Decorator Profile


Some examples of work David has produced


beyond reproach, including the lengths gone to to deliver goods in a timely manner.


“The importance of a licence provider is simple; it is recognition that they have and will meet all the criteria set out by the MOD and ensures that in today’s 21st century navy that everyone gets to benefit from the welfare system.


“Wherever we are in the world David has managed and manages to get what we want and when we want. That's important.”


As a direct result of producing work for the ship, David now works with an extensive number of military clients.


Official licensee


“I now project myself as an official licensee of the MOD with the products I produce and source,” says David. “I try to work with other licenced providers to keep things official. That’s my quality control and relationships.”


Clients range from serving personnel to family to veterans, even military associations and groups. For example, David officially works with the Type 42 Association, a group set up for anyone who served on that type of ship. Most famously two of that type of ship – HMS Sheffield and HMS Coventry – were sunk in the Falklands War in 1982. David has produced polo shirts, glasses and even Christmas baubles for their reunions. Every year people want to remember and in 2022 one such commemoration will be 40 years since the Falklands War.


One of the more unusual items that David has been asked to procure is for underpants. The underpants were to have the ship’s crest on them, along with the nickname of the sailor, for the ship’s rugby team.


“I was told by the MOD that under no circumstances was that allowed to happen,” says David. “So, we ended up producing Speedo style swimming trunks instead with a tiny logo rather than a large one. Rugby players running around in their underpants is not the image that the MOD wants to project.” Other items that David has produced include bone china thimbles, bespoke limited edition


Not on the same level as perhaps Disney and BMW – but the MOD does send out cease and desist warning letters and follows up the legal route of copyright infringement, he explains.


David says that the licence helps set a standard for those producing work for the MOD to follow. “If someone puts out an embroidery that is oval instead of round, that is an incorrect representation of a squadron or a battalion and it is wrong,” says David. “The person that sets up in a garage and knocks out polo shirts for £7.99 not using the correct logos, means a company like myself just can’t compete. Because they aren’t paying the tax, the insurances, VAT or the licensing fees.” David says that despite being a licensee mistakes do happen and sometimes the wrong graphic is in the wrong place. “Imagine using the wrong graphic, producing items and then realising that graphic was incorrect for a number of reasons and knowing that the person who is supposed to receive the item, proud of their crest, was given something that looks like it, but not quite,” he says.


This has happened to David, but because of the quality control and being able to go back to the MOD library, the mistake was rectified perfectly and the senior ranking officer was none the wiser. When asked recently how were the gifts at Christmas, his reply was ‘perfect as always, thank you’.


Next project This a list of David’s services


watches, embroidered clothing, trophies, glass and baby grows. Despite all of the strange requests he has received since A1 Print Services was launched in January 2019, David says there hasn’t been a single request that he has not been able to facilitate. “Of course, it all depends on the price people are willing to pay for what they request,” he adds.


Copyright infringement


He estimates that there are around 100 to 120 official MOD licensees operating within the UK at present. He warns that anyone wanting to use crests or badges of the MOD should not do so without the official licence. “It’s all too easy for anyone, anywhere to buy an embroidery machine, printer or laser engraver and put a crest on an item and get away with it,” he says. “However, this is copyright infringement and clearly breaking the law.”


www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk


The next project that David is currently working towards is a mass roll out of what he calls ‘relaxed rigs’. While onboard a ship, navy personnel are expected to be in uniform at all times, even during their downtime. But David has produced a range of branded clothing that are as close as possible to uniform that has been approved for use by some captains, overseen by some senior officers. Boldly, David has big ambitions and plans for the future which include looking to provide and help advise on clothing needs to make things even more standard and accepted throughout the services. This will be a big undertaking as there is currently 40 ships in the British Navy.


David says that although the work doesn’t come in all at once, he currently works with a fraction of those 40 ships, so this will be a huge increase in volume for A1 Print Services.


Ultimate goal David’s ultimate goal is to become known as the one-stop shop for military licensed products and it seems he is well on the way to doing so, utilising his online presence with his website www.hmsstores.co.uk.


Since this interview David is proud to report that he has achieved the Bronze award of the Armed Forces Covenant, which in itself is another criterion the services will look towards when selecting suppliers.


For anyone looking to produce military products, David says: “Do it. Get licensed and make it official – keep the quality and maintain the standard. Our servicemen and women deserve it.”


March 2021 |67 |


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