Images Digital Edition DEC 2018

W here did 2018 go? It seems like only yesterday that we were willing the snow to stay away so we could travel to the P&P Live! show in its new January slot and now we’re preparing for the 2019 event. In between times we’ve sweltered our way through a scorching summer that can only have contributed to the buoyancy that has pervaded the industry in recent months. Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit (at the time of writing the High Court is even preparing to rule whether the vote should be declared ‘void’), the upbeat mood and the record sales that are being reported by many readers are both welcome and bode well for next year when, hopefully, we’ll see more of the same. Indeed, our most frequent conversation with Images readers throughout 2018 has centred on staffing, or, more precisely, their difficulty in recruiting new employees to cope with increased workloads and burgeoning order books. In many ways it’s a nice problem to have, but with employment levels already high and the encouraging prospect of further textile work coming back to the UK, it’s a challenge nonetheless and one that could face even more businesses in 2019. We’d very much like to hear about your experiences with staff recruitment - please get in touch and share your thoughts. The rapid growth of DTG-based print shops has been another defining characteristic of 2018. We’ve watched as companies have installed their first DTG printer and then only a matter of months later looked on as they’ve installed a second and sometimes a third machine due to the exponential growth of their business. There’s a real sense that DTG is coming of age and that the growth we’ve seen to date is only a precursor to what we can expect to witness over the next few years. There are already strong rumours about new machinery developments that are in the pipeline and which promise to move DTG technology along apace; 2019 could be a defining year for this sector of the industry. Speaking of the new year, we’re already hard at work on our January issue which will include our annual What’s New review of the new apparel styles for 2019 from the industry’s leading brands and distributors, plus our Supplier Focus round-up of the latest developments from the industry’s key equipment, machinery and consumables manufacturers and suppliers. You’ll have to wait until the beginning of January for the details, but have no doubt the wait will be worth it! In the meantime, we’d like to wish every Images reader a merry Christmas and a prosperous (and fully staffed) new year. Jonathan Vince Full steam ahead Published by: 360 Communications Ltd images magazine, 360 Communications Ltd, 58a Livingstone Road, Lioncare House, 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 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) Follow images on social media: ImagesMagUK 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. DECEMBER 2018 | VOL.27 NO.12 EDITORIAL www.images-magazine.com DECEMBER 2018 images 05 JANUARY 8-10, 2019 PSI 2019 Messe Düsseldorf, Arena-Straße, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany psi-messe.com JANUARY 13-14, 2019 Trophex Live 2019 Sandown Park Exhibition Centre, Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey KT10 9AJ trophex.com JANUARY 20-22, 2019 Printwear & Promotion Live! 2019 Halls 17 & 18, The NEC, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT printwearandpromotionlive.co.uk FEBRUARY 13-15, 2019 RemaDays 2019 PTAK Warsaw Expo, al. Katowicka 62, 05-830 Nadarzyn, Wolica 114D, Warsaw Poland remadays.com MARCH 19, 2019 Print & Stitch Glasgow Double Tree by Hilton, Strathclyde Business Park, Phoenix Crescent, Bellshill ML4 3JQ printandstitch.org MARCH 21, 2019 Print & Stitch Manchester Village Hotel Ashton Moss, Pamir Drive, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL7 0LY printandstitch.org APRIL 2-4, 2019 Sign & Digital UK 2019 Halls 3 and 3A, The NEC, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT signuk.com MAY 18, 2019 Fespa Global Expo 2019 Messe München, Messegelände, 81823 Munich, Germany fespa.com JUNE 20-26, 2019 ITMA 2019 Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain itma.com SEPTEMBER 17-19, 2019 The Print Show Hall 9, The NEC, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT theprintshow.co.uk OCTOBER 23-25, 2019 Printing United Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, 650 S Griffin St, Dallas, Texas, 75202, USA info.printingunited.com DIARY