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Morplan merchandising solutions , and consumables needed by consumers . Most notable this year was the launch of our ocean waste hangers . They are made out of dumped plastic waste extracted from the sea making a small but important dent in the problem of marine pollution .
Investing in innovation
“ The other driving force we are seeing in retail is of course ‘ personalization ’. Indeed , we have just installed a digital printer that enables us to carry out small print runs on paper carrier bags , boxes and takeaway packaging . If a customer wants to get creative just for a weekend for example and change their bag design to celebrate a special anniversary or event , we can do a short run of bags for them . This is a concept that is relatively unique in the UK and has not been around for long , as printing is traditionally done while the bag is being made and in large numbers to make it worthwhile . In contrast , we operate on a minimum order value of 200 bags , making it easy for clients to create a nice bag for special promotions or events . The digital printer has been our core investment over the past 18 months , and it has proven a successful one , with our print works busier than ever .
“ The other area we have seen good growth in over the last 18 months is the development of our bespoke offering . Brands like Kurt Geiger , Hugo Boss and Lipsy have all turned to Morplan to help them create exciting retail experiences ,” Mark enlightens .
But investments in new production equipment do not stop there for Morplan , as Mark reveals : “ It is worth noting that about 35- to-40 years ago , we invented the size cubes used on hangers to display product sizes , and we still have some of the original machines we used to print them . However , we invested in a new machine about 12 months ago , which is far more efficient and much quicker . Many retailers still want customers to be able to see the product size on the hanger , so we get tremendous demand for our size cubes . Hence , we expect the new machine to help us keep up with this demand . Not only is it much more energy efficient when making the products , but it also allows us to make biodegradable cubes .”
On trend
On a different topic , Mark discusses the recent trends Morplan has observed in terms of store fixtures and fittings ,
especially regarding colorways .. “ There are new colorways emerging all the time , such as bright gold fixtures and fittings , which are becoming increasingly popular , specifically around the Midlands .
“ Elsewhere , we are still seeing muted colorways of blacks and metals accented with bits of brass , which is industrial yet softening . In response to the trends we are observing in the heartland of fashion retailing , London , we have launched many products with an antique brass finish within our Illumine range , which has a more feminine touch than some of our other ranges . Illumine has been gaining a lot of attention , particularly from ladies ’ fashion brands like Oliver Bonas , which tend to prefer a lighter , softer atmosphere throughout their stores rather than a heavily industrial look ,” he ends . ■
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