Industry News
Merchr starts production after securing £350,000
P
rint on-demand merchandise platform Merchr has swung into production at its
Manchester facility after securing £350,000 in an oversubscribed pre-seed fundraising round. The latest investment in Merchr, which exceeded its initial target of raising £250,000, has enabled its founders to further develop the company’s technology, invest in equipment and recruit more staff to bring its offering to market. Merchr has been set up by an
experienced team backed by Martin Varley, a well-known senior executive in the personalised products industry. Co-founders Nora Yassin, head of partnerships, and Jack Fox, head of operations, have recruited a 12-strong team of front-end developers, production, marketing and administrative staff for the launch, with plans to grow the workforce in line with the expansion of the business.
Gildan reports revenue increase of 11% in 2022
G
ildan has announced its full-year results for 2022 and reported a revenue increase of 11% during
the 12-month period.
The company achieved record sales of $3,240 million, up 11% when compared to 2021. This is despite Q4 sales of $720 million, down 8% versus the prior year. Glenn J. Chamandy, president and CEO of Gildan, said: “I am extremely proud of our team’s record performance in 2022 with revenue up 11% over 2021 and strong margin delivery in every fiscal quarter. “And despite near term headwinds related to the economic environment, which impacted our performance in the fourth quarter and which may persist through the first part of 2023, we remain excited about the Gildan Sustainable Growth strategy, as well as our strong competitive positioning and ability to support our customers, as we work towards delivering on our long-term growth aspirations.”
In 2023, Gildan expects revenue growth for the full year to be in the low single digit range.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
Merchr helps individuals and groups build their brand and reach new audiences by creating their own merchandise collection to sell to fans, friends and followers in an eco-friendly, risk-free way without the need to hold stock or worry about the logistics of production, printing and shipping. The platform is aimed at organisations and individuals such as charities, schools, universities and colleges, sportspeople, clubs and societies, visitor attractions, influencers, podcasters, YouTubers, gamers, bands and other artistic performers, as well as online retailers and entrepreneurs seeking additional routes to market. The platform enables users to create and launch a free online store through the Merchr Hub, where they can design and upload their customised product collections with artwork, a logo, slogan or an image. Alternatively, they can connect an existing website via Merchr’s integrations with e-commerce platforms such as
Merchr’s co-founders Nora Yassin and Jack Fox Shopify and WooCommerce.
Merchandise store owners choose their own prices to cover the cost of each product, printing and drop-shipping by Merchr, plus their own profit. Once an order is placed, Merchr’s software delivers print-ready artwork directly to the Middleton facility which is equipped with the latest digital printing, direct to garment, direct to film and laser engraving machinery. Products are dispatched within 24 hours.
Managing director of Jester Prints enters into retirement
T
he managing director and founder of Somerset-based Jester Prints, has decided to call time on his career and enter into retirement. Geoff Thorne started the custom heat transfers business from his parents’ spare room in 1976. The development of heat applied transfer technology has never stopped over the almost 50 years of Jester’s existence. In fact it appears to have sped up recently to the degree that future producers of transfers will never need to pick up a squeegee or coat a screen to make transfers. Transfers today can all be
produced from a computer and printer using specialised ink and paper or film. Mr Thorne said: “I want to thank all my customers through the years so much for making Jester their preferred supplier of custom heat transfers – I always tried to make the customers and their requirements my first priority and hope that reflected in the personal service given to them all. “In a way I will miss the frantic pace of trying to continually meet deadlines and figure out ways of making a transfer print work on a specialised fabric or garment, but the peace and quiet of a no rush morning appeals as being a pretty acceptable alternative.
“To all my friends and customers who I’ve met during my time in the industry, I wish the very best for the future.”
Mr Thorne will now spend more time with his grandchildren and doing all the things he wanted to do, but never had the time to do before.
A clipping from a local paper showing Geoff Throne pictured in the mid-80s after donating T shirts to a local youth group
Jester Prints’ customers will now be taken under the wing by Target Transfers, which will supply them with the transfers they need to continue to run their businesses.
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