Images_Digital_Edition_April_2019

IS OBITUARY www.images-magazine.com 30 images APRIL 2019 words used to describe Paul Persey, co- founder of PenCarrie, who has sadly passed away after a three-year fight with cancer. “Paul has been an integral part of the promotional garment industry, not just in the UK, but across Europe, for almost 30 years. His guidance, advice, expertise and passion had an impact on so many and will continue to help shape our industry for years to come. “Paul’s interest and passion for the industry began when he started his career as a trainee with major retail store C&A, which was, at that time, a major presence in many town centres throughout the UK. With a foundation of knowledge from The London School of Economics, Paul worked there for a few years, picking up a wealth of knowledge on the retail industry. “Taking this experience, along with his entrepreneurial flair and passion for garments, Paul went on to establish several of his own retail premises selling garments with wife Caroline. P aul Persey, highly regarded and much admired innovator, entrepreneur and founder of multi-brand distributor PenCarrie, was a central figure in the transformation of the fledging UK garment decoration sector into the flourishing industry it is today. Along with his business acumen and leadership strengths, he will be dearly remembered for his warmth, generosity and charm. ‘Gentleman’ is a word that came up time and again while Paul’s friends, colleagues and competitors in the industry were sharing their memories of him and paying tribute to his achievements. He will be sadly missed by the many people whose lives and businesses he touched. PenCarrie issued a statement following Paul‘s passing: “Industry pioneer, inspirational leader, entrepreneur, dynamic businessman, true gentleman, cherished friend and family man. Just some of the It is with great sadness that we report the death of Paul Persey, founder of PenCarrie and industry pioneer, who passed away on Monday 25 February 2019 Paul Persey: 23 January 1948 - 25 February 2019 “After moving to Devon with his family, Paul moved from retail to manufacture. He went on to establish his own manufacturing facilities in both Devon and Cornwall, specialising in babywear, polo shirts, rugby shirts and sweats – styles that are still key in our market today. “Even back then Paul’s family were interested in his business, with his daughters often spending time at the manufacturing plants with their dad, generally picking up industry knowledge from a very early age. “It was the direct link with the Russell Corporation, manufacturing the 539M polo, that led to the opportunity to distribute the Russell range of products. So, in 1991, in some rented premises in Exeter, Paul, his sister-in-law Penny and Caroline (hence the company name), all ably supported by his sister Sue, seized the opportunity to establish PenCarrie as a garment distributor and the family business was born. “Paul’s business acumen, along with the determination of Penny and Caroline, meant the business went from strength to strength. Thus started a new era of organised garment distribution in the UK.“ Generosity to others Paul‘s generosity to others in the industry was well-known. David Sanders-Smith of Result recollects that when in 1988 he, as managing director of IS Enterprises, and Stuart Findlay, managing director of Pelmark and Morestyle, were having issues with the Morestyle T-shirt production in Gozo, Paul flew out to the factory [L-R] David Sanders-Smith, Stuart Findlay and Paul Persey arriving in Gozo from Malta – it was a frightening journey on a “very old, clapped-out Russian helicopter“, recalls David Roger McHugh [L] of Beechfield with Paul in 1994, just before Beechfield Cap Comp a ny went live and started to trade. “We were both very eager to get started and see what this new company could do,“ says Roger