Playtime, Fun Time: Where do you head when you want fun entertainment after work? The movie theater, museum, art exhibit, sports event, theme park….or perhaps your local shopping mall. All great locations to spend time with family and friends while you clear your head from work details and let your imagination soar by being entertained.
For me it’s a Friday night hockey game at Western Michigan University’s Lawson Ice Arena. I enjoy seeing the up and down action out on the ice, and even the silly games they play in between periods. It’s such a rush!
The cold reality (ice rink pun) is even if I’m at my favorite playtime fun time like Lawson Ice Arena, I can’t turn work off. Everywhere you look there are so many uniforms.
Do Uniforms Make Sense: Why do they wear uniforms you ask? Well first and foremost, the university wants to promote and project a certain brand image that is polished and well-coordinated. They want their staff to be smartly dressed while showing their university pride. Quickly identifiable by the patrons attending the event and the job function being performed must not be hindered by the apparel selected. Sounds to me it’s what I call the trilogy of a uniform program – connection, color, and comfort.
Okay, so how many people are wearing a uniform at this one venue? Well besides the two teams on the ice and the referees (can’t touch that), here’s a few job functions:
Ticket Sellers – 8
Ticket Takers – 12
Arena Ushers – 30
Off-ice Officials – 6
Concessions – 16
Student Ice Scrapers – 14
Zamboni Drivers – 2
Uniform Program Potential: Wow, that is a program with 88 people needing a uniform and it’s more than just selling them a logoed polo. An ice arena is cold inside so a nice jacket in the school colors is a perfect solution to keep them comfortable. I estimate that just creating a simple program of a logoed polo, jacket, and khaki pant you now have a sizable order for this one venue. Knowing that the university has many more recreational venues besides hockey (i.e., football, basketball, recreational center) ….the possibility are endless.
You’re All In: I’m all in so what do I do next and who do I contact? Immerse yourself by going to the venue and learning more about who is wearing a uniform and what do they look like. Use your phone to photograph the various job functions, then ask those people who is in charge of their uniforms for the venue if they could give you a contact. But, don’t stop at one contact, collect as many contacts as you can because it may be more than one person who is that decision maker.
It’s Up to You: The rest is up to you, but always know if you need help in merchandising a uniform program, look to a supplier like Edwards who really knows how to pull it all together. Enjoy your playtime, fun time and who knows maybe it will be your next uniform program. Happy Selling!
