ImagesMagUK_September_2020

www.images-magazine.com 64 images SEPTEMBER 2020 MARKET INTELLIGENCE getting back to normal. All of the well- known and understood benefits of a good school uniform are even more relevant in a post-Covid-19 world.” It’s a view reiterated by Gary Spracklen, headteacher of The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester. “We’re not changing our [uniform] policy, we believe it’s important to rebuild as much routine as possible at this time. Uniform is a big part of that routine. Many of our children continued to wear school uniforms even when at home during lockdown.” While the advice from the SA makes clear the DfE’s position on school uniforms, it’s the staff at the schoolwear shops who are confronting the reality of what parents and schools say they want – and having to adapt to new ways of providing them with the correct items in a safe manner. Online orders Border Embroideries, which is based in Greenlaw in the Scottish Borders, has 108 embroidery heads and a small print set-up in its factory, as well as eight shops across Scotland which predominantly sell schoolwear and workwear, with a little bit of teamwear too. The team runs the online side of its business from its Scottish Borders base, and reports that schoolwear makes up 85% of its business. It employs 80 permanent staff, which rises to 160 over the busy summer months. The business had to invest a lot of time in making changes to how it operated when lockdown kicked in as there was a “huge switch” to online, reports operations manager William Smillie. “As schools have been closed, we were not able to get many direct to school (bulk) orders, so parents were advised to shop online. This has seen a massive jump in sales and added to that, customers who would usually use the retail shops have started using our website as well.” The company’s staff had to spend hours adding all its schools to its website as not all were set up online, William explains. “We then had to change the warehouse around to create a quicker picking system to get through the orders. It has allowed us to double the number of orders we were putting out last year.” The shops now have a one in, one out system and they also have an ordering system in place for customers waiting in queues. Since the retail shops have reopened, “sales have been great on a week-to-week comparison of last year’s sales”, William says. “Our web sales are also up around 300%, but we have lost a lot of direct sales. Overall though, things are looking good.” As for alterations to school uniform policies, William maintains they have “not changed all that much across the board. There are certain schools not allowing blazers or ties until later in the year – this is due to not being able to wash them the same. It is a fair point, but I think by the time it comes to restarting school it won’t be an issue. Luckily for us, it is only a small minority like this. “On the flip side of not being able to wash a blazer regularly, we have actually seen an increase in the number of polo shirts and sweatshirts being purchased, with some customers buying extra on previous years so that children can have a fresh garment for each day.” The SA, he notes, has done “a brilliant job in passing on information and fighting our corner”. Appointments system Far south of the Scottish border is Total Clothing. Trading for 30 years in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, the business began as a printer and embroiderer of work uniforms. The schoolwear side of the business has gradually increased over the years and now comprises 80% of the turnover. Jan Richardson, managing director at Total Clothing, explains that when lockdown was announced, the company Total Clothing has introduced a new appointment system for its customers Uniform is an important part of routine, believes Gary Spracklen, headteacher of The Prince of Wales School in Dorchester Border Embroideries’ stores now operate a one in, one out system for customers