Over the last few years, company uniform policies have become much more casual. The implementation of casual Fridays, as well as millennials’ relaxed approach to business attire, have contributed to this approach. Nonetheless, uniforms are far from being outdated. They are a solid way to keep employees feeling like they’re part of a team, as well as helping your external clients recognise your brand. In this article, we will discuss the latest trends and the top 5 coolest company uniforms.
Here are the top 5 of Red Tomato’s favourite company uniforms:
Denim is back in a big way: think 1980s’ Guess. Everything is made of denim- shirts, skirts, aprons, and entire outfits. Roster shows off its new uniforms, showing that this material is not only durable, it’s also sleek and super comfortable for its employees. Adding gold, tattoo-inspired logo stitches on each piece brings the look together seamlessly.
Since its inception in 2011, WOW Air has been pushing the envelope. With their jaw-dropping prices and use of bold colours, they haven’t stopped turning heads. Their bright purple uniforms are a risk worth taking- something Delta could have learned years ago. Not only does their sleek attire fit the entirety of their brand (think the airplane, website, and boarding passes), it also leaves a lasting impression on the consumer.
3. Cloudera, founded in the Silicon Valley, California, USA
Depending on what kind of business you run, sometimes logoed t-shirts or polos are the way to go. For example, if you run a hardware store, it wouldn’t fit the brand to have your retail associates wear a suit and tie. As Cloudera proves, with slogans like “I like big data and I cannot lie,” logoed shirts are simple, effective, and can be quite fun. Not only are these t-shirts super comfortable, but they also leave a lasting impression on clients.
As WestWaters’ staff proves, sometimes there’s nothing better than the classic button-up shirt. This fashion-forward establishment knows that, in 2018, checkered shirts are all the rage. This Gingham print is super versatile, as it can be paired with, khakis, black pants, or even a denim skirt. Having your employees dress in this uniform- which is just as fashionable on the street- demonstrates how approachable and relatable your company is.
5. Red Tomato, based in Castle Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Red Tomato (that’s us!) believes in presenting your company with a look of classic elegance. We specialise in tailored chic, combining your brand with the highest names in fashion, such as Calvin Klein, Van Heusen, and Pierre Cardin. There’s nothing like the everlasting style of a European button-down shirt or a sleek, fitted suit jacket. Not only should you dress for the job you want, but you should also dress for the clients you seek.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our selection of the five coolest company uniforms today. From bold colours to logoed t-shirts, to high-fashion classics, there is one thing that these looks have in common. Like everything else, you want to make sure that your image ties directly to your brand.
Upgrade Your Corporate Uniforms
If you need branding tips, we at Red Tomato are always here to assist you. We can help you choose whichever of the coolest styles will work for your company’s mission. Book a session below, and one of our expert fitting professionals will come to you. We want to help you show off your team’s ultimate corporate look.
Campaigns form the core of marketing. They employ a careful strategy to reach and engage customers with a blend of content, social media, advertising and creative execution.
However, one crucial element often gets overlooked until the very end: promo products.
When executed well, branded promotional items can strengthen marketing campaigns and offer a significant Return of Investment (ROI) for businesses. Sadly, instead of planning them efficiently and realising their actual value from the start, they’re often left as an afterthought in the strategic planning process. So, it’s high time to rethink when you are implementing your promotional products.
This delay can turn them into a gimmick.
In today’s world, where audiences have high expectations and short attention spans, promotional marketing products can make a significant impact when incorporated into a campaign. However, to do this effectively, promotional marketing needs to have a purpose. This purpose ensures it adds true value to your business.
To help you ‘promo with purpose’, we have compiled 6 ways your Marketing team can get the most out of promo marketing.
(1) Begin with the end results in mind
Understanding the overarching goals your campaign aims for is the best way to achieve a positive outcome from your promo marketing.
Determining the ideal outcome will assist in setting your performance indicators. This understanding will also guide your team to tailor your strategy to meet these goals. By knowing where your campaign is headed, you can be clear about your approach and about what kind of promotional products will help you achieve your goals.
(2) Plan your promo marketing
A good plan never fails.
Just like you determine the content and social media elements of your campaigns, it’s equally important to consider the role that promotional items will play in the overall execution and rollout of your marketing from the very beginning.
This early planning will allow them to form a useful component of your campaign. Consequently, they won’t be a poorly considered afterthought which ends up having little effect on the outcome.
(3) Consider your objectives
What is your business aiming to achieve? Launching a new product, sharing a PR update, showing loyal customers some love, or generating more leads?
When you have a clear purpose, you can pair it with a branded item that will leverage an ideal outcome.
Ask questions like:
What kind of promotional materials will be ideal to use?
How will promo-branded items contribute to the campaign’s message?
How will these products connect us with our customers better?
What physical promo items will reinforce the digital elements?
For instance, if your campaign goal is to raise brand awareness, which tangible branded items will contribute to this? You might create gift packs or merchandise that customers can redeem when they click on an advert or attend an event.
(4) Determine the target audience
Knowing your ideal customer will allow you to personalise your promotional marketing strategy and deliver a brand message that resonates with them. When you understand who your audiences are, you can select relevant promotional items that will engage their interest.
Remember, your promotional marketing strategy should add value to the person you’re targeting. Knowing what they need and what appeals to them will ensure that what you’re giving is valuable and desired, rather than a discarded item.
(5) Decide the kind of impression you want to make
The right promotional item can connect with customers like no other marketing can.
A wearable device feels satisfying and practical. An event wristband brings people together. A prize creates excitement, and a gift pack can make someone feel truly appreciated.
These are vibrant emotional responses that can leave a lasting impression and develop deep fondness for your brand.
Therefore, spend time considering designs, colours, packaging and anything else that can improve your branded items and ensure consistency with your overall campaign.
For example:
Do eco-friendly products align with our brand message?
Are tailored welcome kits beneficial to business clients?
Will that branded item reflect our company’s image?
(6) Choose the right promotional product
While the world is going digital today, there’s something exceptional about a physical promotional product that you can touch and interact with.
Your audience can easily recall your business every time they see your logo on their reusable coffee cup, the calendar or the leather journal they use daily. Tangible items can enhance a customer’s experience and extend your brand’s reach without getting lost in cyberspace.
Just make sure you pick the right promotional products. You can’t expect a successful result if your promotional marketing products do not align with the marketing campaigns.
Want some promo inspiration?
To give you some ideas, here is a list of our suggested products that may match with that social media execution or your upcoming event.
The importance of strategic promotional marketing
When you consider these 6 tips above, suddenly you shift your perspective away from gimmick items that do nothing for your brand, and more towards developing creative applications that extend your campaign’s reach and augment its strength in the eyes of your customers.
Our team can be an extension of your Marketing department. Leave it to us, and we can come up with a creative and tailored solution.
How can Red Tomato help you?
At Red Tomato, we take your marketing strategy to the next level by providing you with innovative promotional products that serve a real purpose – elevating your brand and increasing your returns.
Contact us directly to discuss your promotional marketing strategy and we’ll work on getting you only the right products for the right clients at the right time! Phone: 1300 776 733
Successful event planning involves many elements coming together smoothly. Sometimes, it’s easy to overlook steps or deviate from your ultimate event goals. So, to help you, here’s your comprehensive event planning checklist. This checklist aims to ensure success before, during, and after your event.
Here is your complete event planning checklist to ensure everything is successful before, during, and after your event.
Pre-Event
Firstly, set Goals: What are your event goals? Why plan the event? What outcomes do you expect? Use our Define Your Goal worksheet to create attainable goals.
Secondly, identify your Target audience: It’s crucial to identify the event’s target audience. After all, knowing which audience will help you achieve your goals is essential.
Next, Establish a Budget:While crucial, determining a budget can be hard. When creating your budget, be detailed. Include the item, description, quantity, estimated cost, and actual cost. If you need help, here are some tips for creating an event budget.
The fourth step involves Crafting a Program: This step combines the first three checklist elements. Create an event agenda that adds value to your target audience and lets you reach your goals while adhering to your budget.
Then, focus on Speakers: Now you have your program, you can recruit speakers. Source speakers who are industry experts and can captivate an audience.
Lastly, consider Sponsorship: Are you hosting the event alone or do you need sponsors? Sponsorship can give your event more reach and another engagement dimension. If required, reach out early in the planning stage.
Marketing
Start with the Website: Create a simple one-page website with all essential information for potential attendees.
Then, initiate Social media campaigns: Market your event using paid social media campaigns. Consider using Facebook Ads or LinkedIn Sponsored InMail for your target demographics.
Additionally, consider Giveaways: Giveaways can promote your brand and event. Consider holding a giveaway of a free event ticket and a branded product as a prize.
Also, don’t forget about a Press release: Don’t forget about promotions outside of your network. Reach out to different publications to market your event to a wider audience.
The venue choice is crucial. Secure a venue that meets the needs of your target audience and the event’s goals. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a venue for your event:
Permits: What permits will you need? Are they easy to get?
Number of guests: Will your venue accommodate the target number of attendees?
Room design and furniture: What is the vibe you will be creating for your event? Is it more relaxed and casual or more of a formal environment? Knowing this will help you determine which venue is best.
Parking: Does the venue have enough parking to accommodate the estimated number of attendees?
Logistics: Will you and your team be able to move in and out all of the equipment needed for the event quickly and without issues? What about music and sound for the different presentations?
Location: Is the venue in a location that is easily accessible by your attendees? If not, how will you make it accessible?
Equipment: Before your event make a list of all of the equipment (and backup equipment) you will need to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Handouts: What will be in the welcome back for each attendee? Will there be different items for different days of the events?
Gifts: What promotional merchandise will your brand be giving out to attendees? How is it helping your reach your goals and engage with your target audience? Will you have different branded gifts to give out each day of the event? Will your company be holding any giveaways or competitions to engage attendees even further?
Day of the event
Organise event staff: The morning of the event should begin with a (brief) group meeting with the entire event staff. The purpose of this meeting should get them excited about the day to come and to ensure they know their responsibilities.
Set up attendee registration and entertainment space: This is your attendee’s first impression of the event, so you need to set the right tone from the start.
Post-Event
Clean up: Your staff will be exhausted by the end of the event, but it’s important to respect the venue you used and clean up every piece of the event.
Thank you letters or gifts to staff and volunteers: The event wouldn’t have been possible without them and you should thank them for all their hard work.
Thank you presentation for sponsors: Also, prepare a thank you presentation for sponsors: If your event had sponsors involved, you should prepare a presentation with the final numbers and KPIs for the event, and what those results mean for those brands.
Follow-up engagement plan with attendees: How will your brand further engage with attendees even after the event is over?
Debrief with key stakeholders to review goals and plan for improvements: Upon the completion of the event, you should plan a meeting to discuss with the organization team the following:
Everyone loves a good first impression. Welcome kits are an essential part of onboarding new employees to your team. Including branded gifts in your kits can encourage company loyalty, make new staff feel part of the team, and be a great way to make a first impression!
This is the crucial period when a new hire will learn more about a company’s background and processes, and interact with the rest of their team. If they haven’t already made an impression, this is the time they will either affirm or form new impressions based on how their first few days go. According to a study, a strong onboarding process can improve new hire retention by 82% and improve the productivity of employees by 70%.
Learn more about the different trends in welcome gifts as well as our curated picks for every situation as we deep dive into how you can create a memorable onboarding experience for new employees.
Elevating the Onboarding Experience
In 2024, the best new employee gifts are all about personalisation and creating memorable experiences. Generic gifts are a thing of the past and may even point to you being an outdated company that’s not in line with the times. It’s time to ditch those one-size-fits-all gifts of mugs and pens. Give your employees experiences not things — foster team building and team spirit through gift certificates for rock climbing or cooking classes.
Personalisation matters. It’s more than just knowing what their name is and printing it on their desk. It means going that extra mile to discover what hobbies or interests they have outside of work and incorporating that into their welcome gift box. Being acknowledged is something all people crave and making your employees feel valued from day one can go a long way.
Red Tomato’s Selection for New Hires
The customer experience is at the heart of everything we do at Red Tomato. For 2024, here are some of the new employee gifts that you should be adding to your radar:
Promote Health and Wellness —Show appreciation for your employee’s well-being with a wellness kit. Items like a bean bag, neck pillow, and blanket are perfect for unwinding during break sessions. Encourage an active lifestyle with items like a pace pedometer watch, an active t-shirt, and a sipper bottle.
Go Grreen with Eco-Friendly Picks — Display your commitment to sustainability by choosing reusable products packaged in eco-friendly materials. Items like a pen in a bamboo box, a spirit level & bottle opener, and a 100% cotton tote are great additions to your welcome employee kit.Support Local Products — Aussie products are high quality, environmentally safe, and great to include in your welcome kits. Choose from a selection of items like a customised whiskey glass, a bamboo cheese board, an artisan leather memo pad, 3D engraved artwork, and more. Wear that Aussie pride by giving back to the community and supporting local.
Embrace the Season of Spring — Whether it’s a picnic or an outdoor getaway, we’ve got you covered! Soak in the beauty of nature and outdoors with curated items of spring-ready essentials. Our Spring Collection contains gifts such as picnic blankets, lunch bags, wide-brim hats, garden kits, and camping chairs.
From Practical to Personal: A Range of Options
There are many gifts to choose from whether they are practical or personal. Here are our diverse picks for new employee gifts:
Gift cards or vouchers — Gift cards will always be popular due to how versatile they are. There is a gift card for anything and everything. Whether these vouchers are for the nearby coffee shop next to your office building or that hip new cycling studio perfect for after-work cardio.
Ergonomic desk accessories — Desk accessories that are practical and ergonomic are great not only for your employees’ productivity but also for their health. Things like a laptop stand, ergonomic mouse, ergonomic keyboard, footrest, wrist rest, or seat cushions are picks that nobody will say no to.
Snack baskets and treats — A curated basket of snacks and treats is always a safe choice, perfect for employees needing a quick snack during break times. Swap out the food for healthier picks such as granola bars or wheat biscuits for a healthier option.
Tech-Savvy Onboarding: Gadgets and Gear for New Hires
Long gone are the days that people use pen and paper for most of their day-to-day work. Laptops, smartphones, and other apps have taken over the workforce, especially for those working remotely. Giving tech gifts to new employees that are functional and innovative are signs that your company pays attention to what they need.
Gadgets That Impress: Enhancing the Onboarding Experience
Impress your new employees with these gadgets that will surely make their onboarding experience memorable.
Personalised Airpods — Let them listen to music and participate in video meetings in style with their own Airpods, personalised with their name or initials.
Fitness Tracker — Exercise is the best antidote to stress. Encourage your new hires to stay active and healthy with a fitness tracker that will become their workout buddy wherever they go.
Noise-cancelling Headphones — Those with a budget can invest in good quality noise-cancelling headphones. These headphones can block out noise and outside distractions while they work, leaving them focused and locked in during meetings.
Charging Port or Powerbank — A charging port or powerbank can become a lifesaver for new employees when their smartphone is low on battery. Choose one that is compact and easy to carry around.
Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Gifting for New Hires
There’s a growing trend of sustainable consumption everywhere and companies are no exception. Research states that 50% of employees prefer being a part of companies that value sustainability. Show your commitment to an eco-friendly future by giving sustainable gifts for new employees.
Eco-Conscious Choices: Red Tomato’s Commitment to Sustainability
We take our commitment to sustainability seriously at Red Tomato. Check out our sustainable new employee gifts to add to your welcome kit:
Premium Sushi Set — Impress sushi lovers with this premium bamboo sushi set containing a board, two sets of chopsticks, ceramic holders, and a bowl.
Eco-friendly Bamboo Lamp — Light up your desk with this foldable desk lamp made out of bamboo. It also doubles as a wireless charger for your mobile devices.
Bamboo Golf Accessories — Get ready for a hole-in-one with these eco-friendly bamboo golf accessories containing 6 tees, a divot tool, and 2 ball markers in an organic cotton bag.
Red Tomato’s Success Stories: Memorable Onboarding Moments
Here at Red Tomato, creating lasting impressions matters as much as delivering great products. We have helped countless companies in creating a meaningful onboarding process and here’s what they have to say:
“We have been working with Red Tomato for a number of years now in producing our Welcome Kits for new starters and other sales merchandise and they have been an absolute hit. The team is professional, friendly, and efficient and the result is a high-quality product that always receives great feedback. Highly recommended!”
Trang Trinh
“Wonderful company to deal with- the promo packs we received were created and shipped super fast and the quality of the products we received was excellent.”
Vanessa Taylor
Case Studies: Memorable Moments Crafted by Red Tomato
Our client Hologic was in the middle of moving offices when they decided that they wanted to gift their employees a welcome pack to celebrate this business milestone. They browsed through our welcome pack catalogue and personalised it, handpicking items like a branded USB hub and hoodie. It was a great addition to their office move and something their employees appreciated.
Choosing the Perfect Gift: A Guide for Employers
Picking the perfect gift is no walk in the park. Everyone has their definition of what a perfect gift is, but at the very least, a good gift is a memorable one. Here are some of the gifting considerations to give your employees a welcome to remember:
Personalisation — Adding a touch of personalisation matters. Whether it’s a handwritten note, a curated gift basket, or branded items reflecting their department, your employees are sure to appreciate being valued for their individuality.
Audience — Most people think of new employee gifts as any item that includes the brand’s logo. You don’t need to include the logo in all items since the point of these gifts is to show your gratitude.
Company Culture — Pick gifts that will align with your company’s values and overall work environment. Think of your company culture as a compass and the employee gifts are tools that will aid them in their journey with the company.
Budget — A higher budget can buy you more gifts, but more doesn’t always mean better. Curating a well-made employee welcome kit is still possible no matter the budget.
Beyond Welcome Packs: Elevating Your Gifting Strategy
It can be tempting to follow what other companies do, they are called ‘tried and tested’ for a reason. Doing something different can feel scary but they can also pay off. Consider what your company values and how you can tie it with a gift. A design studio may consider giving their new employees a caricature drawing of themselves. An adventurous marketing team may enjoy a gift voucher to an escape room that doubles as a team bonding activity. The only limit is your imagination and your willingness to go outside the box!
Conclusion
In 2024, redefine your approach to welcoming new hires with Red Tomato’s curated selection of gifts. Elevate your onboarding experience and create lasting impressions that resonate throughout your employee’s journey with the perfect welcome kit.
At Red Tomato, we believe that today’s most successful marketing campaigns go beyond just digital alone. They focus on a comprehensive approach that includes both online and tangible executions to provide a full product experience that customers love. We’ve defined this as ‘marketing you can touch’. Indeed, the most successful brands today are doing this quite a lot.
Take, for example, Apple’s products, which bring technology to life through its interactive genius bars and iconic accessories. Similarly, fashion labels like Chanel and Louis Vuitton have engaging window installations and a unique packaging experience that goes far beyond just selling handbags and shoes. Even car brands like Aston Martin and mainstream clothing labels like Topshop allow you to customise everything with colours, logos or embroidered personalisation. All these strategies leave a lasting impression, and no one understands this better than us at Red Tomato. In fact, we’ve revolutionised our entire approach to help businesses like yours do this. Now, you can be amongst those brands providing the full experience and earning excellent results that smash your goals. Let’s explore how you can take full advantage of marketing you can touch.
Changing the whole marketing perspective
Your customers are looking for more than just ads today. Sure, they love all the most popular social media platforms and videos, but they see these things every day. Therefore, to get noticed and excite them, you need to provide the full product experience. So, to help, we’ve broken this down into our four pillars of product experience. With this unique approach, you can take full advantage of our services and get the best outcome for your brand.
Pillar one: Research and strategy
The best executions start with a strong understanding and knowledge foundation. While you know your business and industry inside out, having us provide an external perspective and conduct first-hand research will reveal fresh, previously unconsidered opportunities. So, to begin, we work with you to investigate market trends, brainstorm customer behaviours and create plans, all based on a foundation of insights and ideas. This ensures we have a full understanding of your industry, your audience and what’s happening. To do this effectively, we collaborate with you to undertake:
Client Workshops
Consumer Behaviour Research
Market Planning
Campaign Development
Strategic Management
Digital Media Planning
This pillar is exciting as we can combine our insights with your knowledge to create a product experience that your customers will love.
Pillar two: Product innovation
From a strong foundation, we can grow. In line with the theme of marketing you can touch, we create bespoke branded products using industrial design and custom prototyping. This adds an extra personalised and rewarding experience for your customers. Being unique is the most effective way to be memorable, and in a competitive market, we want you to stand out. This is why we use a range of resources and expertise to create product innovation through:
Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
Custom Moulding
Prototyping
Decoration Methods
Industrial Design
Bespoke Product Consultation
The pillar allows us to work together to solidify your product experience by providing you with bespoke products that make an impact.
Pillar three: Creative services
Now, let’s have some fun! At this stage, we fortify and truly differentiate your brand with creative solutions. These range from designs and graphics to creative direction and content marketing, providing a powerful way to connect with your audience. After all, we can’t create the ultimate product experience for your customers without creative services like this. Our team of design and content specialists are available to create custom designs and bespoke branding elements that embody your brand. This includes services like:
Copywriting
Graphic Design
Digital Content Creation
Long & Short-Form Content
Art Direction
Website Development
At this stage, you have all of your communications prepared and ready.
Pillar four: Marketing solutions
Now, it’s time to execute. This ensures your brand gets seen, your marketing is felt, and your product is experienced. To effectively implement your strategy, we work with you to provide marketing direction, tactics, and the right channels. This helps create deep roots that sprout into success. Our Marketing Services specialists are here by your side to ensure you achieve the results you deserve through:
Omnichannel Integration
Ads Management
Analytical Reporting
Social Media Management
Promotional
Conversion Rate Optimisation
These marketing solutions take care of the roll-out of your campaigns so that your audience will experience marketing that they can touch. Want to see the potential ROI from incorporating promotional products into your mix? See our ROI Calculator here.
Putting this all together for you
As you can see, we’re here to support you in offering the full product experience for your audience. From initial marketing strategy and digital campaigns to promotional products and more, Red Tomato helps you connect with all the senses of your customers. This results in a memorable journey that fosters brand recognition and loyalty.
Let’s smash your marketing goals together
So, do you want to take full advantage of our four pillars to provide the ultimate product experience? If so, we’d love to discuss your project. At Red Tomato, our mission is to help businesses connect with their customers and audience through innovative promo product campaigns and creative strategies. If you want to make that move towards meeting your customers’ needs and delighting them with marketing they can touch, visit our Product Experience page and see what Red Tomato can do for you. Or, if you are ready to start brainstorming your next campaign, you can start here.
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