ImagesMagUK_September_2021

www.images-magazine.com 06 images SEPTEMBER 2021 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 online: imagesmag.uk/register | Update your subscription/contact details online: imagesmag.uk/subs-update 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. SEPTEMBER 2021 | VOL.30 NO.9 EDITORIAL T he topic that has cropped up most often in conversations with apparel brands and equipment and consumables suppliers in recent months is shipping. As you may be aware, the pandemic (exacerbated by the grounding of the Ever Given container ship in the Suez Canal earlier this year) has played havoc with the global shipping trade. The number of return shipping trips has been greatly reduced due to containers being marooned in the wrong place, leading to a lack of supply, and disruptions to workforces caused by Covid-19 outbreaks and social distancing regulations at ports. The result has been massively reduced shipping availability, significant delays and rising costs – the cost of a 40-foot container is reported to have risen from $2,000 to as much as $15,000. What does that mean for garment decorators? Potentially, product availability issues – from garments to vinyls and even spare parts for machinery (digital printer components are a particular squeeze point at present) – plus increased prices as All at sea suppliers are forced to pass on their spiralling costs to you, the customer. Pre-warned is pre-armed, however, so now is the time to assess your stock requirements and speak to your suppliers ahead of what is likely to be a very busy sales and festive season. We spoke to a variety of suppliers for our special report on shipping (Stormy Seas: a special report on the global shipping crisis, page 28) , along with many more who did not wish to go on record, and took comfort from the fact that these professionals are very much on the case and committed to limiting the impact on garment and textile decorators as far as possible. The good news is that there are some very talented people working tirelessly to help navigate a safe passage through these decidedly choppy waters. In the UK, the new football season has kicked off against the backdrop of stadiums packed with supporters once more (good news for sports merch suppliers); indoor concerts and non-socially distanced music festivals are already cranking up to top volume (great news for you music merch guys); pubs, bars and restaurants have seen a relaxing of pandemic-related regulations (joyous news for suppliers to the hospitality sector); and workers are starting to head back to their offices, albeit for only part of the working week in many cases (a cause for celebration amongst corporatewear companies). This month also sees the return of industry roadshows, with the AJS TMEZ Roadshow getting the ball rolling on 13 September in Glasgow, followed by the Promotion & Branding Show, which begins in Peterborough the following day. And in October (12- 15), there is the welcome return of the Fespa Global Print Expo 2021 in Amsterdam. We may not be out of the woods yet, but (whisper it) we do appear to be inching our way back towards what was once considered normality. Jonathan Vince Read all about the global shipping crisis and how it is impacting the garment and textile decoration industry o n page 28 REGISTER Subscribe now to receive your own free monthly copy of Images: imagesmag.uk/subscribe UPDATE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS Working from home? Moved to new premises? Update your details online: imagesmag.uk/subs-update Check out this issue’s Gildan postcard insert