feb17_images_digital

THE MAGAZINE FOR GARMENT & TEXTILE DECORATORS

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FEBRUARY 2017

3X

CONTENTS

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50

22

Cover Promotion: 18-19

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SHOP TALK

69 20/20 hindsight

Marshall Atkinson shares 20 things he wishes he’d known when he started out in garment decoration

05 Editorial 08 Decorated product of the month 12 Throwback to...

75 When the going gets tough...

NEW Images columnist, the award-winning digitiser Erich Campbell on embroidering workwear

What was happening in imprint in February 2008

15 Print shop pooches

PRODUCT FOCUS PF

#15 Mr Kidogo from Cornwall Screenprint & Embroidery

80 Up close and personal Wocco from Fresh Air

20 Trendwatch

All the hot trends from the spring/summer 2017 collections

22 Top picks 2017

NEWS HUB NH

The brands predict their bestselling new styles for 2017

06 Industry news

27 Featured product

YES celebrates Grand Opening, M&R launches its first hybrid, Gildan buys American Apparel and MagnaColours introduces new discharge bases

Focus on the Sol’s Volcano

29 Tasteful trends

Feast your eyes on the latest hospitality- and cateringwear

KNOWLEDGE BASE KB

40 Pump up the volume

We discuss how the high volume promowear market has changed and look at last year’s biggest selling styles

16

Business clinic Expert advice on the business of running a garment decoration company

50 Kit selector: hybrid systems

Our must-read guide to hybrid printing systems

28 The Miller’s tale

58 Screen grabs

The Miller of Mansfield on the appeal of denim aprons

We showcase the latest textile screen printing presses

46 The best of both

Hybrid screen print/DTG systems: how they work and why you would want to buy one

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT IS

54 Mixing it up with Mooch and Amaya

32 P&P Live! 2017 preview

Mooch and Amaya demonstrate how to print a T-shirt on the Polyprint hybrid printing system

Our preview of star attrractions at the 2017 show

66 Back to the future

63 How to load a shirt like a pro Tips to help you master your loading skills 64 Talking screen printing presses with Peter Walsh

We catch up with Graham Ridley of Retro Activewear – cover star of the first ever issue of Images

72 A pigment of the imagination

Jeff Bartley talks to Images about Comfort Colors and its unique dyeing process

M&R’s vice president of sales discusses what to consider before buying a press

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EDITORIAL

I f you hadn’t guessed already, this is a special edition of Images , marking as it does the 25th anniversary of the publication of our first ever issue. Back in February 2002, PenCarrie was less than a year old, DTG was the stuff of sci- ence fiction, and we found ourselves at the vanguard of an emerging industry. One individual who was doing more than most to propel garment decoration forward at that time was Graham Ridley – then production director at Things Fashions, and a pioneer and innovator of all things textile printing related. In a timely and satisfying twist, Graham has now returned to Things (renamed Retro Activewear) as the owner of the company. We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to catch up with him to square the circle and get his take on the changes in the industry over the past quarter of a century. (See Back to the future.) In this issue, we also look at how high volume promowear – the bread and but- ter of countless garment decoration businesses – has evolved since those early days: from a time when decorators had a simple choice between black and white T-shirts, to now and the vast array of garments that are available for promotional activities in 2017. (Pump up the volume.) Marshall Atkinson also takes a peak in his ‘rear view mirror’ as he mulls over the lessons he’s learned during his career, and shares those things he knows now that he wishes he’d known when he started out. (20/20 hindsight.) Speaking of contributors, we’re delighted to welcome Erich Campbell who starts his new column with a look at workwear embroidery. (When the going gets tough.) There’s some truth in the old adage that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it, and there are always lessons to be learned from the past. However, this industry is moving ahead so quickly, and in so many and varied directions, that you can’t afford to take your eyes off the road in front of you for too long. We were certainly looking to the future when we spoke to the experts who are blazing a new trail for textile printers through the development of hybrid screen and direct-to-garment printing systems. As they explain (in Best of both), com- bining these technologies offers significant advantages – in terms of reducing the cost of digital print, and the new types of decoration that are now achievable. You’ll have plenty of time to read up on the latest hybrid systems before head- ing off to the NEC at the end of the month to visit the Printwear & Promotion Live! exhibition, where you’ll be able to quiz our experts in person. It promises to be a memorable event and we’ve provided a taster of what’s in store with our P&P Live! preview – a selection of what we consider to be the must-see exhibi- tors at the show. Let us know if you fancy taking some time out from the exhibition floor and sitting down for a coffee and a chat – we’d be fascinated to hear about your past experience of the garment decoration business... and your thoughts on its future. From the ‘90s to now

1 9 9 2 – 2 0 1 7

25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Jonathan Vince

FEBRUARY 2017 | VOL.26 NO.1

Published by: 360 Communications Ltd images, 360 Communications Ltd, 58a Livingstone Road, Lioncare House, 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 / unsubscribe / update contact details online: www.images-magazine.com Publisher/advertising: Jonathan Vince | jonathan@images-magazine.com Features editor: Rachael Glazier | rachael@images-magazine.com Design/Production: David Streeten | production@images-magazine.com Printing: Newnorth Print Limited | Kempston, Bedford MK42 8NA ( issn 0966 7512) Follow images on social media: ImagesMagUK Opinions expressed by contributors in this magazine are not necessarily shared by the Publishers. Editorial contributions are invited, on the understanding that the editorial director 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 publishers accept no liability for either errors or omissions.

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NH INDUSTRY NEWS

New home for Fespa team

Fespa has moved following the expansion of its team. Its new address is: Holmbury, Dorking Business Park, Station Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1HJ. w www.fespa.com

Roy Burton with Colonel Tim Richards (far left) and Yungrok Park (left)

DIARY

YES unveils new machine and ink system at Grand Opening On 8 December 2016, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, Colonel Tim Rich- mond, officially opened the Mansfield headquarters of Your Embroidery Services (YES). Specially invited guests, including many of the company’s valued customers and mem- bers of the press, attended the ceremony. Sovereign House has been completely renovated by YES: the 17,000 sq ft facility now houses a large warehouse and suite of offices along with showrooms that allow the team to demonstrate SWF embroidery machines, DTG Digital printers and other decora- tion equipment to garment decorators. On the day of the ‘Grand Opening’, tours of the new building were accompanied by machinery demonstrations: in the embroidery showroom, a single-head SWF machine attracted plenty of attention from guests as it embroidered a Quadra bag with the space invaders design that the YES team had created for the step-by-step feature in the De- cember issue of Images. The embroidery showroom also housed the new Plot Spangle machine. This device punches circles from foil tape, quickly creating a rhinestone-effect design onto a film, which is then heat pressed to transfer the design on to the garment. In the DTG Digital printers showroom, YES’s sales director John-Paul Burton demon- strated the stretchability of the new P30i inks that come as standard with all new DTG M2 printers. The P30i inks have been developed specifically for the M series machines and are said by YES to have a lower viscosity than other inks, combined with a lower surface tension, and won’t fade during curing. Following a speech by Roy Burton, the founder and managing director of YES, embroi- dery technician Steve Gilbert was presented with a Tag Heuer watch to commemorate his being the company’s first ever employee more than 20 years ago. SWF Embroidery’s representative from South Korea, Yungrok Park, then presented Roy Burton with a com- memorative vase decorated with traditional Korean art. w www.yesltd.co.uk

FEBRUARY 16, 2017 Print & Stitch Village Hotel, Newcastle, NE27 0BY UK printandstitch.org FEBRUARY 21, 2017 Coactive Newtech Southampton Botleigh Grange Hotel, Southampton SO30 2FL, UK coactiveevents.com FEBRUARY 26-28, 2017 Printwear & Promotion Live! 2017 NEC, Birmingham, UK www.printwearandpromotionlive.co.uk MARCH 14, 2017 Coactive Newtech Thetford Lynford Hall Hotel, Thetford IP26 5HW, UK coactiveevents.com MARCH 23, 2017 Print & Stitch Hilton Hotel, Leicester LE19 1WQ, UK printandstitch.org MARCH 28-30, 2017 Sign & Digital UK NEC, Birmingham, UK www.signuk.com APRIL 25 Coactive Newtech Edinburgh Norton House Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh EH28 8LX, UK coactiveevents.com MAY 8-12, 2017 FESPA 20117 Hamburg Messe, Hamburg, Germany www.fespa.com MAY 16, 2017 Coactive Newtech Leeds Holiday Inn Leeds - Brighouse, Brighouse HD6 4HW, UK coactiveevents.com October 10-12, 2017 SGIA 2017 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, USA sgia.org

M&R announces launch of first hybrid printer

M&R is entering the hybrid mar- ket in 2017 with the launch of the Digital Squeegee. Slated to hit the market early this year, the Digi- tal Squeegee is said to be able to print at the same speed as conventional screen presses. For more information on the entire hybrid mar- ket, including an in-depth Q&A with the manufacturers, turn to page 50. w www.mrprint.com

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NH INDUSTRY NEWS

Print & Stitch in 2017 After a successful 2016, the Print & Stitch Roadshows are back for 2017. There will be 12 stops across the UK this year where visitors will be able to see Stocks Embroidery & Sewing Machines, The Magic Touch, Madeira and other UK print and embroidery suppliers. The next show is in Newcastle on 16 February, then Leicester on 23 March. Attendance is free; for a full list of dates and locations visit the website. w www.printandstitch.org

TheMagicTouch invites customers to decorate their balls TheMagicTouch (TMT) has developed an

image transfer process that allows easy per- sonalisation of foot- ball, rugby and other sports balls. Full colour logos and images are possible, as manag- ing director Jim Nicol explains. “Until now the decoration and personalisation of balls has been mainly re- stricted to single-col- our designs applied using traditional PAD printing, which involves a degree of setting up and is not suitable for photographic imag- es, and certainly not for individual designs. Volume orders are

Next stop Newcastle - Print & Stitch is hitting the road again in 2017

normally printed and processed at a factory in China or Pakistan involving high minimum order levels and up to six weeks order processing. “Using the ProSeries Oki 7411WT white-toner printer and CPM transfer paper, full-colour images and logos can be applied to almost any type of ball using a modified ball-shaped platen manufactured by the UK’s lead- ing press manufacturer A Adkins & Sons. The process is quick, easy and very durable, with the cost per printed panel at less than 5p per image.” TMT has carried out tests with leading European ball manufacturers over the past six months to ensure the various U surfaces are compatible with low heat application. The white toner option also enables non-

Result introduces new ‘Ready to Brand’ directory According to Result, its new Ready to Brand brochure

is the “first of its kind in the industry”. The product directory depicts all cur- rent Result, Result Headwear and Spiro garments that have removable label- ling or are tag-free, making them ‘ready to brand’. The Result Ready

white panels to be decorated. w www.themagictouch.co.uk

to Brand brochure is available now online and in print with the choice of an English, French or German cover. w www.resultclothing.com

Research shows growth in online selling Thirty percent of Britons expect to earn money in the future by regularly selling goods online, with 17% plan- ning to add to their retirement income in this way. The eCommerce Participation Study research has prompt- ed ePages, which carried out the research, to suggest that we’re becoming a “nation of e-shop-keepers’. w www.epages.com

Website refresh for Fruit of the Loom and Russell Fruit of the Loom and Russell have both updated their web- sites with fresh, bright and easily navigated designs. w www.fruitoftheloom.co.uk w www.russelleurope.com

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NH INDUSTRY NEWS

DECORATED PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Greenery is the ‘Pantone Colour of the Year’

Pantone has announced its colour of the year for 2017 as Greenery – “A refreshing and revi- talising shade… Symbolic of new beginnings.” w www.pantone.com Regatta brings Standout styles to Newtech’s 2017 roadshows

Black Light, designed by Craig Robson, printed by Monster Press

Under black light

There is also a small design on the front of the tee

Monster Press is known for its standout prints, and Black Light, designed by UK illustrator Craig Robson of Daggers For Teeth, is an excellent example of the print shop’s work. “We wanted to make a modern design that was influenced by old 1960s/70s’ black- light posters, with a super ‘trippy’ design, but incorporating Craig’s signature style,” explains Will Petersen of Westbury-based Monster Press. Black Light was printed using Rutland fluorescent inks on a soft discharge under- base. Most of the inks were straight out of the pot - “For once!” says Will - although the magenta and blue were custom-mixed. “Often we would use the white dis- charge base for the white in the design, but this wouldn’t have glowed well under blacklight so we added a top white and mixed with glow-in-the-dark ink to make it ‘pop’ a little more and also, obviously, glow in the dark.” It was printed on an MHM S-Type Xtreme 10-colour automatic press in the follow- ing order: discharge base, blue, green, magenta, orange, yellow, top white/glow. It was cured for two minutes at 180°C and is being used as a sample to show custom- ers the quality of the printing available from Monster Press. The oversize design is printed on the back of a Gildan Premium T-shirt, which also features a small print on the front. w www.monsterpress.co.uk If you would like to nominate a garment for decorated product of the month – your own or another designer’s – email us at:editorial@images-magazine.com, putting ‘Decorated product of the month’ as the subject.

Regatta Professional is the latest big name brand to join Newtech’s series of Personal- isation, Branding and Textiles roadshows in 2017. Martin Morrissey, managing director of Coactive Events, organisers of the Newtech roadshows, commented: ‘We take great pride in offering visitors an exciting and refresh- ing range of products each year and we are delighted that Regatta Professional has joined the group.” Anthony Haber, director of Regatta Pro- fessional, added: “We are looking forward to showcasing our ranges at Newtech shows across the country for the first time in 2017. It gives you the opportunity to engage with our brand on a one-to-one basis and see our innovative new and well-established existing products.” The next show will be held at Southampton on 21 February 2017. w www.regattaprofessional.com w http://www.coactiveevents.com/events/ newtech

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K U S T O M K I T ® NEW FASHIONFIT TEE

KK504

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NH INDUSTRY NEWS

Visit P&P and win a trip to NYC Visitors to the Orn stand at Printwear & Promotion Live! in February will have the chance to win a trip for two to New York, US. Simply guess the number of stitches embroidered on the 10XL Eagle Poloshirt worn by the Statue of Liberty on the Orn stand to be in with a chance of winning. Also at the show this year are a num- ber of new brands, including Rainstar, Stormtech, The Outdoors Company, Kariban and Longforte Sublimation Blanks. The Screen Print Workshop will be back for a second year, catering for both be- ginners and experts, and the seminar suite will be host to a number of experts sharing their advice on topics from ‘Harnessing print-on-demand for your e-commerce business’ to ‘Superior sublimation for ap- parel’. Visitors can also enjoy the fashion shows, sponsored by Regatta, and visit the ever-popular Bag and Headwear Decora- tion Advice stand. Visitors are being encouraged to ‘beat the queues’ by registering in advance for free, fast track entry at the event. Online

CHANGING FACES

MagnaColours has appointed Helen Parry as its new managing director. Tom Abbey, the company’s previous MD, has taken on the role of executive chairman, allowing him to focus on business strategy and direction. The company says that Helen is well placed to lead and support Magna’s existing management structure in an exciting phase of growth. She has substantial experience and expertise in printing, having occupied various lead- ership roles over the past 15 years, in- cluding eight years working at Vivimed (formerly James Robinson), where she helped to grow its range of speciality dyes. This growth resulted in a Queen’s Award for Innovation–an honour that MagnaColours has also received. w www.magnacolours.com

Guess the number of stitches to win a trip to NYC, courtesy of Orn Clothing

registration is available on the Printwear & Promotion Live! website. To discover some of the highlights that will be on display at Printwear & Promo- tion Live! in Birmingham NEC from 26-28 February 2017, turn to page 32. w www.ornclothing.com w www.printwearandpromotionlive. co.uk

Stormtech celebrates 40th anniversary Stormtech turns 40 this year, having started out in 1977 as a sporting goods importer then gradually evolving into a company offering technical apparel, bags and accessories.

Helen Parry

Fruit of the Loom has announced Melissa Burgess-Taylor as its new chairman and CEO. The appointment follows the death of the company’s past president and CEO Rick Medlin, who died on November 27, 2016, aged 68. Melissa Burgess-Taylor has been with the company for more than 17 years and has held various leadership roles within the company. “I’ve been fortu- nate to be a member of the Fruit of the Loom family and this great company for many years,” she commented. “I am grateful for Mr Medlin’s strong leader- ship and mentorship, and I am deeply committed to continuing to move us forward.” w www.fruitoftheloom.com

“In the mid-80s, promotional products con- sisted primarily of T-shirts and ball caps with logos on them,” commented Blake Annable, company founder and CEO. “We wanted to offer businesses more sophistication and technicality in our product offerings, which ultimately led to the development of the first branded jacket with a fleece liner that could be zipped into a waterproof breathable shell. It was based on a highly successful product in the ski industry, but we wanted to produce it for companies looking for a more premium jacket.” The family-owned company will be cele- brating the anniversary with customers and employees at trade shows throughout 2017. w www.stormtech.ca

Blake Annable

New Oeko-Tex regulations for 2017 Oeko-Tex has reviewed the requirements of its products and has published new and updated regulations for 2017. The changes include a new price strategy for the Made in Green by Oeko-Tex product label, which offers label issuers the option to use smaller packets of labels, or even a single label for their product. For more about these changes, go to www.oeko-tex.com/step-updates-2017 and www.oeko-tex.com/std100-updates-2017. w www.oeko-tex.com

Melissa Burgess-Taylor

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NH INDUSTRY NEWS

Throwback to… February 2008

Henbury graces the February 2008 cover

(l to r) Anvil’s award winning T-shirt tomato; transfer printing on denim jeans; ‘Bobbies in baseball caps’; and carbon reduction labelled T-shirts from EarthPositive

FEBRUARY 2008... Iran opens its space centre and launches a rocket into space, while Space Shuttle Atlantis delivers the European- built Columbus science laboratory to the International Space Station; Mohammed Al Fayed gives evidence to the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the British government nationalises the Northern Rock bank; Lincolnshire suffers an earthquake, which is felt throughout most of Britain; Kosovo declares independence from Serbia; and Cuban president, Fidel Castro announces his resignation and hands power to his brother Raúl Castro. Meanwhile in the imprint industry... Anvil wins a Communicative Products Award for an organic T-shirt packaged as a tomato; Tesco bans Uzbek cotton; UK Leisurewear hods its first Trade Show; Jim Nicol, of TheMagicTouch , explains why transfer prints on jeans are a burgeoning sales opportunity; Vernon Bradshaw of VAL wonders whether a march by ‘Bobbies in baseball caps’ could herald the ‘return of the baseball cap’; we talk to EarthPositive – the first apparel brand to carry the Carbon Trust’s new Carbon Reduction Label; and we present all the winners from the 2007 Images Garment Decoration Competition.

Sharon Lee to build on 2016 success in 70th year Last year was one

MagnaColours launches new discharge bases and MagnaPrint Discharge

Fastness Enhancer MagnaColours has launched Mag- naPrint Discharge ULF System–a new range of formaldehyde-free discharge bases with enhanced wash-durability. The company explains that since it first launched and patented for- maldehyde-free discharge bases, wash durability demands have changed. Executive chairman Tom Abbey comments: “Whilst wanting to eliminate the use of formalde- hyde, another key requirement was wash durability to prevent fading.

of big growth at Sharon Lee, with three new staff joining the com- pany along with the promotion of Danny Butter- field to the role of sales director. An 8-head embroi-

dery machine was also added to the production depart- ment, bringing the total number of machines to seven.

Danny Butterfield, Sharon Lee’s new sales director

To meet the toughest demand, we developed MagnaPrint Dis-

“We have seen an incredible morphing of our business, not only from a sales and production perspective, but from a personnel perspec- tive too,” said managing director Toby Pache. “Every single member of the Sharon Lee team has played a huge part in this success, and we are all looking forward to a very exciting 2017– especially as we will be celebrating our 70th year in business.” w www.sharonleeltd.co.uk

charge Fastness Enhancer. Not only have we answered the call for an effective water-based alternative, we have provided a solution to an industry problem– helping brands to provide safe, environmentally friendly, durable, high quality products for our customers.” The company advises that simply adding the Enhancer to MagnaPrint Dis- charge paste will result in bright and beautiful discharge effects that stay bright while meeting the toughest wash durability standards of leading brands. As part of its customer service promise, MagnaColours is providing full training to screen printers working with the new range. w www.magnacolours.com

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DTG PRINTING

Print bespoke t-shirt designs with the EPSON ® SC-F2000 The Epson SC-F2000 is a direct-to-garment printer perfect for t-shirt printing - it’s all you need to start a business with real potential for profits, printing a single t-shirt quickly, easily and reliably.

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NH INDUSTRY NEWS

Gildan succeeds in bid to buy American Apparel brand

Gildan won the auction to buy the American Apparel brand and certain assets on 10 January 2017. The acquisition, which was approved by Bank- ruptcy Court on 12 January 2017, is said to have cost Gildan US$88 million for the intellectual property and certain manufacturing equipment, and a further US$15 million on purchase orders and wholesale inventory, which it has purchased to ensure a “seamless supply of goods to the printwear channel”. The deal is expected to be completed by early February and does not include any of the brand’s 110 retail stores or its manufacturing facilities. “We are excited to be moving forward with this acquisition. The Ameri- can Apparel brand will be a strong complementary addition to our grow- ing brand portfolio,” said Glenn Chamandy, president and CEO of Gildan. “We see strong potential to grow American Apparel sales by leveraging our extensive printwear distribution networks in North America and interna- tionally to drive further market share penetration in the fashion basics segment of these markets.” American Apparel voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November last year. w www.gildan.com w www.americanapparel.net/wholesale Images partners with Sign & Digital UK for 30th anniversary show Images is delighted to have been appointed as a media partner for the Sign & Digital UK 2017 exhibition, which takes place at the NEC, Birming- ham from 28-30 March 2017. The 2017 Sign & Digital UK show will be extra special as the event will be celebrating 30 years as a national exhibition serving the UK market. Visitors will be able to discover the latest market leading products and technologies from hundreds of leading suppliers across the sign making, display solutions and digital printing industries, many offering attractive show offers. The show will also include the Creative Theatre, an extensive programme of free seminars. Exhibitors that have already confirmed their attendance at Sign & Digital UK 2017 include: Amaya Sales UK, Doro Tape, Grafityp, Hewlett-Packard, Hybrid Services/Mimaki, Nova Chrome, Perfect Colours, printMAX, Reso- lute DTG, Roland DG, Signwaves, Solent Sewing & Welding Machines, and The Magic Touch. For more information or to register for free entry, visit the show website. w www.signuk.com

Peter (left) and Gary in the newwarehouse

Orn invests in new warehouse, staff and stock system Orn showed no signs of slowing down for the festive break–instead it used the time to move its ware- house operations into a 55,000 sq ft warehouse in Buckingham. The company had moved into a new warehouse in May, after exiting a third-party logistics arrangement; however, its continued rapid growth has meant that a further move to an even larger warehouse was necessary just seven months later. As well as investing in a new building, the company took on two new logistics personnel in December: Peter Johnson and Gary Dowler. Peter, who has more than 30 years’ experience in logistics, working for firms such as General Electric and The White Company, is running the new logistics facility, while the team is also benefiting from Gary’s experience of working at companies such as Wincanton and Wolseley Group. The new warehouse, which offers triple the volume currently available to the company, offers more than 4,000 pallet locations together with more than 7,000 pick locations and space for more than 2,500,000 garments. Orn will also be introducing Snapfulfil, an award-winning warehouse management system, in April 2017. w www.ornclothing.com

Anvil introduces its new logo

explains the brand. Anvil looked at designs in printwear and retail for inspiration and took into account the brand’s evolution into a fashion product collection. In 2017, Anvil says it will continue to de- velop products that will “resonate with the fashion-driven decorator”, using “innova- tive fabrics, product finishes and fits”. w www.anvil.eu

Anvil has launched its new logo following the brand’s repositioning and the crea- tion of a fashion collection featuring soft cotton and blended fabrics. “Although the current logo had the Anvil heritage and credibility, we felt it was more associated with the Anvil basic apparel positioning, and we needed to create a logo that aligned with our fashion apparel position,”

The new Anvil logo which reflects the brand’s fashion apparel position

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NH INDUSTRY NEWS

Graham Gardner hits a purple patch with new uniforms for physios ms specialist Graham Gardner has designed a new range of sportswear-inspired workwear exclusively for the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP). The new line includes polo shirts and hoodies, and is said to employ the latest in uniform tech- nology, bringing together “cutting-edge design and technical fabrics with moisture manage- ment properties to ensure unbeatable comfort”. w www.grahamegardner.co.uk

PRINT SHOP POOCHES

How cool! Mr Kidogo catches some early morning waves before heading to work to greet customers

#15 Mr Kidogo 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 Mr Kidogo from Cornwall Screenprint & Embroidery in St Austell, Cornwall Full name: Mr Kidogo (Swahili for little, but he didn’t stay as little as we hoped!) Breed: Cornish Jack Russell cross with a Petterdale Terrier Age: Three years old Time at company: Started his apprenticeship as a six- month-old pup Job title: Meeter and greeter Job description: Mr Kidogo must meet all customers as soon as the door bell chimes Special skills: Sniffing out sandwich boxes and rolling over for immense amounts of ‘tickle tum’. He also enjoys surfing in his spare time and is looking forward to the summer Favourite colours: The black and gold of Cornwall, as he is proud to be Cornish w www.cornwallscreenprint.co.uk Email a hi-res photo of your Print Shop Pooch, along with the relevant facts (as above), to: editorial@images-magazine.com

For the past two years Uneek has donated photo shoot samples to a charity in South Africa

Uneek donates garments to charity

Uneek Clothing donated more than 150 garments from its 2017 photoshoot to Els Medsorg, a care facility in Vereeniging, near Cape Town, South Africa. Hoodies, tees, workwear and sportswear were donated to the facility, which supports adults and young people with disabilities. Stylist Wandi Lamprecht, who oversaw the donation, said: “An elderly gentleman who delivers the local newspaper is now the proud owner of the UC802 Long Sleeve Safety Waistcoat. He’s absolutely thrilled with his new outerwear, especially as he can now be seen at 4am on his rounds.” Raza Khan, MD of Uneek, commented: “Supporting the local com- munity in the countries we work in is really important to us. It’s great that so many people can benefit from our clothing samples and we hope this is something we can continue going forward.” w www.uneekclothing.com

Get your M&R Gauntlet in up to 18 colours The M&R Companies has started manufacturing an 18-colour version of its award-winning Gauntlet III automatic textile press. Now available in 10-18 colours, the Gauntlet III has a maximum standard image area of 48 x 55 cm (19” x 22”), and a maximum image area of 114 x 55 cm (45” x 22”) in alternating print heads. w www.mrprint.com

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KB BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

+ BUSINESS CLINIC + Expert advice on the business of running a garment decoration company

economy and it’s absolutely vital that lenders do what they can to support their growth.”

n In January Metro Bank announced that it had ring-fenced £1 billion to lend to new and existing businesses and commercial customers in 2017. The bank says it takes a case-by-case approach to lending. Mark Stokes, managing director of commercial banking at Metro Bank, said: “Businesses are the very bedrock of the UK

n A CBI survey of UK manufacturers at the end of 2016 found that production growth is at its highest level since 2014, with expectations for growth in Q1 2017 remaining solid.

Q&A I ’m looking at leasing a commer- cial property as a long-term home for my garment decoration busi- ness, and I am expecting to spend some money on making the property suitable for my print and embroidery operations. Someone has mentioned security of tenure to me – what is it, and will I have to pay more for it? Security of tenure refers to the right giv- en by the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 to business tenants to remain in occupation of premises at the end of the contractual term (that is, the number of years grant- ed) of a tenancy and to apply to court for the grant of a new lease. The rights will only arise where: n there is a tenancy, usually granted by a lease (that is, neither a correctly drawn licence nor tenancy at will would suffice), giving the tenant exclusive possession of premises for a term and at a rent; n the tenant must be in occupation of the premises for the purposes of its business; and n the rights have not been specifically excluded (that is, ‘contracted out’) from the tenancy. Accordingly, at the end of contractual term, where the rights apply, a tenancy

will continue on the same terms and at the same rent until terminated in accordance with the 1954 Act either by the landlord or the tenant properly serving notice in the correct form. If a tenancy benefiting from security of tenure is terminated by the landlord then the tenant will have the right to apply to court for a new lease and there are only limited grounds upon which the landlord can successfully oppose the renewal of a lease. In certain circumstances (that is, generally where the tenant is not in de- fault) a business tenant may be entitled to receive compensation from the landlord upon being required to vacate business premises as a result. Such rights will be particularly impor- tant to a tenant who is intending to make a significant investment in the premises

occupied, or wanting more certainty, and can be acquired either on the grant of a new tenancy or the acquisition of an existing tenancy. A tenant should not normally expect to pay more for security of tenure (for example, by way of higher rent); how- ever, in practice that will be a matter of negotiation. A tenant occupying under a tenancy benefiting from security of tenure must be aware that, generally speaking, they cannot simply walk away from the ten- ancy at the end of the contractual term. If the tenancy has not been brought to an end by proper service of the correct notice then it will continue as will the tenant’s liability under it – for example, for payment of rent and business rates, and for repair of the premises.

Nick Sanders is a partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, which provides comprehensive and personal service to a broad spectrum of local,

national and international clients. w www.mayowynnebaxter.co.uk

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KB

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

10 TIPS for growing your online business in 2017 01. Ensure your website is responsive and mobile-friendly More customers than ever before are shopping with a tablet/ smartphone and are looking for the best user experience possible – your website should be up to the mark. Being mobile-friendly is seen by Google as a strong factor when ranking a website. er shopping journey will scare shoppers away. Even a brochure website needs to be clear and concise, and display all the relevant information to help customers make an informed decision.

07. Set up the basics to get seen on Google Google My Busi- ness is a simple tool that lets businesses share their information with customers when they’re searching for local suppliers. It’s quick and easy to verify your website with Google, so do it now. 08. Increase sales with email marketing Improve the way you communicate and stay in touch with customers by using email campaigns – a simple way to increase customer retention. Af- fordable packages with easy-to-use design tools are available. 09. Create a secure checkout for your customer In Novem- ber’s article we advised on how to take payments online securely and successfully, and what to watch out for. Create a streamlined, system for buying online so as to minimise email exchanges and telephone calls and to improve online productivity. 10. Keep your product range concise and up to date Don’t scare customers away by confusing them with hundreds of garments that are hard to tell apart and are similarly priced. Make their buying experience as simple as possible.

02. Try new things on social media Many garment decorators have a sporadic social media presence, posting pictures of the odd interesting job only when it’s quiet. Embrace social media and post interesting pictures, blogs and articles, run competitions and engage with current or new customers. Think outside the box to give someone a reason to follow you. 03. Write about your business When a customer lands on your website, don’t let them think it’s just another print or embroidery site: make it stand out with some interesting content. Write about yourself and your business: its story, core values and USPs. A website with a bit of personality and lots of interesting content – regularly updated – will boost your search engine rankings too. 04. Blog away Often underrated, a blog is a great way to share your knowledge, expertise and passion for print and embroidery. Writing a blog is also great for social media, with interesting, thought-provoking pieces likely to get followers clicking through to your website. It’s a simple yet effective way to increase traffic. 05. Harness the power of LinkedIn If you aren’t on LinkedIn then sign up: connect with like-minded people and join the dis- cussions; connect with customers and search for potential new customers. Grow a following and promote your business and its qualities, and watch the recommendations and referrals grow. 06. Provide your customers with a simple-to-use site Cus- tomers have more options than ever when browsing online so your website needs to be easy to navigate. A complicated website packed full of jargon and with an unstructured custom- For me the big buzzwords for 2017 are ‘content’ and ‘relevance’. How many of you are plagued by spam or irrelevant emails – and are you guilty of sending the same to sell your products? One gift distributor said to me recently, “Some suppliers we see are really valuable: they come and train my staff, and come up with relevant marketing campaigns for our customers. We have no time for people that just want to drop in for a coffee and show us a new catalogue.” Video is already big, and YouTube is second for web searches. It’s going to get much bigger in 2017 and if you don’t have a video content strategy you will be left behind by your competitors. Video is an effective educational tool as well as a great way to tell your brand story. The BPMA has used this to convey the power of promotional products through a really engaging animation video that members could personalise. Declutter your message. Millennials have a decreasing attention span and need to understand you and what you are offering in seconds. You need to be authentic and prove this.

Andrew Langridge is from eTrader, one of the industry’s leading suppliers of websites to garment decorators across the UK. w www.etraderwebsites.co.uk

BPMA: How will things change in 2017? Gordon Glenister of the BPMA makes his predictions and suggestions for the year ahead

Online ratings continue to drive web and social traffic, but this needs to be well managed. I predict that we’re going to see greater automation of the processes used to print promotional products as well as in the way we communicate with our clients. If it’s not in the real world, the virtual world will certainly catch up with us. Happy promoting in 2017.

If you have any questions or topics you would like Gordon to address, please email editorial@images-magazine.com with ‘BPMA’ in the subject line.

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PF WEARABLES

Stripes, bathrobes, slogans and the return of the 80s - again. There’s lots happening in the fashion world this spring/summer season Trendwatch

A s we ease into 2017, ‘messaging’ – aka slogans on tees – is big news. The SS17 catwalks were littered with T-shirts declaring everything from feminist sentiments to eye-poppingly rude sug- gestions, all of which is fantastic news for T-shirt printers. A milder version of this trend can be seen in Todd Lynn’s Pretty in Punk T-shirt from Debenhams. This long length, heather tee quietly combines a number of this season’s trends: 80s punk glam, pink and slogans. Pink, from fuchsia to softer, dusty pinks, was a top colour at the shows, along with yellow and stone. For those looking to recreate the look, Stanley & Stella’s Stel- la Wants (STTW028), an organic cotton, round neck T-shirt, is a great starting point. Keeping with the pink and 80s themes is River Island’s grey colour-blocked sweat-

those who hanker after Long Tall Sally’s embroidered, longline stripe shirt. The fashion world is adept at surprising its followers, so our jaws shouldn’t have dropped quite so much at the news that some designers are using bathrobes as a new type of funky outerwear. Seen by some as an extension of the athleisure trend – think glamorous poolside robes thrown over wrap dresses before stalking out for a cocktail – it’s an unexpected trend that we’re following with interest if not quite in action. We could, however, possibly be persuaded to wear the rain- bow-coloured Stan Hooded Bathrobe from Missoni Home at Amara on a night out. Decorators can start trying out the look with Towel City’s 100% ringspun combed cotton Ladies’ Robe (TC050).

shirt with crew neck and ribbed trim. The B&C Set-In (WU600) crew neck sweatshirt, available in heather grey and steel grey, is an excellent match with its modern cut and ribbed collar, cuffs and hem. Equally retro are Topshop’s jeans with screen painted faces on one leg. The new Katy Straight Jeans (SD011) from So Denim by AWDis are a good imprint pair and we predict the trend of decorated jeans, which kicked off with embroidered jeans last year, will continue throughout 2017. Stripes are another big trend for the coming season. Big stripes, narrow stripes, multi-coloured stripes – customers want it. Happily, a number of printwear brands now offer striped garments, including Disley with its striped 55% polyester/45% cotton LL410 shirt – an ideal garment for

Topshop’s fabulous screen printed jeans

Stella Wants from Stanley & Stella

The Stan Hooded Bathrobe from Missoni Home at Amara

Pretty in Punk from Todd Lynn at Debenhams

The new Katy Straight Jeans (SD011) from So Denim by AWDis

River Island’s colour-blocked sweat

Long Tall Sally’s embroidered, longline stripe shirt

B&C Set-In crew neck sweatshirt

The Ladies’ Robe from Towel City

The striped LL410 shirt from Disley

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BE INSPIRED

With 13 new styles for 2017, Bagbase boasts a vast array of fun, funky designs, in fresh and fashionable fabrics and colourways, which are impossible to ignore and guaranteed to get you noticed. Take a closer look and discover Bagbase, ‘Europe’s most colourful bag brand’.

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Prestige 0800 652 1234 | BTC activewear 0800 012 4542 PenCarrie 0800 252 248 | Ralawise 0800 212 180 | Ralawise Ireland 1-800 599 599

PF TOP PICKS

TOP PICKS 2017 It’s time to find out what the brands are predicting will be this year’s big sellers, from mini bags and stripy tees to lightweight jackets and fashionable tanks

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BagBase has responded to both the growing mini bag trend and vast demand for barrel bags, with the introduction of the Mini Barrel Bag (BG140S) [ 1 ]. The brand calls this on-trend fashion piece “the ultimate statement bag”, adding: “Its stylish exterior blends perfectly with its practical features, which include a zip- pered pouch pocket and detachable adjusta- ble shoulder strap. The sleek, simplistic styling of the BG140S enhances its marketable quality and appeal as a fashionable accessory.” w www.bagbase.com For 2017, Ralawise is introducing the new Classic Fit Performance Polo [ 2 ] from Asquith & Fox, which it says is “crafted with the same exceptional quality and timeless style as the original” with the addition of technical wicking fabric to help regulate body temperature. The 65% polyester/35% cotton polo is available in both women’s (AQ025) and men’s (AQ015) styles, and in 25 colourways. “The athleisure trend is going from strength to strength and for 2017, we see the trend moving into the corporatewear sector,” says Ralawise. w www.ralawise.com Kustom Kit’s new Fashion Fit T-Shirts [ 3 ] are set to be this year’s hottest new products,

according to the brand. “The superior print surface has been developed to showcase your design to perfection whatever your decora- tion method–sublimation, DTG, transfer films, screen printing or laser transfer.” Kustom Kit’s designers’ research of current trends has allowed them to cherry-pick key fashion col- ours for the retail-inspired tee in modern marl effects, without forgetting the core workwear colours. The women’s style (KK754) comes in sizes 8-18, and the men’s (KK504) in XS-3XL. w www.kustomkit.com Tombo’s Top Pick for 2017 is the ¼ Zip Top (TL555) with reflective shoulder panels [ 4 ]. This innovative style is made from a polyes- ter French Terry with inserted mesh panels on the shoulders revealing a reflective panel underneath, making it ideal for high visibility at night. It is available in black or heather grey and sizes XS-2XL, and Tombo says it matches perfectly with the other trend-led styles in its collection. w www.tomboclothing.co.uk Fruit of the Loom nominated its trendy new Lightweight Baseball Sweat Jacket [ 5 ] as its Top Pick for 2017. Made from the brand’s lightweight unbrushed fleece, it features

raglan sleeves, two front pockets and a cot- ton/Lycra rib neck, waist and cuff, and has a slimmer silhouette. Available in sizes S-2XL, it comes as standard in black, heather grey and deep navy. Bespoke jackets in different colours – for either the entire jacket or sleeves only – are also available on request. w www.fruitoftheloom.co.uk The Adult Tee (1717) [ 6 ] from Comfort Colors is, like the other garments in the collection, garment-dyed using a unique process which gives a finish that’s comparable to the effect of 50 wash cycles for a relaxed, vintage look. The Adult Tee is made from 207 gsm, 100% cotton in ultra-soft ringspun yarns. This classic tee is available in sizes S-2XL, and in a range of 39 earthy colours from neutrals to cool hues and warm brights. w www.comfortcolors.com/eu Larkwood’s Top Pick for 2017 is a cute, short sleeved Stripe T-shirt (LW027) available in a navy and white and suitable for both boys and girls [ 7 ]. Using the finest of fabrics, this 100% cotton T-shirt is left blank for customers to decorate or embellish as desired. Available for

age 0/6 months to 3/4 years. w www.larkwoodclothing.com

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TOP PICKS

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Made in an organic, cotton-rich, loop-back, French Terry fabric, the “One” Hoodie (M132) from Mantis [ 8 ] is all about pared-back and on-the-surface simplicity along with careful construction, says the brand. Wear it to size, or as an on-trend oversized garment. You could roll back the sleeves – there’s no ribbed cuff to get in the way – and enjoy the large decoration surface afforded by the welt pockets which replace the standard kangaroo. w www.mantisworld.com Result Headwear reports that its standout product for 2017 is the new Core Softex Beanie (RC031X) [ 9 ]. “This on-trend slouch hat was launched to meet the market’s demand for a product which offered a vast range of colour options, was able to fulfil large stock orders easily and offered exceptional value with a low price point,” says the brand. The lightweight, oversized beanie is tag-free, knitted double thickness for warmth, supersoft and available in 25 rainbow shades. It is suitable for embroidery. w www.resultclothing.com The Contrast All-in-One (CC003) [ 10 ] is one of Comfy Co’s latest styles and the brand says it “is the ultimate lazy day essential”. It is crafted with a lighter weight fabric and features contrasting

sleeves, drawcords, cuffs and hood lining for a stylish finish. It is available in sizes XS-2XL in seven contrasts. w www.comfyco.eu Russell Europe has added three new styles to its Authentic Sweat Collection for 2017, including the Authentic Sweat Jacket (267M) [ 11 ]. The brand says it “looks fantastic with its straighter cut and cadet collar”, adding: “Sporty but ele- gant, this style is certain to be in high demand with the retail, promotions, travel, tourism and education sectors. The Authentic Collection is already highly sought after in the college sector and this Authentic Jacket looks set to be another winner.” w www.russelleurope.com Result’s Top Pick for 2017 is its Snow Bird Hooded Jacket (R194M&F), a luxurious, light- weight, water-repellent, windproof, down-feel jacket that Result says “thrives in cold weather conditions, and performs both on the hills and around the town” [ 12 ]. The handfilled polyester fibre filling and the integral adjustable hood are said to deliver impressive overall upper body warmth, while the jacket also packs down to a super compact size. The women’s style (R194F) comes in sizes XS-2XL (8-18) and the men’s

(R194M) in sizes S-3XL. Both come in a choice of five colourways. w www.resultclothing.com Just Hoods by AWDis is very excited about the Sports Polyester Hoodie (JH006), which is one of the brand’s 11 new products for 2017 [ 13 ]. This American style hoodie is on-trend and ide- al both for casualwear and for working out at the gym. It is great for layering and is designed with a comfortable kangaroo pouch and a stylish three-panel hood. It is available in sizes Regatta Professional says its new Ice Storm Par- ka (TRA382) [ 14 ] combines style and practical- ity, calling it one of its “most fashion-forward designs”. A detachable hood with a removable faux fur trim is teamed with thermo-guard in- sulation and windproof fabric, while waterproof Hydrafort 5000 peached polyester provides reliable protection from the great outdoors. Other features include chest pockets, zipped handwarmers and cargo pockets. Due to de- mand following its introduction this season, the Parka is now available in two great new colours 11 S-2XL in a choice of 10 shades. w www.justhoodsbyawdis.com

for 2017: classic red and bayleaf. w www.regattaprofessional.com

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