Keepin' it Clean
Custom Aprons for Hospitality Workers
If you run or manage any kind of hospitality business, creating an amazing experience for visitors is your mission and probably what you spend hours and hours thinking about. At TeamShirts, whenever our team travels, we're always amazed and deeply grateful for the hard-working hospitality staff who make our stays at resorts, hotels, restaurants, and other spaces so wonderful. And we especially appreciate the staff who don't judge us too hard when we can't figure out how to use our hotel key cards.
Your staff keeps your guests, customers, and visitors coming back, and for that, they deserve the world. They also deserve amazing uniforms they'll be proud to wear. For most hospitality workers, that means a quality apron that protects their clothes from accidents and helps project a professional, tidy image.
Your staff has earned more than a generic, off-the-rack apron. With TeamShirts, you can design custom aprons for hospitality workers. These aprons are comfortable for your staff to wear, promote your brand, make your staff feel part of a team, and even improve the experience for your customers and visitors. At TeamShirts, we make it easy and affordable to order custom aprons for hospitality workers, so you can always keep a few extra aprons on hand.
Tailoring Aprons for Different Roles in Hospitality
Custom aprons for hospitality workers mean something different for different roles. Here's how you can customize aprons, depending on who's on your team:
Chefs and Cooks
Anyone working in a kitchen needs a bib style apron that covers the torso and covers well down the legs. This plus a heavier fabric can offer some protection against grease and spills, as well as other kitchen hazards.
For chefs and cooks who don't interact with customers, you may not need branded aprons. Aprons customized with everyone's name, though, can help your staff get to know each other — especially if, like many kitchens, yours tends to see new faces often. Customized aprons with a staff slogan or motto can also help build a sense of teamwork among your hard-working crew.
You might want to let your kitchen staff design their own aprons with slogans or designs that inspire them to bring their A-game to the lunch and dinner rush.
Housekeeping and Cleaning Staff
Cleaning staff need aprons that can stand up to frequent washing and still look great. Pockets are useful for holding rags and other cleaning supplies, too.
A traditional white and black color scheme for aprons works well and tells hotel guests and other visitors who the cleaning staff are since this is the traditional color for cleaning uniforms. On the other hand, choosing your company colors for aprons can also create a professional look. Thick apron material that is embroidered with staff member names and the hotel or business looks clean and tidy while helping to promote your organization.
Bartenders
Bartenders tend to wear bistro-style aprons with pockets, which protect them from spilled drinks and give them pockets to store tips. Consider a color that works with your business colors. You might also want to add an image of drinks — like a beer mug or a martini glass — on bartender aprons to help customers understand who works as a bartender and who is a server at your bar.
Baristas
Baristas need thick aprons that can protect them from spills. Bib-style aprons with deep pockets that can store order pads are ideal here.
Rich colors and embroidered logos are a solid choice because they help create an ambiance for customers. A deep color and logo can also make baristas easy to spot when customers need to place an order.
Bakers
Bakers can wear bib-style or bistro-style aprons that cover the legs but still allow a full range of motion. Since bakers are always on the go, light, breathable fabric aprons that allow for full mobility (even in hot conditions by a big oven) are the right fit.
Bakers are most likely to encounter spills of flour, sugar, and similar substances, so it's less important that the apron be heavy-duty and more important that it be a pale color that can hide smears of flour.
Hairdressers and Barbers
Barbers and hairdressers do well with full-coverage aprons that protect them from chemicals and keep their clothes free of stray hair. A waist or plenty of pockets with space for tools can make work easier.
Aprons with images of shears or scissors are a fun look for hairdressers and barbers. A simple barber pole can also work well if you don't have a logo to put on your aprons.
Servers
Servers, restaurant managers, and other front-of-house restaurant staff are often the "face" of the business, so it's a good idea to invest in their aprons. A quality material and a color that matches your décor help your servers look like part of your restaurant.
You might also want to print each server's name on their apron. Not only does it make sure each server has their "own" apron, but it lets diners address their server by name without the need for a nametag.
Server aprons are also a good way to draw attention to your biggest draws. Is your restaurant famous for its mouth-watering burgers? Put a picture of your burger on your server aprons, along with any awards you've won ("We're the city's #1 burger three years running!") to remind diners what they might want to order.
Caterers
Whether they're catering outdoor events, private functions, corporate events, or anything else, caterers have an image to project. Crisp white aprons with the name of the catering company on them can draw in more business and help hungry patrons find catering staff.
When choosing aprons for caterers and catering staff, a classic black and white color scheme always looks classic, especially if your staff are dressed for a formal event. Chef whites are another good choice, as are simple aprons in your brand color. Caterer aprons don't usually need pockets and a sleek look with no pockets can look best when serving at special events.
Sommeliers
Sommeliers often wear bistro style aprons. A logo of a wine glass or the name of the sommelier can help distinguish this professional from others working in the same hotel or restaurant. A simple embroidered logo or name can look especially sophisticated, especially when paired with a high-quality apron made from cotton, linen, or a midweight fabric.
Integrating Logos and Designs into Hospitality Aprons
While simple aprons can get the job by protecting hospitality workers from some of the messier hazards of the job, custom aprons go the distance. Customized aprons with logos and designs are eye-catching and help you communicate with guests and customers — without having to say a word. They can help you win the branding game by making sure that when someone gets great service from a hospitality professional, they link that exceptional service to your organization.
So here's how to use designs and logos on hospitality aprons:
- Place staff names on the bib part of the apron. It looks tidier than name tags, and you won't have to deal with missing or lost name tags again. Embroidered names also make your establishment look high-end. Fancy!
- Include a logo front and center. This is a classic look, where the front of your staff aprons includes a large logo, your company name, or even a tagline. It's classic and simple and makes everyone at your establishment look the same by creating a professional, uniform look.
- Advertise a new promo. Are you launching a new supper menu or weekend buffet? Do you have a new hotel location? Print a few details on your aprons and your staff become part of your marketing campaign!
- Create an apron chalkboard. Lots of cafes and bistros set out a chalkboard sign with the day's specials. You can create the same look by choosing a black apron and selecting white letters for your design. You won't want to buy new aprons for every special, but if you have a consistent special once a week, you might have a designated apron for that. You could also use the chalkboard pattern to show off your logo or slogan.
- Choose vibrant photos and graphics. TeamShirts uses the latest printing techniques at our Nevada printing facility, so we can create aprons with rich colors. Create aprons with photos of your team, photos of your buildings, stylized designs, and more.
- Give customers a call to action. Consider what you want your visitors and guests to know. Do you want to remind them to ask the server about the special, or do you want guests to know they can ask the cleaning staff for help? Printing something like "Ask me about today's delicious specials" or "Need help? You can ask me!" on your staff aprons gets the message across.
- Create seasonal aprons. Hospitality is a seasonal business, and you might want aprons to reflect that. If you're a boutique hotel, for example, you might want white aprons with an embroidery pattern for the summer wedding season and green and red aprons for the holidays. Consider how you decorate for different holidays, and consider staff uniforms as part of the décor look!
- Highlight what you're known for. Are you a hotel right next to a major music venue? Why not put sheet music patterns on your aprons? Does your restaurant have a beautiful garden theme? Why not put a photo of your gardens on the front of staff aprons? This way, you're putting your best feature front and center and reminding customers why they turn to you in the first place.
- Ask your staff for their input. Your staff probably have their own ideas about what they want to wear. So why not poll them? The TeamShirts handy Voting feature makes it a snap for your staff to weigh in on different designs so you all end up with an apron you love to throw on at the start of a shift.
Trendsetting Designs for Modern Hospitality Aprons
Ok, there's a lot to be said for classic apron designs. But sometimes you want to shake things up with aprons that are as stylish as you are. Here are the trends that are popping up in the hospitality industry now:
- Tasteful embroidery. Simple and small embroidery patterns create a lot of visual interest on an apron. For example, you can have your logo surrounded by hearts, a pretty vine pattern, or another bit of embroidery. Just that something special to make your aprons look amazing.
- Cause aprons. Many hospitality businesses are putting their hearts where their aprons are and using their uniforms to promote a cause. Is someone on your staff a lung cancer survivor? An apron with a white ribbon on it can show your support and can start conversations with guests and customers.
- Event aprons. Maybe your staff is pulling out all the stops at a food festival or manning a booth at a local marathon. Celebrate your commitment with an apron that lists the event, your business name, and the dates. After your event, your staff will have a souvenir of their experience.
- Funny sayings. Who says aprons have to just be functional? They can express their personality with puns and funny sayings. If your business gets a lot of family guests, for example, why not create a cartoon character for your aprons and have the character "saying" something like "Our egg-cellent food will make you smile!" or "If you're souper hungry, I can take your order."
- Bold designs. Some restaurants and bistros, especially, are going big and loud with their aprons. How big and loud? Think large florals or bright photos. Lots of color and big graphics are eye-catching, so no one will miss your staff!
- Sustainability. Ok, this isn't so much a trend as something that businesses are now paying attention to. When you choose sustainable materials, such as cotton, you're helping the planet. It's also a small detail that your customers and visitors might notice and appreciate.
Creating a Uniform Identity with Custom Hospitality Aprons
Custom aprons for hospitality workers are about more than just stylin' at work. Aprons are an essential part of the uniform, protecting barbers, cooks, servers, spa workers, and other hard-working professionals from spills, messes, and everything else that comes with the job.
That's why comfortable aprons are a must in the hospitality industry, where your staff may be on their feet all day. TeamShirts delivers quality, adjustable aprons that fit well and allow for a range of movement.
But there's no reason comfy needs to be plain. Our customization features let you create an endless array of apron styles, from simple logo designs to bold messages and patterns. Order as many styles as you need and enjoy bulk discounts while you're at it. Your staff will look and feel their best, day in and day out!
At TeamShirts, we know you're busy delivering a great guest experience, so TeamShirts has made the ordering process simple enough to finish on your break. Here's all you need to do:
- Choose. Choose from a selection of aprons in different styles. Or, go beyond aprons and customize mugs, shirts, hoodies, or more. TeamShirts has many kinds of products you can make your own, all in a range of colors and styles.
- Design. The TeamShirts free online design wizard makes it a snap to design the perfect apron for everyone on your staff. You can upload your own graphics or choose one of the more than 30,000 in the design wizard. Add your own text and adjust everything until it looks just right. You get to see exactly what the final apron will look like, so there are no surprises.
- Vote. You can save multiple designs and think them over with your team. Or, use the Voting feature right in the design wizard to choose the aprons you love best.
- Order. That's it! Our secure order system lets you order and pay in minutes.
Matching Your Aprons with Your Establishment's Theme
Your establishment's theme is a delicate balance. In the hospitality industry, you might need to be sophisticated and approachable, unique and familiar. Talk about juggling a lot of plates in the air! That means you've chosen your brand name, logo, slogan, and business colors with care to make sure you appeal to your perfect customer or visitor.
The good news is that as you've gotten to know your customers and have created your business brand, you've already done a lot of the heavy lifting. Now it's time to make sure your aprons support your theme and brand.
Let's start with color. If you have a few simple colors at your establishment (like red and yellow or black and white), you might want to choose those to make sure your aprons blend into your interiors. Think of your favorite coffee shop's green and white cups, for example, and their green and white aprons.
Another option here is to choose a contrasting color for your aprons. For example, if your décor is all black and white, deep blue or red aprons will stand out and will make it easy for customers and guests to spot your staff. The choice is yours!
Now, look around your establishment. Are things tasteful and quiet? Classic music playing on the stereo, perhaps, and a gentle waterfall in the lobby? Or maybe you run a busy bar where you can't speak over the punk music and where dart boards and vintage posters line your bars.
These are clues.
A quieter, more upscale establishment fits well with more subdued aprons. Think small, tasteful logos or designs on a neutral or jewel-tone apron. A more casual spot means you can choose bolder colors, bigger logos, and even some spicy language. Depending on how punk your punk bar is, your aprons could have the one-finger salute or the kind of language you wouldn't bring home to mom. Think about what your establishment says and what your customers and guests expect from you. Your apron should fit with your overall vibe.
But don't just think about staff when choosing your aprons. Think about who else might wear your aprons. Maybe your restaurant offers cooking classes or your bar has giveaways on trivia night.
Custom aprons make great gifts with purchases, giveaways, or even merch your business can sell. It's a fun way to say "thanks" to your biggest fans and to make sure your business message and logo get out there. Who knows who might see your apron and decide to check out your establishment? TeamShirts makes it easy to order in bulk, so you always have aprons to sell or hand out. We even have kids' sizes, so you can offer aprons to everyone.
How Can TeamShirts Help?
TeamShirts is a place for all teams, and that includes hospitality teams. Just like you, we believe in going above and beyond to treat our customers like the rockstars you are.
It all starts with quality. We source durable and beautiful aprons that can stand up to even demanding work conditions. Our aprons include adjustable and artisan styles with quality details such as nickel-free metal eyelets, long drawstrings for more flexibility, and mid-weight fabrics for breathability and durability. You can order with confidence, knowing your custom aprons can go the distance.
We also make sure you save money and time. There are no minimum orders, but we apply volume discounts when you order more. And we believe in saving you more — with free standard shipping, free samples, free design services (when you order at least five items), and free design wizard. Pretty sweet!
Need to save time as well as money? We offer rush shipping if you need it, and guaranteed shipping dates if you need your aprons for a restaurant opening or special event.
And we can't mention TeamShirts without mentioning our own staff. Our team works hard to bring you new features to make ordering custom gear even easier. And if you ever need help with an order or have questions, our caring custom support team is standing by. Just contact us and a live person will help you sort it all out.
So, go ahead. Put your style front and center for your guests, customers, and visitors to enjoy. Start your order now and enjoy custom aprons that help you impress more people with your hospitality and professionalism!
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