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Sample Development 2.0

Industry Insights / admin / Quality Control, sample development, supplier

Sample Development ET2C int sourcing procurement quality control

Sample Development is a critical step in any production cycle, but given the boom in offshore manufacturing over the past two decades, how should companies change their approach to sampling?

Sample development generally requires a fair bit of resource and time. This is only made more complex given distances between Buyers and their factories (and add in time zones, communication/language etc). Whether it is agreeing the maquette for a shoe or getting the mold right for an injection molded product, there is an established process that many companies work through with their suppliers. In the majority of cases, this has not evolved with technological advances and leads to longer lead times, and costs than perhaps are needed.

The Sample Development Piece

Samples are integral to any manufacturing process. Although there are costs involved (more so in certain industries) in getting a sample made, the ability to ‘try before you buy’ is advantageous. Ultimately, although there are many different types of samples that can be made, the aim is to provide reassurance that the product meets your and your customers’ needs. For example, the garment industry usually requires multiple samples as you move through both the development and production phases. Without providing an exhaustive list, these can include Proto, Fit, Size-set, Pre-production, Production and Ship sample.

When it comes to molded products, the sample process can is significantly more costly. It requires molds to be made (which are expensive) based on drawings, and the skill of the manufacturer to get this precise. Once the mold is made, depending on the type of manufacturing, the mold has to be ‘tinkered’ with should the item not be coming out as required.

The Modern Era

There is no doubt that there still remain some manufacturing traditionalists when it comes to certain industries. The fall out is that sample development within such sectors can be stuck in a bit of a time warp. We all know that you “shoe-dogs” out there like seeing and feeling the shoes as they are made, and seeing them in the ‘flesh’. In fact, this is not wrong, but this perspective can sometimes drive the wrong behaviour when it comes to the evolution of sample development.

sampling ET2C Int sourcing procurement quality control

Another factor to consider is that of sustainability. A lot of these brands and retailers firmly sit within the sustainability camp – ethical suppliers, carbon neutral targets etc – and yet they are still spending significant amounts of money to courier samples back and forth around the globe, predominately from East to West and back.

So what should companies be doing? What technology is out there that they should be adopting to meet there needs. Of course, technology can be expensive so some solutions are not for every business, but that’s not to say taking simple, small steps can help companies change their sample development process for the better.

Sample Development 2.0

Whatever you are manufacturing, and wherever this is taking place, there are a number of steps or technologies that can be adopted to bring your sample development process into the 21st century.

1. Lean Sample Development

Sometimes, it is just not necessary to have multiple samples sign-offs. If a jean sample has a small error on it, then does it need to be remade? One large jean brand moved years ago from 4 samples pre-production to just one physical example, and the balance three samples were approved based on photos. This saves costs, time and is more sustainable, particularly where the factory is based overseas. Any experienced buyer should be able to approve a sample with photos, or even over zoom?

2. Digitization

Rather than simply using your iPhone to take photos, there is already software available to effectively digitize the sampling process. Particularly relevant to the Fashion sector, this type of software incorporates 3D design or virtual reality and gives buyers/designers the opportunity to see their designs and how they look before even one bit of fabric is cut. The opportunity to reduce waste, lead times and cost could be significant.

3. Additive/3D Printing

This technology has been around for some time, but has recently become less expensive (it used to be prohibitively so). The ability to change how we manufacture products is certainly exciting albeit a fair way off currently for the mass market. Importantly, however, its application for sampling products is now very relevant. Companies are able to cheaply 3D print products to check their look and functionality. One can even 3D print in metal, so the ability to sample products or components to make sure that they are fit for purpose negates the need to invest in molds during the sampling process. There are also many companies offering these services, so this can be done in your local market as well. Again, there is an opportunity to save time and cost with this technology.

sample development 3d printing ET2C Int

4. Upstream Capability

Alternatively – a more traditionalist approach – it is possible for the design/development function to spend time within the factories sample room and collaborate with the manufacturer on site. More for the fashion sector, but it allows designers to go through multiple iterations on design more creatively, using fabrics and ideas that come up during the meetings. This is a little bit more difficult at present given the restrictions on travel, but there is stills cope to leverage partners on the ground.

Sample process: we can help!

We are well placed, being on the ground to help with your sample process. This can be working with factories with the technologies mentioned above or simply ensuring that we are your eyes and ears in our respective sourcing markets to minimize the cost, resource and lead time of the more traditional sample development processes.
If you want to know more and need any assistance with the sample development contact our team at contact@et2cint.com.

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Natural Materials: A Sustainable Choice for Home Decor

Industry Insights / admin / design, Indoor, Materials, Outdoor, Sustainability

Natural Materials You can Use for Your Home

Natural materials are a popular choice for furniture and other interior decoration within the home due to their range of physical and aesthetic properties.

Natural materials fit in with the sustainability movement. We are at a place in time where the environment and the planet’s future existence sits in the crosshairs of numerous stakeholders from the ‘consumer’ to charities, companies, financiers, and even future kings. And in a month’s time, the great and good of global leaders and politicians will meet in Glasgow for CO26 (a conference dedicated to Climate Change). Nobody, therefore, needs to be reminded how vulnerable our planet has become.

Fortunately, more and more professionals and homeowners are opting for ‘greener’ lifestyles to lessen their carbon footprint, which includes the use of more natural materials in the products that they have been using at their homes. There are many reasons to use natural products in your home from reducing environmental impacts to decreasing potential health hazards – natural materials present an array of positive benefits.

The Benefits of ‘Natural’

There has been a wide array of research done on the benefits of natural materials and our interaction with them in the home. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Longer Lasting

Natural materials not only have the ability to last a long time but in some cases will look even better with age. Just think of that old oak table that has stood the test of time!

• Creating Calm and Energy

Almost half of the homeowners (49%) believe having natural materials in their homes makes them feel discernibly happier than when surrounded by artificial materials, according to research from the Wood Window Alliance. Especially whilst the world is suffering from this pandemic, the self-quarantine and stay-at-home orders have exposed the complex relationships we have with our homes, underscoring how important it is to have a healthy space in which to live and work.

• Design & Style

Natural materials can be adapted to a range of different styles. If you prefer rustic chic, wood and natural stone are the way to go; alternatively, to achieve a minimalist look, consider bamboo and canvas.

Natural Materials for the Home

The natural materials trend focuses on the use of tactile materials like rattan, bamboo, seagrass, and cork. These materials all have an honest authenticity that we as human beings find naturally seductive. It is probably something to do with our primal need to feel connected to nature.
We often hear the phrase “Bring the Outdoor Inside”. The expansion of the urban environment, lack of outdoor space, technological advances and global pandemic have led to us spending more and more time indoors. As a result, we are becoming increasingly disconnected from nature. However, according to the latest research from the Wood Window Alliance, 82% of people feel happier when surrounded by greenery.

Rattan

Rattan manages an enduringly modern look. This is especially true among the wide selection of home decor and furniture pieces made today like mid-century modern seating and ’70s-inspired looped rattan bed frames. It is a material that suits almost every interior aesthetic, design, and style– from traditional to modern and coastal to contemporary. Rattan’s properties allow it to be bent every which way for more solid, sculptural furnishings while woven raffias and jutes bring an earthy texture to everyday home objects like area rugs and pendant lamps.

rattan furniture sourcing natural materials procurement design indoor ET2C Int.

Seagrass

Seagrass is exactly as the name implies, a grass that grows in the sea or in areas that have saltwater. Seagrass is a popular material in the North of Vietnam, particularly Thai Binh and Thanh Hoa provinces. A lot of the seagrass used for manufacturing home decor products is farmed to be cut and processed specifically for seagrass weaving. This seagrass is cut, dried, spun, dyed, and then woven into many different items, including baskets, lampshades, furniture, and area rugs.

sea grass furniture materials sourcing procurement design ET2C Int.

The application of this raw material includes:

Water Hyacinth

Water hyacinth is a fast-growing aquatic plant, widely found in the tropical regions (i.e. Vietnam, Philippines, South part of China) that has been recognised as one of the top 10 worst weeds in the world. Nowadays, people make use of what is so called “natural waste” or “nuisance” and turn them into marketable goods which could benefit the environment as well as yield the income for the local people. Once dried, water hyacinth still has spongy stems with a warm honey yellow colour, which gives a delicate, soft texture and adds earthy tones to woven products such as baskets, trays, planters, etc.

water hyacinth fiber

Wood

Wood is the mainstay natural material that is used in your home; it can be furniture, kitchenware, home décor, etc. Also, there is such a diverse range of different woods that can be used, i.e. pine, paulownia, acacia, oak to name a few. Each of these will give your interior design a different feel or a different flavour. Oak is perhaps the most popular choice for interior design due to its natural beauty and hard-wearing nature. But, there are also over 600 different species of oak, so no one oak table will look exactly the same as another. Cedarwood and walnut wood are also typically used for flooring and furniture, with the former boasting a distinct grain that makes it particularly attractive.

wood table furniture design living room natural style
Wood is a renewable material that can be regrown naturally through replanting. The processing of wood also has far fewer environmental implications than concrete or steel. Not only that but because of its natural structure, wood is more energy-efficient and will help to hold heat into a home and even regulate humidity to a small degree.

Summary

At ET2C, we have been working across South East Asia for the past decade where a lot of these natural materials can be found, and have experience incorporating them into products for the home. Whether it is FSC accreditation, finding the right material supplier or the best product for your customer, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Commodities Boom Fuels Prices at the Factory Gates

Industry Insights / admin / commodities, index, Industry, sourcing

Commodities Boom Fuels Prices at the Factory Gates ET2C Int.

Commodities have recently surged on the back of the devastation the Pandemic has left in its wake. Supply and demand distortions, combined with replenishment of inventories as economies emerge from their Covid ‘hibernations’, have led to an increase in commodity prices.

Overview

Commodities have pushed the Chinese Producer Price Index (PPI) to a 13 year high in August (the PPI is a measure of the average change in the price of goods sold by manufacturers) rising 9.5% from a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently reported. This is the fastest rate of increase since August 2008. It reflects the impact that raw material prices have at the factory gates, and in a sourcing context, the cost implications for overseas buyers. Even with the current freight rates and their impact on ‘landed cost’, this is a further hammer blow to retailers or wholesalers, who are already struggling to get stock for the Christmas season both physically in-store and at the price points needed.

Commodities & China Sourcing

From Metals, coal to plastics and rubbers, there have been price rises across a broad range of commodities over the past 6 months. In some instances, this has forced factories to restrict price validity when providing quotations. Although, not to the same extent as with PPE back in March/April 2020 when there was hyper-inflation due to the extreme demand.

As we all know, factories generally tend to be very quick to point to the ‘ticker’ or graph showing a commodity price trending upwards when negotiating price points. We probably know even more so that the same is not true when commodities start to drop in value, when the factory will point to stock in the warehouse they need to use first.

ET2C Int. Graph 1 commodities — Aluminium Bar (China) Price Trend

The fact is that China still counts for over half of the international demand for commodities. It is a behemoth when it comes to consumption and its role in the global commodity market is simply too large and significant to be overlooked. Although the export sector is only one relatively small part of this demand (for example other parts include domestic manufacturing, the construction sector etc.) it gives manufacturers an availability of raw material across a broad spectrum of different products. It is one aspect of the country’s manufacturing DNA that is often overlooked but it is significant relative to other sourcing markets (even with China’s recent Environmental targets impacting certain material production).

One just has to look at South East Asian manufacturing markets, like Vietnam, and certain raw materials will need to be imported from Chinese suppliers. Simply put, it adds cost, lead time and layers of complexity, which plays to the Chinese manufacturing base.

What goes up, must (eventually) come down

It does appear though that there is some softening in the price of metals with the prospect of China’s construction boom slowing and more broadly economic growth decelerating, which will in turn limit demand for these materials. The price of copper and iron order has already started to fall. This may be goods news for some product categories that have already had to absorb some price rises.

Pricing Strategies

When commodities are on the rise, making purchasing decisions is not easy. The basis upon which you make a purchasing decision (the price) can change as quickly as you cut the PO. This is particularly true of the more commoditized products for which the relative percentage cost of the raw material is above 30%. In any business, certainty is beneficial. In such markets, the following ideas should be considered:

1. Raw Material

Make sure you are aware of the raw material fluctuations, not only a global spot price, but also the price in the market you are buying products from. It is important to validate what the factory is saying, and what is driving their prices.

industrial metal sheets ET2C Int. sourcing

2. Origin

Where is your factory buying its raw materials from? For some smaller markets, it is important to know this so that you can see where potential issues may arrive in the future particularly if they are shipping it in from other countries.

3. Partnerships

We have always pointed to developing true partnerships with suppliers/factories. This will engender much greater visibility of costs and raw material pricing. Also, looking over a medium-term to long term horizon will mean that fluctuations in commodities generally even themselves out. Short-termism and transactional purchases will unlikely provide any benefits.

4. Index the Commodities

When you have longer-term relationships, and you have set out your annual spend, the best way to manage commodity fluctuations is to agree on a base price of the most significant raw material, and then index movements. So, for example, agree on a price of Aluminium and then based on movements both up and down, agree on total FOB pricing that reflects these movements. That way, you have greater certainty, and can make sure that you have sustainable supply going forward. It is the most equitable way of dealing with such price variables.

technology

Summary

We continue to operate in an uncertain market and at the busiest time of the year. Inflation across the supply chain is already driving price increases (see our petition for the UK Government to counter these inflationary pressures). Commodities have been on the increase, but with some challenging headwinds, there may be some let-up and softening of price points into Q4 of 2021.
At ET2C, our solutions are centred around visibility. If you need to know more about raw material price points, and other market data, we are well-positioned to provide our clients with all the relevant information. We are well placed, as your Sourcing Partner, to help you during these difficult times. For more information, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Factory Audit: Getting the Big Picture

Industry Insights / admin / Factory Audit, Inspection, quality assurance, Quality Control

Factory Audit Inspection Sourcing Procurement ET2C International

A Factory audit is a key component of driving visibility up your supply chain but what does it entail?

A factory audit is a necessary tool for any supply chain, particularly when you are dealing with global supply chains. Of course, you can inspect the products coming off the production line, but it is just as important to understand who you are partnering with.

Factory Audit Inspection Manufacture Sourcing ET2C Int

Whether you are considering a new supplier or you have already been working with a manufacturer for a period of time and developed a solid relationship, factory audits are essential for your business.
Managing the supply chain when it involves factories in multiple locations in different countries can be challenging. The consumer now rightly demands high standards across both the supplier and its products. On one hand, you need to therefore properly vet potential suppliers. On the other hand, you have to ensure that current suppliers have the systems in place to produce quality products. You also need to be sure that your products are free of ethical, security, or regulatory concerns.

What is a Factory Audit?

A factory audit is a type of supplier assessment that takes place at the manufacturer’s facility. This type of audit is all part of ‘Quality Assurance’ and allows companies to gain the comfort of their suppliers and any risks involved in engaging them. An auditor assesses their systems, capacity, workplace environment, or capabilities to ensure they meet your requirements. While on-site at the factory, the auditor conducts a number of checks and provides a report to aid you in your supply chain decisions.

Internal or External Audit?

Certainly, factories might tell you that they have internal audit capability and procedures that result in very low defect rates. Although this is good news (look for ISO standards for process standards that will support certain quality standards, like ISO 13485 for medical products), it remains the case that an independent pair of eyes is still beneficial as it adds a level of objectivity.

Audit Inspection Manufacture Sourcing ET2C International Procurement

Hiring a neutral third-party auditor to go to the factory gives you a more complete picture and allows you to understand where any potential risks lie. These can be around product quality, through to ethical issues such as overtime concerns for their workforce. For example, an audit could help you to:

Decide whether a particular supplier will serve as a suitable long-term partner for your needs.
Identify any financial risk or exposure should you be paying funds upfront.
Ensure that your supply chain is free of problematic social or environmental issues.

5 Common Types of Factory Audit

According to your business needs or challenges, you might consider specific types of factory audits, as follows:

1. Manufacturing Audit

This is a detailed audit on a factories manufacturing capability, and will cover workforce, production capacity, machinery through to process flows. Ultimately, these in-depth audits will determine if a supplier is capable of producing your product specifications, lead times, output, and identify any potential challenges down the line.

2. Ethical Audits

This type of audit is related to social accountability (to provide healthy, safe, and ethical work environments along with sound labour practices and pay). An ethical audit ensures the appropriate work conditions are being followed. There are a number of audits that address concerns around ethics including SA8000, SMETA and BSCI.

3. Factory Risk Report

This audit is an in-depth review of the factory that covers everything from financials, shareholding, manufacturing capability, quality management systems, product quality, ethics through to a market assessment and price benchmarking.

Factory Audit Inspection Manufacture Sourcing ET2C International

4. Environmental Audits

This type of audit helps evaluate compliance with local laws and regulations as it relates to environmental protection.

5. Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) Audit

Led by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the C-TPAT audit focuses on improving the security, with respect to terrorism, of private companies in supply chains.

Each company has a different requirement or need at any given time. Making sure you align these needs with the different types of audit will help you have both timely information and establish the best supplier network for your business.

What is the Difference Between Factory Audits and Quality Control Inspections?

A Factory Audit plays an integral role in understanding the full manufacturing process and is distinct from simple inspections because:

1. A Factory Audit Focuses on the Long Term

While factory audits focus on the ability to meet requirements and ensure product quality is maintained, a product inspection focuses only on the products from one particular shipment.

2. A Factory Audit sees the ‘the Big Picture’.

A Factory audit covers important areas such as quality management systems and manufacturing practices. Not only they can help you assess a supplier is a good fit to produce your product but also can help you find opportunities to further develop the working relationship.

Factory Inspection Manufacture Sourcing ET2C International

3. A Factory Audit is more than ‘Product Quality’

As is clear from the different examples above, there may be many reasons to conduct a factory audit that are not just related to the product.

For more information about these differences, read our article on the difference between Quality Control and Quality Assurance.

Do you need a Factory Audit?

At ET2C we are well placed to manage your factory audit requirements. With our own dedicated quality team across Asia and Turkey, we look to deliver the visibility you need to sign off shipments. We are already investing in technology to enhance the service we provide our clients in this arena. For more information, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Global Supply Chains & Covid-19

Industry Insights / admin / Covid-19, Industry, sourcing, Supply Chain

Global Supply Chains & Covid-19 sourcing procurement ET2C Int.

Global supply chains are being tested like never before with constant disruptions that have now spanned 17 months since the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Global supply chains are complex. This is often taken for granted when goods arrive at your warehouse. In fact, these global supply chains often involve large distances, multiple countries, many companies and lots of people that all need to be appropriately in sync to deliver the products you order on time. With all the recent Covid-19 disruptions, there are now concerns about the fragility of these global supply chains and the implications for the remainder of 2021.

The Covid ‘Monkey’

It seems that no Country can really shake the ‘monkey from their back’ when it comes to Covid-19. Even countries that have a ‘zero covid policy’ are struggling in the face of the Delta variant. Where the East has largely enjoyed 15 months of normality (if that even exists anymore) whilst the West has lurched through multiple lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, the converse is now true. The West has been quicker to vaccinate their populations and is now ‘opening up’ on the basis that there will be a ‘vaccination wall’ to minimize hospitalizations. Meanwhile, the East – with many countries pointed to as examples of how to deal with Covid-19 – is now broadly in a state of panic given vaccinations were not seen as a priority. No country, regardless of their Covid strategy has truly loosened the Monkey’s grip.

Global supply chains ET2C Int. covid 19 pandemic sourcing procurement

From a sourcing perspective, this is currently having a significant impact on the ability to both manufacture and ship goods, which deserves a quick market-by-market recap.

China

China is still open for business but the spectre of Covid looms large. Yantian Port was temporarily shut down due to a Covid outbreak. Seen as one of the busiest ports in the World, it was a good example of the impact Covid can have on the movement of goods. Although there was some significant disruption at the time, with goods being moved to alternate exit routes, the Port was re-opened in a matter of days notwithstanding the backlog of shipments that still needed to be processed.

Just recently, Mid-August, Ningbo was likewise shutdown on the back of one case of Covid. This is a Port that moved 5.44 million 20ft equivalent units in 2020. This only further exacerbated the current fractious shipping landscape by limited the outflow options for shipments.

There have been other disruptions that have hit the region, such as the typhoon that hit the East Coast of China in Late July and the dramatic flooding that has only exacerbated the current issues. And this is all in the build-up to Black Friday and the busiest quarter of the container shipping year – Christmas and Chinese New Year.

This has all had an impact on prices at the factory gate; a combination of Covid induced fragmentation of logistics capability and excessive demand from the West super-charged by the need to replenish inventory stocks. In July, the factory PPI was up 8.8%.

Vietnam

Southern Vietnam is currently in a state of paralysis. The Delta variant has led to HCMC (the epicentre) being in some kind of lockdown for the past 8 weeks, with some of the largest case numbers (plus 6,000) being reported today midway through a two-week complete lockdown in which people are forbidden to leave their apartments. Although there have been continued Directives issued, there appears to be little let-up in the case numbers.

logistics warehouse sourcing procurement ET2C Int.

Surrounding provinces in the South have also been impacted, and with them the industrial zones of Bing Doung. Factories are operating in isolation where they are given permission to under the “3 on-site” model, which means workers can live and work on-site, or at least be transported in a bubble from a single separate accommodation location to the factory site to work and back at the end of their shift. The target date of 15^th September for the local economy to be re-opened may perhaps be a stretch, but with a significant vaccine drive and severe lockdowns, there is still hope.

India

The devastation that the Delta variant had on India back in May, when new cases peaked at just under 415,000 in one day, was hard to watch. Cases have now ameliorated to a 7-day average of approximately 40,000 per day, 10% of the cases back in May. Manufacturing has opened up and factories are largely operating again. There are still challenges with shipments, but that is not solely a local Indian issue.

Turkey

Turkey is currently benefiting from its proximity to Europe with the high freight rates. The manufacturing sector has largely managed to remain open right up to Ramadan back in April. Even though cases were up as high as 60,000 per day, these have since settled to a third of that figure as a result of lockdown measures and also a successful vaccine drive.

Two plus Two equals Zero

It is a difficult picture to pull together with any sense of predictability, which makes decision-making that much trickier. Global supply chains are cumbersome and not easily uprooted. It takes time, and with the Covid-19 appearing in different places at different times, it is not easy to plan anything. The one predictable piece of this puzzle is the predictability that there will be some kind of disruption within global supply chains. This Monkey is not going anywhere soon and the simplest advice we can give is:

It will benefit companies to build in additional flexibility. Look at different provinces, different regions, different markets.
You need ‘boots on the ground’ to react quickly to any incident as it appears.
Keep your options open.

We are heading into the busiest time of the year for the shipment of products out of the East, and the current environment is most certainly going to result in stock shortages during the festive season as well as not-insignificant inflationary pressures (see our petition for the UK Government to counter these inflationary pressures).

Summary

At ET2C, our solutions are centred around flexibility. We provide our clients with access to a range of markets and suppliers on the ground across Asia. We are well placed, as your Sourcing Partner, to help you during these difficult times. For more information, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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China Suppliers: 5 Useful Tips to Find the Best Partners

Industry Insights / admin / China Manufacturing, manufacturing, suppliers, vendors

China Suppliers Manufacture Asia ET2C sourcing procurement find vendors

“China Suppliers” is a popular keyword for buyers and importers when scouring the Internet but it is not always as straightforward as a click of a button. Do you really know how to qualify the most suitable supplier for your business?

“China Suppliers” – those who never searched for them cast the first stone! Certainly, for companies that sell products finding the right supplier lays the foundations for building a successful business. Suppliers should be considered partners given their performance has a material impact on your business, particularly those that are in the early stages of growth.
A bad supplier can negatively influence your sales revenues and margins, reduce the quality of your products and services (which could cause damage to customer relations), disrupt operations and increase costs.
On the other hand, a good supplier – one that you truly partner with – which meets your business needs will provide you with quality products and services. In short, the right factory will set you up for success whereas the a bad supplier can easily jeopardize your business before it has even got off the ground.

‘China Suppliers’ – How to Identify the Best Partners

Making mistakes in the supplier selection process can impact business results at multiple levels. To avoid this, we want to share with you some useful tips and lessons learnt over the past 20 years of sourcing in China. Key to this is implementing a rigorous process that is followed and repeated as you expand your business.

1. Conduct a detailed factory evaluation

Success in offshore manufacturing starts with the supplier selection process. There is a range of factory audits that can give you the transparency you need to identify the right partners, including manufacturing audits, ethical audits (SMETA, BSCI), technical audits and also, where appropriate, internal audit requirements (particularly for specialist products or sectors). There needs to be a ‘base level’ which must be met for your clients, your business and your market for the factory to qualify as a potential partner. Anything less is immediately rejected.

factory vendors supplier manufacturing ET2C Int. sourcing procurement

2. Take an ‘Under the Hood’ approach

As a Partner and a key stakeholder potentially in your business, it is important to try and get a breadth of understanding about the supplier. This includes financials, clients, markets served, qualifications and certifications and any information on the management team. For example, there is public information available on companies in China on shareholding, management team and the number of employees. This information is invaluable as part of a holistic assessment of a factory before you start collaborating.

3. Get the right contracts in place

You want to be working with a professional supplier that sets the parameters of the relationship in a clear and accurate agreement. Such contracts enable you to quickly build trust with your partner and ensure that any intellectual property or other confidential information is suitably protected.

4. Understand the Commercials

Work through a request for quotation process that will enable you to fully evaluate the factory’s ability to deliver against your needs. This starts with the quotation process and needs to make sure that the factory has all the relevant product information to be able to provide an accurate quotation. One should also understand whether there are any minimum order quantities (MOQs), product lead times, payment terms and any sample charges. Although for the latter, it is often the case that you can get this returned on placing your first order. Make sure you factor in freight costs, import duty and any insurance to get your landed costs.

Suppliers China vendors Factory audit partner manufacturing ET2C Int. Sourcing procurement

It is worth also making sure that they have the capacity to deliver your products within the timeline you have agreed. Ask for high-level information (quantity) on the factory’s other orders and do a quick sense check to see what this means in terms of available capacity. Late delivery can be detrimental to your client relationships/sales on the shop floor and can end up undoing all your hard work.

5. Do not evaluate a product or Supplier solely on price

The lowest cost may not always get you to where you need to be. In fact, it might be a risk if your sourcing strategy is only driven by saving on costs. Although product cost impacts gross margin, you should be aware that the cheapest supplier is not always the right one. Conversely, an expensive supplier does not guarantee the best products.

When selecting a supplier consider the broad range of elements that are right for your business. Ultimately, if you value a supplier as a partner, the relationship should be much more than solely focused on cost and this will lead to greater flexibility, MOQs, prioritization, assistance when timelines change, and the list goes on. It is difficult to quantify the added benefits!

suppliers logistics container Asia partner business Et2C Int. SOurcing procurement

*** Bonus Tip: Consider more than one supplier

It is important to have a choice of suppliers and ideally (although not always practical) it should be possible to have a range of suppliers for one product category, perhaps in different markets, so that you can quickly move between suppliers as required. Most companies use a supplier matrix that helps build resilience to shocks in your supply chain.

Need help with “China Suppliers”?

Selecting the best suppliers is critical to the success of your business. We are uniquely placed to help with a presence on the ground in the local market, product knowledge and we can add value when it comes to managing the supplier from development through to shipment.

In the main, having some kind of local presence will only help enhance these relationships whether it be your own office, a sourcing company or some other third-party presence. At ET2C, we provide our clients with the transparency needed to best manage their suppliers across Asia. For more information on how we can help you, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Sustainable Shoes: The Industry & Material Trends

Industry Insights / admin / business, finance, Industry

Sustainable Shoes ET2C sourcing procurement Asia footwear suppliers
Sustainable shoes are a mainstay within the fashion sector. Whether it be ethics, environment or energy consumption, many brands have sustainability as part of their brand proposition.

Sustainable shoes will continue to grow in importance within the fashion sector. Sustainability has been an increasingly hot topic across many industries in recent years, with customers the world over encouraging companies to do better. For fashion, it means a shift of focus away from fast fashion, which is often quick, relies on low-cost manufacturing and more often than not has a negative impact on the environment (wastage being one element), to sustainable fashion that takes into consideration both environmental and social aspects – and the footwear market is no exception.

The Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA) defines sustainability in the footwear industry as “shoe design, development, manufacturing, distribution, and selling processes that minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, are safe for employees, communities, and consumers, and are economically sound”.

Market Evolution

There are clear market indicators for the growth of sustainable footwear and clothing, as can be seen across different stakeholders in the supply chain. To start, the consumer’s growing consciousness of the environment and society more broadly is driving retailers to change their product offer. Mostly encouraged by Generation Z and millennial consumers, who are generally more aware of the need for sustainable options in their product choices.

This all feeds back up the supply chain and often into factories across Asia. Over the past five years, the increase in supplier audits has been clearly noticeable. But it is not only around product quality, but more around ethics and employee welfare. Platforms such as Sedex, that share supplier information and audits, are providing buyers with up-to-date supplier audits across the quality spectrum to mitigate the ‘audit malaise’. In fact, from our experience, Asian factories are broadly well placed to meet the needs of Western brands (and their consumers) but it is still important to work with the right partner that is aligned to your requirements.

cork sole

Even Governments are supporting sustainability initiatives that will underpin this transition within the fashion industry. As an example, the UK government has announced plans for an initiative to launch a waste prevention program, one of the aims of which is sustainable fashion, in its commitment to end the ‘throwaway’ culture. There is also a UN Alliance for sustainable fashion that is focused on coordinated action in the fashion sector, including footwear.
This will all drive change in what is an industry that has over the past decade been seen as wasteful and environmentally damaging. To take it to the extreme, there have been incidents reported of fashion houses burning stock in worth in excess of $30 million to protect it being sold on the cheap.

Sustainable Shoes

Aside from factory ethics, there are some popular sustainable material options that are already widespread within the footwear industry. These are only the start, and there will be more alternatives (it often comes down to an issue of price), but we wanted to highlight some of the most popular sustainable shoe trends in the market:

1. “Better” cotton (BCI – Better Cotton Initiative)

Cotton is a notoriously water-dependent (20,000 litres is required to produce just one kilogram of cotton, equivalent to a single t-shirt or a pair of jeans). BCI principles, therefore, cover a range of key focus areas; minimize harmful effects on crops, efficiently use water and protect water sources, emphasize soil health, protect natural habitats, ensure fiber quality and promote fair working conditions. The material has been adopted by numerous leading brands (H&M, Adidas, Nike, etc.) and its share in footwear manufacturing keeps growing exponentially. The cotton can be used for the shoe upper (sneakers, espadrilles, etc.), laces.

cotton footwear sustainable materials

2. Recycled rubber

The material comes from post-consumer discarded vehicle tires and virgin rubber items abandoned in landfills: using recycled rubber creates a substantially smaller (by a factor of up to 20 times) carbon footprint as compared to using virgin plastic resins. Recycled rubber in footwear is mostly used in shoe soles, rubber shoes – rubber wellies, flip flops, etc.

cotton footwear sustainable materials

3. Ocean plastic

In recent decades, plastic waste has accumulated enormously both on the ground and underwater; the ocean is filled with discarded plastic items threatening the normal life of various ocean ecosystems. To tackle this problem, with the help of fishermen, volunteers and other organizations, footwear brands committed to ocean fabric development work to collect marine debris from the ocean and beaches to produce the raw material fibers and fabrics. There is a multitude of brands that currently offer ocean plastic sneakers Adidas, Puma, Nike as well as small brands like Soludos among many others).

ocean plastic shoes footwear sourcing procurement suppliers fashion ET2C

4. Jute

Jute is a natural fiber that comes from the plant of the same name. It can be twisted like yarn or braided like a rope and formed into variety of shapes (mainly for shoe soles). Below is an image of a pair of shoes where the shoe sole is made of jute.

jute footwear sourcing procurement Et2C suppliers

5. Cork

Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak tree, the material is solid but very light which makes it especially good for orthopedic shoes. This material is natural, renewable, and good for the environment – it is one of the MOST sustainable materials available today. It is mostly used for shoe soles; another popular option for this material that is growing in popularity is cork leather – and it looks great too!

Sustainable shoes cork footwear ET2C sourcing procurement Asia suppliers

6. Honorable mentions

There are other materials that deserve a mention as part of the sustainable shoes movement but are not quite as widespread at present within the fashion industry. These include Sugarcane, Hemp, Coconut coir, Bamboo, and Wool.
Fortunately, there are companies now that are passionate about the environment preservation for future generations, supported by an ever-growing customer base deciding to go green. The footwear sustainability trend is only expected to grow and expand. One of the leading companies in this field is Allbirds, whose motto epitomizes this new brand direction within the field of sustainability:
“Mother Nature is our muse. Building on her handiwork, we’re finding new uses for materials that exist right in front of us.”

Summary

At ET2C we care deeply about the environment and are doing what we can to understand more about sustainability and what it means to us and our clients. Whether it is shoes, fashion, packaging and many other sectors, we are here to help you. For all your sustainability requirements, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Supply Chain Flexibility in Uncertain Times

Industry Insights / admin / Bullwhip Effect, business, Industry, Industry Inshights, Supply Chain

Supply Chain Flexibility in Uncertain Times ET2C International

Supply Chain flexibility and planning processes are key to navigating unpredictable and volatile markets.

Supply chain flexibility takes time to develop – just like resilience – particularly where companies are leveraging manufacturers from across the world. Supply chains that on paper look simple are often in fact more complex – if only on account of distance, logistics, culture and language. In addition, the current sourcing landscape is fractured with borders shuttered and outbreaks of COVID-19 a common occurrence.

The past 18 months have seen extremes of unpredictability and volatility across retail and sourcing markets. Whether it is the closure of manufacturing markets (March 2020 in China), bricks and mortar retailers being forced to shut during the many lockdowns or the current unforeseen Covid implications on freight rates out of Asia, supply chains had to react to events as best they can.

The ‘Bullwhip’ Effect

The challenge with shifts in demand at the consumer level is the potential for the ‘Bullwhip Effect’ to ripple back up the supply chain and create distortions in inventory production at the manufacturers. This effect was first identified in the 1960s at MIT’s Sloan School of Management and highlights the consequences of the decisions made by each ‘player’ in the supply chain to maximize their profits. The result is that each supply chain participant has a greater observed variation in demand and thus greater need for safety stock.

supply chain bullwhip effect data ET2C International — The Bullwhip Effect, Order Quantity vs Stock Levels – source: Wikipedia

In periods of rising demand, players up the supply chain increase orders and their safety stock. Conversely, when orders fall or drop, stock levels are not reduced. The Bullwhip effect causes these variations to be amplified up the supply chain.
The consequences can wreak havoc with inventory levels up the supply chain leading to potential periods of excess stock through to stock shortages. Whatever the case, the financial impact can be significant on all players up the supply chain. Ultimately, this can lead to poor customer service, staff shortages, cost reductions and potentially business failure. One good example of the Bullwhip Effect was at the beginning of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the sudden spikes in demand for masks and medical equipment from China.

Further studies of the Bullwhip effect in the 1990s showed that it is not only irrational behaviours that caused this supply chain phenomenon. There were four rational behaviours of the players within the supply chain’s infrastructure that also impacted the demand vs safety stock holdings. These were:

a) Demand Forecast Updating

When different players update their demand forecasts due to unexpected events, and multiple times up the supply chain it can have an artificial impact on demand planning and safety stocks.

b) Order Batching

Commonly due to market price volatility, low stock levels or logistics costs, companies may look to batch orders into less frequent larger orders. Periodic batch orders create high volatility in demand.

c) Price Fluctuations

Price increases (or future increases) or decreases because of inflationary factors or discounts can create demand shifts. This makes it harder for players upstream to predict demand and related safety stock levels.

price fluctuation ET2C Int. Sourcing services procurement

d) Rationing and Shortage Gaming

When demand exceeds supply, manufacturers may ration their products. Attempting to ‘game the system’, buyers will order more than they require to achieve the volume they require. When supply returns to normal, some customers cancel orders leaving excess stock levels.

Supply Chain Flexibility

Ultimately, it is demand planning that companies often get wrong and that leads to these ripples of data moving upstream creating production inefficiencies. Of course, demand planning is difficult to get right at the best of times and even more so during a period of extreme unpredictability. Demand for certain categories has in fact been extraordinarily strong this past two quarters as markets have opened up, which has had a dramatic impact on freight rates. However, as Covid continues to rage across the planet, even where vaccination strategies have been implemented, the belief that the uncertainty of the past 18 months was abating is now hanging by a thread. Stock markets, spooked, are beginning to turn red and there are inevitable risks that customer demand may drop – potential Bullwhip territory.

containers logistic shipping ET2C Int. souricng services procurement

There are certain measures companies can take to manage the impact of this effect, and it largely points to embedding flexibility within your supply chain.

1. Demand planning (JIT)

Just in Time systems that are all part of lean manufacturing are all excellent in making sure that inventories are minimized (in some cases non-existent) and react to demand pulls. We can all learn from Kanban and other agile systems.

2. Decision Making

Critical, but often overlooked, the ability to make quick decisions that are multi-functional builds in flexibility. In short, circumstances can change quickly and companies with multiple layers of hierarchy and processes will struggle to adapt as required.

3. Understand the Trade-Offs

Do not be blinkered when it comes to decision-making. Of course, there are priorities in any business and its decision-making process. But understanding the tradeoffs – for example, MOQs, payment terms or dye charges, etc. – will give flexibility of option at a time when perhaps normal requirements are not so relevant. A good example of this was again when businesses were desperate for medical supplies at the beginning of Covid and initially some refused to put down deposits. They soon realized this was a necessity to get the required stock.

logistic containers management ET2C International sourcing procurement

4. Flexibility of Production Process

Shifting manufacturing location and being able to quickly re-tool or develop the same products in different markets will drive flexibility, just as will having ‘back up suppliers.

5. Collaboration & Partnerships

Seeing suppliers as ‘partners’ is essential to creating flexibility at factory level. This will enhance communication and understanding of demand movements but also enable the factory to provide additional help should it be around stock holding, minimums or pulling in additional capacity should it be required.

Summary

Supply chain flexibility has never been more important. In the midst of volatility and unpredictability, it is essential that your supply chain is delivering value to your business. The alternative has a sting in its tail!
At ET2C, our solutions are centred around flexibility. We provide our clients with access to a range of markets and suppliers on the ground across Asia. We are well placed, as your Sourcing Partner, to help you during these difficult times. For more information, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Outdoor Furniture and Garden Trends 2022

Industry Insights / admin / Furniture, Garden products, Outdoor, sourcing, Trends

Outdoor Furniture and Garden Trends 2022 ET2C International sourcing

Outdoor Furniture and Garden: as new habits emerge from the Pandemic, new trends will point towards the design of the outdoor space.

As we did last year, we are ready to predict some interesting outdoor and garden trends for the next spring-summer season.

The past 18 months have introduced many new behaviors, which have led to new trends in the outdoor furniture and garden sectors. As a direct consequence of the many lockdowns, the consumer started to design their living space in line with the adoption of these new habits and ultimately a greater reliance on time spent in their homes.

Of course, the Outdoor Furniture & Garden sector does not have a fast turnover of trends, when compared with fashion as an example, so we anticipate some SS21 trends to follow through into the next season as well. Look out for “Outdoor as Indoor”, Urban Gardens and Permaculture and the use of Natural Materials that are likely to feature in SS22.

Outdoor and Garden Trends SS2022

Vertical Gardening

The long periods of lockdown made us reconsider the importance of outdoor space. Even those people that do not have access to a garden, but just to a tiny balcony, now enjoy more than ever to spend some time outside and they certainly want to get the most out of what they have. For this reason, many opt for a vertical garden (even indoor!), in order to create a nice green corner with the (little) space available. This type of solution makes the balcony look bigger, adding a pleasant natural touch to it.

vertical garden sourcing ET2C Int procurement

Recycled materials

Recently, the topic of sustainability has been becoming increasingly important in any industry. This also applies to garden furniture. Last year in particular, the demand for sustainable garden furniture rose sharply. Surely, this trend will continue in 2022.

Both designers and consumers are now seriously paying attention to sustainable materials and environmentally friendly design outdoors.

More and more, garden furniture is made from recycled materials. Certainty, this trend already started years ago: for example, the tropical wood such as teak or acacia, which is extracted from old boats and houses, has been recycled in the garden furniture sector for several years.

plastic furniture suppliers recycled materials sustainability sourcing procurement

But recently, this process has involved also the making of plastic furniture. In fact, we can see now that seat shells or even complete lounge furniture are made from plastic collected and processed from land and sea. So if you want to focus more on sustainability when designing your terrace, you will find furniture made from recycled raw materials more often in the coming season. This way you not only decorate your garden with the latest outdoor trends, but also have a positive impact on the environment.

Furniture made of Rope

We also anticipate a broad use of rope in our gardens for the next season. In fact, to many people’s surprise, the practice of using woven rope to create furniture is a tradition that dates back to ancient times in Egypt. This material is versatile combining strength, flexibility and comfort!

rope furniture sourcing procurement style suppliers

Certainly, garden furniture made of rope gives your garden a particularly chic and modern look. An added advantage is that rope is very weather resistant come rain or shine. For this reason, furniture made from woven rope can be an especially good choice for people looking for items they can leave outside all year round.

Natural Colours & Materials

Now more than ever, the outside space is designed to be efficient and comfortable at the same time. Therefore, in order to be able to relax and unwind in the garden, natural fabrics and colours are becoming increasingly common. Muted tones such as sage green, cream, cashmere or beige will be particularly popular. Be ready to also see a lot of subtle green, brown and gray natural tones, but also khaki, olive green, ivory and foggy gray.

outdoor furniture sourcing procurement suppliers vendors trends style ET2C Int.

If you are not sure about how to develop your “garden palette”, simply choose one of these colors or combine several tones. This creates soft areas of different colours that immediately enhance any outdoor space.

Bohemian Touch

While natural tones will decorate most of the outdoor space, accessories, in particular, will create a nice contrast that will add a twist to your balconies, patios, and gardens.
The bohemian style will play a key role in this, especially on cushions, pillows, and accessories. Textiles will come up trumps with exotic, folkloric ethnic patterns and the furniture itself will show its ornate side in natural materials.

Bohemian style outdoor design suppliers procurement sourcing ET2C Int.

Whether rattan furniture, teak furniture decorated with carvings or ‘chilled’ hanging chairs – the furniture trends in 2022 will exude the artistic bohemian charm. Furthermore, colorful carpets and pillows with pompons and tassels will provide your minimalist/natural furniture with a lively boho-chic flair.

Urban industrial jungle

Recently, we have seen how the outdoor space has been designed as an extension of the internal living space. Specifically, we have seen it replicating some designs or even imitating the living room furniture.
However, for next season there will be a progression of this trend with the boundary between ‘interior’ and ‘exterior’ largely disappearing or becoming barely visible.

In fact, the outdoor space will include more elements from outside such as the ‘street’ style and even the wild jungle, without excluding some notes of industrial design.

Urban industrial jungle style design garden bicycle purple

In 2022 you will discover the simplicity and simple visual, which is inspired by the look of old warehouses, factories and other industrial buildings, also on the terrace.

However, these elements will be harmoniously combined together. For example, they will reach a perfect balance with furniture pieces that combine sturdy aluminum and natural teak. Certainly, the aluminum – that is rust-free and gives your garden a modern look – will be perfectly complemented by the naturally warm appearance of teak.

A good choice of exotic flowers and plants will add some jungle touch, complemented by some trendy Savanna-style cushions and decorations.

However, the mix of the different styles will be perfectly balanced in a general minimalist décor. So do not expect to find these elements all mixed together randomly or in excessive quantities. Garden furniture with a minimalist design will play a key role to give an elegant and relaxing look to the outside space. On the other hand, the accessories will create a nice contrast.

Sourcing Furniture and Outdoor, we can help!

We have developed our own range of Garden products out of China, Vietnam, India and Turkey. Taking the best of each market, we have pulled together some great products that are perfect for outdoors, whether it is outdoor furniture, coco-liners, hanging baskets or lighting. Moreover, we have attained certification to ensure that our suppliers ethically source their wood raw material. For all your needs, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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Turkey Manufacturers: A Near Sourcing Alternative for Textile Products

Industry Insights / admin / manufacturing, sourcing, Turkey

Turkey Manufacturers ET2C Int. Sourcing Procurement Suppliers

Turkey manufacturers are well-positioned to complement your supply chain with their proximity to the EU market.

The country has a broad and established manufacturing base which sits on the edge of Europe. This is important from a ‘near sourcing’ perspective and provides an alternative sourcing option for UK/EU companies. This is particularly true at present given the current spike in freight rates on the main trade routes out of Asia. Having an alternative near shore option will mitigate the high freight rates as well as shorten lead times considerably.

Sourcing Textiles

One of Turkey’s key export industries is the textile and apparel sector, which has been a very important driving force for the economy in terms of GDP and employment. These sectors accounted for 17% of the country’s exports in 2019. As a part of global trade, Turkey is one of the main actors in the apparel industry as the 7th largest supplier in the world, and the 3rd largest supplier of the EU, which has high standards and sophisticated customer needs with the top five foreign markets for Turkey’s exports being Germany, Spain, UK, Netherlands, France.

There are many reasons why Turkey manufacturers are ranked so highly:

• Low labor costs are a significant advantage when compared with European producers, and the labor cost is obviously a significant part of the Bill of Materials for “cut and sew”.

• Cotton production – As the seventh-largest cotton-producing country in the world, Turkey has access to an uninterrupted supply of cotton, which is the main raw material dominating the textile market owing to its features like high absorbency and strength.

cotton sourcing Turkey ET2C Int Sourcing suppliers

• Proximity to European markets – short lead-times – With many retailers demanding products with short lead times, Turkey has a big advantage with its proximity and can react more quickly; a key aspect of the fashion industry.

• Sustainability – Turkish production complies with international ecological standards, such as the prohibition of the use of harmful dyes.

• Its skilled workforce, modern production equipment, and national infrastructure also guarantee a sustainable competitive advantage.

Turkey manufacturers also have an advantage of an agreement with the EU which removes tariffs and duties on most goods. This also reduces the landed cost price further.

Main Categories

Within the textile and garment sector, there are a range of categories.

Garments

As the main center for clothes, Istanbul prides itself on its designers, fashion, and shopping malls; where you can find the harmonious mixture of the West-East, and Old-New. Due to recent domestic and foreign investments, Istanbul is fast becoming a fashion hub.

clothes sourcing Turkey ET2C Int Sourcing fashion apparel

As a global sourcing center that is in both Asia and Europe, Istanbul has attracted the attention of many international fashion sourcing offices, trading companies, and major retailers and department stores. Since Istanbul became a commercial and fashion center, most manufacturers have moved production facilities to inner regions. Izmir, Bursa, Ankara, Denizli, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Tekirdag, Adiyaman, Kahramanmaras and Adana are now the main cities for the production of knitted and crocheted garments.

Carpets & Kilims (Rugs)

The history of carpets dates back to the 3rd and 2nd Centuries BC. They were introduced to world civilization by Turks as a decoration item for walls and floors, the earliest samples of which have been found in Central Asia. This is an art form that the Turks discovered, developed, and introduced to the world as they traveled across vast regions. Since the mid-15th century, Turkish rugs have been highly praised in Europe and played an indispensable role in European social life, even depicted in the paintings of the time and regarded as a status symbol. Today, Turkish carpets and kilims from the Ottoman Empire are displayed in the most prestigious museums. Turkey continues the tradition of hand-made carpets and rugs with ornamental motifs and different weaving types, exporting them to a wide range of countries.

Rug textile Turkey manufacturers ET2C International sourcing

In the meantime, machine-made rugs and carpets are also not neglected. Their durability, colorfastness, anti-soiling finish, ease of cleaning, and antibacterial properties made Turkey one of the biggest suppliers in this sector. Manufacturers continue to introduce new trends, a variety of different types of carpets, innovative designs, and colors to the world market.

Footwear

The Turkish footwear industry has developed very quickly due to modern manufacturing techniques, quality raw materials, qualified workers, and high design capabilities. It has a powerful position among exporters of high-quality fashion goods. About 70% of the production volume of the sector is carried out in a semi-machine manufacturing process, and approximately 15% of the manufacturing is manual. In 2019, the production of Turkish shoes has reached more than 392 million pairs, including sneakers, boots, plastic shoes, and slippers. The production of military boots and work safety shoes has also considerably increased in recent years.

Today, the Turkish shoe industry has the ability to create its own brands and styles. The performance of the industry is highly dependent on exports, with the main markets being the Middle East & Europe.

Home Textiles

The Turkish home textile industry now plays an important role in world trade with its ability to meet the high-quality standards of all sophisticated consumers.
Nearly all types of home textiles are manufactured in Turkey: towels, bedsheets, bedspreads, curtains, blankets, pillows, quilts, cushions, eiderdowns, table linens, lace, and sleeping bags.

The largest quilt factory in Europe is located in Turkey. In addition, the industry has managed to reduce production costs below the world average while improving product quality and carrying the tradition from the past to the present.

home textiles sourcing Turkey ET2C Int Sourcing

To meet the demand for environmental protection within the international market, Turkey also provides traditional fabrics made from pure cotton or linen without the use of chemical dyes. At present, the Turkish home textiles industry has realized the growing demand for healthier and more environmentally friendly products in the international market and has rapidly adapted to the development of legal and technical regulations.

Leatherware

The history of the Turkish leather industry can be traced back to 500 years ago. The production of this sector is based on modern technology and historical background. Today, the industry has a worldwide reputation for its well-designed and stylish products.

Although initial efforts to modernize the leather industry began in the 1970s, significant progress on the real industrial scale began in the mid-1980s. In recent years, this field has shown rapid progress. Today, production meets international standards and environmentally friendly production policies are highly valued: around 90% of production is based on health and environmental standards.

Leatherware sourcing Turkey ET2C Int Sourcing

The technological advancement of this industry is vital to a highly competitive industry and is growing rapidly. Today, the Turkish leather industry exports its own leather. Now, the industry is beginning to pursue value-added and advantageous innovation, branding, and design.

Turkey’s leather garment industry produces the best quality leather garments for men and women. Most of the major companies in the industry are producing original collections under their own brands. The industry creates its own fashion using unmatched quality colors, patterns, manufacturing processes, and materials. Due to these characteristics of the industry, Turkish leather clothing products enjoy a high reputation and are appreciated all over the world.

Turkey Manufacturers – Our Network

Turkey manufacturers are well positioned to add to your supply chain across a broad range of categories – particularly when freight rates are so high. The Textile & Soft goods sectors are well established and provide a near sourcing option for UK and EU companies looking to source closer to their own markets.

At ET2C, we are well placed to help manage your sourcing needs across multiple markets with teams on the ground. For more information on how we can help you with your Turkey sourcing or for other markets, please contact us at contact@et2cint.com.

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