If one area of the embroidered clothing decoration market has withstood the recent economic downturn, it is the industrial workwear sector. The industrial workwear sector has really held up well over recent months, surprising many within the workwear industry.
When looked at closely though it is not that surprising. Every worker in the UK needs workwear as a fact of working life. There are many reasons for this, not least of all the legal requirements that company's are forced to adhere to under the current health and safety regulations. This is not the only reason companies look upon workwear as a necessary cost. Many companies want their staff to feel valued and recognised as well as safe and having a workwear uniform that is embroidered with a company logo is a cost effective way of achieving this.
Industrial workwear covers the range of workwear garments that are worn in the most demanding work environments. As well as the positive effects embroidered workwear has on staff it also provides essential protection. One of the main advantages to decorated workwear is that it turns staff into walking advertisement boards for the company they are representing.
Workwear garment brands are well aware of how the sector is fast moving in terms of design and development and as such are constantly updating workwear product ranges to keep up with the latest fabric and design developments.
JKL Clothing are proud to stock one of the largest ranges of industrial workwear available in the UK, with all the major brands carried we are sure that the vast majority of companies will find the ideal industrial workwear garments to be used as a marketing tool once embroidered with company logo and as a valuable means of protecting their workforce and thus fulfilling their responsibilities in relation to the health and safety of its workforce.
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Thursday, 27 May 2010
RTY Workwear leads the way
RTY Workwear is proving so popular that JKL Clothing are planning to increase their stock levels to maintain the quick delivery times that customers have come to expect.
During the last year, workwear garment manufacturer RTY has been JKL Clothing second best selling workwear range. This is down to two main reasons. Firstly wearers of RTY Workwear are often pleasantly surprised by the quality of the clothing. Here at JKL Clothing we hear from many of our customers who report that their RTY garments are performing really well and delivering all the aspects they are looking for in workwear, namely comfort and robustness. The second reason for RTY's increased demand is price. Many of our customers are surprised that such reasonably priced workwear garments can deliver the quality that they are finding in RTY products.
The RTY workwear range is divided into 3 separate areas. Firstly there is the RTY High Visibility range. This range of workwear consists of all the Hi Vis products that RTY supply, including Hi Vis clothing such as T-shirt, Polo Shirts and Jackets along with other items such as backpacks and messenger bags. To compliment this range RTY have another safety range of garments, the RTY Enhanced Vis group of products, this includes enhanced visibility t-shirts, polo shirts and fleeces. Finally RTY have there own complete workwear collection of garments, ranging from trousers, jackets and polo shirts through to coveralls, overalls and vests. As you can see, whatever your workwear requirements RTY has the garments to meet your needs and with the prices and value at JKL Clothing were confident that we will soon have to replenish our RTY stock again.
During the last year, workwear garment manufacturer RTY has been JKL Clothing second best selling workwear range. This is down to two main reasons. Firstly wearers of RTY Workwear are often pleasantly surprised by the quality of the clothing. Here at JKL Clothing we hear from many of our customers who report that their RTY garments are performing really well and delivering all the aspects they are looking for in workwear, namely comfort and robustness. The second reason for RTY's increased demand is price. Many of our customers are surprised that such reasonably priced workwear garments can deliver the quality that they are finding in RTY products.
The RTY workwear range is divided into 3 separate areas. Firstly there is the RTY High Visibility range. This range of workwear consists of all the Hi Vis products that RTY supply, including Hi Vis clothing such as T-shirt, Polo Shirts and Jackets along with other items such as backpacks and messenger bags. To compliment this range RTY have another safety range of garments, the RTY Enhanced Vis group of products, this includes enhanced visibility t-shirts, polo shirts and fleeces. Finally RTY have there own complete workwear collection of garments, ranging from trousers, jackets and polo shirts through to coveralls, overalls and vests. As you can see, whatever your workwear requirements RTY has the garments to meet your needs and with the prices and value at JKL Clothing were confident that we will soon have to replenish our RTY stock again.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Fruit of the Loom - Apparel industries oldest company
There can't be many company's trading today that can trace their beginnings back as far as 1851, but that is exactly what the branded clothing product company Fruit of the Loom can do.
Fruit of the Loom started in Rhode Island, America when Robert Knight, a textile mill owner and a friend, Rufus Skeel who owned a small shop selling cloth got together and formed one of the first branded clothing companies in America. Rufus Skeel's daughter had painted pictures of apples and applied them to cloth. It was this image that Rudus Steel decided to use for his labels and this apple can still be seen today on the Fruit of the Loom logo. In 1871 Robert Knight applied for and obtained a patent. He was issued the patent number 418 for the brand Fruit of the Loom.
Since the late 1800's, Fruit of the Loom has lead a varied and at times unstable life. This culminated as recently as 1999 when Fruit of the Loom filed for protected bankruptcy, following losses of $576.2 million.
The company was bought from bankruptcy by Berkshire Hathaway Corporation in January 2002. A more recent problem for Fruit of the Loom was the boycott by over 100 universities in 2009 when it emerged that Fruit of the Loom were allegedly violating workers rights in Honduras, where it is the countries largest employer. This lead to significant losses in profit.
Fruit of the Loom is probably best known for its printable garments, particularly it's t-shirts. JKL Clothing has been using the Fruit of the Loom Valueweight t-shirts in almost all of its t-shirt printing production runs for some time. Vicky Clow (JKL Clothing's, artwork and production manager) comments "the Fruit of the Loom Valueweight t-shirt ticks all the boxes our customers require, it is a good quality garment at a reasonable price and from a printers point of view provides a great surface on which to screen print"
To view the Fruit of the Loom t-shirt range and see what JKL Clothing can produce from their t-shirt printing facility, visit the JKL Clothing website at www.jklclothing.co.uk
Fruit of the Loom started in Rhode Island, America when Robert Knight, a textile mill owner and a friend, Rufus Skeel who owned a small shop selling cloth got together and formed one of the first branded clothing companies in America. Rufus Skeel's daughter had painted pictures of apples and applied them to cloth. It was this image that Rudus Steel decided to use for his labels and this apple can still be seen today on the Fruit of the Loom logo. In 1871 Robert Knight applied for and obtained a patent. He was issued the patent number 418 for the brand Fruit of the Loom.
Since the late 1800's, Fruit of the Loom has lead a varied and at times unstable life. This culminated as recently as 1999 when Fruit of the Loom filed for protected bankruptcy, following losses of $576.2 million.
The company was bought from bankruptcy by Berkshire Hathaway Corporation in January 2002. A more recent problem for Fruit of the Loom was the boycott by over 100 universities in 2009 when it emerged that Fruit of the Loom were allegedly violating workers rights in Honduras, where it is the countries largest employer. This lead to significant losses in profit.
Fruit of the Loom is probably best known for its printable garments, particularly it's t-shirts. JKL Clothing has been using the Fruit of the Loom Valueweight t-shirts in almost all of its t-shirt printing production runs for some time. Vicky Clow (JKL Clothing's, artwork and production manager) comments "the Fruit of the Loom Valueweight t-shirt ticks all the boxes our customers require, it is a good quality garment at a reasonable price and from a printers point of view provides a great surface on which to screen print"
To view the Fruit of the Loom t-shirt range and see what JKL Clothing can produce from their t-shirt printing facility, visit the JKL Clothing website at www.jklclothing.co.uk
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Free Screen set up charge when ordering printed garments
JKL Clothing continue to offer free set up charges for all printing when your order for printed garments exceeds 100. We are the only printed garments company within our sector that offers free screen set ups on as low a quantity as 100.
So why do many companies charge for the setting up of screens for printing.? Put simply there is work involved, so therefore a charge is payable. In order to create a screen from which you are able to print you firstly have to separate the colours of the design and create individual screens for each colour in the design. This process obviously takes time. JKL Clothing do however realise how prohibitive a one off screen set up charge can be, which is why we have waived it for orders of 100 or more. Our philosophy is simple, once we have produced a customers screen, that screen is then saved for a period of 12 months so that should you re order within that period and require the same artwork design, no set up charge is payable on any quantity ordered, providing the minimum order quantity of 20 is reached. It is hoped that once you have seen the quality of our printing and experienced our superior customer service you will return time and time again.
JKL Clothing also appreciate the current economic climate and the difficulties faced by both business's and individuals alike. It is for this reason that we will do all we can to ensure we continue to provide value and service to all our customers, big and small.
So next time you are looking for a quality t-shirt printing company remember that JKL Clothing are committed to making printed garments as cost effective as possible.
So why do many companies charge for the setting up of screens for printing.? Put simply there is work involved, so therefore a charge is payable. In order to create a screen from which you are able to print you firstly have to separate the colours of the design and create individual screens for each colour in the design. This process obviously takes time. JKL Clothing do however realise how prohibitive a one off screen set up charge can be, which is why we have waived it for orders of 100 or more. Our philosophy is simple, once we have produced a customers screen, that screen is then saved for a period of 12 months so that should you re order within that period and require the same artwork design, no set up charge is payable on any quantity ordered, providing the minimum order quantity of 20 is reached. It is hoped that once you have seen the quality of our printing and experienced our superior customer service you will return time and time again.
JKL Clothing also appreciate the current economic climate and the difficulties faced by both business's and individuals alike. It is for this reason that we will do all we can to ensure we continue to provide value and service to all our customers, big and small.
So next time you are looking for a quality t-shirt printing company remember that JKL Clothing are committed to making printed garments as cost effective as possible.
Embroidered Clothing prices held for 2nd year running
JKL Clothing are pleased to announce that embroidery prices are to remain static for the second year in a row.
Embroidered clothing is one of JKL Clothing's main areas of expertise alongside screen printing and workwear supply. During the recent economic downturn we have worked alongside our suppliers and customers alike to ensure we continue to provide the best possible deal without compromising our commitment to superior customer service. We constantly monitor the competition and are confident we continue to out perform our contemporaries in terms of product quality and value for money.
One of the reasons that we are able to maintain our low embroidery prices is that we invested in market leading Barudan embroidery machines that provide us with excellent efficiency and minimum downtime, resulting in improved performance from our embroidery department.
Jeff Harris, JKL Clothing's MD recently said "we are all too well aware of the economic difficulties faced by our customers, by refraining from increasing our embroidery prices for a second year we are doing all we can to maintain our position as market leaders and help our loyal customers during what can only be described as difficult market conditions"
Embroidered clothing is one of JKL Clothing's main areas of expertise alongside screen printing and workwear supply. During the recent economic downturn we have worked alongside our suppliers and customers alike to ensure we continue to provide the best possible deal without compromising our commitment to superior customer service. We constantly monitor the competition and are confident we continue to out perform our contemporaries in terms of product quality and value for money.
One of the reasons that we are able to maintain our low embroidery prices is that we invested in market leading Barudan embroidery machines that provide us with excellent efficiency and minimum downtime, resulting in improved performance from our embroidery department.
Jeff Harris, JKL Clothing's MD recently said "we are all too well aware of the economic difficulties faced by our customers, by refraining from increasing our embroidery prices for a second year we are doing all we can to maintain our position as market leaders and help our loyal customers during what can only be described as difficult market conditions"
Monday, 10 May 2010
JKL Clothing add to Portwest Workwear Range
JKL Clothing, the online workwear and PPE website announces that they are to increase the number of Portwest workwear garments available on their site. JKL Clothing currently stock over 120 Portwest workwear lines. This is to be increased to around 200 within the next month, allowing their customers more choice from the Portwest range.
The garments that will be available include workwear clothing items such as trousers, jackets and hi vis clothing. Alongside this will be an increase in the number of PPE garments available including further choices in gloves and protective headwear.
Jeff Harris, JKL ClothingMD comments “the Portwest range has been a great success and we intend to provide our customers with as much choice as possible as we see the Portwest brand growing over the coming months”
The garments that will be available include workwear clothing items such as trousers, jackets and hi vis clothing. Alongside this will be an increase in the number of PPE garments available including further choices in gloves and protective headwear.
Jeff Harris, JKL ClothingMD comments “the Portwest range has been a great success and we intend to provide our customers with as much choice as possible as we see the Portwest brand growing over the coming months”
Thursday, 6 May 2010
JKL Clothing to publish a guide to t-shirt printing
JKL Clothing announces plans to publish a guide to t-shirt screen printing.
Over the coming weeks JKL Clothing will be publishing an in depth guide to screen printing onto t-shirts and other garments. To be published on the JKL Clothing website blog and the clothing blog, JKL Clothing aim to provide a detailed step by step guide on how to improve the quality of your screen printing resulting in a superior print and finish.
Among the aspects of screen printing that will be covered are, screen tension, choice of garment, squeegee pressure, drying and much more. Follow the guide, which will be published weekly and learn how to produce high quality prints time after time.
Whether you are an experienced screen printer or a novice trying screen printing for the first time, the many hints and tips are sure to provide you with the extra knowledge to allow you to improve the quality of your printing and steal a march on your competitors. Someone once said “knowledge is power”, well with the information that you will gain from the JKL Clothing t-shirt printing guide you are sure to increase your printing ability and set yourself out from the crowd.
So be sure to bookmark the JKL Clothing website and look out for the free guide published on the blog. It’s free, and who knows could be the difference between printing success and failure.
Over the coming weeks JKL Clothing will be publishing an in depth guide to screen printing onto t-shirts and other garments. To be published on the JKL Clothing website blog and the clothing blog, JKL Clothing aim to provide a detailed step by step guide on how to improve the quality of your screen printing resulting in a superior print and finish.
Among the aspects of screen printing that will be covered are, screen tension, choice of garment, squeegee pressure, drying and much more. Follow the guide, which will be published weekly and learn how to produce high quality prints time after time.
Whether you are an experienced screen printer or a novice trying screen printing for the first time, the many hints and tips are sure to provide you with the extra knowledge to allow you to improve the quality of your printing and steal a march on your competitors. Someone once said “knowledge is power”, well with the information that you will gain from the JKL Clothing t-shirt printing guide you are sure to increase your printing ability and set yourself out from the crowd.
So be sure to bookmark the JKL Clothing website and look out for the free guide published on the blog. It’s free, and who knows could be the difference between printing success and failure.
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
What are the variables that make up the quality of a screen printed t-shirt?
There are many important factors that go to make up how well a screen printed t-shirt will turn out once the finished garment leaves the production line.
In this article I am going to look at just a few of these variables and will be looking to complete the guide in articles that I publish over the next few weeks.
So, if you want to improve the quality of your t-shirt printing then follow this guide over the coming weeks and hopefully you will be able to pick up a few hints and tips that will create a garment screen printing process that leads to a printed t-shirt you can be proud of.
Screen tension – Screens need to be of the same tension as each other. This way you will get consistency across the whole print run. If you use one screen that has a very low tension it may lead to the ink been laid down unevenly and not providing good coverage. Your screens should therefore have sufficient tension and importantly, have the same tension as the other screens been used on that run.
Squeegee pressure and squeegee stroke time - The pressure on the squeegee should be constant throughout the stroke. This again will lead to an even coverage of ink onto the t-shirt. If the pressure is not consistent throughout the print run you will not get the same amount of ink applied to each t-shirt, this will lead to inconsistencies throughout the run. As with squeegee pressure, the time of the stroke must also be consistent in order to produce a consistent finished printed t-shirt.
Squeegee maintenance – Make sure that the squeegee blade is level and replaced when it loses its sharp edge. By ensuring your squeegee blade is fit for the job, you are again taking away a variable that can lead to a disappointing printing result.
These are my first 3 tips for increased success in t-shirt printing. If you are reading this article and thinking this is something that may be best left to a professional t-shirt printing company then why not visit JKL Clothing’s website and allow us to show you how we can take your image or design and screen print it onto a garment of your choice.
In this article I am going to look at just a few of these variables and will be looking to complete the guide in articles that I publish over the next few weeks.
So, if you want to improve the quality of your t-shirt printing then follow this guide over the coming weeks and hopefully you will be able to pick up a few hints and tips that will create a garment screen printing process that leads to a printed t-shirt you can be proud of.
Screen tension – Screens need to be of the same tension as each other. This way you will get consistency across the whole print run. If you use one screen that has a very low tension it may lead to the ink been laid down unevenly and not providing good coverage. Your screens should therefore have sufficient tension and importantly, have the same tension as the other screens been used on that run.
Squeegee pressure and squeegee stroke time - The pressure on the squeegee should be constant throughout the stroke. This again will lead to an even coverage of ink onto the t-shirt. If the pressure is not consistent throughout the print run you will not get the same amount of ink applied to each t-shirt, this will lead to inconsistencies throughout the run. As with squeegee pressure, the time of the stroke must also be consistent in order to produce a consistent finished printed t-shirt.
Squeegee maintenance – Make sure that the squeegee blade is level and replaced when it loses its sharp edge. By ensuring your squeegee blade is fit for the job, you are again taking away a variable that can lead to a disappointing printing result.
These are my first 3 tips for increased success in t-shirt printing. If you are reading this article and thinking this is something that may be best left to a professional t-shirt printing company then why not visit JKL Clothing’s website and allow us to show you how we can take your image or design and screen print it onto a garment of your choice.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Class Workwear for the working class.
One area of the garment decoration industry that appears to have stood up well during the current economic downturn is the workwear sector. Whatever is happening in the outside world of commerce one thing remains constant and that is the fact that every employed person in our population needs clothing to work in. Step forward the countries workwear manufacture and supply industry.
Businesses ranging in size from micro through to blue chip have for some time realised and appreciated the value of decorated workwear and the relatively cheap marketing benefits it brings.
Added to this the feel good factor that workers gain from quality workwear garments and you soon begin to see the reasons behind the durability of the workwear sector during the current economic climate.
The main players within the workwear industry have for some time realised the importance of this type of clothing to their business plans. This would explain the investment in development of new styles and fabrics and the increasing range of garments available to the market. The current trends also include well known retail brands entering the market. This quite clearly indicates the strength of the workwear sector.
At JKL Clothing the vast majority of workwear garments supplied are decorated using embroidery. Indeed embroidered clothing accounts for approximately 75% of all workwear garments sold, again showing the added value of advertising on workwear.
Businesses ranging in size from micro through to blue chip have for some time realised and appreciated the value of decorated workwear and the relatively cheap marketing benefits it brings.
Added to this the feel good factor that workers gain from quality workwear garments and you soon begin to see the reasons behind the durability of the workwear sector during the current economic climate.
The main players within the workwear industry have for some time realised the importance of this type of clothing to their business plans. This would explain the investment in development of new styles and fabrics and the increasing range of garments available to the market. The current trends also include well known retail brands entering the market. This quite clearly indicates the strength of the workwear sector.
At JKL Clothing the vast majority of workwear garments supplied are decorated using embroidery. Indeed embroidered clothing accounts for approximately 75% of all workwear garments sold, again showing the added value of advertising on workwear.
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Class Workwear for the working class.
One area of the garment decoration industry that appears to have stood up well during the current economic downturn is the workwear sector. Whatever is happening in the outside world of commerce one thing remains constant and that is the fact that every employed person in our population needs clothing to work in. Step forward the countries workwear manufacture and supply industry.
Businesses ranging in size from micro through to blue chip have for some time realised and appreciated the value of decorated workwear and the relatively cheap marketing benefits it brings.
Added to this the feel good factor that workers gain from quality workwear garments and you soon begin to see the reasons behind the durability of the workwear sector during the current economic climate.
The main players within the workwear industry have for some time realised the importance of this type of clothing to their business plans. This would explain the investment in development of new styles and fabrics and the increasing range of garments available to the market. The current trends also include well known retail brands entering the market. This quite clearly indicates the strength of the workwear sector.
At JKL Clothing the vast majority of workwear garments supplied are decorated using embroidery. Indeed embroidered clothing accounts for approximately 75% of all workwear garments sold, again showing the added value of advertising on workwear.
Businesses ranging in size from micro through to blue chip have for some time realised and appreciated the value of decorated workwear and the relatively cheap marketing benefits it brings.
Added to this the feel good factor that workers gain from quality workwear garments and you soon begin to see the reasons behind the durability of the workwear sector during the current economic climate.
The main players within the workwear industry have for some time realised the importance of this type of clothing to their business plans. This would explain the investment in development of new styles and fabrics and the increasing range of garments available to the market. The current trends also include well known retail brands entering the market. This quite clearly indicates the strength of the workwear sector.
At JKL Clothing the vast majority of workwear garments supplied are decorated using embroidery. Indeed embroidered clothing accounts for approximately 75% of all workwear garments sold, again showing the added value of advertising on workwear.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
T-Shirt Printing and Printwear and Promotion
This weeks Printwear and Promotion show at Birminghams NEC Arena was a resounding success according to all the exhibitors. Whilst the official visitor figures have yet to be released the general feeling among both exhibitors and visitors alike was that the show was certainly a lot busier than last year especially on the Sunday when many visitors used their own time to see the show rather than taking time away from their business during Monday or Tuesday.
As always one of the main exhibiting groups was the screen print industry including machine manufacturers and suppliers such as M&R.
These are encouraging times for T-shirt printing industry. Here at JKL Clothing we have seen enquiries and orders significantly up on the same period last year and we are also receiving enquiries from abroad where perhaps the weather is not as big an issue as in this country.
JKL Clothing have recently produced printed t-shirts for the Army Benevolent fund. This was an order for 3000 garments with a two colour screen print to both the front and rear. Charities have been one section of the promotional market that we have targeted in recent months. We feel that printed t-shirts are an ideal, cost effective way for charities to promote themselves and a such offer attractive discounts to attract orders.
If the optimism at Printwear and Promotion is anything to go by, the promotional clothing industry can look forward to a successful 2010, although JKL Clothing like many business's in our industry are not taking anything for granted and will be continuing to offer an excellent printed garment with a superior level of service.
As always one of the main exhibiting groups was the screen print industry including machine manufacturers and suppliers such as M&R.
These are encouraging times for T-shirt printing industry. Here at JKL Clothing we have seen enquiries and orders significantly up on the same period last year and we are also receiving enquiries from abroad where perhaps the weather is not as big an issue as in this country.
JKL Clothing have recently produced printed t-shirts for the Army Benevolent fund. This was an order for 3000 garments with a two colour screen print to both the front and rear. Charities have been one section of the promotional market that we have targeted in recent months. We feel that printed t-shirts are an ideal, cost effective way for charities to promote themselves and a such offer attractive discounts to attract orders.
If the optimism at Printwear and Promotion is anything to go by, the promotional clothing industry can look forward to a successful 2010, although JKL Clothing like many business's in our industry are not taking anything for granted and will be continuing to offer an excellent printed garment with a superior level of service.
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Printwear and Promotion 2010
Having attended the 2010 Printwear and Promotion show at Birminghams NEC today I have decided to write about it on our blogg. I have been attending this show for 10 years now and have not seen it change much at all in that time. Exhibitors range from embroidery machine manufacturers to promotional badge makers. There is a stage that has fashion shows throughout the day and an area where workshops are run. I attended one about on line marketing.
I assume that the show is aimed at business owners like myself so that we can meet suppliers, see new products, and get ideas on how to grow our business. The show has been a useful event for JKL Clothing over the last decade but I am not sure what benefit it can provide to an established business moving forward. Yes, it is good to meet up with suppliers, but our main business partners are in constant touch with us anyway and I would hope, keeping us up to date with what is happening within our industry.
All the main leisure and promotional suppliers are there, although one main player has decided to have an in house annual show and not exhibit at the Printwear and Promotion event. Talking to people at the show, both exhibitors and visitors and you did get an optimistic view of our industry. Many of the exhibitors are already reporting a positive start to 2010 and you can sense the excitement they have for the new ranges and products they are promoting. So if I gained nothing else from today it certainly left me feeling very optimistic for the year ahead. Indeed JKL Clothing have already seen a positive outlook during the first 2 months of 2010. One area that has surprised us all is the number of orders and enquiries for t-shirt printing. January and February are traditionally quiet months for printed t-shirts but at JKL Clothing we have seen twice as many enquiries as for the same period in 2009. This was one of the reasons for my visit to Printwear and Promotion, as I wanted to source other screen print industry suppliers.
Our t-shirt printing department is already looking forward to 2010 and one of the main reasons is that we are about to launch an on line design your own printed t-shirt facility. Customers will be able to log onto JKL Clothing limited navigate to the t-shirt printing department and then select a garment from our extensive range before uploading their artwork or typing in the text required for the print. They will then be able to progress through to our payment gateway and pay for their order ensuring it is put straight into production.
All things considered I was pleased to attend the Printwear and Promotion Show today and certainly came away feeling both optimistic and excited about our industry and the year ahead.
I assume that the show is aimed at business owners like myself so that we can meet suppliers, see new products, and get ideas on how to grow our business. The show has been a useful event for JKL Clothing over the last decade but I am not sure what benefit it can provide to an established business moving forward. Yes, it is good to meet up with suppliers, but our main business partners are in constant touch with us anyway and I would hope, keeping us up to date with what is happening within our industry.
All the main leisure and promotional suppliers are there, although one main player has decided to have an in house annual show and not exhibit at the Printwear and Promotion event. Talking to people at the show, both exhibitors and visitors and you did get an optimistic view of our industry. Many of the exhibitors are already reporting a positive start to 2010 and you can sense the excitement they have for the new ranges and products they are promoting. So if I gained nothing else from today it certainly left me feeling very optimistic for the year ahead. Indeed JKL Clothing have already seen a positive outlook during the first 2 months of 2010. One area that has surprised us all is the number of orders and enquiries for t-shirt printing. January and February are traditionally quiet months for printed t-shirts but at JKL Clothing we have seen twice as many enquiries as for the same period in 2009. This was one of the reasons for my visit to Printwear and Promotion, as I wanted to source other screen print industry suppliers.
Our t-shirt printing department is already looking forward to 2010 and one of the main reasons is that we are about to launch an on line design your own printed t-shirt facility. Customers will be able to log onto JKL Clothing limited navigate to the t-shirt printing department and then select a garment from our extensive range before uploading their artwork or typing in the text required for the print. They will then be able to progress through to our payment gateway and pay for their order ensuring it is put straight into production.
All things considered I was pleased to attend the Printwear and Promotion Show today and certainly came away feeling both optimistic and excited about our industry and the year ahead.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Workwear - What are the legal requirements?
At a time when every other advert on television is asking you if you had an accident and would you like to make a claim, what role does workwear have to play in employers discharging their responsibility in the workplace? The "where there's blame there's a claim" culture has certainly focused the minds of employers during recent times. Many companies now take workwear and PPE (personal protective equipment), such as hi vis clothing very seriously. They understand the importance of making sure all employees are as safe as possible in the workplace and this includes ensuring they are dressed appropriately for the tasks they are required to perform.
One area that is of utmost concern is the possible transference of infections by uniform. The government, through the department of health have produced a guidance document entitled "Uniforms and Workwear - An evidence base for developing local policy" This policy is aimed mainly at the NHS but could conceivably cover a number of workplaces. In the document it sets out the legal framework which is applicable, this includes the health and safety at work act 1974 and the control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002. It then proceeds to draw conclusion for employers based around the working group, expert opinion, literature reviews and scientific study.
The conclusion for employers includes, that the public believe there is a risk and that a ten minute wash at 60 degrees is sufficient to remove most micro-organisms. This is one of the reasons that many workwear garments are capable of been washed at higher temperatures of up to 60 degrees. JKL Clothing has for some years stocked many workwear garments that can be washed at higher temperatures. This includes workwear from Kustom Kit, Portwest, Dickies and RTY to name but a few. Add to this the fact that all JKL Clothings workwear range can be either embroidered or printed and we believe that not only will you be protecting your workforce through providing the correct standard of garment but you will also be able to maintain the smart, professional appearance that all employers are looking for.
One area that is of utmost concern is the possible transference of infections by uniform. The government, through the department of health have produced a guidance document entitled "Uniforms and Workwear - An evidence base for developing local policy" This policy is aimed mainly at the NHS but could conceivably cover a number of workplaces. In the document it sets out the legal framework which is applicable, this includes the health and safety at work act 1974 and the control of substances hazardous to health regulations 2002. It then proceeds to draw conclusion for employers based around the working group, expert opinion, literature reviews and scientific study.
The conclusion for employers includes, that the public believe there is a risk and that a ten minute wash at 60 degrees is sufficient to remove most micro-organisms. This is one of the reasons that many workwear garments are capable of been washed at higher temperatures of up to 60 degrees. JKL Clothing has for some years stocked many workwear garments that can be washed at higher temperatures. This includes workwear from Kustom Kit, Portwest, Dickies and RTY to name but a few. Add to this the fact that all JKL Clothings workwear range can be either embroidered or printed and we believe that not only will you be protecting your workforce through providing the correct standard of garment but you will also be able to maintain the smart, professional appearance that all employers are looking for.
Monday, 15 February 2010
Dickies workwear now available from JKL Clothing Limited
Premium workwear brand Dickies is now available from JKL Clothing. As one of the UK's leading Internet workwear suppliers, JKL Clothing are always on the look out for quality workwear brands to add to our ever growing collection. Dickies falls perfectly into a range of workwear brands that provide our customers with both quality and choice.
So why Dickies? and what does the brand have to offer JKL Clothing's customers.
Founded in 1922 Dickies workwear have provided work clothing that is both comfortable and practical to a wide and varied range of industries. It is this depth of experience that means you are sure to purchase a garment that is durable, well constructed and above all fit for the many tasks that you, the wearer, will perform whilst wearing a Dickies garment.
One of the many areas we look at when deciding whether or not to stock a brand is the choice of garments available. In Dickies we believe you will never be short of choice when selecting workwear. With a garment choice from jackets and trousers to knee pads and t-shirts our customers are sure to find a complete workwear uniform.
Another advantage to the Dickies range if the ease with which we are able to embroider the garments. Our customers can have a company logo embroidered onto their garment for that added unique quality that puts them above their competitors.
In short we are sure our customers will appreciate the Dickies workwear garments that we have added to our website.
So why Dickies? and what does the brand have to offer JKL Clothing's customers.
Founded in 1922 Dickies workwear have provided work clothing that is both comfortable and practical to a wide and varied range of industries. It is this depth of experience that means you are sure to purchase a garment that is durable, well constructed and above all fit for the many tasks that you, the wearer, will perform whilst wearing a Dickies garment.
One of the many areas we look at when deciding whether or not to stock a brand is the choice of garments available. In Dickies we believe you will never be short of choice when selecting workwear. With a garment choice from jackets and trousers to knee pads and t-shirts our customers are sure to find a complete workwear uniform.
Another advantage to the Dickies range if the ease with which we are able to embroider the garments. Our customers can have a company logo embroidered onto their garment for that added unique quality that puts them above their competitors.
In short we are sure our customers will appreciate the Dickies workwear garments that we have added to our website.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Working Hours within the UK
Do you work too many hours? Many of us are starting to feel that we are spending more and more time at work and less at home with our families. As the economic downturn continues companies are expecting more and more from their workforce in order to maintain profitability and survive the current recession. This has lead to an increased pressure on employees to to put in the extra effort and time, often for no extra pay, because it will help their employer through this difficult period and thus secure the employees position at a time when redundancies are common place.
Before we decide if we are in fact working above and beyond the statutory working hours, we first of all need to define work. This is the definition as taken from the Direct.gov website;
As well as carrying out your normal duties, your working week also includes;
Job related training
Job related travelling time, for example if you are a sales rep
Working lunches, for example business lunches
Time spent working abroad, if you work for a UK based company
Paid and some unpaid overtime
Time spent "on call"at the workplace
So the above is all classed as work. The following then for clarity is what is not classed as work. Again this is taken from the Direct.gov website;
Your working week does not include;
Breaks when no work is done, such as lunch breaks
Normal travel time to and from work
Time when you are on call away from the workplace
Evening and day release classes, not related to work
Travelling outside of normal working hours
Unpaid overtime that you have volunteered for, for example staying late to finish something off
Paid or unpaid holiday
The definition as directed by law is that you should not have to work more than 48 hours a week on average, unless you choose to, or work in a sector with its own special rules. Your normal working hours should be set out in your contract of employment or written statement of employment particulars.
Why then are we working such long hours when the directive limits the working week to 48hrs. For most of us I would say that it is within our nature to work hard. Many of us have a sense of loyalty to our employer and feel that we do not want to let the team down.
At JKL Clothing, we work a 40 hour week. Our offices are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. During this time we strive to meet all the needs of our customers by ensuring orders are dispatched on time and we communicate information to clients when required. I hope that we can survive and grow by maintaining the current working hours and I certainly have no intention of asking any of JKL Clothing's employees to work over and above the 40 hours for no extra reward. If however our customers tell us we need to be open for longer, then this is something we must look at and try to cater for.
We have in recent months seen an increase in workwear enquiries that fall outside our current opening times. This is due to the types of people who purchase workwear and Hi Vis Clothing also working the core hours of 9 to 5 and then looking at a workwear clothing purchase after this time. We are therefore currently looking at extending our opening times to 6pm and possibly opening on Saturday morning.
This is all for the future. In the meantime we will continue to operate within a 40 hour week so that the staff at JKL Clothing can both work hard and also spend time playing hard with friends and family.
Before we decide if we are in fact working above and beyond the statutory working hours, we first of all need to define work. This is the definition as taken from the Direct.gov website;
As well as carrying out your normal duties, your working week also includes;
Job related training
Job related travelling time, for example if you are a sales rep
Working lunches, for example business lunches
Time spent working abroad, if you work for a UK based company
Paid and some unpaid overtime
Time spent "on call"at the workplace
So the above is all classed as work. The following then for clarity is what is not classed as work. Again this is taken from the Direct.gov website;
Your working week does not include;
Breaks when no work is done, such as lunch breaks
Normal travel time to and from work
Time when you are on call away from the workplace
Evening and day release classes, not related to work
Travelling outside of normal working hours
Unpaid overtime that you have volunteered for, for example staying late to finish something off
Paid or unpaid holiday
The definition as directed by law is that you should not have to work more than 48 hours a week on average, unless you choose to, or work in a sector with its own special rules. Your normal working hours should be set out in your contract of employment or written statement of employment particulars.
Why then are we working such long hours when the directive limits the working week to 48hrs. For most of us I would say that it is within our nature to work hard. Many of us have a sense of loyalty to our employer and feel that we do not want to let the team down.
At JKL Clothing, we work a 40 hour week. Our offices are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. During this time we strive to meet all the needs of our customers by ensuring orders are dispatched on time and we communicate information to clients when required. I hope that we can survive and grow by maintaining the current working hours and I certainly have no intention of asking any of JKL Clothing's employees to work over and above the 40 hours for no extra reward. If however our customers tell us we need to be open for longer, then this is something we must look at and try to cater for.
We have in recent months seen an increase in workwear enquiries that fall outside our current opening times. This is due to the types of people who purchase workwear and Hi Vis Clothing also working the core hours of 9 to 5 and then looking at a workwear clothing purchase after this time. We are therefore currently looking at extending our opening times to 6pm and possibly opening on Saturday morning.
This is all for the future. In the meantime we will continue to operate within a 40 hour week so that the staff at JKL Clothing can both work hard and also spend time playing hard with friends and family.
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
So Yesterday saw the end of for what many business's have described as the worst period of trading in their history as we were told that we are officially out of recession with the UK economy growing by a mammoth 0.1%. Although we are also warned at the same time that we could experience another downturn in the not too distant future, referred to as a double dip! On a brighter note, the IMF (International Monetary Fund) now predicts that the UK economy will grow by 1.3% in 2010. Well we have had enough predictions over the last two years to last a lifetime and the one prediction that we could all have done with is the news that we were about to enter recession in the first place and a warning to put measures in place to deal with it.
So how has the recession impacted on our industry and what does 2010 really hold in store for us. Looking at January 2010 compared to January 2009 there are certainly signs of hope for the coming year. JKL Clothing have experienced a 27% increase in enquiries and a 30% increase in visitor numbers to our website. These figures are masked by the fact that JKL Clothing invested heavily in our marketing campaigns during the recent downturn and these investments are now beginning to bear fruit. Even so, such an increase certainly raises our hopes for the future.
One of the most noticeable positives is the demand for t-shirt printing at a time of year when this area of our business tends to be very quiet indeed. So how can this be explained? A statistical blip, would be one reason that may spring to mind, but with a positive mindset lets look at the other possibilities. Investment that is done thoughtfully should always produce a positive return given time and JKL Clothing have certainly taken the view that investment in a downturn can stabilise a business and provide it with the best chance of success when market conditions improve. But back to the main theme of this blog, the movement out of recession. JKL Clothing firmly believe that we can all talk ourselves into the doom and gloom of an economic downturn and by continuing this theme of conversation can stay there. So the message from JKL Clothing is that whilst market conditions remain difficult we are seeing an upward trend shown positively in the business done in t-shirt printing and the outlook is certainly brighter then this time last year.
So how has the recession impacted on our industry and what does 2010 really hold in store for us. Looking at January 2010 compared to January 2009 there are certainly signs of hope for the coming year. JKL Clothing have experienced a 27% increase in enquiries and a 30% increase in visitor numbers to our website. These figures are masked by the fact that JKL Clothing invested heavily in our marketing campaigns during the recent downturn and these investments are now beginning to bear fruit. Even so, such an increase certainly raises our hopes for the future.
One of the most noticeable positives is the demand for t-shirt printing at a time of year when this area of our business tends to be very quiet indeed. So how can this be explained? A statistical blip, would be one reason that may spring to mind, but with a positive mindset lets look at the other possibilities. Investment that is done thoughtfully should always produce a positive return given time and JKL Clothing have certainly taken the view that investment in a downturn can stabilise a business and provide it with the best chance of success when market conditions improve. But back to the main theme of this blog, the movement out of recession. JKL Clothing firmly believe that we can all talk ourselves into the doom and gloom of an economic downturn and by continuing this theme of conversation can stay there. So the message from JKL Clothing is that whilst market conditions remain difficult we are seeing an upward trend shown positively in the business done in t-shirt printing and the outlook is certainly brighter then this time last year.
Monday, 26 October 2009
Brook Taverner (from buttons to double breasted) - A History of suiting supply
Brook Taverner has long been established as a market leader within the corporate clothing and suiting sector, but where did it all begin.
The story begins on a boat to Calcutta in 1912. On board Frank Brook and Walter Taverner decided on their first business venture, selling buttons to tailors. As the business developed, cloth and linings were added to the range. It was the addition of cloth that moved the business forward to the next level.
Though not easy Brook Taverner came through both world wars and by 1967 with many tailoring shops falling by the wayside it was decided that the future of Brook Taverner laid in a cut, make and trim service. Five years later with a suiting ready to wear range introduced and the Brook Taverner that we know today was born. From this time Brook Taverner has based itself in Yorkshire and become the market leader within the corporate clothing and suiting sector.
JKL Clothing has recently added the entire Brook Taverner range to its online corporate clothing department. It is hoped that by working in close partnership a well established brand such as Brook Taverner, JKL Clothing will be able to offer its customers the choice of high quality suiting garments.
The story begins on a boat to Calcutta in 1912. On board Frank Brook and Walter Taverner decided on their first business venture, selling buttons to tailors. As the business developed, cloth and linings were added to the range. It was the addition of cloth that moved the business forward to the next level.
Though not easy Brook Taverner came through both world wars and by 1967 with many tailoring shops falling by the wayside it was decided that the future of Brook Taverner laid in a cut, make and trim service. Five years later with a suiting ready to wear range introduced and the Brook Taverner that we know today was born. From this time Brook Taverner has based itself in Yorkshire and become the market leader within the corporate clothing and suiting sector.
JKL Clothing has recently added the entire Brook Taverner range to its online corporate clothing department. It is hoped that by working in close partnership a well established brand such as Brook Taverner, JKL Clothing will be able to offer its customers the choice of high quality suiting garments.
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
What Not To Wear
Through feedback from our customers and enquiries we have made within the beauty salon market it is clear that a trend is developing and a standardisation of the type of uniform staff are expected to wear within the workplace of a beauty salon.
One recent enquiry received was from a person who had been offered a position in a beauty salon but as the position was on a temporary basis had not been provided with a uniform. This person had found us through the internet and wanted to know what to wear, "will jeans and a smart top be ok"? she queried.
We did point out that surely her new employer would be able to provide more information on the kind of clothing she would be expected to wear but never the less pointed her towards the Beauty & Salon Uniforms section on our website where she would be able see our full range of salon garments.
This enquiry did however provoke a great deal of debate within our office as to what we would expect to see when visiting a beauty salon. I hasten to add myself and Steve provided only a limited opinion on this point, as beauty salons are not on our list of places most visited. All our female staff however were very much of the opinion that one of the things they look at most of all when visiting a beauty salon for the first time is its cleanliness, as was commented on if you are visiting a place where your aim is to leave looking your best you certainly want to feel clean.
I suppose also from an employers point of view it is also vital to portray the professional image that gives customers confidence in both your business and staff.
JKL Clothing are constantly searching the market to find the latest salon uniform designs, so if you don't find what you are looking for first time around please re visit our website as we are always changing and updating our products.
One recent enquiry received was from a person who had been offered a position in a beauty salon but as the position was on a temporary basis had not been provided with a uniform. This person had found us through the internet and wanted to know what to wear, "will jeans and a smart top be ok"? she queried.
We did point out that surely her new employer would be able to provide more information on the kind of clothing she would be expected to wear but never the less pointed her towards the Beauty & Salon Uniforms section on our website where she would be able see our full range of salon garments.
This enquiry did however provoke a great deal of debate within our office as to what we would expect to see when visiting a beauty salon. I hasten to add myself and Steve provided only a limited opinion on this point, as beauty salons are not on our list of places most visited. All our female staff however were very much of the opinion that one of the things they look at most of all when visiting a beauty salon for the first time is its cleanliness, as was commented on if you are visiting a place where your aim is to leave looking your best you certainly want to feel clean.
I suppose also from an employers point of view it is also vital to portray the professional image that gives customers confidence in both your business and staff.
JKL Clothing are constantly searching the market to find the latest salon uniform designs, so if you don't find what you are looking for first time around please re visit our website as we are always changing and updating our products.
Thursday, 8 October 2009
Corporate Clothing and the changing seasons
As the seasons have changed so JKL Clothing along with many corporate clothing and uniform suppliers within our industry have noticed a change in the type of enquiry we have been receiving. Our customers are presently looking for warmer weather clothing, so jacket and coat enquiries are on the increase along with enquiries for hats, scarves and gloves. As the type of clothing changes, so does the type of decoration. As the leaves on the trees start to fall so does the demand for screen printed garments. Our t-shirt printing department has been busy all summer long processing orders for events and promotional merchandise with t-shirts by far and away been the most popular garment been printed. Our particular best seller has been the Gildan Heavy T-shirt this garment obviously ticks all the boxes our customers are looking for in terms of quality and price.
So, with summer giving way to autumn, so printing makes way for embroidery. Embroidery is the obvious choice of garment decoration for jackets and coats where a left chest size logo is required.
JKL Clothing is presently updating our product range in preparation for the new season and change in customer requirements. Most notably is the introduction of the full Brook Taverner range. Brook Taverner garments are often thought of as the market leader within the corporate clothing and uniform market. They have a reputation for quality and already many of our customers are selecting Brook Taverner as their preferred corporate clothing.
Our next task will be to update our salon uniform range. This follows feedback from our customers that they would like to see more choice. So watch this space!
So, with summer giving way to autumn, so printing makes way for embroidery. Embroidery is the obvious choice of garment decoration for jackets and coats where a left chest size logo is required.
JKL Clothing is presently updating our product range in preparation for the new season and change in customer requirements. Most notably is the introduction of the full Brook Taverner range. Brook Taverner garments are often thought of as the market leader within the corporate clothing and uniform market. They have a reputation for quality and already many of our customers are selecting Brook Taverner as their preferred corporate clothing.
Our next task will be to update our salon uniform range. This follows feedback from our customers that they would like to see more choice. So watch this space!
Friday, 17 July 2009
Brook Taverner Formal Wear - The Lounge Jacket
Brook Taverner Men's Lounge Jacket. Wear you lounge jacket at any formal meeting or events, where the dress code requires a smart look, but isn't necessary to be over dressed. You may be holding interviews, attending a garden party or attending important business meetings. Single breasted, 2 button jacket and side vents. Fabric : Pure New Wool Herringbone. Sizes : 38'' - 46'' Short. Sizes : 36'' - 50'' Regular. Sizes : 38'' - 48'' Long. Wash : Dry Clean Only.
Also available to match this item is the Waistcoat and the Herringbone Trouser.
Also available to match this item is the Waistcoat and the Herringbone Trouser.
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