With the promise of 100 stands, some exciting new printwear brands, a host of first time exhibitors, the latest machinery and a strong focus on teamwear, ahead of the London Olympics, Printwear & Promotion Live 2012 is going to be a cracking show! The show takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from February 26th to 28th.

Printwear & Promotion Live (February 26-28, Hall 12, NEC, Birmingham), is always a good opportunity to take advantage of special show offers and discounts. Some of our exhibitors are also offering free samples, competitions and prize draws. See details below*

Printwear & Promotion Live 2012 features an action packed, free seminar programme and for the first time, we will be running daily at noon, an industry-leading keynote seminar presented by Continental Clothing, Fujifilm Sericol and The Soil Association.

All presentations will take place in the seminar suite from Sunday, February 26^th to Tuesday, February 28^th (see timings below).

A new product has been added for 2012 under the DecoNetwork product umbrella. The DecoKiosk allows custom decorator to open a physical store virtually anywhere. Run on DecoNetwork as a platform, the DecoKiosk utilises DecoNetwork’s interactive Online Designer as well a powerful back-end allowing DecoNetwork users to centrally manage their products, payments and shipping instantly.

EcoPrint 2012, a new print industry event dedicated to sustainable print production, has announced that Mimaki Europe is the latest organisation to become a founding exhibitor and supporter. As a founding exhibitor, Mimaki Europe will also take its seat among other industry leaders on the EcoPrint Development Group, where it will play a key part in defining and refining the event.

Beechfield is sponsoring a gruelling fundraising trip to Mount Everest that could see the brand’s B181 Coolmax Sports Cap occupying the highest point on earth. 

To celebrate the St. James's Place Wealth Management Group’s 20th year in business, the company’s charitable arm – St. James's Place Foundation – is aiming to raise £500,000 through a sponsored 120-mile trek to Everest Base Camp, (following the route taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing in 1953), and a subsequent attempt on the summit. The money raised will be used to fund a multitude of projects that help children with special needs, and hospices.

Stocks Sewing Machines have opened an Embroidery Academy in partnership with Embroidery Design Solutions, offering training on Wilcom products and embroidery techniques. Stocks are one of the largest UK independent suppliers of Industrial and commercial embroidery equipment. They are sole UK and Ireland agents for ZSK industrial embroidery machines for the UK and Ireland, and also supply the Brother PR range.

For a business that started in a garage 30 years ago, Somac Threads hasn’t done too badly. The Chester-based, family-run firm sets the bar for quality threads, great customer service and keeping the tradition of UK thread manufacturing very much alive. DEBBIE EALES reports.

Philip Penlington, director of Fotorama, one of the UK’s leading and longest established fixed fee promotions companies believes that contrary to media reports there will be many superb opportunities in 2012 for marketers to run exciting sports-linked promotions – without the danger of acquiring a criminal record...