Good Day Partners With Payless Expanding Product Categories Into PPE

MIAMI — October 27, 2020 — Good Day is excited to announce today its partnership with Payless, the footwear retailer with a 60-plus-year heritage, to provide high quality masks that are made in the USA as part of the brand’s return to the U.S. market with an extended product offering across apparel, accessories, and footwear.

Good Day is a small business known for designing and producing high quality products that are made in the USA. Together with Payless, the new partnership allows Good Day not only to expand its reach, but also introduce a new category to the Payless shopper, with the style and value they already know and love. Kicking off during these challenging times, the partnership gives way to the importance of quality apparel that addresses the culturally relevant causes today’s consumers face, offering a product they can feel good about purchasing and wearing.

“At Payless, we’ve always put our customer first and at the heart of everything we do,” said Matt Lafone, COO at Payless. “In unprecedented times like these, we are privileged to have had the opportunity to return to the North American market with new product categories, and are excited to offer our US consumers effective and affordable PPE products, made right here in the USA, at a time when value couldn’t be more important.”

Offering an array of masks for both adults and children, families across America can shop the Good Day Mask collection available in various styles, prints and colors for $7.99 a piece on Payless.com.

“By partnering with small businesses like us at Good Day, Payless is showcasing their commitment to quality and bringing new, exciting products to their customers,” said Jennifer Song, president of Good Day. “Our shared vision for charitable giving is what really cemented our partnership. We are proud we have been able to provide thousands of masks through their Powered by Payless initiative, which donated devices, shoes, meals and masks to schools across the country for the 2020/2021 year, and know it’s only the beginning of much more to come.”

Posted October 27, 2020

Source: Payless

FutureStitch Sets A New Environmental Standard In Manufacturing

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — October 27, 2020 — FutureStitch Inc. an Orange County-based textile and technology company, announced its revolutionary manufacturing facility recently received the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification — the USGBC’s highest LEED designation and the highest score among sock and knitwear manufacturers in the world.

As a leader in circular-knitting technology and material innovation, FutureStitch is a manufacturing and licensing partner committed to the people and communities that help make their world-class products, and now they have received the highest certification for creating a healthy, safe and environmentally friendly work environment.

“Since our founding, FutureStitch has had an equal focus on producing high-quality products and raising global manufacturing standards,” said FutureStitch cofounder and CEO Taylor Shupe. “Addressing society’s most pressing issues — such as combatting climate change and providing meaningful employment with living wages — should be a primary goal for all manufacturing companies. Our Platinum LEED certification demonstrates that it is possible for any manufacturer to move beyond aspiration and take action to create a workplace that both engages employees and reduces its impact on the environment. We have set a new global standard for textile manufacturing, and we will continue to pioneer innovative, socially and environmentally responsible approaches as we look to build our first U.S.-based factory.”

FutureStitch is the first U.S.-based manufacturer in China to receive the LEED Platinum certification, which recognizes FutureStitch’s achievement in operating a healthier, more energy and resource-efficient building. The facility’s low environmental impact features include:

  • Low Impact Construction: The factory was built using a fraction of the concrete typically used to build manufacturing facilities, and, instead, is constructed with recycled, ultra-durable metals like aluminum alloys and steel.
  • Low Power Usage: 500,000 kilowatts (kWh) of power is saved annually through the use of efficient lighting, on-site solar heating, and maximized access to natural lighting, reducing annual carbon dioxide emissions by 498.5 tons.
  • Geothermal HVAC: A geothermal air conditioning system pumps cooled groundwater through the building, reducing energy costs and eliminating the need to use any ozone-depleting substances.
  • Air Quality: Fresh air is circulated throughout the factory, including the production workshops, to reduce carbon dioxide and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and maintain high air quality.
  • Low Water Usage: State-of-the-art chemical injection systems alleviate need for waste water. Products are finished using a dry-cleaning method instead of wet processes.
  • Green Transportation: More than 90% of employees commute through green travel.

FutureStitch’s 300,000-square-foot facility in China’s Zhejiang Province opened in October 2018. Through a combination of world-class technicians, advanced software and industry-leading machinery, the operation delivers speed-to-market and competitive pricing for its customers. Designed by world-renowned architect Zhang Lei, FutureStitch’s state-of-the-art facility is SA8000 compliant — the world’s leading social performance certification program focused on worker well-being — and includes a library, basketball court, gym, and 4,000-square-foot art gallery, reflecting FutureStitch’s commitment to providing its employees a place to live, learn, play, exercise, and relax.

“Greatness is in the details, and year over year, that’s where we find opportunities to innovate,” Taylor said. “We put a lot of care and attention into everything we do at FutureStitch; big and small. The LEED Platinum certification is a major milestone for our brand and it puts us on the path to becoming a top innovative manufacturer — not only in China but throughout the world.”

Posted October 27, 2020

Source: FutureStitch Inc.

Elevate Textiles Releases 2020 Sustainability Report

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — October 27, 2020 — Elevate Textiles, a global provider of advanced, high quality products and mission critical textile solutions, is excited to release its 2020 Sustainability Report. Elevate Textiles offers distinguished global textile brands including American & Efird (A&E), Burlington, Cone Denim, Gütermann and Safety Components. The report serves as the first corporate report for Elevate and the 10th annual report to include the A&E brand.

Within the report, Elevate outlines progress towards its 2025 Sustainability Goals, focused on sustainably sourced fibers, reduced water consumption and reduction in greenhouse gases. As Elevate’s first annual Communication on Progress for the UN Global Compact and CEO Water Mandate, 2020’s report shares the company’s performance against goals outlined within its environmental program, the Ten Threads of Sustainability.

“Our brands share a long-standing commitment to sustainability and a drive to accelerate our efforts to new heights,” said Sim Skinner, president and CEO of Elevate Textiles. “Elevate teams around the globe work every day to create and distribute premium, ethically and sustainably sourced products through excellence in innovation and responsible manufacturing practices. We are pleased to present Elevate’s first Sustainability Report and look forward to sharing our continued progress in our journey to lead meaningful change.”

Elevate outlines its progress and achievements in this report, including:

  • 7.7 percent reduction of absolute greenhouse gas from 2016 to 2019, meeting the corporate goal of 2.5 percent per year reduction;
  • 7.5 percent reduction of absolute global water consumption since 2016;
  • Increased water recycling by 65 percent since 2016 by implementing new wastewater technologies; and
  • Achieved 52 percent sustainably sourced cotton against its goal of 80 percent sustainably sourced by 2025.

“As part of Elevate’s dedication, we are actively engaged with our customers and suppliers to positively impact the people and natural environments associated with our operations and supply chain,” said Chief Sustainability Officer Jimmy Summers. “It is through the efforts of our 15,000 employees around the world that we are able to make continued progress and we are proud to highlight the work they do each day on the frontlines of sustainability.”

Summers added, “We pledge to continue to be a good corporate citizen and one in which our customers and employees can be proud. We are committed to the principles of the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals, and to contributing towards many other efforts including the ZDHC Programme. We are excited to build on our current progress as we work towards achieving our 2025 sustainability goals.”

Posted October 27, 2020

Source: Elevate Textiles

Unifi Announces Strong Sequential Growth With First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results

GREENSBORO, N.C. — October 26, 2020 — Unifi Inc. today released operating results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 ended September 27, 2020.

First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Overview

  • Net sales were $141.5 million, a decrease of 21 percent year-over-year, but an increase of 64 percent sequentially compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
  • Revenues from REPREVE® Fiber products represented a quarterly record of 35 percent of net sales compared to 31 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2020.
  • Gross margin was 10.3 percent, an increase of 60 basis points year-over-year, despite the net sales decrease of 21 percent year-over-year.
  • Net income was $3.4 million, or $0.18 of diluted earnings per share (EPS).
  • Adjusted EBITDA1 was $9.1 million.
  • Operating cash flows were $7.9 million, continuing the momentum from fiscal 2020.
  • On September 27, 2020, debt principal was $95.4 million while cash and cash equivalents were $78.1 million, resulting in Net Debt1 of $17.3 million, a reduction from $23.6 million at June 28, 2020, and a record low level for the company in more than 20 years.
  • During October 2020, the company completed a strategic acquisition of the air-jet texturing assets of Texturing Service LLC (TSI) to enhance and expand the company’s existing textured yarn capabilities; financial terms were not disclosed and did not impact first quarter fiscal 2021.

Eddie Ingle, CEO of Unifi, said, “Our first quarter of fiscal 2021 results were better than anticipated and demonstrated the resilience of our business and the agility of our global model. We experienced sequential improvement in revenue during each month of the quarter and the pace of our recovery has been reassuring. We also achieved an expansion of gross margin by 60 basis points year-over-year, which was quite an achievement given ongoing pandemic-related volume pressures. Interest in our sustainable solutions remains high, as exemplified by REPREVE Fibers reaching 35 percent of our net sales. In the quarters ahead, our team will remain intently focused on the customer experience, driving new and innovative sustainable solutions, and returning to long-term growth. I am confident that our diverse global operations, strong management team, and solid financial position will enable us to regain our momentum throughout fiscal 2021.”

First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Compared to First Quarter Fiscal 2020

Net sales were $141.5 million, compared to $179.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2020. The decline was primarily the result of overall lower global demand, lower selling prices in connection with lower raw material costs, and unfavorable foreign currency translation. The decline was partially offset by volume growth in Brazil due to the operation’s strength and ability to quickly respond to pandemic-related demand fluctuations. Net sales exhibited sequential monthly increases, driving a 64% increase over the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.

Gross profit decreased to $14.6 million from $17.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, primarily due to the expected lower sales and production volumes in the U.S. However, gross margin increased to 10.3 percent, compared to 9.7 percent, driven by improvements in both Asia and Brazil.

Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was $2.9 million, compared to $6.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2020, primarily due to the pandemic impact on U.S. gross profit.

Net income was $3.4 million, or $0.18 per share, and included a $1.2 million income tax benefit resulting from a $2.7 million net benefit in connection with recently passed high-tax exception rules. Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2020 was $3.7 million, or $0.20 per share, and was adversely impacted by a $1.2 million loss from a minority interest investment the company sold in April 2020.

Net Debt was $17.3 million on September 27, 2020, compared to $88.3 million on September 29, 2019. Cash and cash equivalents increased to $78.1 million on September 27, 2020, up from $34.1 million on September 29, 2019. The favorable cash and liquidity positions benefited from the $60.0 million sale proceeds of a minority interest investment the company sold in April 2020 and continued diligence around lowering working capital and capital expenditures.

Acquisition of TSI Assets

During October 2020, the company completed the acquisition of TSI’s air-jet texturing assets located in Virginia. Financial terms were not disclosed. Customers and production activity will transition to the company’s polyester segment operations in North Carolina during the second quarter of fiscal 2021.

Fiscal 2021 Outlook

For fiscal 2021, assuming no further significant disruptions to global markets or further adverse impacts from COVID-19, the Company notes and expects the following:

  • The initial recovery in net sales and profitability in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 appears consistent with the improvements in the apparel industry, in spite of the lingering challenges of COVID-19;
  • Entering the second quarter of fiscal 2021, net sales trends are encouraging and are expected to continue to improve; should these trends remain, growth in profitability is expected to follow at commensurate rates, considering any routine seasonal net sales and expense items;
  • Sales of REPREVE® and value-added products are expected to continue recent growth rates and increase as a percentage of net sales; and
  • $22.0 to $25.0 million of capital expenditures are expected for fiscal 2021.

First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Earnings Conference Call

The Company will provide additional commentary regarding its first quarter fiscal 2021 results and other developments during its earnings conference call on October 27, 2020, at 8:30 a.m.

1 Adjusted EBITDA and Net Debt are non-GAAP financial measures. The schedules included in this press release reconcile each non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

Posted October 26, 2020

Source: Unifi Inc.

Great News For Texas Hemp Farmers And CBD Manufacturers Navigating Texas’ New Legislation

AUSTIN, Texas — October 26, 2020 — Santé Laboratories has entered into a monumental alliance with Lone Star Overnight (LSO) to provide free shipping from anywhere in the state of Texas right to the laboratory’s doorstep in Austin. This partnership provides a more affordable and reliable pathway for farmers throughout Texas who are muddling their way through the first year of cultivating hemp, filled with new challenges, due to the necessary regulations.

The alliance is transformative for the state’s hemp farmers, whose numbers are expected to grow from less than 1,000 to 12,000 over the next two years. The current process for growing and testing a hemp crop requires a number of applications and fees. Examples of fees would be the application to sample and transport the material, a sampler fee, and high-quality testing fees. While these fees are necessary, farmers are feeling them close to home: in 2016, 62 percent of farms in Texas grossed less than $10,000.

The collaboration between LSO and Santé Laboratories brings light to the end of the tunnel, providing a break in shipping fees and ensuring that samples will arrive at the laboratory within the 15-day window to receive results for official Texas Department of Agriculture testing. Issues with other shipping agencies pose potential delays in laboratories, causing crops to be held in limbo for an unknown amount of time.

LSO will pick up samples from more than 900 zip codes; Santé Laboratories will also create drop-off boxes throughout the state. Mylar bags will be made available to farmers and samplers to protect the freshness and moisture content of samples and contain any odor.

The agreement with LSO is not exclusive to hemp farmers. LSO has also agreed to provide direct-to-lab transportation for the up to 7,500 Texas establishments that need testing documentation to sell CBD products retail in the state. Santé Laboratories is the only lab that has accredited services that meet the Texas requirements for hemp testing including heavy metals and THC levels.

Keeping it Texas Strong 
”Santé Laboratories is always looking for ways to provide the ultimate customer experience. We know that providing high quality laboratory services is only brushing the surface of what Texas farmers need to be successful. This partnership will support Texas farmers and the Texas economy, keeping the business close to home,” Santé Laboratories President Mike Sandoval said of the agreement.

He added: “We are excited to help LSO build a hemp transportation program from the ground up. Together we will act to establish best-practices standards that will help the industry as it continues to grow.”

“We look forward to working alongside Santé Laboratories. This alliance resonated with us because we want to help this industry and Texas as a whole, succeed. LSO is proud to support Texans and farmers every single day to ensure their packages get to the right places for affordable prices,” says LSO President and CEO Richard Metzler. “Santé Labs has educated us on how the materials should be packaged and handled, as well as the pertinent legal and regulatory processes, to further ensure our service is of value to the farmers and Santé Lab.”

Texas Industrial Hemp Council Co-Chair Eloise Frischkorn, commented: “Santé Laboratories is bringing great science and great customer service to the hemp industry by supporting our local hemp cultivators. The future is bright when Texan companies come together to support a new industry that produces both CBD products and industrial items such as textiles and building materials. We look forward to collaborating with Santé and its partners to educate and elevate the industry, so that Texas becomes a successful model for others to follow.”

This is the best solution 
Santé Laboratories is a contract development manufacturing organization in Austin, Texas, that serves the hemp industry from seed to shelf. “As the first laboratory to test an official hemp sample for the Texas Department of Agriculture and the first hemp laboratory in Texas to be ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited and offer the most inclusive scope of accreditation in the State of Texas, Santé Labs has rooted itself in Texas and looks forward to seeing the hemp industry grow,” Sandoval said.

“The quality of data we are providing in conjunction with our LSO partnership could mean the difference between saving or losing an entire crop. With this agreement, we are enabling farmers to focus on operational complexities and minimizing the risk to their samples.”

Posted October 26, 2020

Source: Santé Laboratories

Virginia Governor Announces New Furniture Manufacturing Operation In Pittsylvania County

RICHMOND, Va.— October 26, 2020 — Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Ison Furniture Manufacturing Inc., a North Carolina-based furniture manufacturer, will invest $3.5 million to acquire and renovate the recently closed A.C. Furniture Co. Inc. facility in Pittsylvania County. The company will also purchase new equipment for the assembly and full production of its upholstered furniture products. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project, which will create 150 new jobs. The company’s supplier, Dogwood Global LLC, will locate to a vacant 30,000-square-foot building onsite, investing $500,000 in new equipment and adding 45 new jobs to manufacture high-end wood tables and custom furniture frames that will be upholstered by Ison Furniture.

“We are pleased to welcome Ison Furniture Manufacturing and Dogwood Global to Southern Virginia,” said Governor Northam. “Manufacturing is an important pillar of many communities across our Commonwealth and is key to rebuilding our economy in the wake of the ongoing global pandemic. The region’s strong history with textiles and furniture combined with the caliber of the existing upholstery and furniture-building workforce makes this project a natural fit for Pittsylvania County, and we look forward to the future success of this new operation.”

Ison Furniture Manufacturing produces contemporary furniture for consumer and hospitality markets. The company has two facilities in North Carolina, and the new operation represents its first in Virginia. The former A.C. Furniture Co. in Pittsylvania County operated from 1977 to March 2020 and developed a strong textiles and furniture workforce in the region. As part of the project, Ison will also utilize excess upholstery and sewing capacity at the facility to manufacture personal protective equipment products to support the local COVID-19 response.

“Ison Furniture’s decision to establish its newest furniture production operation in Pittsylvania County is great news for Southern Virginia, and it demonstrates the infrastructure and workforce advantages that continue to attract high-quality manufacturers,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “We thank Ison and supplier Dogwood Global for creating valuable job opportunities, and we are confident the region will deliver a sustainable talent pipeline to facilitate the growth of both companies.”

“Ison Furniture Manufacturing, Inc. is excited to become part of the historic Virginia furniture industry,” said Akira Ison, president of Ison Furntiure Manufacturing. “Southern Virginia is known for having some of the finest furniture craftsmen in the country, and Virginia has led the way in providing a foundation for businesses and employees to grow and prosper together. Local and state government embraced our concept of designing a COVID-conscious facility, and our family-owned business looks forward to helping over 150 employees prosper and take care of their families.”

“Our initial plan was to open the factory in North Carolina, but Virginia was far and away a better option,” said Rodney Terry, vice president of Business Development for Dogwood Global, LLC. “The economic environment Virginia has built over the years gave us the confidence that our financial investment would be secure. We told the economic development group that we had contracts we had to fill, and the speed moved on this project blew us away. Virginia is ready for business.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Pittsylvania County, the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance, and the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $186,500 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Pittsylvania County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission approved $86,500 from the Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund (TROF). Funding and services to support Ison Furniture’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission also approved $23,500 from TROF for Dogwood Global, LLC.

“This announcement is yet another demonstration of the excellence of Pittsylvania County’s workforce and the effectiveness of our efforts to bring high-quality manufacturing jobs to our locality and region,” said Bob Warren, chairman of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors. “We are thankful that Ison Furniture, as well as Dogwood Global, LLC, have decided to expand into Pittsylvania County, and we are excited to see the positive and long-term impacts for our citizens that come from this project.”

“The fact that our region successfully competed for this project demonstrates that the investments we have made to ensure that Southern Virginia is a great place to do business are paying off,” said Tobacco Commission member Dr. Alexis Ehrhardt. “We have a skilled workforce ready to start on day one, and I look forward to seeing Ison Furniture begin the hiring process.”

“I am delighted that Ison has chosen to come to our area,” said Senator Frank Ruff. “I have no doubt that they will find good, hardworking employees and a welcoming community.”

“Our region and the Axton location are a great match for Ison Furniture,” said Delegate Danny Marshall. “The manufacturing space, the trained and experienced furniture-building workforce, and the community enthusiasm are already here. We welcome Ison Furniture’s investment in our community and the 150 jobs it will bring. We thank the leadership of Ison Furniture for selecting our area and wish the company great success here.”

Posted October 26, 2020

Source: Virginia Office of the Governor

Industrial Textile Manufacturer Texwipe To Invest $4.5 Million In Mount Airy, N.C.

RALEIGH, N.C. — October 26, 2020 — Texwipe, a global manufacturer of contamination control supplies, will create 33 new jobs in Surry County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $4.5 million to locate a manufacturing facility in Mount Airy.

“Our state’s economy continues to grow, despite public health and economic challenges,” said Governor Cooper. “Companies like Texwipe choose to grow in North Carolina’s because of our talented workforce and our state’s strong management of the pandemic.”

Texwipe has been headquartered in Kernersville, N.C., since 1991. The manufacturer is an innovative leader in contamination control supplies and critical cleaning products for life sciences, semiconductor, and other industries requiring critical manufacturing environments.

“We are thankful for the support from the City of Mount Airy, Surry County, and the State of North Carolina, and look forward to our expansion and the new career opportunities it will bring to the community,” said Luke Grant, Business Unit manager of Texwipe.

“Texwipe is an important part of our life sciences supply chain, and the company’s expansion brings exciting benefits on several levels,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland. “North Carolina’s many advantages as a business destination support the success of innovation-minded manufacturers as they embrace expanded market opportunities.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led a team of partners in supporting Texwipe’s decision to expand their manufacturing footprint in North Carolina. The new positions include production, maintenance and managerial staff. The average annual salary for all new positions will vary creating a payroll impact of more than $1.2 million per year. Surry County’s overall average annual wage is $37,222.

A performance-based grant of $75,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help facilitate Texwipe’s expansion. The One NC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in the project include the North Carolina Community College System, Surry Community College, Surry County, Surry County Economic Development Partnership, City of Mount Airy, and Duke Energy.

Posted October 26, 2020

Source: North Carolina Office of the Governor

Oracle Retail Survey: Will Holidays Be Naughty Or Nice For Retailers? Consumers Dish On Shopping Plans

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. — October 26, 2020 — While the pandemic has caused a surge in online shopping, a new Oracle Retail survey shows that many customers are ready to venture back into stores this holiday season. Nearly 20% of shoppers surveyed plan to do most of their shopping in-store with 47% planning to split purchases between online and brick-and-mortar shops. Still another 16% plan to make it as close as the parking lot, opting to retrieve orders curbside. And, despite the challenging year, 58% of consumers expect to spend the same or more on holiday shopping than they did last year.

Customers don’t, however, want to deal with the hassle of returns. While last year, 77% of consumers planned to make at least one return, this year that number dropped to 38%.

“The holidays promise to test a retailer’s ability to serve customers how and where they want to shop,” said Mike Webster, senior vice president and general manager, Oracle Retail. “With customers shopping both online and in-store, and taking advantage of new retrieval options such as curbside pick-up and ‘buy online pick up in-store,’ retailers are going to have to be firing on all cylinders to meet customer expectations in an already difficult environment.”

The survey polled 5,143 consumers in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, France, Germany and the United Arab Emirates in September 2020 about their COVID-19 shopping habits and plans for holiday shopping. Unwrap your complimentary copy of the report here.

Holiday gift list

With travel limited and a desire to avoid returns, it was no surprise to see gift cards as a top holiday gift this year. Here is what consumers said they plan to spend more on this year:

  • 39% – of shoppers plan to spend more on apparel and necessities
  • 29% – electronics
  • 27% – gift cards
  • 19% – sporting goods/hobbies
  • 15% – luxury items (handbags, fashion, and jewelry)

“With more consumers avoiding returns, redeeming gift cards will be the next big opportunity for retailers to engage customers and extend sales post-holiday,” noted Webster.

Out of stock, out of luck

A lack of inventory will be the fastest way for retailers to end up on this year’s naughty list.

  • 47% of respondents said out-of-stock merchandise topped their list for a bad shopping experience
  • 63% said they weren’t willing to wait for an item to be back in stock before trying another brand

“In the pandemic, many retailers’ in-store stock was depleted or completely sold out,” added Webster. “During the holidays it will be critical for retailers to fill the shelves and use their physical locations both to serve shoppers and as fulfillment centers to handle online orders and get shipments out to customers quickly.”

Malls live, but safety precautions and masks are crucial

While there has been much discussion about how indoor malls will fare in the pandemic, shoppers were mostly unconcerned about the location as long as the proper safety precautions were in place.

  • 18% of shoppers felt safest in an indoor mall; 24% in outdoor shopping venues; and 58% were fine with either with the proper safety precautions.
  • 79% said it was important to see staff and other customers wearing masks.
  • 82% said it was important to see visible cleaning efforts.
  • 66% of shoppers noted contactless checkout was important.
  • 76% noted reduced occupancy levels in stores as key.
  • 39% of shoppers also said a lack of social distancing would cause them to have a bad shopping experience.

Consumers get social with new brands

As consumers spent more time shopping online during COVID-19, the survey found that 48% had discovered new brands on social media. This is a clear signal to retailers that upping social advertising this holiday season could impact sales.

  • 65% of shoppers discovered a new brand via Facebook
  • 53% via Instagram
  • 49% via YouTube
  • 29% via TikTok

The delivery nightmare before Christmas

While retailers experiment with alternative retrieval options, home delivery is still the top choice amongst consumers. This could present a delivery nightmare as shipping times will naturally get extended due to volume. To ease anxiety, 73% of consumers said real-time updates on item location throughout the delivery process is important. Here’s how shoppers plan to retrieve online purchases:

  • 66% of respondents prefer home delivery.
  • 18% will buy online and pick up in-store (BOPIS).
  • 16% will buy online and pick up curbside.

“Every parent nervously waiting for their child’s holiday gift to arrive will attest that transparency from retailers is an absolute must,” noted Webster. “Brands have to have the systems in place to communicate with customers every step of the way – from ordering through to delivery.”

Moving from browser to buyer

When shopping online or in-store, consumers cited these reasons for moving from a browser to a buyer:

  • 55% a great price.
  • 49% special offers or discounts (such as buy one, get one free).
  • 25% immediate availability and fast shipping time.

Posted October 26, 2020

Source: Oracle

eCapital Corp. Names Charles Sheppard As COO

MIAMI — October 26, 2020 — eCapital Corp., a alternative finance provider in North America, today announced that Charles Sheppard, formerly president of the eCapital Freight Factoring Division, has been named COO of eCapital Corp. In this new role, Sheppard will oversee both the eCapital Freight Factoring and eCapital Commercial Finance divisions, ensuring the company has unified leadership and is well-equipped to continue to scale and further establish itself as a leader in alternative finance.

As COO, Sheppard will also lead the newly formed corporate-level Marketing and IT departments, enabling the company to build its best-in-class technology infrastructure and providing the marketing resources needed to create a world-class eCapital brand for investors and clients. As a founding shareholder of Accutrac (now eCapital), and with more than 25 years of senior management experience, Sheppard is well-equipped to build out eCapital’s operations as it grows into a leader providing alternative finance solutions across many industries including transportation, staffing, manufacturing, apparel and others.

“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Charles Sheppard to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer for eCapital Corp.,” said Marius Silvasan, CEO, eCapital. “With this move, the entire eCapital family will benefit from consolidated and highly focused leadership, allowing us to optimize operations and drive efficiencies across all divisions.”

Marius continued, “With the consolidation of the eCapital brand and acquisitions of several companies over the past four years including Accutrac, Bibby Financial Services, Gerber Finance, Inc., Paragon Financial Group, Prosperity Funding and the REV Finance Group factoring portfolio, there is a need for integration and unification within the company. Charles will execute on the vision of the company as we gain a stronger foothold in the commercial finance industry.”

“Over the past several years, our organization has been growing and evolving quite rapidly,” said Charles Shepard, chief operating officer of eCapital. “We are at a critical moment in the company’s history, and I am excited to take on this role. Centralizing eCapital’s Marketing and IT departments allows us to elevate our brand even further. We have the teams and the talent in place to take advantage of market opportunities ahead.”

Posted October 26, 2020

Source: eCapital Corp.

Soft-Tex International Expands Senior Leadership Team

WATERFORD, N.Y. — October 26, 2020 — Soft-Tex International, a producer of sleep and home comfort products, announced three additions to its senior leadership team — Vice President of IT and Administration Susan Kendall, Vice President of Commercialization Danielle Ignazzi, and Vice President of Quality Christine McKiernan — as well as the launch of a new continuous process improvement team.

“We’re thrilled to establish these extremely talented women in critical roles at Soft-Tex, each brings tremendous expertise and experience to further our growth as a leading innovator in the home product space,” said Mark Smiderle, Soft-Tex principal.

The new Senior Leadership team members include:

  • Susan Kendall, who has been promoted to vice president of IT and Administration and will lead critical operational processes, drive strategy and lead cross-functional initiatives for Soft-Tex’s technology stack with specific emphasis on MRP and production. Kendall has been a key contributor to Soft-Tex’s growth over her 18-year tenure, serving in a variety of management roles within the company. Prior to joining Soft-Tex, Kendall spent her career in retail and management.
  • Danielle Ignazzi, who has joined Soft-Tex as vice president of commercialization and will bring new products, brands and ideas to market. Ignazzi joins Soft-Tex after 5 years at Bed Bath & Beyond, recently working as the Buyer for Basic Bedding and previously served in merchandise and planning at The Children’s Place and Lord & Taylor. Ignazzi brings considerable retail knowledge and textile expertise to the Soft-Tex team. Ignazzi graduated from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
  • Christine McKiernan joins Soft-Tex as vice president of Quality leading Soft-Tex’s global quality assurance programs. McKiernan worked in quality assurance her entire career with deep expertise in food manufacturing and pharmaceuticals and joins Soft-Tex after a seven-year tenure at DSM, where she served as director of Quality for North America. McKiernan is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Launch of Continuous Process Improvement Team

Kendall, Ignazzi, and McKiernan will also lead the new Continuous Process Improvement team at Soft-Tex, designed to continually improve and streamline operations- accelerating the company’s growth and commercialization of new innovations.

Posted October 26, 2020

Source: Soft-Tex

1...1,0001,0011,002...2,671Page 1,001 of 2,671

Sponsors

Breaking News

Load more

Digital Issue

2026 Quarterly Issue III

View Latest Digital Issue

FEATURED ARTICLES

© Copyright 2017 Textile Industries Media Group, LLC.