Client
Synapse: a managed IT and cloud infrastructure provider supporting organisations across the UK and Isle of Man
Sector
Technology / managed IT & cloud services
Event
Brand launch
Background
Synapse were preparing to launch their refreshed brand on the 30th of September, and wanted their team uniforms to change with it.
With employees based across Manchester and the Isle of Man, the rollout needed to do more than simply produce new branded clothing; Synapse needed an easy way to collect individual sizes and preferences, manufacture the garments, organise everything by location and have the new uniform ready for the team in time for launch day.
We had just over three weeks to make it happen.
The Challenge
A rebrand creates a very clear deadline. When the new identity goes live, every customer touchpoint needs to feel joined up, including the people representing the brand.
For Synapse, that meant getting the new uniform into the hands of employees across two locations before the 30th.
We needed to:
- Give employees a choice of uniform options
- Collect individual garment sizes quickly and accurately
- Manage orders across Manchester and the Isle of Man
- Produce and brand all garments within a tight timeframe
- Distribute each order to the correct location ahead of launch
But there was another deadline within the deadline too: Synapse wanted to hold an internal photoshoot before the public launch, giving the marketing team new imagery of the team wearing the refreshed uniform and brand.
Making Ordering Simple
To remove the admin from collecting everyone’s choices and sizes, we created a dedicated gifting hub for the Synapse team.
Employees could access the hub, select their preferred uniform bundle and submit the sizes they needed.
This gave employees some choice while giving both Synapse and our team a much clearer way to manage the rollout. Instead of working through spreadsheets, emails and individual requests, everything could be collated through one place before going into production.
Two Uniform Bundles
The team could choose between two uniform combinations, allowing Synapse to maintain a consistent look while giving employees an option that suited them.
Bundle One
Bundle Two
The range gave Synapse a coordinated uniform across the business without making every employee wear exactly the same combination.
Going the Extra Mile
While the full uniform rollout was being produced, Synapse’s marketing team needed a small number of finished garments around a week earlier.
We expedited selected pieces so the team could hold an internal photoshoot ahead of the public launch. This meant Synapse could create fresh photography featuring the new uniform and have branded social content ready to go when the new identity was revealed.
Meanwhile, production continued on the remaining garments before orders were collated and distributed between Manchester and the Isle of Man.
The Impact
In just over three weeks, Synapse went from confirming its new uniform to having it rolled out across both locations in time for the rebrand.
- A dedicated gifting hub was created to collect employee choices and sizing
- Two uniform bundles gave employees greater flexibility
- Orders managed across Manchester and the Isle of Man
- Garments produced and distributed within a tight three-week window
- Selected pieces expedited for the pre-launch photoshoot
- Full rollout completed ahead of the 30th September brand launch
Rather than adding another complicated work stream to an already-busy rebrand, the process gave Synapse one simple way to manage the uniform rollout from employee selection through to final delivery.
What the Client Said
Relaunching our brand was a huge project for us at Synapse. Our brand was going through a major refresh, with a new identity and a new look and feel, and we wanted our clothing to reflect that. It was important that the garments carried the modern, confident style of the new brand while putting the people at the heart of Synapse front and centre.
We’ve worked with Project on a number of occasions, and once again they delivered quality branded items on a quick turnaround. With colleagues based across Manchester and the Isle of Man, the gifting hub made the whole process so much smoother. Everyone could choose their bundle and submit their sizes in one place, which took a huge amount of admin off our plate at an already busy time.
Project Merchandise really went the extra mile by getting selected pieces to us early for our pre-launch photoshoot. That meant we had fresh imagery of our team in the new brand ready for launch day, and could put our best foot forward from the moment the new identity went live.
Charlie and the team have been a dream to work with. They were responsive to multiple demands and last-minute changes throughout, and nothing was ever too much trouble. We’re really happy with the end result, and the response to the garments has been wonderful. Seeing our team wearing the new brand with such confidence, whether they’re in the office or out and about, has been a real delight. I’d highly recommend Project Merchandise to anyone looking to bring their brand to life.
The Takeaway
A new uniform might be one part of a rebrand, but getting it right can make a big difference to how the new identity is experienced internally and externally.
By combining a simple employee ordering hub, fast production and carefully coordinated distribution, we helped Synapse get its refreshed brand onto its team and in front of its audience at exactly the right time.
Make your next campaign hassle-free with a dedicated Gifting Hub. Or better yet, see how a Webstore can handle your ongoing merchandise needs. Alternatively, talk to the team to find the right approach for you.
