What is your preferred office staff clothing attire?

[DrNeyecare]

I had a meeting with my 2 of my girls last week in regards to office attire.
Currently, they are wearing office-formal attire with alittle fashion flare to it, ie dress pants below the ankles, skirts below the knee, button tops blouse.
I thought about switching the wardrobe over to scrubs to give the office a more medical feel. One of the girls loved the idea while the other girl didn't like it.
The one who didn't like the idea, wouldn't mind wearing scrubs, but she says it will make selling frames more difficult. She said that if she was a patient, she wouldn't want a "frumpy" person, with "no fashion sense," help her with selecting glasses. She said that if I want to sell the more higher end, designer frames, then they have to dress fashionably also.
Both girls are around 25 years old. They both sell equally well, and both are cross-trained to pre-test and sell.
The majority of my patient base is 35 and over (80%) and rather conservative.
What do you guys think?

[HarryChiling]

I would stay away frm scrubs, it might make your side of the business look beter (exam side), but it's at the cost of the dispensary (optical side). Which side makes you more money?

[Audiyoda]

I've done high-end optical for a long time - you can't sell higher end in scrubs - bottom line. If you're pushing fashion, you have to look the part.

That said, if your clientèle is is fairly conservative, dressing with a 'high end' look can be a very tight and narrow road. You might consider something along the line of polo shirts or some other brandable top (sorry that I'm not on top of women's fashion) combined with pants/skirts of their choice. Put your office name/logo on the shirts/tops and then everyone will look the part without getting too far away from fashion.

I seem to remember when I was looking through textile catalogs for shirts for my softball team that there are plenty of conservative yet stylish options for women's tops that are brandable.

[HarryChiling]

I am a little curious as to why even a suggestion of scrubs? If you want to look more medical go back to school and get an MD.

[Judy Canty]

Do them another favor, stop calling them "girls".

[drk]

The scrubs idea is such a cliche. Do you think you have to do that?

I understand the benefit in pretesting, etc., but it's goofy. They're pajamas. How'd the whole scrubs-in-the-clinic-thing get started, anyway?

Why not either:
Divide their jobs so that one day they do all the pretesting in scrubs/all the optical in business attire OR

Have them put on short white lab coats on top of their clothing in the pretest area?

P.S. The most important thing for the ladies I work with is to look "not fat" and "beautiful as possible". I don't think they worry about the rest.

[ShuString]

Sad as it is, people do judge others by how they look.. I myself am a big guy and notice the difference when I dress down wearing a polo shirt and kakies compared to my usual dress wearing dress shirt, tie and dress pants...my experience anyways.... :o))

[Snitgirl]

At the last office I worked at (patients average age 35-40) we wore our own “business professional” attire & lab coats were optional. The docs wore their lab coats and I wore mine as well. When the other staff members (not wearing a lab coat) was doing frame & lens selection, the patient would usually turn to me (if I was passing by that area) and ask if they could get my opinion on what they were being offered. I wasn't really sure if it was just because of me (reeking of confidence, lol) or because they perceived I knew more cause of the white lab coat.

Also, we did have patients ask why the receptionist (Optician who didn't wear a lab coat) does all the pre-testing on them. Lol, they had no idea the person helping them wasn't the receptionist, they just assumed because of the no lab coat. Again, perception.

Another office I worked at which was very high end, the bottom of our attire was strictly black and we had the tops (polo design) with our logo on it. We all wore lab coats and the doctor dressed the same as well. We always got the same comments from patients stating we all worked very well together and they enjoyed their visit. Not sure if it was because they perceived we were a “team” because we all dressed the same or, truly because we worked well together.

Maybe try one way… and then try another way to see what works best for your office and patients?

You should go into different offices and act like you are shopping and get a feel for what is being worn and see how you feel about it.

What did you perceive when on the opposite end of the situation?

But noooooo scrubs… : D nnnnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooo..

[DrNeyecare]

Thanks guys. I really like the ideas of "brandable" polo shirts suggested by Audiyoda, and white lab coats suggested by drk.

Honestly, I don't really like scrubs either. It was just an idea suggested to me. Don't get all down on me guys!!! But honestly, I have been in more private offices that have their female associates wearing scrubs than not.

Most importantly, I wanted to get input from members of this forum who have worked in offices where the associates have worn scrubs then switched over to not wearing scrubs in the SAME OFFICE. This is the best way for me to compare results regarding the perception that patients have and the resultant economic profitability for the office.

[DrNeyecare]

Another office I worked at which was very high end, the bottom of our attire was strictly black and we had the tops (polo design) with our logo on it. We all wore lab coats and the doctor dressed the same as well. We always got the same comments from patients stating we all worked very well together and they enjoyed their visit. Not sure if it was because they perceived we were a “team” because we all dressed the same or, truly because we worked well together.

Snitgirl, did the doctor and office manager wear custom designed polo shirts also? I would love to wear a polo shirt to work.
Also, did patients ever confuse any of the staff as being the doctor since everyone work white lab coats?

[cocoisland58]

I once turned down a job offer because they wore scrubs at the office and I told the interviewing doctor that I did not see how anyone could sell fashion eyewear whilst wearing pajamas. It looks lazy and sloppy. It is not hard to put together a wardrobe even on a limited budget that is fashionable, classy and even a bit funky when wearing funky frames. If you have techs that do not go on the sales floor then scrubs are appropriate. Sometimes I do miss the lab coats I wore for years if only for the pockets but a classy suit with a touch of lacy camisole peeping out is not only appropriate but helps sell product. Women like to be sold fashion from other women who look fashionable. Men like to be sold anything by women who look just a bit sexy without being overtly so.

[Snitgirl]

We "all" wore the same thing. I forgot to mention, we also had nametags as well with our names on it.

There was no confusion on who was the doctor because

1. name tag
2. each person that helped the patient shook the patients hand and introduced themselves by telling them their name, occupation and also what they were going to do with the patient.

"Hi Mrs. Jones, my name is Teresa. I'm dr. xyz's assistant and today I will doing some tests on you prior to seeing the doctor. These test will help the doctor with, blah, blah, blah…


P.S.
~ I prefer my own professional attire with a lab coat on top. <--maybe that is a bit old school?

P.P.S. just curious, what do people wear at lens shafters?

P.P.P.S. Happy Pops Day Doc.... :D

Snitgirl, did the doctor and office manager wear custom designed polo shirts also? I would love to wear a polo shirt to work.
Also, did patients ever confuse any of the staff as being the doctor since everyone work white lab coats?

[chip anderson]

Fo da boys I think a well taylored English suit, with an attitude to match.
Fo da girls I think a French maid's outfit with an attitude to match.

Chip

Now if I were sellin on da beach things would be different.:cheers:

[OPTIDONN]

In the lab side we wear buttless leather chaps. Patients like to peak in every once and a while:p. Seriously we wear lab coats and the retail does to.

[Jubilee]

We wear "business casual" attire.

As for LensShafters.. They wear black slacks, and buttoned shirts. Then wear a black coat (more smock like) with that. Think high end spa look.

I do like the idea of the branded attire... and I personally wouldn't mind the white coat. However I think others I work with would.

Cassandra

[rbaker]

I see a dentist whose entire staff are attired in the highest of fashion. A lab coat or smock is worn only in the treatment room while a procedure is underway. A fine brandy is available to ease the nerves. The practice focuses on the older more stable segment of the population. So, there are no disturbing children or public assistance recipients hanging about. This practice has class.

Since scrubs have no functional use in an optometry or opticians office they indicate to me a pretentious schlep operation. How you can trade in fashion merchandising while wearing, as someone else so lucidly stated, pajamas?

[cocoisland58]

I seem to remember when I was looking through textile catalogs for shirts for my softball team that there are plenty of conservative yet stylish options for women's tops that are brandable.

Not a bad idea if everyone in the office likes the idea but pushing a uniform on a group of women is like trying to find one bridesmaid dress that looks great on all of your multi-sized girlfriends. It don't work. Women dress to suit their bodies because most of us have figure flaws that we try to conceal. A polo type shirt does not look good on too many women. And then there will be the issue of "to tuck or not to tuck" which believe me can be a big deal for some. I've always found it better to allow the staff to choose what they want to wear keeping in mind good taste. We are fairly laid back so we wear capris in the summer and sandals but in a more medical setting I would only allow long pants and shoes.

[Snitgirl]

Dear Doc.. you've been posting a lot of good questions.. Keep it up!!:cheers:

[Snitgirl]

YOU CRACK ME UP!!! You just put a silly visual in my head... lol

In the lab side we wear buttless leather chaps. Patients like to peak in every once and a while:p. Seriously we wear lab coats and the retail does to.

[Snitgirl]

Landsend carries polo's that are good quality and go through the wash many times without fading or a break down in quality. Also they can stitch whatever you are wanting on the polo.

I seem to remember when I was looking through textile catalogs for shirts for my softball team that there are plenty of conservative yet stylish options for women's tops that are brandable.

[Audiyoda]

Not a bad idea if everyone in the office likes the idea but pushing a uniform on a group of women is like trying to find one bridesmaid dress that looks great on all of your multi-sized girlfriends. It don't work. Women dress to suit their bodies because most of us have figure flaws that we try to conceal. A polo type shirt does not look good on too many women. And then there will be the issue of "to tuck or not to tuck" which believe me can be a big deal for some. I've always found it better to allow the staff to choose what they want to wear keeping in mind good taste. We are fairly laid back so we wear capris in the summer and sandals but in a more medical setting I would only allow long pants and shoes.

That's why I stress that there were a number of options - not just polo shirts. But if you want continuity, logowear of some sort works better than scrubs.

[shellrob]

In some ways I agree, and in others I don't. I wear scrubs in my office. For a couple of reasons. First, I don't just sell glasses, I do everything else in our office, including making the glasses, cleaning the entire office and bathrooms. I also am the receptionist, insurance biller, and sell glasses on top of that. I tried wearing regular clothes and looked dirty and misheaveled all day. My feet ached as well. I was given the choice and chose scrubs. I do not look like a frump, nor do I look I just walked out of bed like some people do. I agree that some take advantage of that, I'm not one of them. I take a shower, do my hair, put makeup on and dress in clean, ironed scrubs. I also do sell high fashion. I believe there's the right way to wear scrubs and the wrong whcih we tend to see most of the time.

[karen]

Do them another favor, stop calling them "girls".

:bbg::bbg: ditto.

We have a seminar that we give that actually spends some time on this subject in the proper patient transfer portion of it. It likens it to a heart specialist saying " you need a valve replaced in your heart, let me take you out to the girl and she will tell you what need to happen next..."

oh, I call on lots of offices and I think scrubs-while cute-send the wrong message in the dispensary. I think it is fair to have standards-you don't want them to look like hoochie mama's either-and if you are going to ask them to dress a certain way you should give them some money to pay for work clothes that fit into your guidelines. But I would rather buy something expensive from someone who looked like maybe they could afford it too. Kind of like how all the sales folks in the BMW dealership look like they could afford to drive one.

[cocoisland58]

:bbg::bbg: ditto.

if you are going to ask them to dress a certain way you should give them some money to pay for work clothes that fit into your guidelines. But I would rather buy something expensive from someone who looked like maybe they could afford it too. Kind of like how all the sales folks in the BMW dealership look like they could afford to drive one.

I wear designer clothes at work and never have paid retail since I couldn't afford it. Resale clothing stores in upscale areas and Ebay keep me in Ralph Lauren and Armani. I get asked all the time where I get my clothes. And when they no longer appeal to me they go back to resale. Recycling is good for everyone. It is entirely possible to look upscale to sell upscale on a beer budget but it takes more hunting which to me is half the fun.

[alaskaoptical]

Do them another favor, stop calling them "girls".

Amen to that!