Help me choose Uniforms for my Sales Team

[clintofio]

Okay, I need some help on making me and my buddies look good and make a good first impression at some upcoming shows.

We're a startup company making hunting blinds that look like trees and rocks, and we're also making some home/garden products too (planters, feeders, etc...)

Show season is coming up starting January and I want our team to look sharp and unique. I'm trying to decide on our sales uniform.

Here's my parameters:

1) No camo.
2) Outdoorsy but professional look
3) Good for warm climates (year round), but able to layer into cool climates.

I want suggestions on pants, shirt, and jacket including colors and brands for our guys. They will need to incorporate this logo:



The logo on the shirt can be yellow as pictured, or changed to match the theme of the uniform, but yellow is preferred.

Right now I'm thinking khaki or brown tactical pants, and a vented back button up short sleeve outdoorsy/tactical shirt in charcoal grey or dark green with our logo on the chest and centered on upper back. And a jacket like maybe the Condor Softshell in black or dark green with a subdued logo patch on the sleeve for outdoors/cooler settings.

We'll be attending SHOT, ATA, NRA, Dallas Safari Club, and probably assorted home and garden shows. Also, we'll be visiting potential dealers at their locations which will include everything from major retailers like Lowe's, Cabela's, etc... and mom&pop farm and ranch stores, nurseries, etc...

Your ideas and feedback are appreciated. Thanks guys!

[lightfighter]

Clintofio - I think your idea of khaki cargos / tactical pants, green shirt and black fleece / soft shell jacket sounds just right.

I agree with Don that embroidery reads higher quality than transfer printing

I think the logo on the back of the shirt is over the top though

$ .02 !

[clintofio]

This Cabelas shirt looks pretty good in tan. It looks like it would look good untucked and be good for putting the logo on.

[Ragsbo]

Also add comfortable to the list. If you are going to wear them 12+ hours working a show you want to be extra comfortable!

[clintofio]

Also add comfortable to the list. If you are going to wear them 12+ hours working a show you want to be extra comfortable!

Yes! Comfortable and low maintenance.

[CaptBeach]

I do a lot of trade shows. I've been in high end sales for a while. Professionalism is a key element here.

Consider your background as well...your convention/slow booth and its predominant colors.

Thumbs up on the logo. I would change one thing though...insert the URL into the company logo...same graphic, incorporate NATURE-BLINDS.COM. Your URL needs to be everywhere you name is.

Having said that...Black is well...the new black...its black again and looks good with yellow in your logo...splurge and buy long and short sleeve HIGH QUALITY non logo golf shirts, Not cotton Polo's that look like crap after 2 washings, Go to a high end golf shop and find out what I mean, fabrics that look good all the time, are travel resistant, self wicking. You'll see the difference. Get them embroidered. have your art work made camera/machine ready (its a file thing, I kinda understand) We got our exhibition shirts for about $35ea and another 12-15 to get them embroidered. have some people wear the LS and some SS on altering days..breaks up the booth personnel some and gives a little change too. Also have your shirts/owners/principles a little different than salesmen or demo/product guys, not too different, what I do is have my shirt with my name on it with the logo and I buy a grade better shirt, same color. Also black makes everyone look a little slimmer. Get a matching black belt for everyone.

Trousers/pants...Today everyone is wearing Khaki and its a strong color. Consider getting GRAY or light gray as well...If you budget allows get KHAKI and GRAY, both match up nice with the black and ESTABLISH with booth crew what color today is KHAKI or GRAY...dont have them show up mix matched. 5-11 makes some good stuff, Dickies, Carharts, dont forget Columbia and some of the other outdoors clothing makers...get quality stuff, people recognize quality and it adds to your first impression. Remember your marketing to the working man. Have someone launder all booth crews clothes prior to the show, dont let people wear/show up in brand spanking new unworn creased up clothes...you want them to look comfortable and at home in what they are wearing. And again owners/principles get higher end trousers and shoes...LOOK THE PART of the SUCCESSFUL OWNER...Confidence and success go hand in hand...you are confident when you look good...

Shoes...here is where I see it... your going to be on HARD ASS concrete (even it is has a layer of carpet on it) for HOURS/DAYS at a time, get comfortable shoes, encourage them to get a pair of tan/khaki hikers for Khaki days and maybe a pair of gray accented running/cross-trainers for gray days. NO BLACK shoes...and heaven forbid...NO WHITE SOCKS...get coordinating socks...

Have your salesmen well versed in your product and its usages...not..."Yeah buddy I use the hell out of it and it really works..." They need to know the product knowledge, how its made, materials and processes that make your product better. Whats coming out soon...ask about distributors. make time for you to network with other people at the show...cross markets, get your product line out there anyway you can...when Joe Bob from Joe Bobs Sporting goods comes by spend extra time, get pictures taken with pro hunters and celebs that show up to post on your website.

Everyone gets a haircut 3-5 days out, not the day before the event. Everyone is well groomed. Breathmints Breathmints Breathmints...nothing turns off a sale faster than a salesman who smells like he ate a turd for breakfast.

TRAIN your staff to talk to people...I can talk to anyone...its simple...there are 6 degrees of separation between everyone...literally...Bring all conversations BACK to your product and what it can do for them...listen to there ideas...

Train your staff to make eye contact and smile...your going to get 60 seconds on average, 90 if your lucky to tell them who you are and what you do...PUT A BROCHURE IN THEIR HAND...Put something in their hand...put your URL in their brain...

I could go on for a while...if you got any questions IM me

Capt Beach

[SPQR476]

I'd go polos and long sleeve button downs. No hurry on the polos, wait for the season. You'll only get a year out of the shirts anyway before they don't look as crisp, even if you're only wearing them at shows. Embroidery all the way. Either ditch the back design or go with another small embroidery on the back yoke of the shirt. Black pants or shirts look really sharp, but friggin suck to keep lint free, and fade fast. Black also isn't very outdoorsy. I'd go with earthy tones of some sort.

[SnowStorm]

I would suggest that you have the same color scheme (khaki pants, and black shirt) for your top guy, but put him in a black long sleeve button up dress shirt. Make the boss look good.

CEO:


Others:

[lightfighter]

Woolrich makes good looking stuff: http://www.woolrichelitetactical.com...liteshirts.htm

[clintofio]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions guys. CaptBeach you really went above and beyond the call of duty with your advice and it is much appreciated.

I may go with the black shirt in two quality levels and the alternating khaki/grey pants idea. I think I'm going to order a few different colors and styles one each until I find the winning combination.

For the lower-tier shirt which will be either an outdoorsy button up short sleeve or a nice polo, do you think we can go untucked, or does everyone need to be tucked? I think the right shirts look pretty nice untucked, as long as they're level at the bottom with a nice hem and no tags/logos.

And... for those of us that are tucked in. Any recommendations on belt style? Dress belts seem too dressy if we're wearing hiking-style shoes. Would a wildnerness instructor type of belt look good, or is that too tacticool?

Still interested in hearing opinions on specific brands and color combos on the pants/shirts.