Spring has finally arrived and all around us are signs of new life: from the lambs being born and the bluebells blooming, to that welcome hue of green appearing in all the hedgerows. So it seems fitting that our May issue is quite literally brimming with new ideas to help your business.

The DSPA has re-launched at the Sign and Digital UK exhibition as 'prism', the UK's leading specialist imaging association, complete with new member benefits and initiatives.

Endosulfan, a dangerous insecticide used in South African cotton farming, could be on it's way out, according to a report from PAN (Pesticide Action Network) UK.

Grafityp UK Ltd and leading textile material manufacturer Siser will be hitting the road together in June to share tricks of the trade with customers.

Westford Mill, the big value promotional bag brand, reports a dramatic increase in the sales of its cotton Tote bags over the past year.

Digital open day

Adelco will demonstrate a Kornit direct on Garment Digital Printer at its Open House on June 12, 13 and 14, 2008.

The British Promotional Merchandising Association (BPMA) formally launched the BPMA Academy, the first official qualification for the promotional merchandise industry, at the Promotional Marketing Exhibition last month.

Congratulations are in order for two Ralawise customers who played the stock market and won at the Printwear & Promotion exhibition recently.

KooGa, the high street rugby brand available exclusively from BTC activewear, is now 20% cheaper than last year.

Blue Max Stag has appointed Colin Reynolds as Group Sales Manager.

Employers in the textile industry are being urged to help raise the sector's profile by contributing to a new website which highlights the exciting opportunities available in manufacturing.

This year's Promotional Marketing Exhibition attracted over 2,300 visitors from around the world - a 10% rise on last year's figures, said organisers.

Workwear World, a family run business and Ralawise customer, has had to make some extra space on its shop floor after winning a prize draw for 30 coloured hoodies, courtesy of hoodie manufacturer AWDis.

The inaugural Workwear and Corporate Clothing Show, held on April 2 and 3 at the Birmingham NEC, attracted over 1,600 visitors according to organisers Corporate Clothes Show LLP.

European brand B&C has launched its Duo concept - where styles are produced in two versions; one for men, another for women.

Promotional merchandise supplier Keepme Promotions has launched Keepme Promotions (China) Ltd - a dedicated regional office located in Shenzhen, China, enabling it to pass on a range of benefits to its customers.

It takes around 150 puppets to make an Original hoody. Cruel? In a word, yes. But the Jerzees Colours team appears to have no regrets, claiming the sacrifice is justified, as the puppets' incredibly soft pelts make "huggably soft" garments.

Henbury, Skinnifit and Finden+Hales have introduced what they call ‘white sites' - websites with no information other than on the products themselves - to help garment decorators market their products.

Pre-used embroidery machine supplier M-Tech has formed a partnership with a Chinese company that reconditions embroidery machines.

With ethical issues dominating the headlines, we're constantly being bombarded with cryptic acronyms that are difficult to decipher and words like ‘sustainable', ‘green' and ‘eco' are banded around on a regular basis. To try and diffuse this ethical minefield, Epona's Juliet Bacon has broken down some of the more common terms into an easy to use A-Z guide and looked at why you might, or might not, choose to go for some of the eco options available

The most common software is Corel Draw, with most customers saying the same thing - that they buy this software based on its price. This design package is excellent and has a whole host of design features suitable for creating your vectored artwork for cutting and printing.

Gildan's Total Stewardship Program incorporates new technology, innovative practices and strict policies across all parts of the manufacturing process. Its benefits are found in every garment we make...and with over 500 millions units produced last year, that's a big impact.

The clothing manufacturing industry in the UK has, like many other manufacturing industries in this country, taken a hit over the past few decades. With everything seemingly ‘Made in China', you'd be forgiven for thinking that the death knell for British manufacturing has been sounded good and proper.

M&R's SureVac Vacuum-Pallet System enables textile presses to print specialised products, including transfers, poster stock, and other rigid and semi-rigid flat substrates. SureVac Pallets can be retrofit to most manual and automatic M&R carousel presses. It's a fast, easy way to maximise textile press versatility, says M&R. Its SureVac Vacuum Pallet System includes a foot pedal and valve assembly that allows the operator to turn the vacuum on and off from the load station.

With the large range of transfer media available at Doro Tape, for both solid plotter-cut lettering, and solvent or inkjet printing, garment decoration has never been quicker, easier, or more economical.

ETC Heatpress Supplies has launched a new range of garment heat press films to the market.  The products are sold per metre and are all around 50cm wide.

"Quality and reliability, that's what customers say they want," says Grafityp. "Cheap, inferior products are fine until you start having problems, wasting bits here and there, product not performing as it should, customers rejecting work - then the small savings are quickly eroded."

TheMagicTouch says it is very proud of receiving recent awards recognising the advantages of using the new WoW transfer paper for full colour garment decoration, and continues to develop more innovative applications and products for introduction throughout 2008.

Druch Tech has used new designs and concepts in making the diaphragm table - its new pneumatic heat-press.

The Transfer Industry is rapidly evolving, making it more important than ever before to keep abreast of developments and stay customer focused in the products and services that are on offer, says Target Transfers, which is doing just that.

Xpres continues to extend its innovative line of digital transfer technology and consumables, offering a combination of low set-up and consumable costs to produce shorter runs of personalised clothing and promotional products both quickly and profitably.

Your clientele on your doorstep. "Just 5 minutes away" is a powerful marketing message, which as we'll see can be used in a wide variety of ways. It reflects one of the key advantages of the small independent business - you're very convenient. To buy from you is easy.

Orotoro is the latest company to join the eco revolution, with a retail-inspired range of certified organic promotional wear. We caught up with director Tom Watson to find out more about the brand and its values

School-specific uniform items should get a tax break to end an illogical anomaly which is undermining the Government's drive to make school uniforms affordable for all. MP Nigel Evans has tabled an Early Day Motion in support of the Schoolwear Association's campaign to reduce the rate of VAT to 5% on upper body, badged school uniform items and the motion is receiving cross party support with over 50 signatures.

The UK's £20billion promotional marketing industry has officially launched the search for the most dynamic entrepreneur to be this year's Entrepreneur of the Industry. And the 2008 initiative will be offering an exclusive new range of prizes.

Whether you use your website as a means of selling goods or services or just as a corporate brochure interface, websites have become a fundamental part of any business these days, especially in our industry. It is therefore not surprising that over 70% of businesses now have a website.

Final part. With the fast paced nature of embroidery production, many people come into contact with an embroidery logo from its inception right through to the post production finished article. This can cover designers, digitisers, buyers, embroiderers and sales people. Duncan Yarnall from embroidery thread manufacturer Robison Anton gives a defnitive list of embroidery terms to act as a point of reference for new embroiderers.

American Apparel has launched a new pique shirt which it says is perfectly suited to the golf enthusiast.

Beechfield has launched two new golf cap designs for 2008 in the shape of the B185 Pro Style Ball Mark Golf Cap and the B180 Sports CoolMax Cap.

Golfwear has had a positive impact on sales within the corporate sector, says Beezer.

The Blue Max Stag range includes a lightweight yet waterproof garment that's ideal for the golf course - the best-selling Mistral Jacket.

Under an exclusive arrangement for the imprint market, BTC activewear represents PING, the high quality range of fashionable and technically advanced golfing apparel. Together they have developed a collection specifically aimed to capitalise on the growing popularity of the sport, using luxury fabrics and a wide range of performance features.

"Golf is one of the most popular games in the UK and could arguably be associated with an array of misjudged golf clothing such as day-glow pants and diamond knits," says Finden+Hales. "But golfwear doesn't have to be unstylish." Finden+Hales offers a premium range of polo shirts in a soft cotton pique. Pique is a traditional golfing fabric as the very construction allows stretch in all directions, ensuring the golfer's swing is not restricted.

Colchester-based corporate wear distributor I.S. Enterprises handles a variety of different clothing and apparel brands, including Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Jerzees, Kustom Kit and Result jackets and caps. Many of these brands offer clothing that is appropriate for the golfwear market including good quality polos shirts from Kustom Kit and Fruit of the Loom, Result soft shell jackets and caps and Quadra umbrellas.

Golf wear has long been a staple of the promotional/corporate apparel market, which offers constant change, allowing the golf wear to evolve and improve, says Henbury.

A placket polo shirt is to a golfer, what a set of wheels is to a cyclist - you're not going to get very far without one. All but the most relaxed golf clubs have a strict dress code and at the heart of that code is the collared sports shirt; the placket polo. Smart, but sporty: casual, yet refined - the polo shirt is as much a part of the fabric of the game as the putter or tee. As such, it makes an affordable, highly valued giveaway, incentive or prize for any player.

James & Nicholson offers a range of products for the golf course with matching head wear from Myrtle Beach.

To cater for the personalised golfwear market Kustom Kit offers a range of premium cotton polo shirts for both men and women in an unbeatable choice of plain colour options, and polos with tipped or contrasting collar and cuffs for a smart appearance with a sporty edge.

PenCarrie's customer services manager, Andrea Charteris, stresses a key fact about the golfwear market. "This is a sector where it is essential to offer premium quality, specially designed clothing from recognised brands," she says. PenCarrie stocks four such brands, namely Ashworth, Glenmuir, Callaway Golf and adidas. Charteris continues: "Their branding adds significantly to the value of the end product, whether this is to be sold in club pro shops, or to be given away as a prestigious gift or prize at corporate and charity golf events."

The corporate golf wear market continues to grow and Prestige Leisure offers its customers a vast selection of branded and unbranded clothing. For further details of the full 2008 Collection see http://www.prestigeleisure.com/.

Quadra claims to offer a shoe bag ideal for golf pro-shops on the look out for high margin, easy to brand products. The QD116 NuHide Shoe Bag offers the look and feel of quality leather at a fraction of the cost, says Quadra.

Whether it be for the pleasure of getting some fresh air into the lungs, or played on a more competitive level, Golf is one of the country's most popular leisure time activities. In a year which sees the Ryder Cup, golf's pinnacle international event, being played out in America, golf will once again receive maximum exposure across Europe, thus increasing interest and popularity in the sport. With that in mind, says Ralawise, the scope for golfing apparel sales is fantastic and it is an area that offers plenty of potential profit for decorators.

Golf to the non-player seems like just another of those leisure time activities, but to the initiated it is a deeply competitive and stylish sport. The range of Golfwear available from UKL reflects the diversity of this market.

The R121 Classic Soft Shell active cut jacket is a versatile Soft Shell that can be used for a wide range of activities in an equally wide range of conditions, says Result.

From the wettest, windiest day to the sunniest, a keen golfer will want to brave any weather to feel victory on the fairway. Protection from the elements, then, is an essential consideration when choosing the perfect golfing get-up, but what golfers really want is attire that combines this without restricting movement. Sportswear expert Tombo says it knows the importance of allowing for free range of movement - knowledge it combines with the latest in fabric technology and garment design.

1. What exactly is a dragon boat race?

Dragon boats are 30' long canoes ornately decorated with scales and a dragon's head and tail. There is also a drum situated at the front for the drummer to beat time. There are up to 10 paddlers plus the drummer in each boat from the company and the organisers provide the Helm. The racing distance is approx 200m and each race is timed. It will take about 70 seconds to complete a race. Each team will get three races throughout the afternoon and the fastest will qualify through to the Grand Final.

If you Google ‘organic t shirt printing', a quick scan of the results shows that only one company really fits the bill: T Shirt and Sons, the Wiltshire based certified organic printer.

Kornit, worldwide supplier of industrial, direct to garment digital printers, has announced a new Water Based CMYK ink and version 201 Water Based white, which it claims are the most advanced direct to garment digital inks available.

What are they?

The DTG inks used in this style of machine are water based pigment type. They were specifically developed for this style of machine as the print head on the smaller machines was originally developed for dye based inks. The white ink is different from the CMYK as it is made from suspended Titanium Dioxide and is the most difficult to make.

Long established in the sublimation market, Nova Chrome UK is a distributor of Sublijet, Sawgrass' signature sublimation ink that is renowned for its quality and ease of use.

As a name synonymous with market leading plastisol inks, Wilflex is responding to the move towards phthalate-free and PVC-free inks by further expanding and developing its ranges.

Health and safety legislation: a generic code of practice to which all businesses must comply. And that's it - right?  Whilst it's certainly true that regardless of size, industry or status, every business must adhere to health and safety regulations or face the consequences, it pays to remember that health and safety policies must be tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual company.

Over the past few months I have attended several trade exhibitions and encountered a trend which, as a manufacturer and trade-supplier, is of great concern to me.

PROMOTA member Fanéla is a company that is fully aware of how health and safety policies affect its practices and workforce.  A supplier of printed and embroidered promotional garments, the company has 18 years' experience in the industry. 

6.15 a.m., and I'm woken by a loud purring - it's my faithful Persian cat, Fifi La Flange, and she's hungry. Just as well she's given me the nudge, it's Monday morning and I'm off to the Printwear & Promotion Exhibition, so better haul my silky PJ's out of bed and make a start. Staring out the window and starting to focus,  I wonder about this year's industry offering...will there be a decent turnout, what will all the old faces have to say, and will the M42 resemble Morrison's car park?