’s attire!

No, this post isn’t a look into the most closely guarded secret in the universe! It’s a look into the type of shirts that women working in the hospitality industry prefer! Not all shirts are made equal and there are certain styles that are more flattering for the ladies.

Many women prefer a more fitted blouse/button down shirt rather than the boxier standard shirt that men wear, which can look like a sack of potatoes on a woman. Many companies who looked for uniforms for their employees used to stick with the simple polo, but more people are moving toward the button down shirt. As a result, women have become more particular about style on the job and feel more feminine with a v-neck blouse such as our stretch fitted blouse, or a classic open neck blouse. Women have very specific wants/needs when it comes to a blouse, there has been an increase in the trend of more of a fitted look for women.

If you’re thinking about updating your uniforms, why not talk to the women you’ll be dressing to see what they prefer. It’s not always one style fits on all the job, and when your female staff are comfortable with their uniforms, you can count on happier, more productive staff!

We were lucky enough to have recently connected with Selena who is the fun loving personality behind the blog, Apron Thrift Girl. With her life evolving around thrifting ever since she was a little one, to this day her lift is still centered around thrifting. We happened to stumble upon her fantastic blog while reaching out to others who would be interested in reviewing our aprons and giving us a little “shout out” on their own blog. Selena was kind enough to write up a fabulous review about the pink apron we sent her and she came up with a fantastic idea for a giveaway contest for the extra pink apron we sent her way! You can see the post and details of the contest here.

The array of blog topics that the Apron Thrift Girl blog covers, range from Selena’s latest steals and deals on items for the kitchen, to delicious sounding recipes, to the everyday whereabouts and activities she enjoys with her family. We can’t thank her enough for the support and her great writing style and we encourage others to stop by and say hello over at Apron Thrift Girl!

It isn’t easy to stay on the leading edge of clothing technology for the food service industry. Yes, we said “clothing technology”. Sometimes it’s not enough to just have a shirt that looks good! Today’s fabrics are engineered to be stronger, more vibrant, and even repell odor!

We’ve added two new shirts to our site that we’re extremely proud of: the men’s extreme performance moisture management polo shirt, and the women’s extreme performance moisture management polo shirt. But what exactly makes these shirts so special?

They’re both treated with the AP-360+ Fabric Shield. This amazing technology blocks odor causing bacterial growth and ensures freshness. Just because you’re breaking a sweat on the job doesn’t mean your customers have to know! This fabric shield reduces bacterial contamination and acts as a natural deodorant. It’s made from crustacean shells – a natural and renewable resource. The fabric will actually wick the moisture away from you so it can evaporate, which keeps you cooler.

If you want to learn more about this amazing new technology, let us know! We’re happy to discuss and help you see if this amazing new fabric is right for you!

We can’t believe how time flies! In less than a month we’ll be at the New England Food Show. Today, we’re excited to announce another appearance that’s in the works for the very end of March. Sharper Uniforms is scheduled to appear at the 2010 Maine Restaurant & Lodging Expo 2010!

The Maine Restaurant & Lodging Expo is the only truly comprehensive hospitality industry expo in the state of Maine that caters to the business to business set. There are over 120 exhibitors scheduled to appear so far! You can visit their website to learn more about the expo and to register for this great event.

We’ll be in Expo Booth #604, so make sure to swing by and say hello. We’d love to meet you!

We’re thrilled to announce the latest update to SharperUniforms.com – Scratch And Save Discounts! They’re just like your favorite instant lottery tickets, except this time you’re scratching to see how much you’ll save off your order with us.

So how does this new promo work? It’s pretty simple. First, go to any item page and you’ll see the scratch and save box. Click and hold the dime that’s to the right of the box. Don’t let go of that left mouse button, and then drag the coin over the scratch box. You’ll reveal a random coupon code that can be used to save on your order:

Copy that code and then paste it in the coupon field during checkout and you’ll save. You never know what the amount will be, so why not try it out? You can save on any order and keep your staff looking stylish for less. We’re updating it regularly so remember to try your luck with our Scratch And Save every time you shop!

One of the most popular items on our site, and one that we get a lot of questions on, is the apron. With so many styles and colors available, it’s not surprising that you want to know more! The apron is one of the most useful pieces of your staff’s uniform. They keep everyone looking and clean and neat, and in the event of a spill, you can change and look as good as new in a matter of minutes. So which apron is right for your team?

Waist Aprons – The waist apron is one of our best sellers, and is popular for good reason. It’s a handy tool for servers – they can store extra straws, pens and notepads for taking orders and keep them in easy reach. There’s no fumbling in their pockets or running back and forth to get what they need.

Bistro Aprons – The bistro apron is similar to the waist apron, just longer. For a more professional look, or for restaurants where the waitstaff is more likely to get dirty, the bistro aprons will keep them covered!

Bib Aprons (with or without pockets) – This apron is perfect for people in the front and the back of the house. Cooks definitely need the bib apron to keep them clean, and often servers like them if they’re helping out in the back.

Cobbler Aprons – This style is popular for housekeeping and maintenance jobs, and has all the functionality of all the aprons above. Leave the dust and grime on the apron and not on your uniform!

If you don’t work in the food or service industry, you’ve probably never even heard of a zipper tie. But if you do, then these ties are beyond famous. This simple invention has helped revolutionize the look of waitstaff everywhere.

So how exactly does the zipper tie work? It’s actually really simple! It comes with a pre-tied tie that’s attached to a longer loop. Slip that loop around your neck and then you can zip the tie up until it’s sitting comfortably. You can an instantly professional look without the hassle of tying the tie from scratch!

A zipper tie is great for women who might have never had to tie a tie before, or even places like country clubs that hire a lot of younger men and even high school kids for the summer who haven’t had to wear ties that often! It’s a great addition to your staff’s wardrobe because it presents a standard look – it’s a guarantee that everyone will look sharp, as the don’t have to worry about the fuse of a tie. If you’re having trouble getting that uniform look you want from your staff, why not try out some zipper ties? They come in a wide range of colors and are a snap to use!