6 Issue 246 - April / May 2023 www.signlink.co.uk INDUSTRY / NEWS signlink signlink signlinkmagazine Formerly known as Sign7News, Sign7 has launched to update the look and feel of the well-known video news series. After over ten years of updating the signage industry on the biggest stories impacting businesses and individuals in signage and its associated industries, the video platform has been revamped to meet the expectations of today’s news coverage. After changing appearance and taking many different forms over the years, the team at SignLink are excited to focus their efforts on the businesses, topics, and events that shape the world of signage and wide-format print. The new video format will see Sign7 focus on a different voice and topic within the industry week to week, coinciding with SignLink’s regular trips and news coverage. Videos can be viewed on the ‘SignLink Magazine’ YouTube channel, where viewers can subscribe. ISA-UK launches Best Practice Guides The ISA-UK has launched two guides designed to run alongside the values in the current British Standard and Specification for the design and construction of signs for publicity, decoration, and general purpose (BS559) document. Described as key documents for companies working in the sign and graphics sector, the Best Practice Guides comprise of the ISA-UK Best Practice Guide and the ISA-UK Best Practice Guide – Inspection & Maintenance). Users can access either the full guide for best practice or just the specialist publication for those working within the inspection and maintenance area of the industry. The price for the guides are £25 for ISA-UK members or £50 for non-members. Craig Brown, chief executive officer of ISA-UK, says: “Best practices are important for processes that you need to work correctly. They are simply the best way to do things and are found to be the most sensible way to proceed to help you avoid falling foul of regulations and legislation.” Brown explains that the association will be reviewing and revising the guides regularly and welcomes constructive feedback from both members and non-members. “External signs in particular are subject and susceptible to the seasonal changes, which put the materials used and the structures they are mounted onto through various states of stress. “So in an effort to address the issue the ISA-UK has put together the ISA-UK Best Practice Guide - Inspection and Maintenance, hopefully to help give some pointers,” Brown adds. The ISA-UK has released two Best Practice Guides to be used alongside the preexisting British Standard BS559 document Sign7 has debuted with its first video featuring our discussion with Make it Happen Sign7News relaunches Epson partners with fashion designer Epson has partnered with Japanese fashion designer, Yuima Nakazato, to showcase the possibilities of inkjet and dry fibre technologies used on recycled clothing. Nakazato’s self-titled brand YUIMA NAKAZATO was shown at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Spring – Summer 2023. Epson’s dry fibre technology, which has been used commercially to recycle office paper, requiring virtually no water, has been adapted to produce printable non-woven fabric from used garments. The production process was unveiled in Paris as part of a three-year collaboration between Epson and YUIMA NAKAZATO, which utilised the process for the first time at Palais de Tokyo runway show on January 25th, 2023. The recent Paris show illustrated how switching to digital textile printing using more environmentally friendly pigment inks offers the fashion industry a more sustainable solution. The fabric used to create the latest fashion line was derived from material from used garments sourced from Africa, the destination for many discarded garments from around the world. Epson and YUIMA NAKAZATO plan to continue exploring the possibilities within sustainable fashion Study shows more obstacles for black entrepreneurs Out-of-home (OOH) company Clear Channel has worked with Channel 4 to look into the challenges faced by black-owned businesses. Clear Channel Compass was launched by the OOH company in 2021 in partnership with Jamii to support black-owned businesses with free outdoor advertising space. So far eight businesses have benefitted from the scheme, with applications for the 2023 scheme now open on Clear Channel’s website. For the latest study into black-owned businesses, Channel 4 worked with Clear Channel UK and the creator of the Black Pound Report, BACKLIGHT, in order to better understand and mitigate issues faced by black business owners. The research included responses from over 500 entrepreneurs and showed 56% of blackowned businesses only receive funding once successful compared to 35% of white business owners. Research was carried out by research company The Good Side, which also reported that 53% of black-owned businesses agreed they had to fight harder to get others to believe in their business. The research study has been described as “invaluable in helping to better understand the challenges that black entrepreneurs face”. Clear Channel UK has reported on the challenges facing black-owned businesses in 2023 By Carys Evans By David Osgar By David Osgar
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