Insight December 2022

Hearts and minds

This month’s Insight takes its inspiration from our opening message by Banner’s CEO Glenn Leech. Reflecting on a difficult year, he suggests that the most pressing challenge for schoolwear is not so much the cost of living crisis as the growing voices that are questioning its value. It’s vital, he says that we win not only the logical arguments, but also the hearts and minds of parents and schools.

And so, we look at some of the latest initiatives — and oldest traditions — that help to remind us how important schoolwear is to children, families and communities. From first days at school to responding to the growth in women’s sport, we must grasp the opportunities to show how uniforms and team kit give young people confidence, helping to make them feel part of a team.

We’ve a special two-page print-out on the new schoolwear charter and how Banner is working to support its principles. And as always, we have the latest on sustainability and supply chain too.

It’s a packed issue, so we’ll not keep you any longer.

Very best wishes for Christmas and New Year.

Insight December 2022.

MEDIA HUB

A message from Banner CEO, Glenn Leech

I learned the other day that the new word of the year for 2022 was ‘permacrisis’. It refers to the constant state of uncertainty we seem to be living through. From the continuing impacts of the pandemic, to the war in Ukraine and rising energy bills… at times it seems as if the bad news is never ending.

Certainly, for schoolwear retailers, it’s been another challenging year.

I know, from the many customers I’ve talked to, just how difficult it’s been this ‘back to school’. And the message that’s come through loud and clear is that parents are worried about costs, they are buying fewer items and holding back on spending. Some of this comes from the unfortunate alignment of our peak sales period with the market shocks of the summer – but I sense there is another factor at play, which though harder to define, is just as important.

Sentiment is the most powerful factor in any market or movement. As an industry we might have the best value and most sustainable garments ever

produced —and I believe we do — but if there’s a public feeling that schoolwear is too expensive or that logos are unnecessary then we have an uphill battle. This is why we must all work extra hard to convince parents and schools of the benefits of uniform and the vital role that retail specialists play in communities.

We know that schoolwear offers great value; we know that it reduces bullying; and we know that it promotes inclusion and wellbeing. What’s more, we know that the basket price of quality uniforms is nowhere near the headline figures that are bandied around by an irresponsible press. But the reality is, these messages are complex compared to the easy headlines that claim parents are being ‘ripped off’, that logos should be banned – or even, that uniforms are a thing of the past.

This month, the Schoolwear Association launched a new charter for school uniform practices. Here at Banner we fully support its aims and will be working to ensure we exceed its commitments. But I’m also determined that we explain its core message to every school, local authority and parental influencer that we can.

This issue of Insight is part of that process, with a summary guide to the charter that you can use to reassure your parents and schools. Tenders for uniform contracts are now standard practice and we must embrace this as a way to give reassurance on fair pricing, sustainability and quality service. And let’s not forget the enduring milestone of ‘first day at school’ for which pride in our uniforms plays such an important part.

Over the coming year, I believe that winning the hearts and minds of parents and schools is our number one challenge as an industry. Retailers are at the frontline of that battle, and we will be working to support you in every way we can.

As I look ahead, I don’t believe we are in a ‘permacrisis’ at all – indeed there is much to be positive about. But to come through stronger we must not only win the logical arguments, we must also prevail in the emotional ones too.

Best wishes for a successful year ahead.

Glenn Leech

Spotlight on Women’s Sports

‘Sisters are doing it for themselves…’ says the iconic anthem, sung by Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin. That was back in the Eighties and since then, we’ve seen a consistent growth of education and career opportunities for women across the globe. In the world of sport, progress has been even greater — and here in the UK, the last twelve months has turbo charged awareness and participation.

This year alone, we’ve seen the England women’s football team win the FIFA European Championship, the Rugby Union team reached the finals of the World Cup and the Rugby League lost out in the semis of theirs. At the World Athletics Championships the UK had more female than male medallists. Then there’s Laura Kenny in cycling, Emma Raducanu in tennis… and don’t forget the Women’s Hundred in cricket… But what does this explosion in interest mean for sports and sportswear in schools?

‘It’s vital we respond with modern, desirable kit that gives girls the confidence they need to take part,’ says Emma Connelly Product Director at Banner. ‘We know that concerns over body confidence have created barriers to sport for students in the past, which is why we have worked with focus groups and schools to develop styles that really work for them.’

Anyone attending this year’s Schoolwear Show would see the difference. The range of materials and styles on offer from all the major suppliers has been transformed. Leggings are now one of the most popular items as are darted tops, giving a fitted look to garments that make the most of technical fabrics.

‘Here at Banner, we want to make sportswear accessible,’ explains Emma, ‘that’s why our APTUS range draws on the same expertise and core styling of leading sportswear brands.’ The kit needs to be flexible and suitable for varied activities too, she explains. ’Over recent years, schools have started to offer a vast array of sports for girls to become involved in. We have come a long way from girls only playing netball and hockey — women’s sport is now hugely varied and that’s great to see.’

‘We also know that breast pain and body confidence are critical barriers to participation.’ Says Emma. ‘Good designs can help to overcome these. It’s why we are very proud and excited by the launch of our new APTUS Sports Bra.’ Emma explained, ‘It’s been developed specially for school use when it’s vital that girls feel confident in taking part.’

media hub

have become increasingly blurred. Showcasing a wide range of options is the best way to attract sales and communicating with your schools on new designs is essential. If possible, run pop-up events that showcase the new kit.

And for retailers, this growth in women’s sport brings opportunity too. The lines between sportswear and fashion

Sisters are certainly doing it for themselves – but the kit they are doing it in has come a long way since that song was top of the charts in the Eighties.

Next edition

Look out for our next edition of Insight that includes an in depth look at the design process and feedback on the new APTUS Sports Bra.

Interest growing on and off the pitch

There’s never been more interest in female sport say’s the Women’s Sports Trust, with a generation of young girls taking inspiration from the role models they see in the media. It’s estimated that women’s sport sponsorship will be worth £1billion globally by 2030.

Market research giant Nielson reported recently that 66% of the UK population are now interested in at least one women’s sport and that rises to 84% when considering sports fans alone. Viewing figures show that 36.1 million people watched women’s sport on TV in the first half of 2022 – more than double the year before.

Lionesses win FIFA European cup

Interest and participation in women’s football is set to soar after the England Women’s team won the FIFA European Championships in July 2022.

“It’s amazing. This is what dreams are made of,” - ENGLAND FORWARD, CHLOE KELLY

Top-tips for writing tender responses

Writing responses for tenders can be daunting, especially when completing your first. So, before you send out your next school tender, here are some things you can check to aid your tender writing and add a little extra value to your responses.

Your values and how you practice them as a business are what set you apart from everyone else. Don’t miss an opportunity to shout about them, and how they’ll support your partnership with schools.

Being as in-depth as possible will give the school clarity and confidence in your partnership. This is crucial when writing about the transition and review processes that will take place if the tender is awarded to you.

While we’ve spoken about being detailed in your responses, it’s equally important to avoid repetition. This will help you to keep answers succinct and simple for schools to read through.

Are you involved in any local initiatives such as charities of uniform banks? Make sure to share your commitments with schools and assure them of your positive presence in your community.

Banner’s Media Hub hosts a wide range of resources that are there to make tendering easy. See our previous article about using the Media Hub for creating tenders here.

If you’re still not sure about how to approach the tendering process, we’re here to help. Our team are available to give advice and support. Simply contact us at marketing@banner.co.uk

Charter for School Uniform Practices

The Charter for School Uniform Practices is a new initiative from the Schoolwear Association. It sets out the commitment of its members to families, schools and sustainability.

Banner is active member of the Association and a driving force in supporting all aspects of the charter. We believe that school uniform is a force for good, offering not only value for money but reinforcing the values of inclusion, wellbeing and opportunity for all.

Working to the charter, we are committed to...

Statutory Guidance

•

Going beyond …

Ethical

We know that the cost of uniforms is a concern for many and we are working hard to limit price increases wherever possible.

Furthermore, at Banner we are guided by our values and the belief that every child deserves the chance to shine. Every day we strive to make a meaningful difference for retailers, parents and schools, listening carefully to our customers and the young people we ultimately serve.

If you have a suggestion or a concern that you’d like to discuss, feel free to contact us – your contribution will be welcomed for we guarantee an honest and open response to all enquiries.

First Day At School... A Mum’s Perspective

They say that our first day at school is one of the most remembered of our lives. As all parents know, it’s a day of joy and tears and of letting go (just a little bit) as our loved ones take their first steps towards independence. Which is why what they wear plays such an important part in this red-letter day for children all across the country.

‘Mia was so excited to wear her uniform, that she barely slept the night before,’ laughed Katie, whose five-year-old daughter attends Primary School in Wiltshire. Katie was recalling Mia’s first day and the joy she took in wearing her new uniform that morning. There’s no doubt her daughter’s excitement was shared by the hundreds of thousands of children starting school this autumn.

First days are milestones for parents too. ‘I’d barely slept as well,’ said Katie. ‘All of a sudden, I realised my baby is not quite so little! She’s making her own way in the world and I’m left at the school gates wondering how she’ll get on without me.’

This is why uniform, in a quiet and reassuring way, plays such an essential role in easing the transition for parents and their little ones.

Katie says, ‘It meant that Mia felt part of something, like she was part of a team —and that made it easier to join in and make friends.’

Is there ever a day when it’s more important to feel a sense of belonging? Is there ever a time when a child needs more reassurance that others are the in the same boat? Research confirms that these concerns are the same at secondary school, or at any age, when

young people move to a new area and need to fit in. If we are honest, they carry through to college and later life too. Wearing a uniform says we are one and together, that we take pride in who we are and the values we stand for. Those are big concepts for little people, but simply by looking smart and wearing the same clothes they are living these ideals every day. As children get older, they may want more style and individuality, but the sense of pride and belonging doesn’t change.

‘Going to school signified the next chapter in Mia’s life,’ says Katie. ‘Whether you burst into tears as she waves happily goodbye (like I did!) or hold it together until you get home, it’s such an emotional day.’ It’s one

that mum and daughter will remember too, she adds, ‘I’ll never forget the moment she left me, smiling and happy in her uniform, delighted to be there.’

Here at Banner we’re proud to give very child the chance to shine, and we know — as do our brilliant retail partners — that first impressions count. Starting school will always be a special day, and we all want those memories to be joyful. Perhaps, more than any other time, it’s an opportunity to win over hearts and minds, and show that uniform is not just about rules and regulations – rather it’s also about fun, freedom and our futures together.

“Wearing a uniform says we are one and together, that we take pride in who we are and the values we stand for”

A photographer’s viewpoint

Did you know that our first days at school are among the most photographed of our lives? Along with births, weddings and graduations, school photographs have a place in almost every family album. How many of us look back with nostalgia at our own classroom portraits, or shed a tear when remembering our children’s early years?

‘The tradition of school photography is alive and well,’ says Sarah Gibson, a professional who specialises in pictures that capture the joy of children learning together. ‘I started with my own children,’ she explains ‘because I wanted something less formal than traditional portraits. From an initial commission at their nursery it’s now a substantial and growing part of my business.’

Sarah says that despite the ubiquity of social media, today’s parents still want professional pictures for their homes and to share with relatives. ‘In some ways, not much has changed since I was child. School portraits are in frames and on kitchen calendars, just as they always were. I think that reflects our sense that these are special times and milestones we should mark.’

But for all that Sarah’s style is fresh and informal, uniform plays a vital role in the end result. ‘It’s a subtle ingredient of every school picture,’ she says, ‘almost something we don’t think about, and yet without it the pictures could be taken anywhere. Of course, I’m looking to capture the individual child, but their uniform also gives context and meaning to the shots I take.’

Sarah prefers to take pictures outdoors, capturing the characters of her young subjects. ‘I spend a lot of time among them so they’re relaxed with my camera, and I’ve come to see how uniform plays a role that isn’t obvious at first. As a photographer, it means their personalities shine because of who they are, rather than what they wear.’

The message, that uniform matters and makes a positive difference, is one we passionately believe in at Banner. That’s why it’s especially pleasing to hear that parents and schools think the same. In years to come, will we still be taking photographs of our children in their classes around the country? The answer to that seems to a resounding yes, and long may it be so.

“...it means their personalities shine because of who they are, rather than what they wear.“

Blazing a trail

Sarah Robins, Sustainability Manager, Banner Group.

In November, the world’s leaders and climate experts met at COP 27 in Egypt, working to hammer out the next round of commitments to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. As is often the case, progress was slow and relations were fractious. Watching the reports on my laptop I rather wished they could have met in the less glamourous settings that our industry chooses for its annual get together of suppliers.

Attending this year’s Schoolwear Show I was struck by how much progress we had made in our sustainability journey as an industry. Everywhere I looked I saw actions and ideas underway. Here at Banner we are proud to be playing a leading role, but the momentum clearly comes from more than any one business — and that’s a good thing.

For although we all want to want to outpace the competition, it’s not much of a race if others don’t keep up. The dynamism of a healthy market is what creates the conditions for new ideas and inventions — and no amount of regulation can ever replace this. What’s more, we won’t convince schools and parents of the importance of sustainability if there are only one or two manufacturers investing in the future.

Indeed, as I walked around the stands, I wondered how many industries could demonstrate our level and pace of change?

Of course, there were many familiar garments, and let’s be honest, blazers look much the same as they always have. But every major supplier now has a sustainability strategy, and none of us can ignore the changing of the tide. We are moving inevitably, and ever faster towards a more sustainable future for uniforms and those who resist it will get washed away.

And that wave of change is not just about eco-fabrics. I was delighted to see the growing emphasis on the lifecycle of uniform, recycling schemes, second hand sales and charity distributions. All these have

a part to play in a more sustainable future. As does ethical manufacture and responsible retailing. And perhaps most of all involving young people so that our designs reflect the values they associated with.

I could go on, but the central point is that we have an excellent story to tell. And that unlike the fractious meetings at Cop 27, the schoolwear industry has an opportunity to work together promoting the good we do. Uniform is the opposite of fast fashion; it endures because it is founded in values as much as value for money. And that for me is source of pride, and something we should all be proud to shout about too.

Supply Chain Update

Howard Wilder Sales Director, Banner

So we find ourselves at the end of another year, one that has been impacted greatly by the cost of living crisis, war in Ukraine, and continuing Covid issues. But we’ve gotten through it.

The general feeling from retail trade seems to be that businesses are thankful that they got through Back to School as they did. Most people have a little more stock than they need, but they live to fight another day, and another Back to School.

At Banner Wholesale, we faced a few difficulties earlier in the season regarding overseas stock. We recognised the urgency to get all product back to the UK and flew in a considerable amount at our cost, and have plans to offset any carbon emissions created in the process. The issue was resolved and the stock

reached our customers, allowing the majority of cases the longest possible period to sell their products.

Since the beginning of August we had a great period of service for all our customers, with stocks currently standing at 98% availability and our ‘On Time in Full’ KPI being beaten on a regular daily basis with regards to outgoing deliveries.

After a slow start, forward orders for 2023 are now flooding into our Sales Office, so thank you for your business for 2023.

Just as a reminder, please keep an eye on our Back to School Offers information so that you don’t miss any important order cut-off dates.

We look forward to working with you in 2023!

Next Issue...

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Every quarter, Insight will bring you all the latest guidance, advice and inspiration from the schoolwear industry to help you in your business. Each issue will be jam-packed with insights from names across the industry - and we want to hear from you too!

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