Experts in schoolwear since 1959

NEW FACES AT PRICE & BUCKLAND

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:35:00 +0000

We’re continuing to expand here at Price & Buckland, with extensions to our facilities both in Nottingham and in India. It’s great news for the business, and also means that a few extra pairs of hands are very welcome!

As part of the expansion, we’re delighted to introduce our new Operations Manager, Steve Head. Steve joins the team from MiRiCal Emblems where he worked for two years as quality control manager.

With over 20 years of experience in the print industry, Steve is an expert in how businesses like Price & Buckland operate, so he’ll be keeping a close eye on our day-to-day procedures and working to increase quality and efficiency. Steve is also looking to introduce new and more effective production systems, helping to improve our delivery facilities, as well as the service we provide to our much-valued customers.

We think Steve is going to fit in perfectly at Price & Buckland. He’s a very energetic and driven individual, who outside of work manages an under 18s rugby team, is a brown belt in Ju Jitsu, is taking microlight flying lessons and enjoys kayaking, hiking and 4x4ing – it’s tiring just thinking about it all!

We’d also like to welcome five more new recruits to the Price & Buckland team. Emma Collier, Ann Sisson, James Jones, Gemma Harris and James Bartington have all joined our office team and will be working to ensure all our customers receive the highest quality service possible.

A very warm welcome to you all!

Seeing Spots for Children In Need

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Coming to work in PJ’s, wearing spots, baking, buying and eating yummy cakes, donating prizes to a raffle… these are just some of the ways staff got into the charity spirit to raise an impressive total of £240 for this years Children in Need appeal.

We even had a few animals lurking around...

ALL THE BEST AUNTY IRENE!

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:10:00 +0000

We want to wish our embroidery manager, Irene Leake, all the best as she looks to retire this Friday. Irene is one of our longest-serving members of staff, if not the longest having started at Price & Buckland over 30 years ago.

Having joined the company as an embroiderer in May 1981, when it was based in Cross Street, Arnold, and ran by Geoffrey Buckland, Irene remembers Ant and Nick coming into the office as young boys, and Ant often referred to her Aunty Irene!

Within two weeks of starting at Price & Buckland Irene was promoted to supervisor and since then has played a key role in driving the business forward. In her 30 years, Irene has witnessed considerable business changes, including the site relocation to Hucknall, the arrival of Ant and Nick, and the shift from serving clubs and corporate accounts to focusing on the schoolwear market.

In her retirement years, Irene plans to spend much more time with her family and grandchildren, and she may even go travelling around the world.

Irene will be sorely missed and we want to thank Irene for all her dedicated years to the company. Good luck Irene!

A FOND FAREWELL TO DIANE

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:18:00 +0000

It’s time to say goodbye to one of our longest-serving members of staff here at Price & Buckland. Our account handler Diane Harris has been working with us for over 20 years, but will be retiring at the end of the month.

Joining Price & Buckland in 1990, Diane has seen the business change considerably over the years, including our relocation from Arnold to Hucknall as well as Ant and Nick joining us.

Diane plans to move back to Kent and be closer to her immediate family. She’ll certainly be missed and we hope she comes back up to visit us!

We wish Diane all the best for her retirement and are working on a little surprise to say goodbye to her in true Price & Buckland fashion. Good luck Diane!

LOOKING THE BUSINESS

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:33:00 +0000

We recently spotted an interesting blog post from Katharine Birbalsingh on the Telegraph website that discusses the importance of school uniform, and its effective implementation, in encouraging good behaviour in schools. Katharine makes the point that a uniform can ‘transform’ a school, by impacting pupil behaviour.

Creating a positive learning environment is one of the most important things in education and we agree with Katharine and believe that uniform can play a key role in this. Not only does a properly enforced uniform policy help to instil discipline in pupils, but it can also encourage a sense of pride.

A number of the schools we work with have told us that their new uniforms have helped to improve behaviour and reflect the high standards they hold. But not only this, we’ve also noticed that when involved in the selection of the uniform, pupils often opt for something smarter, suggesting that they really do take pride in their uniform!

This is why we’ve added a stylish new tailored suit to our range. It’s been designed to reflect a business suit and is perfect for older pupils or schools looking for a more business-like appearance.

Thanks to everyone that helped us to the top of the class

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:11:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone that took part in our Comic Relief extravaganza. With your help we donated a total of £233 which went towards the nationwide campaign which saw an extraordinary £75million raised by the British public.

I think everyone had a fantastic day dressing up, taking part in the ‘Bring and Buy’ cake sale, testing our brains in the general knowledge quiz and choosing a lucky pose for the ‘Pick a Pose’ competition. Plus the Hucknall and Bulwell Dispatch came to join in the fun too and took some great pictures to remember the occasion. They took a real shine to one (Toystory) character in particular! You can check out the picture of us and what they said here.

It’s great to be able to raise money having fun and it just goes to show that when we join forces we can have a real impact on worthy causes. We’re a strong believer in supporting charities, and as you many of you will be aware, we have a long-standing relationship with Room to Read. This is an incredibly important charity that provides educational opportunities for children in developing countries. We donate 2p from every uniform garment sold and to date have been able to donate over £50,000 to the charity which is an achievement we’re tremendously proud of.

We’re already looking forward to the next Comic Relief and have some exciting ideas that will help beat this year’s amount!

Doing something for fun and that really matters!

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 10:05:00 +0000

With Comic Relief just around the corner, we’ve put our heads together and have come up with some great ways to raise donations for the charity.

Firstly we’re all coming into the office wearing either a school uniform, pyjamas or something that’s equally out of the norm and everyone that takes part will have to pay for the privilege.

We’re also planning on having a ‘bring and buy’ cake sale, which will see our staff bake some tasty treats. In fact, our new stock analyst, Beth is from America and plans to make pumpkin pie – delicious!

A general knowledge quiz has also been arranged, which we’re all really looking forward to. All participants will have to pay £1 to enter and Anthony and Nick are donating a mystery prize, so I hope everyone has their thinking caps on. Finally, we’re also taking part in the Red Nose Day sweepstake ‘Pick a Pose’, which will help raise further money.

The day is set to be good fun with all donations and proceeds going to Comic Relief. We’re all incredibly excited about what we have planned, plus the Hucknall and Bulwell Dispatch are coming along to take some pictures!

Gearing up for the ASCL Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:35:00 +0000

We’re really looking forward to this year’s ASCL Conference at Manchester’s Central Convention Complex as it’s a key event in our calendar.

The event focuses on the important issues that face senior school and college leaders and this year it plans look at the policy that the coalition is likely to set – interesting stuff!! As well as having the opportunity to take part in many workshops and seminar sessions, visitors will also get the chance to hear from a host of keynote speakers, including Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education, Professor Keri Facer, Futures Thinking Expert, Manchester Metropolitan University and David Hemery CBE, Former Olympic Gold Medallist and Vice Chairman of the British Olympic Association.

We’re exhibiting again this year, where we’ll have samples of our uniform and sportswear ranges. Whether you’re looking for a classic image with blazers and sweaters, a business-like look with suits and tailored jackets, or even a more contemporary style of polo shirts and hoodies, we have it. So if you’re already planning to attend the show, or if you’re in the area, come and visit us on stand 18!

All Go At the Sports College Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 12:40:00 +0000

The past two days have been incredibly busy for us as we’ve been exhibiting at this year’s Sports College Conference at The International Centre in Telford. With hundreds of visitors filling the halls, the show was a great success with a real positive buzz about the place.

The quality of the key note speakers was superb with the likes of Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport; David Bell, Permanent Secretary, Department for Education; and Jo Salter, Britain’s first female fighter pilot flying the Tornado GR1, imparting their stories and knowledge with the crowds.

500 schools were present at the conference showcasing some really exciting and innovative work in how to maximise learning opportunities in sport and education. There was also such a great selection of quality exhibitors at the show and in fact, our stand was really busy and we had a number of quality leads that were interested in our schoolwear products.

Well done to our team who did a cracking job!

REAPING THE REWARDS WITH ROOM TO READ

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 12:00:00 +0000

As you all know, we have supported education charity, Room to Read, for the past three years and have helped raise an impressive £50,000, which has gone towards building schools and libraries in the developing world.

Phong Le, Country Director of Room to Read in Vietnam has sent us a message to say that 2010 was an exciting year for the charity globally as it celebrated ten years of helping change children’s lives. He also commented on the success of Vietnam’s Reading Room program by saying:

“Our team worked extremely hard throughout the year, and we are happy to share with you some of our achievements. By the end of this year, 45 new communities have established libraries. We also have continued to work with communities, students, teachers, and librarians at 256 existing libraries in the 5 provinces of Can Tho, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh and Long An as part of our three-year model of support.

Looking ahead to 2011, Room to Read Vietnam is excited to apply lessons learned from 2010 and further our efforts to promote literacy and the habit of reading for the children of Vietnam. Thank you very much for your generous support and contribution to Room to Read, which has allowed us to provide engaging books and increased educational opportunities for so many children, educators and communities of Vietnam.”

It’s great to know that we’re helping young people in other parts of the world - where they are missing out on basic things such as books, which many of us take for granted – so we’re looking forward to continuing our support into 2011!

NEW WEBSITE FOR OUR HOODIES!

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 11:01:00 +0000

We like to keep you updated on how our products are doing so we’re thrilled to let you know that our personalised hoodies have been so popular that we’ve launched a new website, PB Hoodie Studio, which is solely dedicated to selling them. In fact, we’ve noticed a massive surge in purchases since introducing them to our range two years ago, and we’ve seen sales figures soar from 254 to 10,657.

The hoodies are great for school leavers, as well as sports teams and pupils going on trips. Students love the fact that they can wear a trendy hoodie at school, on trips and at competitions and events. Plus, they can keep the garments as a memento of their time at school when they leave.

Our web team have done a fantastic job designing the site and have made it really easy to navigate with a step-by-step guide so visitors can easily choose the garments they want with their desired design. So thank you to those that were involved!

Check out http://www.pbhoodiestudio.co.uk/ to see the site and what’s available.

DID YOU KNOW…..WE HAVE AN IN-HOUSE DESIGNER?

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 09:08:00 +0000

Here at Price & Buckland, we have a team of people who work incredibly hard and one of those is April Hearn, our in-house designer. April has been with us for 3 years and plays a crucial role in the design and creative process of our marketing material, garment development and print set up. Trained at Nottingham Trent University in Textile design, April has strong design knowledge and an ability to work on a variety of projects from setting up print artwork to generating new, exciting marketing pieces.

In her own time, April makes a whole range of crocheted items and greetings cards using the name April Marie Textiles. As well as attending craft fairs and supplying a couple of small shops in Nottingham, April also teaches evening crochet workshops.

April says: “I’ve always been an active maker, creating handmade gifts for friends and family. In 2008 I started to concentrate my attention on ‘the business’, creating a business name and website and I’ve never looked back. Combining my hands-on approach from April Marie Textiles with my computer based graphic design at Price & Buckland generates a healthy balance of inspiration and creativity. Many of the skills I have built upon in my own business inspire my work at Price & Buckland”.

Watch this space to find out more about our team!

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH….THE TOUGH GET GOING!

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:26:00 +0000

The arguments for a school uniform policy are stronger than ever during these tough economic times. We know that a good quality, hard wearing uniform provides excellent value for parents and continues to help create a level playing field. Therefore, we feel that calls for a relaxation on school uniform is a false economy since cheap clothing from the high street simply isn’t durable enough for schoolwear.

Whilst there is pressure from the domestic schoolwear market to keep prices down, there is enormous inflationary pressure from the global raw materials market. This is highlighted by the fact that in the last 12 months, cotton prices have jumped by as much as 40%.

Despite the uncertain economic climate, we continue to focus on consistent high quality garments, while trying to reduce costs wherever possible. We’re working through these tough times together with our factories and have built relationships based on mutual trust and respect. We’re also doing our bit to get the country back on its feet by continuing to invest in the future with latest technologies and warehouse expansions.

PRO-ACTIVE PUPILS PUSH FOR SMARTER UNIFORM

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 13:48:00 +0000

We found the recent story in The Daily Telegraph about students at Hethersett High School really interesting. Pupils at the school forced the head to change the uniform after complaining it was too scruffy. They felt that the old uniform of navy blue sweatshirts and white polo shirts did not distinguish them from junior school children and after presenting a petition with more than 200 signatures to the headmistress, their wish was granted.

The new uniform will be phased in from next September and includes traditional black blazers, black and blue ties and white shirts. We think this is great as it shows that pupils really do care about what they wear to school, whether that is traditional styles or more modern designs. A uniform gives students a sense of identity and by including pupils in the decision making-process, headmasters and governors can motivate their pupils to wear their uniforms correctly.

NEW SCHOOL YEAR... NEW CHANCELLOR... CONTINUED FOCUS ON CAMPAIGN

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:20:00 +0000

In our last post we mentioned the ongoing ‘Untax Our Teens’ campaign, and the problems faced by parents whose children don’t fit into the standard child sizes.

With the Coalition government recently completing its first 100 days in office, we feel it’s the prime time to bring the campaign to the attention of the new chancellor, George Osbourne.

The start of the new school year has meant that once again, parents have been penalised when purchasing larger uniforms, so let’s make sure next year’s uniform is fairly priced, irrespective of size.

The VAT exemption on school uniform only applies to sizes considered to be appropriate for children aged 13 years or younger, meaning that any child needing a larger uniform must pay full VAT currently at 17.5%. Since most parents buy more than one of each item, this extra cost soon adds up. In fact, it’s been estimated that collectively parents spend an extra £4m per year because of the VAT rules.

Whilst childhood obesity is clearly a problem in the UK, the VAT rules are outdated and inaccurate. Dating back to the 1940s, when compulsory education ended at aged 14, the regulations demand that 14, 15 and 16 year olds (or younger children wearing those sizes) pay full tax, despite being required by law to attend full-time education.

Because of greater nutrition, today’s teens are also growing taller than their predecessors, so increasing numbers of parents are finding themselves paying extra for their uniforms.

As a member of the Schoolwear Association, we are calling on the Government to reduce tax on logo-ed school clothes to 5%; the actual cost of which would be relatively low, but would make a real difference to the lives of many families.

So come on Mr Osbourne - untax our teens!

SIZING UP A SOCIAL ISSUE

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:44:00 +0000

We’ve noticed recent news stories suggesting that demand is increasing for school uniform at both extremes of the size scale. Marks & Spencer have launched a range of supersized schoolwear, but reports suggest that demand for the smallest sizes is also increasing.

Figures from the National Obesity Forum suggest that 27% of primary school entrants are now overweight or obese. But alongside this increase, school children are also growing taller than ever before. According to research carried out by the Schoolwear Association, the longest school trousers to be ordered have been measured at 36 inches inside leg.

One of the problems facing parents is the full tax which they’re forced to pay on uniform for children that are bigger than the average size for their age. As a member of the Schoolwear Association, the ongoing ‘Untax Our Teens’ campaign, aimed at reducing the VAT on specific schoolwear items, is a cause close to the heart of our company.

The rule that only clothing to fit the average thirteen year old or younger should be tax free is unfairly penalising parents of larger children, who may not even be overweight but simply above average height for their age.

This more varied demand will come as welcome news to parents of children above or below average height or weight, who face a yearly struggle to find uniform to fit their children. Although childhood obesity is a growing problem in Britain, it does not account for all sizing problems faced by parents.

Each child is an individual, and some will naturally be significantly smaller or larger than average for their age. Schoolwear that doesn’t fit will only increase their anxieties about being different to their peers. A healthy level of self-esteem is an important factor in young people’s performance at school. Ill-fitting schoolwear impacts on a child’s level of comfort and on their self-image, and can eventually affect their learning.

What’s more, uniform in a more representative range of sizes will reduce instances of children attending school in improper clothing, since parents will no longer have to look elsewhere to get appropriate clothes to fit their children.

All of this means that whatever this increased provision says about the health and fitness of our young people, it can only be a good thing that it is getting easier for children of all shapes and sizes to access schoolwear in which they feel comfortable and confident.

WHY DESIGNER UNIFORMS ARE NOT SO IN VOGUE

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:47:00 +0000

With back-to-school displays springing up in supermarkets and high street retailers across the country, it seems that not a day goes by without a newspaper article focusing on cut price uniforms.

Unsurprisingly, Tesco have once again been at the forefront, offering a uniform for just £3.75. However, this got the team at Price & Buckland thinking about the opposite end of the scale and those schools that have opted to employ the services of high-end designers to help create a new uniform.

One notable example is a manufacturer that teamed up with a top Savile Row tailor to produce what was touted as “the world’s most expensive blazer”, and there are plenty more schools and academies that have followed suit.

However, we can’t help but think that this tact could result in a few less than fashionable issues.

We all remember asking our own parents for the latest gadgets and designer clothes, and the inevitable battle of wills between stubborn teenager and cash-strapped parent that ensued, so perhaps affiliating youngsters with designer names isn’t really the best approach.

Without doubt, appearance is important, and in some cases a smart new look can actually help to improve behaviour and performance, but there has to be some middle ground between the bargain basement and the designer bling – something that we at Price & Buckland have been successfully offering for over 50 years.

Young people should be encouraged to take pride in the way they look, but what we don’t want to do is set a precedent where designer is the norm and is taken for granted. In times of economic hardship and uncertainty, it’s most definitely not the message to be promoting.

Quality and durability need to be emphasised and this in turn helps to pass on an important economical lesson to young people about the need to spend wisely. Of course it’s about looking good and creating a respectable image for the school, but it’s also about doing this shrewdly and considering the social implications of the decisions that are being made.

So, we suggest that schools need to look past the headlines and the association with designer names and start thinking about what’s important to parents – quality, long-lasting garments at reasonable prices!

A SPLASH OF PINK FOR THE BOYS

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:09:00 +0000

Back in April we mentioned how our leavers’ hoodies were becoming increasingly popular, and many pupils will now be wearing them as we’re heading towards the end of term.

On top of the incredible popularity of this garment, we’ve noticed something even more exciting; school leavers are overwhelmingly choosing their hoodies in one colour – bright pink. And it’s not only girls who are favouring the bright, bold colour; boys love it too!

Is this really so surprising though? Although we usually see pink as distinctly gendered, it has not always been the colour of choice for girls.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, pink was actually seen as a masculine shade, particularly due to its derivation from red, and young girls were dressed in blue, as many felt its calming effects mirrored femininity.

In the 1940s this changed, reflecting the associations we hold today, although pink now appears to be becoming an increasingly unisex colour.

Pink shirts and ties can be seen in offices across the country and now schools are incorporating the colour into their uniforms. More and more institutions are injecting their traditional black, grey and navy uniforms with splashes of colour in stripes on ties, and trims on polo shirts and blazers.

Price and Buckland offers schools the opportunity to mix tradition with a more modern, vibrant look, particularly with items, such as our striped polos and ties.

We not only supply uniforms in a range of colours and designs, but we also offer schools and academies the opportunity to work with our designers to create their own bespoke uniform. With quality and value for money being central to our service, we deliver comfortable, but hard-wearing uniforms – whether classic or modern.

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Tue, 25 May 2010 10:55:00 +0000

We’re pleased to announce our ongoing partnership with the recently opened Chelsea Academy in London.

The Academy opened its doors to 162 Year 7 students in September and will grow to 1,060 students by 2013. Sponsored by the London Diocesan Board for Schools and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the Academy moves to its new purpose-built site on Lots Road in Chelsea later this year.

Price & Buckland are supplying uniforms initially to Key Stage 3 students.

The main uniform includes a traditional black blazer featuring the Academy’s logo, and a choice of grey sweater with a blackberry stripe or blackberry sweater with a grey stripe. Bespoke school ties, school scarves and PE kits will also be supplied.

“Our aim was to provide an original, but affordable uniform for our Key Stage 3 students,” commented Andy Yarrow, Chelsea Academy Principal. “For us, Price & Buckland ticked all of the boxes and they’ve helped us to launch the Academy in style.

“Our students love the smart, tailored look of the uniforms, while many parents have commented on the quality and affordability. We’ve even heard from members of the surrounding community who have praised the smart, corporate look of the schoolwear.”

Price & Buckland joint MD Nick Buckland added, “We’re delighted to be working with Chelsea Academy to ensure a consistent and distinctive look for all students.

“It’s the first time we’ve supplied uniforms using the blackberry and grey colour combination and it’s great to hear such positive feedback at such early stages.”

NEW LOOK FOR MALTBY ACADEMY

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:33:00 +0000

Maltby Academy in Rotherham, South Yorkshire has adopted a brand new school uniform with help from its students and schoolwear supplier Price & Buckland.

So far, 1,200 students, aged 11-18, have received the new uniform, which was developed using extensive feedback from both parents and students on their preferred styles and colours.

The change in uniform will reflect Maltby Academy’s desire for a new identity after opening as an Academy in January of this year.

The uniform now consists of bespoke black blazers featuring the school logo, as well as knitwear, sportswear and neck ties that reflect the academy’s four houses.

Principal David Sutton commented: “The academy is committed to raising standards and providing outstanding learning experiences for all young people. The new uniform reinforces this commitment to high standards in all that we do.

“We have not only found that feedback from students, staff and parents has been very positive, but additional items, such as scarves and staff-wear are even being suggested and considered for a roll-out later this year.”

Anthony Buckland, joint managing director at Price & Buckland is delighted to be working with Maltby Academy:

“It’s great to see that the students are so proud to wear their smart new uniform – one which we believe really reflects Maltby’s ambitions, and will hopefully inspire other academies.”

Price & Buckland supplies bespoke uniforms to over 3,000 schools and academies in the UK.

Can Uniforms Help Ease Parents’ Financial Burden?

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Thu, 13 May 2010 07:02:00 +0000

With many families across the country still feeling the economic pinch, we thought we’d focus on the independent sector and look at the ways parents can be offered better value for money when it comes to their children’s school uniforms.

Here’s what our joint MDs, Anthony and Nick Buckland had to say:

There’s no doubt about it, belts are still being tightened across the country and any school which wants to minimise the economic impact on itself needs to help minimise the effect on its pupils’ parents. Uniforms are one area in which schools can help to deliver value.

By reassessing school uniforms, both in terms of the range of garments themselves and the suppliers through which they are procured, schools can begin to make savings which could then be passed on.

Many of the more traditional private schools incur heavy uniform production costs as a result of the types of garments that they opt for. Boaters for example are expensive to produce, as are many blazers. It may be that some of these schools should look at a more contemporary range of garments, which don’t come with such involved production processes. For example many schools, particularly six form colleges, are opting for a more business-like uniform, which typically involve fewer combinations of fabric to make.
Schools may also wish to consider other garments like sweatshirts or girl fit polo shirts, which when styled and branded correctly, can outperform more traditional ranges in terms of aesthetics, functionality and endurance. Unique colourways and embroidered logos and branding on these garments can ensure that the uniforms exude the school’s heritage and values.

It’s often the prescribed materials of garments, such as school blazers, which make them expensive. A garment doesn’t have to be tailored from ‘the’ most expensive cloth to make it stylish, comfortable and durable – it just has to be suitable for purpose and well made.

Such garments also often have a complex design with multi-layering, which makes them both difficult to maintain and sometimes awkward to wear during everyday children’s activities – ultimately leading to higher costs if damage occurs in the rough and tumble of school life.

Good value doesn’t necessarily mean cheap. Good value is about quality at a sensible price, so that when a parent buys aesthetic, practical garments for their children, they buy the garments once and know that they will last a reasonable amount of time. Schools should seek a uniform supplier which understands the balance of designing garments which perform in all areas with materials which are fit for purpose.

There’s little logic in buying cheap, almost throw away garments for children, as they never look great to begin with, wear badly and need replacing several times throughout the year.

Independent schools can offer good value to parents by selecting a supplier with good aftercare - a supplier who will not only show you how to best care for the garments so that you can pass this information onto the parents, but one who will also ensure that problems with quality are quickly resolved/replaced. If you have provided the garments to parents then you are the retailer to them and it’s imperative to give them a great customer experience so they will perceive that they are getting better value.

Whilst some independent schools send parents off to specialised shops to procure uniform garments directly from suppliers, many find it a good idea to sell direct from the school in the form of a ‘shop’. Suppliers can stock this shop and show schools how to run it and many schools find this a useful way to generate revenue for the school and exert a greater degree of control.

One of the main reasons why schools don’t sell their own uniforms is that they think that they don’t have the staff resource to manage this. What they don’t realise is that they simply don’t need that much of a resource or space. Uniforms can be sold from a dedicated shop area, with a full or part-time shop manager, but they can just as easily be sold from a large store cupboard, on specific evenings throughout the year by voluntary members of the PTA!

School bursars may worry about where they will keep the uniform stock – especially if they don’t have a shop space, but this really is a problem of the past as all reputable uniform manufacturers now hold all stock for schools, simply releasing garments for them as and when schools need them. By taking advantage of manufacturers’ stock holding facilities, schools also save money, as they don’t have to pay for the stock until they wish to sell it.

These are pointers for independent schools to help them get it right, but it has to be said that many do it well anyway. Independent schools realise the value of their brand as they operate as businesses and have to encourage parents to buy into that brand when educating their children. They already address quality as they know that they have to specify a uniform that matches their quality brand. They just need to consider that quality takes different forms and look at new approaches to what actually makes up their uniform – and how they can factor value to parents within this uniform.

WHY KIDS REALLY LOVE LEAVING SCHOOL

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:58:00 +0000

Over the last year, Price & Buckland has witnessed a huge 168% sales increase in School Leavers Hoodies, which are customised to include an embroidered school logo on the front and a complete list of leaving students on the back.

After watching the market for some time, Anthony Buckland explains why he believes primary and secondary schools are warming to Leavers Hoodies:

Sales of our Leavers Hoodies have risen so quickly over the last year for one simple reason - schools and their pupils love them. The fact that they’re personalised and pupils can keep them forever as a memento of their time at school gives them immediate sentimental appeal. And, because they’re so popular, many of our customers are telling us they’re allowing pupils to wear them for the whole of the final term! It’s very encouraging to learn they’re loved equally by schools and their pupils.

We added Leavers Hoodies on price-buckland.co.uk last February, and we’ve already had over 140 schools contact us for a sample – this highlights to us just how popular they are.

School uniform trends are constantly changing (all school uniform suppliers know and adapt to this) but Leavers Hoodies certainly look to have become a firm fixture and I’m confident we’ll be able to announce another substantial sales increase this time next year.

Personalisation of hoodies doesn’t stop at a leavers list. Price and Buckland has supplied personalised hoodies for all kinds of school events across the world, such as school sports competitions (the additional visuals can really add impact to team presence and performance – great in competitive situations) and school trips abroad (great for ‘seeing and keeping’ the group together)... quite literally whatever personalisation we’ve been asked for to date, Price & Buckland has delivered - and our customers love what we deliver!

Seeing is believing

If you’re thinking about school leavers hoodies, don’t leave it too late. We can help with this or any kind of personalisation to support any event or occasion at your school.

Just contact us and we’ll arrange your sample.

Supermarket Uniform Antics - Time will tell for TESCO

noreply@blogger.com (Dressing the learning generation) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:32:00 +0000

We thought it would be a great idea to start our new school uniform blog by asking our own directors and expert school uniform suppliers Nick and Anthony Buckland what they think about the TESCO debate, and its emerging presence in the £950 million school uniform market…

Here's what they said:

To summarise, TESCO will sell school uniforms with embroidered crests for the first time as part of a bespoke online clothing service trial under their brand, which could undercut specialists by at least 40 per cent.

The retail giant TESCO has targeted nearly 1,500 schools in the UK. It already offers a £3.75 school uniform without a crest, whereas ASDA competed last year with a uniform which retailed at just £4.50 and included a money-back guarantee until the Christmas period.

The four major supermarkets recognise ‘back-to-school’ as one of the busiest seasonal periods after Christmas, Easter and Valentine's Day. Each have all tried to provide bespoke school uniforms in the past, albeit unsuccessfully, simply because of the logistics of providing garments 365 days a year.

But with Britain’s largest supermarket having such dominance over the high street, it will certainly be interesting to see how it will fare with providing consistent quality, quantity and variety in primary and high school uniform throughout the year, in order to become a successful school uniform supplier.

Price & Buckland already supplies school clothing direct to over 2,500 schools and academies in the UK. We’re very confident about our strong position in this competitive marketplace, so we see the competition as a good thing as it encourages retailers and suppliers to look to improve their product and service offerings, raising the bar overall in the school uniform suppliers industry.

Even through the recession, school uniforms continue to be a competitive and complex market to supply to, due to the margins between retailers and schools. Consumers now question exactly what it is they’re paying for, so schools are under immense pressure to look at viable, cost-effective alternatives.

Compared to the supermarkets, specialist school uniform suppliers offer schools and consumers a high level of credibility, as they understand exactly what is needed to make school uniform durable enough to withstand the heavy usage and general wear it endures most days (not to mention ensuring a longer lasting smarter look both inside and outside the school grounds). As a result, parents receive extremely good value for money from the schools and academies that source their uniforms from specialist suppliers.

Price & Buckland makes garments specifically for schools, and we, like many other organisations in this sector, work very hard to develop relationships with schools to offer a complete end-to-end service. After all, we have a responsibility to the schools, parents and pupils, and we don’t simply focus on cheap prices and quick turnarounds of stock.

There are also various ethical and social responsibilities for selling school clothing at low prices. Even though the larger retailers have big budgets, it’s important that the schoolwear industry puts something back into the communities where the school uniforms are made, and Price & Buckland takes such responsibilities very seriously.

Even though the likes of TESCO are offering unbeatably low price points, we can’t see them winning sales solely based on these prices for long (if at all). In our opinion, they need to greatly consider the time and effort involved in offering excellent quality and choice in all types of school clothing. From tailored blazers, school coats and leavers hoodies to hi vis reflective strips and school scarves and bags, excellence has to shine across every product in the range, and any school uniform supplier needs to be confident in their guarantee and return policies. The overall consistency needs to be set in stone and the process also needs to run like clockwork all year round.

Essentially, to be a good school uniform supplier, you need to be at the forefront of developing new and innovative garments in a socially responsible and ethical manner, using the latest technology in fabrics and production, sticking to a price that is affordable to everyone.

Price & Buckland often recommends that schools and academies mix and match high-street and supermarket basics with high quality, durable school clothing, (whether with or without embroidery, depending on their situation with the school bodies and parenting committees). This approach helps to maximise product appeal and durability while recognising any opportunities to save money without compromising overall quality.

It will certainly be interesting to see whether TESCO treats their embroidered school blazers and school uniforms as a loss leader, as suppliers wouldn’t necessarily compete to win sales if this was the case. One thing specialist suppliers do have in their competitive armoury is the fact that they can offer far more products, such as high visibility reflective strips (which promote children’s road safety), and more advanced / comfortable school PE kits consisting of items such as embroidered polo shirts, or our high performance activ-dri sportswear.

As part of our commitment to the industry and our customers, Price & Buckland contacted approximately 100 schools in six areas across the UK to see how they were going to respond to TESCO’s letter of invitation to its scheme.

Feedback swayed on the side of curiosity, but as they remarked they weren’t having any pressure from parents to change their school uniform suppliers, our customers have said that they don’t wish to change simply on the basis of price. Only two of our customers we contacted signed up to TESCO’s scheme, and this was just out of curiosity.

We believe that the most interest in the TESCO scheme will be in their primary school uniforms, because their need for tailored blazers and sports kits etc is far smaller than secondary schools, high schools, grammar schools and other academies. But when gaining new business, specialist suppliers and independent retailers will need to represent themselves as good alternatives to TESCO.

Companies are very quick to belittle this giant brand for getting involved in such a competitive market, but we know that TESCO is a truly influential and intelligent company, and there may be some valuable lessons we can learn from this.

Our eyes are wide open!

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