ImagesMagUK_Digital-Edition_January2018

www.images-magazine.com JANUARY 2018 images 101 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT improving their technology to rival the speed of a traditional automatic screen printing press. It is going to be very difficult to compete if you’re only using older tools and technology. I also see more start-up companies popping up to cater to the online fulfilment needs of Shopify and Big Cartel-type stores. Why handle the production end when they can outsource that and just concentrate on sales? The firms that make the fulfilment and production end easy for T-shirt selling platforms will see a big increase in their market share. Apparel To me, great selling apparel ideas are always 50% the design on the shirt and 50% the garment chosen. Apparel blank choices matter if you want to win. I don’t see the athleisure trend dying out anytime soon. Coloured heather apparel is still going strong as a go-to blank. Tri- blends will still be huge. Walking around I see more 16-30 year-olds wearing garment-dyed shirts than ever before. But what’s interesting is more apparel companies are solving the dye migration issue with polyester and changing their way of manufacturing the blanks. Look for more apparel manufacturers to use water- based print decorating techniques for their fabric patterns. This will allow printers to decorate their blanks with regular ink, and not have to worry about their white ink turning pink. Someone is finally listening! Also, better quality and more retail- oriented shirts will still stay strong. Consumers are wanting softer fabrics and different cuts. I think we’ll see more variety and interesting concepts with apparel blanks in this area. This is a great trend, as shops can drop bigger numbers to their bottom line by not using a basic shirt as the starting point for orders. We’ll see more retail-oriented patterns, textures and interesting concepts that will make creative designs sing even louder. Better quality and more retail- oriented shirts will stay strong Let me ask you a question: when you move away from the basic T-shirt, do you find better success in your shop? Sustainability Frankly it’s about time this industry adopted more mainstream sustainable methods for manufacturing and printing. I’m happy to see more movement in this area from all points of the compass. Apparel companies are using more organic and recycled materials in constructing their apparel lines. This is a good trend and resonates with buyers who want an eco-friendly garment. Ink companies are even getting in on the act, with Magna Colours promoting its line of eco-pigments. But more ink companies are looking at reducing crocking temperature points too. This is primarily aimed at the dye migration challenge, but an additional benefit is less energy usage in your shop. Remember, sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand. So, any marketing for companies that talks about efficiency, effectiveness or product performance can align with sustainability too. Being more efficient and using less of anything is sustainable. Tel: 01582 573980 sales@exiletech.co.uk www.exiletech.co.uk Styler NOWWITHEXTENDEDBED &MHMPINREGISTRATION OPTIONS... • Eliminates Film • Reduces Labour Costs • Automatic Registration • Reduces Exposure Times • Faster Press Setup • Improved Quality A low cost Direct to Screen solution that prints digital images directly onto coated screens. After imaging the screen is ready for immediate exposure, with no need for glass or vacuum. Styler FREE FREE yourself from the chore of using Film Positives with the new Direct to Screen System. FREE FREES tyler includes SCREENMAKER RIP for processing colour separations quickly and easily directly from your chosen graphics applications. Computer to Screen From only £8,995.00

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzY5NjY3