Profiles of 12 US Textile Companies

This report focuses on the performance and strategies of 12 US textile companies: Burlington Industries; Collins & Aikman; Cone Mills; Culp; Galey & Lord; Guilford Mills; Interface; Pillowtex; Shaw Industries; Springs Industries; Unifi; and WestPoint Stevens. Many of the USA?s major textile companies have suffered from high and rising levels of corporate debt. In a number of cases, this problem has arisen because of a perceived need by companies to grow by spending large sums on acquisitions. Many companies have also borrowed in order to fund capital investment, and to finance restructuring and rationalisation measures - in the hope that these measures would bear fruit in the long run.

Most of the major players have also been adversely affected by the market crises of 1997-98. As imports of textile products into the USA have risen, a number of domestic players have sought to reduce their cost bases by revamping and downsizing their domestic operations. Several have also acquired, or are developing, production facilities in lower cost countries such as Mexico. But many players have responded by leveraging their areas of technical competence in order to develop new textile products which are innovative, and which offer the potential for yielding higher added value and enhanced margins.

For most companies, the acquisition of other companies has been a sound strategic move. However, many acquisitions seem in retrospect to have been unwise, given the high levels of debt with which a number of companies have been burdened

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Six times a year, Textile Outlook International provides up to 200 pages of expert comment and analysis. A subscription provides an overview of the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. It is essential reading for senior executives in the fibre, textile and apparel industries ? and for anyone who is not involved in the industry, but needs to quickly gain an understanding of the key issues.
Reports in Textile Outlook International include:
	country profiles ? providing a comprehensive guide to the textile and clothing industries in a range of countries and regions. The reports include an economic and political profile together with a comprehensive overview of the main issues, plus an outlook for the future.
	company profiles ? giving you the opportunity to learn from strategies employed by others. Companies profiled recently include retailers, manufacturers, innovators and sourcing companies involved in textiles and apparel as well as smaller companies which illustrate the opportunities for firms which are interested in selected sourcing locations.
	trends in world textile and apparel trade and production ? taking into account current issues facing the industry ? such as global fibre prices; competition from China and other low cost countries; the elimination of quotas and imposition of selective new ones; relocation of production operations; the impact of economic factors affecting trade; international trade agreements; trade promotion agreements (TPAs); and much more.
	trends in EU and US imports of textiles and clothing ? providing comprehensive statistical data and analysis of the top ten supplying countries to the EU and US markets. These reports are updated each year and contain value and volume data as well as average prices and analyses of trends for up to 15 product categories.
	innovations, technological developments, business development opportunities, individual sector analysis and political implications which affect players in the global fibre, textile and apparel industries. Some of the topics which have been covered in recent reports include: new innovations in the textile and clothing industry, such as environmentally friendly textiles, plant based fibres, and developments in textile colorants; innovations in textile machinery; and overviews of the European swimwear, hosiery and lingerie markets.
So whether you are involved in fibres, textiles or clothing ? in manufacturing, spinning, weaving, knitting, sewing, import/export, retailing ? or if you are in education or consultancy or investment or finance, a subscription to Textile Outlook International will tell you what you need to know about the key trends in the industry.
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