Imprint Canada - JanFeb 2023

MARKETING AND INFORMATION SOURCE FOR IMPRINTABLE PRODUCTS

IMPRINT CANADA THE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

HOW TO MOVE CUSTOMERS PAST PRICE

Customer Service guru Je Mowatt explains how to move your clients beyond the price and competing on value-add. 9

NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS 22

We showcase the newest product o erings for 2023 courtesy of the industry’s leading suppliers of imprintable apparel, hard goods, decorating supplies and equipment. 21

Building Lead Magnets & Sales Funnels

What is a Sales Funnel & How To Build A Successful One? Part 2 of 2

By Adriano Aldini, Imprint Canada

Did you just miss out on a sale that you think you could have (and should have) closed? Rest assured you are not alone.

Every small business owner has experienced the pain of cold calling, pitching, and demonstrating products only for a prospect to drop out of a sale.

To help boost your conversion rates, you’ll need a strategic sales funnel.

What is a sales funnel?

A sales funnel is the journey potential buyers go through when they take an interest in a speci c product or service.  is journey consists of a funnel of steps that sales teams use to convert prospects into customers (aka prospecting). Every interaction with your customers should follow the strategic framework of your funnel, especially if you want to convert more targeted leads.

Sales Funnels, continued on Page 12

Marketing & Content Trends for 2023

See what trends leading global marketers are adopting for this year

By Christian Brome, Imprint Canada

ere’s a saying that the best way to maintain relevance with your audience is to always stay ahead of them.

HubSpot, the Marketing and CRM developer, recently surveyed more than 1,000 global marketing professionals to determine what marketing trends to expect for 2023.

Here’s what the results of the survey showed:

1. Social media will become a de facto customer service tool Leveraging social media as a customer service tool is relatively new, but this trend is quickly gaining steam. More than a quarter of marketers use direct messages (DM’s) to o er customer support, and 15 per cent of marketers plan to try it for the rst time in 2023.

It’s no coincidence that this trend is emerging at a time when many social media platforms — namely Instagram and Facebook — are expanding its e-commerce capabilities. For this reason, providing customer service on these

2023 Trends, continued on Page 14

PRODUCT – DECORATION – BRANDING

What are the marketing and content trends that global brands are implementing for 2023?

The six stages of an effective sales funnel

Entitled to A Free Pass?

I recently began dealing with the next generation of a local family owned business that I have been a client of for many years.

I placed the same order with them that I do every year, only this time I dealt with a family member of the owner. A few days a er I placed the order, my new contact called to ask me if I had changed my mind on ordering (which was a rst to be asked of me given my order history).

In the past, the order has taken approximately one to two business days to ful ll. I recon rmed my original order and was given a date in which I was scheduled to pick it up.

e night before my order was scheduled to be ready, my

new contact called to advise me that the order would not be ready the next day as they had no resources (labour) to even start to process the order.

I tried to politely inform them that I had moved my schedule around in order to be there for the original pick up time, and that calling me the night before was leaving it to the last minute, and was a grave inconvenience to me instead. A simple courtesy call at least a day prior to let me know that the order would not be ready is considered standard customer service.

To my surprise, the vendor doubled down on their approach by asking me to consider that they were short on resources and overwhelmed with same day orders; in other words, not only should I ignore that my order wasn’t ready but I should understand as to why I wasn’t given ample notice of the delay.

In essence, I was being told that I should know the nature of their business’ challenges. It was as though they felt they were entitled - not only to the order - but also to a “free pass” on the communication asco with a customer.

Cancelling the order is not an option for this product/ vendor. But what this person has either failed to learnor forgotten to apply - will be part of the discussion once my order is in-hand.

Not all things must pass.

GLOBAL RETAIL NEWS

Canada Goose’s wholesale revenue declines 17 per cent, margins increase to 72.2 per cent in Q3 of Fiscal 2023

Canada Goose reported wholesale revenue declined 17.3 per cent year-on-year (YoY) the company said in a press release. Meanwhile, gross margins grew to 72.2 per cent in the third quarter of fiscal 2023, ended January 1, 2023.

The company reported revenue of US$576.7 million, down 1.6 per cent from the prior year quarter, largely due to timing of wholesale shipments and lower revenue in Mainland China related to COVID-19 disruptions.

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue grew 1.5 per cent while revenue in the US grew 11.3 per cent annually; revenue decreased in Canada and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) due to earlier timing for wholesale shipments and lower e-commerce performance, partially offset by increased sales within existing stores. Revenue in Asia Pacific (APAC) region declined due to COVID-19 related disruptions in Mainland China.

For fiscal 2023, Canada Goose expects total revenue of $1.175-1.195 billion compared to previous guidance of $1.2001.300 billion provided in Q2 FY23 earnings release.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the company expects total revenue of $251-$271 million.

Columbia Sportswear’s Q4 net sales up 4 per cent, hit record US$1.17 billion

Columbia Sportswear’s net sales increased by 4 per cent to a record high of US$1,169.6 million in the fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal 2022 (FY22), compared to Q4 FY21. Operating income decreased 27 per cent to $155.4 million, or 13.3 per cent of net sales, compared to Q4 FY21 operating income of $211.6 million, or 18.7 per cent of net sales.

Net sales in FY22 increased 11 per cent to a record $3.46 billion, compared to FY21.

For FY23, the company expects net sales of $3.57 to $3.67 billion, representing net sales growth of 3-6 per cent compared to FY22.

Skechers’ sales surge 13.5 per cent in Q4 Skechers reported a 13.5 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in net sales to US$1.88 billion in the fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal 2022 (FY22), ended December 31, 2022. The company’s growth was mainly due to 22.3 per cent YoY increase in sales domestically and an 8.7 per cent YoY increase internationally.

Wholesale sales growth of $142.4 million, or 15.7 per cent YoY, was led by increases in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) of 31.1 per cent YoY and North, Central, and South America (AMER) of 18.6 per cent YoY.

Direct-to-consumer sales growth of $81 million, or 10.8 per cent YoY, was led by increases in AMER of 27 per cent YoY and EMEA of 19.1 per cent YoY.

Skechers’ FY22 sales increased 18 per cent YoY reflecting a 20 per cent increase domestically and 16.6 per cent internationally.

For the fiscal 2023, the company expects sales between $7.75 billion and $8.0 billion and diluted earnings per share of between $2.80 and $3.00.

Bangladesh’s apparel exports to reach $56 billion by 2026: CAL Research

Bangladesh’s apparel industry is likely to face a contraction in the short term, while a strong rebound is expected next year, leading to exports hitting $56 billion by 2026, growing at a compounded annual rate of 5.3 per cent, predicts CAL Bangladesh, a Sri Lankan capital market financial services company.

A slowdown in major apparel markets will weigh down on the country’s apparel exports in 2023, it noted. Inflation will

Source: Fibre2Fashion.com

also push wage rates higher and gas shortage will increase production costs squeezing margins, the company noted in a report.

A fall in cotton prices stemming from waning global cotton consumption will, however, likely help ease price pressures, while the high local value addition and currency depreciation will benefit apparel exporters, said the report titled ‘Rags First But Riches to Follow’.

HanesBrands’ net sales reach $1.47 billion in Q4 FY22

HanesBrands has reported net sales of US$1.47 billion, a decline of 16 per cent year on year (YoY), in the fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal 2022 (FY22).

The company’s Champion brand sales decreased 18 per cent on a reported basis as compared to prior year, with a 21 per cent decline in the US and a 13 per cent decline internationally.

In Q4 FY22, the company’s innerwear business segment’s sales decreased 19 per cent compared to last year. Activewear sales declined 16 per cent compared to last year as continued growth in the collegiate channel for both Champion and Hanes brands was more than offset by declines in other channels due to lower point-of-sale trends and higher activewear inventory levels at retail.

International sales decreased 12 per cent on a reported basis, including the $55 million from unfavourable foreign exchange rates. International sales decreased 2 per cent on a constant currency basis compared to prior year as growth in Asia was offset by declines in Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Canada.

For fiscal 2023, which ends on December 30, 2023, the company currently expects net sales from continuing operations of approximately $6.05 billion to $6.20 billion.

Five Ways to Make Price Less Relevant to Your Customers

By Jeff Mowatt

Depsite in ation being a hot topic virtually everywhere, there are ways to ensure that price becomes a less relevant factor for your clients.

is is an all too common conversation I nd myself having with more and more business owners: “My sales people complain that our customers keep pushing back on prices. How do I get my team members to stop selling on price?”

A er years of training numerous sales and service teams (whose prices weren’t the lowest), I’ve discovered that you can employ these tips below to help take your clients past the price objections and to make it far less relevant.

1. Know what Your B2B Customers Value

When you’re selling business to business, remember that your customers are not usually spending their own money. ey’re spending their company’s.

Whether you save their company a bit of money or not doesn’t impact them personally. However, customers will happily spend more on suppliers who: a) make them look smarter to their bosses or b) make their jobs easier (or more fun). Make your b2b customers look like heroes, or simplify their day-to-day business dealings and suddenly your prices won’t need to be the lowest.

2. Replace Order Takers

Order taking has no value. Read that again.

If your clients know exactly what they need and want to buy, then you don’t need a human for the transaction. You need an online shopping cart or a self-serve checkout.

If your team members merely send out price quotes, you’re overpaying them. ey can be replaced by an algorithm.

When an internet search reveals thousands of buying options, the service that customers value is that of an Advisor who will A.I.D© customers to make the right choice.

A.I.D. is a memory jogger I created that means:

A- Analyze available choices

I- Interpret based on the customer’s unique needs,

D-Direct the customer to a maximum of three choices.

Massive selection is available on the internet for free, but making the wrong choice can be extremely costly. Customers will pay premiums for trusted advisors who can prove that they can help them make better buying choices.

3.

Tap the Convenience Advantage

How does your company compare when it comes to convenience? We all expect neighborhood convenience stores to charge more for household goods than big box stores. Perhaps customers can secure multiple products or services through you - the one-stop shop - and therefore not have to worry about going through other vendors. at’s a signi cant bene t (you are making their jobs easier, and helping them make better choices).

It’s not enough though to just provide these conveniences, we also need to draw attention and educate your customers on just how easy and bene cial it will be for them to use you for all their promotional branding and decorating needs.

4. Create added value

In a world that is saturated by choice in every possible area of life, if you don’t create added value in your business, then you have relegated yourself to commodity status and you will be forced to compete on price. And this is precisely what you are trying to avoid.

You’ve likely heard customers don’t buy features, they buy bene ts. e problem is far too many sales and service reps inadvertently focus on product and service features.

To get employees to talk more about bene ts, encourage them to use two words more o en: “So that”. For example, “Our turnaround is X and we deliver, so that we save you a trip and the stress of worrying about delivery.”

O en we don’t need to lower our prices, we just need to add value and highlight those bene ts to the customer.

5. Create pricing perspective

Whatever you charge can look like a lot of money if you

don’t provide context. For example, training team members on how to enhance their service and selling skills can sound expensive. at needs to be contrasted to potential revenues generated by that training resulting in gaining or keeping just one repeat customer.

When put that way, training becomes an investment that easily pays for itself. e more you talk about return on investment, the less your actual prices will matter.

Bottom Line: Most managers know they can’t lower prices and reduce pro tability, especially in this current in ation-

ary cycle. Instead, they need to think about how to add value and how communicate the bene ts they can and do provide. Could your team members use some refreshers on enhancing value-adds over price?

Sales Funnels, continued from Page 1

The Stages of the sales funnel

ere are generally ve to six steps to any sales funnel, but every sales funnel has a top, middle and a bottom.

Stage 1: Awareness

You can’t make a sale if your prospects don’t know who you are! e awareness stage is where your buyer discovers your company and your sales funnel starts.

is can be achieved through word of mouth, cold calling, cold email templates, your company’s outbound campaigns, a viral piece of content on social media, or a podcast.

Stage 2: Interest

How you respond to a potential customer will set the tone for your relationship going forward. When a prospect is interested in what you’re selling, they’ll ll out a form on your site, give you a call, or send you a message.

e faster you respond to these B2B buyers, the better. is strategy is called: speed to lead.Meaning your reps need to contact a potential customer within ve minutes of them requesting information. Make their user experience a positive one, and you’ll have no problem moving them to the next stage.

Stage 3: Evaluation

at initial call is important not only for the customer but also for your sales reps. ey’ll ask a couple of qualifying questions to see if their product will be a good t for the prospect. No lead should go past your quali cation stage if it doesn’t meet the criteria of your next best client. Once a lead is qualied, they’ll likely do a bit more research to make sure your product or service will help solve their pain points. en they’ll leave the bottom of the sales funnel and enter the middle of the funnel.

Stage 4: Engagement

You’ll want to do whatever you can to keep your brand at the forefront of your prospects’ minds. Especially while they are in the consideration stage of your purchasing funnel.

One way to do this is through lead magnets which we dis-

cussed in the previous edition of Imprint Canada.

Stage 5: Action

At this stage of the B2B sales funnel, your prospect has entered the top of the funnel and nally made their decision. If your prospect does sign on the dotted line, congrats, they’re now your customer!

Stage 6: Retention

Just because you’ve sealed the deal doesn’t mean the funnel ends. Not only does this type of demand marketing help you bring in more revenue, but it bene ts all future funnels by feeding back to stage one with more brand awareness. Focus on measuring your sales funnel metrics or lead generation Key Performance Indicators throughout to ensure your funnel works from top to bottom. is way, you can be certain of conversions no matter the types of sales funnels or customer journey.

How to build an effective sales funnel

Step 1: Know your audience

Determine your ideal customer by creating a list of data points such as time spent on page and the content they interact with on your social accounts. You want to understand what actually in uences your ideal customer to buy.

Once you have established what interests your buyers, you can then start mapping out their buyer journeys and creating new buyer personas for future prospects.

You’ll want to nd out the things your prospective customers don’t like as well, such as pain points.

Step 2: Establish goals

It’s helpful to separate your sales funnel into top, middle, and bottom for this step. en ask yourself: What would you like your prospects to do at each stage?

Do you want to increase tra c to a speci c page on your site as your top of funnel goal? Are you looking to increase engagement during middle of the funnel outreach? Do you want to double conversions at the bottom of your funnel

Every business will be di erent.

Step 3: Create

Knowing your buyers and establishing your goals will help you narrow down the type of content to share at each stage of the sales funnel.

Your content strategy should be educational, valuable, and

promote brand awareness. Pay-Per-Click ads, search engine optimization, videos, and blogs are great for engagement. Prospects considering your product will appreciate case studies, how-to guides, and product explainer videos.

You can also implement a drip email campaign to ensure your buyer gets what they need at the moment they need it while building the relationship. is is best practice for customer sales funnels before pushing a product demo.

Pro tip: Look at what your competitors are doing and then do it better!

Step 4: Engage

Your sales funnel is your opportunity pipeline; think about how you want your prospects to engage at each of the three funnel steps: Top, Middle & Bottom

When you create engagement for the middle of the sales funnel, you’ll need to build trust with more of a direct approach. Don’t just call a prospect for the sake of calling. You’ll want to focus on sharing high-quality content via email or making calls with an educational purpose in mind.

Step 5: Encourage action

One of the most important steps for building a successful conversion sales funnel is to ensure that you include a clear and purposeful call to action at the end.

Pushing for a sale too soon might annoy your buyer while waiting too long could have them choose a competitor.

So time really is of the essence!

But how you present the sale is equally as important. O er some free added value and include a summary of next steps.

Step 6: Communicate

Always communicate positively and professionally. Once your prospect converts, you’ll have to retain your relationship with them; you want that to go o to as great a start as possible.

Speaking of retention, always continue your communication:

• Check in on how they are doing

• See if they need help using your product or service

• Send educational content you believe will bene t them

If they’re pleased, they will continue to be a happy customer for many years to come.

ey may also refer your business to everyone they know, bringing more customers into your pipeline sales funnel. Follow these steps to start building your successful sales funnel and start turning more prospects into customers!

Good Luck!

A sales funnel is the journey potential buyers go through when they take an interest in a specific product or service.

2023 Trends, continued from Page 1

platforms will become even more crucial.

It’s also worth noting that consumers want to communicate with brands via DM’s, especially younger consumers.

2. Video marketers will keep content short Short-form video has taken over. A whopping 90 per cent of marketers using short-form video will increase or maintain their investment next year, and one in ve marketers plan to leverage short-form video for the rst time in 2023. While long-form videos can o er depth and large amounts of information about a product, brand, or services to audiences, both B2C and B2B marketers have learned that getting to the point with short-form videos can actually be much more e ective.

Not only does it take less bandwidth to create a short-form video, but this type of format aligns well with the fast-paced attention spans of online audiences in a variety of demographics. is is likely why platforms like TikTok, Reels, and — in previous years — Snapchat have gained quick growth and marketing interest.

3. Leveraging Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Marketers must ensure that websites and content are as discoverable as possible — especially on Google — which can provide both long-term and short-term tra c returns. And, while SEO is not new, it’s strategies are becoming even more ingrained within modern day marketing strategies.

When it comes to the trend marketers will invest the most money in for 2023, SEO ranks third behind short-form video and in uencer marketing. Further, 88 per cent of marketers who have an SEO strategy will increase or maintain their investment in 2023, which is a slight uptick from the year before (84 per cent).

As the interest and need for SEO strategies grow, so do all search optimization opportunities. As Google algorithms have evolved, SEO has become about much more than churning out basic posts that answer simple search queries. Now, brands are

investing in SEO experts who can help them with everything from search insights reports, to multimedia optimization.

4. Mobile optimization will be even more important.

Consumers are spending more and more time on mobile devices. In fact, more than half of annual online website trafc comes from mobile devices, including tablets.

As younger audiences’ buying power grows, mobile-optimized digital experiences will be even more vital to consider as a business owner who markets to these fast-paced, highly connected generations.

Mobile experiences aren’t just important on brand websites, they’re also important in other key marketing strategies. For

For instance, 50 per cent of Gen Z-ers and 40 per cent of Millennials want companies to take a stance on social issues, speci cally racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, gender inequality, and climate change. When companies advocate for these issues, it has a strong impact on their purchase decisions

With all of this in mind, companies have begun to pivot social media strategies to focus more on inclusive initiatives, promotions, and o erings, while highlighting causes or missions they support. Although this might not sell products immediately, showing a sense of social responsibility is still both thoughtful and e ective.

example, 56 per cent of marketers who work with email are focused on delivering mobile email experiences to subscribers.

5. More companies will prioritize social responsibility

A whopping 89 per cent of marketers who create social responsibility content plan to increase or maintain their investment in 2023, which is almost double from the year before e trend is clear: social responsibility, ethics, and transparency matter to the modern consumer.

6.

Inbound marketing will remain a best practice for growing brands

In a time of digital transformation, embracing inbound marketing is an incredibly smart move.  roughout the last two years, the world’s dealt with unprecedented change, and outbound marketing tactics have become even less e ective in reaching prospects and leads. e shi from in-person to hybrid work from home (WFH) business practices have made inbound marketing come to the forefront of e ective tactics.

continued on Page 30

Short-form video has taken over. While long-form videos can offer depth and large amounts of information, both B2C and B2B marketers have learned that getting to the point with short-form videos can actually be much more effective.

2023 will once again be all about video and creating engaging content generation for niche audiences.

Ribbed Tri-Blend Trucker Mesh Back Cap

DML Creation is showcasing its unique Ribbed TriBlend Trucker Mesh Back Cap. Style i8525 is a low profile structured cap with a shapeable pre-curved visor. Constructed from a poly/nylon/ spandex blend fabric this cap features performance mesh moisture wicking. The 110 Technology® sweatband with adjustable plastic snap back closure adds comfort and durability. For more details, please visit www.dmlcreation.com

Russell Athletic Dri-Power Hoodie

Russell Athletic's heritage was built on producing top quality fleece with superior construction that delivers on comfort and durability. The Dri-Power ® Collection is no exception. Made of three-end fleece that combines softness and durability, and moisture-wicking technology that maintains dryness and freshness for long-lasting comfort.

For more information, please contact the FOTL team at canadacustomerservice@fotlinc.com

Long Sleeve Crew Neck Tee

WEARABLES

Columbia Adult Basin ButteTM Full Zip

This style features Columbia's Omni-Heat™ technology and is fortified with 40g microtemp insulation and a thermal reflective lining. The anti-pill solid microfleece is 100% polyester and the bold insulating layer features standout details including a script logo transfer to the right chest. It comes with zippered hand pockets for conveniently storing essentials which lessens the chance of losing things. Available in S-2XL and in colours black and grill. Columbia is exclusively distributed in Canada by Catalyst Group. Please contact 1-877-6026999 or CG-orderdesk@catalystbiz.com, or visit www.CatalystGroupBrands.com

Stargard V-Neck Sweater

The Stargard (Men’s FW3008 / Women’s FW3005) is a fall layering essential. A modern classic, this fine gauge v-neck sweater is sure to make a great impression. Made from 60% cotton and 40% acrylic, the Stargard is offered in 4 trendy fall colours. Choose from an array of decoration techniques to complete your look. Available in sizes XS-3XL.

Contact Fersten Worldwide (800) 565-7462 or visit www.fersten.com

Canada Sportswear is showcasing its 100% polyester carbon peached interlock long Sleeve Crew Neck Tee with tear-away label. Style S05937 & S5937Y features wicking, anti-bacterial and quick dry finishes and made is with unique cationic yarn and dye for easy printing. The flatlocked seams and taped back neck seam add comfort. Available in Black, Grey, White, Navy, Royal, Red.

For more information, please contact Canada Sportswear, Tel: 416-740-8020 or visit www.canadasportswear.com

KF4900

INTERLOCK TURTLENECK LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT

12 oz./L yd, 100% combed ringspun cotton 1x1 ribbed with 5% spandex

Double-needle neckline, armholes and cuffs

Made in Canada

Deluxe Fit Cap

AJM is excited to introduce the new “Deluxe Fit”, 6 Panel Constructed Pro-Round shape. What makes 7M110M fit so luxurious are 3 new combined characteristics: The flexible polyester mesh, elasticized comfort sweatband, and double row soft plastic adjustable back strap all work together giving the wearer the most comfortable fit. All caps come with a foil sticker on the peak and are available in 11 stylish colourways, making decorating any team or company logo an easy match.

For more information please contact AJM International at 1-800-361-6256 or visit www.ajmintl.com

Athletic Shorts

Canada Sporstwear introduces its Athletic Shorts for Adults & Youth - Style. P04475 & P4475Y. Constructed from 100% polyester carbon peached interlock with wicking, anti-bacterial, and quick dry finishes. These shorts are made with unique cationic yarn and dye for easy printing. These shorts feature an elastic waistband with drawcord, side seam pockets and a tear-away label. Available in Black, Athletic Grey, Navy, Royal, and Red. For more information, please contact Canada Sportswear, Tel: 416-740-8020 or visit www.canadasportswear.com

Adult Mid Weight Hoody

Milltex Sportswear is showcasing its Adult Mid Weight Promo Hoody. Style #317 is made from a supple 55% Cotton 45% Poly blend with 1x1 rib with spandex, double needle cover stitching, and a double layer fleece hood. Available in a wide range of colours in sizes XS-3XL.

Contact Milltex Sportswear at 905-820-1100 or visit www.milltex.ca

Baby Rib Long Sleeve Tee

This original classic girl tee remains an essential layering piece. Made from 100% cotton 1x1 baby rib,featuring a crew neckline with a binding finish and long sleeves. This top has a mid to full length fit and exudes minimal elegance with its refined and tested fit. Made in the USA by workers earning fair wages.

Visit losangelesapparel.net for more information

The Classic Knitted Socks

Marcaron is showcasing its best-selling type of socks. Great for any occasion, from formal to casual, SKU:OS625SOKC are crew size socks made from a 82% Cotton / 15% polyamide / 3% spandex blend. Knitted up to 6 colours. Contact Macaron at info@promomacaron.ca or tel: 514-721-5221, or visit their new website dedicated to custom socks: socksmacaron.ca

Fruit Of The Loom Sofspun Hoodie

Not your ordinary fleece -it's Fruit Of The Loom's softest ever - Sofspun™ is made with stylish construction details and a contemporary colour palette that appeals to multiple generations. The lighter-weight fabric makes it ideal for layering, while contrasted trim detailing gives it an extra touch of style without the extra cost. For more information, please contact the FOTL team at canadacustomerservice@fotlinc.com

Performance Polo

The subtle touch of contrast colour makes this performance polo stand out in the crowd. The Bristol (Men’s FW7953 / Women’s FW7957) is the perfect golf attire go-to; equipped with FERST-DRY™, anti-snag and anti-bacterial features. Offered in 5 different colours in sizes XS-4XL (Men) and XS-3XL (Women). Suitable for a wide variety of decoration techniques. Contact Fersten Worldwide (800) 565-7462 or visit www.fersten.com

Ribbed Tri-Blend Snap Back Cap

DML Creation is showcasing style i8526, the Ribbed Tri-Blend Snap Back Cap. This low profile structured cap features a shapeable pre-curved visor and is constructed from a poly/nylon/spandex blend fabric with moisture wicking properties. Other features include the 110 Technology® sweatband and an adjustable plastic snap back closure. For more details, please visit www.dmlcreation.com

NuBlend® Unisex Varsity Colour-Block Hooded Sweatshirt

Make a bold statement with NuBlend® Fleece. Available in a versatile array of 51 colours and 17 styles. The retro varsity colour-block hoodie 97CR is pill-resistant fleece made with sustainably sourced, USA-grown cotton. This unique athletic-inspired style is the perfect blank canvas for your imagination.

For more information, please contact the FOTL team at canadacustomerservice@fotlinc.com

Variegated Knit Cap

100%

Look and feel fabulous in the Granby (FP270). This 6-section cap is made from 100% variegated knit and features matching premium cotton twill under the peak, as well as a 4-panel pro stitch. Suitable for several decoration techniques, this cap is offered in Black, Grey, Red and Royal. One size fits most.

Contact Fersten Worldwide (800) 565-7462 or visit www.fersten.com

The Sport Knitted Socks

Marcaron is showcasing its Sport Knitted socks, the perfect mix of cotton and cotton terry that provide comfort thorough training or just only when you want to wear them for that trendy look. SKU: OS625SOSS are crew size, can be knitted up to 6 colours and are constructed from a 80% Cotton / 12% polyester / 4% Elastic / 4% Spandex blend.

Please visit Macaron at info@promomacaron.ca or tel: 514-721-5221. Macaron has a new dedicated Custom sock website: socksmacaron.ca

Perforated Performance Cap

DML Creation is showcasing style i8503, the Perforated Performance Cap. This mid-profile structured on-field cap features a shapeable flat round visor and is constructed from a poly/sport blend fabric with perforated sides & back. This cap offers UV protection & moisture wicking properties and the athletic performance sweatband has Flexfit ® sizing. Available in XS, S/M, L/XL For more details, please visit www.dmlcreation.com

Hi-Vis Polyester Full Zip Hoodie

Canada Sportswear is offering its Hi-Vis Polyester Full Zip Hoodie which meets CSA standards. Style L01380 is made from 100% polyester one side brushed fleece with anti-pill, wicking, anti-bacterial and abrasion resistant finishes. Features include a detachable hood with snaps and adjustable drawcord, a kangaroo pocket with concealed pocket, 4” contrast hi-vis tape with 2” reflective tape on front and back body and sleeves. Available in Black, Navy, Hi Vis Orange and Hi Vis Yellow.

Please contact Canada Sportswear, Tel: 416-740-8020 or visit www.canadasportswear.com

Duck Canvas / Pro-Round

AJM is excited to expand its Duck Canvas lineup with a Constructed Pro-Round shape. 8D017M is a six panel cap with a polyester mesh back featuring deluxe buckram laminated front panels with Pro-stitch, a slightly-curved peak with 8 rows of stitching, and sports a plastic adjustable back strap. Available in 2 colourways: a solid “duck canvas black/black” and the ever so popular two-tone, “duck canvas brown/brown.” Both come with a foil sticker on the peak.

mesh

For more information please contact AJM International at 1-800-361-6256 or visit www.ajmintl.com

Each month Trendex North America publishes a monthly newsletter: Canadian Apparel Insights The following charts are taken from the December 2022 issue of the newsletter.

Canadian Apparel Manufacturing Sales

In June 2022 apparel manufacturing was up 19.1% and then the “bottom fell out”.

Beginning in July, monthly apparel manufacturing sales began to consistently decrease at double digit rates.

Canadian retailers demand for foreign made apparel continued to remain strong during the rst eleven months of 2022 as they increased in dollar terms by 36.9%. The increase was in large part due to China (+32.9%), Vietnam (+56.7%), Bangladesh (+45.0%), India (+56.5%), Italy (+29.2%) and Indonesia (+47.6%). Imports from the U.S. increased (+16.9%).

Canadian apparel exports decreased by 15.6% in November after increasing by 8.6% the previous month.

Through the rst eleven months of 2022 Canada’s apparel exports increased by only 3.2% while those to the United States, which alone accounted for 74% of exports increased 4.6%. The Covid related lockdown in parts of China was re ected in the 22.9% Year-To-Date decrease in exports to China.

Countries that recorded large increases in their imports of Canadian apparel included the Netherlands (+25.4%), and Poland (+616.7%). In addition to China, exports to Germany (-30.4%), Hong Kong (-10.0%) and Japan (-15.8%) declined year to date.

In November 2022 Canadian apparel manufacturing declined 28.7%, marking the fourth consecutive month that Canadian apparel manufacturing decreased by more than 20%.

Year-to-date through November 2022, Canadian apparel manufacturing sales were up only 1.1%.

Trendex has added a new monthly metric based on Mastercard’s Canadian Spending Pulse. The time series measures in-store and online retail sales except for automotive sales, across all forms of payment. The company’s latest report revealed that total retail sales increased 3.8% during November 2022. The increase came on top of increases of 9.1% and 12.3% during the previous two months. During November retail apparel sales increased 3.2%. The increase was less than those in October (7.7%) and September (34.3%). Compared to the comparable months of 2019, retail apparel sales during 2022 decreased 6.6% in November after increasing 3.9% and 20.4% from October and September. The report pointed to a continual slowdown in retail apparel sales during the fourth quarter of 2022.

RIEDEL Wine Friendly Collection

DezineCorp is proud to present the Wine Friendly Collection from RIEDEL, designed for beginners or casual wine drinkers who do not want to forego the high quality that people have come to expect from the RIEDEL brand of crystal drinkware. Along with the Decanter (style G9502CL), there also available red wine (G9522CL), white wine & champagne glasses (G9523CL) . Consider the casual elegance of the RIEDEL Wine Friendly Collection for your next event.

For more information, please contact DezineCorp at (866) 625-7820 or visit www.dezinecorp.com

Jumbo Laminated Kraft Tote

Debco is showcasing its Jumbo Laminated Kraft Tote. Item # TO9533 features dimensions of 12” W x 17” H x 7” D and is constructed from Laminated Non-Woven Kraft Paper Laminated. The sturdy black non-woven trim and handles ensures durability and continued multiple uses. For more information, please visit www.debcosolutions.com

Silicone Cell Phone Strap

The durable elastic silicone strap securely fits all major cell phone brands and models with a phone case. Decorate with a one colour pad print or debossed logo on your choice of 10 popular colours. Easy to assemble and clean. Please inquire about custom colours available. For more information, visit www.martinivispak.com

Rose Gold Accent Pen

ADG Promo Products is showcasing their Ultima™ Rose Gold Accent Gel Pen. Item #WC49626 is a Metal pen with rose gold trim accent that features exclusive Softex™ luster finish that provides a comfortable grip. Your choice of Black or Blue Gel-Glide™ ink that is mess free and smudge proof, the matching colour touchscreen stylus on the end of the pen works on your smartphone or tablet. The Ultima™ Rose Gold Accent Stylus Gel-Glide Pen will allow your laser engraved logo to shine.

For details please visit www.adgpromo.ca or contact

1-866-418-7407

Vila Recycled 15” Computer Backpack

Made from RPET, the Vila Recycled 15” Computer Backpack (item# SM-5954) is both stylish and eco-friendly. This computer backpack features a sleeve that can hold up to a 15” laptop in the zippered main compartment. Keep small accessories in the zippered front pocket. Carry using either the adjustable, padded shoulder straps or the top grab handle. Through a partnership with 1% For The Planet, one per cent of sales of all EcoSmart ® products are donated to environmental nonprofits.

For more information, visit pcna.com

Stone Paper Buttons & Badges

Jay-Line’s Stone Paper is an innovative new alternative to pulp and pure synthetic paper, made using 80-85% recycled stone. These button and badges includes standard pin back and 4 colour process imprint. Includes a custom shape up to the listed dimensions. Other sizes available, please call for quote. For details visit www.jay-line.com

STYLE

Double Wall French Press

Step up your coffee game with the new Double Wall French Press (style M0020SS) from DezineCorp Inc. The M0020SS features a double wall build with a durable stainless liner. The ergonomic handle and knob on lid make for easy and comfortable use. Great for both loose leaf teas as well as coffee; the three part screen leaves very few grounds behind. Consider the Double Wall French Press for your next promotional event or project. For more information, please contact DezineCorp at (866) 625-7820 or visit www.dezinecorp.com

Faye 20 oz. Vacuum Tumbler

The Bullet Faye 20oz Vacuum Tumbler with Stainless Steel Straw features double-wall stainless steel construction with vacuum insulation. Use Item SM-6946 to keep your favourite beverages hot for five hours or cold for 15 hours. It comes with a food-grade stainless steel straw that has a comfortable removable silicone tip for safe sipping. The Faye also includes a spill-proof press-on lid, which features a slide closure. Reusable and dishwasher-safe, the included straw is an eco-friendly, environmentally responsible, and sustainable alternative to disposable plastic straws. For more information, visit pcna.com

Stainless Steel Insulated

Thermos

Magnus Pen is showcasing its 750 ML Stainless Steel Double Wall Insulated Thermos. The inner of the thermos is made of #304 stainless steel. The thickness is 0.40 mm. The shell is made of #201 stainless steel. Thermos is rust proof against regular liquids only.

For more information, please visit www.magnuspen.com

Rideau Glass Bottle

Debco is showcasing its Rideau Glass Bottle with a matte finish Aluminum non-removable sleeve. Item WB9710 holds up to 20 oz. and is made from borosilicate glass. This item is designed for cold beverages only and features an indented lid for doming option along with a wide mouth opening. BPA-free and FDA compliant, this Glass Bottle also features an Ugly Beautiful Box: No lamination, no full colour ink, no bleach or dye. The box might be ugly, but it has beautiful purpose: one small win for the planet! Please visit www.debcosolutions.com

Eco-Friendly Notebooks with Custom Tip-In

Kustom Promos has an extensive collection of eco-friendly notebooks, perfect for your discerning clients. Available in a wide selection of sizes and styles, Kustom Promos is now offering a free tip-in page with any eco-friendly notebooks. For more information, please visit www.kustompromos.com or contact anthony@ kustompromos.com

Unique Round Wood Coasters

Jay-Line’s custom printed 17 mil birch veneer is completely biodegradable and 100% sustainable. These wooden coasters are a great way to promote a product, advertise a business, or simply get your name out there. Show your customers how much they mean to you by giving them something with the warm, natural feel of custom printed birch veneer! Comes with a full colour imprint. Laser etching available. For details visit www.jay-line.com

STYLE

For example, there’s been a signi cant rise in virtual events due to COVID-19 forcing marketers to get creative to catch the attention of customers.

Inbound marketing can be a valuable asset to create brand awareness and build trust digitally through refocusing strategy to drive customers to seek out your content.

e process of inbound marketing requires you to produce quality, valuable content tailored towards your target audience and buyer personas and their needs.

Content & Social Media Marketing Trends

At least 47 per cent of buyers view three to ve pieces of content prior to engaging with a sales rep, and the majority of them expect brands to create content to gain their interest. at’s why brands all around the world have only grown their investments in content marketing.

Video will remain the top marketing content format

In the past, video creation and marketing strategies were limited due to costly resources and production. Today, it’s much more accessible. With a lower-cost barrier, video has become

less intimidating to incorporate into your marketing e orts. You don’t have to hire a production team or marketing agency; all you need is a smartphone, such as an iPhone, and a ordable editing so ware.

pects an incredibly deep and exclusive look into how people or brands bene t from a product, service, or strategy. While some businesses place them publicly on their web pages to persuade a potential buyer as quickly as possible, others might gate them as free PDFs that require a lead conversion to be downloaded. Most marketers will focus on three to ve social media platforms

On average, marketers leverage four social media platforms in their roles. Facebook is the most used social media platform, used by 64 per cent of marketers, followed by Instagram (58 per cent), YouTube (57 per cent), Twitter (43 per cent), and TikTok (42 per cent).

Managing three to ve platforms is realistic. is range allows brands of all sizes to expand their reach to di erent audiences while also giving social media marketers a realistic list of platforms to master without stretching their bandwidth during the work week.

Blogging isn’t going anywhere

Blogging has been a commonly used marketing strategy since brands started building their own websites. But, the age of this tactic shouldn’t be a sign that it’s out-of-date. In fact, blogging has been used for so long simply because it works. So much so, one in three marketers leverage their own blog or website.

On top of that, research suggested that most consumers read blogs multiple times per week and have purchased something from a brand a er reading the company’s blog.

Aside from providing consumer engagement and potentially conversion, blogs also provide a major key bene t to your website or online pages: search discoverability.

Ultimately, sites with robust blogs have more search potential and can implement SEO strategies much easier than sites that don’t.

Case studies will continue to drive leads and brand credibility. Especially in B2B sales, longer-form case studies o er pros-

Here are a few questions that can help you determine how many platforms you should really be on:

• How many social media marketers are on your team?

• Which social media platforms have audiences that best align with your targets?

• How much time will it take to master a strategy on each of the platforms you’re targeting?

• Are there any platforms that won’t bene t your overall marketing strategy right now?

• Are there any platforms you can easily repurpose engaging content between? (such as TikTok and YouTube Shorts) By asking yourself some of the questions above, you can determine how much time your social team and brand will need to build an e ective and engaging strategy on each platform, and prioritize which platforms you should really focus on.

Marketers leverage four social media platforms: Facebook is the most used platform, used by 64% of marketers, followed by Instagram (58%), YouTube (57%), Twitter (43%), and TikTok (42%).

The best way to maintain relevance with your audience is to always stay ahead of them

PC Promotional & Safety Products is a woman-owned Canadian company that specializes in the distribution of PIP Canada/Dynamic Safety Products for private labeling.

In addition to offering the largest assortment of PPE products, we also have over 30 years of business knowledge in the promo industries.

Our promotional line offers ideal solutions for safety awareness, seasonal gifts, fundraising, employee appreciation and business exposure

Our extensive collection of PPE items, combined with our Promo products and extensive experience makes us a leader in your promotional and safety needs.

Premium DTF Bundle

RB Digital helps you boost your DTF printing potential with the new addition to its Prestige Printer line - the Prestige A3+ R DTF Printer. Print on 13 inch DTF film rolls or 13 x 9 sheets, and speed up your DTF pipeline for efficiency, ease-of-use, and optimal results. After you print your design, the Seismo A13 DTF Powder Applicator & Dryer takes over by evenly spreading, then melting the exact amount of adhesive material directly onto your design saving time, effort and cost. Three resources you need to conserve to run a profitable business. Also, with a handy vacuum absorption platform and infrared heat drying, you are assured a smooth result every time. Visit www.rbdigital.ca for more information

Secure Your Patches & Crests With Crest Pro Adhesive

Patches and crests are a staple product in embroidery shops, and if you're an embroiderer looking to make heat press or iron-on crests, Transparent Crest Pro Adhesive is ideal. Simply heat press one side of the Adhesive to the back of your crest, peel off the backing paper, and your crest is ready to apply to the garment. Each roll of Crest Pro is 30cm wide, and comes in 10 yard and 100 yard rolls. More information is available at www.embroiderysystems.com, or call 1-888-805-8631

Bobbins, Adhesive Sprays & Embroidery Supplies

A&E Canada is proud to offers some of the most trusted brands in the embroidery industry. A&E Canada is showcasing its collection of Bataboff Bobbins, Odif Sprays & Kai Scissors.

Visit www.amefird.ca or contact 514-352-4800/ 1-800361-0787 for more information.

Highly Textured And Dimensional Emblems

Emblemtek's PVC Emblems can be used on a variety of sportswear, workwear or other textile items. These emblems can be created in various thicknesses, with fine details and small text that cannot be achieved with embroidered emblems. Emblemtek's custom products are produced with leading-edge materials as product quality and performance levels are continuously measured. Find out more: https:// emblemtek.com/products/pvc-emblems/

12 New Metallic Embroidery Thread Colours

Marathon Threads Canada just received 12 new colours of Marathon Metallic Embroidery Threads. Metallic embroidery threads add 'pop' to your embroidery. All 37 metallic colours are available in 1,000 meter mini-king cones and a selection of colours are available in 4,000 meter & 5,000 meter king cones. Marathon metallic embroidery threads are not stiff and run smoothly.

For more information, visit www.MarathonThreads.ca

Matsui Brite DC Neo Pigment Starter Kit

The Matsui Brite DC Neo Pigment Starter Kit from RB Digital has everything you need to start water-based screen printing. You will be able to create thousands of colour shades by mixing with Matsui bases. Matsui inks print through very high mesh counts for minimum ink usage. If you want to be able to achieve an extremely soft hand feel that PVC inks simply can not achieve give Matsui water-based a try. Visit www.rbdigital.ca for more information