Decorator Profile
Walking on sunshine! T
wo decades ago, Brian was at a crossroads in his life. He had spent 26 years working for Johnsons Workwear, working his way up from the factory floor to the role of service manager, when he was suddenly made redundant. Faced with this prospect, Brian and his wife decided to take a relaxing holiday to Spain. One evening in the bar, the pair started chatting to another few couples as you do while on holiday. “All the fellas were called Brian, which was obviously quite unusual!” laughs Brian.
As talk turned a bit more personal, Brian revealed that he had recently been made redundant and was unsure where to next take his career. One of the Brians, who was Brian Garrington from Swansea (former owner of J&S Pet Products), suggested that Brian should invest his redundancy money in an embroidery machine and get started in garment decoration. He provided Brian with all the advice he needed to know on an A4 sheet of paper, which included a list of recommended suppliers such as TC Threads, BTC activewear and Midwest Machinery. “I’m still using these suppliers today,” he adds. Not wanting to lose the skills and knowledge of workwear and
A chance meeting on holiday 20 years ago, started one man’s journey into garment decoration. P&P editor Melanie Attlesey speaks to Brian Quinn, owner of Liverpool-based Q-Apparel, about the last 20 years of business.
Brian Quinn of Q-Apparel pictured in his showroom
garments he had garnered over the years Brian thought this would be a viable career path. It also meant he could become his own boss. The only other alternative he could see was to become an HGV driver.
First embroidery machine purchased
With his first Happy single-head embroidery machine purchased the next step for Brian was to get some clients and start embroidering. Armed with 20 business cards in his pocket and product samples in his boot, Brian hit the local industrial estate to try and drum up some business.
Brian’s first Happy single-head embroidery machine is still going strong
| 76 | April 2023 Inside Brian’s showroom
“My first day out, I sat in my car for 20 minutes giving myself a good talking to before I got out. I was
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