A Tristan Communications Ltd. Publication Volume 20, Issue 4

Get caught up on the latest industry news 4

Imprint Canada highlights global apparel news headlines 6

Imprint Canada's showcases the newest wearable fashions,

advertising specialty items, supplies and equipment 18

Imprint Canada examines recent Statistics Canada report on

Canadian manfucaturing sales and wholesale merchant sales

from the fi rst half of 2013 36

WHAT'S INSIDE

The Habits of Highly Successful

Industry DecoratorsSourcing Direct: The impact of energy costs, freight and logisticsPart four in a six-part seriesBy Adriano Aldini, Imprint Canada

In any business or industry, there is never only "one"

right way to be successful. Th at said however, there are

several common

traits or habits

that are shared

among prominent

businesses which,

in turn, help fuel

their success.

We spoke to

several successful

decorators across

Canada to fi nd out what their secrets to success were; the

following list are some of the common habits they described

as having helped drive the success of their businesses for so

many years.

Attention to detail

At the end of any day, a decorator is only as good as the

work it produces.

With an ever expanding gamut of textiles, fabrics, apparel

styles and product subsets, decorators need to be constantly

honing their craft to ensure they stay on top of the proverb-

ial "ball."

Distributors and buyers who truly understand this busi-

ness don't make it a habit of settling for anything less than

what would be considered perfect decoration.

At the beginning of 2013, Imprint Canada kicked-off a six part article series exam-

ining the topic of direct overseas sourcing.

To recap briefl y, parts one and two of this series looked at the perils for distributors

utilizing the direct sourcing model, and the four reasons to consider procuring product

from domestically-based suppliers. Part three of the series examined the global reac-

tion to overseas manufacturing on the heels of the tragic Bangladesh apparel factory

collapse in Rana Plaza.

In this, the fourth instalment, we highlight the impact of energy costs, freight and

logistics when sourcing direct from overseas manufacturers.

FUEL "COSTS"It's no mystery that higher energy costs translate directly into higher transport costs.

Consider that approximately 80 per cent of the global merchandise trade volume is

carried by sea; when coupled with maritime transport's overwhelming dependence

on diesel as its primary energy source, it's easy see to why oil prices and ocean ship-

ping rates are inexorably linked.

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A Four Letter WordBack in May 2012, Canada’s Commissioner of

Competition fi led a formal complaint with the federal

Competition Tribunal backed by a group of organiza-

tions that represent retailers and small businesses —

including the Canadian Federation of Independent

Business and the Retail Council of Canada — argu-

ing that Visa and MasterCard were engaging in anti-

competitive behaviour that was costing consumers $5

billion in hidden fees.

Th e biggest complaint surrounded the interchange

fees (ranging from 1.54 to 2.65 per cent) which busi-

nesses must pay to banks and credit card companies

every time a purchase is made, particularly with a

premium card.

Retailers are arguing they want the right to either

decline accepting premium cards or to be able to

charge a fee to customers who use them.

On July 24, 2013, the tribunal rejected both proposals.

Australians have endured visible surcharges on every

purchase made with a credit card for the past 10 years.

It it has been reported that some surcharge fees exceed

17 per cent. Other instances have been reported where

Australian consumers have not been explained their

payment options at the time of purchase to avoid

surcharges.

Here in Canada, it seems that - while it still may be

years away - there may come a day when credit card

surcharge fees could make their way into our economy.

A small contingent of consumers who prefer smaller

retail environments - and are aware of the smaller

margins these businesses survive on -may be more

sympathetic to credit card surcharges. But most will

be against spending more at the till.

Credit card companies will not be too happy should

such fees come into eff ect. Th e last thing they would

want is for consumers to consider other payment

options, such as the antiquated four letter word: cash.

According to the Canadian Bankers Association, there

are more than 73.9 million Visa and MasterCard cards

in circulation alone just in Canada. Th e tribunal's

decision to keep the 'status quo' is a victory for all

credit card companies

who wish to limit the

barriers to use on their

products.

As the number of credit

card transactions con-

tinue to rise, so will the

pressures on profi t

margins for retailers.

As this pressure builds,

the call for credit card

surcharge fees will only

get louder.

My wallet tells me that

the tribunal will be

addressing this topic

sooner than later.

JULY/AUGUST 2013Follow us: twitter.com/imprint_canada

TM

GEO-KNIGHT

DK-20A

1 SOURCING DIRECT: THE IMPACT OF ENERGY COSTS ON FREIGHT & LOGISTICS CONTINUED PG 10

1 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL DECORATORS CONTINUED PG 10

4 INDUSTRY NEWS

6 GLOBAL APPAREL UPDATE

12 WESTERN IMPRINT CANADA SHOW

38 BY THE NUMBERS

18 WEARABLES SHOWCASE

30 AD SPECIALTY SHOWCASE

34 SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT SHOWCASE

Imprint Canada is published six times per year by Tristan

Communications Ltd. Th e contents of this publication may

not be reproduced either in part or in whole without the

consent of the copyright owner. Th e views expressed in this

publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Request

for missing issues are not accepted aft er three months from the

date of publication.

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Email: shows@imprintcanada.com

ISSN: 1480-1884 GST Registration #: RT892913294

IMPRINT CANADA

PUBLISHER Tony Muccilli : tony@imprintcanada.com

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENTAdriano Aldini : news@imprintcanada.com

MARKETING COORDINATORSteve Silva: feedback@imprintcanada.com

OFFICE ADMINISTRATORMaria Natale: shows@imprintcanada.com

GENERAL INQUIRIESfeedback@imprintcanada.com, (905)856-2600

ADVERTISING SALESTony Muccilli (Toronto)

Tel: (905) 856-2600 Fax: (905) 856-2667

July/August 2013 - Volume 20, Number 4

IMPRINT CANADA

| July/August 20134 IMPRINT CANADA

Industry News

Fashion Biz held an Open House July 3rd & 4th, welcoming distributors to see their new GTA Showroom and Samples Loaner Library in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

� e event also allowed dis-tributors to learn more about the Fashion Biz Unique Partnership Propositions program.

“With our excellent   growth within the last year in Ontario, we at Fashion Biz felt the natural next step was to invest in this Biz Collection Samples and Loaner Library for our valued distributors," said George Cooper, national sales manager.

� is facility is the eighth of its kind, with other locations in British Columbia, Australia and New Zealand. Fashion Biz welcomes all dis-tributors to visit during their weekday hours.

� e Showroom is located at Unit 2 - 15 Sims Crescent, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 1A3. For more information, call: (905) 597-0480.(Pictured above (from left to right): Chad Maybury, Gabriela Montenegro, George Cooper)

Fashon Biz hosts Open House

Industry News, Continued on Page 6

Ash City launches innovative and free mobile application Welcomes new independent sales representative

Ash City Worldwide has released a new mobile applica-tion for the iPhone and iPad. � e app gives customers the ability to view inventory selection and receive automatic stock updates, browse high-resolution images, submit orders, navigate through user-friendly tabs, mark favourite products for future reference, and more.

Feedback thus far has been nothing but positive. "Our initial response was better than anticipated. We designed the application both for our customers and for our sales team to ensure everyone has access to Ash City product infor-mation on the go," explains Laura Turner, Ash City's VP of Marketing. "Everyone who has downloaded the application seems very pleased with it."

� e mobile app boasts a sleek and simple interface which is designed for user-friendliness and easy access to information.

"We speci¡ cally avoided making the application too busy or placing too much content in their," explains Turner. "We kept it business focused so users can get to the information they need quickly and intuitively."

� e application, which took approximately four months to develop, is currently available for iOS operating systems only (iPhones and iPads); this decision was made based on Ash City's research and analysis that highlighted that the overwhelming majority of users visiting AshCity.com from mobile devices were using the iOS platform.

"We recognize the importance of keeping our custom-ers' business moving no matter where they are, and have developed this application to give them access whenever they may need it," says Doug Hayes, president & CEO.

"As a leading supplier in the industry, we are always looking at ways to provide exceptional convenience to a distributor's busy lifestyle – and this tool does just that," added Hayes.

To download the free Ash City mobile app, visit the Apple App Store. For more information and a demonstration of the application, go to www.ashcity.com/mobile.

Announces Nick Chipcase as new sales representativeAsh City is pleased to announce the appointment of Nick

Chipchase as an Independent Sales Representative for the Maryland, Delaware, DC and North Virginia territory.

Nick's role will be responsible for building solid relation-ships with distributors, supporting and growing sales, and acting as the point of contact for customers in these areas.

"We are extremely pleased to have Nick join the extended Ash City team," said Chris Clark, VP of Eastern USA Sales, Ash City. "In addition to his enthusiasm, work ethic, and desire to help our distributors learn and grow, Nick has what it takes to be successful in this industry, and these are all noteworthy traits we look for in our ¡ eld sales rep-resentatives."

"I've always admired Ash City's innovative designs and exceptional product lines," said Chipchase. "As being one of the outstanding leaders in the promotional apparel industry, I am thrilled to be on board and look forward to generating further success in my territory."

Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL; TSX, NYSE) has announced that it has signed a de¡ nitive agreement to acquire all of the assets of New Bu© alo Shirt Factory Inc. (New Bu© alo) and its operating aª liate in Honduras, for approximately US$7 million.

� e rationale for the acquisition of New Bu© alo is to complement the further development of Anvil’s business with the major consumer brands which it supplies, and this customer base is expected to fully utilize the capacity of the New Bu© alo facilities.

New Bu© alo is a leader in screen printing and apparel decoration, which, in conjunction with Anvil and certain other apparel manufacturers, provides high-quality screen printing and decoration of apparel for global lifestyle and athletic brands.

� e key management of New Bu© alo, including found-ing entrepreneur Jon Weiss, will continue to operate the business under Gildan ownership.

Gildan Activewear acquires New Bu� alo Shirt Factory Inc.

Magnus BBQ raises almost $3,000 to help children with Cancer

Magnus Pen held its second annual Extreme BBQ June 26th, welcoming more than 150 promotional products buyers who attended to visit 28 leading suppliers while raising money and awareness for a tre-mendous cause.

Nearly $3,000 was raised for Camp Oochigeas, which provides an active, outdoor experience for children with cancer, through their year-round programs for children at their site in Muskoka, at SickKids Hospital, at the Ooch Downtown facility in Toronto, as well as in the local community.

From delicious breakfast and lunch, to an ice cream truck, Cheryl Daurie (pictured, above) and the entire Magnus team put on a great, fun-¡ lled day for all.

To learn more about Camp Oochigeas, please visit http://www.ooch.org.

Kanata Blanket relocates showroom to Promo Expo headquartersKanata Blanket has moved its showroom to the

Promo Expo showroom, located at 422 North Rivermede Rd., Unit 14, Concord, ON.

"Being part of this group provides a number of bene¡ ts to both Kanata and, more importantly, to our customers in the GTA," says Sharon Griª th, vice president sales & marketing.

"� e large showroom allows for Kanata's key items to be displayed to the distributors that frequently use the show-room. � e sample lending library ensures that many of our products are immediately available."

Sharon Griª th can be reached at 604 273 7002 x211, or at Sharon@kanatablanket.com.

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IMPRINT CANADA

Industry News

Features:

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American Apparel comparable sales for June 2013 up 7 per centWholesale net sales up 16 per cent in fi rst quarter of fi scal 2013

American Apparel, Inc. (NYSE MKT:APP) announced on a preliminary basis, total net sales for June

2013 were $55.9 million, an increase of 7 per cent over

June 2012.

Comparable sales for June 2013 increased 7 per cent,

including a 5 per cent increase in comparable store sales in

the retail store channel and a 22 per cent increase in net

sales in the online channel. Wholesale net sales increased

16 per cent for the month.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2013, total net sales

increased 9 per cent to $162.2 million, with a 7 per cent

increase in comparable sales and a 16 per cent increase in

wholesale net sales.

"June represents our 25th consecutive month of positive

comparable store sales growth," said Dov Charney, Chairman

and Chief Executive of American Apparel, Inc.

"I am excited with the increase, particularly since it is

on top of the 19 per cent increase achieved in June 2012.

Likewise, the increase in wholesale net sales is on top of a

7 per cent increase achieved for the month ended June 30,

2012. Sales growth was across a broad range of product

categories and demonstrates the strength of our summer

product off ering. Th us far, July sales are solidly positive in

our retail and online channels, and we expect a meaning-

ful increase in our wholesale net sales this month when

compared to the prior year," added Charney.

SanMar Canada introduces innovative "Find-A-Decorator" resource tool

Zorrel International named offi cial lifestyle apparel of Ironman

Distributors can now easily connect with a local decor-

ator in their area with SanMar Canada's innovative and

useful new Find-A-Decorator (FAD) online tool.

Th e locator search tool displays a view of registered

decorators in full map view pinpointing available busi-

nesses across Canada. With Google Maps integrated into

the search tool, users will immediately have a visual con-

nection to each service provider.

SanMar Canada is proud to provide this service to help

strengthen the industry by connecting decorators with

non-decorators. SanMar Canada is confi dent that this

tool will help will grow your business through these valu-

able partnerships.

To use the Find-A-Decorator locator tool, visit

ww.w.sanmarcanada.com/marketing/fi ndadecorator.shtml

or contact SanMar Canada for more information.

IRONMAN is proud to announce Zorrel International

Inc. as the Offi cial Lifestyle Apparel supplier of IRONMAN®

in the United States and Canada for the next three years.

Zorrel will be the exclusive provider, both online and at

races throughout the United States and at select races in

Canada. Products will include event T-Shirts, Polo’s, Fleece

and Soft shell jackets.

“We are excited to partner with Zorrel again and look

forward to working with them as they create high-qual-

ity apparel for our athletes,” said Andrew Messick, Chief

Executive Offi cer of IRONMAN. “Zorrel is a respected

brand and we are thrilled that the IRONMAN logo will be

featured on their products.”

Zorrel will also provide event fi nisher shirts as well as volun-

teer shirts for all IRONMAN events in the United States and

Subaru IRONMAN Canada in Whistler, BC.

“Zorrel is proud to be returning as a partner of

IRONMAN,” said Sean Mahoney, Vice President of Zorrel.

“Nearly 10 years ago, IRONMAN was one of Zorrel’s ori-

ginal partners that helped fuel our growth; and we are

thrilled to, again, be providing these great athletes apparel

for their active lives away from the course.”

For more information, please visit www.ironman.com

and www.zorrel.com.

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IMPRINT CANADA

Since word of mouth in our industry tends to spread

pretty quickly, a decorator who's work is anything but

excellent doesn't tend to last very long.

"Our slogan, 'Would you wear it?' basically speaks to

our commitment to quality decoration," explains Tim

Healy, owner of Edmonton's Nuline Emboss. Th e com-

pany specializes in debossing, embossing, laser etch-

ing, and custom heat applied decoration on a myriad of

substrates. Healy explains that each job they produce is

done so primarily from the perspective of the end user.

In order to ensure each job is perfect, Nuline Emboss

stresses preproduction samples for every order to ensure it

is produced exactly to each client's required specifi cations.

Th e company's work is so unique that its competitors

oft en come through the door asking for their advice. "Our

processes border on proprietary because they are so hard

to do," explains Healy. "I tell our competitors that we've

wrecked product learning how to do it right."

In Vancouver, digital print specialists Oddball Workshop

have carved out an impressive niche by taking the time to

perfect their craft . What separates Oddball Workshop is

their ability to produce stunning garments that their com-

petition (armed with the same equipment) simply can't.

"Digital decorators don't always know what their

machines are capable of out of the box," explains co-

founder Kai Low. "Vendors will tell you the machines

can do one thing, but there is so much more that can be

achieved if you are open minded about it."

At Oddball, they believe that all material-based digital

printing is possible. Th e company recently added sublima-

tion to its gamut of decorating services aft er conducting

a feasibility study, and it has quickly become one of its

biggest revenue generators.

At Vaughan, Ontario-based FM Embroidery, the main

focus of the company since it was founded in 1993 has

been fi rmly placed on the quality of work it produces.

"Maybe 9 out of 10 customers won't notice the slight-

est imperfection with their decorated logo, but we work

to ensure that the 1 out 10 knows that the quality to the

craft is there," says Michael Filice.

He explains that they've become successful largely due

to the fact all of the work that leaves its facility is done

right. If it isn't perfect, it doesn't leave; it's as simple as that.

"Our reputation is extremely important. I'd rather pay

to replace a slightly imperfect order - whether it be a hat,

golf shirt, jacket - than to take a chance that a customer

is unhappy with the quality of work we produce."

Th e team at FM Embroidery also approaches every

order from the end user's perspective. "I go from the

standpoint that our work has to refl ect something I would

love to wear," adds Filice.

On-Time, Every TimeTime is money, and the successful decorators in our

industry live by guaranteed turn around times for each

and every order. It's an absolute must.

"Our number one focus is on-time completion," says

Jas Brar, president of Oakville, Ontario based Entripy

Custom Clothing. "Regardless of how good the decora-

tion is, if you can't deliver it on time, then it's pointless

to have the perfect decoration."

In order to ensure deadlines are never missed, Brar

explains that Entripy takes a relentless approach to pro-

cess, procedure and accountability in every department

- from preproduction through to the art deportment, all

the way through to production.

"It's about scheduling, staying organized and working

in a clean and clutter-free workspace; all these things tie

in together to defi ne our culture," adds Brar.

At Th e Edge Screen Studio in Toronto, the emphasis is

fi rmly placed on communication in order to successfully

manage the high volumes they output on weekly basis.

"We have a very fi nite system that, from the time our

customer service department takes the order (all the way

through) to shipping, there is a very established fl ow that

makes up our double-check system where every stage gets

signed off on" explains vice president Shirley Goldstein.

Before any ink hits a garment, Goldstein notes that

original customer service agent who booked the order

has to physically approve it as they are the ones who are

in touch with the customer. "Th is basically ensures that

nothing is lost along the way - and based on the volume

we do on a weekly basis - that is very easy to do."

Th e Edge's double-check system ensures that all orders

are processed and produced in eff ective, timely manner.

At FM Embroidery, Filice explains that the company's

dedication to fi ve-day turnaround has been a long-stand-

ing factor to its success. "Because we handle all of our

decoration in-house, we are able to control our timelines

which allows us to guarantee turnaround."

Communication and organization are the catalysts

needed to guarantee deadlines. Th e successful decorators

all share the common habit that each department com-

municates effi ciently with one another, and production

schedules are structured in a manner which creates the

time to produce perfect decoration on deadline, for each

and every order.

Accessibility & Customer ServiceOne of the elements that is fundamental to the success

of any decorator is the manner in which they provide ser-

vice. Whether it be to end users or in the role of contract

decorators to distributors, the term "customer service"

is oft en overused.

Customer service can mean a lot of things, and believe it

or not, it can still be hard to come by. Th is is why successful

decorators who truly excel at the customer service aspect

of their business incorporate an element of accessibility.

"We have a laid back, customer-friendly environment

which is not intimidating," says Low. "We try to exceed

expectations and we try to make the experience of dealing

with us as easy and as pleasant as possible."

Decorating apparel can be an intimidating experience

for any customer, regardless of how knowledgeable of

decorating processes he or she may be.

Low explains that their company's culture and atmos-

phere plays a huge role in its success because they take the

time to walk customers through the processes and edu-

cate them on the various nuances of each technique and

what would work best for their respective project.

"What customer service means to us is com-

munication with a very personal touch," explains

Goldstein, referring to the one-on-one communica-

tion the company prides itself on. "Being completely

accessible has been indispensable to our success."

When a client calls Th e Edge Screen Studio, they

deal with same customer agent throughout their

order. Th is helps in several ways: fi rst, it allows Th e

Edge to more acutely understand the intricacies of

their customer's order and more eff ectively com-

municate any potential suggestions or revisions

with respect to production; secondly, it ensures

that nothing gets lost in the production process.

Customers at Th e Edge are also invited to watch

the decorating process so as to better understand

the concept to completion fundamentals involved.

Th is open door policy helps better educate clients on

the details involved in decorating and also facilitates

a faster work fl ow for future orders.

Teamwork is FirstLast, but defi nitely not least, a similarity that

each successful decorator shares is a dedicated team

which is comprised of long term staff members who

take ownership of every job that comes through the

door as if the company were their own.

It takes a certain type of skill set to decorate

promotional goods on a daily basis, and for the

companies that do it best, they have the benefi t of

a dedicated team working for them and with them.

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Th e impact that oil prices have on freight rates tend to be larger in periods of sharply rising and more volatile oil prices, compared to periods of low and stable oil prices.

Since 2000, the cost of shipping a standard 40-foot con-tainer from East Asia to the US eastern seaboard has more than doubled.

At the turn of the millennium - when oil prices hovered around US$20 per barrel - CIBC World Markets estimated that transport costs amounted to the approximate equivalent to a 3 per cent US tariff rate. Eight years later, with crude oil prices nearing record highs of US$150 per barrel, transport costs shot up to the equivalent of an average tariff rate of more than 9 per cent.

During this same period, speculation was running ram-pant, as experts projected oil to spike to US$200/barrel. In that scenario, the cost of shipping a 40-foot container from China to the U.S. eastern seaboard was estimated upwards of $10,000.

Fortunately, those specula-tive fears never materialized, and today - with oil hovering around the US$100 per barrel - transport costs haven't dropped all that much from the highs of 2008, despite a relative stabiliza-tion in oil prices.

From 2001-2011, as fuel prices rose almost 400 per cent, transportation costs also rose in kind, and from 2005-2008, every one dollar rise in world oil prices translated directly into a 1 per cent rise in transport costs.

Th is rise in the cost of fuel, in-turn, impacts the costs of manufacturing, especially in export-dependant, developing countries where volatile energy shortages are more common.

Garment exporters in developing countries like Pakistan say increases in fuel prices have had a negative impact on the country's apparel sector.

A major impact that increases in fuel price have, other than on freight, is on production costs in these developing nations.

"Since Pakistan is short of electricity, around 80 percent

of garment units operate by using electricity produced by generators that run on diesel. So, with the rise in oil prices, the cost of electricity also increases and production costs go up,” explains Mr. Ijaz A Khokhar, Chief Coordinator of Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers Association (PRGMEA) in an interview with fi bre2fashion.

SHEER VOLUMEContainerized goods are mostly manufactured goods,

which tend to have higher value per volume ratios than bulk cargoes.

According to a United Nations report on Oil Prices and Maritime Freight Rates, contain-er trade is estimated to account for over 70 per cent of total trade in terms of value.

Changes in transporta-tion - most notably the shift towards containerization and an increased focus on ship speed - have led to greater sensitivity to higher energy prices, so much so that over the last 20 years, fuel consumption per unit of freight has more than doubled.

Recent Statistics Canada, U.S. Bureau of Commerce, and OECD data show that over the

next two decades, freight volumes could increase by at least 70 to 100 per cent.

With a general rise in fuel costs - coupled with rapidly increasing trade volumes - logistics companies are forced to restructure and strategize their operations to ensure continued profi ts.

In general, transportation systems will adjust to fuel price changes by passing through the added costs to their customers.

One of the more common surcharges applied to freight is known as General Rate Increase (GRI's). GRI's are used to describe an across-the-board tariff rate increase imple-mented to base rates.

Freight forwarders, in order to cover their high capital

costs, apply GRI's on an ongoing - and oft en arbitrary - basis to minimize the impact that erratic changes in the demand and frequency of shipments can have on their bottom line.

Th ese lump-sums are tacked on to the rate of container and can oft en be hard to predict.

How does this impact Logistics?For distributors seeking direct sourcing channels for

client programs, the challenges with respect to importing products directly can be several.

Containers tend to be relatively costly, and imported ship-ments also need to be insured against damage. While freight charges are not the largest cost component with repspect to orders - and can be passed down through to customers - they still need to be factored into the bottom line.

Th e demand needed to fi ll a 40-foot container could very well be more than had been accounted for; if sourcing direct with smaller volumes orders, partial containers are more costly to ship, so freight will impact the cost per unit more greatly.

Furthermore, any unexpected fuel surcharges, GRI's, dut-ies, taxes, tariff s or insurance fees can quickly add up and drive the cost per unit of an imported program more so than anticipated, thereby minimizing the cost savings that were originally projected when compared to sourcing locally.

Another important factor to consider is timing; the adage that time is money applies probably no more so than to the logistics of freight.

Longer lead times should be expected when dealing with an off shore manufacturer, especially during the months lead-ing up to the holidays where the costs to bring in overseas freight is noticeably more costly.

With lead times being potentially much longer than those of suppliers' with a domestic base of operations, and who inventory and regularly import product throughout the year, any delays can lead to costly lessons for distributors.

Th ese longer lead times also present another issue. Th e lack of fl exibility in the direct sourcing model exposes dis-tributors more so to the risks of currency fl uctuations and unexpected shift s in market demand.

Distributors with shipments en route cannot cancel them due to unforeseen market slowdowns or unexpected pro-gram revisions on the part of the end user.

All of these (potentially very costly) issues are virtually non-existent for distributors who opt to source from estab-lished and proven local supply channels.

Rather than assuming the burden that wearing an import-er's cap can bring - and being exposed to exponential macro-economic factors that are hard to predict and largely far beyond control - the focus for these companies is strategically placed on maximizing sales and marketing eff orts, while minimizing risk.

Sources: Oil Prices and Maritime Freight Rates: An Empirical Investigation; United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) - Technical report by the UNCTAD secretariat; CIBC World Markets; World Bank; Impact of High Oil Prices on Freight Transportation: Prepared by Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc.; fi bre2fashion.com

New Balance® performance apparel is now available in wholesale.

Our high performance t-shirt is infused with anti-microbial properties and Lighting Dry® moisture management. Perfect for staying cool on the run. Made of 100% polyester birdseye piqué knit fl atback mesh and available in companion styles.

For more information contact us at NewBalance2013@Gildan.com

Gildan is an authorized licensee of New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. New Balance® and the fl ying NB are registered trademarks of New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.

9118L & 9118

REDEFINEPERFORMANCE

GN-NB 006 9118 ImprintCanada 2.indd 1 13-06-04 10:48

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.Drive forward to quality digitizing. Th is session will cover de-tailed analysis of the design components in order to understand “Design to Fabric.” We will look at specifi c densities, under-lay, stitch angles, compensation and stitch length -- key com-ponents for quality and production. Th is session will lead us straight into marrying the design components to fabric and the eff ective use of embroidery aids.Beverley Field, Artistic Digitizing

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Th is session will continue to develop the “Design to Fabric” theme. We will be going over the fabric components we need to understand in order to eff ectively choose the correct embroi-dery aids. We will discuss the various threads, needles, back-ings, toppings, and adhesives along with techniques for proper hooping and fabric preparation. Learn to recognize the digitiz-ing fl aws you can correct with your embroidery aids. Discussion and examples of Design to Fabric will help clarify choices as to what aids to use for which fabrics.Fran McAvity, Gunold Canada

12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.Defi ne sublimation and its processes in regards to apparel and promotional soft goods. Learn the process for both small and large format sublimation; Who is currently doing sublimation, and the value the sublimation process can bring to both the end-user and the distributor of sublimation. Th is session will touch upon how to get started in sublimation printing, as well as the benefi ts and pitfalls of both producing sublimation and selling it as a fi nal product.Kai Low, Oddball Workshop Digital Printing

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.Th e Work of Leaders distills leadership best practices into a simple, compelling process that helps leaders at all levels get immediate results. Essentially, leaders have three fundamental responsibilities:

1. Craft ing a Vision 2. Building Alignment3. Championing Execution

Using the framework of Vision, Alignment, and Execution, the Everything DiSC Work of Leaders Profi le allows leaders to gain insight on their own leadership behaviours and how they impact their eff ectiveness at each phase of leadership. We can help you understand where your leadership strengths and challenges fall within 18 behavioural continua by providing context-specifi c feedback, and strategies for improving leadership eff ectiveness.Cyndi Goodjohn, DiSC Profi le Canada

OCTOBER 18-19, 2013BMO CENTRE - HALL C

Calgary, ALBERTA

ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN AT www.IMPRINTCANADA.COM

15annual

8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.Learn how to create designs with the use of drawing tools in-cluded in popular graphic systems like Pen-Slice-Combine-Breakup-Off set. See how these tools will help you become faster in the design creation opposite the traditional ways of digitiz-ing. Learn how the use of Vector-based embroidery will help you to improve speed and quality of your designs.Alexandros Papaioannou,Pulse Microsystems

10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.See and learn how to combine digitizing techniques inside the most popular graphic systems like Adobe and Corel. Discover how you can now continue to use your graphic system and con-vert your existing graphic designs to embroidery fi les without the need to purchase a new digitizing system. See how you can digitize designs by using the tools you already are familiar with.Alexandros Papaioannou,Pulse Microsystems

15annual

Made in USA Club Jackets

That’s American. That’s

– HVT401 | Unisex XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL– 2XL available in select colors– Zinc 65% Combed Cotton Fleece 28% Polyester 7% Rayon 11.28 oz/ yd² = 382 g/m²–Colors 71% Combed Cotton Fleece 29% Polyester 13 oz/ yd² = 441 g/m²

Heavy Terry Club Jacket

Black– Neutral Black U

Maroon– 491 U

Royal Blue– 661 U

Red– 711 U

Zinc– 425 U – CT509 | Unisex

– One Size– 100% Cotton Chino Twill 100% Polyester Cap Mesh

Black– Neutral Black U

Navy– 282 U

Red– 711 U

Ivory– 7527 U

– RSAWN402 | Unisex XXS | XS | S | M | L | XL | 2XL– Exterior 80% New Wool 20% Nylon– Interior 52% Polyester 48% Viscose– Leather Sleeves

Wool Club Jacketwith Leather Sleeves

Trucker Hat

Oxford– Process Black U

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American Apparel is Jobs. At American Apparel we leverage art, design, innovation, and technology to advance our business. Our workers earn fair wages, pay millions of dollars in taxes, and have access to comprehensive medical programs.

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Wholesale Imprintable Divisionamericanapparel.net/wholesale

Made in USASweatshop Free

WestJet is pleased to offer a 10% discount off our best available fare at the

time of the booking (excluding seat sales and web fares) to delegates fly-

ing to and from the Western Imprint Canada Show in Calgary.

To book your WestJet flight, please contact the WestJet Groups

Department at 1-888-493-7853. The convention code CC7800 must be quoted at the time of booking. P lease note that Convention Codes are not

available for use on WestJet.com at this time.

The discounted rates are available for travel up to three days prior to and

three days after the Show. For travel outside of these dates, WestJet will offer the best available fare at the time of booking.

Air Canada is pleased to offer special rates

to delegates attending the Western Imprint

Canada Show.

Please book your Air Canada flight by visiting AirCanada.com and enter

Promotion Code 4XAUE7V1 in the search panel. Discounts do not ap-

ply to TANGO packages nor Executive Class.

Rates are available from October 11-26, 2013.

OCTOBER 18-19, 2013BMO CENTRE, Hall C

Calgary, ALBERTA

4206 MacLeod Trail South, Calgary, AB

(403) 287-2700 or 1-866-554-0162

www.hihotelcalgary.ca

RATE: $124CODE: WIC or Western Imprint Canada Show

DEADLINE: September 17, 2013

3828 MacLeod Trail South, Calgary, AB

(403) 243-5531 or 1-800-361-3422

www.daysinn-calgarysouth.com

RATE: $92.99CODE: CG7012

DEADLINE: September 15, 2013

119 – 12th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB

(403) 266-4611 or 1-800-661-9378

www.hotelarts.ca

RATE: Starting at $119 / $185 CODE: 1310WESTER 001

DEADLINE: September 16, 2013

3630 Macleod Trail South Calgary, Alberta T2G 2P9

(403) 287-3900 http://www.bwcalgarycentre.com

For reservations, call: 1-877-287-3900

ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN AT www.IMPRINTCANADA.COM

RATE: $129.49 (Includes a complimentary hot breakfast)SHOW CODE: Imprint Canada Show/#100902

DEADLINE: September 17, 2013

www.trimarkone.com

OCTOBER 18-19, 2013BMO CENTRE, Hall C

Calgary, ALBERTA

The Spirit of Albertans

DESIGN CONTEST!

THEME:

RULES:

The Spirit of Albertans in honour of the province’s efforts following the flood

The design MUST incorporate ANY TWO decorating techniques of your choice(i.e. embroidery+ screen printing, digital printing + embossing etc.)

The winning submission will be the one that is judged to best feature the design theme and the fusion of the two embellishing methods.

The GRAND PRIZE for the winning design is $1,000 plus an award and certificate

Full contest rules & regulations will be announced August 12th on ImprintCanada.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT FEEDBACK@IMPRINTCANADA.COM

GRANDPRIZE:

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CANADIAN MANUFACTURING

& WHOLESALE MERCHANT SALESStatistics Canada recently released its latest manufacturing and wholesale

industry merchant sales fi gures through to May 2013.

Manufacturing sales on the riseIn its July report, Statistics Canada announced manufacturing sales increas-

es of 0.7 per cent to $48.6 billion in May, the second gain in fi ve months.

Sales were up in 11 of 21 industries and in six provinces, led by Ontario,

Alberta and Saskatchewan.

In Ontario, sales rose 1.9 per cent to $22.7 billion, reaching their highest

level since November 2012. Sales in Alberta advanced 2.1 per cent to $6.2 bil-

lion. Saskatchewan manufacturers reported a 5.8 per cent rise in sales.

In Quebec, sales fell 2.8 per cent to $10.7 billion, the 10th decline in 12

months. Th is decrease stemmed from lower sales in the petroleum and coal

product industry. In May, Quebec manufacturing sales were at their lowest

level since September 2009.

Textile Mill & Clothing Manufacturing

sales down from 2012In the clothing manufacturing and textile mills sector, total industry aggre-

gates sales saw a decrease from the same period last year.

Th e clothing manufacturing sector totalled $186 million in sales in the May

of this year, down from $194 million in April 2013 and $214 million in May

of 2012.

Th is downturn represents a monthly decrease of 8 per cent and a compar-

able year-over-year 13.1 per cent, respectively.

Sales for textile mills dropped to $115 million in May 2013, down from

$118 in April 2013 and $142 million in May 2012, which amounts to a month-

ly decrease of 2.4 per cent and 18.8 per cent, respectively. See Figure 2.

Wholesale sales increase the most since

beginning of 2011Statistics Canada reported that wholesale sales rose 2.3 per cent to $50.3

billon in May, the largest rate of growth since the beginning of 2011.

Sales increased in most subsectors in May. Th e miscellaneous subsector

and the food, beverage and tobacco subsector accounted for more than 70

per cent of the growth.

Despite gains in almost all sectors, wholesale merchant sales of textiles,

clothing and footwear (see Figure 3) was down 2.2 per cent from the same

period last year, and down 1.9 per cent from April 2013.

30

33

36

39

42

45

48

51

54

57

60

2008

$

billions

of dollars

Source: Stats Canada

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Canadian Manufacturing Sales Increases

(all sectors)

50

75

100

125

150

175

200

$

millions

of dollars

TEXTILE

MILLS

TEXTILE

PRODUCT

MILLS

CLOTHING

MANUFACTURING

Source: Stats Canada

May

‘12

Apr

‘13

May

‘13

May

‘12

Apr

‘13

May

‘13

May

‘12

Apr

‘13

May

‘13

FIGURE 2: Manufacturing Sales - Industry Aggregates 2012 - 2013

(Textile Mills & Clothing Manufacturing )

800

825

850

875

900

$

millions

of dollars

$881

million

$898

million

$901

million

Source: Stats Canada

May 2012 April 2013 May 2013

FIGURE 3: Wholesale Merchant Sales 2012 - 2013

(Textile, Clothing & Footwear )

905.607.5500 • FruitActivewear.com/FruitHD

More of what? Everything that matters. Fruit of the Loom HD™ T-Shirts are made from an

extraordinary fabric with fine gauge yarns that are knit tighter than ever. The results are

a smoother print surface for maximum detail retention, a noticeably softer-hand and less

shrinkage for added comfort. Best of all, there’s no price increase. So, you get a superior T-Shirt

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