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He stands at attention to greet a passing senior officer, back straightened like Clark Kent revealing his Superman suit. He is about to start his shift that will stretch through the night. As communities in Durban’s Western suburbs enjoy their sleep, Mahlaba patrols the streets on the lookout for trouble, ensuring that our cars are where we left them and our homes secure.

As a father of two, Mahlaba knows the value of peace of mind knowing ones family is safe, “I landed up in this line of work because I wanted to make a better life for my son”. His game face softens as he says this. It may not be what he initially intended to do for a living but he says being a policeman “makes me a man”. He would not , however want his son to follow in his footsteps saying it is not a safe profession as people target cops for doing their jobs.

In Pinetown CBD, he slows down outside a pub. With each explosion of drum and base, more people spill out more onto the buzzing streets. “Things can get a bit crazy on nights like this, people sometimes go overboard when they are celebrating,” he says. But there is no trouble here and we move on, only to stop a little way alongside a young man running with a plastic bag in his hand. They greet cordially in tsotsi taal, exchange brief words and we drive off.

Sitting behind him in the SAPS Condor, as he drives purposefully even though we have no particular destination, I try to catch his gaze in the rear view mirror but his eyes wonder, focused, everywhere. They dart deliberately into the dark abyss of the road ahead, side to side at the streets and into people’s yards.

“154 come in, 154 come in”, blares a voice over the police radio. A crackling sound is followed by a beep as the operator waits for Mahlaba’s response. Like  the movie scene when the cops are called to the scene of a crime just as they settle for lunch, I picture them tossing away their barely eaten doughnuts and steaming coffee still full to the brim and speeding off with screeching tires leaving a cloud of smoke. There is no such drama here, Mahlaba calmly responds. I finally see his eyes as he turns, game face on, to tell me that I cannot come with him. He drives off, blue lights flashing like Superman’s cape flapping in the wind.

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Mini dress Mob

The Bavaria Beer Girls. As they became known as, showed up at the stadium wearing skimpy orange dresses that were allegedly sold with Bavaria beer. This may not have been corporate clothing but it was corporate branding. According to FIFA, these rambunctious ladies were part of Bavaria’s mob or ambush marketing team. American Budweiser was the official beer sponsor so no other brewery was permitted to advertise in World Cup venues. Bavaria of course denied that this was ambushing by distraction saying “people should wear what they like”.

Repeat offender

This may have seemed like a harmless act; ladies having a good time while supporting their team. But in the marketing world, it was an underhanded way for a non-sponsor to ride on the coat tails an official sponsor without having to pay the sponsorship fees. So serious was this offense that, despite the girls’ protestation that they were merely supporters, the person whose courtesy tickets they had used to get into the stadium was subsequently dismissed from his job. This was after all a repeat performance by Bavaria after  a similar incident in the 2006 Soccer World Cup.

Sporting events provide the perfect platform for such marketing and over the years there have been many incidences where one company has drawn the attention away from an official sponsor for their benefit. The huge number of people who attend sporting events, means exposure to a lot of people at the same time making it ideal for marketing. Also the crowd sort of camouflages the mob, making it somewhat difficult for officials to spot them initially.

Crime does pay

If their aim was to restrict the Bavaria name in association with the 2010 Soccer World Cup, then FIFA and Budweiser failed dismally. A Google search with the words World Cup Bavaria, brings up 960 000 results as compared to the 749 000 results under World Cup Budweiser. Bavaria Beer Girls has an astounding 2 360 000 hits. These blonde orange covered ladies are everywhere, in newspaper reports, blogs, photos, videos. Even though their orange dresses are not branded with the name Bavaria, they carried the brand with them and therefore were successful in achieving their apparent purpose. Aside of the soccer, they created one of the most memorable World Cup moments and Bavaria will always be on our lips. The Netherlands went on to win that match 2-0 and with the lasting impression imbedded by The Bavaria Beer Girls, it would be safe to say that the score line is the same with FIFA vs. Bavaria.

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World Cup Fever

From the birth of the 2010 World Cup mascot Zakumi, the soccer loving, spiky haired leopard with killer dance moves to reaching out to schools and communities to adopt a country and learn their language and culture.  We refused to give up the vuvuzela and instead put it in the Guinness Book of World Records and made it another successful South African export.  One could not drive anywhere in South Africa without seeing  one of the 32 participating countries’ flags on the side mirror, fuel tank cover, roof, bonnet or window of vehicles. Some drivers showing mixed loyalties by displaying two or more flags on their cars. Vehicles were no longer described only by their make and colour but also by the flags on them. At every street corner, vendors sold these flags making it convenient to replace them after the highway wind had chewed them up, although some drivers still proudly displayed theirs despite the frayed edges.

Painting The Town Gold

But even bigger than these campaigns, was the Football Friday initiative launched in September 2009. It called for the public to wear the national soccer teams’ jersey every Friday to show support for our national soccer team. Companies heeded the call to observe not only Casual Day in aid of charity but also Football Fridays. The Bafana jersey, dressed up or down, with civvies or as part of a uniform it became standard attire, no matter what industry you worked in. Red became passé as people went out on Friday nights and painted the town yellow. Some, more conservative companies went with their own branded jerseys but the theme was the same, South Africans were behind our Bafana Bafana all the way.

All the way, turned out not to be very far with our boys failing to make it past group stages but the madness did not subside. Disappointed but not disheartened, the South African people still proudly wore their jerseys with some choosing to follow other African team. We got behind our Ghanaian brothers.Then looked to the remaining teams when Africa’s hopes were dashed when the Black Stars lost to Uruguay but not after fighting tooth and nail like true warriors.

Although the World Cup has come and gone, Zakumi has disappeared, the car flags have been discarded, the corporate clothing pot now contains only a speck of turmeric Bafana jerseys, we will never forget the event that united us. That made us not black, white, Indian, coloured or other, not Christian, Muslim or Atheist , not young or old, not poor or rich but just South Africans, Africans, citizens of the World.

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This is an excerpt from a piece of Japanese literature called The hallow tree, written in the year 970.These words ring true over a thousand years later and far from their oriental roots, where a thousand bonsai trees flourish under the care of Farouk Vawda.

As managing director of a thriving clothing company, his corporate clothing comes off when  this member of the Bonsai Association makes the time to dedicate to his labour of love, often hosting and attending meetings with fellow bonsai connoisseurs to share information about and show off their potted beauties.

I Do It For The Love

The word “Bonsai” is a hybrid of the words “bon” meaning “tray or pot” and “sai” which means “planting”. Together they literally describe this type of growing trees in a tray or pot – tray planting. For most of us, the word bonsai conjures pictures of miniature trees which we may assume are just created that way, horticultural dwarfs. As Vawda explains, is a difficult art that requires a lot of time and patience. So time consuming is this hobby that it leaves very little time for his wife about whom he nonchalantly says “…has now accepted the fact that she will not see me for about two hours every day” while he spends some quality time with his other love, bonsai.

A look of pride engulfs his face as he fondly recalls how he first fell in love with the art of bonsai in the 1980’s. Already a keen gardener and seeking a challenge, it took only a couple of the over twelve thousand books written on the art form to get him hooked. He now spends his free time painstakingly trimming, pruning, fertilising, watering and repotting his miniature trees. This is done to achieve the look of maturity while keeping the trees proportionate and small. The roots however, are left to grow to several meters needing for the tree to be moved to a bigger pot from time to time.

A Legacy That Will Outlive Most

Pots with vertical sides are commonly used, compacting the roots making it easier to extract them. Like hidden treasure, Vawda buries a piece of plastic revealing the age of each plant under its roots. It is much to the amazed disbelief of the patrons of his miniature jungle to learn that some of his trees are thirty years old. Old as they are, his trees are infants compared to Japanese National Treasures, a bonsai collection named Sandai-Shogun-No Matsu which is recorded to be over five hundred years old. They are so revered that they are housed in Tokyo’s Imperial palace.

Spreading The Roots

With such a long lifespan, he intends leaving his plants as a legacy for his two children Ibrahim and Farida, who already have an avid interest in this art form that their father holds in such high esteem because of the uniqueness and constant growth and evolution of each tree.

With bonsai, Vawda creates wonderous minute trees that inspire big love that is deeply rooted and certainly “moves one”.

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Corporate clothing has the advantages of being extremely useful, and visible, not only to the people wearing it, but to anybody who sees them wearing your corporate clothing as well.

Corporate branded attire

Promotional corporate clothing is styled in an array of shapes and forms. Corporate shirts, embroidered with the corporate logo, by specialist promotional companies for staff, or promotional T-shirts can be customised as giveaways.

For T-shirts, embroidery is not really suitable, especially with a large logo or slogan. Therefore promotional T-shirts are usually branded using screen printing or heat transfers. These make perfect gifts, which display your brand prominently, including the company website.

Logo shirts may be either embroidered or printed, depending on the quality you desire. Promotional caps, jackets and sports wear, such as, .golf shirts and tracksuits, usually have logo embroidery added to them. Printed T-shirts are more commonly used for low cost, high volume corporate promotional gifts.

Putting your brand out there

While other types of corporate gifts are dependent on the situation or environment in which they are useful, corporate clothing does not suffer this limitation. Printed T-shirts branded with your company logo are suitable for casual day to day wear.

This gives a much higher visibility, as individuals wear them in the course of their everyday life. And everything that brings your brand face to face, with a multitude of people, improves your brand recognition.

Corporate and branded go hand in hand

Corporate and promotional clothing or accessories usually have the corporate logo or slogan either embroidered or printed on the front, back or both sides of the clothing, chosen as corporate promotional item. Corporate clothing isn’t limited to a printed T-shirt, depending upon the corporate decision; a call is taken, in terms of choosing the clothing type and the designing to be done on it. Some go with simple embroidered logo design and other want a flashy design print.

But company image needs to be kept in mind, when deciding on the corporate or promotional clothing design, otherwise this could become a wasted expense, including an advertising disappointment. .There is several types of items one can choose as promotional freebies, if it serves well with the purpose, for which they are being distributed.

Many companies design promotional clothing for staff, both for office purposes, and group sport events and promotional shows. Good quality golf shirts, branded with the company logo, are a sensible means of displaying a unified company identity image, both within your industry, and outside of it. Whatever you’re looking for, in corporate clothing, from printed promotional T-shirts to embroidered windbreakers, you’ll be sure to locate them on the internet.

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The clothing can influence the image that existing and potential customers have of the company and the employees. Although considered an old fashioned business technique to promote the brand, it is still an effective method of creating a brand presence and an image. When choosing your corporate clothing, make sure that your choices send out the right message, match your company image and most importantly provide comfortable clothing for your workers to wear while providing the right exposure for your brand.

A little bit of history

Corporate clothing, the clothing worn by a great part of the population, is often written about, however the history of it, does deserve some attention as it is inextricably bound up with social issues throughout time. After the First World War most professional work-wear was in black, as so many people were in mourning, however during the 1920’s grey suits became more common. The battle was on between frock coats and top hats versus lounge suits and bowlers hats, as people selected their corporate clothing.

The short jacket gradually replaced the frock coat, and at the same time the lounge suit became more popular among the working class. The lounge suit had none of the inconvenience of long frock coats, so the workers adopted it in great numbers to such an extent that black lounge suits were accepted as Socialist suits, worn by some into the 1950’s.
After the war in the Twenties, the girls were allowed white blouses, black cardigans and black skirts. The men still had black suits. This was typical of all corporate clothing for large retailers of merchandise at the time.

Quality of current corporate clothing

Corporate clothing should always be of the best quality. The clothing portrays the business, and good quality clothing will ensure a good impression of success and efficiency while bad quality clothing will make your business image seem unprofessional.

Ensure the fabric used for corporate clothing is comfortable for the workers to wear. Fabrics such as cotton are an ideal choice for office workers as it looks professional and is comfortable indoors. It is important to make ensure that the corporate clothing does not cause a hindrance and prevent workers from undertaking their required tasks.

Essential points to remember

It is always important to remember the advertising factor of your corporate clothing, not just the functionality. Having your company logo and contact details embroidered or printed on the clothing means that the employees are providing your contact details everywhere they go.

Do not think in terms of cost, when considering your corporate clothing, but rather in terms of value for money. A lower price may suit your budget at the outset, but the replacement of the corporate clothing, within a few months will most assuredly not.

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The Benefits Of Corporate Clothing:

Uniforms will help your company to portray a more professional and ethical image. This will also make your company seem more established and trustworthy which works in your favor when it comes to customers and clients.

Corporate uniforms can greatly improve the sense of unity among your employees. Just like a sports team that works together because of their sense of belonging, employees will feel more united and more proud of their organization.

When people feel that they are part of a team they feel compelled to do their best in their tasks and not let the other members of the team down, therefore uniforms will increase productivity in your business as employees will see themselves as part of a team.

The best thing about corporate clothing uniforms is that your employees will be advertising your company wherever they go. This makes it easier for people to identify your company, especially your logo

Corporate uniforms will greatly improve the climate and culture of your company. Employees will feel a sense of pride towards their work and will be compelled to behave in a professional and ethical manner at all times, because anything they do will automatically be linked to your company and its name.

Discrimination is a problem in many companies; because we are all from different races, religions and backgrounds, it may be difficult for employees to connect or understand each other. Uniforms will help to decrease the occurrence of stereotyping and help employees to all have a similar image and therefore be encouraged to look past differences and focus on the company.

Uniforms will eliminate all of those other grievances that employers have with their employees’ appearances. The worries about inappropriate clothing and messy appearances will be long gone and you as an employer can concentrate on the efficiency of your company.

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What To Consider

The first thing that should be discussed is your budget. The ideal situation would be where the company covers all the cost associated with implementing corporate clothing. If there really is no other way, then you can talk to your employees and find out how they would feel about splitting the cost with the company.

It is important that you find out how your employees feel about corporate clothing. Their positive attitude is a vital component if you want this to be a success. You should also involve your employees in the selection of the style, design and material. This way, you can be sure that the end product is something that they will like and feel comfortable in.

One of the biggest benefits of corporate clothing is that your employees are always dressed professionally and appropriately. By covering all the cost associated with this you would make your employees feel like a valued part of the company. An employee who feels this way is likely to be a lot more productive as well as be willing to go the extra mile for the company.

You should also realise that the corporate clothing that your employees wear ill be a direct reflection of your business. For this reason, you should make sure that it projects the kind of image of your company that you are happy with. Remember that your employees will essentially be advertising for you everywhere that they go during the work day. Make sure that the company branding on the corporate clothing is clear and visible.

Finding A Supplier

The supplier you choose to use a very important decision. This is because they will ultimately decide what your corporate clothing ends up as. You can find corporate clothing suppliers by doing an internet search or looking through your community newspaper or yellow Pages. Try to contact as any suppliers as possible so that you can find the best deal for you.

Remember that you should always ask to see a sample of the suppliers work along with the quote. This way, you can see what type of quality you can expect from them. The best deal will be the supplier that offers you efficient service and a good quality product at an affordable price. The best deal is rarely ever the cheapest one. You should never sacrifice quality for price. Again, this is because your employees need to be comfortable and the corporate clothing is a direct reflection of your company.

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Corporate clothing is basically standardized office wear within a company. This office wear is then branded with the company’s logo and / or name. The company would order these garments for their employees through a particular supplier.

How To Prepare

The first thing that you should always consider is your budget. You cannot do anything until you know exactly how much you can afford to spend on the implementation of corporate clothing. The company does have the option of splitting costs with employees but this is not the idea situation. You should ain to cover all the costs associated with giving your employees corporate clothing.

You can then talk to your employees and find out how they feel about corporate clothing. If they are opposed to the idea and you cannot convince them then it is best not to implement it all. If there is interest then you should involve your employees when deciding what style, design, colours and materials should be used. You will then use this information to brief potential supplier for a quote.

Finding A Supplier

Due to the huge demand there is a large number of corporate clothing suppliers. You can find them by doing an online or internet search and looking through your Yellow Pages or community newspapers. You should try and contact as many of them as possible. This way you will have a huge variety of quotes to choose from.

It would also be a good idea to request an example or sample of their work. This way you can compare level of quality as well as prices. It would also be a good idea to ask the different suppliers a few questions such as what their return policy is, how long it would take them to complete an order and whether or not they will deliver.

You can then use the gathered information to find the best deal. The best deal is not necessarily the cheapest one. The best deal will come from a supplier that offers you efficient and comprehensive service and a good quality product for an affordable price.

Always make sure that you have a contract drawn up and that you have a copy of it. You should be happy with all the terms in the contract before you pay any money over to the supplier. Always check the garments for faults when they are delivered and preferably before the delivery van leaves. This way you can send faulty garments back immediately.

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Things To Consider

The first thing that needs to be taken into account is your budget for the corporate clothing. Once you have determined exactly how much money you can afford to spend, you can then start to think about what type of corporate clothing is best suited to your business needs. It would be a good idea to speak to your employees to find out what they think. This way, you can be sure to pick something that you employees are comfortable with and that always portrays the right corporate image for your company.

You should determine things like the type of material you would like used, the colour scheme and how you would like to brand the corporate clothing. Make sure that your branding is professional clear and visible. This is essential if you are trying to create brand identity ad brand awareness. These two factors can play a major role in the success of a new business.

Looking For A Supplier

The supplier that you choose for your corporate clothing is a very important decision. This is because the corporate clothing that is worn will be a direct reflection of your company. The quality and aesthetic appeal of the clothing is very important.

You can start your search for suppliers by doing an online search using a good search engine such as Google. You can also look through your local Yellow Pages and community newspapers as well. You should try to contact as many different suppliers as possible to make sure that you can get the best deal possible.

You should brief the supplier on what your needs are and request a quote from them. It would also be a good idea to request a sample of their work as well. You should also them questions such as how long it would take them to complete the order, what their quality control is like and whether or not they deliver.

The responses to these questions will help you find out which company offers you the best value for your money. It is important to note that the best deal is rarely the cheapest quote. The best deal will be the one that offers you high quality goods and efficient service for an affordable amount of money. You should never sacrifice quality for price.

Remember that there are many suppliers that are open to negotiating after their initial quote. It is always worth a try to try and get a better deal for your company and this is especially true if you are a new business and you don’t have much of a budget for the corporate clothing.

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