ImagesMagUK_September_2021

www.images-magazine.com 20 images SEPTEMBER 2021 INDUSTRY NEWS Fespa’s Global Print Expo to return to Berlin in 2022 Fespa has announced that its flagship Global Print Expo will return to Berlin in Germany in 2022. Together with its co- located event for non-printed signage, European Sign Expo, it is scheduled to take place at Messe Berlin from Tuesday 31 May to Friday 3 June 2022. Neil Felton, CEO of Fespa, said: “After we hosted a successful event in Berlin in 2018, which achieved record international attendance numbers, we were keen to return in 2022. “The city has always proved to be a popular location and is an excellent continental air and rail traffic hub, accessible from all major European and international cities.” More detail on Fespa 2022 will be available after Fespa Global Print Expo 2021, which takes place from 12 to 15 October 2021 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands (for more information, turn to page 34). imagesmag.uk/fespa-berlin-2022 View our latest videos: vimeo.com/imagesmaguk Chroma expands with schoolwear acquisition Sports and schoolwear provider Chroma in Peterborough has announced further expansion with the purchase of a schoolwear retailer in Cambridgeshire. Chroma has acquired independent business The Green School Shop in St Ives, increasing Chroma’s schoolwear provision to more than 85 schools and academies in the Peterborough and Cambridgeshire area. Managing director Darren Fogg said the acquisition marked another step in the growth and development of the Chroma business. “Chroma already has a strong presence in north Cambridgeshire and the acquisition of another schoolwear business headed by like-minded management to add strength to our coverage in south Cambridgeshire makes a great strategic fit and complete sense.” The Green School Shop will continue to operate under its own brand. Susan Jarah, who founded the retail business six years ago after working as a teacher, will lead the team in the role of director. imagesmag.uk/chroma-green Chroma has expanded its retail network Gildan reports recovery after Covid losses In August, promotional clothing supplier Gildan Activewear reported a recovery in sales and profits after Covid-19 restrictions sent it plunging into a loss in spring last year. Sales were up 225% to $747.2 million (£537 million) for the three months to 4 July 2021 while gross profit was back up to $240.8 million (£173 million) compared to a gross loss of $148.5 million (£106 million) in the same quarter in 2020. Recovery was strongest in North America while the rest of the world including the UK remained “weak”, hit by “inflationary pressures” such as transportation costs. Overall, the group’s sales were down just 6.8% compared to the same three months two years ago in 2019. Gildan added that sales of imprintables such as blank garments had not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels but it was “pleased” to see trends improving. Alongside fewer Covid-related restrictions this year, its results have benefited from lower cotton costs and its ‘Back to Basics’ cost-cutting strategy that saw it simplify its product portfolio and seek savings in manufacturing through scale. imagesmag.uk/gildan-recovery Fespa’s Global Print Expo was last held in Berlin in 2018 Gildan Activewear’s factory in Honduras