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DECORATOR INTERVIEW
A native
– Mike Betts, Native Promotions has
spent the ast 25 years perfecting his
craft.
screen printer
Mike Betts has spent over 25 years perfecting his screen printing craft, and although he won’t admit it, he is
undoubtedly seen as an expert in his trade. Dawn Davison-Read talks to him about his company, Native
Promotions, the industry, his aspirations and how he has become a ‘native’ legend...
“Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,
watching the tide roll away, wasting
“Many brands, such as Result, often recommend Mike
time...” a classic by Otis Redding, was to tackle challenging screen printing jobs on every
immediately brought to mind when
jacket fabric - nothing is unprintable for him. ”
interviewing Mike Betts, Native
Promotions. Partially due to the
breathtaking scenery that he has the known drink brand, wanted its colour produce 20,000 caps a week -
pleasure of looking out onto from his logo printed on six-inch deep puffa however, the impact from many
premises in West Mersea, which jackets in metallic silver. “No-one companies bringing embroidery in-
undoubtedly affords inspiration to all could do them, we were able to and house reduced that dramatically.”
artists. And also that he took great fairly easily. The job was probably
delight in telling me about being one of our most challenging but the Mike also pointed out that the
able to sit on the dock side during satisfaction in producing the print introduction of specific ladies wear
breaks from work. Yet the wasting was immense.” with the variety of styles and
time - absolutely not, during the last garments continually evolving has
25 years Mike has perfected his craft
An evolving industry
made quite an impact in the
enabling him to print on anything Discussing how the industry has industry. “Not just in sports wear and
and everything. evolved during the last 15 years, casual wear, but the promotional
Mike felt that one of the biggest market has seen growth rates
Beginning as an apprentice in alterations seen was when following the widespread availability
1982, Mike explained, “We were embroidery equipment came down of garments designed to fit women.”
taught to print on anything and in price. “The garment and textile
everything. And through the years, decorating market changed Digital printing has also made an
we continue to apply traditional dramatically during this time when it impact to a certain degree,
methods, which many screen became more affordable to buy four suggested Mike, although currently
printers, not just us, are able to do.” to ten head machines as a lot of he doesn’t believe it will radically
suppliers brought embroidery in- change the market. “I don’t think
Humble, yet clearly dedicated to house as well as many large runs digital technology is quite there yet
his craft Mike believes that he isn’t going off shore to the Far East.” and it is limited to what you can
alone in his expertise. However, print on, for instance I have yet to
many brands, such as Result, often Mike explained further by pointing see a machine that can print on
– Each of the designs above, printed
recommend him when asked for out that in addition to screen items such as umbrellas etc. Using
using traditional screen print on Result
Jackets show the depth of colour
specific techniques in screen printing printing, his company also offered an traditional screen printing methods
achieveable on nylon and polyester in on jackets. What is more, a well embroidery service. “We used to we are able to print on any garment,
6,7 and 8 colours.
16 P R I N T W E A R T O D A Y AUGUST 2007
www.mayerhousebusinessmedia.co.uk
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