i dont know if its right or wrong but i make quite a lot of kids polos with embroidered bagdes and screen prints. Offcial outlet wanted 22 euros for a white kids polos, so i bit the bullet on the screen and embroidery design and sell them ourselves.

havent been pulled up on it yet, and lots of mums are now buying through us!!

sorry it doesnt answer your question, but at least you know your not alone!!

I've asked this question many times over the years & I've never been told NO, it may however not be appreciated by the school as they'll more than likely be getting a cut from their current supplier/embroiderer. Why don't you approach the school to see if you can get the contract?, just tell em you'll offer a much superior service

Alot of the garments they get are embroidered and im not really looking to branch out that way at the moment. The coats are just printed.

sorry Paul, I thought you done embroidery as well

When I worked in Spain I used to print for the local supplier of schoolwear. The rights to sell the clothing was very heavily controlled and protected. If I had bypassed the system and got caught they would have had my whatsits off and a heavy fine too. I know that as another printer got done.
Here in Germany its also protected. I´m sure England is the same as we seem to follow what everybody else does.

Earl

unless they are playing petty games... like suspending the kid... i suspect they just want all the kids looking the same.

just stick by your guns that it was taking too long to sort and that it really is a 'one off'... your not goingto be making a profit so not really a copyright issue i guess

Hi.
We do a bit of embroidery, and get asked about school items by parents, for the same reasons......the school prices are very expensive and the service is terrible.

We say no. The school makes a profit on the garments and that money is put to the running of the school. By under cutting them, while it might not be against the law ( I don`t know if it is or not) its not something I want to do.

But I would put an offer to the school. But......

We do embroider for 1 school and TBH it is a pain. They are quite savy about the prices and they are not prepared to hold stock, yet require delivery very quickly. If it wasn't`t for the school being local I would let them go...

Copyright is something the school would have to register and control, you are more likely to be pulled on IP infractions. The best one that springs to mind is MOD copyright on ALL logos and badges whether engraved, printed or embroidered. I tried to get a license, but the media department were all sat on their elbows, so didnt go through with it.

Its a tricky balancing act and its up to everyone to do the right thing based on their own situation......................

The school make no profit from the printing of the uniform as far as I am aware, its simply a case of nepotism as one of the teachers is related to the printer.

Im not looking to get into competing with him at all, but my little girl needed a coat and he was messing around.

Im sure I remember a while ago a company in the NE called Caslaws had the sole rights to produce schoolwear and it was challenged due to some parents not being able to afford their over inflated prices. Im 99% sure that was when the rules changed up here anyway.

Hi Paul, I can understand the schools view that if every parent was too print or embroider there kids logo, even if they were very good copies, there would still be even slight differences in colour and design which would not look right. As neil says, why don't you approach the school.