In general terms, the promotional clothing industry has historically been more active from Easter until Autumn. This year, with the wedding holiday coming quickly after a late Easter, things are likely to get really busy in May, but many people are likely to be in for a bit of a shock as they start to receive quotations for this summer's events and promotions. Cotton prices have risen massively - around 60% within the last year - and that cost has to be passed on down the line from growers and manufacturers to decorators and, ultimately, customers.
Caused by devestating floods in Asia and then followed by unrest in Northern Africa the average garment price could be almost double that of last year. And polyester has been affected too as many producers search for alternatives to cotton, causing increased demand and therefore increased prices.
Another consequence of the lack of cotton (which on reflection seems rather obvious) has been a lack of garments - ranges and styles have either been dropped completely or produced in greatly reduced quantities as manufacturers try to second guess the demands of customers by concentrating their efforts into what they think will be wanted the most.
It's not all bad news though. Here at Pier32 we've been working closely with manufacturers and suppliers for decades and we have access to well over 50 brands offering hundreds of ranges and thousands of garment styles between them. Like so many other products at the moment, they may cost a bit more than last year, but we'll do our best to find the best offers for you.
Importantly though, we will not compromise on ethics, so you are safe in the knowledge that the clothing you buy from us has not been produced at the expense of others that may be in more vulnerable positions than we are here in the UK.
