Crystal Ball Gazing
Where Will Your Business Be In 2005?
   

Consultants Corner News Consulting

 

   

By:  Bruce S. Berton

There are so many variables in the business world today that it is mind boggling.

  • Will quotas be eliminated for textile/apparel on January 1, 2005?

  • Who will be the President of the United States of America?

  • If it is a new administration, will the Free Trade Agreements be changed drastically?

  • Will the consolidation of the retailers make it more difficult for new vendors to enter the marketplace?

  • Will the consolidation of the factors make credit more difficult to obtain?

  • Will the bilateral agreements allow us to export more of our product after January 1, 2005?

  • Will the delays of containers for security reasons cause havoc with chargebacks?

  • Will the new California minimum wage of $7.25 cause high costs of goods?

  • Will the worker's compensation program be further revised in time to save businesses?

  • Will the buyouts of very famous brands at all levels compromise consumer acceptance?

  • Will the California Labor Compliance Bill AB633 be monitored fairly?

  • Will interest rates start to rise and will the cost of money become an important variable?

  • What effect will the No Quota issue have on other countries economies?

  • What will be the true cost of goods if quota is eliminated?

  • How does one plan for the coming seasons?

  • Will the large U.S. manufacturers start concentrating and consolidating their offshore suppliers?

  • Will the new factories in China have high quality standards on which you can base your business?

  • Will the EU continue to apply penalty duties on apparel exporters?

  • Will you be able to finance your business as you did previously?

  • Will the insurance rates in all areas of business start to climb due to terrorism?

  • Will human resource harassment or equal pay situations be a litigation heaven for attorneys at the small business level?

  • Will the economy continue to be on the upswing?

  • How does one get the facts?

  • How does one plan and how far out?

  • What does one need to execute the plan?

  • What systems or infrastructure does one need to supervise the plans?

These are just a few questions that affect your textile/apparel business daily.

We don't have a crystal ball, but we do have over 100 years of experience in the textile/apparel industry. We can guide you and help you reach your goals and objectives. We have the Yankee Ingenuity and know how resulting from hands-on experience.

However, as the saying goes, we have the professional expertise to guide you to water, but we cannot make you drink.

It will have to be a team effort to set the priorities and implement the plans, knowing all of the risk factors, to enable you to survive and prosper in 2005.


Bruce S. Berton is a business and management consultant with Stonefield Josephson, Inc., a leading regional consulting and accounting firm with offices in Santa Monica, San Francisco, Walnut Creek and Mexico City. The information in this column is of a general nature.  Readers inquiries are welcome; and may be sent to Bruce Berton, at Stonefield Josephson, Inc., 2049 Century Park East Suite 400 Los Angeles, California 90067 310-432-7437 Direct
866-225-4511 Toll Free
310-432-7519 Fax Los Angeles
Orange County
San Francisco
East Bay Silicon Valley
Hong Kong, or send an e-mail to: 
bberton@sjaccounting.com

 

 

     
 


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