ImagesMagUK_September_2021

INDUSTRY NEWS www.images-magazine.com 24 images SEPTEMBER 2021 Read our recent digital issues online: imagesmag.uk/digital-issues Papergraphics is proud to announce that it’s the UK distributor for the exceptional B-FLEX , HTV range for garment decoration; for more info about availability, please call 0345 1300 662 | paper-graphics.com Demand for personalised stag T-shirts bounces back Garment decorators are seeing demand for stag and hen T-shirts bounce back since the relaxation of Covid restrictions, with one printer reporting sales up by over 500%. David Cavill, founder of Sheffield- based TShirtExpert, has said that business has “picked up dramatically” after its core market of personalised stag do T-shirts “endured its second year of drought” since the pandemic started. “We’ve seen an instant response to the re-opening,” he said. “It has finally given grooms and their best men the confidence to make plans and provisions for their stag parties. We’ve been seeing big group sizes too.” TShirtExpert has also reported an increase in the use of its ‘express turnaround’ option that ensures customers receive their customised T-shirt order within three working days. “This would suggest that stag T-shirts (at least) are being left to the last minute before ordering,” David said. “Perhaps this is to be expected after months of uncertainty about whether stag nights would even go ahead or not.” Looking to the future, David said he was hopeful for a return to normality. “We’re feeling more optimistic for an upturn in sales for 2022.” imagesmag.uk/stag-tshirts MyWorkwear supports zoo with uniforms Telford Exotic Zoo has been helped by a donation of branded uniforms from custom clothing and personalised workwear supplier MyWorkwear. After closing and losing its Priorslee site because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the zoo was able to reopen in its new location – Telford Town Park – in July, with new uniforms for its 100-strong team of staff and volunteers. MyWorkwear, based in Telford, provided polo shirts and T-shirts in forest green with embroidered branding, complementing the zoo’s brand colours and new logo. Scott Adams, who is the owner of the Exotic Zoo, commented: “We couldn’t have been more grateful to MyWorkwear when they came to our rescue with the fabulous new uniforms for our staff and 85 volunteers.” imagesmag.uk/myworkwear-zoo Telford Exotic Zoo’s new uniform was donated by MyWorkwear ‘Strong demand’ at water-based ink specialist Avient Avient Corporation, which supplies sustainable water-based printing inks, has reported continuing strong demand despite “incredibly challenging conditions”. In its results for the quarter from April to June 2021, the US-based group revealed that sales had increased by 42% to $1.235 billion (£890 million), driven by very strong demand in nearly all its end markets. For July 2021 onwards, Avient said the outlook looked more positive, revising its forecast for the year upwards, boosted by its acquisition on 1 July of UK-based MagnaColours, a market leader in sustainable water-based inks technology for the textile screen printing industry. Reporting on 30 July, Avient said that revenue for the whole of 2021 was expected to be around $4.6 billion to $4.7 billion (£3.3 billion to £3.4 billion) alongside a 55% increase in earnings per share year on year. imagesmag.uk/avient-demand Robert M Patterson, the chairman, president and chief executive of Avient TShirtExpert specialises in personalised T-shirts for stag dos