TEXTILES.ORG
Dealing with difficult customers
June 1st, 2024
Image: Dreamstime.com/© Cagkan Sayin Every business at some point is forced to deal with difficult customers. Perhaps they are unhappy with the level of service, the product or a member of your team. Or maybe their expectations are just unrealistic. Understanding how to navigate challenging interactions, however, can turn a negative situation into a positive […]
Create internship programs to train and hire younger workers
June 1st, 2024
AFFOA has launched several efforts to attract young people to the textiles industry. One of these is the two-week Advanced Functional Fabrics Workshop where students conceptualize and create prototype solutions to address specific problems posed by companies involved in the program. Image: Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) While some organizations are still grappling with […]
Scaling your business
August 1st, 2021
The concept of scaling a business is not interchangeable with growing a business. Consider this scenario: You are experiencing exponential growth, revenues are up, work is pouring in the door and you decide to hire more people. You and your team work longer hours, but it is still not enough. Deadlines are missed, quality decreases, […]
Fabricators pivot, persevere and prosper
March 1st, 2021
24/7 Events helped create a safe outdoor dining space using a clearspan tent with custom lighting, turf, sanitation stations and distanced tables for a casual dining restaurant chain headquartered in Southern California. Photo: 24/7 Events. COVID-19 made an abrupt entrance in 2020, catching almost everyone off guard. It quickly became clear that waiting it out […]
Market watch: The specialty fabrics industry responds to COVID-19
May 1st, 2020
By Elisa Bernick, Sammi Jones, Jill C. Lafferty, Galynn Nordstrom, Rebecca J. Post and Janet Preus The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, with the textile industry playing a key role. Suppliers and end product manufacturers have pivoted at lightning speed to produce much-needed PPE for front-line medical workers. IFAI members are reaching […]
Management plans for innovation in process and product
June 1st, 2017
Centering business processes on continual improvement clears the path for innovative ideas to become innovative products. Every industry-changing product started as a great idea. But without an effective organizational structure in place, not every great idea has the opportunity to come to fruition. A good manager knows this. An innovative manager puts it into practice. […]