The Workwear Column
Evolution and growth of the workwear market
In this month’s article, Adrian Burton of Ask Ady, takes a look at the current state of the workwear market and what brands are doing to make sure their products are seen.
T
he global workwear market is huge and is estimated to be worth approximately $17 billion by the end of 2022 and could be worth as much as $45 billion by 2030. That said, you can see why so many brands are looking to get into this space and stake their claim in the market. The importance of workwear is now more essential than ever and not just from the point of protection but to reflect the company’s image and status in their own working sector. As the world becomes more focused on health and safety and the increasing occurrence of workplace accidents, this is expected to help drive the growth of the safety footwear and apparel marketplace globally.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused huge issues with supply chains that we are still trying to recover from, production plants were interrupted and caused backlogs of work when lockdown kicked in and the demand for workwear products subsided throughout this period. This is something that is close to my heart as our family retail business suffered and struggled to recover after COVID-19, this with the added problems of Brexit and rising raw materials ultimately saw the end of our business just like hundreds of thousands of businesses around the world. Where our normal business suffered like many at the height of the pandemic, we adapted and switched to selling PPE and this saw a huge growth in sales in that period, but not in profit. These days were worrying and exciting at the same time in business and something I will remember for the rest of my life.
Mergers and acquisitions Mergers and acquisitions have been accelerating across the globe as sports and leisure clothing brands
| 54 | October 2022
paved the way for many other brands, who may not have been as high profile, to now pick up where they left a gap in the market and start to capitalise.
The cross-pollination of workwear brands and sports brands brings new exciting products integrating the latest technical and sustainable fabrics. This means the construction industry is now benefiting from products that nowadays have supreme durability and flexibility, fabrics that regulate your body temperature and keep you dry in the harshest of conditions. It’s truly an exciting time for the manufacturers and end users.
There are hundreds of workwear brands on the market, all offering a huge variety of products. But which are the best? That’s a tough question to answer because it depends on your needs and preferences. Some people prefer a brand that’s well known and has a long history of producing quality products, while others prefer a newer brand that offers innovative features at a lower price point.
Apache is a no nonsense quality, functional range of footwear and workwear for the image conscience tradesman
look to increase their growth of sales and market share. This pursuit for market growth has led to acquisitions of different market sectors to keep up with the demands of the shareholders. What this means to many in the UK workwear market is this can have a significant impact in many different directions. Take, for example, the acquisition of Dickies by the VF corporation. One of the most well-known brands in Europe had a devastating impact on so many companies, from retailers to direct customers.
They say one door closes and another one opens. In this case, it
We see brands that sell off the back of their power tool success. This is a very smart move as tradespeople are more likely to trust a brand that is recognised with reliable tools they use all day long. These brands are expanding their ranges from workwear and safety footwear to PPE. I have been looking at the offerings of some of these brands and am happy to say that the build quality of the workwear that they put their names to is very good indeed. Brands such as Dewalt and Milwaukee are offering something different and are pushing the boundaries of their products. They are not just rebranding an already existing product on the market but are creating and innovating their own range of products.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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