Large T-shirt advertising, too much?

I'm looking at getting some new uniforms, they have always be branded with our logo on the chest as per most companies, but I was looking at placing a large design with logo, phone number and web address on the back of the T-shirts. Obviously what I had in mind is advertising purposes. We have a very distinctive design which we have on our vehicles and many people notice it, comment on it and recognise us around the area. I want to have the same impact with my uniforms but I have one concern - We are now aiming for more commercial contracts like commercial premises, hotels, pubs, nursing homes etc and it just occurred to me that having our details splashed across the back of our tops (we will still have a logo on the front) may be a little intrusive and perhaps actually give a bad image? Perhaps be considered too gaudy? Too much?

What do people think? I'd really appreciate opinions

Also, I've been informed that the design is too big for embroidery, what are people's opinions on print? Is it durable enough for our industry? Does it look professional enough?

Thank you!

Less is more. A simple company name or logo, on the front, is all you need.

Adding websites, phone numbers etc. is total overkill. Think of the vans you see covered with photos, and with text all over listing "tree surgeons, £3m public liability, fully insured, motorway maintenance, local authority approved, we recycle your waste"?

If someone can see your polo shirt, they can probably see your van. Stick the website on that.

I think it's far more important how staff are behaving than what they are wearing. There's a set-up working near me with a great image: all modern and funky. But, whenever I see their vans they are parked up with the staff leaning on them having a fag break...

Why the criticism of t-shirts, though? Personally, I work hard and fast, and get hot and sweaty in polos. A loose-fitting t-shirt is fine for me, and it's worked well for 30 years. I buy them in batches, so they are really cheap with a logo on them, and chuck them when they start to fade or look tatty. Not sure if I am some sort of semi wife-beater for wearing them now! :-)

Replies

PRO

Ayegardening Ltd July 10, 2014 at 4:43pm

5 years ago we started out with printed t-shirts with a large logo and information.
But the feedback we got was they were a bit gimmicky, not very professional and our workers preferred to wear polo shirts with embroidered logo and business name.
At the time we were thinking about advertising purposes too, but then who actually writes down a mobile phone number from someone's shirt?
PRO

Geoffrey King July 10, 2014 at 4:48pm

What is the design, can we have a look?

Oh and we had our old logo embroidered on the back of fleeces and polo shirts, it is about 8" diam.
But we modified / simplified the design before hand.
Phil Crossley July 10, 2014 at 4:49pm

Have to agree with Aye and Susan. Less is more in our book, also T shirts, to us any way, are only one step up from wearing 'wife beaters'!

Good quality polo shirt with embroidered logo - what's not to like?
Benedict Simmons July 10, 2014 at 5:06pm

I have polo shirts with my logo on the front and large logo on the back. The front is embroidery and the back is screen printed. I find them durable as I had them double layered printed on the back.

I don't have anything else but my logo. I felt that anything else would clutter it up. The large logo gives a presents on site. Something to think about is do you stay still long enough for someone to read your phone number or web address off you shirt. I have found most people come up and talk to me if they are looking for a contractor. Shirts go well with a well sigh written van.

Ben
Lindsay Nicholls-Smith July 10, 2014 at 5:14pm

Hi guys, sorry forgot to say they are polos, have always used polos as I agree, T-shirts look naff! I just worded it wrongly. The design is not finalised with the colours yet but it will be something like this - ignore the colour of the background (and the bad quality of the picture) - we haven't decided on the colour of the shirts yet. This image was also scanned in so it's hard to see the colours of the design but it's the same as the colours in my profile picture but with white writing (which is clearer than it looks on this photo)
Robert Keetley July 10, 2014 at 5:56pm

I use polo shirts with name & phone number on the back.

Rob
Lindsay Nicholls-Smith July 10, 2014 at 6:02pm

Have you found that it has affected your business in a negative way at all in terms of professionalism? Have you found that it has boosted sales at all?

Robert Keetley said:
I use polo shirts with name & phone number on the back.

Rob
Lindsay Nicholls-Smith July 10, 2014 at 6:03pm

Have you found that it has affected your business in a negative way at all in terms of professionalism? Have you found that it has boosted sales at all?

Benedict Simmons said:
I have polo shirts with my logo on the front and large logo on the back. The front is embroidery and the back is screen printed. I find them durable as I had them double layered printed on the back.

I don't have anything else but my logo. I felt that anything else would clutter it up. The large logo gives a presents on site. Something to think about is do you stay still long enough for someone to read your phone number or web address off you shirt. I have found most people come up and talk to me if they are looking for a contractor. Shirts go well with a well sigh written van.

Ben
Lindsay Nicholls-Smith July 10, 2014 at 6:05pm

I understand your comment about who writes down a number from the back of a T-shirt, I'm not really wanting it specifically for that reason (but comes in handy if you're covered in mud and can't get out your business cards)but more so to get our company recognised/noticed, have a more distinct brand - as the elaborate van signage has served us well and improved our image further

Ayegardening Ltd - Aye and Susan said:
5 years ago we started out with printed t-shirts with a large logo and information.
But the feedback we got was they were a bit gimmicky, not very professional and our workers preferred to wear polo shirts with embroidered logo and business name.
At the time we were thinking about advertising purposes too, but then who actually writes down a mobile phone number from someone's shirt?
Paul McNulty July 10, 2014 at 9:03pm

Less is more. A simple company name or logo, on the front, is all you need.

Adding websites, phone numbers etc. is total overkill. Think of the vans you see covered with photos, and with text all over listing "tree surgeons, £3m public liability, fully insured, motorway maintenance, local authority approved, we recycle your waste"?

If someone can see your polo shirt, they can probably see your van. Stick the website on that.

I think it's far more important how staff are behaving than what they are wearing. There's a set-up working near me with a great image: all modern and funky. But, whenever I see their vans they are parked up with the staff leaning on them having a fag break...

Why the criticism of t-shirts, though? Personally, I work hard and fast, and get hot and sweaty in polos. A loose-fitting t-shirt is fine for me, and it's worked well for 30 years. I buy them in batches, so they are really cheap with a logo on them, and chuck them when they start to fade or look tatty. Not sure if I am some sort of semi wife-beater for wearing them now! :-)