Ever find yourself wondering if you should order some branded tees for the team or go all out with uniforms for your next event?
You are not the only one! So many small brands find themselves in the same situation. So, deciding between uniforms and branded merch can feel a bit tricky.
The good news? Both can work fine. It just depends on your goals.
What, Even, is the Difference?
Uniforms are matching clothes that your team wears while working. You can design them yourself with your brand logo and aesthetics.
Branded merch is more flexible. It’s your t-shirts, caps, or tote bags with your logo on them, made for your team to wear but also something your customers can take home and use.
When uniforms make sense
Uniforms are a solid choice when:
- You’re in food service, retail, or running a booth where your staff needs to stand out.
- You want your team to look organized and easy to spot at events or in-store.
- You want to maintain consistent brand visuals in photos and videos.
- You’re focused on delivering a clean, professional look.
Example: At a pop-up coffee cart, matching branded aprons and caps instantly signal who’s staff while reinforcing your brand aesthetic.
When branded merch is the smarter move
Branded merch is your best friend when:
You want your customers to take a piece of your brand home.
You’re running a giveaway to boost engagement.
You want your team to look casual yet cohesive.
You’re focusing on building a community vibe around your brand.
What’s better for building your brand?
Uniforms build trust.
Customers feel more confident when they can easily spot your team, especially in busy environments.
Branded merch builds connection.
It creates excitement, encourages social sharing, and extends your brand beyond the event.
If you want your team to look pro and organized, go with uniforms.
If you want to create buzz and keep your brand in customers’ daily lives, branded merch wins.
Can you do both?
Absolutely.
Many small brands choose uniforms for staff and branded merch for customers at the same event.
Your team wears matching tees or aprons.
You hand out or sell branded caps, stickers, or tote bags to customers.
You get a clean brand look while also boosting reach and community.
It’s a win-win.
Does it have to be expensive?
Nope.
You can start with:
Simple branded tees for your team instead of full uniform sets.
Affordable tote bags with your logo as your first merch item.
Branded stickers or pins for giveaways.
How Just Labs Studio can help
At JustLabs, we’ve helped small brands produce collections and campaign merch that align perfectly with their aesthetic and budget.
Need high-quality tees for your team that don’t lose shape after two washes? We can produce them.
Want to test a limited run of branded caps or tote bags to see what clicks with your customers? We’ve got you covered.
With our low MOQs and flexible production, you can test what works best for your campaigns without overspending or overstocking.
So, what should you choose?
If your campaign needs structure, consistency, and a professional look, uniforms are the way to go.
If your campaign is about community, spreading your brand beyond the event, and building a vibe, branded merch is your best bet.
And if you want the best of both worlds? Mix and match.
Your team looks organized, and your customers get to take a piece of your brand home.
Ready to plan your next campaign?
From team tees to cool merch your customers will actually want to use, we make it easy to bring your campaign to life without the headache. Because your brand should look sharp wherever it shows up.