Normally when you arrive back in the UK after a holiday you are greeted by grey skies and equally grey, gloomy faces, and within minutes that euphoric holiday high has worn off. But arriving back at Gatwick airport recently after a late summer holiday to Italy, this couldn't have been further from the truth. Not only was it a glorious sunny day, but I was greeted by two exceptionally cheerful ground staff members - a welcome change, I am sad to say, from the treatment we had received most of the holiday at the hands of the Italians. With the exception of one or two waiters/waitresses etc, most were unfriendly, unhelpful and made us feel as though we were being a burden. And having been a waitress and barmaid myself in the past, I know for sure that we weren't!

The credit crunch could finally be starting to take its toll on the UK promotional merchandise market, a Sourcing City analysis for early 2008 has revealed.

Result, AJS Embroidery, the BPMA, Unique Promotions and Franklins International are just some of the latest exhibitors to confirm their presence at next year's Printwear & Promotion Exhibition.

Printwear and Promotion is pleased to welcome the contributions Dr Albert Hackett, who is in the UK on a two-year sabbatical from the University of Michigan.

Continental Clothing has launched a new addition to its EarthPositive range: organic and low carbon Tote Bags.

Jute bag launch

Everything Environmental, a trade only supplier of personalised recycled and eco friendly promotional and business gifts, has launched unlaminated jute bags to the market.

Screen-printing chemistry equipment provider Kaye-Dee has made its entrance into the digital world of printing by introducing the Kimoto Freejet 320 ‘Next Generation Flatbed Printer'.

Over 2,500 attendees from over 20 countries logged on to take part in Wilcom and Corel's recent global online software launch - a first for the industry, they claim.

Pandor Clothing has launched a new jacket made from a waterproof fabric with brushed polyester/pvc, featuring taped seams and an anti pill fleece lining.

Merchandise agency Calverley Ltd is pioneering a new innovation in branded promotional gifts. 

Following the success of the Freejet 320 eco solvent ink configured printer, Info-Tec Distribution has launched the new Kimoto Freejet 320 direct solvent ink configured printer.

A new promotional cube that can be unravelled and put back together in under 15 minutes has been launched by AMT Marketing.

A new bag specialist called Another Bloody Bag Company has been launched to help companies carry their campaign messages.

Doro Tape claims to have come up with a solution to the problem of sublimation inks migrating when printing logos onto dark coloured polyester garments.

Jerzees Colours has introduced a range of high-performance jackets to its 2009 range, including a top of the range Gore-Tex jacket.

FESPA's Digital Print Awards 2009, supported by HP, is now open for entries at www.fespadpa.com.

The BPMA is holding a seminar entitled ‘How to Win and Retain Distributor Business' on Wednesday, November 5 at Hinkley in Leicestershire.

‘itsa' is a new promotional item that makers claim will be retained and reused year after year.

The British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) has elected Gill Thorpe as new BPMA chair at the Annual General Meeting.  In addition to this, the BPMA unveiled its new look and announced new board members at the National Incentive Show 2008.

Blue Max Stag has appointed Ian Ryden as Chief Operating Officer to help the company develop a scalable five-year business model and continue its growth.

TheMagicTouch and Unibind have introduced a new way to print binders and covers in full colour.

UK-based firm Big Brand China has launched a new range of blank white products suitable for transfer printing, as a precursor to a family of blank products.

Stand bookings for the 2009 Workwear & Corporate Clothing Show are up by over 60% compared to this time last year, says organiser Corporate Clothes Show LLP.

Every year there is a tussle between major retailers vying to sell low-cost schoolwear and this year Asda came out on top with the introduction of its £4 uniform. The Schoolwear Association, however, remains unperturbed by this price battle and is confident the quality of goods and the personal service its members offer all year round will ensure they always have a place in the market.

We are a gregarious species. We like to join clubs, societies and associations. We want to be in the gang; in fact, we also beat ourselves up about that gang thing. But the vast majority of spend on printwear would simply not happen if ‘that gang thing' didn't apply. Who would pay more to sport, say, the Nike logo if they didn't want to associate themselves with their heroes who do so? The same applies even more so to the various major sports teams whose strips are worn with pride throughout the world.

"There's a real buzz in the air at BTC activewear at the moment," says marketing manager Nigel Roden. "In fact, there has been for a while now." This isn't surprising when you consider that the company has seen growth of 40% in the last two years (compared to an industry average of 5% claims Nigel) and is about to move its Wednesbury distribution centre and Midlands sales office into brand new, state of the art facilities.

BTC activewear has recognised the massive potential that branded workwear can offer the imprint industry and for 2009, has lined-up a new stable of leading workwear names to compliment the well established Dickies brand. For the first time ever, such iconic labels as Mascot, Caterpillar, Snickers and Helly Hansen will be available to the imprint industry on a next day before noon delivery, full details of which will be available shortly.

BLUE Max Stag, importers and wholesalers of high quality clothing to the corporate and leisure wear sectors offers an extensive range of jackets ideal for outdoor use.

Industrialised workwear is a specialist clothing area and often requires a specialist brand that really understands the needs of the user. Davern Workwear and Harbour Lights say they are just such brands, and with an expanding range for 2009, there is sure to be something for everyone.

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, Quadra bags and Result jackets and headwear.

The combination of a Fruit of the Loom Fleece jacket and a 65/35 Polo forms the basis of a tough, long lasting, value for money uniform for any manual worker, says the company. The garments deliver comfort, ease of care and decoration, and affordability, together with the strength and durability to withstand the rigours of strenuous manual labour, it says.

Developed by Madeira and used globally for workwear embroidery for firefighters/oil rigs/racing cars and anything where flame retardency is paramount, this special thread works at high speeds on embroidery machines.

European workwear brand Mascot will soon be available to the UK printwear industry, thanks to an exclusive deal that has been struck with UK distributor BTC activewear.

Workwear is an important consideration for companies. Not only does it have to be hard-wearing, smart and look good, it also establishes a company's image. For this reason, if a company wants to promote what it's doing in terms of corporate-social responsibility, then making sure its employees are wearing ethical uniforms is a great way of doing this. Okarma, which is made from 100% Control Union certified organic cotton, is an ethical alternative to the conventional cotton used in most other workwear brands.

PenCarrie covers all workwear needs for manual and outdoor workers' uniforms.  Specialist workwear styles feature in a dedicated section of the company's catalogue.  Other styles suitable for workwear (including sweats, polos, fleeces, and jackets) feature in their own separate sections of the brochure.

With over 25 years of experience producing clothing and footwear for the outdoor market, Regatta has a head start when it comes to creating great outdoor workwear. Much of the styling and fabric technologies mirrors that in the retail range and provides the same great standards of quality and style.

When working outdoors you need to be able to rely on your clothes to allow you to get on with the job. The workwear styles at Ralawise offer a versatile solution to almost any situation or environment.

Surely in our time when everyone wants their own corporate identity, RTY Engineered Clothing offers one of the most complete packages of clothing for any Printer Embroiderer supplying manual and outdoor workers.

After a highly successful year, UKL are extremely pleased to be continuing their relationship with the Harbour Lights brand from Davern, including the Cargo trouser range, and their well-established and extensive range of High Visibility Clothing.

Garment decorators serve a broad customer base, but one area of business with the potential for significant profits is often overlooked: the provision of branded garments to companies operating in heavy industry. Over the past decade the demand from engineering, construction and automotive businesses for workwear decorated with a company name and/or logo has increased dramatically. Companies of all sizes now acknowledge the commercial importance of projecting a distinctive corporate image and the role branded workwear can play in achieving this.

In an ever-changing world of products and services, training programmes and courses can make a difference to a company's success. At PROMOTA, we firmly believe in the importance of training within the printwear and promotional merchandise industry as developing staff to their full potential is imperative. Whether this is in terms of sales or customer relations, employees need to be trained to ensure that even the basics such as making a client call or writing a letter are performed correctly. Training needs to be encouraged on a continuing basis to not only improve existing skills but also to develop new ones based on changes within the industry.

Fanela is a company that understands the importance of training for staff members. With a total number of 50 employees, Fanela, a trade supplier of printed and embroidered products, uses a number of different types of training methods. Fanela has 18 years' experience in the promotional clothing industry and has gained a detailed understanding of the business.

Want to offer an engraving service to your customers but not sure what it entails? We asked Kevin Ross, md of silver and leather promotional product supplier and engraver Solo, to shed some light on the subject

Solo, a leading silver and leather promotional and business gifts supplier, is now offering a personalised engraving service.

In addition to a wide range of digital transfer systems and consumables for garment decoration, Xpres also offers Metaza printer/engraver machines suitable for trophy and gift suppliers.

Engraving is an upmarket way to personalise a corporate gift and therefore is used on upmarket promotional products such as this section of clocks from Oldeani Ltd.

Engraving Machines

Mastergrave handles engraving machine and consumable sales and enquires for Roland DG.  "Working with Roland means we can offer our customers top quality machines, ultra competitive prices, fantastic training facilities in 5 UK locations and the benefit of back up support from both Mastergrave and Roland technical teams," it says.

Let's cut to the chase. Adding an engraving service to your business is going to cost you, and you are only going to do it if you can see it is going to make you money.

Things constantly change, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. The state of change is constant but when you are younger it is not so noticeable. It is only as you get older that you tend to notice the changes more and more. Maybe this is because you have a wider experience of life and therefore more comparative information, or maybe it is simply because you can see that the changes will have a serious effect on something that is close to your heart.

Sublimation was first introduced over 25 years ago. Since then, its use has dramatically increased within the personalisation industry, says Lewis Print. 

Xpres was a pioneer in bringing sublimation technology to the European market almost 30 years ago. Continual research and development has seen its use increase dramatically by garment decorators both for garment decoration and as a cost effective method of personalising business and promotional gifts and today offers a wide choice of printers, inks, paper and substrates for this hugely popular method of personalisation.

TheMagicTouch continues 2008 with more image transfer innovation. Since 1992, the company has seen considerable advances in digital printer technology resulting in today's high levels of quality, value and reliability.

Available from R.A Smart, Mimaki has launched a further innovation in the print and cut market, this time specifically aimed at the dye sub, heat transfer and garment making professional.

People from all walks of the industry are looking to sublimation printing, as a low investment, high return addition to their existing business, says Novachrome.

Sometimes it's all too easy to get swept along on the tidal wave of change in this digital age which is stealthily creeping into every corner of our lives. The ride may be thrilling, certainly, but do you ever feel you're maybe missing out on the scenery along the way? And do you ever get that nagging doubt that we're perhaps at risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater as we career headlong towards our technological nirvana? So it's refreshing to see that this month Printwear and Promotion is giving some column inches to some of the more tried and tested methods of conveying a message and reproducing images that have stood the test of time.

When you think of sportswear, ice hockey and lacrosse probably aren't the first sports that spring to mind, but for sportswear manufacturer and dye sublimation printer Rad Sheep Sportswear, they are some of its key target markets.

On July 25, 2008 embroidery thread supplier Madeira UK celebrated 25 years in business with a day at York Races. Starting off with drinks in reception, followed by a coach ride to York Racecourse, the Madeira party was wined and dined, presented prizes to winning trainers and owners and culminated the evening listening and dancing to live music.

Supertwist is a line of specialty threads made by Madeira. This sparkling metallic thread is used to create festive and shimmering embroidery effects. The special twisting is what gives its unique rough loose appearance. Supertwist is offered in two different counts #30 and now the new #12. Both counts are available in a number of iridescent tones with a gem-like quality along with a selection of multi colours and opal shades.

BagBase says it has provided the ‘missing piece' in the teamwear jigsaw with the launch of three Teamwear sports bags in 2008. The products have been developed specifically for this rapidly expanding sector of the market and have been designed to co-ordinate with the current line-up of teamwear apparel from the major promotional garment brands.

Supplying a set of co-ordinated headwear is a sure-fire way to make a group of individuals feel and behave like a team, says promotional headwear specialist Beechfield. Caps and hats are the most visible of teamwear items, and adding a team crest, name or logo further enhances the sense of togetherness and team spirit.

Following extensive research and development with some of the world's most cutting-edge designers of performance fabrics, Blue Max Stag now offers Maxtech in many of its teamwear lines. 

BTC activewear has expanded greatly its Gamegear collection of sport/team wear for 2008. Alongside the popular range of tracksuits and training tops are the new Classic Rugby shirts: available in both long-sleeve (KK612) and short-sleeve versions (KK613), offering tremendous value and performance, says BTC. Made from 280gms 100% cotton, the shirts have self-fabric reinforced shoulder seams, white rubber buttons and are available in four key colours.

Finden+Hales knows teamwear. It knows that looking cohesive and feeling great in what you are wearing is an integral factor in the performance and wellbeing of any team, club or society. As a result, Finden+Hales has created a range of totally co-ordinated clothing for men, women and kids ensuring that all club members can benefit from the fit, style and consistency offered throughout the range.

Gamegear says its range of teamwear offers unbeatable performance and value. The range is designed for a diverse range of sports and includes jackets, polos, shorts, tracksuits and shirts. 

Fruit of the Loom says its Baseball T-shirts and new Baseball Hooded Sweat guarantee a distinctive team strip, and look as good off the pitch as on it.

Henbury says its range would suit a wide range of sporting activities including Golf and Sailing. The Henbury Classic 100% Cotton Pique Polo Shirt with stand up collar (Style Ref - H100) comes in a staggering 38 colours. The three-button placket and plain hemmed sleeves keep this garment looking clean cut and simple, making it a perfect canvas for a team name.

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 headwear.

Whether on the sports ground, in the gym or for leisure use, James & Nicholson says its latest teamwear will make any wearer look the part. 

Quick-dry, moisture-management fabric is the key to Papini's new range for teamwear. The successful Papini Dri range of unisex polo shirts has now been expanded to include more shades, a ladies fit, and six unique 2 and 3-colour designs.

PenCarrie agrees that teamwear has seen extraordinary growth in 2008. "It's a brilliant concept that has been embraced by the major sportswear brands as well as the public," comments the company. "The clothing scores highly because you can now deck out entire teams, male or female, adult or junior in co-ordinating kit that fits."

Ralawise has seen an increased demand for teamwear styles and says it offers something to suit all teams and sporting pursuits.

While many companies can supply teams with stock clothing options off-the-shelf, where does that leave those that need on-field kit to co-ordinate with their off-field teamwear?

The Teamwear Brand continues to grow, with new styles being introduced and new markets being explored, says Teamwear Clothing, whose design department has scoured the marketplace to come up with new and revolutionary designs using the company's existing colour palate for continuity.

Whether it's a sports team, a team for a workplace or a team-building exercise, the fundamental ingredients for team success are the same. Cohesion, unity and a shared vision, as well as good old-fashioned hard work, is the recipe for victory on the field or in the office. Establishing all this is no mean feat, but creating those first steps towards it, by creating a homogenous look, is thanks to Tombo. With a selection of men's and ladies' tops and bottoms designed to kit the individual out from head to toe in matching, colour-coordinating outfits, creating that all-important united front has never been easier, it says.

Over the past three years William Turner has built a range of team bags that has gone from strength to strength, says md Andy Smith.

Following the recent success of Team GB in the Olympics and Paralympics, many gyms, sports clubs and associations have reported increased interest from the public spurred on by a wave of national euphoria.

"You treat this place like a hotel; there's less hair in King Kong's armpit than I've just found in the bath; the back of the toilet looks like the pit lane at Silverstone; and have you fitted an alarm to my backside? Every time it sits down someone wants something they can't find - speaking of which, the towel is on your head, the glasses are on your nose and your football boots are where you left them, filling the porch with odour of wet dog. And were you eating toast in bed last night?"