Interview with... Image On Workwear Ltd

​Perfect Layout Digital Marketing loves talking to business owners about their business. The aim is to learn and share with you the personal experiences of these business owners and find out what is working for them and how.
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We believe that sharing knowledge is a great way to help other businesses develop. We are passionate about promoting the awesome, creative and varied companies that exist not only in our local area, but also beyond the Essex borders.
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Read our interview with Neill Boatman, founder of Image On Workwear Ltd.

Business name – Image On Workwear Ltd
Owners – Neill Boatman and Dan Smith
Location – Rainham, Essex
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Tell us a bit about you?
Image On was founded in 2003 and is a well-established workwear and signage provider based in Rainham, London.

Our friendly creative team brings a wealth of experience working alongside clients to effectively promote their brands across all media types.
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Image On is a creative, hands-on business, our team have a wealth of experience in projects of all shapes and sizes. Our skill set includes branded workwear, branded clothing, signage, merchandise, and PPE.

How have things changed since you started?
The company was started by me (Neill) following a career in the sign and graphics industry. The business began as a home-based business until I merged the business with Dan in October 2017. From that point the business has grown rapidly; moving into bigger premises, investing in new equipment, taking on staff and then a further move into larger premises during the summer of 2020.
 
How have things been during the Covid period?
The biggest growth for our company was with the merger in 2017; but the expansion in 2020 was during the uncertain Covid period. At the start of the crisis, Image On was 100% workwear focused but during the pandemic it made sense to move into those new but clearly linked markets. The equipment that we had in place was already suited to the addition of signage, so it was an easy addition along with the supply of banners, vehicle graphics and PPE.

We are currently developing our offering for general workwear and PPE, which will see unbranded products available from stock and a retail solution within the premises. 

What makes you different from other companies in your sector?
Image On bases its focus on a collaborative approach. We engage with customers by way of discussion of what they require, matching needs to the right product at the right time at the right price.

Customers are involved in their order from the outset from placing their order to delivery/ collection. Our in-house design team work closely with customers ensuring complete satisfaction prior to production. Once in production the team continue to keep the customer in the loop right through to completion. But it doesn’t stop there, once orders have left the building, we follow up with customers to ensure complete satisfaction.

These are simple steps that make a big difference and builds a strong ongoing relationship with our customers.
 
Tell us about your showroom.
Part of the move into new premises, was based on having space for a showroom enabling customers to visit our premises in an organised comfortable environment. Here they can discuss, view and try products first-hand. This brings customers back time and again; as some have experienced poor service and product with businesses that work online/lack in the ability to engage with their customers. The showroom is one our most valuable assets.
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Neill Boatman, Co Founder

Showroom

Dan Smith, Co Founder

What are your digital marketing strategies for your business?
Image On have a strong presence online with the team regularly engaging and posting content though, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and more recently Tik Tok.

This will continue with a wide and varied approach to the type of content being posted such as: products posts, video and informative posts whilst trying new and interesting formats. Many of the ideas comes from and is suggested by the young team we have on board.
 
What are your ambitions for the next 5 years?
The next few years will see the business continue to grow, strengthening its place in this competitive market. As we come completely out of the current crisis, we see customer service and quality being the core focus from all areas of the business. We are already developing more dedicated areas of the premises to keep production effective and as efficient as possible.
Our aim is to promote from within whilst adding new talent to the team.
 
If you would like to find out more about Image On Workwear Ltd visit their website or watch their Introduction Video. They can also be found on Twitter and Instagram.

​If you have a business that you would like to feature in this regular slot, why not get in touch? We’d love to hear from you!