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At Name Tag Wizard, we’ve spent the past 70 years creating customized products that bring your vision to life. As we celebrate this exciting milestone, we’re reflecting on how we’ve played a role in evolving the world of customization.

Our rich history, strong connections, advanced machinery, unwavering commitment to quality, and efficient shipping set us apart from the competition, making us a leader in the industry.

History

HC Brands, the parent company of Name Tag Wizard, was first started by Owen Holmes in 1954, right out of his garage in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Holmes had a passion for connecting with his community and wanted to give people an easy way to express themselves through personalized products. In the early days, customized products relied on manual processes, and Mr. Holmes’ dedication to quality and personalization laid a strong foundation for the company.

As the business grew, we continuously discovered ways to improve and innovate. In 2009, Bryan Croft took over as CEO, bringing a fresh vision and strategic direction to Name Tag Wizard. Recognizing the potential of the internet, Bryan moved the business online, making it easier for customers nationwide to access our personalized name tags. This shift not only expanded our reach but also streamlined our operations and enhanced customer experience.

Machinery

Before modern technology, the production of custom name tags relied on manual carving or chemical etching. While effective, these traditional processes were time-consuming and less precise. Manual carving demanded immense skill and patience, often resulting in variations in quality and consistency. Chemical etching involved the use of hazardous substances that posed significant risks to the health and safety of workers. 

The introduction of laser engraving machines revolutionized custom name tag production. Unlike older methods, laser engraving allows for intricate designs to be replicated with exceptional accuracy. The speed of laser technology enables rapid production, reducing turnaround times and increasing efficiency. This advancement has not only streamlined manufacturing but also elevated the safety and standard of custom production.

Raising the Bar for Quality

With all of our products made here in the USA, we ensure that only the highest quality products leave our facilities. We have set the standard for what high-quality customized products should look like. Our quality check process consists of 10 steps:

1. Our laser engraving machines and UV printers are cleaned first thing in the morning to ensure consistent quality throughout the day.
2. Our durable name tag sheets are precisely aligned with the appropriate machinery for the material.
3. Any dust generated during the engraving process is vacuumed away to prevent debris interference.
4. The engraved name tags are hand-scrubbed with soap and water to ensure a clean product.
5. Our experts perform a visual examination to check for proper depth and style.
6. The name tags are sorted, reviewed, and sent to production.
7. The name tags are hand-assembled with the correct backing.
8. Each name tag is packaged with a heat seal for added protection.
9. A final visual check is conducted to ensure the quantity is correct.
10. The name tags are scanned and shipped to the customer.

Nationwide Shipping

While we take pride in our Jacksonville, Florida roots, we wanted people nationwide to have the opportunity to shop our personalized products. To make this possible, we made the shift to our online stores and began shipping to all 50 states. 

From the very beginning, we committed to shipping within two business days, ensuring our delivery driver dispatched orders promptly. Today, with the help of modern technology and our experienced team, we continue to uphold our tradition of super-fast shipping across the country, providing the same reliable and speedy service our customers have come to expect.

Looking Ahead

While we celebrate 70 years of innovation and excellence, we are excited about the future.  We’re aiming for another 7 decades of not only increased connections with our customers and fantastic products, but opening more paths of opportunity and security for our team members. At the time of writing we have had 700 employees come and go since 2012, and have several second generation employees on our staff.

Name Tag Wizard is nothing without the people that keep it running and through continued focus on customer service, innovation, and creating great products.

With our CEO Bryan at the helm, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of customization, continually enhancing our processes, and expanding our reach. We are grateful to our loyal customers for their trust and support, and we look forward to many more years of helping people express themselves through our high-quality personalized products. Thank you for being part of our journey.

The benefits of name tags can be limited or expanded by how you see and use them in your company. If you’ve just been relying on simple name tags with your company logo, this post is for you.

The Importance of Name Tags

Name tags are facts of life in many businesses. If you have public-facing employees, the odds are good that you use name tags to identify them. If you stop to think about why name tags are important, you might say they put names to faces and make employees accountable to company standards. But have you ever thought about how simple name tags could be building relationships that go far beyond the professional?

If you ask yourself “What are the benefits of name tags” or “What is the aim of a name tag,” you might not answer, “To build human connections using creativity.” But if you open yourself to that possibility, your company name tags can be relationship builders that create trust and spark excitement in your customers.

How? Let me tell you a story.

The Power of Personal Connection Through Name Tags

A couple of weeks ago, I took my kids to Disney World. All of the employees wear name tags that include their name, the Disney logo, stars for the number of years they’ve been there, and the city and country the employee comes from. A young man serving hot dogs was from Venice, Italy, where I visited with my family last summer. I chatted with that young man about his home city.

His name tag created a human connection that wouldn’t have been possible without that one extra detail – the city he came from. Name tags are professional necessities, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Name tags can also build relationships and encourage human connections. With customized name tags, your customers might remember your employees long after they leave your business. And that means they’ll remember your business, too.

The Impact of Name Tags on Customer Relationships

I have a personal theory about the trust factor name tags can provide. Imagine a bartender with no name tag working for a month. They’ll make sales for the company and earn tips for themselves. But what if they wear a name tag for the next month? Do you think it might make the bartender more friendly? Will that name tag start building relationships between the bartender and their customers? Do their customers stay longer, start conversations, and have another beer? Will the bartender make more sales and tips as guests connect on a personal level? I think they will. Why? Because humans like to connect, and that name tag creates a connection.

The Significance of Names in a Fast-Paced World

As sophisticated and crazy as the world is getting, starting with a name, also slows things down. For many people, our names are our favorite word.  For example, I’m Bryan with a Y. Most people with my name are Brian with an I. I’m proud of my “Y”.  When I see it out in the wild, like driving through Bryan County, Georgia, I get a little thrill. When someone asks about the spelling of my name, that builds a connection between us.

Name Tags as Career Milestones

Here at Name Tag Wizard, we recently got an email from a long-term customer named Katie. She shared a photo of her collection of name tags, starting as a Food and Beverage Assistant at a golf club and moving up the ranks all the way to General Manager. These name tags were part of building her relationship with her career. They trace her personal history and have been an important part of her identity with the company. Katie’s name tags stated her title at every stage of her professional development, giving her both something to claim and something to aspire to.

Creative Customization of Name Tags

So, how can your company’s name tags get to work at building relationships? Why not add some creativity and customization to those tags? One great way is by adding a question. Questions build connections by engaging people. Here are some ideas:

• Lego asks what employees’ favorite Lego brick color is.
• A pet store might ask: “Team Cat or Team Dog?”
• For a golf course, “What’s your lowest round ever?”
• A brewery’s name tag could ask, “What’s your favorite type of beer?”
• An Italian restaurant might ask what kind of pasta the employee loves most.

If we both love dogs, stout, or fettuccine, we’re going to connect over that. How can you have fun with name tags in your industry? What kinds of questions can you add to your employees’ name tags to help them with building relationships?

Using Name Tags to Spark Conversations

When you add titles to name tags, they don’t have to be formal. For instance, I use a name tag when I attend trade shows that says, “Bryan Croft, Visionary.” When people ask about it (making connections!), I tell them I’m a dreamer. I dream about everything. I had a dream of building this ecommerce company that we’re having fun with. And a dream about helping the kids in Haiti where we have an orphanage. And my trade show name tag builds relationships by creating an opening for conversations about that title and what it means to me as a person.

Reflecting Company Culture Through Name Tags

You can reflect your company culture with your colors, logo, font, and the size of the elements you choose. And you can go in any direction that will create connections and make your customers feel comfortable. You can let your employees’ name tags build relationships if you think of that surface area as an open invitation for connection.

What will you do with your company name tags? Whatever you decide, we make thousands of customized name badges at Name Tag Wizard every day. With many options for customizing, we can help you bring your imagination to life. Create your own custom name tags today with our easy-to-use design tool, and start building those relationships!

Keeping up with the latest trends and technology is a crucial part of running any business. The more you can offer your customers and clients the better chance you have of making a sale or creating a partnership. QR codes are one of the newer applications that can keep your business running efficiently. Whether you manage a start-up, local food chain, or small business, this modern system can greatly benefit the way you run things.

What is a QR Code?

A QR Code, aka quick response code, is a label made up of black squares on a white background. Much like a traditional barcode, this unique label is read by imaging devices like the camera on your mobile device. This one-of-a-kind code essentially links to specific information or data on a website or application.

Getting your unique QR code is simple. Money sharing apps like Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal give you a code that is personal to you when you sign up. There are also a ton of free websites that offer a QR code generator, which helps you create your marketing materials in a matter of minutes. All you have to do is create an account to acquire your code. There are many uses for QR codes! They can be applied to money-sharing apps, menus, informational pages, websites, social media pages, and more.

How do you scan a QR code name tag?

1. Get out your smartphone and open your camera app
2. Point and focus the camera on the QR code you wish to scan
3. Wait for your phone to notify you of the scan and provide a link
4. Click on the link to be sent to the landing page or app

Here are a few ideas on how you can implement QR codes in your business!

Create separate accounts on a money sharing app for each sector of your business. For example, a small restaurant may choose to have different QR Codes for inside tables, patio seating, bar, and valet. Then, provide your essential employees with their own QR code name tags and buttons. This way, customers or clients can easily tip or pay hands-free! Money sharing apps make splitting costs among guests easy. Instead of performing multiple transactions for one table, individuals can divide the bill among themselves. This creates a seamless checkout process. This added convenience is sure to lead to increased tips and business! Each transaction on the app includes a comment section. You can ask patrons to add their waiter or waitress’s name and the bill number. They can even leave a quick review of their experience.

QR codes can even help you create your personal marketing campaign. A QR code name tag can act as your tech savvy business card. Send recruiters or potential customers or clients to your LinkedIn page. With a quick scan of the dynamic QR codes on your custom badge, clients can instantly save your phone number and other contact information into their phone so they can reach out to you later.

Established businesses may not feel the need to update their processes, but as we’ve learned in the past few months, nothing is guaranteed. Outside factors can have major affects on the stability and longevity of a business. COVID-19 is just one instance, where taking proactive measures can keep your business from shutting down. Wearing a simple professional name badge will remain a timeless, professional accessory, but with certain businesses it is wise to also wear a QR code accessible badge.

Benefits of QR Codes

Implementing products like QR code buttons or name tags to your business, is just one of the tools you can use to be a few steps ahead of the curve. Whether you work for a big corporation or a small business, there are benefits that QR codes can bring to any industry.

• Accessible – You do not have to provide a QR code reader, everyone with a mobile device has their very own QR code scanner. QR codes work on both iPhone and Android devices. This easy accessibility will turn potential customers into happy customers.
• Safe – With COVID-19 taking over the way business are run, wearing face masks and implementing hands-free payment options is vital.  QR codes offer a contactless solution to paying, which helps keep your staff members and patrons safe!
• Easy to Use – All customers need is their mobile device. In three quick steps a bill can be paid for. It’s as simple as scanning the QR code name tag, clicking the link, and sending the money!
• On the Go – As stated, these unique codes can be used in practically any industry or business. With a QR code name tag, business that offer on-the-go services like valets or bar carts can make instant transactions on the spot. Your employees won’t have to go back and forth to swipe a credit card. Clients or customers can simply scan, pay, and be on their way!
• No Fees – With the quick scan of a QR code, no fee is taken out. Certain card readers can be attached to your phone. They plug in and allow cards to be swiped, but most of these devices take a commission on your sales. In this case, providing convenience to customers won’t lose you any money.
• Instantaneous – You can see all transactions instantaneously. Owners and managers don’t have to wait until the end of the day to see sales and revenue. They can pull out the money sharing application, log into the desired account, and see all purchases immediately. (For example, you could set up a “bar tips” account on Venmo, and a separate account on Venmo for “section 3 tables.”)

Take the time to create QR codes for your business, they will be well worth the effort. Offering custom QR code products to your valued staff members will help your business run safely and efficiently. Not only can they increase tips, but they can help you get through difficult economical times. Custom QR codes bring convenience to you and your customers. Test our one-of-a-kind badges and let us know how they work for you. Share your success stories and photos with us by tagging @nametagwizard in your social media posts.

 

Other related blogs you might like: 

Building Relationships with Name Tags

Maintaining Professionalism While Practicing Social Distancing

Fostering Creativity with Name Badges

 

As the novel coronavirus grips the United States, virtually every business has had to make significant work from home accommodations for millions of employees across the country, with little or no time to plan. While mandatory telecommuting may not be ideal for many companies, there are a multitude of ways that businesses and their team members can make the best of an unforeseen remote working situation, and enjoy a few work from home perks along the way.

Create a Routine That Works for You

Whether you’re an early bird who enjoys watching the day wake up, or you’re a night owl who enjoys working well into the evening, creating a workday routine that works for you will ensure you get the job done while keeping your home life happy and your work-life balance in check.

Create Your Office Space

Especially if working from home became necessary because of COVID-19 work from home mandates, you may not be prepared – or have the room – to designate a formal office space. A small desk, a dining room table, or a kitchen nook – anywhere that you can make your own and keep consistent – will work well.

Finding a spot in a well-lit room, or a room with lots of natural light, will help to create a light, bright work area. Be sure you have the essentials: a comfortable chair, a strong internet connection, a mouse for your laptop (game changer!), and a printer stocked with paper and ink if printing documents is a regular part of your work day.

Make your ad-hoc office space your own! Add a small vase of fresh flowers, your favorite scented candle, a few favorite photos, or anything that sparks a bit of joy throughout your busy work day.

To present a more formal setting when video conferencing with external clients or customers, visibly displaying your name plate in your video chat window is an easy way to set a professional tone while you’re working from home.

When your work day is over, tuck all of your office ‘supplies’ away and out of sight till the next day.

Set Regular Work Hours

What’s most important when working from home is to achieve your responsibilities, which will help to keep your company running smoothly and working toward its objectives. It’s less about clocking in and out, and more about ensuring that you are able to commit to accomplishing quality work in a timely manner.

It is equally as important to completely log off at the end of your work day, resisting the urge to log back in after dinner, or on evenings or weekends. Just as you put in the time expected of you during the work day, keeping work and home life separate are key to your quality of life.

Be Comfortable

While some people feel best ‘dressed for success’ whether they commute to the office or are working from home, others prefer comfy tees and yoga pants during a busy at-home work day. Work however you’re most comfortable, the more comfortable you are, the more productive you’ll be!

Keep in mind, when video conferencing with other team members, clients, or customers, be sure that what you’ve chosen to wear for the day presents the same appearance as if you were working at the office, perhaps even adding your name tag to complete your look.

Set Rules with Others Sharing Your Space

If you’re not alone during the work hours you’ve set, and must share limited space with family members, roommates, or others, set rules that will respect your privacy while you’re ‘at the office’. One easy way to avoid shared quarters distractions is to put those noise canceling headphones or super-charged ear buds to good use!

Communicate with Colleagues

Many people enjoy the camaraderie of a bustling office. Not everyone prefers to work from home, and doing so may add an extra layer of stress or anxiety to the work day. Providing your virtual teams with as much valuable information as possible will lessen the worry caused by this unexpected disruption.

Additionally, make it a priority to check in often and ‘attend’ your regularly scheduled meetings. Technology offers many easy video conferencing ways to join meetings from virtually anywhere, and continuing meetings as planned will help to keep workflows moving along and keep everyone on the same page. There are many easy to use, free video chat platforms available via social media, including Skype and FaceTime.

Keep the Social in Social Distancing

While it may be easier to be productive without the chatter of coworkers buzzing in your ear, thoughtfully interacting with coworkers via phone calls, video conferencing, or online intranet chat platforms can alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation and keeps the sense of teamwork thriving when social distancing is a must.

Get Up! Move Around!

Once you’re settled in and working from home, it’s easy to see how much you’re used to getting up and walking around at work, whether it’s down the hall to the conference room or covering several floors throughout the day collaborating with colleagues. It’s essential to get up and move around no matter where your new ‘office’ happens to be.

Several short breaks – of even five or ten minutes at a time – are essential to clear your mind and reset your concentration. Play a few rounds of fetch with your dog, grab the day’s mail, or take a walk around the neighborhood, enjoying a few minutes of fresh air and nature as often as you can.

At a minimum, take a few minutes several times an hour to get up, stretch, close your eyes, and breathe deeply. Opening your windows for some fresh air is also a wonderful way to bring a bit of the outside in.

Take Advantage of Your Perks

While working from home offers its own set of challenges, including transitioning to a single-screen laptop, slower home internet connections, and a laggy virtual private network, there are many work from home perks to be enjoyed.

You’re not commuting! If your commute was only 30 minutes each way, you’ve just gained five extra hours per week, giving you plenty of bonus time to do the little things that inevitably pile up, or simply spend more time living your best life.

Consider the extra savings. Not only will you save the additional gasoline or mass transit costs when working from home, you can enjoy making workday meals and snacks from the comfort of your kitchen, which is a cost that adds up when eating out for lunch even a few days a week.

Speaking of saving money, be your own barista and set up a coffee shop in your kitchen. In just minutes, your favorite latte will be brewed and ready to enjoy!

Enjoy moments that you wouldn’t necessarily have at the office. Listen to your music or podcasts sans headphones, cuddle your kitty to relieve stress (or to remove her from your keyboard!), and enjoy a few minutes of extra sleep instead of sitting in morning traffic.

Stay Healthy!

During stressful times, and especially being so close to a kitchen and pantry full of tempting treats, it’s easy to go for the salty, sweet snacks too often! Instead, focus on healthful fruits, nuts, and nutritious lunches, and then reward yourself with your favorite treat as a bonus at the end of the day.

For Managers

As mangers that are faced with heading up an unplanned virtual workforce, effective communication and a positive tone from the top are key to encouraging productivity and reducing stress for remote workers.

Sharing the message that the company expects challenges and knows they will pass, and that you’re all in this together, will help calm anxieties and create a feeling of camaraderie among team members during times of uncertainty.

Be sure to stress the importance of work-life balance when your team members are working from home. If employees feel that they have to overcompensate because they do not commute to the office every day, they risk becoming worn out and resenting what could and should be a positive remote working situation.

Let Happy Hour Begin!

If happy hour is a trend you wish could continue amid coronavirus social distancing and self-quarantines, why not give a virtual happy hour a go? One of Bloomberg’s Hong Kong employees says that, after several weeks of working from home, a manager set up a video chat for 20 team members. With drinks in hand, conversations were enjoyed, including family updates, casual conversations, and even a pet or two made an appearance!

This recently unimaginable coronavirus outbreak has sparked a mandatory telecommuting trial run for thousands of businesses and employees across the country and around the world, creating a work from home labor force on a grand scale. While there are obvious work from home perks, including no commutes and a more relaxed remote working home office space, heightened anxieties and uncertainties about what the future holds abound.

Remembering that we’re all in this together will go a long way in keeping the circle of collaboration flowing and our successes rising, at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

When you are registering for a conference, trade show, or networking event, what type of information do you provide for the badge you will wear? Do you give just the basics of your name and company? Do you include your job role?

Pre-Conference Name Tag Checklist:

Badge Basics ✔

Social Profiles ✔

Twitter ✔

Relevant Work Experience ✔

LinkedIn ✔

Getting the Most Mileage from Name Tags ✔

Choosing what to share can be a crucial element in directing your career.  Each event you attend is an opportunity to represent not only the business you work for, but your personal brand. Use the real estate on your conference name tag intentionally, putting your best foot forward by including links to relevant social profiles and job experience.

The information you put on your professional name badge can help you can expand your networking circle and continue the dialogue that begins during conference downtime when everyone is scrolling through their phones.

Badge Basics

When you are inputting your personal data for your name tag, start by making sure that the basic information is free of errors.  A typo or misspelling can immediately change the tone of first impression conversations. You want to be able to introduce yourself with confidence, rather than an explanation about accidentally forgetting to capitalize your last name because you rushed through registration.

Check these personal data basics first:

• Review spelling and capitalization
• Make sure that job title and company information are up-to-date
• Include a professional, recent photo
• See if fonts are clear and easy to read. You may need to change size or fonts so that all information fits within the space allotted.

Social Profiles

For many jobs, including your social media handle can be a way of demonstrating your ability to develop brands, gain followers and have a voice in your industry. Use your best judgment to choose which platforms are appropriate for your personal brand.

Instagram can be an ideal place for sharing accomplishments related to the beauty or fashion industries. For many comics and influencers, it might be a priority to include your YouTube channel.

However, not every social media profile showcases your abilities well. For example, if you are attending a conference on laser safety technology, your Facebook profile is not likely the place where you display your knowledge of lasers.

The one exception that has relevance in most fields is a Twitter profile.  If you don’t have one currently, you can create one to use during conferences.

Twitter

Twitter is a great place to contact conference speakers and set up events. Start tweeting prior to the event to show your interest in specific conference topics. With a twitter handle, you can be tagged for important discussions, announcements and post-conference events

Make sure to follow the conference hashtags and participate in questions presented to audiences during sessions. Asking the right questions can often get you noticed. Tweetchats that happen during the conference weekend can also be a place to chime in about hot topics in your industry.

A Twitter handle allows conference goers to communicate immediately with direct messages. This allows recruiters to contact you and gives you access to speakers without having to wait in line or clog their inbox. You may also catch the eye of colleagues who were unable to attend the conference but are participating from their desktop.

You never know where the catalyst for your next project will begin. It could be a direct message from the keynote giving you feedback on your website. It could be a potential job opportunity that arises after you answer questions from a tweet chat and display a new perspective and creative solution to a common problem in your field.

Relevant Work Experience

In some cases it’s important to display your company name, but in other cases you may want to focus on professional accomplishments and areas of expertise.

For example, a website that has case studies on your products might be a good addition for marketers. If you are a teacher, a website with your CV could be helpful. Including a special certification or degree could be the eye-catching detail that takes a brief moment of networking small talk and opens the dialogue for a job interview.

You can also skip the step of emailing your resume by including a link to your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn

Sharing your LinkedIn profile allows you to introduce your own expertise and past experience. Recruiters can view your company’s LinkedIn page, which is especially helpful when you don’t work for a largely established company. A well-rounded profile will show your professional reputation and authority on a range of subject matters.

The simple link gives others a connection to your experience, references, the company you work for and your current network of professionals. You can even customize your Linkedin URL to make it more readable and easy to remember.

Getting the Most Mileage from Name Tags

Keep your conference badge on after attending sessions when heading to evening events. You may find opportunities to chat with other conference goers when exploring the city you are visiting, getting coffee near your hotel or grabbing dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Bring business cards with the same information and a similar design. Just like branding a business, you want to brand yourself and create familiarity by putting the same message on multiple formats.

The custom fields on name tags allow you to include information that helps you connect with recruiters and future business partners. By taking advantage of creating professional relationships with conference goers, you are investing in your future growth and perhaps even changing the direction of your career toward an exciting and uncharted path.

As October 31^st draws near, many companies are decorating for fall and Halloween. For some businesses, fall festivities include a Halloween celebration and an in-office costume contest. Figuring out just how to participate can be a tricky topic. It will take creativity and class to set the right tone with your costume.

Prep for Halloween with these office guidelines, useful celebration do’s and don’ts, and ideas for throwing together a last minute stunner.

Guidelines for Your Halloween Countdown

With the whole world still navigating a new normal, you may have just started working in the office again. Make sure you continue to practice recommended safety measures even on the spookiest day of the year. Take your costume to the next level with a matching face mask. Think of your mask as an additional accessory to your rockin Halloween costume!

Do a little detective work before planning your ghoulish festivities. Find out what last year’s celebrations were like. Was it a subtle dessert with candy corn and rice crispy treats? Was it an all-out party with spider web décor and a cash prize for the best outfit? Ask seasoned employees what percentage of the office staff participated. You want to know if you’re going to stick out like a sore thumb if you do or don’t dress up. It helps to know how your company culture approaches holidays.

Take a look in your inbox and explore the office calendar. Do you see any emails or events set up related to Halloween? See if the company has communicated this year’s plan for employees. You may want to check with your direct supervisor to find out if your department has any specific guidelines set out.

The other item to dig for in your calendar is any upcoming presentations or major meetings that might be occurring on Halloween. You’ll want to consider how your appearance can vastly change how you convey yourself to coworkers, managers and clients. Attending a quarterly review in a poodle skirt and wig could make things a bit awkward. So remember to keep professionalism in mind even when it comes to the fun stuff.

Work Costume Do’s

• Choose a costume that is comfortable and safe to work in
• Wear a matching face mask that keeps your costume up-to-date with safety standards
• Label sweets and treats you bring in to share with helpful ingredient info about items such as gluten or peanuts
• Find costumes and props that are easy to take on and off, such as fun ties, silly hats, Halloween name tags, and dramatic capes
• Practice any face painting ahead of time to avoid allergic reactions
• Think humor and not shock value when you pick a character to dress up as
• Provide clear indicators of who you are dressing up as, like the name of your character, a Hogwarts school emblem, the Flo hairstyle, or Rosie the Riveter bandana
• Enjoy the time to bond with coworkers and brighten up a work day

Work Costume Don’ts

• Put on an outfit that is overly gory or scary
• Wear items that are too revealing, suggestive, tight or ill-fitting that the clothes are inappropriate or too distracting
• Bring in fake weapons or dress as violent characters
• Wear costumes that are offensive toward race or religion
• Respond to your coworker’s costumes with disrespectful remarks or harassment
• Choose footwear or bulky costumes that may impede your ability to maneuver through the office, answer phones, sit at a desk or complete other work tasks

Simple Last Minute Ideas

If you are struggling to find a costume, remember you are in good company. Most people put off choosing an outfit until the last minute. Don’t have to have a Pinterest panic attack! Instead, consider some of these tried, true and somewhat new last-minute costume ideas.

• The classic flapper with pearls, a mid-length dress and a headband
• The secret superhero with a T-shirt peeking out from under your business suit
• A cape or cut up sheet for vampires and ghosts
• A cut-out hat with a color coordinated outfit to look like a banana, pineapple or grapes
• A clever name tag with a character from of your favorite TV shows like “Friends”, “The Walking Dead”, or “Stranger Things”
• A fedora, sunglasses, and suit to give a nod to those Blues Brothers
• Easy add-ons like cat ears, antlers or even a unicorn headband
• A little black dress and pearls for Breakfast at Tiffany’s vibes
• An ensemble  group with your department as crayons or the Wizard of Oz cast
• A red dress and playing card crown to be the Queen of Hearts
• Pink jackets with everyone’s name for Grease’s Pink Ladies crew
• A flannel shirt and jeans to make a cowboy, cowgirl or scarecrow look
• A button-down shirt and hat with flowers for the beloved Mary Poppins

Pro tip: characters in professional clothing always make great choices.  Think of your favorite character from “The Office”.
 
When you choose your outfit, don’t feel pressured to have the most original idea at your workplace. Try to enjoy the playful spirit and bring just a bit of imagination into it. And if you are ever in doubt about whether your costume is appropriate, err on the conservative side of things. Finally, don’t forget to focus on your productivity in the midst of the festivities!

 

You may also like these blogs:

Tips for Halloween Safety

10 Halloween Costumes under $15

A Luxury Name Tag Handcrafted with Real Diamonds