Being the proprietor of your own restaurant is a lot of hard work. In addition to creating an amazing menu and preparing foods that leave customers raving and coming back time and time again, you need to worry about many of the same day-to-day operational responsibilities that business owners in virtually all industries share. You need to keep up with your finances, make sure you have the right team of people working for you and work with multiple vendors to ensure that all of your business’s supply needs are met.
While it is obvious that you need to work with food vendors to ensure that you have all the ingredients necessary to prepare the taste bud tantalizing fare on your menu, you also need vendors for things like general office supplies, restaurant equipment and, of course, garments. If your restaurant is a bit more ritzy, you may also need to source linens from an outside company.
When you are shopping for apparel for your restaurant, the costs can add up quickly. Buying in bulk, however, can help mitigate the expense. Buying wholesale restaurant apparel is significantly more affordable than buying just a few garments at retail prices. Doing so also ensures that you have plenty of the clothing items you need on hand at all times.
In fact, there are a lot of great reasons to buy bulk apparel for your restaurant. Whether you just opened the doors at your first small pizza joint or you are running a successful 5-star gourmet eatery, here are a few of the many benefits of buying in bulk.
Strengthen Your Brand
When you buy apparel in bulk and have it emblazoned with your logo or slogan, it serves as a powerful tool for building your brand. Wholesale apparel can easily be screen printed or embroidered, and once the garments for your business have been completed, you can use them in several different ways. Customized t-shirts and dress shirts work well as employee uniforms (more on uniforms later!) because they create a cohesive, professional-looking atmosphere. Diners instantly recognize who works for your business, and every time they interact with a member of your team, they are presented with your brand.
There are other uses for wholesale apparel that you have had customized with your restaurant’s logo. You can use t-shirts, hats and other garments as promotional giveaways to your customers. They are also great items to sell to loyal fans of your establishment. When customers wear clothing emblazoned with your logo while running errands or engaging in other tasks, they become walking billboards for your business. This type of exposure can be extremely beneficial, so investing in bulk garments for your restaurant could end up being a very smart marketing move.
Save Money
As we mentioned, buying apparel in bulk can save you big. Let’s say, for example, you have a casual dining establishment and you want to buy t-shirts for all of your employees to wear while they are on the clock. If you place an order for just a couple of shirts, you could end up spending as much as $20 (sometimes even more!) for each one. When you order cotton t-shirts in bulk, however, you could end up paying just a few dollars per item.
Another cost-effective solution that works well with t-shirts is buying shirts in bulk and having them customized at a later date. If you choose this option, you can purchase your shirts for less than $2 each and have your business’s information added by a trusted local screen printer as needed. If you are providing the shirts, you may be able to find someone who is willing to work with you to give you a good deal on small, repeat purchases rather than requiring you to have several done at once. Of course, you could also customize your plain tees yourself using printable iron-on transfers.
Buying in bulk also helps you save money by reducing shipping costs. Having one large order shipped to you typically costs a lot less than having several smaller ones sent. In many cases, companies even offer free shipping on larger orders to help sweeten the deal. Spending less on shipping brings down the overall costs of shirts, uniforms, chef jackets, etc., so it is a smart way to improve your bottom line when purchasing the apparel you need.
Keep Your Staff Looking Great
Appearances matter. While you may not need to have your drive-thru workers dressed up in full suits and ties, they will look much more professional if you require them to wear some sort of uniform. Even workers at fast food restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King are issued uniforms, so this should tell you how important it is to create a consistent look for your staff.
Each restaurant has its own policies regarding how employees should dress. When establishing your own dress code, keep in mind that your employees’ attire is a reflection of your brand. In many restaurants, a t-shirt emblazoned with the company logo and a pair of jeans or dress pants is perfectly acceptable.
For fancier restaurants, however, dress shirts may be more appropriate. Find dress shirts in bulk that coordinate with your brand and you will never have to worry about your staff looking unprofessional or reflecting poorly on your business because of their attire. Classic black and white dress shirts also work well for hosts and wait staff.
No matter how you choose to outfit your employees, buying their apparel in bulk ensures that you will have enough for everyone. Order in a variety of sizes and always make sure you have a few shirts or uniforms on hand in the sizes that your current employees wear. This ensures that you have a spare ready for an employee to change into in the event of a spill or accident.
Having a wide variety of sizes on hand also means that you will likely have something to give to a new employee who is just starting. You won’t have to scramble to order clothing for someone who was hired to fill a last-minute vacancy, nor will you have to deal with them showing up for work out of uniform because your order hasn’t come in yet.
When placing an order for bulk apparel, don’t forget about things like aprons. Widely used by chefs, cooks, dishwashers and servers, aprons are essential to restaurant operations. From the small waist aprons commonly used by servers to larger aprons that are worn around the neck or waist, there are several styles to choose from to meet the needs of your entire team. When you purchase bulk aprons for your restaurant, you can rest assured knowing that you will have plenty of extras on hand in case one gets ruined. Make sure you have a few extra chef coats, too.
What to Look for When Buying Bulk Apparel
When you are in the market for bulk apparel for your restaurant, you have an overwhelming number of choices. There are several manufacturers that produce apparel that is sold in bulk by countless wholesalers. With so many options, it is often hard to determine which one is right for your needs.
Look for a company that offers several different products and styles rather than ordering products from multiple vendors. When you are able to order from just one business, it is much easier to keep track of your shipments and form a strong relationship with the vendor. Being able to order everything all at once will also likely help you save on shipping expenses and possibly secure even better pricing.
Make sure the company you are buying from carries high-quality products from reputable brands. If a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. The company may be selling products from inferior brands, or they may be selling factory seconds that do not meet the quality requirements for being sold at full price. Sometimes, seconds are a good deal. However, the risk typically outweighs the reward, so it is better to know that you are buying top-quality goods.
Think about how your purchase will impact the environment and the world. Social and environmental responsibility are becoming increasingly important both to consumers and to business owners. By committing to only purchasing apparel that is made by manufacturers that are socially and environmentally friendly, you are doing your part to reduce your business’s harmful environmental impact and ensure fair working conditions for laborers around the world.
Lastly, look for a wholesaler that values your satisfaction. Whether you are buying just a few shirts or you are placing a large bulk order, you should feel confident that the company you are buying from will stand behind their products and provide assistance if you need it. You should be able to return blank garments (in their original condition) if you are unhappy with them for any reason, and the vendor should be willing to work with you to ensure that you get exactly what you need at a price you can afford.
In Conclusion
As a restaurant owner, you have a lot of responsibilities. Running a dining establishment requires a lot more than just making good food. You need to make the right investments to ensure your long-term success. Investing in the right garments helps ensure that your entire team has a professional, cohesive appearance. Doing so also strengthens your brand and improves brand recognition.
When it comes to buying things like t-shirts, dress shirts and aprons for your restaurant, you can save yourself a lot of time and money by ordering from a reputable wholesaler. When you buy in large quantities, you can get high-quality shirts from leading brands like Hanes, Jerzees, and Anvil for just a few dollars per piece. Since many sellers offer free shipping on large orders, buying in bulk could save you a lot of money there, too.
If you own a restaurant, buying garments in bulk is a great way to take your business to the next level. Whether you just opened the doors of your casual, cozy diner or you are running a fine dining establishment, buying wholesale apparel helps ensure that you are prepared for anything.
