Exchanges Are Inevitable — Your Process Determines Whether They’re a Headache or a Non-Event
Even with the best sizing exercise, some workwear will need exchanging. A team member loses weight. Someone was measured incorrectly. A garment is damaged in production. A size runs differently than expected. These situations are normal. Your process for handling them determines whether they create friction or resolve smoothly.
Prevention First: The Sizing Exercise
The best exchange policy is one that’s rarely needed. Run a thorough sizing exercise — see our dedicated sizing guide — before placing your order. Request samples in borderline sizes before committing to a full run. These steps reduce exchange frequency significantly.
Turnaround for Exchanges
Set a clear internal expectation for exchange turnaround. With a well-structured account at Customised Workwear, exchange orders for standard sizes held in buffer stock are typically fulfilled within five business days. Plan for this timeline in your workwear programme — don’t issue a garment size that’s likely to need exchanging the day before a client launch.
Logging and Tracking
Keep a simple log of all exchanges — who requested what, when, and the outcome. This data tells you whether you have a systemic sizing issue with a particular garment (worth flagging to your supplier) or whether exchanges are random and isolated events. Patterns in exchange data allow you to adjust your standard ordering specifications over time.
Communicating With Staff
Workwear exchanges should be frictionless for employees. A staff member who has to chase a sizing issue for three weeks feels undervalued. A staff member who reports a sizing problem and receives a replacement within a week feels that the business is organised and responsive. The workwear programme is part of the employment experience — manage it accordingly.
Contact us about setting up a smooth exchange and reorder process for your business. Browse our workwear bundles.