Charles Kirk launches a new 100% recycled sweatshirt alongside a new website and online ordering system.

 

Laura Turner: Can you tell us more about your new website and ordering system?

Sunny Loyal: Our new website will go live in October 2023 and will encompass the new look Charles Kirk. It will showcase our complete product portfolio, which has expanded in recent years to include blazers, trousers, skirts and activewear, as well as the staple knitwear and sweatshirts we are renowned for. The online ordering system will allow our customers to place orders for MTO garments as well as generic stock, check on stock availability, and view order history and invoices. It will also be fully compatible with smartphones and tablets, as well as the more traditional laptops and desktops. We shall be happy to discuss our new ordering system with current and potential customers at The Schoolwear Show and give a brief demonstration of how it works.

LT: Are you launching any new garments at The Schoolwear Show?

SL: Yes. Having been one of the first manufacturers to introduce the use of recycled yarn in its sweatshirts, we wanted to take it one step further. Following years of development and months of fine-tuning, we are extremely excited to launch our new Eco Plus Sweatshirt. This new and unique fabric is composed solely of 100% recycled polyester from post-consumer plastic bottles. Sweatshirts are where it all started for us, so we are delighted to move this product into the next era of sustainability. The new Eco Plus Sweatshirt will be our most competitively priced sweatshirt without compromising on performance and longevity. Available in all our core styles and stock colours, key features include being anti-pill and offering colours that remain strong and vibrant for the life of the garment, as well as a raglan seam for a smart fit and a ribbed neck, cuff and welt for comfort. Free samples will be available at the upcoming Schoolwear Show and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers who are unable to attend or are worried they may miss out can email Sales@CharlesKirk.co.uk to reserve a sample.

LT: What would you highlight as some of the key benefits of being a UK manufacturer?

SL: Being one of the few remaining UK manufacturers of school uniform allows us to offer our customers a bespoke service to their specific school uniform requirements, where they can take advantage of smaller MOQs and faster lead times. The Back to School (BTS) period is very intense as we know, so having the option to quickly produce MTO garments in the UK is a huge benefit to our customers, as it means we can replenish their stocks quickly without the worry of delays in transit from overseas. UK manufacturing is at the heart of what the Charles Kirk brand represents and is something we are extremely proud of. Whilst offshore manufacturing has its obvious advantages, we feel a responsibility to support the growth of UK manufacturing and ensure that skilled workmanship still has its rightful place here in the UK.

LT: How was this year’s BTS compared to last year?

SL: Following a quiet start to the year, it’s fair to say that momentum has built slowly but surely. Going into BTS 2023 we were in a strong position, with all forward orders having been delivered to our customers in good time or in our warehouse waiting for customers to call them in. Thus, putting us in the perfect position to react efficiently to the ASAP order influx that the madness of BTS brings. Some customers were reluctant to place forward orders for badged and trimmed items due to the uncertainty caused by the Uniform Bill. This meant we received more orders than usual later in the season once it became clear that no uniform changes were going to be made, but with our comprehensive stock holdings and ability to badge/trim in the UK, we were able to react quickly and deliver orders promptly.

LT: Are you seeing any impact from the cost of living crisis?

SL: The cost of living crisis has inevitably influenced buying patterns. Understandably, parents and carers have been cautious in all aspects of spending, and school uniform is no exception. Our customers have expressed that whilst the number of transactions has been similar to previous years, the size of the shopping bag has reduced, with parents purchasing fewer items than in previous years and increasingly looking towards the second-hand uniform market.

LT: What are your plans for the business for the coming year?

SL: We are extremely excited about the new Eco Plus Sweatshirt, as it is something that hasn’t been presented to the schoolwear market to date. We strongly believe that this could be the ‘sweatshirt of the future’ and has the potential to eventually replace the more traditional poly/cotton and acrylic/poly/cotton sweatshirts that currently occupy the industry. Whilst prices for 2023/24 are yet to be finalised, we can confirm that the Eco Plus Sweatshirt will be our most cost-effective sweatshirt. Amidst the cost of living crisis and the constant barrage that the cost of school uniform faces, we are confident that the Eco Plus Sweatshirt will allow our customers to offer an eco-conscious sweatshirt that provides value for money with zero compromise in performance. Our plans in terms of business strategy remain very much unchanged, as we continue to commit to supplying the highest quality school uniform with the fastest possible lead times. Stock levels of generic items are assessed weekly to ensure that we are holding adequate stock throughout the year for our customers to call upon as and when required. Building strong customer/supplier relationships is something we have always focused on and we will continue to do so for 2023/24. With the cost of living crisis showing no end in sight, it is vitally important that now, more than ever, customers and suppliers work together to continue to supply the school uniform industry with the highest quality school uniforms for years to come.

For further information on Charles Kirk, please click here.