Case Study

Blackpool Transport

Supplying all of their Corporate Clothing requirements since 2012

First Corporate Clothing are proud to have been working with Blackpool Transport Services and supplying all of their Corporate Clothing requirements since 2012.

Rebranding...

Just prior to our appointment as their supplier in 2012, BTS researched the market to seek a Corporate Clothing company that they could work closely with and a supplier that could provide excellent quality and had the infrastructure to provide high levels of service and support into a fast moving Passenger Transport environment.

They were also seeking a supply partner who could understand the brand values of their business and have the expertise to interpret those values into the design of their staff uniform. First Corporate Clothing Ltd had the experience and testimonials from leading companies in the Passenger Transport sector that BTS were seeking.

New MD Jane Cole was appointed by BTS in 2015 to take the business forward and prepare for the challenges in the marketplace that lay ahead. A fleet replacement programme and a new livery was designed and Premium Service routes introduced under the Palladium brand and the process of a complete re-design of all front line staff uniform was initiated with the aim to reflect the new brand image.

A Uniform For All Seasons...

The brief was to create a new high quality contemporary range of staff clothing, following the lines of the new business brand, whilst at the same time retaining Classic styling at its core. The designs had to be practical, suitable for the particular work environment and had to make the staff look friendly, approachable and professional.

The new range also needed to take account of the location of the BTS business and the changeable local climate and be an all seasons range, taking note that on some days in Blackpool all four seasons can be experienced in a single day!

The development process for the new range took place over a 12 month period. During that time we worked closely with a number of high quality UK manufacturing partners to produce designs, development samples, which were then tested during staff wearer trials. This process included the high specification bespoke new outerwear range, which was a layered solution incorporating an outer Anorak and inner Gilet manufactured from high performance, waterproof, windproof and breathable fabrics.

The BTS board, management team and staff forums were involved throughout the process. Final design specifications were approved and Gold seal samples signed off, allowing the production process to begin.

The final range comprised the High Specification outerwear combination in bespoke colour ways, Lemon shade Classic formal style poly-cotton shirts, worn with a bespoke design corporate tie, Charcoal Grey Classic style knitwear, charcoal grey waist ease trousers and a bespoke design Backpack incorporating the brand colour ways and the new BTS logo throughout.

Once the range was finalised, sizing ranges were produced for every item, so that we could undertake a fully managed sizing programme for all BTS staff, thus ensuring that everybody would receive a new uniform that fitted correctly on launch day.

The launch date for the new range was set as November 2017 and to accompany the new uniform packs we created, designed and produced a wearer guide brochure featuring useful information, images and dress codes set by the company and garment care advice for staff.

As part of our service to all contract customers, our experienced staff were on site at BTS throughout the launch period and provided a jointly managed issuing of all of the new uniform packs. With an impress stock also in place on site to facilitate any exchange, issuing of the new uniform to all BTS staff was completed within a 3 weeks.

The new range has been extremely well received by all staff and management feedback has all been positive. BTS customers feedback from their service users has also been very positive.

We are pleased to have played our part in creating this new brand image for BTS and look forward to continuing to work closely with them to service the uniform requirements of new staff entering the business and we will continue to modify and refresh the range as required.

If you are interested in uniform for your business, do not hesitate to contact us.

More Case Studies

View all

Principality Building Society

First Corporate Clothing has been supplying The Principality Building Society with uniform since 2010 after securing the business through competitive tender.

Steven Moore

Lowry Hotel

The Lowry Hotel in Manchester falls within the enviable portfolio of ‘Luxury Hotels of the World’, being one of only a small number of 5* hotels in the UK. The Lowry Hotel chose First Corporate as a company that could not only design and manufacture a range of bespoke tailoring, but who were able to also provide an ongoing managed service solution for their 250 staff.

Steven Moore