(PRWEB) December 04, 2012
TradeCard and Sourcing Journal Online have published a report to help supply chain executives take advantage of sourcing locales in the Americas as they pursue strategic initiatives requiring faster turnaround and more reliable delivery of goods. The white paper explores opportunities and challenges that exist for retailers and brands seeking to diversify their sourcing portfolios and produce goods closer to home.
Click here to download the white paper, “Sourcing in Latin America: Strategies, Obstacles, and Opportunities” http://www.tradecard.com/a-guide-to-apparel-near-sourcing/
“Whether it is fast track calendars, retailers placing their orders later and later, duty free savings, or being able to keep a better eye on production, the Western Hemisphere has become a popular topic in the sourcing community. North American companies trying to emulate the fast fashion model of retailers like Spain’s Inditex and Sweden’s H&M, who keep a significant portion of their sourcing nearby in Europe, North Africa and Turkey, are looking to the Americas,” says Sourcing Journal founder Edward Hertzman.
Hertzman continued, “But like any country or region, there are advantages and challenges, and it is important that companies educate themselves before jumping on a trend. Executives sometimes believe a ‘country’ is to blame for their production and delivery problems, when the issues may be due to limited sourcing diversity or lack of order visibility and control. This paper is a great resource for people needing a primer on what ‘near sourcing’ in the Americas is all about.”
“We see strong growth in the Americas in the next three years as the global economy bounces back. Latin America is fast becoming a major sourcing destination for savvy brands and retailers based in the US and Canada,” said Patrick Lamson-Hall, Managing Editor of Sourcing Journal Online.
From 2009 to 2011, total volume of apparel, footwear, and household goods sourced to the United States from Latin America grew by 17%, while volume from China has stagnated and begun to fall in some categories.
“Brands and retailers are taking a holistic approach to sourcing and leveraging different regions to counter rising pressures from consumers, costs and trade regulations,” said Ted Barba, Vice President of Business Development for TradeCard in the Americas. “The quality of goods in the Americas, and the infrastructure to deliver these goods, has drastically improved in recent years. However, each country poses a series of opportunities and risks. It’s important to do your homework and have a clear understanding of how Latin America fits into your business strategy before making a major investment.”
About Sourcing Journal Online
Sourcing Journal is a global resource for news and information tailored for textile and soft goods executives working on the supply chain side of the business. We provide daily updates on news changing the industry, commentary and opinion from industry experts. We also craft collaborative white papers highlighting trends that are shaping the industry. Our twice-weekly email newsletter is full of insightful analysis and breaking news stories, along with commodity prices, international holidays, and data driven trade pieces. Sourcing Journal has over 45,000 subscribers, and can be found at http://www.sourcingjournalonline.com.
About TradeCard, Inc.
Since 1999, TradeCard, Inc. has transformed global supply chain collaboration by boosting visibility, cash flow and margins for over 10,000 brands, retailers, suppliers and service providers operating in 78 countries. TradeCard delivers a cloud-based network that enables complex, multi-enterprise sourcing transactions across multiple layers of the supply chain. More than 45,000 individual users leverage the TradeCard Platform to streamline transaction flows, from purchase order through production tracking, shipment and payment. Embedded financial services throughout the supply network reduce capital costs and minimize risk. Multi-enterprise collaboration on the platform delivers visibility into the movement of goods, from raw materials to the store shelf. TradeCard’s on-the-ground trade experts around the world allow entire supply networks to rapidly join and drive value through the platform.
The world’s leading retailers and brands, including Levi Strauss & Co., Columbia Sportswear, Guess and Rite Aid, leverage the TradeCard Platform and its member network for sourcing and global trade. TradeCard, Inc. is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul, Colombo and Ho Chi Minh City. TradeCard is located online at http://www.tradecard.com.
# # #
View the original article here
