Insight April 2023

An Industry First

Discover the latest revolution in school sportswear.

Therma Bottles

Hear from William Turner about their must-have product.

Industry Update

An industry-wide push for forward orders.

Supply Chain Update Your quarterly supply insights with Howard Wilder.

We’re back this year with a new look and fresh insights from the

industry and beyond.

As we rung in 2023 just a few short months ago, it was clear that we were entering a time of continued uncertainty. But with what was hopefully a restful festive period for us all, there seemed to be a sense of bolstered strength and determination. That’s why for our first issue of the year, we take a look at the positive developments our industry can anticipate in the coming months.

Coming up in this issue…

We catch up with Emma Connelly, Product Director at Banner and the driving force behind the first sports bra developed for the school market.

The team at William Turner give us a closer look at their popular water bottles and why they’re a must-have for 2023.

Our sustainability expert Sarah Robins is certain that 2023 will be an integral year for tackling environmental and ethical issues.

We bring you some key industry updates with an emphasis on the importance of forward orders to help you prepare for peak.

An industry firstIntroducing the APTUS Sports Bra

In schoolwear, we rarely come across the revolutionary. We perhaps witness innovation in product design, but a garment that pushes boundaries and makes a real change in students’ lives and wellbeing is few and far between. That was until the APTUS Sports Bra came to be.

Recent statistics are a resounding callout for schoolwear providers to offer extra support for female students to protect their body and feel confident to partake in school activities.

It’s enough to know that 40% of students at secondary school are self-conscious about their bodies and as a result, don’t want to take part in sporting activities. But when we also learn that 46% of girls aged 11-18 said that their breasts had an effect on their participation in sports, and half of the girls in this age group have never worn a sports bra before – it was clear what needed to be done.

“When the statistics came to light, the team and I knew we needed to act,” says Emma Connelly, Product Director at Banner. “Our sportswear brand APTUS is all about empowering young people to take part in school sport, no matter their age, gender or body type. So why would we ignore an opportunity to support girls in feeling confident about their bodies?”

“Before getting ahead of ourselves with design, look and feel, we needed the scientific backing and research to support our ideas for the sports bra. That’s when we came across Joanna’s research.”

Professor Joanna Wakefield Scurr is the biomechanics field leader and Head of the Research Group in Breast Health at the University of Portsmouth. “Joanna helped us to understand the fundamentals of breast health and anatomy, and the importance of wearing a sports bra, which led us to develop the APTUS Sports Bra specifically for use at school.”

Now with the knowledge and understanding of the positive impact wearing a sports bra would have on female students, Emma’s team got to work on the design.

“We needed to focus on the concept that this sports bra would be an extension of a school’s P.E kit and would likely be worn all day underneath school shirts or polos. With that in mind, we made sure the aesthetic of the bra was simplistic and discreet with a reversible design, while the structure and materials ensured suitable comfort and support.”

What can’t be forgotten about the APTUS Sports Bra is that it’s made using recycled polyester, saving 1.5 plastic bottles from waste per bra. “Sustainability is at the core of everything Banner does as a business, and with the recent eco transition across the entire APTUS range, sustainability was a must.”

With all the hard work, research and development that Emma and her team put into creating the APTUS Sports Bra, it’s clear that this was more than a business move to expand the range. “I know for certain that a lot of passion went into this product from everyone involved. We hope that the sports bra brings us huge leap closer to supporting girls at school and making sport accessible to all.”

The untapped school accessory must-have for 2023

It’s not just the bright colours and vibrant designs that make William Turner Therma Bottles stand out on the shop floor. With the opportunity to offer a quality accessory add-on with incredible eco benefits - all while promoting hydration at school - the Therma Bottle is not to be ignored.

School uniform accessories don’t have to be dull!

Supply Chain update

Howard Wilder, Sales Director at Banner

As we’ve seen from the collective communication from across the industry, forward orders is the biggest focus at the moment. The reality is that placing orders during peak Back to School cannot guarantee you access to the same stock levels that we have currently. As you’ll see in my update below, our current stocks are at a great level so it’s more important than ever that forward orders are placed so that we can support you going into peak season.

And with that, here are my updates for spring…

Service

Currently we are tracking well with our overseas factories and deliveries should be as scheduled.

Our UK Embroidery department is running well, with our ‘daily order’ 5-6 day embroidery delivery schedule being adhered to.

Don’t forget that all daily plain stock orders placed by 4pm will be despatched the same day (subject to stock availability) for next day delivery (Mainland UK, excluding Highlands and Islands).

Looking ahead...

Have you got enough stock?

We are starting to plan for 2024 and hope to have many exciting announcements to make over the coming months.

Stocks are currently at +97.5%

Overall, with our majority Active A stocks at +98%

“Place forward orders now so we can support you this peak season”

Industry update

The Importance of Forward Orders

It’s clear that we are living through challenging times and that the cost-ofliving-crisis resulted in many businesses across the trade ending 2022 with more stock than planned, and more importantly created real uncertainty surrounding how 2023 will unfold.

It’s probably no surprise that suppliers are seeing lower like-for-like forward orders from customers this year. Because of this, it’s important to highlight the potential significant impact this will have on the industry.

• Suppliers use forward order levels to forecast full year sales.

• Lower forward orders mean a likely reduction in the number of garments being manufactured for the entire year.

• Suppliers may therefore not be carrying enough stock as an industry to satisfy summer demand.

In a joint statement, schoolwear suppliers have said, “We would be extremely grateful if as retailers you could review the levels of forward orders you have placed with your suppliers throughout the trade and consider if you should now place further top up orders where necessary to ensure you have sufficient stock to supply your customers over the summer.”

The statement also expresses that there’s particular concern for retailers who are relying on buying more stock “in season” than they have done in previous years, as this will not have been planned for and may therefore not be available when demanded.

“We would be extremely grateful if as retailers you could review the levels of forward orders you have placed with your suppliers throughout the trade and consider if you should now place further top up orders where necessary to ensure you have sufficient stock to supply your customers over the summer.”

Sustainable uniform for a better future

While everyone is feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that we’re also in a nature crisis and in the words of Sir David Attenborough, “We need to unite in action to save it”.

It’s important to recognise that we have an opportunity, as well as a responsibility as an industry to do the right thing and accelerate the move to uniforms and sportswear ranges that are made using sustainably sourced fabrics.

Transitioning to eco uniforms is not just beneficial for the students who wear them every day, or for the planet and the people who make the garments. It’s good for business too. Our insights show that schools will soon be giving greater prominence to environmental and sustainable credentials when reviewing their uniform policies. Combined with the demands of increasingly climate savvy students, it makes sense for retailers to consider a transition to eco uniforms.

We believe the schoolwear industry, and Banner products in particular can be a beacon of sustainable best practice.

Not only has Banner increased the use of recycled fabrics to 65% of their product offering for BTS 2023 – forming the biggest eco range in our industry - it’s also backed by industry-leading credentials and a service offer to match.

Sustainability is a journey that we must all embrace. So, let’s work together as a collective industry and make sustainable uniform the conscious choice. Let’s take action to be better for the planet, better for the young people who wear our garments, and better for the communities we serve.

MEDIA HUB

Starting your sustainability Journey: Top-tips for retailers

Carry out a simple impact assessment on your business.

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You need to have a clear understanding of what impacts your business operations and what activities have on the environment and your local community. A good place to start is by doing an audit of environmental and social impacts across the whole of your business.

Speak to your local schools about what is important to them.

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Measure and record what you are doing – as what gets measured gets done!

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Start by taking monthly meter readings for electricity and heating. Also record your business travel mileages, type of fuel/consumption, water and sewerage as well as a record of waste collected.

Set yourself 3-5 key goals that are realistic and achievable.

Taking small steps and actions really do make a difference.

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Take action from the insights gained from the assessment, aligning with the 3Rs of sustainabilityReduce, Reuse, Recycle.

The first priority here is always focused on ‘reduce’ so think about:

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1) What can I reduce or remove completely? e.g. energy consumption or consumables such as paper and plastic packaging.

2) Where can I reuse materials? e.g. carton packaging.

3) What can I recycle? e.g. plastic, carton, food waste.

Engage and involve colleagues in every step of the journey.

Engage colleagues every step of the way depending on the size of your business. If you can set up a green task force then great, but at the very least have someone designated as the sustainability lead to support driving the change. Just one simple idea from a colleague could be a real game changer for your business.

Finally, enjoy the journey and share what you are doing with us.

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If you have any questions about measuring your carbon footprint, then don’t hesitate to contact SER@banner.co.uk.

Together we can build a greener and fairer future.

Use wholesalers that have lots of sustainable products & eco credentials!

to the Banner media hub for more sustainability information.

If you have a question or a suggestion on an issue you’d like us to cover in future editions then please get in touch and email marketing@banner.co.uk

Next Issue...

More Insight… more news, more information

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!

Don’t forget, you can get in touch to be featured. Simply email us at marketing@banner.co.uk