ImagesMagUK_October_2020

www.images-magazine.com 04 images OCTOBER 2020 Published by: 360 Communications Ltd images magazine, 360 Communications Ltd, 58a Livingstone Road, Hove, BN3 3WL, UK 01273 748482 | www.images-magazine.com Advertising: advertising@images-magazine.com Editorial: editorial@images-magazine.com Subscriptions: subscriptions@images-magazine.com | images is available free of charge to UK subscribers | Subscribe / unsubscribe / update contact details online: www.images-magazine.com Publisher/advertising: Jonathan Vince | jonathan@images-magazine.com Features editor: Rachael Glazier | rachael@images-magazine.com Features writer: Mark Ludmon | mark@images-magazine.com Publishing assistant: Gaby Bowring | gaby@images-magazine.com Design/Production: ATG Media | production@atgraphicsuk.com Printing: Stephens & George Ltd | Goat Mill Road,Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 3TD ( issn 0966 7512) Opinions expressed by contributors in this magazine are not necessarily shared by the Publisher. Editorial contributions are invited, on the understanding that the Publisher has the right to alter or abridge all such material as he sees fit. While the greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy, the Publisher accepts no liability for either errors or omissions. OCTOBER 2020 | VOL.29 NO.10 EDITORIAL W ith a second lockdown looming, the level of economic uncertainty facing UK businesses has been ratcheted up another notch. What is certain, however, is that garment decorators will need to continue adapting their businesses in response to these changing times. This isn’t a one time project, it’s an ongoing process. How people are living, working, learning and socialising is in a state of flux; what people (and businesses) are buying, where and how they are buying, and their purchasing priorities are evolving fast. The challenge is to reinvent our businesses to align with these new consumer trends: the rewards are the many new opportunities that are emerging for those that adapt quickly and effectively. The good news is that many small business owners are ahead of the game. According to research by Hitachi Capital Finance, more than four in five UK small businesses have already made key changes to their business and services in preparation for the economic uncertainty we face. Hitachi’s research Necessity is the mother of (re)invention found that investing in digital capabilities and making adjustments to the workplace were the key considerations for the average small business in the UK. Does that resonate with you? Marshall Atkinson runs with this topic in his column on page 68. He agrees that we are facing an increasingly digital future and points to ecommerce as an essential route to growing decorated garment sales in today’s business landscape. In the 1800s, Napoleon (allegedly) referred to England as a nation of shopkeepers. If he was still alive in 2020 he may have wanted to qualify his observation by saying that the UK is fast reinventing itself as a nation of online shopkeepers (and shoppers). Ecommerce is booming and, as Marshall points out, for garment decoration business owners and managers the time for procrastinating over how and when to develop a viable, profitable online presence ran out in March. Over the past six months we’ve documented how many garment decorators have already reinvented their businesses in response to today’s consumer trends. In this issue, we speak to Pete Tarrant, embroidery educator and owner of the Digitek embroidery company. He is convinced that while the future may be uncertain it is also going to become increasingly vegan. In between his commercial embroidery work and teaching others how to get the best from Wilcom software, Pete, who is a vegan himself, has launched a new garment collection – Truly Vegan Tees. “Vegan is going to be huge”, is his prediction. Pete talks about the new collection, his enduring passion for embroidery and his commitment to ethical sourcing on page 30. Another business that has reinvented itself is Identity Printing, which printed this issue’s Decorated product of the month (page 14). The company was considering moving out of the fashion market when it was approached by fashion brand MisRep to print some shirts: it ended up pivoting its business and taking a 50% stake in the brand. It was a bold entrepreneurial move and one that has paid off handsomely with MisRep creating a social media buzz and a level of new business that has left Leo Stanley, Identity Printing’s MD, somewhat breathless! The business landscape is changing rapidly. How are you reinventing your business to survive, adapt and grow in the months and years ahead? Jonathan Vince Identity Printing pivoted its business to take a 50% share in the fast growing MisRep fashion brand and is now reaping the rewards