Winter is nearly upon us, with the nights getting longer and temperatures falling by the day; it’s getting colder! We British people think we are hardened to this weather, but it’s only bearable if you have the right selection of winter wear. For the first time in a few years I have updated my winter wardrobe, with new coats, gloves and my new favourite item the beanie hat! Now the cold doesn’t bother me at all, I don’t even remember what it was like to be cold.

I wear my new beanie everywhere; to work, to the shops, down to the pub, into town and in the bath. That last one was a small exaggeration but it is so handy to have. There is nothing worse than cold ears! Whilst I would urge everyone to buy one and become as smug as me, I would say that they are ideal for tradesmen and other outside workers.

I think this because they have two practical solutions. The first one being that it will insulate your head were normally most of your heat would dissipate into the atmosphere, hence keeping you warmer. The second is a far less obvious benefit; the fact the beanies cover up your hair! Sometimes when waking up bright and early in the morning you can have a serious case of ‘bed head’. The untidiest, messiest, sticky up bit of hair that anyone has ever seen. This is not what Mrs Jones wants to see first thing in the morning, she want to see a professional looking, polite and skilled tradesman to fix her guttering.

You can become that professional looking builder that is the talk of the town with some branded workwear. This will set you apart from your competitors, get your van branded and carry on raising that brand awareness with your work apparel. But in particular get beanie hats embroidered with your logo this Winter.

At GF we specialise in embroidering garments; using our state of the art techniques that we have developed over the last 30 years. Check our eshop now for the latest in quality winter hats ready to be branded with your company name and logo.

Alternatively give us a call on 02920 755 733  or send us an email to info@goldenfinishes.com.

Get proper winter gear, here!

The nights are drawing in and winter is just around the corner. As a motorist getting about isn’t too much of a hassle for me apart from the scandalous price of petrol and car maintenance! I can just put the heating on and adjust my lights accordingly. Cyclists however do not have these luxuries.

Recently I have noticed more and more cyclists on the road. I’m unsure of the reason behind this but I imagine it is a combination of the ever increasing prices of running a car and people wanting to lead a healthier lifestyle. I tip my cap to you cyclists; I could never use a bike instead of a car. This is due to two reasons; sheer laziness and pure cowardice. All those cars whizzing past my ears at 60 miles an hour plus, no!

However for you hard-core cyclist lot there still is a real danger on the roads particularly in the dark. This is why I propose you speak to your employers about getting a high visibility jacket or vest. This way they will ensure that their valuable staff will make it to work every morning. Also by using our state of the art techniques we can print the jackets with your company name and logo.This way you can advertise your company after hours and more importantly you will be a lot safer and far more visible when you are out cycling on these cold, dark winter evenings.

Alternatively you can attempt to overcome the fragility that cyclists feel once they are on the road by branding your own jacket. There have been some interesting and highly innovative solutions. The best one I’ve seen is the “POLITE” jacket as seen above. As you can tell the intention is clear, to make drivers think, at least at first glance that you are a police offer on a bike. People that wear these types of high visibility jackets say they feel like they have a force field around them.

Whichever option you choose; order you custom printed high visibility jackets and vests now from GF Europe. We have over 30 years’ experience in the print and embroidery industry and would like all cyclists to have as safer journey as possible. You can place your order now or make an enquiry today on 029 2075 5733 or email info@goldenfinishes.com

Here at GF Europe we specialise in providing high quality printed sashes for a wide range of uses. You may most commonly associate a printed sash with a group of rowdy women wearing them on a hen night emblazoned with some sort of flirty and often vulgar statement. But the traditional message behind the sash is as far from ‘Naughty Nikki’s Hen Do’ as possible. Sashes are traditionally worn as part of formal military attire and are part of most European royal families regalia.

Sashes are also part of many traditions such as military orders like the French Legion of Honour; they award a sash as part of their most senior grades. Sashes are also used in Latin America and parts of Africa where the President will wear a special presidential sash to indicate their authority. It is also commonplace for many public authorities and local officials in France and Italy to wear sashes featuring the national flag tricolours.

Admittedly it is not very often we have European royalty placing an order with us, but sashes are still worn ceremonially in many less traditional and more modern activities. There are many weird and wonderful modern uses for a sash.  They are used in many schools of Chinese martial arts to denote rank as opposed to the Japanese system of using belts. They are also used to indicate achievement in the United States with sashes being worn at higher education commencement ceremonies. You may also be more familiar with their use in beauty pageants and in the boy and girl scouts.

These are just some uses for sashes that have a more ceremonial and less practical use. But sashes are a very versatile item of clothing and we can produce them for any and every occasion. They can be used to set you apart from others, convey a message and give you a sense of camaraderie when showing support for a charity or local project.  Or indicate to customers that there is a sale or promote a new product in the retail environment.

These are just some ideas of uses but we would love to hear more from you. If you are in need of sashes whether printed or blank then contact GF Europe today for high quality and competitively priced sashes. With 20 years’ experience selling and personalising sashes, we are expertly placed to fulfil an order of any size. Please call us on 02920 755 733 or send us an email at info@goldenfinishes.com .

It’s being described as one of the greatest and most dramatic comebacks in sporting history. After the US took a commanding lead at the start of the competition the result of the event looked inevitable. But the European team captained by Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal had other ideas. The team captain was tactically brilliant.  By front-loading the strongest players for the Sunday singles matches, Olazabal helped Europe build the momentum that was desperately needed going into the last day. This momentum was almost lost in a dramatic turn of events as Rory McIlroy was nearly disqualified for missing his tee-off time. He had got his time wrong and was rushed to the course in an unmarked police car. McIlroy then went on to win a crucial point with his victory over American Keegan Bradley.

Before the event the European team weren’t given a chance by many. But with an extraordinary performance the team managed to overturn a 10-6 deficit to defeat the United States by 14½ points to 13½ points on a thrilling final day in Chicago. They had retained the cup they won in Wales two years ago. The victory was dedicated to the captain’s compatriot and close friend, the late Seve Ballesteros. The overzealous and over confident American golf fans who had once shouted ‘Get in the hole’ after every US tee shot had now been silenced. Instead they were left despondent and disappointed. The US players left the course with their heads in their hands.

But the victory was sweet for team Europe and their fans, including GF’s John Sheppard and Nigel Cames who had travelled over to Medinah Country Club to watch the event. The smug pair were kitted out in GF custom polo shirts and fleeces, embroidered with the European teams logo. The custom clothing helped them stand out from the star and stripe clad Americans. Accompanied with the beaming smiles post victory it was very clear who they were there to support.

It is the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It is the year when the nation unites as one in celebration of 60 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth II. It is quite an achievement, being as the only other queen to celebrate a diamond jubilee was Ms. Chirpy herself, Queen Victoria. So, well done to Her Majesty.

In fact, you can’t really avoid the celebrations as the buzz of 60 years sweeps the nation. And for those of you who couldn’t give two shakes of a lamb’s tail how many years our Queen’s been in reign, there’s always the extra bank holiday or two that’s occurring – so everybody’s happy!

You may be planning to join in with the celebrations yourself, whether that be welcoming the Queen to your hometown on part of her UK-wide tour that is currently ongoing. Charity events and other forms of celebration are likely to be aplenty during the course of the next few months, and you might be looking for some items customised to support your cause. If so, look no further! We offer great rates for larger orders also.

 Or you may be planning to have a garden party over the June bank holiday weekend (or just an excuse for a few drinks without the issue of working the next day). If this is the case, why not spice up the occasion with some personalised flags or pennants, or perhaps some Union Flag badges?

Or, pushing the boat out a little more, how about some personalised clothing? We here at GF offer a vast range of items ready to be branded according to your request. From bags and hats to knitwear and aprons, we’ve got it all. Simply choose your products, select your colour, brand your choice, place your order and sit back and wait for us to deliver!

So, if you’re a self-confessed royalist or you’re quite impassive about the whole occasion and can’t wait for it all to blow over, we cater for everyone and you are sure to find something for you in our store. Perhaps this year for one reason or another you have been or will be inspired to do something special, maybe a certain event for charity, or maybe some personal goals you want to achieve. Some personalised clothing or indeed any of our other array of items might be just what you need to give yourself that extra boost.

In this diamond year, join in the fun with GF; browse our collection today – you won’t be disappointed!