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www.images-magazine.com 04 images OCTOBER 2022 Published by: 360 Communications Ltd images magazine, 360 Communications Ltd, 58a Livingstone Road, Hove, BN3 3WL, UK 01273 748482 | www.images-magazine.com Advertising: advertising@images-magazine.com Editorial: editorial@images-magazine.com Subscriptions: subscriptions@images-magazine.com | Images is available free of charge to UK subscribers Subscribe online: imagesmag.uk/subscribe | Update your subscription/contact details online: imagesmag.uk/subs-update Publisher/advertising: Jonathan Vince | jonathan@images-magazine.com Features editor: Rachael Glazier | rachael@images-magazine.com News editor: Mark Ludmon | mark@images-magazine.com Publishing assistant: Gaby Bowring | gaby@images-magazine.com Design/Production: ATG Media | production@atgraphicsuk.com Printing: Stephens & George Ltd | Goat Mill Road,Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 3TD (issn 0966 7512) Opinions expressed by contributors in this magazine are not necessarily shared by the Publisher. Editorial contributions are invited, on the understanding that the Publisher has the right to alter or abridge all such material as he sees fit. While the greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy, the Publisher accepts no liability for either errors or omissions. OCTOBER 2022 | VOL.31 NO.10 EDITORIAL One event dominated the UK news headlines in September, overshadowing even the appointment of new prime minister Liz Truss – namely, the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As a tribute to the Queen we’ve chosen a fitting embroidered design by digitiser David Sharp. Read about how it was created on page 12. The nation’s mourning followed a pretty miserable run of news about the economy and predictions of an impending recession, not to mention the catastrophic floods in Pakistan, which have not only led to tragic loss of life, but also threaten to affect global cotton garment availability and pricing (read our report on page 27). Thankfully, there are plenty of reasons to remain Light in the gloom 1992-2022 optimistic amidst this doom and gloom. Spiralling energy costs were threatening the very survival of many businesses this winter; however, the government has announced its Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which will cap non-domestic energy rates at half the anticpiated level for the next six months. It goes without saying that this will come as a big relief to most garment decorators. Roland DG EMEA shared further cause for optimism with the publication of its annual State of Digital Printing in Europe report. The study, which measures the business performance and confidence of 1,300+ print shop owners across the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, has revealed that the sector is “bullish on 2022 revenues”. Nearly half of those surveyed projected a modest or significant increase in revenue in 2022, and more than a third of them believe that printing will return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022. In his column, Marshall Atkinson continues this optimistic vibe – he argues that marketplace turbulence can be a good thing for your business and explains why. Learn more on page 74. This month sees the welcome return of the Schoolwear Show. In our preview (page 66) we speak to three exhibitors who in themselves offer reason enough to visit to this year’s event. And if you’re considering setting up an online schoolwear store (if not, why not?) then you won’t want to miss Michal Gembrowicz’s expert advice on how DecoNetwork can help you to do just that (page 65). You’ll also want to check out our overview of the burgeoning DTF sector in which we look at how DTF printing has evolved over the past 12 months and bust some common DTF myths (page 50). Jonathan Vince David Sharp’s fitting tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II REGISTER Subscribe now to receive your own free monthly copy of Images: imagesmag.uk/subscribe UPDATE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS Working from home? Moved to new premises? Update your details online: imagesmag.uk/subs-update 1992-2022 Images is a regular read for me. Staying up to date with manufacturing processes and developments in techniques is vital as a small business, and for myself especially, where eco-conscious practices are the focus. Being featured with my laser-engraved Dr Martens was a great opportunity for my indie business to garner some attention. Great work on championing businesses both big and small! – Chloe Wass, Boho and Bowie
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 06 images OCTOBER 2022 Follow the links to the full news stories online www.images-magazine.com Adelco launches updated digital hybrid system In September Adelco launched an updated version of its hybrid digital system, the AD Hybrid Digital, promising print speeds not found on any other hybrid systems on the market. The high-speed digital station works seamlessly as an add-on with Adelco automatic screen printing presses including the Cyclone carousel, Matrix Oval and Ellipse Oval. Using environmentally friendly inks, the hybrid system can produce A3format printed substrates at a rate of more than 200 units per hour. When used with a screen-printed base, it is described as providing the lowest ink cost per print. Luke Smith, sales director at Adelco, said: “Hybrid solutions aren’t new, but what we are offering is a full six-colour printer that is compact, affordable and fast. We want to make it an easy add-on for screen printers.” Adelco will have the new AD Hybrid Digital running with its Cyclone carousel in its showrooms in Bordon in Hampshire where companies can make an appointment to see the machine in action. imagesmag.uk/adelco-hybrid Awesome Merchandise sold through pre-pack administration Awesome Merchandise in Leeds has been sold to a new limited company set up by Awesome’s co-founder after the business was hit by Covid-19 restrictions. Awesome Merchandise Ltd was placed into administration in August and its assets and 94 staff transferred to a new company, Print. inc Group Limited, headed by the original company’s co-founder, Luke Hodson. Incorporated in 2009, the business offered garment decoration and other print services, with a specialism in the music and events sector which was severely hit during the global pandemic. In 2018, Awesome Merchandise raised £654,000 from 1,064 investors via crowdfunding platform Crowdcube, which helped support its expansion, including the launch of a factory in Austin in Texas, US. imagesmag.uk/awesome-prepack Adelco’s updated AD Hybrid Digital European print industry upbeat on 2022 revenues Garment printers and other print shops across Europe are upbeat about revenues in 2022, according to a new report from print specialist Roland DG EMEA. Nearly half (49%) said they were projecting a modest or significant increase in revenue in 2022. Less than a quarter (24%) expected trading to be flat, and only 14% said they were expecting a decline. The survey of more than 1,300 print businesses in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain was carried out for Roland DG EMEA for its annual State of Digital Printing in Europe report. Across all print sectors, 11% said that they were “seizing the opportunities created by advances in fabric printing” in 2022 such as direct-to-fabric digital printing and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing. Researchers found that performances in 2021 were mixed across different countries, adding that “the UK seems to have come off best, while Italy arguably faced the toughest conditions”. imagesmag.uk/roland-survey Roland DG EMEA at Sign & Digital 2022
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 08 images OCTOBER 2022 PRINT SHOP POOCHES #83 Hugo Whether it’s pedigree pups or mangy mutts, decorators’ dogs are valued members of staff at embroidery and print shops from Barking to Furness. This month we have Hugo from Your Print Partner in Lincoln Full name: Hugo Maclaren Breed: Pug Age: Six years and nine months Time at company: More than six years Job title: CHO (chief happiness officer) Job description: Between naps, Hugo oversees the office and staff well-being. He likes to give his ‘paw of approval’ for all our latest products and works part-time as a model for our personalised gifts! Special skills: Managing the stock level of treats and detecting the local ice-cream van. Favourite colour: Pantone 3425 C as it’s the colour of Starbuck’s Puppuccino cup. www.yourprintpartner.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @imagesmaguk Amaya introduces new UniNet white toner printer Amaya Sales UK has introduced a new UniNet white toner printer to the UK market for creating CMYK and dye sublimation prints. The IColor 540 White Toner Printer is aimed at start-up garment decoration businesses as well as established companies looking for small-scale transfer production. The new printer offers the ability to print CMY+W, CMYK, dye sublimation and fluorescents for transfer production, along with metallics and spot varnish for stationery production. The IColor540 is an A4 printer that also has A3 printing capability thanks to its UniNet SmartCut intelligent split software. This software lets users enlarge an image to A3 and split it to print over two A4 sheets with a join in the image that is unnoticeable, according to Amaya Sales UK. imagesmag.uk/uninet-amaya BTC Activewear acquired by New Wave Group BTC Activewear, a multi-brand distributor of clothing and accessories for promotions and workwear, was last month acquired by the Sweden-based New Wave Group. New Wave bought 100% of the shares in West Midlands-based BTC Activewear for £33 million in cash to provide a “strong platform” for the distribution of its brands in the UK. BTC Activewear, which generated revenues of £53 million in 2021, will continue as a business with the same name within New Wave Group, as a part of its Corporate operating segment. It was previously part of German multibrand clothing distributor Falk & Ross Group, which acquired it in 2010. Steve Pope, CEO and co-founder of BTC Activewear, will remain as CEO for the company. He said: “I am delighted to have a strong financial owner that is known for its long-term commitment and deep industry knowledge. BTC Activewear will be able to grow and take further steps together with New Wave Group, where the mix between our understanding of and position in the UK market and New Wave Group’s experience and brands will be an unmatched combination.” He added that he saw “big opportunities” for BTC Activewear through the addition of New Wave Group’s own brands. imagesmag.uk/btc-new-wave The new UniNet IColor 540 White Toner Printer is now available from Amaya DecoNetwork appoints first DecoPro for UK and Europe DecoNetwork, the software platform for garment decorators, has appointed its first DecoPro for the UK and the rest of Europe – a freelance professional providing services to its clients. With the help of a specialist team, Kevin Jarvis has set up a consultancy to help companies to implement and make the most of DecoNetwork. He has more than 30 years’ experience in creating and developing sportswear brands and more recently worked with Leicestershire-based Workwear Direct to build its business using DecoNetwork. As DecoPro, he offers a free consultation by video or telephone of about 30 to 40 minutes to understand a client’s business and what it needs from the DecoNetwork platform. He will then find ways to help set DecoNetwork up to best suit each business with minimum disruption. imagesmag.uk/decopro-uk Kevin Jarvis is DecoNetwork’s first DecoPro for Europe Hugo – Lincoln’s Next Top (part-time) Model
R E C Y C L E D W910 RECYCLED COT TON GYMSAC ©2022 – Beechfield Brands Ltd. All Rights Reserved. PENCARRIE 0800 252 248 | RALAWISE 0800 212 180 BTC ACTIVEWEAR 0800 012 4542 | PRESTIGE LEISURE UK 0800 652 1234 WESTFORDMI L L . COM WHERE STYLE MEETS SUSTAINABILITY
INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 10 images OCTOBER 2022 Check out our full-length Decorator Reports: www.images-magazine.com Cotton Eye Sew This impressive logo was embroidered by Cotton Eye Sew in Cumbria onto workwear for Tessleymoor Farm. imagesmag.uk/CottonEyeSew-Farm One+All launches new brand beyond schoolwear Schoolwear specialist One+All is to launch a range of sustainable clothing and accessories that will take it beyond garments for children. Under the brand name of The Making Of, it will feature products for both adults and children, targeting a wide range of sectors including workwear, clubwear and societies. They are designed to supplement existing customers’ offers without being schoolwear-specific, but will be made by the same people with the same ethics and commitment to high quality. One+All’s managing director, Neil Ward, said: “Although we introduced coats under One+All, because it’s a product more widely demanded and will continue to be in the future, we’re rebranding them to The Making Of. All our other existing well-established products will remain One+All as they’re core schoolwear items. “As we launch new products in the future, schoolwearspecific products exclusive to authorised stockists of school uniform will be launched under the One+All brand. “New products we think could be more widely available and complementary to our schoolwear customers but not exclusive to them will be under The Making Of brand.” The Making Of brand is being launched with coats and fleeces, which will be displayed on One+All’s stand at The Schoolwear Show on 9 and 10 October [turn to page 66 for more information]. imagesmag.uk/making-one Sign & Digital UK launched for 2023 with new branding Sign & Digital UK (SDUK), the trade exhibition for signage and digital print, has been launched for 2023 with bold new branding. Organiser Faversham House wanted to develop a “new fresh and modern look” for the show when it returns from 21 to 23 March 2023 in Hall 2 of the NEC in Birmingham. It has also created an SDUK Working Group, with industry representatives, to help develop plans for new features as well as the content of the SDUK Explains programme of technical and business advice. Jenny Matthew, event director for SDUK, said: “We’re working with our SDUK Working Group to identify the challenges keeping them awake at night and creating a programme of expert advice, case studies and additional solution sessions from our exhibitors.” imagesmag.uk/sduk-branding Promotion & Branding Shows return for autumn The Promotion & Branding Shows have resumed their tour around the UK and Ireland this autumn, coming to Northern Ireland, Dublin and Glasgow. After a successful show in Manchester in June, the tour restarted in September at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Chester, followed by Holiday Inn Barnsley. The exhibition visits Hilton Belfast Templepatrick on the 11 October and Hilton Dublin Airport on 13 October. The final event of the year, as usual, will be in Scotland, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Strathclyde on 27 October. New exhibitors at the 2022 shows include PenCarrie, Ralawise, Stanley/Stella, Mantis World and Kustom Kit. imagesmag.uk/promotion-autumn Fleece coats from One+All’s new The Making Of brand The Promotion & Branding Show at Village Hotel Ashton, Manchester, in June The new branding for Sign & Digital UK
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 12 images OCTOBER 2022 Follow us on Facebook: @imagesmaguk The death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II last month saw a huge outpouring of grief along with recollections of happier times, such as the Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year. It felt fitting, therefore, to feature this beautiful embroidery from a regular columnist for Images, Dominic Bunce of embroidery digitiser David Sharp. “We digitised the design as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in February and framed the artwork for our offices, and sadly now it is even more prominent,” says Dominic, who posted it on Instagram after the Queen died on 8 September. “After putting it up on social media, we have received over 100 enquiries for the design; whilst this design has not been made publicly available, our free Jubilee collection on our website, which includes a portrait of the Queen along with her beloved corgis, has had over 300 downloads since the sad news,” he adds. Digitised using Wilcom e4.5, this pop art piece was straightforward to create, and ran out perfectly on the first run, he reports. It took 85 minutes to stitch on a Melco EMT16X machine and measured 200mm by 136mm, with a stitch count of 82,178. “The design was stitched onto burgundy Melton wool as it’s the perfect material to be framed. We used a Madeira cutaway backing, with a temporary spray mount to help prevent distortion of the felt during embroidery,” adds Dominic. www.davidsharp.co.uk/freebies DECORATED PRODUCT OF THE MONTH David Sharp’s embroidery of Queen Elizabeth II Fruit of the Loom champions recycled fibre with new T-shirts Fruit of the Loom has released a new collection of T-shirts made with recycled cotton fibre as part of the company’s commitment to being more sustainable across the business. It has partnered with Recover Textile Systems to create the limited-edition T-shirts which are each made with 20% Recover “best-in-class” recycled cotton fibre. Available in eight colours, the unisex T-shirts were launched in September for purchase on Fruit.com and Amazon for around £21 each while supplies last. Fruit of the Loom added that the latest initiative reflected its wider goal to “increase sustainable sourcing across key materials” across the business including printable T-shirts in the wholesale channel. imagesmag.uk/fruit-recover Fruit of the Loom and Recover Textile Systems’ T-shirts are made with recycled cotton fibre Clothes2order creates new jobs after investments Branded clothing supplier Clothes2order has announced the creation of a further 25 jobs across its manufacturing, customer service and web development teams. It has launched a recruitment drive after making investments of over £550,000 in its manufacturing base, systems and technology improvements, and growing its sales and marketing teams. Based in Trafford Park in Manchester, it has seen “strong sales performance” since the end of Covid restrictions, requiring it to “significantly” expand its workforce for the second time in less than 12 months. The outlook for Clothes2order is “positive”, with expectations of further growth in 2023 and beyond. The company says investments made this year have set the business up to handle sales doubling over the next two years. imagesmag.uk/clothes2-jobs Sam Jones, managing director of Clothes2order
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 14 images OCTOBER 2022 View daily news updates at: www.images-magazine.com The Color of Space These spook-tacular witch sweatshirts were designed and embroidered by The Color of Space. imagesmag.uk/Color-Space-Witches Patagonia to donate all profits to fight climate change Patagonia, a specialist in outdoor clothing through retail and distributors, has been turned into a trust that will give all its profits away to fight climate change. Yvon Chouinard, who founded the company in 1973, and his family have transferred all ownership to two new entities, Patagonia Purpose Trust and the Holdfast Collective, which will give all of its profits to initiatives to “save the planet”. Patagonia will continue to operate as a for-profit enterprise but, in a statement, it said: “As of now, Earth is our only shareholder. All profits, in perpetuity, will go to our mission to ‘save our home planet’.” Patagonia styles popular for branding in the UK include the Better Sweater Fleece Jacket and the Torrentshell Jacket. imagesmag.uk/patagonia-profits The Better Sweater Fleece Jacket from Patagonia, the profits from which are being used to save the planet RA Smart to showcase DTF as part of open day Textile printing specialist R A Smart is holding an open day in October, off ering garment decorators a chance to find out about direct-to-film (DTF) printing and other technology. The event on 6 and 7 October 2022 at its base in Bollington near Macclesfield in Cheshire will provide demonstrations of DTF, showcasing the latest solutions from Polytech. Visitors will also be able to see R A Smart’s new Fujifilm Acuity Prime and Summa flatbed demo suite as well as machinery from HP and Mimaki. Anyone wishing to attend needs to register at rasmartmachinery.co.uk/ open-day/. imagesmag.uk/smart-open Government outlines plans to cut energy bills for businesses New support to help businesses with their energy bills was unveiled on 21 September by business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg. The new Energy Bill Relief Scheme will see gas and electricity prices for non-domestic energy customers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland cut as the government works with suppliers to reduce wholesale energy costs. The scheme will apply to fixed contracts agreed on or after 1 April 2022, as well as to deemed, variable and flexible tariff s and contracts. It will apply to energy usage from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, running for an initial six-month period. The savings will be first seen in October bills, which are typically received in November. The government will set a ‘supported wholesale price’ – expected to be £211 per MWh for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas, less than half the wholesale prices anticipated this winter – which is a discounted price per unit of gas and electricity. The level of price reduction for each business will vary depending on their contract type and circumstances. Businesses will not have to apply for the scheme as it will be automatically applied to bills. imagesmag.uk/energy-relief The Polytech DTF printer from RA Smart The new Energy Relief Scheme will see nondomestic gas and electricity prices cut to less than half the wholesale prices anticipated this winter
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www.images-magazine.com 16 images OCTOBER 2022 INDUSTRY NEWS Stay in the picture with our Instagram feed: @imagesmaguk Saati acquires Chromaline Screen Print Products Ikonics, the supplier of Chromaline emulsions and films for screen printing onto garments and other products, has been acquired by Saati Advanced Chemicals. The deal will enhance the portfolio of the Italian-based Saati, which offers a broad range of print-related products including mesh and chemicals for screen printing on garments and other textiles. Through its US subsidiary, Saati has bought all the assets of Ikonics Corporation’s four business divisions from owner TeraWulf: Chromaline Screen Print Products, Ikonics Imaging, Ikonics Industrial Inkjet Solutions and Ikonics Advanced Material Solutions. Chromaline’s products for screen printing are distributed in the UK through Screen Ink and Solvent Supplies (SISS) in Stockport in Greater Manchester and Pyramid Screen Products in Kent. imagesmag.uk/saati-chromalilne Chromaline’s products include emulsions for screen printing Mina Print rebrands as Nationwide Workwear Blackpool-based Mina Print has been relaunched as Nationwide Workwear to reflect the company’s shift from general printing to a focus on branded workwear. Founder and managing director Jake Adams said the move was the first step towards the objective of becoming one of the leading branded workwear and promotional clothing companies in the UK. While The Mina Group remains the parent company, the print business will focus on garment decoration and will no longer offer banners and business cards. Mina has been steadily investing in new equipment, including Happy embroidery machines, a Brother GTX DTG printer and an Epson SureColor SC-F210, and last month it took delivery of a Resolute R-Jet Pro DTF printer. The rebranding also sees the launch of the company’s new website at nationwideworkwear. co.uk, with features such as online ordering and the ability to upload artwork. It is integrated with a new bespoke production management system that was introduced two months ago. imagesmag.uk/minanationwide Jake Adams at the rebranded premises in Blackpool Lads & Lasses buys Midlands schoolwear supplier Garment decorator Lads & Lasses Group has acquired Bradsports, another established schoolwear and workwear specialist in the Midlands. Bradsports will continue to operate out of its shop in Wolverhampton Road in Codsall in Staffordshire, north-west of Wolverhampton, but garments are now being sold through Lads & Lasses and its website. Formed in 2010, Bradsports was run by Nikola and Darren Bradburn and offered print and embroidery services for schoolwear and workwear. Lads & Lasses Group, based in Wolverhampton, was founded in 2003 by managing director Tina Bourke and supplies schoolwear, workwear, corporate wear, teamwear and other printed and embroidered garments. It has premises in Bilbrook Road in Codsall as well as two stores in Penn in Wolverhampton. imagesmag.uk/lads-bradsports One of Lads & Lasses’ two stores in Penn in Wolverhampton
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 18 images OCTOBER 2022 Check out our Instagram Stories for the latest industry news @imagesmaguk Want to know what your industry colleagues really think of the garments and accessories they decorate? Each issue, one reader tells us why they rate a particular product Scott Balcony, co-owner and cofounder of custom garment printing and embroidery company Balcony Shirts in Uxbridge, reveals that his favourite brandable product to decorate is the Snapback Trucker (BC640) from Beechfield. Embroidering on headwear has become something of a speciality for Balcony Shirts over recent years, explains Scott. “The trucker hat is a really fashionable item, and we find the stitching holds its shape brilliantly on the firm front of the cap. “There’s a broad range of colours, and we find that these snapback hats are brilliant for merchandise, as clients don’t need to worry about sizes and being left with excess stock.” The wide appeal of the Beechfield BC640 makes it a popular choice with customers ranging from sports clubs, bands and building firms, “and just about everyone”, adds Scott. “We’re always really happy with how they come out — they’re a great value item, and there are plenty of opportunities to add value with swing tags or a custom sticker on the peak.” imagesmag.uk/oct22-readerschoice www.balconyshirts.co.uk READERS’ CHOICE Privateer Printing This bold logo was embroidered onto caps by Privateer Printing in Dursley for RF Heating. imagesmag.uk/Privateer-RF-Heating Garment decorator to award products and services to charity Midlands garment decorator Embello is giving away over £10,000 of branded clothing and other products and services to a charity in the Birmingham area. It has organised a competition, called Brum:SOS, offering the prize of a complete rebrand for the winners in a 48-hour challenge. Kyle Raffo, owner of Embello, said: “While we regularly run charitable events and initiatives, Brum:SOS is our biggest charity campaign so far. “Having a professional-looking brand and identity, supported by things like signage and uniforms, is integral to raising your profile, but it’s not something many charities or community organisations can afford so we wanted to use our expertise to give a local good cause that opportunity.” Kyle, together with project team member Alicia Hulland and other members of the Embello team, will decide on a winner. imagesmag.uk/embello-brum Kyle Raffo, founder of Embello, launching Brum:SOS [Above] Stitching holds its shape brilliantly on Beechfield’s Snapback Trucker, says Scott [Right] Scott with his favourite product to decorate – the BC640
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 22 images OCTOBER 2022 Find our digital editions online: imagesmag.uk/digital-issues Stedman adds jackets and vest to Lux range Stedman is expanding its premium Lux range with the introduction of two new jackets and a vest this autumn. The Lux Padded Jacket, Lux Padded Vest and Lux Softshell Jacket are described as having “modern looks”. It marks the first time that the Germany-based promotional clothing specialist has released new styles outside of the usual annual cycle. The lightweight Lux Padded Jacket is made from highquality nylon and has a hood with integrated collar. It is designed with a stow-away function, allowing it to be folded up and stored in its own inner pocket. The Lux Padded Vest is a sleeveless complement to the jacket; both styles are available in black opal and blue midnight. The Lux Softshell Jacket has a functional three-layer fabric that is water-repellent and breathable. It has a soft fleece layer on the inside and an adjustable, removable hood. imagesmag.uk/lux-padded Supacolor and Made Lab partner on heat transfer education Supacolor has embarked on a new global education programme with garment technology innovator Made Laboratory in order to highlight the potential of heat transfer technology. Supacolor heat transfers, manufactured and supplied in the UK by Supacolour UK, will feature in jointly created educational content for garment decorators at both in-person and virtual events. It draws on the expertise of US-based Made Laboratory, which was set up to work with the industry to develop new ideas for garment decoration and to help improve skills through education. The joint education activity will feature curated content for all market segments, from professional decorators to artists and designers through to DIY crafters. imagesmag.uk/supa-made Daiber makes new commitment on sustainability Gustav Daiber – the textile company behind garment brands James & Nicholson and Myrtle Beach – has committed to greater sustainability in its operations and products. It has signed the WIN charter, a sustainability management system for small and medium-sized businesses developed for the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany, where the company is based. This commits the company to 12 principles of sustainable management and to constantly increasing its sustainability across the business, including the supply of garments distributed in the UK. The WIN charter, or WIN-Charta in German, sets targets for Daiber to reach and measure, and also shows its achievements in sustainability to date through a system aimed at creating transparency. Steps already taken include the conversion of Daiber’s main base in Albstadt to 100% green electricity, which was completed in August. imagesmag.uk/daiber-win Organic cotton T-shirts from James & Nicholson Stedman’s new Lux Padded Jacket Supacolor and Made Lab plan to offer heat transfer education
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 24 images OCTOBER 2022 Peter Box has taken over as managing director of UKbased ink specialist MagnaColours after the departure of Helen Parry after six years. Peter was previously head of finance at MagnaColours for two years. Before joining the company, he accumulated nearly 16 years’ experience in multinational organisations including food manufacturing companies such as Cadbury, Tereos (Napier Brown) and Fox’s Biscuits. Helen, who was previously managing director of sublimation printer supplier Sawgrass Europe, steered MagnaColours through its acquisition by Avient Corporation in summer 2021. Her next venture is yet to be announced. Announcing the new appointment, MagnaColours posted: “Pete’s wealth of experience in business management, finance and commercial support position him perfectly to drive continued success for the Magna brand within Avient Specialty Inks.” imagesmag.uk/magna-box Glen Nunkoo has joined digital print specialist CMYUK to head up its newly formed internal sales division, supporting customers of both consumables and production equipment. Glen, who was previously consumables sales manager at Signmaster Systems, will be business development manager of the new team, splitting his time between CMYUK’s facility in Shrewsbury in Shropshire and its head office in Bracknell in Berkshire. He will be supported by team leader Susie Williamson, who will be responsible for the daily management of the division’s staff, which by next year is expected to grow from five to 12. imagesmag.uk/cmyuk-glen CTS UK, the growing North Yorkshire-based supply chain and workwear specialist, has appointed Lisa Ford as sales director. She has 30 years of experience in sales, mainly in management, including time at the Yorkshire Post and Supplies Team Solutions. Most recently, she was sales director at workplace supplies and services provider Banner, part of logistics group Evo. She has joined Northallerton-based CTS at a pivotal stage in the company’s development after a record-breaking year. It is looking to expand its product and client base and grow through ecommerce channels, offering warehousing and fulfilment. imagesmag.uk/cts-lisa Barry Clark has joined BE Uniforms as a workwear sales specialist in what is the latest appointment at the Bordersbased company. Barry has come to BE Uniforms from clothing supplier Portwest to look after workwear sales in the east of Scotland. He has an extensive workwear background having previously worked at Arco, Scot Direct and Gemini Supplies. Also new to the team is Chris Mode, who joined this summer as operations manager after 22 years at Puma Teamwear, and has now stepped up to become project manager of the business. imagesmag.uk/barry-be Coloreel has appointed a new head of marketing to support its efforts to expand the reach of its on-demand threadcolouring technology internationally. Elin Wengström has taken on the role of vice president marketing at the Swedish company, bringing more than 20 years of experience in senior positions within branding, marketing and communications. Her most recent role was as marketing director at Stora Enso Wood Products and she has previously worked for brands such as Daily Sports, Geberit, Statoil (now Circle K), BMW and Swedbank – both as an employee and as a brand strategy consultant. imagesmag.uk/coloreel-elin CHANGING FACES View our latest videos: imagesmag.uk/videos Peter Box Glen Nunkoo Lisa Ford Barry Clark Elin Wengström Parents look to supermarkets to save on school uniform Less than a third of parents said they were buying school uniform from specialist providers this year, with the rest turning to supermarkets, according to a survey. The research by consumer insights provider Toluna revealed that only 30% of parents expected to buy schoolwear from a specialist uniform retailer for the new academic year. The survey of 500 parents and guardians revealed that 39% were going to buy uniforms from Asda, 29% from Tesco and 24% from Marks & Spencer. However, the Schoolwear Association warned that buying cheaper was only a short-term solution. “Without quality uniforms, parents will find they need to replace items more regularly, which could cost them more in the longer term,” the association’s chairman, Matthew Easter, commented. imagesmag.uk/uniform-tesco Schoolwear on sale at a Tesco store for 2022 back to school
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INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 26 images OCTOBER 2022 Subscribe to Images online: imagesmag.uk/subscribe Print-on-demand firm adds 3D for customers on Shopify An “augmented reality” 3D option has been added for Shopify merchants selling garments through print-ondemand specialist Printful. Shopify’s 3D product model feature helps merchants to present garments in three dimensions so shoppers can see them from all angles. The ecommerce platform has found that 3D models have increased their merchants’ online sales by up to 250%. Printful, which is based in the US and Latvia but last year set up a UK fulfilment centre in Wolverhampton, is said to be the first garment print-ondemand service to provide this feature to merchants. The new feature is currently available only for stores integrated with Shopify, but Printful plans to off er “augmented reality” (AR) solutions to merchants across other platforms once similar features become available. imagesmag.uk/shopify-3d B-Stitch Embroidery & Printing This intricate logo was embroidered onto workwear by B-Stitch Embroidery & Printing in Redditch for Barkin in the Bath Dog Grooming. imagesmag.uk/B-Stitch-Barkin Tee Jays appoints ambassador to support UK growth plan International clothing brand Tee Jays has appointed Jenna Bradley as UK brand ambassador to support its plans to grow in the premium business-to-business market in the country. Morten Nielsen, Tee Jays’ sales manager for B2B and distributors in Europe, said: “We believe that no one can tell the story of Tee Jays and our product DNA better than ourselves, and we are convinced that with physical representation in the region, we can make a big diff erence in our future business with our distributors. “At the same time we are taking a step up in our communication and marketing activation towards interesting customers.” Initiatives include setting up small Tee Jays shop-in-shops with sales displays and samples with its “VIP dealers” to give end-users a chance to compare its products with other clothing brands. imagesmag.uk/teejays-uk The new Tee Jays UK brand ambassador, Jenna Bradley David Luke forms partnership for recycled schoolwear David Luke School Uniform has announced a new partnership with the Circular Textiles Foundation as part of its aim to make its products 100% recyclable. It will be the first school uniform brand to join the foundation’s initiative, which provides an independent circularity standard for genuine accountability and transparency. The Circular Textiles Foundation certification mark will be carried on David Luke’s Eco blazers and jackets from January 2023 with a goal to encompass the entire eco-uniform range for future collections. This mark guarantees that the garment has been designed to be recycled by a specific facility, which processes it into new fabric at end of use. The fabric can then be used to make new clothing, eliminating waste, reducing the need for virgin materials and reducing CO2 emissions. David Luke customers can actively join in with the brand’s circular journey by scanning the QR code found on the garment’s tag to find out how and where it can be recycled. imagesmag.uk/luke-circular David Luke’s Eco Blazer will be made into recycled fibre Merchants’ new 3D feature on Shopify with Printful
www.images-magazine.com OCTOBER 2022 images 27 IS INDUSTRY ISSUE By mid-September, around a third of Pakistan was submerged by flooding caused by melting glaciers and record monsoon rains that began in June, making nearly a million people homeless and killing at least 1,400. As well as the human cost, it is feared that the loss of cotton harvests could trigger higher prices and supply issues for manufacturers of cotton clothing around the world. In the 2020-21 season, Pakistan was the sixth largest producer of cotton globally, and the floods have damaged some of this year’s crops, according to Gro Intelligence, a specialist in climate, agriculture and economy data insights. Although many other countries grow cotton used in garments supplied in the UK, a drop in production from Pakistan could be “significant”, says Virginia Grose, head of fashion at the University of Westminster and a specialist in fashion supply chain management. “The human cost is horrific, but it’s also a major disaster in the supply chain. It’s highly likely we’ll see supply chain problems with cotton and price increases globally – yet another global supply chain issue. Cotton is very important to the fashion industry so this is a significant issue.” Geopolitical impact Virginia points out that the devastation to Pakistan’s crop comes at a time when a lot of manufacturers and brands have stopped using cotton from China’s Xinjiang region where the Uyghur people are being subjected to forced labour, enforced by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) in the US in June. “There is a geopolitical impact here as where else are these manufacturers and brands going to go? If American brands don’t want to go back to China, they’re going to have a problem as Pakistan is such an important area for cotton.” Most of the garments in the UK are made with cotton from other countries such as China and India, while Gildan and Fruit of the Loom mostly use cotton Floods in Pakistan threaten global cotton prices Supplies of cotton garments have not yet been hit by the catastrophic flooding in Pakistan, but experts warn that it could impact future prices grown in the US. Companies sourcing garments made with Pakistani cotton include Henbury Brands, however it accounts for a very small quantity of its garments and the flooding has not aff ected its partners, reported managing director Katie Stewart. Sustainably grown cotton in Pakistan has been aff ected by the floods, according to Better Cotton which promotes more sustainable cotton farming and practices internationally. Last year, Pakistan was the third largest producer of cotton certified through the Better Cotton programme, totalling around 682,000 tonnes annually. “Pakistan is an immensely important region when it comes to more sustainably grown cotton,” says Hina Fouzia, Pakistan country director at Better Cotton. “We are gathering further information on the full extent of the impact on Better Cotton farming communities and will be able to share more information with our members and stakeholders shortly. However, it is clear that the impact has been substantial.” A wake-up call By September, more than 330 Better Cotton field facilitators had reported either damage to their homes or loss of crops and livestock. The programme’s partners in the most aff ected Better Cotton production areas of Sindh and Punjab have been supporting farming communities through flood relief eff orts and providing basic humanitarian support. However, Better Cotton stated last month that there was currently “adequate inventory in the supply chain”, adding it did not foresee any supply disruption in 2022. However, Better Cotton – which works with farmers in 24 countries – fears more is to come around the world. “Climate change in general will continue to impact and create catastrophic events such as the floods in Pakistan,” Hina says. The flooding is also the latest warning for the fashion industry to recognise its part in climate change, points out Virginia at the University of Westminster, whose new book on sustainable fashion supply chain management is out next year. “While the fashion industry is doing a lot of work around climate change, it will suff er if we don’t continue to act. The flooding in Pakistan has been created by climate change and we have to wake up to that.” Better Cotton farmers in Pakistan
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT www.images-magazine.com 28 images OCTOBER 2022 What exactly is invoice finance, and how does it work? Invoice finance does what it says on the tin – it raises finance against your invoices. However, there are different types of invoice finance. These include invoice factoring, confidential invoice discounting, CHOCs (client handles own collections), and spot and selective. They all provide finance against invoices, but each is run in a different way. To explain invoice finance in its simplest form, if a business raises an invoice for £10,000 and has 60-day payment terms, the business will have to wait 60+ days to receive the payment. With invoice finance, the business could receive up to 90% of the £10,000 it is owed on the day it raises the invoice. What are the main benefits of using invoice finance? Being able to access up to 90% of the cash owed to a business without having to wait can help significantly improve the business’s cashflow, and – as they say – cash is king. Invoice finance can also be used to help businesses grow, making cash available to invest in new technology or machinery, take on more staff, move premises, or take on other expansion projects. How might a business use invoice finance? No matter how on top of its accounts a business is, it still needs to be paid and, unfortunately, that can take time. Cash in the bank may be low while a business waits on invoices to be paid and – in the meantime – it will often have suppliers that need to be paid, a bill to pay to complete some work or, more importantly, staff that need paying. Having the facility to draw down on those yet-to-be-paid invoices can be a real lifesaver in situations like these. What fees are associated with invoice finance? There can be multiple fees and there are many factors that can influence what a business ends up paying when accessing invoice finance, including things like the sector a business operates in, the quality of its customers, the type of facility the business needs, and its turnover. Terms and fees can vary depending on the lender, but two that a business will always pay are the service fee and the discount charge. The service fee is the charge associated with running the facility and is usually based on a percentage of the business’s turnover, or a fixed fee (with the former, the business may also be subject to a minimum service fee). The discount charge is the cost of borrowing, so is essentially the interest, and this will be charged on the funds the business draws down and will be accrued daily. There is also likely to be an arrangement fee, which is the cost involved with setting up the invoice finance facility. Is it a good idea to use a commercial finance consultant to arrange invoice finance? A commercial finance specialist – or consultant – will help find the best facility for an individual business and can help to negotiate or try and waive certain fees. There are many variables that influence how a business can access invoice finance and using a consultant will help decipher and digest them all to find the best funder. Using a consultant won’t cost anything other than a bit of your time to chat with them to ensure they are capable of securing the best facility for your business. What are your top three tips for a business that’s considering using invoice finance? First, pricing isn’t everything. A provider that is slightly more expensive but can provide you with a better service and facility will be worth every extra penny. Second, be sure to understand the product fully. Invoice finance exists in various forms, so it’s important that you fully understand how the facility will be set up and then run, once it is live. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask for a full explanation so that you understand everything or, better yet, work with a commercial finance consultant to help you to understand the answers and ensure you get the best possible deal. Expert advice on the business of running a garment decoration company Q&A Alice Cox is regional director for London at ABL, an independent commercial finance consultancy that helps businesses access the finance they need to grow. www.abl-business.co.uk
www.images-magazine.com OCTOBER 2022 images 29 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ■ Most importantly, make sure your business listing is consistently updated so that consumers know how to contact your business, when you’re open, etc. 3. Learn about local SEO tactics It’s always important to dominate your local area before competing with bigger brands. Educating yourself on local SEO tactics takes little financial commitment and is a very easy way for your business to grow organically. 4. Conduct competitor keyword research Be nosy and look into what searches your local competitors are ranking for. Collate these keywords and disperse them throughout your website on relevant pages in conjunction with purposeful, insightful content. 5. Remember to trust the process SEO can seem like a minefield, but if you take your time and research carefully, you should be equipped with all the tools you need to put together a high-quality local SEO strategy. The internet and its rules and patterns change every day, but as long as you have the patience and persistence, you will see results in no time. Promoting your business locally is a great way to start building a customer base, and search engine optimisation (SEO) is key if you want to maximise your visibility within a specific area. When someone types the name of your product or service into Google and adds ‘near me’ on the end, you want your business to be the first result they see. Here are some local SEO tips to help you achieve this. 1. Use schema markup Schema markup is a great way to differentiate your business from your local competitors in the search engine results. Your web developer will be able to add ‘local business’ tags to your website that give search engines some extra details about your garment decoration business. Once added to your webpage, local business schema markup generates an enhanced description, or rich snippet, which appears in search results. This means your business will be noticed by people in your area. 2. Optimise your Google My Business listing To appear in Google’s map results for your target area, you need to create a Google My Business listing for your business. It’s free, and a very effective form of advertising, just follow these tips... ■ List a local phone number: It’s a key signal to prospective customers that you’re a legitimate local business. ■ Write a strong description: Be genuine, and summarise your business concisely. ■ Post regularly: On Google My Business, you can use the ‘Posts’ feature to promote events, offers, products and company news. Five local SEO tips W hen it comes to marketing your business, have you considered using AI – artificial intelligence – to your advantage? After all, AI is a pretty big buzzword right now. If you’re interested but unsure of what it can actually do for your company then don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many businesses are still trying to figure out how to use this technology in their marketing strategies. The good news is that there are a lot of ways that AI can help you with your marketing. For example, AI can help you write better website blog posts. By using AI to analyse your data and come up with topics for blog posts, you can create content that is more relevant to your audience and that will attract more traffic to your website. AI can also help you improve your social media marketing. By using it to monitor your social media accounts, you can track which posts are getting the most engagement and then tailor your content accordingly. You can also use AI to create targeted ads that will This was written by a robot reach the right people. I use Jasper (jasper.ai) – it’s incredibly easy and does it all! Overall, AI can help you in a variety of ways when it comes to marketing your business. So, if you’re looking to boost your marketing efforts, don’t be afraid to try it out. AI may just be the thing that takes your business to the next level. Chessie Rosier-Parker is director and studio manager of Squeegee & Ink, a screen printing and embroidery studio that also provides pre-exposed screens and film to garment printers along with social media workshops. www.squeegeeandink.co.uk/ learn-to-screen-print Joel Dear is from ETrader, one of the industry’s leading suppliers of websites to garment decorators across the UK. www.etraderwebsites.co.uk
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