R. B. Pamplin Competition
Now Viewing R. B. Pamplin's competition in: Textile Manufacturing (primary)
Call Preparation Questions
Customers, Marketing, Pricing, Competition
What types of customers does the company sell to? - Apparel, carpeting, and homeware manufacturers are important categories of customers.
How many customers does the company sell to? - Some industries, like car seat manufacturers, are highly concentrated; others, like apparel and furniture manufacturers, have many customers.
Does the company have access to its own distribution channels? - If the company has its own retail chain, mail order catalog, department stores, or website, it controls more of its sales and marketing.
How does the company find new customers? - Personal contacts, sales representatives, and trade shows are major sources of business.
Does the company have strong competition from imports? - Imports are less a threat for textile manufacturers than for apparel makers, because customer service is an important part of sales.
What opportunities does the company see in special fabrics for military use? - The military is researching techniques to produce textiles containing fiber optics and electric wires for use in lightweight battlefield gear.
Competitive Landscape
Demand is driven by the domestic apparel industry and consumer demand for home furnishings like carpets, furniture, and curtains. The profitability of individual companies depends on efficient operations. Large companies have economies of scale in production for high-volume items. Small companies can compete successfully by producing specialized textiles. The industry has become more automated but is still labor-intensive: average annual revenue per employee is about $150,000.
Business Challenges
CRITICAL ISSUES
Declining Domestic Demand - US textile production has steadily decreased as demand from US apparel makers has dropped. Textile mill production decreased more than 25 percent since 1997, as US apparel manufacture dropped more than 50 percent since 1997.
Import Competition - From 2003 to 2008, imports of textile products increased about 25 percent. Textile imports from China increased 50 percent during the period.
Industries Where R. B. Pamplin Competes
- Industrial Manufacturing
- Textile Manufacturing(primary)
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Construction Materials
- Media
