Hi everyone, we are back open after a few days away in the NE of England and our end of season stock take.
We are feeling very refreshed and raring to go for the run up to Christmas!
We are working to get all orders placed prior to and during the break posted this week and hope to have them all in the post and to you by early next week at the latest.
Whilst away, I took the chance to implement some changes suggested by customers.
In this Update –
Changes to Classic Military Aircraft Embroidered Designs
New Aircraft Types and Squadron choices
Supply Chain Issues
Railway Designs
Reviewers Prize Draw
Classic Military Aircraft Changes
I received a number of suggestions regarding the embroidered aircraft clothing designs. The most requested change was in regards to the Tornado designs where people commented on the dates and name being too generic.
In response, I have modified the designs into the separate types each with modified service dates for the respective type –
Tornado GR1
Tornado GR4
Tornado F3
I have also modified the Sea Harrier to show Sea Harrier FA2 wording in readiness for the release of the Harrier GR1 and GR9.
The Eurofighter Typhoon has also been modified to show Typhoon FGR4.
This will fill a much requested gap in our library of embroidered railway designs.
Once these 4 designs are released, I will continue work on some of the larger types including Class 56, Class 58, Class 60 and Class 68 which are less frequently enquired about.
Due to a much busier summer than anticipated, the reviewers prize draws slipped a bit. I will be running a reviewers prize draw later this week and picking out 2 winners, so make sure you have left a review for your purchases!
Thats all for now, thanks for reading and stay safe
As usual, feel free to get in touch with any suggestions or comments!
Cheers
Gary
Other GDMK Images News …
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Share this gdmk images update with your family and friends – thanks!!
I am extremely pleased to announce that, with a huge thanks to Jason Hall, GDMK Images has been granted exclusive rights to produce Class 50 50008 Thunderer merchandise in Hanson and Hall Rail Adventure colours!!
This is a fantastic opportunity, as Jason has allowed all profits generated from the 50008 sales to be very generously donated to supporting our 2 Class 50 locos, 50021 Rodney and 50026 Indomitable.
What Hanson and Hall Class 50 50008 Merchandise is Available?
Lets get to business then, in short there will initially be 2 designs available –
Our popular Data Panel Desings
A side Profile Drawing
Over time I’m hoping to be able to offer more designs.
These 2 designs will be available on our entire range of gift products from keyrings and bottle openers, right through the range to clothing!
You will see products going live over the weekend as we roll out the various products and designs.
2021 is set to be a very exciting year for our locos, 50021 and 50026.
Anticipation is high for the return to service of both locos. Coming with this return to service, is the ever present need to raise funds to facilitate and support this.
Please help us by taking advantage of this exclusive arrangement!
Our Hip Flaks have been really popular on the stall and have not been available online until today.
The Stainless Steel Hip Flasks have a 7oz capacity and feature a with a faux leather wrap. Printed on the leather wrap are two initial designs –
A side profile drawing of the cab with the loco number and nameplate
A data panel design also including number and nameplate
Each Hip flask include a filler funnel & luxury gift box.
In the cab profile range, you can buy 50021 in large logo livery and 50026 in either NSE original or NSE Revised.
Initial Hip Flask Designs
What Other Hip Flask Designs Are Coming?
Shortly, I will be adding other popular 50021 and 50026 designs including
My Names Not Dave
50021 and 50026 in other liveries
Option to create any Class 50 Data Panel and Number
Where Can I Get These Class 50 Hip Flasks?
At the moment, the best place to get these is through the online shop.
If you were lucky enough to get a ticket for the Thanet Thunderer, then drop by the buffet as we will have our stall there with a number of these available.
As for railway galas, I still havent booked anything formally yet – I’m waiting to see what arrangements are available at the various locations and the effect any ongoing social distancing and the like will have on the viability of taking the stall to galas.
I hope you like these designs – let me know your thoughts and shout out any ideas you might like to see added!
Stay safe!
Gary
Other GDMK Images News …
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Organisations We Support – Western Loco Association
Welcome to the second article featuring the fundraising organisations we support.
Our new Trade Portal for fund raising organisations and societies has been extremely well received and has markedly increased organisations coming to us for their fundraising gifts.
One of the benefits of full membership of the Portal System is promotion of your group or society, both here on our website and also on social media.
So here we go – welcome to the Western Loco Association.
Western Loco Association
The Western Loco Association has been around a long time and are owners and operators of Class 52 locos D1013 Western Ranger and D1062 Western Courier, based on the Severn Valley Railway.
This excerpt from the WLA website sums up what makes the Class 52 Westerns special and grabbed the attention of railway enthusiasts at the time –
The “Westerns” were always a little special, ever since their inception in 1961, and were the final development of the Western Region diesels using hydraulic transmission. Other regions based their designs on electric transmissions utilising large medium-speed diesel engines. The “Westerns” married superb bodywork styling and German-designed high-speed Maybach engines and Voith transmissions to produce a locomotive that was extremely powerful and considerably lighter than an equivalent diesel-electric.
A decision to rationalise the diesel locomotive types on British Rail marked the beginning of the end for the diesel-hydraulics. The “Westerns” were the last survivors and struggled on magnificently despite their neglected state until the final locomotives were withdrawn in February 1977.
With their impressive design, awesome engine sound and fabricated aluminium and steel name and number plates, the “Westerns” had many marks of distinction. All 74 “Westerns” were named, proud names such as “Western Glory”, “Western Thunderer” and “Western Crusader”, and these endeared them to enthusiasts who saw them as the last sign of the spirit and traditions of the Great Western Railway.
The demise of the mighty “Westerns” evoked a fanatical following, the like of which had not been seen since the end of steam traction, and this led to the early efforts of the W.L.A. to preserve an example of the class. The results of these efforts, “Western Courier” and “Western Ranger”, can be seen on the Severn Valley Railway today.
We supply a number of designs to the Western Loco Association including our popular loco Data Panels and embroidered clothing.
Although these designs are ‘our’ standard designs, if you buy them through the Western Loco Association website, or order them from their fund raising stall, the WLA get full benefit of the proceeds, which helps them and us!
I 1st met Peter Bamber and their fund raising team at Crewe Heritage Centre a few years ago during a Diesel Day event at the Centre. Since then our arrangements have evolved into a great arrangement for both parties!
I’m delighted to help them raise much needed funds for their locos.
Keep your eyes peeled for new products as we work together to bring new and novel ideas for merchandise to life!
Class 52 Data Panels featuring any Western in the liveries carried during service
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Clothing
Embroidered Westerns on hoodies, polos and jackets
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Class 52 Picture Coasters
Pictures of Westerns on Coasters
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Current WLA Fundraising Appeals
Currently the WLA is running an appeal for funds to help with the bogie overhauls on D1013 Wewstern Ranger.
Organisations We Support – Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum
Welcome to a new series of articles featuring the fundraising organisations we support.
We have supported well over 20 organisations over the last three years with their fundraising product needs.
Our new Trade Portal for fund raising organisations and societies has been extremely well received and has markedly increased organisations coming to us for their fundraising gifts.
We would like to publicly thank John Piper of the NSERS and SEG for his much appreciated help in trouble shooting and testing of the portal before it went live.
Both organisations are honorary members of the portal scheme.
One of the benefits of full membership of the Portal System is promotion of your group or society, both here on our website and also on social media – so here we go with our first in a new series of posts!
Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum Background
“The Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum was formed in 2016 by a group of local railway preservationists with a shared aim of preserving the history and heritage of the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited and associated organisations from 1860 until 1986.
In 2020, the museum became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), its Registered Charity Number is 1191551 and is now working towards achieving its overall goal of creating a permanent museum for its ever-growing collection of artefacts, relics, rolling stock and other transport related items.
The museum is currently looking for a permanent home in the Gloucestershire and South Wales area. The object of the CIO is:
To advance the education of the public in the history of the railway and general transport heritage of the United Kingdom, with special reference to the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company Limited from 1860 until 1986 and industrial and light railways in the Gloucester area, in particular but not exclusively by the creation and operation of a museum and owning, repairing, constructing and preserving railway heritage, coaching stock and associated artefacts for use and appreciation by the public.”
The Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Museum is relatively new to the fundraising merchandise scene and took full advantage of our Portal design service and drop-shipping facilities.
We worked with them to produce an initial range of designs for their new online store – which incidentally can be found here – GRCWM Online Shop
After settling on designs, we produced product mockups for the society to use on their shop and social media pages.
We are pleased that many organisations saw our quality products at events and asked us to help support their locos, aircraft, museums and fund raising organisations.
2020 was a very difficult year for all fund raising organisations that rely on public events to showcase their causes and merchandise.
I spent a lot of time late last year working with some of our organisations to see how we could help make their fund raising efforts more efficient and manageable.
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Your Pictures
Your Pictures on any Product
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Graphic Designs
Your Designs on any Product
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No Designs?
Designs Created for New Organisations
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Clothing
Full Digitisation and Embroidery Service
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Enter the GDMK Images Trade Portal
The resulting discussions and trials led to the birth of the GDMK Images Trade Portal.
I believe this is a unique system in the field of Society Fund Raising.
In a nutshell, the GDMK Images Trade Portal offers your society or organisation a bespoke and unique online webshop.
Your secure portal is populated with your products at trade prices.
We provide you with mockup images of your products which you can use on your websites and social media saving hours of work.
You can showcase and advertise a full range of products to your supporters without spending a penny on stock!
Use the portal to order one off items and have them posted direct to your customers or order in bulk for an upcoming event – the choice is yours.
Another key part of the portal is marketing and promotional facilities. The purpose of this is to help you raise the profile of your Society or Organisations products, which in turn, generates more sales of your items and increased funds for your society!
Enquire How The GDMK Images Portal Can Help You
Find out the full details by submitting your details below or via the button below
Keyrings Fridge Magnets and Badges Now Available Online
If you have seen our stall at a Railway Gala or Airshow, you will know we have a huge range of small pick up gifts for sale. These have proved extremely popular with those who have seen them.
Traditionally I havent stocked these online, reserving them for our shows. With the loss of the 2020 show season, I have had loads of enquiries from customers asking how they can buy them and enquiring about any new designs we might have.
In response to these requests, I have slowly began adding the following smaller gifts to the online store.
We host the fundraising products for these two fine Class 50 locos.
Many of the fundraising gifts are of the smaller variety and havent been available. Coupled with the Covid restrictions on events, 2020 has been a difficult fund raising year.