How Much Can You Really Save by Ordering Uniforms in Bulk? (We Did the Maths)
The Hidden Cost of Ordering Uniforms in Small Quantities
- Higher unit prices at lower quantities
- Multiple delivery charges
- Increased admin and approval time
- Repeated procurement cycles
- Rush orders for urgent starters
- Greater risk of discontinued garments between orders
- Inconsistent branding across teams
- Higher embroidery and production handling time
What the Numbers Actually Look Like
Order Quantity |
Typical Unit Price (Ex VAT) |
Approx Saving |
| 10 jackets | £82.50 | - |
| 25 jackets | £80.44 | ~2.5% |
| 50 jackets | £78.38 | ~5% |
| 100 jackets | £76.31 | ~7.5 |
| 250+ jackets |
£74.25 |
Up to 10% |
- embroidered logos
- shirts and blouses
- knitwear
- trousers
- fleeces
- waterproof outerwear
- delivery consolidation
- admin savings
We’re Already Competitive Before Bulk Discounts Even Begin
One thing many buyers don’t realise is that the biggest saving often starts before volume pricing is applied.
As a high-volume corporatewear supplier and platinum-level distributor of Brook Taverner garments, our standard pricing is already significantly lower than many traditional corporate uniform providers.
Take the popular Brook Taverner Novara Jacket as an example.
| Supplier | Standard Selling Price (Inc VAT) |
| The Work Uniform Company | £99.00 |
| Typical market competitor pricing | £134.00 |
That’s a difference of £35 per jacket before any bulk-buy discount is even applied.
For a 50-person team, that alone represents a saving of £1,750 on jackets only
The Biggest Savings Usually Aren’t on the Garments
This surprises a lot of people. The garment discount matters — but the operational efficiencies are often even more valuable. When businesses move to planned bulk ordering, they usually reduce:
Procurement Time
Instead of processing 20 separate orders during the year, the purchasing team handles one structured procurement cycle.
Delivery Charges
One consolidated shipment is significantly cheaper than repeated small deliveries.
New Starter Delays
Holding spare stock in core sizes prevents urgent “rush” orders.
Branding Inconsistencies
You avoid the situation where:
- Old garments use one logo version
- New garments use another
- Colours change between batches
- Discontinued garments force substitutions
Employee Complaints
A planned uniform rollout creates a more consistent and professional appearance across the team.
The Businesses That Spend the Least All Do One Thing
The companies that consistently achieve the best value from their uniform budget usually follow the same process. They stop treating uniforms as an emergency purchase. Instead, they treat them as a planned annual procurement exercise.
Typically, the process looks like this:
1. Conduct a Uniform Audit
Usually in spring.
Count:
- Current garments
- Damaged items
- Faded stock
- Upcoming replacement needs
2. Forecast Staffing Changes
Consider:
- Expected recruitment
- Seasonal staff
- Department expansion
- Role changes
3. Place One Planned Bulk Order
Most businesses place larger orders between April and June to prepare for:
- Summer recruitment
- Autumn onboarding
- Winter outerwear requirements
4. Order a Sensible Overage
We usually recommend ordering around:
- 10% extra stock
- Focused on common sizes
- Particularly polos, knitwear and jackets
This prevents expensive emergency reorders later in the year.
What You Don’t Pay Extra For at The Work Uniform Company
One thing many customers notice when comparing suppliers is how many “extra” charges suddenly appear later in the process.
At The Work Uniform Company we keep things straightforward.
Included as standard:
- Free logo artwork assistance
- Free embroidery digitisation
- Free DTF print setup
- Free visual mockups
- Free design support from our in-house team
- Free returns and exchanges within 14 days on eligible items
These aren’t temporary offers or hidden behind minimum spends. They’re simply part of how we operate.
As one of the UK’s largest distributors of Brook Taverner corporatewear, we’re also able to secure pricing structures that many smaller resellers simply can’t access.
Why Reactive Ordering Ends Up Costing More Long-Term
The irony is that reactive ordering often feels “safer” because the upfront spend is lower. But over a 12-month period, it almost always costs more.
A company placing twelve £500 orders throughout the year will usually spend considerably more than one planned £6,000 annual order
And they’ll experience:
- More admin
- More delivery costs
- More delays
- More inconsistencies
- More procurement headaches
Bulk ordering doesn’t just reduce cost. It reduces friction.
The Bottom Line
If your organisation uniforms 50+ people and you’re currently ordering reactively throughout the year, there is a very strong chance you are overspending.
In our experience, most businesses can reduce their overall uniform spend by 20%–40% simply by:
- Consolidating orders
- Forecasting requirements
- Planning annually
- Holding sensible backup stock
And the larger the workforce, the bigger the savings become.
“Uniform procurement becomes dramatically cheaper the moment you stop treating it as a monthly problem and start treating it as an annual strategy.”
If you’d like us to work through the numbers for your organisation, we’re happy to help.
Whether you need corporate tailoring, hospitality uniforms, healthcare garments, workwear or branded PPE, we can provide a full bulk-buy cost comparison with no obligation.
Explore the full range at The Work Uniform Company or request a bespoke bulk quote for your team.
