Fruit of the Loom has introduced two new colours to its palette for 2010, and has broadened the choice of bright, fashion colours across several of its most popular product lines.

The company has introduced yellow (K2) in the Men’s and Kids’ Valueweight T and the Men’s Heavy Cotton T.

Graphic arts companies seeking comprehensive information on the pros and cons of laser die cutting technology can now obtain the expanded 2010 Edition of the popular Spartanics technical guide, How to match today's laser cutting technology to application requirements.

Multi-brand distributor PenCarrie has expanded its business development team yet again with the appointment of Alison Clarke to provide support to customers in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

By visiting customers on a regular basis she aims to learn exactly what is needed in terms of the products, delivery performance, marketing support and any other services PenCarrie can provide – and to feed this information back to PenCarrie’s sourcing, marketing, warehouse and customer services teams for action.

Just about everyone in the UK printwear industry knows about Just Hoods by AWDis and its best selling colourful range of Hoodies. Now that fame is spreading overseas with a Just Hoods hoodie seen here at the foot of Everest in the Khumbu region of Eastern Nepal.

Team Colours were recently asked to provide the football shirts for housemates at the Celebrity Big Brother house.

The shirts were seen pegged up as Barry Fry delivered a characteristic pep-talk to the in-house team. Said Team Colours: "We supplied design proposals for the black shirts, manufactured the kit and emblazoned the shirts with a fiery logo on the front, sleeves and the back incorporating each house mate’s name and number.

Ralawise have published four new sector specific brochures to help customers target new business opportunities in 2010.

The Best Collection showcases key garments for every department. With a vast range of colours, sizes and choice, it is lightweight, compact and easy to use.

Over the past 12 months there has been a dramatic increase in demand for full colour printing of logos and designs onto fabrics and garments made of nylon or polyester. The range of such garments is increasing with a wider choice of designs and colours now available. This is now affordably possible using TheMagicTouch image transfer process.

Mantis World have introduced 11 new styles for 2010 across their four brands – Mantis, Humbugz, Babybugz and TLC.

They include polycotton T shirts, children's organic supersoft tee shirts and hoodies plus baby envelope neck tee shirts and a baby ringer bodysuit.

The British Promotional Merchandise Association (bpma) has moved to Russell Square in the heart of London.

Pictured here are Pinky van-Lare, membership executive; Daniela Arena, events & training manager; Paul McLennan, IT manager and Gordon Glenister, director general.

Victory Design have announced the launch of their latest new heat transfer vinyl cutter with the biggest benefit being its price – £395+VAT. The new Easicut is described by Victory as an easy to use high quality, precise 24 inch (610mm) wide vinyl cutter which is ideal for cutting heat transfer film and sign vinyls.

FESPA’s second Economy Survey shows that the wide format printing community is moving on from the defensive survival tactics of 2009, using innovative and proactive sales and operational strategies to improve its business fortunes moving into 2010.

Brett Newman has been appointed to the board of Roland DG UK as technical director. He will be responsible for dealer and customer relations in the sign and graphics market, all technical services including RolandCare maintenance support, and product management and development.

Those who have been involved with the embroidery industry for a few years may well know the name of Arthur Gunn who has sadly passed away after suffering for some time with cancer.

Arthur had been around sewing machines for a considerable part of his life and he brought his skills into embroidery for the last 15 or so years of his working life when he joined Geoffrey E Macpherson Ltd. He became an integral part of the technical workshop team which was responsible for training many young mechanics to a high skill level. As the workshop foreman he was not only responsible for training the new apprentices but he also oversaw the quality control for machines.

With continued demand for short run production, lower costs and greater creativity in direct-to-textile Mimaki's new TX400-1800B textile inkjet printer looks set to deliver a solution for the apparel, furnishings and soft signage markets. With a 1.8m print width and production speeds of around 25sq m/hour, the TX400-1800B utilises an adhesive belt carrier system to stabilise fabrics that have a tendency to stretch and contract during printing.

BTC Group's senior marketing manager, Jon Birrell (right), was invited to speak at the SEDEX AGM in February.

SEDEX, the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange, is a membership organisation for businesses committed to continuous improvement of the ethical performance of their supply chains. Jon shared BTC Group’s experience with the delegates from large organisations and suppliers in a variety of industry sectors, focusing on the role of distributor/agent and the associated ethical challenges in the supply chains, such as communication and transparency. Said Jon: “It was a great privilege for BTC Group and a recognition of our commitment to ethical trading."

Tesco is trialling a schoolwear embroidery service saying that it will give parents whose kids need bespoke uniform a "cheaper and simpler alternative to specialist suppliers".

Tesco has written to 1,448 state school head teachers in Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield and Hertfordshire inviting them to take part in the trial, which will enable parents to buy uniform embroidered with their school’s emblem. The uniform will cost at least 40% less than at specialist suppliers, they say. Terry Green, Tesco’s CEO of UK Non Food said: “We know that many parents struggle with the cost of embroidered uniform. With households budgets tight this year we want everyone to be able to take advantage of our top quality, great value schoolwear."

With their worst fears of prolonged recession behind them, CEOs' confidence for future growth has bounced back from the gloomy prospects of a year ago, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers 13th Annual Global CEO Survey.

This rising confidence has translated into a planned boost in recruitment, with nearly 40 per cent of CEOs expecting to increase their head count this year.

According to research by the Federation of Small Businesses in 2009, small firms were waiting up to four months for invoices to be paid, some by big brand names. And it is these late payments that are one of the factors responsible for crippling a business and are often the reason for a business having to close. Timely payments are crucial for small businesses which operate on tight margins and rely on a steady cash flow to keep them afloat.

Target Transfers have kept up a steady stream of new products and services for the garment decoration industry during 2009, with more products and services planned for 2010.

Last year, the company's website introduced free artwork templates, print and cut patterns, marketing tips, and an Excel calculator to ensure that costing and pricing for their jobs can be accurately produced. And last summer, Target also introduced a new scheme enabling customers to hire heat presses or vinyl cutters to help overcome some of the financial difficulties created by the downturn.

Daiber presents the “American way of life” in its latest Myrtle Beach catalogue 2010.

The 14 chapters focus on hot headwear and accessories right the way through to Xmas. The patented Flexfit band and the elastane inset give Flexfit caps the perfect fit. Coldblack Flexfit Cap (MB 6186) combines this comfort with the latest technology. The Coldblack finish offers protection from UV rays and prevents dark caps from heating up in the sun. Colours are navy, red and black.

The rise in use of synthetic materials in the garment industry has been relentless. And the ability of these fabrics to outperform natural fibres in specific situations has manufacturers turning to them to provide a new generation of apparel.

More than 600 people attend the British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) annual awards dinner at The Trade Only National Show in Coventry, hosted by Ruby Wax.

Astrid Bierer-Cooper has joined prize and incentive experts Unmissable as their sales and operations manager.

Astrid joins from FCL Business where she headed up new business as brand leader at FCL Business. She also had overall responsibility for sales and operations, securing high profile clients such as Innocent Drinks and Wagamama’s.

Tesco recently announced they would be launching a schoolwear embroidery service enabling them to provide school-specific uniform. This move has prompted Asda to admit they will be following Tesco’s success closely to determine whether they, too, should venture beyond their current greywear.

You see the customer service boasts everywhere: our aim is not customer satisfaction, but customer delight; in our business the customer is king; we go the extra yard. Unfortunately, seeing one of those signs is often prelude to a disappointment. The business owner seems to think that putting the sign up is as good as delivering its promise.

Beechfield’s latest fashion headwear is streets ahead in terms of both design and credibility.

The brand has focused heavily on its fashion offering for 2010, with two styles specifically targeted at the urban wear market – the B461 Slouch Beanie and B665 Rapper Cap.

T-shirts, poloshirts, sweatshirts, jackets – B&C gives you a wide range of possibilities thanks to an astonishing variety of colours and styles.

When it comes to T shirts, stand out in the crowd and go for Fluo with our B&C Women-Only PC and B&C Men. Made from 65% polyester and 35% cotton, this fabric has the same printing characteristics as the 100% single jersey cotton.

New for 2010 is the Helly Hansen 50589 Logo T shirt which is available in two colours and sizes S-2XL. The range also includes the Helly Hansen 50586 Logo Hoodie available in sizes S-2XL.

Both of these garments have the classic HH logo across the front and are made from cool soft touch cotton/polyester. Ideal for a fashionable urban lifestyle.

The Cottonridge W72 Urban Hoodie is designed with student life in mind.

It features an ipod and phone pocket concealed in the kangaroo pouch pocket, which provides both easy access to devices and a secure place in which to keep them. Inside the pocket there is a small aperture through which headphones can be brought up through the inside of the garment, which prevents them from getting caught in things or getting in the wearers way.

The urban jungle comes along with many challenges – even for garments. But Daiber’s own brand James & Nicholson is up to the challenge, with high performance, stylish casual wear.

Function Polo for women (JN 197) or men (JN 024) is great for hot days. Its inside is made of polyester 5-channel fibre; the outside is made of cotton. The functional CoolDry offers breathability and quick-drying.

We all know Finden+Hales know teamwear – but how does this relate to urban wear? The quick answer involves hoodies, trackpants, and T shirts!

It’s no coincidence that most urban clothing is derived from sportswear when you think about the whole issue and appeal of comfort, practicality and ease of wear.

Urban, casual, slouchy and comfortable, are trends that Front Row’s 2010 range has followed providing an abundance of garments for the college, university and leisure markets.

The new FR100 Classic Rugby Shirt will give you that popular preppy look. Made in a lighter weight 270g jersey, it has the traditional white woven collar with the all important cotton webbing and side vents.

Hoodies are big news on the high street in 2010, which will help to further drive up sales in the promotions market, according to Fruit of the Loom.

The company reports strong demand for its hooded styles, which include sweats, hooded sweat jackets and Hooded Ts.

Fashion is playing an ever-increasing role in the development of styles for all markets and we understand that colours, fabrics and fit are increasingly important to buyers of casual clothing.

Slimmer fitting polo shirts and T shirts are everywhere in the retail and promotional markets, so for 2010 Henbury have introduced a stretch polo for both men and women, made in a 200g micro pique in 96% cotton and 4% elastane.

Latest urbanwear styles in the I.S.E. collection include softshell garments from Result’s Tech Performance range and a collection of headwear suitable for varying weather conditions.

The R130X Extreme TECHPerformance Softshell Jacket, in fashionable grey camouglage, is waterproof, breathable and windproof.

King of the urban jungle – that's Just Hoods by AWDis. The best-selling one stop hoodie brand in the land offers the biggest palette of 45 colours and in the most comprehensive style and size/age offering available.

“Urban wear is a decorator’s dream,” comments Andrea Charteris, PenCarrie’s customer services manager. “Fans of urban wear love new styles and all forms of decoration on clothing; it’s how they demonstrate originality which is all-important to them,” she explains.

Over the past decade urban wear has earned itself a place in any distributor brochure. Sales steadily climb year after year and with the “hoodie invasion” of the “noughties” this category of clothing has boomed. This year we have numerous new additions from different brands.

Okarma make clothes that look good and feel great, and without any of that added environmental cost. It’s an easy but effective proposition that makes a positive difference to both the wearer and their surroundings.

If urbanwear is all about what people are wearing on the street, then it’s impossible to ignore the whole organic story. It’s sweeping the nation’s high streets.

Urbanwear opens up a variety of opportunities for customers, with casual cuts and retail looks being a key selling point to this potentially lucrative market within the retail, university and youth sectors.

From hoodies and tees to sweatpants and tops, Ralawise offers a breadth of choice for customers from the industry’s leading urbanwear brands.

With its background in sportswear manufacture there is no better brand to turn to than Russell.

Our 575 is the classic hoodie with its set in sleeves and kangaroo pouch. The garment easily lends itself to decoration and is extremely popular with universities and youth clubs.

If urban headwear is what you or your clients are looking for then the search is over as Sharon Lee Ltd can offer a comprehensive range of urban and military style hats and caps through the Atlantis brand. Better still the MOQ for all of the styles available is only 48 pieces.

The hoodie is a staple item for any casual work wear or promotional uniform and Skinnifit has a fantastic selection to choose from.

All the Skinnifit hoodies have been carefully developed to offer the same shape and styling details as those found on the high street meaning that they are perfect for the more style-aware consumer.

Sweatshirts and hoodies are universally accepted as a big part of street culture. And this year, we will see a steady increase in the popularity of the hooded sweatshirt. Team Colours is keen to add fuel to this hoodie revolution, extending its bespoke leisure range to include urban hoodies.

Tombo is well known for its range of trackpants which form the basis of many a club or team kit. The range includes both cuffed and standard open hems, in both lined and unlined forms for men, women and also kids.

Each piece is made in the same soft yet durable 100% polyester microfibre which means that they’re easy care, quick to dry and they will not fade.

The growing popularity of the hooded sweatshirt has enabled Gildan to bridge the gap between basic apparel and fashion. For 2010 Gildan now has six hoodie styles, with a garment to suit all budgets.

Screen printing suppliers are ten a penny, but Kent-based Wicked Printing Stuff (WPS) are breaking the mould. For a start, the company is run by three young women – sisters Marie, 32, Hazel, 29 and Nikki Heracleous, 27.

The company designs and manufactures its own tabletop screen printing machinery.  What's more, WPS are cornering the market in supplying affordable start-up packages for everyone from schools and colleges to crafters, casualties of the recession, or to those who just want to diversify into something different.

No fitness outfit is complete without the appropriate sporty headgear, according to promotional headwear brand, Beechfield.

Roger McHugh, managing director, points out that headwear serves a practical purpose for many fitness enthusiasts. “Outdoors in the summer a cap such as our B181 Coolmax Performance Cap can provide welcome protection from the sun, shading the face and head and reducing the risk of sunburn,” he explains. 

The Blue Max health & Fitness range offers high quality garments which are built to last, combined with superb value for money.

The basic requirement for the front of house is the Blue Max Penthouse Polo. The latest incarnation is now even more suitable for fitness with the addition of Maxtech wicking  you cool as you train.

BTC activewear has an expanded range of Gamegear available for 2010.

The Gamegear Cooltex range is designed to keep you cool and comfortable while exercising.

From functional fabrics for demanding sportsmen to sports shorts which are also suitable for an evening on the sofa – the promotional wear expert offers the perfect outfit for all athletes.

James & Nicholson’s Workbook 2010 includes a new High Performance category.

Finden+Hales is all about offering the customer the potential to mix and match so every top in the range co-ordinates with every trouser or short, and additional outerwear potential is also available in the mix.

The Coolplus Piped Performance Polo for men, women and now children  (LV370, LV371 and LV372), perfectly embodies the spirit of Finden+Hales. It’s available in a range of sizes to fit from ages 5-6 upwards and can cater for any team.

There's no better attire to count your steps in than Front Row's range of trousers, sweats, rugbys and fleeces.

For 2010 there are three great new styles. The H800 Full Zip Hooded Sweat is more than just a run of the mill hoodie. As ever we have ensured that Front Row attention to detail with 2x1 rib on the hood and kangaroo pocket, contrast chunky drawcord with metal eyelets and cover stitching on seams, for added strength. Made from sumptuous 330gm brushed back fleece, and available in heather grey and navy it coordinates perfectly with the FR600 Track Pant.

Tagless sports by Hanes comprises five sporty styles made of breathable polyester fabric with Cool-DRI technology.

Moisture is wicked away from the skin and transferred to the outside surface of the garment. This greatly improves evaporation and speeds up drying, creating a comfortable and superior wearing experience, especially during activity.

Fruit of the Loom launched its new Lady-Fit Jog Pants in January. Ideal for gym and exercise classes, the new garment is a fashionable choice for just about any type of fitness or leisure pursuit.

In the Health and Fitness sector, clothing must be comfortable and practical, but still look great, wash after wash. With that in mind, Henbury have produced a range made from excellent quality fabrics that provide comfortable, durable garments that perform and look great longer.

PenCarrie provides a huge choice of health and fitness wear for men, women and children. Styles include moisture wicking polos and T shirts, jog pants, sweat tops and hoodies, along with dance and yoga wear.

They come from quality brands such as Skinnifit, Front Row, AWDis, Hanes, Regatta, Kariban Sport, Slazenger, Henbury, Fruit of the Loom and Jerzees Colours.

Look no further than Skinnifit for all your fitness essentials for men, women and children. 

First up is the ladies Skinnifitness range which is great for layering up or simply lounging around.

Prestige Leisure UK took up the gauntlet to supply all forms of health and fitness wear many years ago and still to this day through our extensive range and massive stocks the company is spoken of as an extremely reliable source.

Having so many new additions for 2010 from all the brands is an excellent indication that this market is itself “pumping up”.

The new Result Spiro range blends high performance fabrics and cutting edge technology with designs that meet or exceed the rigorous requirements of the wearer under tough workout conditions.

The garments are stylish, fit well and have been produced in versions for men and women. The breathable fabric actively wicks away any perspiration vapour from the skin keeping you dry and comfortable, regulating your temperature as you work out.

Tombo’s Teamsport collection offers customers the ability to select individual pieces and create their own team look.

The range of training trousers, trackpants and shorts are a core part of the range and indeed that of many a team kit. Whether black or navy, plain, piped or with subtle contrast detailing, full-zip legs or cuffed ankles, they form the basis for many a leisure centre uniform and the core for plenty of sports clubs. Every piece in the trouser range has been designed for decoration; with zipper access on all lined garments allowing printers or embroiderers the potential to “logo up” the garment accordingly.

Towels are a must-have in any fitness environment, from the spa to the gym. And everything in the range can be decorated, offering excellent branding potential.

The Classic Sports Towel (TC042) is available in white and navy and is a lengthy 110cm long making it ideal for draping around the neck when in training or between machines!

Health and fitness wear has been at the heart of UKL’s broad sportswear offering ever since they began distributing the Phase One Sportswear brand.

Over time, Phase One has grown into a solid collection of both adult and children’s sportswear that takes full advantage of the advances in garment technology and in particular performance fabrics. The range consists of tracksuits and training wear.

When the eco revolution happened it was a shot in the arm – not just for the promotions industry, but for leading carrier bag supplier, Crazy Bags.

Until 2007, the carrier bag industry had been fairly static, according to Crazy Bags' Andy Steavenson.

BagBase has developed a range of fashionable and funky bag designs to meet the growing demand for more street-styled promotional clothing.

Bags such as the BG14 Retro Shoulder Bag and BG16 Retro Flight Bag hark back to iconic styles from the 60s and 70s, with ‘old-school’ styling that appeals directly to discriminating young urbanites.

The Beechfield B10b Junior Original 5 Panel Cap is the quintessential modern school cap and demand for this classic style is greater than ever, reports the brand. According to Roger McHugh, Beechfield’s managing director, there are four main reasons for the product’s enduring appeal with school wear suppliers.

Beezer has been successfully producing schoolwear for over two decades and one of the main reasons for that success is the company’s ability to adapt existing garments to suit current trends within the industry.

The latest Blue Max brochure boasts a bigger and better schoolwear collection than ever.

Every garment in the collection, along with every size and colour permutation, is stored in the 2 million cubic feet warehouse in Trowbridge, waiting for customers to pick up the phone, email or fax and order for next day delivery.

BTC activewear has an increased range of Russell garments for 2010 including the 599B Jerzees Schoolgear children’s polo shirt, available in ages three to 12 and in seven key school colours.

The sleeves and collar have a double ripple effect giving the garment a well-dressed look. Made from 65% polyester and 35% cotton this is an extra hardwearing polo that is ideal for schoolwear.

An ever-increasing variety of sporting opportunity available to young people not only leads to healthier and happier kids, but also opens up opportunities for teamwear branding in both traditional sports and the less familiar.

School kids like casual and Front Row’s leisurewear range is a perfect option. As with our adult collection the kids garments have the same detailing and use the same fabrics making it a breeze to kit out kids from age five up. For the older school goers the men’s rugby shirts start from size S and the ladies from XS, so there is a garment to fit everyone.  

Fruit of the Loom has introduced the new Girls Valueweight T and Kids Long Sleeve Valueweight T in response to the growing demand for a broader range of schoolwear options.

They fill important product niches, illustrating the company’s determination to provide a collection of good value, casual schoolwear.

Schoolwear plays an important part in the marketplace today and Henbury has a number of products that fulfil this demand.

The Henbury children’s and adults tipped polo shirt H450 Adult and H459 Kids, are perfect examples. These have had great success as the contrast tipping on the collar and cuffs gives any school or club the opportunity to co-ordinate colours for their sports teams or for out of school clubs and societies.

Hoodies are increasingly becoming part of schoolwear, perhaps inevitably when they are so important as a popular, practical and comfortable clothing item.

They are not yet much in evidence for mainstream uniform but they are massively popular for school sports and for trips and year group mementos.

Essex based promotional clothing supplier, I.S. Enterprises, offers a large range of children’s schoolwear suitable for print and embroidery decoration. With garments available from top brands such as Result, Gildan and Fruit of the Loom, I.S. Enterprises is able to provide decorators with indoor and outdoor garments suitable for a multitude of pursuits.

PenCarrie’s schoolwear collection features only quality brands such as Fruit of the Loom, Jerzees Schoolgear, Result, Regatta, Kustom Kit Gamegear, Tombo Teamwear and Finden+Hales.

All the core items of T shirts, polos, sweats, fleeces, jackets and teamwear offered by the brands are available year-on-year.

Looking at 2010, it’s shaping up to be another fantastic year for schoolwear with old favourites still topping the sales here at Prestige Leisure UK.

For an excellent basic valueweight T shirt we recommend the Fruit of the Loom SS28B. This 100% cotton Belcoro yarn gives a softer, supple feel giving decorators a cleaner printing surface to work with. The rib crew neck made from cotton and Lycra adds to the SS28B’s attributes, reducing stretching. The neck is also taped for extra strength. Sizes and colours are extensive.

The current schoolwear collection from PromoQC forms a small but precise range of school essentials at competitive and affordable prices. This is to ensure you and your client receive the best value for money possible.

As all our garments in the range are label free with just size and material content labels, thus widening the opportunity for you as the 'client' to have your own brand options.

Quadra, the specialist supplier of corporate and promotional carrying solutions, has launched the new QD74 Universal Holdall, which the brand is recommending as the perfect ‘carry it all’ bag for school.

Schoolwear has always been a highly competitive sector for our industry, with in excess of 25,000 schools and over 8.1 million pupils in the UK to cater for.

Ralawise are pleased to offer schoolwear from a range of brands that use technologies to ensure uniforms will maintain their smart look throughout the year. 

Comfort, durability and performance are key issues in jacket design, and with this in mind, we have ensured that Result Junior and Youth jackets are not only fun and easy to wear but can also withstand the most vigorous child play. Children can enjoy wearing Result jackets with designs in keeping with their school and leisure time activities.

Regatta is having an exciting year, with the launch of lots of new products for 2010 and the consolidation of its existing ranges.

Schoolwear continues to be an important area for Regatta with continued investment in expanding the range with new junior versions of popular adult styles.

Russell’s Jerzees Schoolgear continues to tick all the boxes, with particular emphasis on choice and lifetime value.

An awful lot is demanded of school clothing and, as a market leader, Jerzees Schoolgear prides itself in delivering across all the areas that we know are key to parents, schools and children.

With so many schools preferring to source their uniform from a local supplier, there has never been a better time to review the schoolwear selection available from UKL.

Jerzees Schoolgear is the dedicated schoolwear brand from Russell Europe. The core range include polo’s, sweatshirts, cardigans, sweaters, outdoor fleeces and jackets. Their 875B reversible jacket with funky high visibility stripes on both sides remains hugely popular.  

If you’re adding a cutter or printer/cutter to your business, get ready for an influx of new types of orders, and get the business ready to handle those orders by laying out your new equipment in the most efficient manner possible. But before moving any new equipment into the business, you’ll need to give some serious thought as to how you’ll physically arrange it, and doing that requires understanding how the work actually flows through the decorating process.

Westford Mill

Westford Mill would argue that eco products are very much a serious business proposition. The brand is convinced that the market for eco-friendly promotional products is now well-established and is here to stay, and has responded accordingly, with further development of its value for money, Bags For Life collection.

Selling to the future

A recent visit to my nearest university demonstrated that students are presented with a range of printwear options unimaginable when I was an undergraduate. We had the electrifying choice of a dull scarf or a dull sweatshirt – olive green just doesn’t make for powerful printwear. But obviously everybody’s been busy pitching to student unions and successfully (I’m told that my sample of one is reflected around the country). Long may it continue, because amongst these customers is the next generation of marketing managers. If they start work with an enthusiasm for printwear one important battle is already won.

Gill Thorpe, The Sourcing Team

 “I believe Eco products are here to stay - it has been a growing market, and continued to be for us last year.  Clients are thinking far more about what they are buying and the effect they have on the global environment.”