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DISTRIBUTOR INTERVIEW
delivery service. “Basically, for all “BTC has appointed a field sales representative to
– Offering 25 brands and sourcing
unusual items for the sports market
orders in the UK taken before 430pm
cover Southern Ireland this month, Trevor Stunt,
and branded fashion, BTC work hard in
will be delivered before noon the
meeting garment decorators
highlighting the company’s belief in offering a
next day. Southern Ireland, is often
requirements.
on a 48 hour turn round.” Impressive
personal service ”
delivery times, no less and ensuring
that stock is always available and Although Glenn accepts that sales certainly a significant increase in
picking is accurate comes high on via the Internet are rapidly growing, requests for organic and fairtrade
the list of priorities for BTC. he still feels that there is a need for garments.”
printed catalogues. “It is undoubtedly
Sourcing unique products
getting far easier for customers to To meet these growing demands,
In discussing what sets them apart use the Internet as a sales medium.” BTC offers an organic T-Shirt, a
from other distributors, Glenn says it Bamboo T-Shirt, a Fairtrade shirt and
is down to honesty, integrity, Technology has played a major role is currently looking at introducing
personal service. Plus the fact that in the recent evolution of the more products to the range early in
they are able to source unusual industry, and as pointed out by the new year.
items as well as having a wide array Glenn, the ability to order online,
of products that are unique to them. sending out promotional marketing
And to the future
Explaining, Glenn said, “We will also via email, check stock availability etc Acknowledging that the
try and source unusual products that all assist in maintaining rapid and embroidery market has seen a
our customers ask for, particularly in accurate turn around of customer considerable growth rate in the last
the sports market. There are some orders. few years, Glenn believes that this is
items that we don’t actually stock, good news for the industry as more
particularly in the sports branded Digital printing and the advances in and more specialist embroiders are
area and fashion branded market heat transfer, Glenn believes is also coming into the market. “Although
that are difficult to get hold of but, making an impact on the industry, embroidery will never replace the
through our extensive contacts we which in turn is helping to generate printed T-shirt market, particularly in
are able to source those products on more short run work for decorators the music industry, we are seeing a
an individually requested basis.” in the UK. revival of short run, high quality
embroidered garments for other
“Whilst, we don’t make any
Environmentally friendly
areas. Particularly the workwear
promises, we will try our best to get Organic, fairtrade and eco-friendly market.”
those unusual, elusive products that garments and products such as bags
our customers occasionally ask for, are growing in popularity, however, In fact, Glenn believes there is huge
which are not generally available Glenn commented, “I’m not sure potential in the workwear market,
through the trade.” how widespread the demand for both for BTC and for garment
environmentally friendly fabrics will decorators. “We now have our own
Catalogues are also important become as there will always be an range, UCC (Ultimate Clothing
within this industry and BTC has a issue on price. I do believe however, Collection) which is benefiting from
priced version and two alternative as demand increases and they a huge success both in the workwear
plain cover versions that can be become more readily available, and promotional arenas.” In addition,
overprinted with the decorators organic cotton garments will come to UCC, BTC also offers a wide
details. “We also offer our catalogues down in price, but I do think they variety of workwear garments from
on disc, an internet facility. Our will always be more than mass Kustom Kit, Continental Stormtech,
marketing manager and in-house produced cotton t-shirts, for Dickies and Regatta. “In fact, we have
graphic designer work full time, example.” just started distributing the entire
ensuring we can help customers Dickies workwear range,” he added.
designing email marketing initiatives “Currently I wouldn’t say the “Which has proved extremely
featuring our products.” demand is massive, but there is successful, as have the Continental
and Stormtech ranges.”
“Over the years there has been some confusion over
In concluding, Glenn said, “To the
BTC Activewear and BTC Group. We are nothing to do
future - I hope we see an increase in
with them, we are trade only suppliers and in fact,
prices again, if we follow the pattern
BTC Group is one of our customers, apart from
in the USA, with T-shirts they should
sharing a similar name there is no other link.”
come back to a sensible level, which
will benefit the entire industry.”
www.mayerhousebusinessmedia.co.uk AUGUST 2007 P R I N T W E A R T O D A Y 29
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