It goes without saying that this year's exhibition was anything but a dull affair. For starters, I'd just like to extend my personal thanks to everyone whom I met who gave me their time in talking through their respective ranges of clothing and machinery.

There is a lot to shout about in 2009 for Jerzees Schoolgear - a new "Less is More" range; a refined fleece range; two new contemporary jackets but the cherry on the cake has to be the refinement of the iconic 762 sweatshirt - available from 1 April 2009.

Myrtle Beach's latest cap, the Embossed 6 has emerged triumphant with an accolade at the 2009 Promotional Gift Awards.

Now in its 14th year, Natural and Organic Products Europe 2009 is is the event to be seen at for eco-friendly and fair trade products.

A Kent-based company that specialises in corporate and promotional clothing recently launched an advanced digital printing service that aims to offer a broad range of services to its UK customers.

Beechfield has donated beanie hats, gloves and a set of Teamwear Caps to ‘Back2Africa in 2010' - a charity project that is raising funds for the Twabuka Community School in Sindie, Zambia.

I.S.Enterprises, the Essex based supplier of promotional clothing and corporate wear has launched a fresh and sophisticated website for 2009.

The new Result 2009 website has a sophisticated and streamlined image. Visitors to the site are welcomed with a funky video of the new 2009 TECH Performance Soft Shell range. A New feature to the website is a one click, easy to read menu where all products are accessible from a simple dropdown dialog box accessible from any page throughout the site. Its new zoom feature helps you choose the product that is right for you. At a click of a button you can change the colourway and enlarge the image to view features up close.

Prestige Leisure are pleased to announce the arrival of their 2009 Brochure Collection. The brochure has 304 pages and weighs 814g which is able to be posted 1st or 2nd Class, allowing customers to keep their mailing costs to a minimum - £2.61 first class and £2.11 second class. The priced brochures are available in a spiral bound format and PUR bound to ensure the durability. The brochures are available without prices and overprinting facilities are offered.

Victory Design Ltd has long been a leading supplier of garment film to a variety of trades with their ever popular easiMARK range.

The natural beauty of the scenery that serves as a back drop for the 2009 Mantis World photo shoot, also provided inspiration for the design and build of its new P & P exhibition stand.

Located just beside the entrance and with one of the most strikingly colourful stands, Just Hoods by AWDis enjoyed three very encouraging days at P and P this year

Another of this year's debutants at the show, Franklins Group, experienced huge demand for its products.

PromoServe Business Systems are delighted to welcome back Graham Anderson from the United States, where he's spent the last year implementing and fine-tuning arguably the most advanced promotional products eCommerce system in the World. Using QuickOrder Portal website technology to attract both end users and corporate schemes, Graham has set up a fully automated sales order process which sees orders taken online being downloaded into the back office software, PromoServe, and an electronic job bag is automatically created.

MASCOT is set to be one of the stars of this year's Health and Safety Expo at the NEC in Birimingham, which takes place between May 12-14.

Fruit at Work: Bars/Restaurants/ Hotels/Cafés/Takeaways is a new 20- page brochure from Fruit of the Loom that presents the company's bestselling hospitality wear styles, (14 in total), along with key garment specifications and options.

During spring, the choice of the perfect garment is especially difficult: mild temperatures announce the oncoming summer but at the same time, spring also stands for rain and cool days.

For a truly unique and eye-catching promotion opt for Listawood's new ColourCoat Mugs. These popular mugs are coated in a colour of your choice and are branded with a screen overprint. The inside of the mug remains white to illuminate the stunning pantone matched coating.

TheMagicTouch in association with Sawgrass Technologies introduce a new and innovative way to produce sublimation ink transfers.

RSK Tech gives massive boost to global expansion plans via major new distribution/technology transfer deal with US distribution giant Hirsch International of Hauppauge, New York and embroidery technology leader Pulse Microsystems of Mississauga, Ontario

Spandex, the pioneering one-stop supplier of complete and innovative solutions to the digital printing and sign making industries worldwide, has announced that Bristol-based screen-printer and sign manufacturer, Signet Signs Ltd, has installed a Gerber Solara ionx UV wide-format digital inkjet printer.

Pandor Clothing, manufacturers of promotional, work, corporate, sports and leisure clothing has announced the addition of two new products to its 2009 range.

Headwear UK has entered the environmentally friendly market with a new recycled cap.

PROMOTA: On the buses

In February, Birmingham's NEC played host to the International PROMOTA Show 2009. With more than 170 suppliers exhibiting and an innovative PROMOTA stand the 2009 show was certainly the place to be!

Ignore it all we like, there is definitely an elephant in the room. Although at the back end of 2008, the printwear industry reported uniformly upbeat expectations for 2009, there most definitely is a recession in progress. It may well be that this industry will be one that doesn't suffer, indeed, one that thrives in the tough times coming. That will certainly apply to some. This is the third recession of my personal experience and in the two preceding there were winners as well as losers. The question is: what can you do to ensure you're in the former group?

For the third year in a row, the Printwear & Promotion exhibition has exceeded 4000 visitors and 2009 being its highest ever when 4292 visitors flocked to the three-day event, travelling from across Europe and around the world to examine the latest industry developments.

As one of the key speakers from the exhibition, BPMA Director General Gordon Glenister knows more than most the ingredients which make for a quality show.

With its visually striking stand, BTC Activewear reported a superb response to its clothing ranges at the show.

Beechfield brand new range of Morf's received a strong reception at this year's show.

Taking part in the Printwear and Promotion fashion show gave RANKS an added boosted, with its range of hoodies being among the standout garments. The company's Managing Director Atul Lakhani believed the exhibition had proved rewarding for the firm which displayed a quality selection of leisurewear.

There was no getting away from the smiles from the Gustav Daiber stand, after three furiously successful days at the Printwear and Promotion exhibition.

There were many successes for embroidery manufacturers at the exhibition, none more so than with Barudan.

As the leading distributor of Brother sewing machines for the UK market, the J&B stand proved popular this year. Its 620 embroidery model continues to prove a big seller for its versatility and reliability, says the company's managing director Robert Miller.

The exhibition had a fantastic attendance this year - especially for people looking to get into direct to garment printing.

Not for the first time, Your Embroidery Services chose to launch some major embroidery machinery at the exhibition.

SOME of the sharpest styles around were on show were showcased at this year's Printwear and Promotion fashion show. The high-energy choreographed performance entertained hundreds of visitors to the exhibition to ensure the event retains its prestigious edge as the only show to be seen at in the industry.

Senator Pens was busy putting ink to paper on an number of order enquries for its debut at the show.

Among the many positive reports from the show, PF Concept believed it had been an excellent event.

PromoServe's advanced computer base ordering system attracted numerous enquires across the three-day event.

There were a wealth of promotional products on display at the show which proved a valuable addition to the exhibition.

Maintaining a position at the cutting edge of trade screen printing world is a tough challenge, yet one Screenworks is equal to. Neill Barston met the firm's MD Andy Gilmour to find out more about what makes the company tick.

Beechfield has added white/French navy to the colour palette of the B185 Pro-Style Ball Mark Golf Cap in 2009. The cap is now offered in a total of four tasteful colourways, including Black/Putty, French Navy and Sky Blue/French Navy.

The golfing world has plenty of possibilities for the printwear market. With the emergence of major high street brands on to the scene, its potential can only gain further momentum. Neill Barston quizzes Jim Smith of NIKE Golf about its latest range being distributed through BTC.

When it comes to ‘iconic' there's no bigger brand than Nike who head up BTC activewear's Golf section for 2009: the superb quality range includes a number of key items including a choice of Polos, Baseball Cap and Umbrella.

Three new styles of golf polo shirts are on offer from Ayres rock, with a hidden extra... a stealth pocket!

The 100% cotton, Penthouse Polo from Blue Max, specialists in leisure wear, makes an ideal shirt for golf enthusiasts. This shirt is lightweight and features the renowned Penthouse extra tight knit fabric. It also has side vents, taped neck seams, open hem seams and self-coloured buttons. The shirt is available in six colours and five adult sizes.

In business, companies never get a second chance to make a first impression. Be assured of the best first impression with the Calvin Klein Golf Collection, says UKL which has gained mainstream distribution of the US brand.

Finden+Hales knows teamwear, and the company offers a premium range of polo shirts in the finest, softest cotton pique.

The Fruit of the Loom Tipped Polo is the quintessential modern golf shirt. Made in 100% cotton pique knit fabric, it stands out on account of the discreet and fashionable single stripe tipping to its collar and cuffs. This gives the shirt a more sporty appearance and raises its perceived value to end-users. The garment's fashionable, narrow cut, two-button placket enhances the Tipped Polo's contemporary, athletic image.

Golfwear has long been a staple of the promotional/corporate apparel market and printwear has evolved with corresponding changes in sporting fashion.

Jill Granger, Director of I.S. Enterprises believes the Golfwear market has significant printwear potential. She said: "The Golf market is predominately occupied by premium brands such as Pringle and Lyle & Scott; however it is still a growing market in the promotional and corporate wear market. Noticeably ladies golfwear is more in demand as more and more women seem to be taking up the sport."

The Mantis collection offers a selection of golf shirts for men and women ranging from the traditional pique polos to collared jersey styles, all with a fashion twist.

Teeing off in style is one thing, but what if your customer is looking for a novel team mascot or something a little bit different to remind him of a fun-filled golf tour? Mumbles MM12 is the solution. This terrific tiger has been carefully designed with the golfing enthusiast in mind, sporting a smart navy golf cap, trousers and cotton t-shirt.

Kustom Kit's premium cotton polo shirts are ideally suited to the personalised golfwear market, offering a diverse selection of smart styles for both men and women, says the company.

PenCarrie has numerous new golfwear styles to offer, all generating much interest. Major brands such as adidas, Ashworth, Callaway, and Glenmuir have refreshed their ranges either in part or almost entirely. There is a strong focus on the use of technical fabrics to help player performance; there are several new styles for women; and there are new golfing accessories available too.

2008 was a great year for golfing apparel and 2009 is looking to be even better. With the British Open being held at Turnberry in July and the Women's Open at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's in July/August this summer is the time to be seen sporting the latest ranges from the biggest brands.

With over 4 million golf players with golf course membership across Europe, there's plenty of opportunities for decorators in a market which shows few signs of slowing down. Nearly 11% of people in the UK between the age of 25 and 34 play golf, offering a potentially lucrative market for printers and embroiderers for specialist golfwear.

It's those little touches that make all the difference to a corporate day or promotional event: and a golf towel is the ideal giveaway item to help endorse almost any brand or company.

Harvest Golf is the new generation of technical clothing, combining functional materials with a stylish design that will help you improve your performance.

In this difficult trading climate, looking after our existing clients is a fundamental necessity. Everyone I speak to says they want more business and clients yet few realise the impact of losing them. Just as you are hunting for new clients so your competitors are looking to take yours. So shouldn't you be spending more time farming those relationships you already have , after all you are a known entity. A strong client will come from not just the business that you have with them but also the referral opportunity to other departments, or indeed their customers and suppliers.

Beechfield Brands has joined the roll call of BPMA (British Promotional Merchandise Association) Patrons. The move demonstrates Beechfield's support for the Association's promotion of best practice around the sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of promotional products.

Removing oil stains and other marks:

Even though modern machines operate in a cleaner way than the older models there is still a chance that you may get the odd splash of oil on a garment especially just after lubricating your machine. If this happens then you have the choice of throwing that garment away and starting again which, of course, costs you money or cleaning the garment.

Bonjour de nouveau mes concombres d'amour battant, et accueil en arrière à une autre séance avec le Docteur.......yes you guessed it mes amis, I'm just back from topping up my Mediterranean tan on the good old Cote d'Azur.

In times of financial uncertainty it's good to have some certainties to base your business around. One undeniable fact about the childrenswear market is that children will always need clothing - and lots of it, since they grow so fast. Katie Stewart, MD of Henbury, which acquired the established Larkwood childrenswear range in 2007, is upbeat about its prospects in the coming year. "Yes to growth," she says of the childrenswear market. "The brand saw a fantastic growth last year and we hope to continue this in 2009."

The Beechfield B34b Junior Army Cap is the perfect choice for ‘military mites', says the company. This new style is based on the successful adults' B34 Army Cap and will allow trendy youngsters to wear the same ultra fashionable military-inspired headwear as their older siblings and celebrity idols.

Blue Max Stag has earned a well-deserved reputation amongst its customer base for offering quality, consistency and value in childrenswear.

BTC activewear offer a wide choice of Childrenswear for 2009 from brands including Fruit of the Loom, Gildan, Jerzees, Kustom Kit, Stedman, Regatta and Result.

EDUN LIVE's Children's tees are the perfect cut for your little ones, the EDUN LIVE range offers both organic and non-organic options in the colors black, white and natural, in the sizes 6/12 months to 12 years.

Finden+Hales know teamwear, know how important fit, colour and performance are.

The new Fruit of the Loom Children's Organic Cotton T responds to the growing demand for natural, earth-friendly apparel for kids. It provides all of the quality and value benefits associated with Fruit of the Loom branded products, together with the added appeal of 100% organic cotton fabric.

Childrenswear is becoming an important part of our market and Henbury has a number of products that fulfil this demand.

There is a strong specific childrenswear range in the new 2009 I.S.Enterprises brochure. Among the leading products distributed by this Essex company are Fruit of the Loom, Mantis and Gildan polo shirts, T-Shirts and jumpers and children's jackets from Result.

When babies start to explore the world they need clothes that are hard-wearing, yet comfortable to wear and easy to clean. Baby wear by James & Nicholson in the new Workbook 2009 offers both: high-quality fabrics that are functional and trendy at the same time.

The Childrenswear range from Jerzees Colours is all about doing what we do best for adults for kids as well. That means great choice, fantastic quality and innovative design all from one of the leading manufacturers in the market.

The launch at the start of last year of the Just Hoods by AWDis Hoodie brand in just one style, thirty great colours, and in only adult sizes proved to be so successful that it became quickly obvious that the same product should be made available to the kids market.

PenCarrie highlights the huge sales potential that exists in the baby and children's wear sectors. Andrea Charteris, customer services manager for the company, comments, "Babywear is often required in quantity for on-pack promotions and loyaltybuilding giveaways in what is a highly competitive market. Nurseries also want quality clothing for the tinies in their care.

The Larkwood Baby and Toddler Collection offers the cutest collection of baby and toddler wear around. Using the softest fabrics and the gentlest styles with lots of lovely product detailing to make them extra special.

The Humbugz and Babybugz collections from Mantis World offer the widest range of ethically produced children's and babywear, with 33 styles to choose from and 8 more made exclusively from 100% certified organic cotton in the ‘TLC' range.

Childrenswear is a fast growing area for garment decorators and there are many garments available in the Prestige range which are worthy of checking out.

The childrenswear market is proving to be resilient in the face of tough economic conditions and is forecast to grow an estimated 2.4% in 2009, according to research studied by Ralawise.

Regatta's reputation for superior garments at excellent value does not stop at their adult ranges, says the company.

The new fashionable R88J Pineto Junior Hooded Bodywarmer from Result is manufactured from Micro-fibre Peach with an Active Fleece lining and soft Polyester filling. It has a luxurious soft feel but is tough when it counts. This fun easy to wear showerproof and windproof garment also benefits from a roll away hood concealed within the collar. The windproof Active Fleece lining has an easy access zip opening on the chest and lower back for embroidery and print (Maximum 12cm dia. frame size). As all other RESULT® junior products the R88J also has the unique reflective triangle and hangtag using 3M^TM Scotchlite^TM Reflective Materials for that extra visual recognition. It is available in sizes XXS (2-3yrs) - XL (11-12yrs) and in either red or navy.

Maybe Benjamin Button got it right after all and time really is being turned on its head. Campbell Cameron, Sales & Marketing Director with RSK Tech, investigates

We all know that Kids have to be constantly reminded to be careful on the roads and we all know that they constantly ignore the warnings. Kitting them out with RTY HV077 High Visibility Kids Vests just might take away some of that constant need.

One of the first brands to enter the distributor market offering quality babywear for rebranding and decoration was UKL's exclusive Baby Basics.

Skinnifit, Skinnifitmen and Skinni Minni, are all about giving you what people want to wear and making sure that it's of good quality in addition to looking quite wonderful. Skinni Minni does just that, but for little ones.

Tombo's selection of childrenswear is especially designed for children who love being active. There is a whole range of colours, sizes and styles to suit every child, as well as specialist materials to offer that professional edge.

D.I.Y. stands for Destroy It Yourself. Most sensible men know this, resulting in the invention of the sofa, the bottled availability of Old Bishop's Todger, and the seven hundred episodes of Top Gear now showing - if my Mrs ever finds Dave, he's going to get a kicking. There are some blokes out there in the shed of course, splicing their miters and nibbing a chamfer, butting up to a dovetail and giving something a damn good routing, but as a rule they end up back on a dating website, trying to type in their details with a missing finger.