The current economic climate has made many businesses tighten their belts rather than invest in their looks.
But with 2009 round the corner Scotland’s leading supplier of uniforms is encouraging companies to loosen the purse strings slightly to shake up its operations, image and staff morale.
NKD Clothing has shown its clients that updating uniforms need not cost the earth but can have a massive impact.
Gill Eastgate, Director at the Edinburgh-based company, said: “This has undoubtedly been a tough year for businesses and unfortunately the overall economic climate does not show signs of radically improving in 2009.
“I think it is important businesses start the year on a positive footing as those that stay fresh, positive and competitive have a far better chance of surviving an economic slump than those that allow the doom and gloom to seep into their corporate image.
“Improving the public face of a company can do bucket-loads for corporate image and the overall feel-good factor.
“This does not necessarily have to cost a lot of money. Simple updates to uniforms, such as replacing t-shirts or providing new ties and scarves, can make the world of difference.”
NKD Clothing offers a unique design service, with bespoke corporate wear rather than choices from catalogues. It works with clients to provide the best solutions for their business.
The company, which has nine staff based at its office and warehouse in Canonmills, Edinburgh, is offering potential and existing clients a range of credit crunch friendly fashion updates for staff uniforms.
It is advising clients who thought they might have to cut uniforms from drastically reduced budgets this year to look at replacing only one key item such as staff t-shirts.
Gill added: “It is important companies realise how vitally important staff image is. It is intertwined with corporate image – a key factor to success.
“2009 should not be simply another year of prolonged financial doom and gloom; we need to get back into a positive frame of mind. There are plenty of businesses out there continuing to thrive and others that will survive the recession if they continue to invest.”
Among its recent contract wins NKD Clothing has supplied uniforms to several new hospitality ventures including the Stirling Adamo Hotels Group, Malmaison in Aberdeen, Hotel du Vin in Edinburgh and The Glasshouse Eskmills in Musselburgh.
NKD Clothing was established in 2002 and was subject to a management buy-out (MBO) by Managing Director Gill Eastgate in 2005. Since the MBO it has doubled its turnover to £1.3m and plans to further expand the business.
