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STRATEGIES
2017
1 6 T O P I N D U S T R Y E X E C S W E I G H I N O N T H E S T A T E O F T H E M A R K E T
ith 10,000 retail stores projected to close this year, trade
agreements in flux, seasonal shifts occurring in buying and selling cycles and Amazon taking over the world of commerce, it's no
longer business as usual. Considering this chaotic state of affairs, we asked execs in the textile and active/outdoor industry to
take a breath and answer one question for our Executive Q &A: With so much distraction and uncertainty in today's business
world, what is your main focus in 2017? While performance innovation continues as a main driver in the active/outdoor
textiles market, building and maintaining strong brand partnerships, keeping a commitment to sustainability and re-thinking
out-dated business models are also emerging as key factors of corporate strategies for 2017. At a recent trade gathering the
keynote speaker highlighted the fact that despite the ripped-from-the-headlines, gloom and doom business reporting, "We
are all still wearing clothes." That sentiment is obvious here, with execs expressing an outlook founded on the universal
need for apparel, combined with solid business plans to provide quality products with modern marketing methods to
entice today's consumers. Here's what business leaders have to say about navigating the changing global landscape:
