Imprint Canada October 2021 by Tristan Communications

IMPRINT CANADA THE MARKETING AND INFORMATION SOURCE FOR IMPRINTABLE PRODUCTS OCTOBER 2021

A Tristan Communications Ltd. Publication

INSIDE THIS ISSUE RETAIL BRAND UPDATE HOW SMALL BUSINESSES CAN MAXIMIZE SOCIAL MEDIA

We examine the “Big Five” social networks and explain how small businesses can leverage each one uniquely to maximize brand exposure and foster loyalty among their respective audiences

NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

Check out our editorial sections where industry leading suppliers showcase their newest product offerings. Check out the latest wearables, headwear, drinkware, advertising specialty and supplies and equipment.

Volume 28, Issue 5

These Three Deadly “C’s” are Draining Salespeoples’ Access and Influence By Jesse Laffen

There are three forces at work in modern selling that are stifling revenues in business-to-business (B2B) companies. Though they’re rarely spoken by name, the effects of these forces are extremely well-known. They pop up in conversation like this: Each of the Three Deadly C’s renders a different punishment upon today’s unprepared or “It doesn’t matter what we do, ill-equipped salesperson. the best price always wins.” “I can’t get the right people to take a meeting” “It used to be a hot lead, but now I’m getting ‘ghosted.’” Today’s prospects have developed a routine method of buying that leads to statements just like these. They’re being caused by the “Three Deadly C’s.” Three Deadly C’s, continued on Page 12

How Small Businesses Can Maximize Social Media Tips on how to leverage the big five networks By Adriano Aldini, Imprint Canada

VISIT OUR DIGITAL MEDIA CENTRE Hosting the industry’s latest • Digital E-Catalogues • E-Flyers • Video Gallery

www.imprintcanada.com

If you’re a small business owner, there is a good chance you’re running all facets of your business and wearing multiple “hats” throughout the day. With countless deadlines to push out to keep your business on track, social media marketing can seem like a non-essential tactic that is easy to push to the wayside when things get hectic. But that could prove very costly to future business. We know that people are spending more and more time on their phones and social media users regularly Not prioritizing social media marketing is a mistake interact with companies they are interested in or already many companies are still making. do business with. So not only is social media free, but your customers and prospects are already there waiting to hear from you.

fersten.com

INTRODUCING DECORATED BACK STRAP SLEEVES

INNOVATIVE • VERSATILE • REMOVABLE

Relationship Building, continued on Page 8

sales@martinivispak.com

OCTOBER 2021 January 7 & 8 , 2022

Toronto Congress Centre, North Building, Toronto, ON

Over 64,500 sq. ft. to provide safe social distancing

What We Do Now Really Matters! The National Imprint Canada Show -- Canada’s leading imprintable and promotional products event -- returns to the Toronto Congress Centre, January 7 & 8, 2022. Two years have elapsed since the last Show, making this the opportune time to reunite and reconnect with the industry for two days of collaboration, business, and networking. The industry remains in a strong position, however the pandemic provided its own challenges with fluctuations in corporate events demand and disruption to the supply chain. The 2022 National Imprint Canada Show provides the opportunity for your businesses to explore what is new on the market, connect with leading suppliers and exchange ideas.

This event is where the industry’s brightest minds on the supply side will join forces and generate solutions for buyers as we move forward in a safer world. This event is a great opportunity for all stakeholders within the imprintable and promotional products supply chain to unite and learn how we can all better work together moving forward. Our team understands the importance of this event and the opportunity it provides for business and economic growth for all involved. Face-to-face interaction is the foundation of building strong relationships. In-person events create the necessary push for business to take place, offering significant ROI benefits. The Imprint Canada Team is working hard to ensure the delivery of an innovative Covid-safe event, with a strong focus on ensuring the health and wellness of attendees and exhibitors, adhering to all guidelines and restrictions.

Our comprehensive safety measures include: • Proof of Vaccination required • Masking requirements • Queue management and crowd control for distancing • Rigorous cleaning and sanitization • Covid marshals to ensure safe flow • Modification of floor plan to minimize congestion. Registration to attend is now open. The event is free for all industry professionals. The next stage in the growth of our industry begins now. The Toronto Imprint Canada Show provides the perfect launching pad for the industry to propel into a successful 2022.

The Embroider Buddy ® original line of stuffed animals was created to provide a quick and easy way to customize gift and souvenir stuffed animals.

For our full collection check out: www.embroiderbuddy.com Toll free: 800.387.8565

We’re social: October 2021 | IMPRINT CANADA

GLOBAL RETAIL NEWS Canada’s Lululemon signs agreement to source 100 per cent renewebale electricity Enel Green Power North America has signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with Lululemon Athletica, enabling the company to achieve its goal of sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity across its direct operations in North America. Lululemon will purchase the electricity delivered to the grid by a 15 MW portion of Enel Green Power’s North America Azure Sky Wind project in Texas, equivalent to the electricity used by all of Lululemon’s company-operated stores, ofﬁces and warehouse facilities in North America. “Lululemon is committed to helping create an apparel industry that is both sustainable and inclusive, and addresses the serious implications of climate change, including working toward a net-zero future and cutting carbon emissions across our value chain. Science clearly shows the urgent need to act now. This agreement is an important milestone on our journey toward cleaner energy and a healthier planet,” Esther Speck,VP sustainable business and impact at Lululemon said.

Cotton prices cause apparel costs to surge globally

CMY

IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

THE MARKETING AND INFORMATION SOURCE FOR IMPRINTABLE PRODUCTS September/October 2021 - Volume 28, Issue 5

Importers brace for goods shortage as China’s energy crisis continues Importers of “Made in China” products are bracing for a shortage of goods due to the continuing uncertainty about the power shortage in the world’s second-largest economy. To tackle the shortage of electricity generation, governments of local provinces have signed long-term contracts to ensure adequate supply, according to Chinese media reports. China’s total carbon emissions in 2021 are estimated by the World Population Review at 9.04 billion tons, with per capita emission working out to 6.59. Striving to meet the increasing global demand for goods post-COVID, most Chinese provinces used up their quotas of energy consumption in the first half of this year forcing the ruling Communist Party to take steps to reduce emissions, in view of its pledge to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. “Industrial production in China will definitely drop in Q4, but it is difficult to say as to what extent it will fall. It will depend on future actions of the Chinese government,” said Deepti Lahane, who heads TexPro, a market intelligence company. Irrespective of when the energy crisis ends in China, the uncertainty is having a cascading effect on North American and European companies who are already reeling under delay in container shipping. These businesses are now bracing for more uncertainty in getting their goods on time, especially while stocking up for the upcoming Christmas season. 2:45 PM

ONLINE EDITION

Source: Fibre2Fashion.com

of cotton due to unfavourable weather conditions in India, Togo, Greece and Benin. To add to it, increasing demand has boosted global trade and the consumption of cotton has been consistently rising in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and Brazil. Pakistan’s cotton imports have shown a tremendous rise in Q3 2021. In the current market year, the US, Australia and Turkey are expected to become the top three exporters of cotton.

Cotton prices around the world have been on the rise since the beginning of 2021 and have recently crossed the $1 per pound mark. In Q3 2021, the weekly average increased by 9.68 per cent to reach $1.01 per pound, the highest this decade. The price rise can be attributed to the growing demand for apparel as countries recover from the COVID-19, consistently rising shipping costs and the US ban on Xinjiang cotton In market year (MY) 2020-21 (August 2020 to July 2021), the world’s cotton production declined by 7.47 per cent to 24.47 million metric tons over the previous market year due to the pandemic, resulting in an erosion of cotton stocks around the world. High production of cotton in countries like US, Australia Emblemtek_Imprint_Sept-Oct2021-1.2.pdf 1 09-14-2021 and Argentina could also not offset the reduced production

IMPRINT CANADA www.imprintcanada.com/magazine

NEWS 1

THREE DEADLY CʼS THAT DRAIN ACCESS & INFLUENCE CONTʼD PG 12

HOW SMALL BUSINESSES CAN LEVERAGE SOCIAL MEDIA CONTʼD PG 8,14

SUPPLIER NEWS

NEW PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS 16 28 30

WEARABLES SHOWCASE ADVERTISING SPECIALTY SHOWCASE SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT SHOWCASE

PUBLISHER

Tony Muccilli : tony@imprintcanada.com

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Adriano Aldini : news@imprintcanada.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Adriano Aldini, Deb Boelkes, Jess Laffen

Imprint Canada is published six times per year by Tristan Communications Ltd. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in whole without the consent of the copyright owner. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Request for missing issues are not accepted after three months from the date of publication.

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Steve Silva : feedback@imprintcanada.com

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Maria Natale : shows@imprintcanada.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Tony Muccilli (Toronto) Tel: (905) 856-2600 Fax: (905) 856-2667

TRISTAN COMMUNICATIONS LTD. Publications mail agreement no. 40025740 Return undeliverable mail to: 190 Marycroft Avenue, Unit 16, Woodbridge, Ontario, L4L 5Y2 Email: shows@imprintcanada.com ISSN: 1480-1884 GST Registration #: RT892913294

style in any season

The new Gildan Hammer® Sweatshirts are crafted from supersoft 80% combed ring spun US cotton and 20% polyester, with a decorator-friendly 100% cotton face. Whether you prefer DTG or screen printing, heat transfer or embroidery, this 15.0 Oz/LinYd fabric is ideal. Even better, tear away labels ensure it is easy to completely customize each style. Available as crew and hood from S-3XL in five colors.

NEW! HF000 Graphite Heather

NEW! HF000 White

mygildan.ca

IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

News {Business Development} Social Media Leverage, continued from Page 1

As such, social media is a powerful platform to connect with an audience and to build brand awareness and loyalty. Even better, it’s also an effective platform for lead generation. You can create the content and resources that will provide added value to your prospects and customers.

Social Strategy 101

Social media platforms have matured from their inception, when the world of business on social media and the capabilities of businesses to connect with their target audience was sparse. Nowadays, each of the main social platforms popular have a specific way they are used by consumers. Businesses, in turn, have begun to use each platform slightly differently to

connect with their audiences. Below, we’ll briefly break down the main five social platforms and identify what type of content and best practices exist for each channel. • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • Instagram • YouTube If you haven’t already, you’ll need to take the first step in creating your social strategy for businesses: setting up business accounts or pages on each platform. Try to make your username or URL your business name (or as close to your business name as possible) so customers can easily find you. On platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube, make sure to set yourself and any of your colleagues or business

partners that would need access as admins. You can set different permissions for each person based on the work they will be doing in the account. Once you have set up each account, entered the necessary information about your business, and added in your logo as your account photo, you’re ready to start sharing.

Facebook

Facebook is one of the original social media platforms, with user base of 1 billion daily and over 2 billion monthly active users. If your target customer is on any social media platform, it’s likely Facebook. Bonus: Facebook also makes it easy to build target audiences for paid ad placements based on people who engage with your organic posts.

What to post & how often

Facebook is a conversational platform so the key here is to stay casual, but be sure to provide value. If a follower decides to like your Facebook page, they are likely looking to receive updates about future sales and promotions, new products or upcoming events. If you post too often, you run the risk of people un-liking your account. If you post too little, you risk your engagement metrics. About one update each day is an optimal rate for most businesses. In a study by Socialbakers, engagement rates per post dropped significantly for businesses posting more than twice per day and for businesses posting only once per week. Try sharing a few different types of content and seeing what resonates well with your audience by tracking the most impressions, engagements, and shares. Your business has been followed for a reason, make sure you’re posting relevant content for them to consume and ultimately get a little closer to your brand.

LinkedIn has been around since the early years of the new millennium. With more than 250 million monthly active users, it’s one the most used social media channel for business-to-business (B2B) marketers to share content at 94 per cent.

What to post & how often

LinkedIn is a place where business professionals connect and network. If a LinkedIn followers likely care about the information and insights you can bring them and business-related updates. To ensure effectiveness with your posts you want to focus on being helpful in the content you share. Posts should be a resource for consumers to find ways to better themselves in your area of expertise or hear about product updates. You want to share the best aspects of your business, wins people can learn from, and insights they can’t get anywhere else. According to LinkedIn’s best practices, companies that post weekly see a 2x lift in engagement on their posts, and posts with an image see a 2x higher conversion rate than posts without, so make sure to accompany your post or link with an image.

Twitter

Twitter is a massive network of individuals and brands interacting with one another. Twitter is arguably the most relied upon social channel for news and has a wide international user base.

What to post & how often

Most businesses tweet about product promotions, online contests, sales, funny thoughts related to their industry, data insights, and new releases. Twitter allows business to be a little more playful than on other platforms, so the key is to keep it light and engaging. 8

IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

continued on Page 14

IVY LEAGUE TEAM HOODIE 222581 | 222681

Jersey Lined Hood with Metal Tipped Drawcord

Back

Augusta Sportswear Brands now in Canada with our Fair and Simple free shipping program.

For more details email canadasales@augustasportswear.com & visit www.augustasportswear.ca

CS-4978 Imprints CAD Sept/Oct Ad.indd 1

8/25/21 4:28 PM

Get Ready For Your Next

ADVENTURE

Check out www.DezineCorp.com for all your Stanley Gear

For All Your DRINKWARE Needs Ce ra m i c | M e t a l | G l a s s | Cr y s t a l | P l a s t i c

orders@dezinecorp.com

www.dezinecorp.com

News {Business Development} Three Deadly C’s, continued from Page 1

1. Commoditization: Salespeople all sound the same, and prospects can’t tell them apart. 2. Compressed Selling Time: More and more of the purchase process is made without a salesperson in the picture. 3. Consensus Decision-Making: Prospects no longer have a

single decision-maker, opting instead for decision-by-committee. Prospects have been operating this way for a long time now; they have no incentive to change the rules. Option one is to respond, providing more value earlier in the sale. Option two is to resign, wait to be invited and compete on price alone. Each of the Three Deadly C’s renders a different punishment upon today’s unprepared or ill-equipped salesperson. Understanding each one is the start to reversing the tide and gaining back access and influence in your sale.

Commoditization

What if the reason prospects buy based on price has nothing to do with savings? In order to understand why prices play an outsized role in your sale, you must understand how the human brain is wired to make decisions. Your prospects aren’t actually built to make the best decision, especially when the best decision is a difficult one. Instead, your prospect’s brain is looking to make the easy decision, but not because your prospects are lazy. The part of the brain responsible for keeping us alive is the part that makes most decisions. If it gets confused, it removes confusion rather than engaging more resources to figure things out. It’s just biology You’ve likely seen this in action. A prospect tells you that they’re trying to get an “apples-to-apples comparison.” Instead, they’re removing complexity so they can make the easy call, the lowest price. But prospects that see you as the way to solve a priority won’t need to compare. They’re hungry, and your apple is the solution.

Understanding each of Three Deadly C’s is the start to reversing the tide and gaining back access and influence in your sale

12 IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

Prospects commoditize us when we fail to reach that connection. We show up and say many of the same things as our competitors. Our differentiators never make a prospect think, “This is going to make a threat disappear.”

Compressed Selling Time

What if we lived in a world where information had no value? Years ago, winning deals was based on proximity and responsiveness. If a prospect wanted to learn about a product or a solution, they had to contact the companies selling it to gather information. Today, that’s no longer the case. Prospects that enter the marketplace have all the information they could ever want. Like anything else - when the marketplace is flooded with a particular item - that item loses value. Since the internet encompassed our daily lives, information has lost much of its value. Because of this, prospects do most of the buying without you. They do the research, they name a solution, and then they contact three to five organizations they think can do what they want. Is it possible that the prospect got it wrong? Absolutely! In fact, when prospects buy with a trusted advisor (read: salesperson) at their side from the very beginning, they report less remorse and higher satisfaction. But here’s the problem: if salespeople only offer information that provides no added value, why bring them in? If you want to take back some of that time, you have to show up with something of value. Insights that help them understand emerging threats and explain why things are happening to them are the way to unlock access. If you can make a connection early on in the decisionmaking process, you will have the time you need to find their priority and connect with it.

Consensus Decision-Making

When was the last time the whole family wanted the same thing for dinner? For most of us, planning something as predictable and repeatable as dinner can be a challenge. Here’s some bad news: your prospect is trying to decide something way more complicated, with far more people, and even stronger competing priorities. Every time the economy retracts, buying teams get larger. Every time the economy expands, the size of those buying teams stays the same. It’s not unheard of today to deal with seven or more members of a buying committee.

If you can make a connection early on in the decision-making process, you will have the time you need to find their priority and connect with it. It’s a wonder anything gets bought at all. As salespeople, we often work against ourselves by trying to meet the individual priorities of individual members. Unfortunately, making this work relies on the committee finding their own cohesion. It leaves too much to chance. Salespersons that understand how to unite the committee around a shared priority will shorten cycle times and lose fewer deals.

Prepare and Equip Your Team

You have certainly felt the Three Deadly Cs. If you want to stay relevant in today’s rapid-pace market, you must find a way to conquer them. If you have answers for any of the following questions, you’re off to a good start: • What is the real reason prospects should choose you? • What would you say to a high-level decision-maker to get a meeting with her next week? • What group priority can you unite a committee around? If you can’t answer these questions, and you don’t take action, you face a future of fulfillment. Your sales team will exist to produce quotes when asked and will win when they’re the lowest price. The alternative is a future in which your team is providing real value. One where you’re helping prospects eliminate threats and solving emerging challenges. When you win back your access and influence, it’s a much happier and financially healthier place to be.

About the Author: Jesse Laffen is a co-author of The Priority Sale: How to Connect Your Real Impact to Your Prospects’ Top Priorities, and a partner in Revenue Path Group, where he helps B2B sales companies prepare and equip their teams to sell the way modern prospects buy. For the first steps you and your team can take right now, visit www.theprioritysale.com.

Russell Athletic® DRI-POWER® Sweatpants (696HBMO)

Russell Athletic® DRI-POWER® Hooded Sweatshirt (695HBM1)

Russell Athletic® DRI-POWER® Sweatshirt (698HBM1)

JERZEES® NuBlend® Hooded Sweatshirt (996MR)

Available at

• Russell Athletic® products are in stock to service your requirements. • Russell Athletic® special orders are available. Call for a quote today. Address: 9285 49 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 3A9 Tel: 1(780) 466-1122 Website: www.qualitysportswear.ca

JERZEES® NuBlend® Pocketed Jogger Sweatpants (975MPR)

News {Business Development} Social Media Leverage, continued from Page 8

With over 500 million tweets sent daily, it’s easy to get lost in the clutter. Posting multiple times per day will allow you the most opportunity for your tweets to be seen by your followers and give them more chances to engage with you.

Instagram

Instagram is hugely popular; it has the third most people on the platform (1 billion!) and active users (500 million!). It offers a couple of different posting formats which gives business flexibility to target their audience and content in several unique ways. As Instagram is affiliated with Facebook, paid advertisements from your business Instagram account are created directly within Facebook and don’t need to be set up in an additional platform.

What to post & how often

The type of content you share on Instagram depends on which medium you choose: posts, stories or reels. Posts on Instagram should be photos, images or short videos of content that largely embodies your brand. This includes things like your company story, the expertise you can offer them, and some promotional items. You want the main focus to be the tip or insight itself, you can create an image with the information you are looking to convey as text. Stories and reels are a more casual vehicle for of posting content. If you are looking to drive engagement on your Stories or would like feedback for a product or campaign, you can use a poll or ask an open-ended question for your followers to answer. You can also overlay music to instill a certain emotion, write a bunch of text for an announcement, take casual photos and videos, pop in a countdown, or tag a person or location. Posting on Instagram is about quality and consistency. If

you start by posting a couple of times a week and then suddenly drop off, you could lose followers or engagement. Find what works for your business and stick to it. Posting Instagram Stories can be more frequent— even daily—as long as you have content and moments you’d like to share with your followers. Keep in mind that Instagram is all about the visuals. People are looking to follow businesses on Instagram to get a more visual expression of your brand. Show some high-quality photos of your product, some images that align with the value you bring to your customer, or some behind-the-scenes moments, like the example below.

YouTube

YouTube is the video platform with 1.9 billion monthly active users, with over a billion hours of video content being watched daily. It is the second largest search platform and the second most trafficked website behind Google. Creating video content for YouTube can greatly increase the credibility of your brand and drive a lot of engagement. Optimizing your videos to rank in search is a huge player in making sure your video shows up for users looking for your content. Additionally, as the platform is owned by Google, you can build out your paid campaigns directly in the Google Ads interface with targeting options powered by the largest search network.

What to post & how often

“How to” content is one of the top four content categories on YouTube. Your audience is out there looking for content to show or explain something to them - think instructional videos on embellishment techniques. Additionally, YouTube

EVERYDAY GREAT VALUE

With countless deadlines to push out to keep your business on track, social media can seem like a non-essential tactic that is easy to push to the wayside when things get hectic. But that could prove very costly to future business. users are 3x more likely to watch a YouTube video to learn how to use a product compared to reading instructions. Reusing existing content from your website in video form is a great way to produce content that will perform well, but try to keep content to two minutes in length. The frequency of posting depends on really how much content your team can sustainably produce. Be sure to track your referral traffic from YouTube, and see if it’s a channel that you should be investing more heavily in. If so, dedicate more resources to your video content, it’s working! Make sure you are optimizing your videos for Search Engine Optimization, using catchy titles, taking advantage of keywords, and tagging your videos correctly. Using cards or annotations with links and CTAs will help bring your YouTube traffic back to your site. While this is by no means an exhaustive list of social media networks, focusing on the “Big Five” is a good place to start leveraging your B2B & B2C networking. We hope this brief primer will help your business leverage social media networks to boost your brand recognition and engagement. Good Luck!

SUBLIMATABLE HD

PHOTO PANELS

ilumipix™ HD Photo Panels are designed to showcase superior fine art and high definition photo prints. they display the most brilliant colors, highest dynamic range, and the best contrast available using the most advanced technology to date. In comparison to normal direct flatbed printing on composite materials, ilumipiX™ is specifically designed for sublimation. Photos are transferred by printing on sublimation paper using a sublimation printer and then applying heat to transfer to the ilumipiX™.

VARIOUS SIZES AVAILABLE

From 4” x 6” UP TO 48” x 48”

1-800-565-5686

WWW.JOTOIMAGINGSUPPLIES.CA 14 IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

WEARABLES Nunavut Men’s & Ladies Puffy Coat Canada Sportswear is showcasing style L06025 / L06025 - the Nunavut Men’s & Ladies Puffy Coat. This style features a 100% polyester herringbone fabric with wind and water resistant coating and water repellent ﬁnish, Black 100% nylon trim, a detachable hood with adjustable drawcord, YKK front zipper and pocket zippers, a clamshell socket, and rib knit storm cuff on sleeve for added warmth. Available in Black, Red, Charcoal Heather For more information, please contact Canada Sportswear, Tel: 416740-8020 or visit www.canadasportswear.com

Softstyle® Tri-Blend T-Shirts For 2022, Gildan is showcasing its new tri-blend tshirts for men and women. Style #6750 and #6750L Gildan Softstyle® Adult and Ladies’ Tri-Blend T-Shirt are two exciting additions which are made from an ultra-soft blend of 50% polyester/25% combed ring spun/25% rayon. For added style, the 6750L features a ﬂattering curved bottom. The high stitch density of the fabric creates a smoother printing surface and modern black tear away labels make customization easy. The Adult Tri-blend T-shirt is available in a wide size range of S–3XL and ladies’ companion style in sizes LXS-L2XL and up to 10 popular shades. For more information, please visit www.mygildan.com

Soft & Stylish Marled Quarter Zip Jacket Milltex Sportswear is showcasing the Adult Heavy Weight Marled 1/4 Zip Sweat Jacket. Style 965 is constructed from Soft-Hand Fleece and features two-needle cover stitching. The 100% Cotton ﬁne surface is excellent for decorating. Detailing includes a covered YKK metal zipper and ribbing with Lycra Spandex. Available in four great heather colours in sizes: XS 3XL. Contact Milltex Sportswear at 905-820-1100 or visit www.milltex.ca

16 IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

Jerzees Snow Heather French Terry Collection Experience the ultimate softness and a versatile look with Jerzees Snow Heather French Terry collection. Made with slub textured fabric that gives it a vintage appearance and a ring-spun cotton/poly blend for a super soft hand. Available in a variety of unique snow heather colours, Jerzees Raglan Hood (90MR) and Crewneck (91MR) are perfect for any customization and branding. For details, contact the Jerzees team at CanadaCustomerService@fotlinc.com

Custom Scarves Are Made in Canada AJM continues to expand its popular Made In Canada program. New this year is the addition of the custom made scarf. Sporty and classic, this 60 inch double sided scarf offers a large canvas to display any company name and logo. Match your scarf with a custom made toque to showcase your brand or team while keeping you warm and looking great! For more information contact AJM International at 1-800-361-6256 or visit www.ajmintl.com

Midweight Mélange Jacket Enjoy the functionality of this midweight mélange jacket with 3M™ reﬂectivity and microﬂeece lining. The Forli (Men’s FW3180 / Women’s FW3183) is ideal for temperatures between -6°C to -21°C and is equipped with a detachable hood and waterproof fabric. Ideal for a wide selection of decoration techniques. Available in sizes XS4XL (Men) & XS-3XL (Women) Contact Fersten Worldwide (800) 565-7462 or visit www.fersten.com

PREP FOR WINTER: THREE-STEP GUIDE

Kotor FW3113 / FW3117 -6ºC to -21ºC 21ºF to -7ºF

Warmth Rating

STEP

Kenza FP519 5 Colors

Select from a wide variety of beanies, mitts, scarves, masks and more for a coordinated look

2 STEP

3 STEP

EMBROIDERY | LASER ETCHING |

fersten.com Imprint oct full ad final.indd 1

HDT TRANSFER

Browse our different warmth rating categories to find the perfect jacket suitable from the mildest to harshest of winters

Choose from over 30+ innovative decoration techniques to take your winter attire to the next level

| SDT TRANSFER APPLIQUÉ | RUBBER PATCHES | WOVEN LABELS

ASI 53974 | PPAI 253779 | PPPC 960129 | SAGE 67458 2021-10-05 4:25 PM

www.kingathletics.ca 100% MADE IN CANADA

WEARABLES

Black 100% Polyester Full Zipper Hoodie

Heavyweight Melton Wood Blend Jacket

Big K Clothing is showcasing item #BK3554 - the Black 100% Polyester Full Zipper Hoodie. Made from 100% black polyester, this garment comes with a full zipper front and 4” 3M reﬂective tape which meets CSA Z96-02 Class 2, Level 1 standards. Avaialble in sizes S-5XL.

Stay warm in this heavyweight Melton wool blend jacket. The Duluth (Men’s FW3210 / Women’s FW3215) boasts Anti-RFID and EZip™ features and is suitable for -10°C to -35°C. Choose from a variety of decoration techniques to bring your look to the next level. Available in sizes XS-4XL (Men) & XS-3XL (Women) Contact Fersten Worldwide (800) 565-7462 or visit www.fersten.com

For details visit www.bigKclothing.ca or contact 1.877.688.3031

Fashion Meets Function in the Softstyle® Tee

Chunky Knit Horizontal Stripes

The comfort and contemporary styling of the new Gildan Softstyle® 980 Adult Lightweight T-Shirt make this 100% ring spun cotton piece a must-have. Featuring shoulder to shoulder tape for added durability, this style is available in sizes S-3XL and offers a palette of 14 shades, ranging from solids to heathers, making individual expression easy.

AJM has introduced a fashionable, on-trend new cuff toque - 9C259M - to its extensive line of winter headwear. Made from an acrylic chunky knit, it features retail inspired horizontal stripes all throughout the crown. With a solid 8cm Pom Pom and a 6 seam snug ﬁt, this toque is perfect for all sports and the corporate market. Available in 6 popular colourways.

For details, please visit www.mygildan.com

Big Red Men’s Bomber Jacket with Sherpa Lining

Please contact AJM International at 1-800-361-6256 or visit www.ajmintl.com

Canada Sportswear's Big Red Men's Bomber Jacket (#L00910) is constructed from a 100% cotton canvas outer shell fabric with water repellent ﬁnish. Features include a detachable hood, a YKK Zipper, and rib knit body hem and sleeve storm cuff. The Body and hood are lined with polyester sherpa ﬂeece and the sleeves are lined with taffeta lining and compacted insulation. Available in Black, Navy, Brown. Contact Canada Sportswear, Tel: 416-740-8020 or visit www. canadasportswear.com

Russell Athletic Dri-Power Fleece Russell Athletic has delivered quality fleece products for over 80 years. The Dri-Power fleece collection - including 695HBM1 and 698HBM1 - features moisture-wicking technology that keeps you dry, comfortable and fresh throughout the day. Made with three-end fleece construction, Russell sweatshirts provide a smoother print surface for branding and is suitable for sideline and fan-wear programs. Please contact Russell Athletic team at CanadaCustomerService@fotlinc.com

AUTOMATIC PRETREAT SPRAYER EVERYDAY GREAT VALUE

◦ Dual Nozzle ◦ Auto-Nozzle Clean ◦ Multi-inlet Selector Valves

◦ Single Nozzle

1-800-565-5686

WWW.JOTOIMAGINGSUPPLIES.CA October 2021 | IMPRINT CANADA 21

WEARABLES

Lightweight Crew Tee

Big K Clothing is showcasing the Poly Wicking Navy Blue T-Shirt - Style BK2003. This navy blue 100% poly wicking T-shirt has a breast pocket and 4” 3M reﬂective tape which meets CSA Z96-02 Class 2, Level 1 standards. Available in S-5XL.

Milltex Sportswear's Adult Light Weight Short Sleeve Crew Tee - Style #990 - features a 30 Singles Ringspun Jersey with shoulder taping and a tubular construction. Solid colours are made from 100% cotton; Heather Colours are 60/40 Cotton/Poly; Graphite Heather is 70/30 Cotton/ Viscose; Grey Heather is 95/5 Cotton/Viscose.

For details visit www.bigKclothing.ca or contact 1.877.688.3031

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

Poly Wicking Navy Blue T-Shirt

CELEBRATING OVER 95 YEARS Canadian owned & operated since 1924

Manufacturers of sewing threads, wholesalers of elastics, tapes, trimmings etc.

THREADS, BOBBINS, BACKINGS, SPRAYS, NEEDLES,SCISSORS and Sew Much More! PPE – THREADS & ELASTICS Stay Strong – Stay Safe We Are All In This Together NEWFOUNDLAND

MARITIMES

MONTREAL

info@cansew.ca

TORONTO

www.cansew.ca

POLYESTER NYLON LYCRA

22 IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

WINNIPEG

CALGARY

EDMONTON

1-800-361-7722

VANCOUVER

ADDRESS : 3535 Laird Road, Unit 13 Mississauga, Ontario L5L5Y7 TO ORDER : Email : orders@milltex.ca | Call : 905-820-1100 | Website : www.milltex.ca

Enjoy the warmth of this ﬁne knit toque with contrasting colour mini stripes and a matching pom pom. The Boulder (FP544) is made from 100% Acrylic and is available in 4 different colour combinations. Ideal for decorations in Embroidery, SDT Transfer Appliqués, Leather and Rubber Patches, and Woven Labels. Unisex and one size ﬁts most Contact Fersten Worldwide (800) 565-7462 or visit www.fersten.com

Stylish Appeal in Gildan's New Ladies T The new 880 Gildan Softstyle® Ladies T-Shirt offers a stylish semi-ﬁtted contoured silhouette that makes this piece a fashion favourite ladies will love. The super-soft 7.5-ounce lin/yd fabric drapes the body beautifully. Available in 11 colours, including solids and heathers, in sizes LS-L2XL. For more information, please visit www.mygildan.com

The Cabin Brushed Flannel Shirt For Him & Her

Men's Zermatt 3-in-1 Jacket

WEARABLES

Fine Knit Toque

The stylish, versatile 3-in-1 Jacket will keep you ready for any weather with a critically seam-sealed outer softshell jacket that's both waterproof and breathable. Its detachable, eco-friendly inner liner is made with 30% recycled polyester sherpa ﬂeece to keep you comfy all day and can be worn on its own or layered with the outer shell for extra warmth and protection. The detachable snap-off hood is there when you need it, and the jacket's zipper pull doubles as a whistle.

Canada Sportswear's fashionable Cabin Brushed Flannel Shirt (S04505 & S04506) is constructed from 100% cotton ﬂannel brushed on both sides for a soft handfeel. Features include a two-piece point collar, a button front, a patch pocket on wearer’s left chest, a curved hem and back shoulder yoke. Available in Grey/Black Plaid, Red/Black Plaid For more information, please contact Canada Sportswear, Tel: 416-740-8020 or visit www.canadasportswear.com

For information, please visit www.trimarksportswear.com

Adult Long Sleeve Hooded T-Shirt The new 987 Gildan Softstyle® Adult Long Sleeve Hooded T-Shirt makes an ideal choice for cooler days. Made with 100% combed ring spun cotton for a super comfortable feel and the high stitch density fabric creates a smooth printing surface. In addition, the single ply hood makes it easy for decoration. Sizes S2XL are available in 7 colours, including attention-getting heathers with neon yellow or dark grey draw cords.

Jersey Knit Neck Warmer & Face Covering / Mask Stay warm and protected from the elements with the Pori (FP567), which doubles as a neck warmer and face covering / mask. Offered in 8 trendy colours, this multifunctional winter accessory can be coordinated with all your winter looks and is ideal for embroidered and knitted logos. Unisex and one size ﬁts most. Contact Fersten Worldwide (800) 565-7462 or visit www.fersten.com

For more information, please visit www.mygildan.com

EVERYDAY GREAT VALUE

SUBLIMABLE DRINKWARE

1-800-565-5686

WWW.JOTOIMAGINGSUPPLIES.CA October 2021 | IMPRINT CANADA 25

The Official Hotel Headquarters of The Western Imprint Canada Show

The Best Western Plus Calgary Centre Inn offers accommodations that are truly at the centre of it all. Our location is only minutes from The Western Imprint Canada Show as well as downtown businesses & shopping, the world famous Calgary Stampede and countless other attractions. You are the centre of our attention while you enjoy hotel amenities such as oversize rooms, free high speed Internet, free parking, large indoor pool, whirlpool and fitness centre.

LIMITED AVAILABILITY BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS EARLY!

SPECIAL RATES FOR SHOW GUESTS: $135/$151 INCLUDES FULL, HOT BREAKFAST! SHOW CODE: IMPRINT CANADA

(please use this code above to receive Show rate)

DEADLINE: JANUARY 18, 2022 Free shuttle service to/from the Show! BEST WESTERN PLUS CALGARY CENTRE INN 3630 Macleod Trail South Calgary, Alberta T2G 2P9

www.bwcalgarycentre.com For reservations, call: 1-877-287-3900

ADDRESS : 3535 Laird Road, Unit 13 Mississauga, Ontario L5L5Y7 TO ORDER : Email : orders@milltex.ca | Call : 905-820-1100 | Website : www.milltex.ca

Lucania & Kootenay Bottles High-Efficiency Rechargeable Flashlight / Work Light Simplex Promo’s new rechargeable flashlight / work light is a high-efficiency XPE 3W LED item which offers 100 lumens of brightness. The top worklight is a 5W COB LED with 300 lumens of brightness and the side work light delivers 250 lumens of brightness. Features include a heavy duty mounting magnet, clip and flush mounted hook for hanging and a 180˚ rotating stand - drop impact resistant. The light also flashes as a low power warning prior to battery running out. Available with full colour UV printing in one or two locations. Please visit www.simplexpromo.com or email info@simplexpromo.com or orest@csigifts.com

Classic Deluxe Sherpa Now in New Colours Ecorite’s popular B5685 Sherpa is now available in 4 colours with the new Red/Black Buffalo check and Charcoal joining Black and Navy. The perfect holiday giveaway – one size ﬁts all! Please visit www.ecorite.com or contact 416.636.2328

Stanley® IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler DezineCorp introduces the Stanley® IceFlow 20 oz. Flip Straw Tumbler (style M0141). This tumbler ensures that you always have crisp, cold hydration at hand. Made of 18/8 stainless steel that won’t rust and is also BPA free. This double wall, vacuum insulated tumbler keeps drinks cold 7hrs, or iced 35hrs. Features a built-in straw. The ergonomic shape and rotating handle make it easy to hold on the go. Available in 3 stylish colours. Please contact DezineCorp at (866) 625-7820 or visit www.dezinecorp.com

New Packable Pillow Blanket Ecorite’s new Packable Pillow Blanket (B5650) is the perfect blanket for car trips, camp outs and picnics. Easily folds up into the attached pouch and becomes a pillow, adding comfort to any situation whether it’s opened or closed. Please visit www.ecorite.com or contact 416.636.2328

28 IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

DezineCorp. introduces the new 24oz Lucania (M8224) and 40oz Kootenay (M8240) bottles. These stylish matte ﬁnish, double wall, vacuum insulated travel bottles are perfect for carrying your hot or cold beverages. The insulated technology keeps drinks hot or cold all day. The screw on lid with a comfort grip handle offers leak proof travel. Choose from multiple decoration types – screenprint, laser engraving or full colour direct digital. Packed in individual gift boxes, the Lucania & Kootenay make a great gift idea for your next promotional event. Please contact DezineCorp at (866) 625-7820 or visit www.dezinecorp.com

Ultima Rose Gold Accent Stylus Pen Windmill Canada is showcasing the Ultima Rose Gold Accent Stylus Pen (WC49626). Features include Windmill’s 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, and a matching colour touchscreen stylus on the end of the pen works on your smartphone or tablet For more details, please visit www.windmillcanada.ca

Holiday Gift Season Is Upon Us This year why not give a personalized gift that will not only leave a lasting impression but will be used and enjoyed. Each product in the Initials Co. product line has two medallion locations – you can put your branding in one location and then the recipients initials in the second location. You can also co-brand each product if you wish. From beautiful notebooks that are reﬁllable to toiletry bags to wine openers, Initials Co. has the gifts that will leave that lasting impression. For more information please visit www.theinitialco.com or email info@theinitialsco.com or orest@csigifts.com

ADDRESS : 3535 Laird Road, Unit 13 Mississauga, Ontario L5L5Y7 TO ORDER : Email : orders@milltex.ca | Call : 905-820-1100 | Website : www.milltex.ca

LowProfile® Embroidered Emblems

Ultimate Curing Solution for DTG Prints The Dido Shop is the ultimate curing solution for DTG prints due to its low energy consumption and compact size. Can cure 60 units per hour with 3 minute dwell time. Eliminate the “box” from pretreat and reduced dye migration in your curing process with this revolutionary technology. Sold exclusively at RB Digital. For details, please visit www.rbdigital.ca

Easily Create Patches & Crests Instacrest is a specialized material that lets you easily simulate the look of patches and crests. Simply embroider any design with a satin stitch outline as your patch edge, then tear the patch out of the material, and clean up the edges with a heat gun. Available in black, white, red and green.

SCISSORS

Find out more at https://emblemtek.com/ products/lowprofile/

New Polyester Thread Made From Recycled Plastic Cansew Inc. is proud to introduce POLYNEON GREEN- Madeira's new polyester embroidery thread manufactured from recycled plastic. This premium thread is made from a speciallydeveloped raw material which eliminates looping, puckering and virtually all thread breaks. You can enjoy creating premium, shiny embroidery, while reducing the impact on the environment. Same great performance - same great supplier. Contact Cansew Inc. for more details at: 1-800-361-7722 or info@ cansew.ca. www.cansew.com

Call 1-888-805-8631, or visit www.embroiderysystems.com

SPRAYS

Emblemtek's LowProﬁle® Embroidered Emblems appear to lie ﬂatter when applied to garments, and in many cases resemble direct embroidery, but can be stocked and applied to garments very quickly. These emblems are manufactured with 100% polyester twill fabrics and 100% polyester embroidery threads, with up to 15 colours per design.

EMBROIDERY THREAD

BOBBINS

For all your embroidery needs please contact us

30 IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

ADDRESS : 3535 Laird Road, Unit 13 Mississauga, Ontario L5L5Y7 TO ORDER : Email : orders@milltex.ca | Call : 905-820-1100 | Website : www.milltex.ca

A STAR IS BORN Speedy T Semi-Automatic Packaging Machine The Speedy T is a folding and semi-automatic packaging machine. It can fold 500 garments per hour with its stacking function and 350 garments per hour packaged. Capable of folding a wide variety of garments such as long sleeves, t-shirts, hoodies, onesies, and more due to its various folding programs. Sold exclusively at RB Digital. For details, please visit www.rbdigital.ca

When Function Meets Glamour!

POLY SPARKLE THREAD • Poly Sparkle™ is polyester thread that is twisted

with metallic thread • The polyester component makes Poly Sparkle™ hard wearing and soft, the metallic thread lets it sparkle and glitter • Great for costumes, dance and cheer wear, or anywhere you need glitz and glamour • Poly Sparkle™ is 30 Wt. & available in 54 colours

The Rest Of The

SUPPORTING CAST Poly™- A Crowd Favorite! 100% polyester thread, 40 & 60 Wt.

Poly Flash™- Up & Comer! 40 Wt. 100% polyester thread with a metallic-like sheen. Poly Fire™ - Hot Stuff! 40 Wt. flame resistant thread.

Use Your Embroidery Machine to Cut Out Patches, Appliques & More Replace one of the needles in your embroidery machine with a cutting needle from Embroidery Systems Canada, and use it in combination with a digitized bean stitch to cut patches or shapes or holes in your fabric. The cutting needle is a great alternative to cutting by hand, or using a laser or other expensive equipment. Call 1-888-805-8631 or visit www.embroiderysystems.com for more information

Bataboff® Bobbins American & Eﬁrd Inc., is offering their in-stock Bataboff Bobbins. Available from stock style L sided – sideless – Style M sided –and now we offer the Magnetic bobbins in White and Black style L sided. For details, please contact American & Efird, Inc., Tel: 800-361-0787 email: canada.client@elevatetextiles.com

Eco-Friendly, High Production Screen Transfers No more weeding like traditional vinyl transfers! Save On Stitch's screen transfers are printed with eco-friendly specialty ink and come with transparent carrier sheet for super easy placement. Low temperature application for delicate items. Fast turnaround. Soft hand feel. Vibrant colours. Your heat press production will be faster and easier than ever. For more information, please visit www.sostransfer.com

Monarch Ink - Now Available in Canada! RB Digital is pleased to bring Monarch Color to the Canadian marketplace. Monarch Color manufactures some of the newest, most innovative, plastisol screen printing inks on the market today. Specializing in low-temp plastisol inks to meet today's printing challenges. From bleeding sports apparel, to exotic fabrics that can't take standard cure temperatures, RB Digital has you covered. Sold exclusively at RB Digital. For details, please visit www.rbdigital.ca

Powerful Magnetic Hoops & Magnetic Hooping Accessories Mighty Hoops Magnetic hoops have been gaining popularity over the past few years, and Embroidery Systems Canada has all of the hoop sizes for most major machine manufacturers. We also carry hooping stations and backing holders to make using Mighty Hoops even easier.

Specialty Threads Premium Backing Education + Training Embroidery Experts on Staff Buy Online Or Call Us

1.800.663.6359 | gunold.ca

For more information, call 1-888-805-8631, or visit www.embroiderysystems.com

SmartHead Technology Barudan Canada is a one-stop embroidery equipment and supplies provider. Featured is the K-series 6-head machine with New SmartHead technology, SmartHead Sewing Head and Servo Motors for Increased Production. Shop for single and multi-head machines, order hoops, framing devices, machine parts, Madeira thread and more for all your embroidery needs. Visit shop.barudan.ca for more information

32 IMPRINT CANADA | October 2021

Bomber Jacket with Sherpa Lining

www.canadasportswear.com

We are here for you

Men’s style L00910

Big K ImprintAd October2021 FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 2021-09-27 2:37 PM Page 1

YOU R LOGO

Your Brand Says It All YOUR LOGO

Over 300 Products Heat Transfer, Embroidery and Screen Printing Available on Minimum Orders of 12 Items

No Minimum Quantities on Non- Imprint Orders Fast Turnaround

www.BigKClothing.ca • Call Toll Free 1.877.688.3031

Puffy Coat

www.canadasportswear.com

We are here for you

Men’s style L06025 Ladie style L06026