Printers are moving towards promotional merchandising as they aim to diversify from markets with decimated margins, according to an industry figure.

Quayside, the fast growing Manchester-based clothing distributor, has added Mantis World to its list of brands.

Sunday opening will be dispensed with at the next TV Textilveredlung & Promotion trade fair in Stuttgart. The fair will instead run from Thursday February 4 to Saturday February 6, 2010.

The Promotional  Marketing  Exhibition team has selected a new venue in central London for next year's event.

REACH consultation

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is launching a 12-week consultation on how REACH will be enforced.

The redesigned Fruit of the Loom schoolwear website is now up and running and includes a comprehensive e-catalogue that can be e-mailed to customers and an easy to use Create Your Uniform facility.

Your Embroidery Services (YES), a UK and Ireland supplier of embroidery and digital print equipment, has appointed Martin Dennis as a store keeper.

Pandor Clothing has added new polo shirts and shorts to its range of leisure wear for corporate and promotional companies.

Continental Clothing has reduced the price of its EarthPositive range of organic T-shirts by 10%, bringing them level with the cost of its conventional, non-organic T-shirts.

Leading pen manufacturer Senator Pens has launched the new Solaris Chrome range, which it says combines sophistication with style.

Absolute Apparel has ‘ripped up the rule book' by offering only one price in its catalogue, rather than separate carton, pack and single prices.

MHM Direct is to market and  support the world renowned range of Newman Roller Frames and equipment throughout the UK & Ireland.

Tombo says it has received an overwhelming response to its new IQ performance range. Made from cutting edge ‘IQ' performance fabric, there are four garments in the range, which all wick moisture away from the skin to keep it cool during exercise, says Tombo.

Promotional expert Fluid Branding has launched an innovative new twist on the promotional bottle opener.

Listawood has been appointed as European Master Distributor for Swiss Travel Products, a company which it says has experienced impressive levels of growth over the past five years thanks to an exciting portfolio.

Saf, the organic clothing supplier has launched an information website for printers and embroiderers. The website is designed to help trade customers market Saf products and carries no pricing information.

The fashion retail market is becoming more and more eco-aware with branding increasingly reflecting the trend for clothes with a more organic, eco look, says branding specialist Nilorn.

UK eco-friendly business promotions company Eco Incentives has unveiled its latest ‘green' range of hi-tech gadgets.

The range includes a USB memory pen; a USB flashdrive; wireless optical mouse; mini retractable mouse; and wireless presenter, all of which incorporate recycled plastic. 

A national survey has found that most people believe branded promotional merchandise increases a company's brand awareness.

The Pen Warehouse has launched the 11th edition of its catalogue Pens Galore, which it says is the most comprehensive yet.

Embroidery software manufacturer Wilcom International is warning UK embroiderers of the dangers of pirated software after it was contacted by a number of its clients who said they were offered illegal Wilcom software.

Tullis Russell, a specialist in the papermaking and coating industry, has launched Texitran ECO, a revolutionary new eco-friendly paper, to its trutextile range.

Beezer has introduced a new low-pill yarn to its 2008 garment production.

Applicable to its fleece range of garments, the Beezer low-pill yarn reduces the pilling effect of the garment by allowing the raised bobbles to fall from the surface leaving a clean, pill free product.

UK and Ireland supplier of embroidery and digital print equipment Your Embroidery Services Ltd, is welcoming back Glen Keeton to its technical team.

Digital open day

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

The Calvin Klein brand, which has already diversified into the swimwear and fragrance markets, has entered the corporatewear market with a new golfwear range.

Pandor Clothing has introduced two new hoodies to its range for summer.

Suitable for sports or leisurewear, the Sports Club Urban Walk Hoody (style code SC-161) is made from 100% combed cotton with French terry inside and features a high neck zip jacket with a stylish detachable zip hood.

The Co-operative Group has unveiled ambitious plans to expand its long-established clothing business, as it moves into its new headquarters.

AJS has made several new appointments and added a new website and a range of new products for embroiderers.

RA Smart (CAD & Machinery) has installed the first Mimaki JV5 320cm super wide printer in the UK at Image Fabrication in Crayford, Kent and only the second in Europe.

Andy Lunt, director of T Shirt and Sons, the UK's first and only licenced organic printer, has been named an Organic Hero by the Soil Association.

Drucktech has used new designs and concepts in making the diaphragm table - its new pneumatic heat-press. This final solution works very well, said Drucktech, and has proven to have many advantages over the manual heat-press system.

Promotional product sourcing specialist Tomato Source Ltd has added a further industry trophy to its award cabinet by winning the Most Innovative Service Award at the Promotional Marketing Exhibition, held earlier this year.

At the recent Sign & Digital UK show, TheMagicTouch gave a sneak preview of the new software tailored specifically for customers focused on the image transfer market - the MagiCut 6.0.

Along with a new look and a bigger stand at this year's Printwear and Promotion exhibition, Doro Tape unveiled its new textiles brochure, with its biggest ever selection of products.

Denmark print shop Greve Transfer System Aps (GTS) is the first print shop in Europe to invest in the latest generation of ink dispensing equipment from Wilflex.

After 18 months of sustained growth, UK green promotions company Eco Incentives and its sister company Fluid Branding have moved to brand new flagship offices.

Leading pen manufacturer Senator Pens has launched new additions to its award winning New Spring range.

Schoolwear, workwear and leisurewear supplier Blue Max Stag has invested £1M in a brand new 23,000 sq ft warehouse, which has doubled capacity at the Trowbridge site.

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.

Promotional teddy bear brand Mumbles has launched a new website for 2008, incorporating information about suppliers, distributors and a history of the company.

The new Marketing Association Alliance will make its debut at the Promotional Marketing Exhibition (15 - 17 April, Olympia London).