CWB Schoolwear by fashion buyers Ltd

SCHOOLWEAR | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

SChOOL WEAR: ThE LATEST NEWS AND OpINION fROM ThE SChOOLWEAR INDUSTRy 32: News 36: The ins and outs of export Investigating the opportunities in overseas markets for UK schoolwear suppliers 38: Prepare to export The British Exporters Association’s (BExA) recommendations for a new exporter 43: The Schoolwear Show preview Highlights of what’s on offer at the event for Back to School 2015 52: Charles Kirk anniversary How the business has evolved over the last 75 years

October 2014 - 31

SCHOOLWEAR | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

Schoolwear NEWS: The latest news from the schoolwear industry Schoolwear reTailer launcheS Tailoring Service School Uniform Shop, a Herefordshire retailer of bespoke school uniform, sports kit and school stationery, has supplemented its offer with the addition of a tailoring service. The provision is designed to offer customers a convenient, cost-effective and quick alteration service for garments such as school trousers, skirts and shorts. Alterations offered include fixing zips, taking up trousers and trimming skirts, with hemming available by-hand or machine. The retailer has created a promotional video for the service, which can be viewed on YouTube. Commenting on the new service, School Uniform Shop managing director Luke Conod says, “We have found the tailoring to be a real USP for the business; the customers love it.” —

waleS proveS hoT SpoT for fairTrade SchoolS Wales has succeeded in making Fairtrade available throughout the nation, including over 400 schools committing to learning about Fairtrade and using Fairtrade products. Additionally, Fair Trade Wales and ethical school uniform and Fairtrade cotton uniform supplier KoolSkools are introducing a new Fairtrade Cotton project for schools in Wales. As part of an initial pilot project, a select number of grants are being offered to enable more Welsh schools to introduce Fairtrade cotton into their school uniforms. Today, with the help of over 1,000 volunteers from across the country, all of Wales’ cities are Fairtrade. There are Fairtrade groups in 58 towns, all 22 Welsh counties. For further information visit www.fairtradewales.com. —

newS in Brief

KK Schoolwear 60 yearS old uKTi rollS ouT exporT evenTS UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will be holding its sixth Export Week on 10-14 November. A varied series of events will take place across the UK throughout the week, aimed at businesses either starting their export journey or seeking to increase their international business. Previous Export Weeks have seen over 17,000 UK companies attend exporting focused events, with this year featuring over 70 events across the UK. The flagship roadshow ExploreExport will be touring the country at 11 venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Over 120 UKTI Trade Officers worldwide will be available for one-to-one meetings on their dedicated markets to help companies “explore” the possibilities of exporting to their countries. For more information and event details visit www.exportweek.ukti.gov.uk. —

— This year saw Marks & Spencer open its first standalone Back To School store in Manchester’s Trafford Centre. M&S took advantage of an empty unit in the shopping centre to house its Back To School pop-up shop, which remained open until 7 September.

This year, KK Schoolwear is celebrating 60 years in business. Situated in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, in the same purpose-built factory since 1973, the company still remains a family business after 60 years, with a focus on sourcing and manufacturing in the UK, creating jobs in the community, and building a highly skilled and motivated team – many of which have been employed by KK Schoolwear for over 25 years. “Over recent years we’ve been involved in the redesign of uniforms at numerous schools such as Millfield and Bromsgrove,” says KK Schoolwear’s sales and marketing director, Mona Houston. “Currently we have nine such projects in development with our retailers and schools. We see this role as ever more important in the years to come, as more and more uniforms are moving towards a tendering process. We see this as being a key trend with the importance of working in partnership becoming ever more significant.” Going forward, the company’s main motivation is to remain committed to UK manufacturing and providing job security for its loyal workforce. —

— Tiverton High School in Devon has experienced a backlash from parents due to its strict enforcement of the school’s uniform policy seeing pupils either taken out of classes or sent home. The school reacted to uniform policy breaches such as wearing coloured socks instead of plain, black trainers instead of the regulation school shoes, skinny jeans and jewellery.

— A new schoolwear shop – Bridge Schoolwear – has opened in the Colne Valley in a former bank in Milnsbridge, Huddersfield. The premises has been fully refurbished to create a retail space over two floors. Bridge Schoolwear supplies uniforms for local high schools and primary schools, and Cub and Brownie packs.

October 2014 - 32

SCHOOLWEAR | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

uKfT chairman peTer lucaS To STep down

COLIN JACKSON VOLUNTEERING FOR JOIN IN WITH KIDS AT BANGOR CITY FC.

UKFT chairman Peter Lucas will be stepping down as of May 2015, with deputy chairman Nigel Lugg elected to take over the role. Lucas, who has held the position since 2008, began his involvement with the Industrial Relations Committee of the British Clothing Industry Association in 1987, as well as previously serving highly active roles within the Board of BCIA, The British Apparel and Textile Confederation, The British Knitting and Clothing Export Council and UK Fashion Exports. —

official parTnerShip for inTerSporT and Join in International sporting goods retailer Intersport has become an official partner to Join In, a London 2012 legacy charity that puts more volunteers into community sport. Together, they aim to strengthen their existing relationships with grass roots sports clubs and make a lasting difference to community sports groups across the UK. As part of the collaboration, Join In’s team of over 250 local leaders will be matched with their local Intersport store in order to make volunteer resources more accessible to grass roots clubs. Chairman of The Join In Trust, Lord Charles Allen of Kensington CBE says, “I am delighted that Intersport has joined us as an official partner. As we broaden our engagement with grassroots sports clubs, it is important to spread the word and highlight the vital role that volunteers play in community sport. Intersport can help us do that, as they continue their very real commitment to making a difference in community sport.” —

david luKe’S high endurance At the time of going to print, the “#totalecool team” from David Luke were testing their mental fortitude and athletic ability by taking part in the Peak District Endurer Dash in support of Barnardo’s (a charity for which David Luke has been linked with over recent years). The “#totalecool team” – made up of Kathryn Shuttleworth, Kirsty Conroy, Mark Woolgar, Richard Moody, Ian McLaverty and Abigail Trench – are set to undergo a 14km obstacle course on muddy terrain for the company’s chosen charity, whose purpose is to transform the lives of the UK's most vulnerable children. —

newS in Brief

TougheeS launcheS wellieS School footwear brand Toughees has introduced a new range of coloured Wellington boots. Available in red, purple, green, navy and pink, the boots come complete with a sock lining, which is removable to enable washing and provide more room when the child’s foot grows. Available in sizes 20-35, the Wellingtons wholesale for £9.99. Toughees school shoes have been manufactured in South Africa since 1954, with in excess of four million pairs sold every year. —

TicKeTS STill availaBle for Sa fundraiSer Tickets are still available for this year’s annual Schoolwear Association (SA) fundraising event, which takes place following the second day of The Schoolwear Show on Monday 13 October. The Roaring 20s themed evening, which is sponsored by William Turner & Son and Charles Kirk, will be held at Hogarths Hotel in Solihull. Starting at 7.30pm and running until late, the event will consist of a sit down meal, 20s-style entertainment, dancing, a fundraising auction and a few surprises to be revealed on the night. The dress code is 20s theme or black tie. In conjunction with the event, Hogarths Hotel, which is in very close proximity to The Schoolwear Show’s venue at Cranmore Park, is offering a special Schoolwear Association rate of £105 B&B for any night of the exhibition’s duration. For tickets and further information, email Marie Bradburn at marie.bradburn@hotmail.co.uk. Last-minute tickets will also be available to purchase from the SA during the first day of the show. —

— John Lewis’ school uniform department is offering the hijab for the first time. The retailer is stocking the headdress, worn by Muslim women to cover the head and chest areas, in its London and Liverpool stores.

new Schoolwear indie ScoopS award New Welsh independent The Pencil Case, located in Cowbridge and an official supplier of local school uniform, gymnastics and dancewear alongside contemporary stationery and gifts, has won the New Start-up of the Year 2014 award. Wesley Skene, founder of the South Wales Business Awards, says, “Since 2008, the awards have been celebrating excellence in the Welsh business community. This year has been without doubt our most strongly contested and competitive awards. Our winners and nominees have shown that Wales is one of the leading nations for entrepreneurship and we must continue to champion this cause.” The accolade is part of the annual South Wales Business Awards 2014 and was presented at a ceremony on 12 September 2014 at the Bear Hotel in Cowbridge. —

— The Footwear Industry Awards team is inviting school footwear retailers throughout Britain, large or small, to enter The National Shop Front of the Year Award, which is part of the Footwear Industry Awards (FIAs). Designed to reward individuals and businesses that contribute the most to the footwear industry, this free awards scheme is open to all retailers and brands.

— K.T. Labels was one of six companies shortlisted for the finals of the Innovation Award for the Global Label Awards 2014. Its selection was for its new shoe label, which is now sold in Marks & Spencer, BHS and a number of independent schoolwear retailers spanning the UK to Australia.

October 2014 - 33

Knitwear preferred...

Socks preferred...

magicfit offer the complete package Beware of false imitations... Unique magicfit knitwear is the preferred choice

✔ Special Socks ✔ Standard Socks ✔ Budget Socks ✔ Games Socks ✔ Sports Socks ✔ Cotton Tights ✔ Opaque Tights ✔ Leisurewear ✔ And New Generation Knitwear

Quality and Service from a Name you can Trust - magicfit tel. 0116 2773857 or 0116 2779789 fax. 0116 2784395 www.magicfit.co.uk

EXPORTING | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

ThE iNS aNd OuTS Of ExpOrT an increasing number of uK schoolwear suppliers are seeking growth opportunities in overseas markets. here, a panel of schoolwear specialists offer their experiences of exporting, from initial research to the challenges they have encountered along the way. —

andy SmiTh, md, william Turner — “Understanding the market is one of the main challenges of exporting overseas because every market is different. If you’re serious about it you have to get on a plane and meet with clients face-to-face. Sometimes the best way is to get out there and meet people and see what it’s all about. I don’t think I have ever got a response just from sending an email. I had to go to them, and that’s the only way I got business in Australia. “The internet can only take you so far – a basic search tells you if the market exists, but we’ve been heavily involved with UKTI. I went to it first to see which services you can get for free. We commissioned an OMIS report, whereby the embassy ran a full report into the schoolwear market. The report varies depending on which country you are dealing with and tells you detailed information about the market. UKTI has provided travel grants and contacts for specific problems and queries. Other than that, you’re pretty much on your own. We export to the Middle East, North America, Australia, Europe and Africa. It’s our main drive at the moment. There is an expanding market overseas, and lots of opportunities. Uniform is starting to be adopted in countries where it wasn’t before, such as Italy. And there is an increase at the amount of English schools overseas; we’ve seen an increase in China, in cities such as Beijing. We’re also finding that overseas customers are coming to us because they think English uniforms are better quality.” —

charleS horTon, md, charles Kirk — “our export experience has been fairly limited, and is mainly gained from existing customers, The Schoolwear Show and word of mouth. we currently export directly to Bermuda, canada and Japan, but our garments are also worn in schools in africa and the middle east – and on stage in new york in the current matilda production. The main challenges in exporting overseas are understanding how different markets work and locating an entry points, the currency fluctuation and transport costs. with regard to developing this area of the business, we would be interested in expanding our overseas trade, but not to the detriment of our local markets.” —

pierS mounTgarreT, marketing & export manager, Blue max Banner — “The export side of the Blue Max Banner business is growing, but is still fairly small in the context of our overall turnover. We have found the UKTI to be extremely supportive – it helped us to secure a grant, which we used to promote our products at some of the major international trade fairs a few years ago. It was instrumental in securing our current business. We currently export to Canada, Germany, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Our biggest customer is based in Canada. We have a great advocate of the Blue Max Banner brand on the ground here, who has been instrumental in getting our brands overseas. We also know that a couple of our key customers ship our uniforms to foreign schools, so we are exporting a significant volume of our school uniforms indirectly. Up until now, export hasn’t received as much support as we would like as all of our investment has been channelled into getting

the business and customer service in the UK up-to-speed following all of our acquisitions. However, we are now very much on track and are about to announce the appointment of a business development executive, who will be tasked with developing new markets for our business. Export will play a significant role in this. Knowing and understanding the markets in new geographical locations is critical. We recognise that we must invest in management time and enable members of our sales team to make regular visits to our target territories to conduct research, build contacts, nurture relationships and attend relevant exhibitions. Transportation costs can be challenging. To make them viable, we need customers to order significant volumes so that they can be shipped direct from our factories in the Far East.” —

October 2014 - 36

EXPORTING | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

miKe BrumfiT, director, falcon Sportswear — “We have exported to numerous EU countries, as well as exporting as far away as Bermuda and Nigeria. We are always interested in developing our export business, but currently more focused on our UK customers, domestic growth and the constantly changing trends of the UK school sportswear market. We conducted a lot of web-based research when we were originally approached by an overseas business to supply them with goods. HMRC has an in-depth section on its website, covering the overseas supply of goods and services. There is also the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) arm of the government, as well as many other sites that offer good advice and pitfalls to avoid. Additionally, our overseas customers have experience of importing themselves, so we communicate constantly with them. The important thing is to ensure

you are always up-to-speed with the latest government and trade information, which changes frequently. The main challenges we face are two-fold. The administration side of things can be quite labour-intensive; researching, completing multiple copies of documentation required for the customers, the freight forwarders and dealing with both UK customs and customs of the country we are exporting to. The other challenge can be the transportation aspect; although there are many companies that specialise in this, we are used to offering our customers next day delivery – and this cannot be easily achieved while exporting.” —

John BaineS, director, Kwik Tapes KaThryn ShuTTleworTh, commercial director, david luke — “we export on a small scale and in a reactive way. we deal with trade overseas when we get enquiries through. it is an area we are considering expanding on, and it is something to consider because there are opportunities in the Southern hemisphere. however, it is just looking at it logistically, and considering if it is the right thing to do at the moment. it is something we might consider more if the right deal came along.” —

— “I supply to countries around the world, but the majority of our export overseas is to the British Colonial countries such as Australia, where the more traditional schools are based and use traditional school uniforms. We make labels, and therefore my product is small, but one of the biggest problems is the cost of delivery overseas. We always charge the best possible prices but some things you can’t help. For instance, there’s major corruption in Africa at the moment, particularly Zimbabwe, because of the heavy duty prices. The charges are unreliable – one day it will cost you the normal amount and the next it will be charged at double what it should be. The worst place to deliver to is Russia, because there are some areas you can’t get to. We’re looking at opening our own delivery offices overseas to try and get around some of the problems, and in the near future we will be opening one in Ireland. When it comes to overseas exportation, it’s a learn-as-you-go experience. There are organisations that try

to help and can provide you with special discounts, but overall I was disappointed with the amount of support available to UK businesses. There are grants available, but the allocation of these grants is unfair, and it seems like first come first served in a lot of circumstances. Developing the overseas exportation side of our business is the main focus at the moment. I think this side of business is the future, so we grow it every year. We do this in a variety of ways, mainly through e-commerce because it is integral to overseas trade. Our stockist Marks & Spencer has a “text-a-tag” service, where customers can order labels through their phones by texting a number. Everyone has a mobile phone these days, and it’s important to look at developing and catering for technology.” —

October 2014 - 37

EXPORTING | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

prEparE TO ExpOrT a guide to navigating the first steps of an exporting journey. A company considering exporting for the first time should not be put off by the multitude of rules and regulations. An early port of call should be the UK government websites UK Trade & Investment (www.ukti.gov.uk), HMRC (www.customs.hmrc.gov.uk), and the government-sponsored Open To Export (www.opentoexport.com). The British Exporters Association (BExA), an independent national trade association representing the interests of the export community, provides its top 20 recommendations for a new exporter. 01: Where are you planning to export? Which are the most favourable destinations for your products considering your local contacts (if any), competitiveness and brand recognition plus also duties and tariffs? Be prepared to visit the market. 02: Country risks include payment, delivery, documentation, customs clearance, risks of damage or theft in transit. Consider subscribing to exporter references and guides (see reference at foot of this commentary). 03: An export cannot proceed until cleared by Customs. It is important that the Customs Classification of your goods is accurate. Familiarise yourself with Tariff Codes Commodity Codes, Customs Procedure Codes (CPCs) and customs entries. Getting it wrong can be very expensive, either for you or your customer. 04: Understand your responsibilities and obligations for the export customs declaration, even when the customer sends its own freight forwarder to collect goods from your premises. When a freight forwarder undertakes the customs declaration on your behalf, give specific instructions as to values, product classifications, record keeping and evidence of export. Check the accuracy of all customs declarations – they are your responsibility. 05: Documentation – accuracy is vital. Never undervalue or mis-declare goods to reduce your customer’s import costs, however persuasive he is. Sometimes you just have to say, “No”. 06: Exports to a destination outside the EU are exempt from VAT (zero rated). However you must prove that the goods have left the EU or you will become liable for the VAT. 07: Goods despatched to other EU countries can be VAT-able at destination – so long as you provide your customer’s VAT registration number and evidence of export. 08: Get trained. A few hundreds of pounds spent on training key staff in export procedures could well save thousands (or more) in the future. 09: Agree terms of delivery – in accordance with Incoterms® Rules – that work for you and

your customer. Understand exactly what each term really means when it comes to the division of costs and responsibilities. Beware Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) – your customer is bound to ask for it at some point and you could become liable for unexpected and unlimited costs. 10: Take care when preparing bids, costings and quotations. Work out and understand the true costs of preparing, documenting and shipping your goods to the place of destination. Also keep in mind costs associated with trade finance and your travel costs. 11: Understand that transfer of (cargo) risk is not the same as transfer of title, and that possession does not mean ownership. 12: Prepare written contracts of sale, ideally subject to English Law. Include a clause about dispute resolution, eg arbitration and legal jurisdiction. With exports, if it can go wrong, at some stage it probably will. Take legal advice to protect yourself and your company. 13: Don’t forget Intellectual Property. You may need to protect your ideas and designs, and certainly do not want to infringe someone else’s. 14: If you are shipping standard goods (as opposed to hazardous or unusual sized/shaped loads), your freight forwarder may provide marine/transit insurance. Ask for cover “warehouse to warehouse”. “Destination” Incoterms® Rules have the advantage that you control the transit insurance, and, if there is a loss, you negotiate the claim. 15: Payment risk. Most export obligations are “open credit”, eg payment by simple invoice 30 days from despatch. Establish if your customer is creditworthy before you make a quotation/bid either by obtaining a credit reference agency report or by asking a credit insurer – via your insurance broker – for export credit insurance against the risk of non-payment and to cover country/political risks. “An export isn’t an export until your money is in the bank!” 16: Bank payment security (such as a bank guarantee or Letter of Credit) will be more secure for you but expensive for your customer who will need to utilise banking lines which may have an impact on its cash flow. It is possible that your products will be more competitive if your customer can pay for them in a manner that suits its cash flow. 17: Look after your cash flow. Winning an order is a huge achievement, but not if it drains your company’s cash. Read BExA’s Guide to Financing Exports, ask suppliers for longer terms, and talk to your bank. Manage currency exposures in case these eat into your profit margin.

18: Be aware of, and treat seriously, your responsibilities under the Bribery Act 2010, particularly when exporting to countries where bribery is endemic. 19: Keep records of all customs entries, evidence of export, transport documents, contractual agreements. Ensure documents are easily accessible should you receive a Customs audit or if payment from your customer is late. 20: Take advice. UKTI, BExA, Chambers of Commerce, the IoE and independent specialists offer help and advice. Make the most of the knowledge that’s out there, but don’t just blindly believe everything you hear, and definitely not everything you read on the Internet. And if you’re still not sure, double check… then check again. —

REFERENCES: BExA guides and commentaries available from www.bexa.co.uk: Guides: Successful Exporting, Financing Exports, Export Compliance, Letters of Credit, Export Credit Insurance, Contract bonds, Retention of Title Commentaries: Incoterms 2010, Bribery Act 2010, Contract Frustration; UK Export Finance Short Term Export Credit Insurance; Bond Issue Support Chambers of Commerce: www.britishchambers.org.uk Commodity Code: Check the unique Commodity Code of your goods – see Vol 2 of The Integrated Tariff on www.gov.uk. Codes may differ for EU and non-EU sales. Evidence of export (for VAT exemption): Details of what constitutes evidence of export can be found in HMRC Customs notice 703 (VAT Export of Goods from the UK, August 2006). Export credit insurance: Ask your insurance broker about export credit insurance (payment risk protection), which may include UK export finance. Export training: Courses are provided by the IoE, Chambers of Commerce, Strong & Herd and Tate’s. Exporter references: Croner’s Reference Book for Exporters 0800 634 1700. Tate’s Export Guide 01908 221162 UK export finance: Export credit insurance and finance support for UK exporters is provided by this UK government department. HMRC: HM Revenue & Customs “Guide to importing and exporting – breaking down the barriers” (Version 36, October 2012). VAT, Excise & Customs helpline 0845 010 9000 Tariff Classification Service 01702 366077 Incoterms® rules: Incoterms 2010’s 11 terms of delivery, set out the responsibilities of shipper and customer. International Chamber of Commerce 020 7838 9363 IoE: Institute of Export – for export training www.export.org.uk Strong & Herd: Strong & Herd 0161 499 7000 www.strongandherd.co.uk Tate’s: www.tatefreightforms.co.uk UKTI: 020 7215 5000 www.ukti.gov.uk and www.gov.uk

— For further information contact Hugh Bailey, director, British Exporters Association 020 7222 5419 hughbailey@bexa.co.uk. October 2014 - 38

UK DESIGN & MANUFACTURE

CELEBRATING 60 YEARS IN BUSINESS We at KK see the importance of working in partnership with our customers and suppliers becoming ever more significant. With the trend towards tendering, one of our key strengths as a UK manufacture remains the ability to provide excellent support throughout, from Concept to Creationâ&#x20AC;Ś Fair Hill, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland BT45 6BL

T 028 7963 2188 F 028 7963 4077 E sales@kkschoolwear.com www.kkschoolwear.com

See us at The Schoolwear Show - Stand 35

Visit us at The Schoolwear Show, Cranmore Park, Solihull, B90 4LE 12-14 October 2014

THE SCHOOLWEAR SHOW | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

ThE SChOOlWEar ShOW 2014 12-14 OCTOBER 2014, CRANMORE pARk, SOLIhULL

— highlights of what’s new for Back To School 2015 at this month’s edition of The Schoolwear Show – the uK’s only trade exhibition dedicated solely to the independent schoolwear retailer.

AKOA

1880 CLUB Presenting its most comprehensive range of schoolwear to date, 1880 CLUB combines quality fabrics and functional design to create pieces made for the long-term and to withstand both the classroom and playground. New for 2015 is the option of anti-pill yarn, which is now available in knitwear, with fit and shape continuing to be updated to remain contemporary. —

Trutex’s sportswear brand Akoa is introducing a new goalkeeper kit available in two colours to complement its stock football kit. The long-sleeve goalkeeper kit has a contrast colour shaped panel across the front shoulder to match the football kit design, and features padding detail to the lower arms and hips. Akoa is also set to showcase a new, improved sports sock, which is made in the UK and stock supported in nine colours. The made-to-order range, meanwhile, includes the addition of a girls’ long sleeve polo, ideal for winter sports, with additional styles also added to the sublimation offering, which now includes T-shirts, athletic vests and netball dresses. — October 2014 - 43

THE SCHOOLWEAR SHOW | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

CHADWICK TEAMWEAR Utilising its knowledge and expertise as a performance fabrics supplier, Chadwick Teamwear offers a 25-piece collection of key school products including base layers (tops, shorts and tights) performance shorts, outerwear, tech T-shirts, hoodies and training pants. Bestsellers include a range of contact and non-contact training tops featuring subtle details that reflect the changing demands emerging from image-conscious schools and organisations. New products, meanwhile, include a pro-quality skort for age six years upwards, a female fit side zip pant and a new durable personal kit bag. Plans for 2015 include a multi-sport technical fit polo in a full range of colour options along with a new seamless underlayer product. —

BALMORAL New school knitwear styles are constantly in progress at Balmoral. This year alone, the company has made over 60 new styles of made-to-order school pullovers and cardigans. These include special shades, special patterns, and bespoke stripe colours and combinations, the latter of which is achieved with the help of Balmoral’s exclusive access to a spinner’s library of thousands of yarns. Balmoral is also increasingly able to shape and fashion knitwear – for instance heavier weight seven-gauge wool/nylon sweaters – and is training its staff in new skills to add to the company’s growing technology capacity. —

CYBERTILL

BLUE MAX BANNER New for 2015 is a contemporary, slim-fit trouser collection; the Trimley for girls and Slimbridge for boys. Targeting older students, the trousers are designed to fit below the waist and snugly at the top of the leg. The Slimbridge is available in black, charcoal, grey and navy, and the Trimley in black and navy. Now in its second year, and continuing to be key in Blue Max Banner’s portfolio, is the E-Warrior two-button blazer, constructed from up to 35 non-biodegradable plastic bottles and featuring a back vent and matt finish in a format for girls and boys. Also key is the casual schoolwear offer and staples such as the Penthouse polo – whose tight-knit weave provides a base for embroidery and colour consistency with easy care properties – the Select and Classic sweatshirt collection, jackets, socks and tights. A bespoke service is also available. —

This year, Cybertill will be showcasing its mobile point-of-sale solution and ecommerce platform. Cybertill’s Epos system works on an iPad as a mobile point of sale, allowing schoolwear retailers to turn an iPad into an additional till at peak selling times, and also remotely, as a till and stock control tool when selling at school events. Cybertill’s Epos and ecommerce applications are also integrated to ensure visibility of stock online is accurate, so services such as click and collect can be offered. Additionally, it offers a single, responsive ecommerce website, which changes its appearance and layout based on the size of the screen the website is displayed on, whether it be a laptop, tablet or phone, enabling the retailer to manage one website alone. —

October 2014 - 44

BO-BELL New to The Schoolwear Show this year is footwear brand Bo-bell, with its Back to School range of shoes. With over 25 years’ experience creating and developing children’s footwear in its factory in Portugal, Bo-bell shoes are currently sold in over 500 retail shops across Western Europe, Dubai, Hong Kong and Israel. The company has a production capacity of 150,000 pairs per year, supported by a team of 64 staff and the latest technologies developed for production. During the last three years, the company has invested more than ¤1m in new plant, information and communications technology, product development and promoting innovative manufacturing techniques, with the latest machinery and up-to-date training. —

DAVID LUKE New for David Luke for 2015 includes the expansion of its Eco uniform range, which features items that all have part, or total, polyester content made from recycled plastic bottles. Joining David Luke’s Eco uniform range of Eco Blazers and Eco Jackets for 2015, therefore, will now be all boys’ trousers, girls’ skirts, sweatshirts and polo shirts. New skirts for 2015 are a junior drop-waist skirt, junior stitched-down knife pleat style, and a senior pleated skirt. These are available in grey, navy and black on some styles. Another addition is the new sports short in poly/cotton to replace a number of previous styles offered by David Luke. The new short offers much-improved styling and fit with a brushed cotton finished fabric and is available in a range of colours, including white, black, navy, maroon, royal and red. Finally, a new collection of smart cord trousers and shorts will be showcased. Produced in the same styles as David Luke’s current trouser and short range, the new cords offer is available in navy and grey. —

CHARLES KIRK This year, Charles Kirk is celebrating 75 years of manufacturing. New for 2015, following positive feedback from customers in 2014, are Charles Kirk cushions. The cushions will be available to view at the show, together with a dedicated brochure outlining all of the possibilities for a cushion that can be sold as a promotional, commemoratory or celebratory gift, made in school/team colours and adorned with logos or wording. Also on offer will be the long-standing Heritage Definition knitwear range and the more recent additions of the Coolflow Knitwear and Colour Plus Sweatshirt lines. Charles Kirk will also be promoting its in-house embroidery and printing facilities and wide array of options available for made-to-order garments produced in the UK. —

DIAMOND TEXTILES First-time exhibitor Diamond Textiles, which has over 20 years’ experience in manufacturing high quality fabrics, specifically fleece fabrics and schoolwear, is now in the process of securing the supply of boys’ school trousers and girls’ pinafores and skirts for 2015. These will be available in grey, with other colours to follow. Also new to the company’s product range is knitwear, available in two compositions across a range of colours. Other school garments covered by Diamond Textiles are crew neck sweatshirts, V-neck sweatshirts, cardigans and jog pants. Alongside these it also produces zip-up tops and hooded jumpers, all of which feature piping. Sizes range from ages 2-3 years up to 13 years, plus small, medium, large and extra-large. — October 2014 - 45

THE SCHOOLWEAR SHOW | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

HELIX Helix Trading offers a choice of three educational brands. Oxford for traditional academic school accessories, Helix for technical school equipment, while Maped offers colourful and innovative products for school. Since joining forces with Maped in 2012, the Helix and Helix Oxford ranges are now complemented by Maped brands, which offer design-led, user-friendly and innovative products. The award-winning Maple Jungle Innovation and Helix Oxford school equipment will be exhibited at the show. —

FALCON This year’s show marks the launch of Falcon’s new encoRe collection, which is a technically advanced line of sportswear manufacturing using newly developed Type R fabric. The applied technology ensures each garment benefits from three core attributes – SolR, DriR and EnduR. In terms of product, the encoRe range consists of a reversible sports top, unisex polo shirt, T-shirt, hooded top, skort and short. Other new additions are a co-ordinated sock to complement the current Spirit line, and a 260gsm polyester/cotton jog bottom available in black/white and navy/white. —

K.T. LABELS As part of its offer, K.T. Labels will showcase its improved nametape machine, which is now available with the option of an intelligent keyboard – capable of printing a wide range of labels and pictures. Also launching at the show are the company’s new budget nametapes, which start at £30 for 2,500 for standard iron-on labels or £50 for 3,000 special iron-on or sew-in labels. Furthermore, K.T. Labels will provide live demonstrations of how wash-care garment labels can be produced using the same printer it provides for its name tapes, shoe labels and trophy labels. —

KK SCHOOLWEAR

HALBRO With over 95 years’ experience, Halbro is a leading supplier of high-performance bespoke sports clothing for all team/school sports and clubs. It utilises cutting edge technology for fabric and construction to create innovative products, with a focus on quality, design, service and short lead times. Catering for all sports clothing requirements, Halbro will present its new range for 2015 at the show. —

KK Schoolwear offers tailored, bespoke schoolwear to a high specification of design, colour, fabric and manufacture across a range that includes skirts, kilts, pinafores, summer dresses and outerwear. With everything created in-house, one of the company’s key assets remains its ability to provide quick turnaround times for samples. This is backed-up by its dedicated design team, which can provide mood/design boards to support its customers with uniform re-design. —

October 2014 - 46

THE SCHOOLWEAR SHOW | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

THE MAGIC TOUCH

NATIONAL WEAVING National Weaving is showcasing its latest efforts to make it easier than ever to sell nametapes in-store. Since adopting the Voucher Cards, many of its customers have doubled their revenue or more on nametape sales. There is also brand new point-of-sale material available to help retailers sell in-store, and simplify ordering. In the past year, National Weaving has made extensive refurbishments to its factory and offices to maintain production capacity and customer service, backed-up by a quick turnaround in production, even in peak times. —

OPRO Highlights from mouth guard specialist Opro include the new Lower Ortho, specifically designed for wearers of fixed braces on the bottom teeth. Additionally, following on from the successful introduction of the “handle and spacers” system, Opro is taking this concept to a new level by combining the elements into a single unit – the Cradle – which provides an improved and easier fitting method. Finally, after being appointed official mouth guard supplier of England Rugby, the company will be promoting its new partnership with a special edition RFU mouth guard featuring the England Rose and specially designed packaging. —

A key product launch for The Magic Touch is the introduction of leavers’ mugs in a choice of colours, which is a significant innovation, when previous decoration of ceramic mugs has generally been restricted to white coated mugs using the traditional sublimation transfer process. In association with UK-based Listawood, Europe’s leading ceramics coater and decorator, The Magic Touch has formed a global partnership to promote and market the new opportunity with the new SatinMug. Developed and engineered by Listawood, and the CPM transfer paper by The Magic Touch, the CPM transfers are printed using new “white toner” technology, which enables full colour images, logos, and text to be transferred onto dark-coloured mugs using traditional mug press equipment. The Magic Touch has also introduced printable presentation boxes to further enhance the personalisation concept. —

ROWLINSON

POD School shoe supplier Pod is building on the success of its 2014 collections with new, bigger Back to School ranges for 2015. In response to customer feedback and market research, it has developed its new ranges to include a boot and a sportier look while still retaining the durability and comfort of its existing styles. Key design features include Tak-tan leathers, which are scuff-resistant, water-resistant, and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth; TPR soles, which are cemented and stitched for durability; and removable and washable in-socks for comfort and hygiene. —

At this year’s Schoolwear Show, Rowlinson will be showing its full range of knitwear, together with the new hooded sweatshirt, which was launched to the market this summer. Comprising 65 per cent polyester and 35 per cent cotton fabric, it weighs in at an above average 280gsm. The hardwearing fabric is brushed for extra warmth, and dyed to lock in colour and hold it wash-after-wash. An easy-care garment, it is suitable for washing at 40ᵒC with a cool tumble and cool iron if required. With a classic raglan sleeve for ease of movement and elasticated cuffs and rib hem, the garment is reinforced with top stitched seams for extra durability and completed with a front pouch. The new hooded sweatshirt is currently available plain from stock on a 24 hour delivery basis in black and navy. All other 13 colours in the Woodbank range can be pre-booked for production for next season, with plans to introduce more stock colours at a later date. Embroidery is also an option if required. —

October 2014 - 47

THE SCHOOLWEAR SHOW | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

EXHIBITOR LIST 1: 2: 3: 4: 5: 6: 7: 8: 9: 10: 11: 12: 13: 14:

TRUTEX

WILLIAM TURNER

Trutex is launching a new fleece jacket with a more contemporary shape designed to appeal to a wider audience. Technically advanced, it includes anti-pill fabric, a reversed full zip, and is available in six colours and in sizes ranging from age 2/3 up to 3XL. Also new to the range is a new senior boy’s trouser. Reflecting market trends, the slim leg-style trouser has a flat front, two back pockets with button fastening, a tailored waistband and is available in black, charcoal and grey and sizes from 24in up to 40in waist. Building on the success of its bespoke range, meanwhile, sees Trutex launch a new blazer concept entitled Fusion. Examples of the new blazers, which are designed to push the boundaries of schoolwear forward, will be available to view at the show. —

William Turner’s range of Unicol school bags continues to grow for 2015, with new additions to both the junior and senior ranges. The bestselling junior styles include a despatch bag, infant/junior backpack and a gym bag, which are now available in two colour combinations to give schools an opportunity to further bespoke their bags. There is also a new, modern lightweight backpack (the Urban Backpack) ideal for seniors in black and navy, together with retro shoulder bags, also from stock, in the core school colours. Moreover, following customer feedback, William Turner has added team kit bags to its stock range. Introduced in seven different colour combinations, all in the popular medium size, these bags are ideal for school tours, as a generic school bag and for football and rugby clubs. —

15: 15A: 16: 17: 18A: 18: 19: 20: 21: 22: 23:

Gymphlex Target Dry William Turner David Luke Charles Kirk Wren Rowlinson Chadwick Textiles ZECO Eskimo EPOS Magicfit POD Shoes Blue Max Banner Graham Winterbottom Bo-bell Orion William Lamb Carta Sports Orion National Weaving Blue Max Banner BTC Activewear KT Labels The Magic Touch Brand Agility

24: Douglas & Grahame 25A: Top To Toe 25: Gardiner Bros 26: Marton Mills 27: Falcon 28: PEX 29: Petasil 30: G&D Garments 31: Denbydale 32: Helix 33: Balmoral 34: EMPTY 35: KK Model 36: Stabilo 37: Halbro 38: Cybertill 39: OPRO 40: P&R Fabrics 41: Lollipop 42: Europa 43: Trutex 44: Reydon 45: Diamond Textiles 46: Amaya

FLOOR PLAN

PLATINUM SUITE

EUROPA 42

TRUTEX 43

DISABLED TOILET

25A

GARDINER BROS

BTC ACTIVEWEAR

BLUE MAX BANNER

FIRE EXIT

DIAMOND SUITE

22 18A

LOUNGE AREA

POD SHOES

MAGICFIT

DINING ROOM

CHARLES KIRK 4

BLUE MAX BANNER

WREN SCHOOL WEAR LTD

CHADWICK TEXTILES

ROWLINSON 7

COURTYARD

TOILETS

ESKIMO EPOS

ZECO 9

SCHOOLWEAR ASSOCIATION COFFEE LOUNGE

DAVID LUKE

STAIRS ELEVATOR

DAVID LUKE

WILLIAM TURNER

FIRE EXIT

GRAHAM WINTERBOTTOM

RECEPTION

00 4

FIRE EXIT

MARTON MILLS

FALCON

NATIONAL WEAVING

ORION

PEX

PETASIL

HALBRO

STABILO

BRAND AGILITY

ORION

ROLLER DOOR

KK MODEL

THE MAGIC TOUCH

15A

BO-BELL

BALMORAL

CYBER TILL

OPRO

KT LABELS

WILLIAM LAMB

CARTA SPORTS

HELIX

FIRE EXIT

TOP TO TOE

AMAYA 46

P&R FABRICS

LOLLIPOP DENBY DALE

LADIES TOILET MEN’S TOILET G&D GARMENTS

DIAMOND TEXTILES

REYDON

DOUGLAS & GRAHAME

FIRE EXIT

1 TARGET DRY

ENTRANCE

GYMPHLEX

CLOAKROOM LADIES TOILET MEN’S TOILET

FIRE EXIT

October 2014 - 48

DAYPACKS

For more information contact Jacquie Sandison Tel: 0131 554 5555 Email: jacquie@brandagility.co.uk

CHARLES KIRK | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

CharlES KirK– 75 yEarS iN BuSiNESS as part of schoolwear manufacturer charles Kirk’s 75th anniversary celebrations, cwB speaks to charles horton, md and third generation, to discuss the past, present and future of the business.

This year, Worthing firm Charles Kirk is celebrating 75 years of manufacturing. During the last 60 years, four generations of the Horton family have helped build the company into the success it is today; a renowned specialist manufacturer, supplier, embroiderer and printer of school knitwear, sweatshirts and accessories. The current team at the helm is third generation and company MD Charles Horton, his wife Deborah, and their daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth. Together, they are committed to continuing the business’ traditions of “honesty”, “quality” and “adaptability”, and maintaining the ethos of Made in GB, Made with Care and Made for the Adventure of Learning. Before looking ahead to discuss the company’s future path, Charles Horton takes the opportunity to reflect on its past, and some of the individuals and milestones that have shaped its evolution. “The company was originally started in 1939 by a gentleman called Charles Kirk who, from what we can discover, used to make blouses,” he says. “There was a unit at Bolsover Street, Marylebone, and a salesroom

opened at Stratford Place, just off Oxford Street, in 1946. Charles Kirk and a gentleman called Robert Goldreich sold the blouses. During the War, many of these would have had the CC41 label for civilian clothing. Laws made it illegal and unpatriotic to spend time embellishing clothing for sale and forbade manufacturers using the CC41 label from incorporating any fancy trimmings, unnecessary buttons, extra stitching, tucks, pleats or pockets that weren’t essential to function.” The manufacturing unit moved from London to Worthing in 1951 but, by 1952, Goldreich made a move that ultimately led to the Horton family’s connection with the firm. In a company meeting, Goldreich made the announcement that, in his opinion, “it was no longer possible to produce goods cheap enough, and speedily enough, to compete under present market conditions”. Company founder Charles Kirk didn’t agree and was determined to continue with the business. It was at this stage he set about persuading a former toy manufacturer, who had left London’s East End and retired to the South Coast, to invest in the business. The

gentleman in question was current managing director Charles Horton’s grandfather – also called Charles – who took Kirk up on his offer and, together with his son Basil Horton and daughter Gladys Hembley, became a company director. By the 1960s, company founder Kirk had sold his shares in the business and left, the Hortons had taken full control, and the business had naturally evolved into a school knitwear and dress manufacturer. In terms of schoolwear, Charles Kirk was one of the first companies to use L.C. Courtelle yarn from Courtauld’s Textiles in its school knitwear. L.C. Courtelle was a durable, much-loved yarn by the schoolwear sector until the final fibre producer in the UK switched to more profitable carbon fibre production. The replacement, Heritage Definition, was sourced by Yorkshire firm Paint Box Textiles from a fibre producer in Eastern Europe, whose plant was copied from the English manufacturer, and has proved a first-rate substitute since, with its continued durability but softer handle. By the 1980s, Charles Kirk’s dress manufacturing was replaced by sweatshirts, October 2014 - 52

CHARLES KIRK | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

and embroidery machines were used to adorn garments in-house. The last decade has seen even further developments, as Charles Horton goes on to explain. “In the last 10 years, the range of products supplied by Charles Kirk has increased to include Coolflow cotton acrylic knitwear, the Jerzees schoolgear range and Result jackets,” he says. “In-house printing facilities have been added using the latest technology, with the company still manufacturing over 200,000 garments a year in Worthing in a wide variety of yarns and fabrics. “We have a wealth of experience in all parts of the company and believe in personal service, attention to detail and quality of product,” Horton continues. “With our manufacturing unit we can ensure every child can have a garment that fits them, whatever shape or size they may be.” Today, Charles Horton is responsible for overseeing the general running of the company, developing new ranges and maintaining communication with customers. His wife, Deborah, is company secretary, and administers the financial, technological, and human resource areas of the company. Their daughter, Sarah Horton, who manages marketing and customer relations, has been updating the company’s administrative procedures and, moving forward, is assigned with the task of liaising more closely with customers to further improve communication levels. The Horton’s other daughter, Elizabeth Browning, is based in Hong Kong and, as the firm’s sustainability co-ordinator, analyses the business’ sustainability and ethical policies as well as managing the company website and media streams it generates. As the youngest generation of the Charles Kirk business, both Sarah and Elizabeth have, via their use of social networking, also introduced team building and new marketing skills to the company.

“The successful suppliers and retailers are the ones that have embraced change and used new technology while recognising the importance of providing a quality service both in person and online”

Plans for the business include the relocation of its office administration to release more space for warehousing. The firm is also updating its computer and telephone systems to improve and sync the various media required in today’s marketplace. Long-term, the aim is to create a purposebuilt unit for Charles Kirk’s manufacturing arm and increase storage capability for both yarn and finished goods on the same site. In order to continue retaining the company’s market share, Charles Horton and the team are diligent in reviewing the business’ offering yearly and, more importantly, changing the product range as the schoolwear market evolves. Their recipe for success is fairly straightforward; “producing premium products, at a reasonable price, and constantly reassessing the quality and consistency to ensure our exacting standards are kept.” Technology, however, is where Charles Horton’s main focus lies, and what he believes will be the determining factor in the schoolwear market’s direction going forward. “The successful suppliers and retailers are the ones that have embraced change and used new technology while recognising the importance of providing a quality service both in person and online,” he says. “Both suppliers and retailers have had to change rapidly to embrace the technological advances, which have led to a huge rise in online shopping. Online sales in the UK have risen from £1bn in 2003 to £91bn in 2013. “We ensure that all the suppliers we work

with uphold internationally recognised regulations to ensure all garments we sell are made to the highest standards,” he continues. “The cheapest garments will have skimped on either quality of materials, low pay of operatives or a mixture of both. Price is always a key issue, as schoolwear has long been seen as a ‘grudge’ purchase. However, we believe in the principle ‘Made for children and not by children’.” Ultimately, one of the key measures of a business’ success is in its customer loyalty, and some customers have traded with Charles Kirk for over 40 years, including Lester Bowden of Epsom (est. 1898); Simmonds of Tunbridge Wells (est. 1837) and Monkhouse of Stockport (est. 1938). The Charles Kirk name has also managed to gain some celebrity status in its time, being the supplier of choice to provide the pullovers and scarves for the first three Harry Potter films and, more recently, supplying the hit stage show Matilda, both in London and New York. With the milestone 75th anniversary offering a perfect opportunity to commemorate the business – past, present and future – Charles Kirk is hosting a 30s-themed tea party for employees, both old and current, at its factory. It is also celebrating the occasion by co-sponsoring, along with William Turner, the Schoolwear Association’s Roaring Twenties fundraising evening, which takes place during The Schoolwear Show dateline, on Monday 13 October at Hogarths Hotel in Solihull. October 2014 - 53

NEWS • RETAIL • BRANDS • OPINION • FEATURES • PRODUCT • EVENTS • SCHOOLWEAR

To advertise on cwb-online.co.uk call Helen Hodson on 01484 846069 or email helen@ras-publishing.com

DIRECTORY | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

NAMES & NUMBERS:

SUBSCRIp TION: eu £55 (inc. p&p) outside eu £94 (inc. p&p) ncwa & The Schoolwear association members in eu £27 (inc. p&p) ncwa & The Schoolwear association members outside eu £50 (inc. p&p)

To subscribe simply call us on: +44 (0)1484 846069 or email: laura.martindale@ite-exhibitions.com

1: 1880 CLUB 028 9332 7777 www.1880CLUB.com • 1 Two Kids 01383 735134 www.1two.co.uk A: aden + anais 020 7801 6279 www.adenandanais.co.uk • Akoa 01200 421200 www.trutex.com • Albert & Viktoria 07930 577605 www.albertandviktoria.com • Annaliv 020 8144 2118 www.annaliv.co.uk B: Balmoral 01900 829229 www.balmoralknitwear.biz • Bambi 07796 766669 www.bambi.hr • Bêjaks 020 7666 3210 www.bejaks.com • Best Years 01327 262189 www.bestyears.co.uk • Blade & Rose 07920 752260 www.bladeandrose.co.uk • Bloch 07971 470549 www.blochshop.co.uk • Blue Max Banner 01225 715070 www.bluemaxbanner.co.uk • Bo-bell 07809 426922 www.bo-bell.com • Bobux 01280 700949 www.bobux.com • British Exporters Association 020 7222 5419 www.bexa.co.uk • Britt 0033 660630390 www.brittbear.com.au • Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services UK 01925 854360 www.bureauveritas.co.uk/cps C: Chadwick Teamwear 0161 927 2565 www.chadwicktextiles.co.uk • Charles Kirk 01903 244863 www.charleskirk.co.uk • Charvin James 07909 900700 www.charvinjames.co.uk • Chipmunks 01925 710110 www.chipmunksfootwear.co.uk • Craftholic 020 7993 8668 www.pangoproductions.com • Colourful Dove 07780 603446 www.colourfuldove.com • Cuddledry 01823 323363 www.cuddledry.com • Cybertill 0800 030 4432 www.cybertill.co.uk D: David Luke 0161 272 7474 www.davidluke.com • D for Diamond 01376 532 000 www.geckojewellery.com • Diamond Textiles 0116 251 0121 www.diamondtextiles.co.uk • Didriksons 01275 390451 www.didriksons.com • Dr Martens 0845 769 7178 www.drmartens.com E: Emel 0845 463 8757 www.emelshoes.com • Emile et Rose 01664 823924 www.emile-et-rose.co.uk F: Falcon 01274 306440 www.falconsports.co.uk • Froddo 01707 888388 www.froddo.com G: Gioseppo 0116 259 7427 www.gioseppo.com H: Halbro 01204 696476 www.halbro.com • Hatley 020 7544 4833 www.hatley.com • Helix 01384 286860 www.mapedhelix.co.uk • Hug & Hatch 01843 652031 www.hugandhatch.com J: Janod 020 8878 2133 www.janod.com K: Ketchup on Everything 07967 334797 www.ketchuponeverything.co.uk • KK Schoolwear 028 7963 2188 www.kkschoolwear.com • K.T. Labels 0121 689 2211 www.kwiktapelabels.com L: Lazy Francis 07525 936058 www.lazyfrancis.com • Lea Lelo 07761 437793 www.lealelo.com • Little Pets by Petasil 01604 876800 www.petasilkidsshoes.com • Lollipop Designs www.lollipopdesigns.co.uk 07919 536638 M: Mousehouse Gifts 01606 868000 www.mousehousegifts.co.uk • Move by Melton 07702 610006 www.movefootwear.com • Murphy & Nye 020 8203 0151 www.amcomarketing.co.uk N: National Weaving 01834 861446 www.nationalweaving.co.uk • Nirvana Debonair 07950 250424 www.nirvanadebonair.co.uk O: Oil & Water 07900 187669 www.oilandwater.com • Opro 01442 430690 www.oprogroup.com P: Pango Productions 020 7993 8668 www.pangoproductions.com • Pediped 07703 856072 www.pediped.com • Pippo 0191 246 1474 www.pippofootwear.com • Primigi 020 8567 2384 www.primigi.it • Project Jelly in collaboration with JuJu 07961 986806 www.projectjelly.com R: Richter 07834 862770 www.richter.at • Ricosta 0116 259 7427 www.ricosta.co.uk • Rowlinson 0161 477 7791 www.rowlinson-knitwear.com S: Sally Nencini 07866 802238 www.sallynencini.com • Scamp 07957 151996 www.wearescamp.co.uk • Spotty Otter 01226 379777 www.spottyotter.co.uk • Superfit 07775 995547 www.superfit.at T: Tails and Tales www.tailsandtales.co.uk • Tamiko 0035 45534300 www.nicuwear.com • The Magic Door Store 07891 683001 www.themagicdoorstore.com • The Magic Touch 01582 671444 www.themagictouch.co.uk • TinyTodds 020 7000 1988 www.tinytodds.com • Toby Tiger 01903 766777 www.tobytiger.com • Toughees 01202 707461 www.newbrandslimited.co.uk • Trutex 01200 421200 www.trutex.com U: Urban Merino 07981 228599 www.urban-merino.com W: William Turner/Unicol 0161 480 8582 www.unicol-schoolwear.co.uk October 2014 - 55

DIRECTORY | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

ACCESSORIES

BABY & KIDS SHOES

MANNEQUINS

SCHOOLWEAR

Exclusive Childrens Tights & Socks. Crystal Tights Made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS

Luxury Cotton Tights available in over 50 colours Sold in the worlds finest children’s boutiques & department stores

Country Kids Flint Hall Farm, Flower Lane, Godstone, Surrey RH9 8DE, UK Tel: 01883 740066 Fax: 01883 731555 Email: ian@countrykidstights.com Web: www.countrykidstights.com

• Soft Leather Shoes • Handmade in England • No Minimum Order Tel: 01509 817600 www.starchildshoes.co.uk

SCHOOLWEAR

CARRIER BAGS

Balloon Bijoux

SCHOOL TIES

Hair Accessories, Jewellery, Belts, Braces, Bags, Purses, Sunglasses Tiaras, Wands, Wings, Watches, and School range. For a free brochure: tel:0208 207 2500 or email: info@balloonbijoux.co.uk www.balloonbijoux.co.uk

WILLIAM TURNER & SON

School Scho Sc hoo ho o l Ties Tie ies s & Accessorie ies s Accessories

HATS & SWIMWEAR Schoolwear Scho Sc hoo ho o lwea wear r Accessories Acc A cce esso ssorie sso rie ies s

www.unicol-schoolwear.co.uk www.unicol-schoolwear ear.co .co.uk Tel: T el: 0161 480 8582 sales@william-turner william-turner.co.uk william-turner.co .co.uk Primrose Marketing Ltd. Tel: 01494 447000 sales@primrosemktg.co.uk

www.primrosemktg.co.uk

BABY & KIDS SHOES

Warth Industrial Park, Warth Road, Bury BL9 9NB Tel: 0161 761 5151 Fax: 0161 762 0202 Email: tieandscarf@chaytow.com Web: www.tieandscarf.co.uk

to advertise in the

cwB directory

please call helen on

01484 846069

or email

helen@ras-puBlishing.com

helen@ras-puBlishing.com October 2014 - 56

PROMOTION | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

CWB ShOWrOOMS: The essential index to agents and showrooms in the Uk & Ireland SOUTH EAST

SOUTH WEST

vanhuizen The Old Barn, Shurnhold Farm Business Park, Bath Road, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8DF Tel: 01225 700699 Mobile: 07785 290154 Email: Monique@vanhuizen.co.uk Web: www.vanhuizen.co.uk www.oililybag.co.uk MIM-PI, PAGLIE

IRELAND

nuala mcKenna 40 Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7FF Tel: 0044 28 90236330 Fax: 0044 28 90236330 Email: nuala@mckenna.orangehome.co.uk EMILE-ET-ROSE, KANZ, LILLY & SID, HATLEY, LOFFF, STEIFF, STARDUST FIRST COMMUNION DRESSES, FIRST OCCASION CHRISTENING WEAR, TORRES DRESSES High quality children’s fashions for babies, boys and girls up to 14 years - specialising in occasionwear. Showrooms in Belfast, Dublin, Cork & Limerick.

SKyline agencieS

nigel roSS agencieS 5 Evelyn Grove, Ealing, London, W5 3QG Tel: 0208 992 0552 Mobile: 07860 230918 Fax: 020 8993 6568 Email: Nigel.Ross@btinternet.com Web: www.minizzz.com CATYA (IT), MINIZZZ Manufacturers’ and Distributors’ Agent - Northern and Southern Home Counties, including London Postal districts. NCWA and APSA member.

aSpecT cSv

NORTH WEST

weldon agencieS Weldon Agencies, Southport, Merseyside Tel: 01704 576033 Email: barrieweldon@btconnect.com, andrewweldon@btconnect.com www.weldonagencies.co.uk FUN & FUN, LE CHIC, DEUX PAR DEUX, NO NO, BOBOLI, FOQUE, SARDON, MOOD STREET Established for over 25 years, two generations, covering all areas of the UK. Representing leading brands from Europe and Canada, catering for boys and girls 0 to 16 years. Styling from contemporary to traditional.

Unit H7 & H7a, Capital House, 2 Michael Road, London SW6 2AD Tel: 0207 348 7316 Email: info@solobi.co.uk Web: www.solobi.co.uk MINI A TURE, TOFFEE MOON, LILLE BARN, AYA NAYA SoLoBi represents modern high quality children’s brands with a playful attitude and sharp attention to detail. Offers very good and transparent service.

BreiTenSTein agencieS 19 Addison Grove, Chiswick, W4 1 EP Tel: 078 5550 9069 Fax: 02081816458 Email: shoes@breitensteins.com clothes@breitensteins.com ANGULUS AND BOBUX SHOES, CLOTHES FROM CHRISTINA ROHDE, MILIBE, VER DE TERRE, FUB CHILDREN’S WEAR An agency representing classic, stylish and contemporary Danish children’s clothing and shoe brands. Plus the best baby shoes from New Zealand.

MIDLANDS

NORTH EAST

Showrooms will be held in Leeds, Manchester and London for further info contact Bib Sohel Tel 07850 754 853 email bib.sohel@sky.com DESIGUAL, FORE!! AXEL AND HUDSON, LEMMI, BEBE BY MINIHAHA, DARCY BROWN, SUGARLOAF KIDS, MINI VANILLA, MINI ZZZ A diverse selection of highly desirable brands for UK independents and stores from baby to 16yrs. European distributor for Fore!! Axel and Hudson.

SoloBi

Bizspace Business Centre, Unit 203, 4-6 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middlesex UB6 7JJ Tel: 020 8567 2384 Mobile: 07971 190446 Fax: 0800 007 3359 Email: skylineagencies@gmail.com PRIMIGI SHOES, FALKE & BURLINGTON SOCKS AND TIGHTS, GIESSWEIN HOME SHOES Covering the whole of the UK with London based showroom and offices.

vanhuizen agencieS Unit 1, First Floor, Paragon Works, Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 3JW. Tel: 07967 560633 Email: franck@vanhuizenagencies.co.uk Web: www.vanhuizenagencies.co.uk OILILY CHILDRENSWEAR, ROOM SEVEN CHILDRENSWEAR, PERSNICKETY CHILDRENSWEAR ROOM SEVEN KIDS INTERIORS, BEDDINGHOUSE KIDS BEDDING

Van Huizen Agencies is a young, fresh and vibrant agency, for the more discerning retailer requiring beautiful and unique collections.

NATIONAL

charvin JameS 10 Ledward Lane, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 3AD Tel: 0161 900 2409 Email: karen.james@charvinjames.co.uk Web: www.charvinjames.co.uk LES ENFANTINES (BY LANVIN FAMILY), BBK (SHORTLISTED FOR JUNIOR DESIGN AWARD), MARCHAND D’ETOILES, L’OISEAU BATEAU, CHARLIE CRANE, BLUE POPPIES Specialists in high-end French labels. Exciting emerging brands: children’s fashion, children’s shoes and children’s furniture and accessories.

roccapina Roccapina, 8 Pembroke Close, Thrapston, Northants, NN14 4XJ Tel: 01832 776588 Fax: 01832 730188 Email: sales@roccapina.co.uk www.roccapina.co.uk LA QUEUE DU CHAT, BABINÉ BB, STURE&LISA, LEMON LOVES LIME, LOLLIPOP TWIRL, LEMON LOVES LAYETTE, GNU BRAND Agency representing high quality International brands offering classic, colourful and chic collections for ages 0-14 years. Covering the whole of the UK.

CWB ShOW rOOMS: October 2014 - 57

TALKING POINT | WWW.CWB-ONLINE.CO.UK

TIMOThy ChARLES owner and designer of Tails and Tales

Timothy charles discusses the innovative concept behind his luxury childrenwear brand, which merges childhood imagination and storytelling with high-quality, design-led clothing. —

Laura Turner: What inspired the launch of Tails and Tales? Timothy Charles: As a parent, I have always been looking at inspirational and exciting brands. I love seeing the development of children (whether my nephews or more recently my daughter) especially when their imagination drives their play. Even at a young age, kids want to immerse themselves into fantastical stories and share the experience with their story book heroes. The market seemed to be dominated by either adult-inspired, mini-fashion or heavily branded and often lower-quality material based clothing. The gap for merging storytelling and clothing in a way that celebrates the magic of childhood, but in line with a parent’s focus on quality material and design, became the source of inspiration and drive for starting Tails and Tales. LT: How would you sum-up the brand concept? TC: Balancing a child’s playfulness with the long-term practicality and style that appeals to parents. I want my clothing to be part of this childhood discovery and self-expression – a way for children to immerse themselves into a magic character-inspired world but, importantly, I want to see kids dressed well, in high-quality, design-led clothing. LT: What was your career prior to Tails and Tales and what experience has it provided in terms of developing your brand? TC: I have a broad range of experiences and inspirations that led to the development of the

concept behind the brand. These include my role as a father but also my family’s background across the Middle East, the UK and Americas, all of which underpin the imaginative and fun theme running throughout the brand. Furthermore, I have brought my experience in design, retail and finance to complement my partner Nat’s skills and innovation to develop a brand focused on quality, originality and, most importantly, fun! LT: What does the collection comprise? TC: Tails and Tales’ first season is inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’s main characters of Alice, the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter. With a focus on design and practicality, using high-quality fabrics and trimmings, each item is designed to keep kids entertained and parents happy. They combine high-quality longevity with style and versatile fun. Tails and Tales’ range allows kids to reflect their personalities, but is flexible enough to be worn as everyday clothing. LT: Which is your favourite piece to date? TC: The launch collection has a signature “Alice dress”, which is impossible not to love, but my personal favourite is the Red Queen inspired range. The combination of the jacket, dress and skirt becomes a striking and original set, which captures both the quirkiness within the books and also the flexibility of our brand. These three pieces combine in an outfit that reflects a magical adventure in waiting but, when separated, are flexible and individual, everyday items.

Name: Timothy Charles Job title: Owner and designer of the Place of birth: Wimbledon Now lives: Battersea

LT: Which other childrenswear brands do you admire? TC: I love Jessie and James and No Added Sugar. They both reflect an individual style that is both fun and distinctive; elements that I aspire to with our range. I hope to have a collection that is distinctive and recognisable as Tails and Tales, which is something these brands do so well. LT: What’s in store for a/w 15? TC: We are currently expanding the current Alice in Wonderland inspired collection, building on the foundations of our launch range. Think more colour combinations and a broader range of items. LT: Are there plans to expand the Tails and Tales collection over time? TC: Our original plans were to use each collection to introduce a new adventure, inspired by fairy tales and children’s favourite books. We have lots of ideas about new collections, and aim to build up anticipation each season as to what might be coming next. LT: Do you have any exciting plans in the pipeline for the brand? TC: Sometimes I think too many, but you’ll have to wait and see. October 2014 - 58

Exclusive to Paint Box Textiles

for everyday Heritage DeďŹ nition has been engineered to be the softest, smoothest yarn for performance knitwear. Intensive research has produced this yarn with exceptionally low pilling even in hard wear conditions. Garments with these labels keep their good looks and smooth surface.

Valley Mills, 16 Valley Road, Liversedge, West Yorkshire WF15 6JY United Kingdom Tel: +44(0)1924 235123 Fax: +44(0)1924 235223 Email: info@paintboxtextiles.co.uk www.paintboxtextiles.com