"One of the simplest, totally flexible and most cost-effective ways of providing a school uniform is to use the services of a garment decorator - and not just for the basics of sweats and polos. Schools understand the importance of outerwear and peripheral items such as book bags in raising awareness of the school," she adds.

PenCarrie offers a huge choice in fleeces, from zip neck to zip through styles, from top schoolwear providers Jerzees Schoolgear and Fruit of the Loom as well as jacket brands Result and Regatta.

New for 2009 from Jerzees is a range of jackets for youngsters. They include the 140B Jerzees Schoolgear Kids Soft Shell Jacket, which is warm, showerproof and windproof, and provides a good compromise between a formal blazer and a more casual fleece. The new 510B Jerzees Schoolgear Kids HydraPlus 2000 Jacket is a fully waterproof option.

Result and Regatta have also increased their childrenswear jacket ranges for 2009. One of the new styles from Regatta is the RG244 Kids Dover Waterproof Insulated Jacket, a blouson style that has a Hydrafort windproof and waterproof polyester outer, Thermo-Guard insulation, 250 series anti-pill Symmetry fleece lining and fully taped seams. Result's RS121B Kids Classic Soft Shell Jacket, a full zip style with an inner storm flap, is windproof, showerproof and breathable.

Traditional sweatshirts remain popular. The new enhanced 762B Kids Raglan Sweatshirt from Jerzees Schoolgear and the SS8B Kids Raglan Sweatshirt from Fruit of the Loom are long-standing best-sellers. Alternatives, increasingly in demand, are zip-through sweat jackets such as Fruit of the Loom's SS92B.

In many schools pique polo shirts have replaced the traditional cotton shirt and again Jerzees Schoolgear and Fruit of the Loom have top sellers (539B and SS11B respectively). Both brands also offer long sleeve polos, ideal for winter wear (569B and SS45B are popular choices).

Peripheral items all provide valuable add-on sales for decorators while enhancing a school's image.

BagBase and Quadra, whose entire ranges are stocked by PenCarrie, provide a wide selection of book bags (with reflective triangles to increase the child's visibility), gymsacs (for sports and swimming kit) and backpacks (favoured because their design protects young spines).

Teamwear for kids has become big business for decorators with brands such as Tombo Teamwear, Finden+Hales and Kustom Kit Gamegear all providing good ranges.

For more information call 0800 252248, email: sales@pencarrie.com or visit www.pencarrie.com

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