Images Magazine Digital Edition July 2018

T h ey’re off to a good start; momentum is building. Could it really happen? Dare we imagine the unimaginable? Should England start dreaming? In short, could we be about to witness a goal-rush of orders for World Cup promotional merchandise and memorabilia after all? The low-key run-up to the World Cup has been widely commented on: the absence of the usual media frenzy and WAG-related revelations; the paucity of match-winning BBQ offers and product promotions; the half-hearted point of sale in the supermarkets; and only the occasional sighting of a St George’s flag fluttering from a car or bedroom window. Is the humdrum build-up to the tournament linked to political tensions with Russia? Has the public finally developed realistic expectations about its team’s chances? Do people have more pressing matters to worry about – the inter- and cross-party squabbling over the Brexit negotiations, perhaps? Whatever the reason, the general level of interest in this summer’s World Cup has been low-key by any standards. That could all change, and change rapidly, if Harry Kane keeps scoring and England chart a course through to the later rounds. The feel-good factor will kick in, along with the promo and merchandising opportunities. It’ll be too late to look beyond Russia to China and the Far East to supply the products to meet this demand; the ball will be passed directly to domestic suppliers – to you. Are you ready? Are you prepared? Can you respond instantly? Do you have the extra capacity to handle a glut of orders at this time? Do you have an agreement with a contract print-provider to handle any work you can’t juggle in-house? If the weather continues to heat up along with your World Cup orders, then DTG printshops will need to maintain extra close control over the production environment. Fortunately, Brother’s Heiner Rupperath shares some timely advice to help you do precisely that in this month’s DTG helpdesk column (page 22). If you’re an owner of a wide format digital printer you’ll be well-placed to meet the demand for a diverse variety of World Cup merch, as Brett Platt of Hybrid Services explains, on page 40. You’ll also want to investigate the Aglika range of textile blanks for dye sub printing, which will allow you to create everything from Three Lions towels, blankets and scarves, to Jamie Vardy deck chairs, Kyle Walker cushions and – for the ultimate in World Cup memorabilia – Ashley Young bed linen… All using your existing equipment. Simon Lymn, of the brand’s new UK distributors i-Sub, shows you how and spells out the sales opportunities (and profit margins) offered by the Aglika products, on page 43. Of course, by the time you read this the wheels could have fallen off the England team bus and Gareth Southgate and his men might be headed back to Heathrow, leaving all thoughts of those lucrative merch sales back east. But if the England team does defy all expectations and lines up in Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium on 15 July, well… Jonathan Vince A last minute winner? 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 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. JULY 2018 | VOL.27 NO.7 ST EDITORIAL www.images-magazine.com JULY 2018 images 05 JULY 12, 2018 Print & Stitch - Leeds Village Hotel Leeds South, Capitol Blvd, Tingley, Morley, Leeds LS27 0TS printandstitch.org JULY 18-19, 2018 Newtech - Newcastle Marriott MetroCentre, Marconi Way, MetroCentre, Gateshead, Newcastle NE11 9XF coactiveevents.com JULY 22-24, 2018 Pure London Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London W14 8UX www.purelondon.com AUGUST 9-11, 2018 A - Z of Screen Printing Dalesway Print Technology, Eden House, Calf Hall Road, Barnoldswick BB18 5PX dalesway.co.uk SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 Promotion & Branding Show - Leeds Thorpe Park Hotel, 1150 Century Way, Leeds LS15 8ZB promobranding.events SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 Print & Stitch - Manchester Village Hotel Manchester Ashton, Pamir Drive, Ashton-under-Lyne OL7 0LY printandstitch.org SEPTEMBER 18-20, 2018 The Print Show NEC, Hall 9, North Ave, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT theprintshow.co.uk SEPTEMBER 26-27, 2018 Newtech - Brentwood De Rougemont Manor, Great Warley St, Great Warley, Brentwood CM13 3JP coactiveevents.com OCTOBER 16, 2018 Promotion & Branding Show - Belfast The Hilton Belfast Templepatrick, Paradise Walk Castle Upton Estate, Templepatrick BT39 0DD promobranding.events OCTOBER 18-20, 2018 SGIA Expo 2018 Las Vegas Convention Center, 3150 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA sgia.org NOVEMBER 3-4, 2018 Euro Trophex 2018 Estrel Congress Center, Sonnenallee 225, Berlin 12057, Germany trophex.com DIARY