Family Mart reveals new T-shirt uniforms, relaxes hair colour rules for staff… but is it all too casual?

There’s a fine line between casual wear and pyjamas.

Japan is known for its formalities, especially when it comes to customer service, where neat uniforms and conservative appearances are often considered part of the job.

However, as some industries face increasing labour shortages, companies are beginning to relax these conventions in the hopes of attracting more workers.

That’s what convenience store chain Family Mart is doing right now, with the introduction of casual uniforms and a new grooming policy that removes restrictions on staff hair colour .

The changes are all part of the chain’s goal of becoming “ the most desirable place to work ” among Japan’s convenience stores.

The new uniforms were unveiled on 26 August, with three models showing some of the looks customers can expect to see on their next Family Mart visit.

The new dress and grooming rules, collectively known as “Family Mart Coordinate ”, are designed to give staff more freedom to express their individuality.

Family Mart is breaking new ground with the initiative, replacing its traditional jacket-style uniform with a T-shirt design, making it the first convenience store chain in Japan to introduce a T-shirt-style staff uniform .

As the first uniform change in 10 years for the chain, the look is markedly more casual, with the top half based on the chain’s popular Convenience Wear “ Outer T-shirt ”, which has sold more than seven million units.

The change was made partly in response to staff requests for something that would be easier to move around in and more casual to wear .

The shirts are made from thick 100-percent cotton fabric and have antibacterial, deodorising properties to help prevent unpleasant smells.

The familiar Family Mart colours feature prominently, while the “ Staff ” lettering uses a more “refined” font intended to retain a sense of professionalism.

The uniforms were designed by Hiromasa Ochiai, creative director of Family Mart’s Convenience Wear range, and will be available to staff in 14 sizes, ranging from XS to 11L, with long-sleeved versions available up to 7L.

The uniform itself isn’t the only thing getting a makeover, because under the new “Family Mart Coordinate” standards, staff will have more freedom over their appearance, including their hair colour and how they choose to style their uniform.