Friday, January 13, 2006

New Year Offers New Information on THA Website: THA is continuing to update and re-format its website. Please note that the Winter ‘06 Legwear Runway Report and Consumer Fashion Tips sheets (PDF format) are now available. These informational tools are great to share with your retail customers and the consumer. Please visit www.hosieryassociation.com to see the latest happenings.

Hosiery In the News: THA members and president Sally Kay were interviewed this week by Tara Weiss of the Journal News ( White Plains, NY ).  According to Tara, her focus is on ladies hosiery products, styles, innovations and variety of price points available, the amount of options and flexibility our industry is offering to the consumer. The story is scheduled to run on Saturday, January 14, and the circulation is 130,000.

NC State University's 2006 Continuing Education Schedule: NCSU has published their 2006 schedule of continuing education courses. “Introduction to Nonwovens Products and Processing” will be held on February 6-8 and is an excellent opportunity for you to learn about the many types of nonwovens products and what processes are used to manufacture them. Nonwovens are a leading growth industry in the US with a worldwide growth rate exceeding 7%/annum. On February 6-10, “Textile Fundamentals” will be held and is one of the most popular core programs in NCSU's “Fundamental Series,” which will provide you with a comprehensive, in-depth study of the entire textile process from fiber formation through finishing. Most of the courses are held on NCSU's Centennial Campus. To view the entire 2006 schedule or if you are interested in registering for one of these courses, visit www.ContinuingEducation.NCSU.edu .

THA Issues Committee will meet next Tuesday, January 17 at THA's office. The Committee consists of the following: Committee Chairman, Bill Redding of Acme-McCrary Corporation; Bobby Cole of Prewett Associated Mills; Bruce Duncan of Sara Lee Hosiery; Eddie Ingle of Unifi; Bill Nichol of Kentucky Derby Hosiery; Kevin Toomey of Golden Lady/Kayser-Roth Corporation and Mark Zerona of Shogren Hosiery. All members are encouraged to share their views with any and/or all of these members.

CHA's Supplier Luncheon – “Going Global: Lessons Learned in International Logistics” will be held in Greensboro, NC at The Pepper Tree Inn on January 26. Join them for a complimentary lunch and an informative panel discussion, which will cover some key aspects of taking your business international. The panelists include: Dana Hicks, International Business Development Consultant; Marion Jones, Vice President of Sun Trust Bank; and Ron Reighter, Vice President of CV International. Registration will begin at 11:15 a.m., Lunch at 11:30 a.m., Panel Discussion at 12:00 p.m. with a Question & Answer Session at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). To register, email Mike Austell at mike.austell@hosieryassociation.com .

2006 Seattle Trend Show – Show dates for 2006 have been released for the Seattle Trend Shows. This show is a regional tradeshow for the Pacific Northwest, featuring women's, children's and men's apparel and accessories. For 65 years this show has served independent retailers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia. The shows will be held at the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle, Washington . Dates are as follows: January 27-30, March 31-April 3, June 10-12, August 5-7 and October (TBD). For more information about this show, contact Patricia Hodges, Executive Director, Pacific Northwest Apparel Association: T – 206-767-9200, F – 206-767-0707, E – pnaa@earthlink.net , W – www.seattletrendshow.com .

Join THA for NAM's Washington Fly In: As a member of the National Association of Manufacturers' Council of Manufacturing Associations, THA will be participating in this event on February 7-8. If you are interested in joining staff to meet with your peers and respective Congressmen and Senators, please contact Sally Kay at 704-365-0913, ext. 212 or email sally.kay@hosieryassociation.com for further details on how you can participate.

*UPDATE: The AL Chapter Luncheon schedule for 2006 has changed slightly. There will not be a luncheon on January 19 as originally published. The first AL Chapter Luncheon will be held on Thursday, February 16 at the Western Sizzlin' in Fort Payne, AL . There will not be a meeting in March, but instead they will meet on April 20. Their monthly meetings begin at 11:00 a.m. (Central time). A complete listing of the luncheons is available on THA's website under the “Important Dates / Calendar” links ( www.hosieryassociation.com ). For additional information regarding these, contact Jody Goggans, Program Chairman, at jgoggans@prewettmills.com or call Mike Austell at 704-365-0913 Ext 204.

Speed To Market: Allowing Innovation to Drive Your Future is the theme for THA's Marketing Conference - March 13–14, 2006 at the Charlotte Marriott Executive Park: Guest speakers include Robin Lewis, a strategic analyst and consultant, specializing in identifying opportunities and developing growth strategies in marketing, brand positioning and distribution primarily on the branded apparel and retail industries. He also writes and publishes the monthly Robin Reports. Bill D'Arienzo (WDA Associates) whose primary interest is to protect the integrity of the brands they manage and communicate that intrinsic value to consumers. Molly Barker, founder of Girls on the Run International, a global program that instills healthy physical and mental principles for girls in grades 3 – 8. Molly was recognized as Charlotte 2004 Woman of the Year and is featured in the current issue of O Magazine. Registration information will soon be available. For further event details, contact Sally Kay at 704.365-0913, ext. or email sally.kay@hosieryassociation.com .

THA's 101st Annual Convention – April 27-30 – The Mulberry Inn, Savannah, GA: Now posted on THA's website ( www.hosieryassociation.com ) are the Schedule at a Glance, Program Agenda, Speaker Biographies and a link for making Hotel reservations online. Hotel reservations can also be made by calling The Mulberry Inn directly at 877-468-1200 and specifying the “THA room block.” Room rates are $169/night (single or double). The DEADLINE for making room reservations is Monday, March 27 . So make your hotel reservations now to ensure that you get THA's special convention rate. Information on how to register for the convention will also soon be available. Scott Quesenberry, new Chief Textile Negotiator for USTR, and James “Jim” Leonard , Deputy Assistant Secretary of Textiles, Apparel for the US Department of Commerce, have agreed to speak on Friday morning, April 28, during the Global/Political Overview session. Other guest speakers include Marshal Cohen of the NPD Group and Dr. Nancy Cassill of North Carolina State Univiersity. Stay tuned for additional information as it is updated.

Limited Number of 2006 CHA Luncheon Sponsorship opportunities are still available. If your company is interested in sponsoring any of the 2006 CHA luncheons, please contact Mike Austell at 704-365-0913 ext 204. Call early before all dates are taken.

Pocket Calendars Have Been Discontinued: Due to newer technology and financial constraints, THA no longer offers pocket calendars. If someone is interested in reinstating this service by becoming the pocket calendar sponsor, please contact Vicki Camp at the THA office, 704-365-0913, ext. 216 or email vicki.camp@hosieryassociation.com .

The Hosiery Association Centennial: In Step With The Industry For 100 Years – Copies of THA's centennial publication are still available . This is the only commemorative book that captures the Association's 100-year history of leaders, events, programs and services. Information on how to order is available on our web site. Requests to have the author, Sally Kay, sign your copy are also being taken via the order form. Visit www.hosieryassociation.com or contact THA staff at 704-365-0913 to obtain your history book order form.

The 2006 AATCC Technical Manual is Now Available in both print and CD-ROM formats. The Manual contains 115 test methods and eight evaluation procedures. The CD-ROM is in searchable PDF format. Some of the methods updated for 2006, featured in both the printed and CD products, include: TM-20-2005, Fiber Analysis: Qualitative; TM 20A-2005, Fiber Analysis: Quantitative; TM 22-2005, Water Repellency: Spray Test; and the TM 124-2005, Appearance of Fabrics after Repeated home Laundering. To order the manual in print version, specify Order No. 03006; and to order as a CD-ROM, specify Order No. 3006CD. Order by Telephone 919-549-3526 , Fax 919-549-8933, or Email orders@aatcc.org .

Off-Pricers Outpace Pack in Holiday Comps: Santa came late and left early, spending too little time at this year's Christmas party, leaving retailers holding the bag with largely lackluster sales—nothing like a disaster, but hardly what they'd been hoping for. Driving the point home, Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer and a bellwether of sorts for the entire retail sector, said December same-store sales in its core discount stores rose a slender 1.9%, at the low end of its forecast. Indeed, Wal-Mart's gain in the all-important Christmas season was far beneath the industry's 2.8% increase during the holiday season of 2004. With gasoline and heating oil prices still at high levels, antsy consumers held on tight to their wallets, making off-pricers the clear winners during the holiday season. Indeed, in Home Textiles Today's monthly ranking of sales at key retailers, the five strongest performers were all off-pricers, led by Costco, with a 7.0% increase in comps. Even that was less than stellar, coming in beneath the 9.0% increase put up a year ago. Ditto Sam's, whose 3.6% gain fell short of last year's 5.4%. Other off-pricers fell way short of the mark, placing among the month's biggest losers. Stein Mart same-store sales tumbled by 6.1%, a real downturn compared to 2004's 10.3% gain for the month. Department stores scored mostly middling results, led, surprisingly, by Gottschalks with a 3.7% uptick, a big improvement over flat sales a year ago. Federated sales advanced by 3.4%, improving on last year's 2.3% Christmas gain. Dillard sales rose 1.0%, as they had the prior year. Sales at JCPenney stores advanced by 2.2%, a 3.5 percentage-point climb above last year's 1.3% decline.

Yellow Roadway to Form Small Trucking Fleet in China: The world's largest trucking company Yellow Roadway Corporation plans to firstly form a small-sized trucking fleet intended for four to five US manufacturers or retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and The Home Depot, Inc. in China in 2006, disclosed Bill Zollars, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Yellow Roadway. Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer and Home Depot the world's largest home improvement retailer and the second largest retailer in the US. It means that Yellow Roadway is set to offer trucking services in China, which opened up its logistics market on December 11, 2005. Industry analysts believe that it will put an impact upon the nation's patchwork trucking market. The fleet, Zollars said, will have 100 trucks at most. The company has not yet decided to acquire a Chinese trucking company or buy trucks to create the fleet. If the fleet ran well, the company would extend trucking services to other Chinese areas. So far, Wal-Mart and Home Depot have not had reliable trucking partners that transport goods to their distribution centers or ports from their factories in China. That just provides an opportunity for the company, Zollars explained further. Yellow Roadway has established operations in some major Chinese ports such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Qingdao. Guangzhou is a southern city in China, Shanghai is the largest port in Eastern China, and Tianjin and Qingdao are located in Northern China. Yellow Roadway has determined to make a foray into China, where none of local trucking companies have more than 200 trucks on average. Under this situation, Yellow Roadway is expected to be able to establish a wide service network throughout China.

Exports to EU will Enjoy Less Duty: Humayun: Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan on Saturday said that the generalized system of preferences was operative now and all exportable items to Europe would attract 3.5 points less duty, whereas duty on textile and apparel would be subjected to a reduction of 20 points. Addressing members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and later talking to reporters, he said the reduced tariff would be operative till 2008. He also deliberated upon the achievements in regard to the WTO, Doha talks, Safta and FTA. He said Safta’s committee of experts had met six times and discussed the technical assistance to the least developed countries (LDC) that had already come into force, whereas the rest of sections would be operative by June this year. Responding to a query pertaining to the measures taken by India in this regard, the commerce minister said the cut-off date for India would be July this year and the Indian side on the subject had so far taken no step. He showed keen interest in starting negotiations with Bangladesh on free trade agreement, saying that Pakistan was keen to increase bilateral trade and extend concessions for the mutual benefit of the two countries. “We don’t want to hurt the interests of Bangladesh,” he asserted. Talking about the recent Hong Kong round of WTO, he said that Pakistan took stance that increased accessibility to the LDC should not be done at the expense of developing countries. The developed nations, which agreed to increase the present 97% accessibility to 100% this year, should do at their own expense, by compensating the affected developing countries. Mr Khan said that Pakistan had asked the rich countries to lower subsidies on agricultural products. He maintained that the European Union would eliminate most of the farm subsidies by 2010, but absolute end to the subsidies would be done in 2013. However, he said the subsidy on cotton would go in 2006. About exports to the US, the commerce minister said that Pakistani goods attract 10.5% duties in America whereas it had reduced the duty for developed nations. However, he said the duty hopefully would drastically be brought down after the Doha round.

SBP Urged to Cut Refinance Rate: Exporters have urged new State Bank Governor Dr. Shamshad Akhtar to immediately reduce interest and mark-up rates, particularly export refinance rates, to lower the cost of exportable goods which are facing tough competition under the WTO quota-free regime. “The first and foremost task of the new governor should be to bring down the export refinance rates which have risen to nine per cent from three per cent in a short period of one year,” business leaders from export trade bodies asserted while talking to Dawn. Dr. Shamshad, who assumed as the 14th and first woman governor of the SBP on Monday, was urged to focus on mark-up rates which are making all sorts of investments, including post-shipment credits, costlier.

Baby Socks With Rattles: Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has proposed to revoke several rulings that relate to baby socks with attached rattles. CBP had previously classified the garments as toys in Chapter 95, which are duty free and not subject to quota. CBP has now revoked the previous rulings and the articles are now classified as socks in Chapters 61 & 62. The action is effective for merchandise imported or withdrawn from warehouse on or after March 5, 2006. Such articles made in China will now be subject to quota.

Bush Signs U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Act into Law: President Bush recently signed the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act into law, opening the way for tariff-free bilateral trade in all industrial and consumer goods and creating new opportunities for trade in services and agricultural goods. White House press secretary Scott McClellan hailed the new agreement as a significant step toward Bush’s goal of creating a Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA) by 2013. U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman welcomed Bush’s signing of the U.S.-Bahrain agreement and said the growth of trade would bring greater stability and economic opportunity to the Middle East. The U.S. and Bahrain governments signed the agreement on September 14, 2004, and the United States Congress approved the agreement in December 2005.

President Notifies Congress of Intent to Sign Peru FTA: President Bush recently notified Congress of its intent to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Peru, even though FTA negotiations with the other Andean countries of Colombia and Peru have yet to be concluded. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) had written a letter to US Trade Representative (USTR) Rob Portman on December 22 asking the Administration to formally notify Congress of the Peru FTA as soon as possible in order to “ensure timely congressional consideration” of the agreement in 2006. Under trade promotion authority (TPA), which is set to expire on June 30, 2007, the Administration must notify Congress of its intention to enter into an FTA at least 90 calendar days before doing so.

The contents printed in this document are informational in nature. They are gathered from various industry sources and do not necessarily reflect the views and/or actions of THA.

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