Images_December_2019_Digital Edition

www.images-magazine.com 04 images DECEMBER 2019 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 / 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 Staff writer: Ceri Roberts | ceri@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. DECEMBER 2019 | VOL.28 NO.12 JANUARY 7-9, 2020 PSI - Düsseldorf Messe Düsseldorf, Messeplatz, Stockumer Kirchstraße 61, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany psi-messe.com JANUARY 12-13, 2020 Trophex 2020 Hall 7, The NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT trophex.com JANUARY 17-19, 2020 ISS Long Beach Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Centre, California, 90802, US impressionsexpo.com/longbeach/ JANUARY 19-21, 2020 Printwear & Promotion Live! Halls 17 & 18, The NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT printwearandpromotionlive.co.uk JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 1, 2020 TV TecStyle Visions Messe Stuttgart, Messepiazza 1, 70629 Stuttgart, Germany messe-stuttgart.de/tecstyle-visions/ FEBRUARY 12-14, 2020 RemaDays Warsaw 2020 Ptak Warsaw Expos, al. Katowicka 62, 05-830 Nadarzyn, Wolica 114D, Poland remadays.com MARCH 24-27, 2020 Fespa Global Expo 2020 IFEMA (South Entrance), Feria de Madrid, Avda. Del Partenon, 5, 28042 Madrid, Spain fespaglobalprintexpo.com APRIL 28-30, 2020 Sign & Digital UK 2020 Hall 1, The NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT signuk.com JUNE 16-26, 2020 Drupa 2020 Messe Dusseldorf, Messeplatz, Stockumer Kirchstraße 61, 40474 Dusseldorf, Germany drupa.com OCTOBER 21-23, 2020 Printing United 2020 Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA printingunited.com EDITORIAL DIARY I n our January 2019 issue we asked Marshall Atkinson, our very own Mystic Meg, to consult his crystal ball and predict the currents and trends that would steer the industry over the year ahead. In what seems like a blink of the eye we’re now approaching the end of 2019. So, how did he do? You tell us... Strong market Marshall kicked off on a positive note, claiming there would be plenty of work for all in a bouyant market. On the whole, we’ve received positive reports from Images readers throughout the year, albeit with the suggestion of a slow down in the third quarter as growing anxiety around the ‘B-word’ and general election impacted business and consumer confidence. How did things pan out for you: record sales, steady order books or a tightening of your belt? Recruitment Staffing was one of Marshall’s hot topics at the beginning of the year, with many Images readers agreeing that recruiting quality staff was a major challenge. Has the current high level of employment affected your business? What did you do to attract new employees of the calibre required? Investing in staff Marshall also stressed the importance of investing in current members of staff, citing training as a key priority in 2019. This was backed by the results of a survey on the Images website which asked respondents whether they would pay for staff training. Just over 75% said ‘yes’, slightly under 15% said ‘no’ and 10% said ‘maybe’. Was staff training a priority for you and, if so, has it paid off? Data is still king Modern businesses are increasingly reliant on, and driven by, data: Marshall advised that it would be essential for garment decorators to get their Google Analytics fired up and Facebook pixels in shape, and to properly understand the results, in order to move their businesses forward. Did you dive deeper into your metrics this year? Did it pay dividends? Creation of mastermind or buying groups Marshall touched on a growing trend for collaboration, with members of ‘mastermind’ groups leaning on and learning from each other in an industry that is developing so fast a single person or business working on their own would struggle to keep up. Did that resonate? Have you forged any new collaborations this year? Have you joined any new social media groups or forums? Is our industry becoming more collaborative? Sustainability Marshall predicted we would see “a bigger wave of sustainable products or ideas”. It’s hard to argue with that, as sustainability (linked with the climate emergency) is quite possibly the defining trend of the year, not just in our industry but worldwide. How has it impacted your business? Digital printing Marshall also stated that the continued growth of digital printing was inevitable. Was 2019 the year you took the plunge or switched more of your production to digital garment/textile printing? Answers on a postcard please (or email if you prefer!). In the meantime, from all of us at Images , we wish you a merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous (and sustainable) 2020. Jonathan Vince A question (or two) for you