FW
Leading computerised knitting machine manufacturer Shima Seiki of Wakayama, Japan, is exhibiting at the 16th Dhaka International Textile & Garment Machinery Exhibition (DTG 2019) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in cooperation with its partner Pacific Associates. Operating in Bangladesh since 1996, this is the twelfth time the Japanese manufacturer will participate at DTG.
Shima Seiki will be exhibiting its latest solutions to meet the current needs of the Bangladeshi market, as well as advanced solutions for future market needs. The company will show a comprehensive line-up of Wholegarment knitting machines. MACH2X features four needle beds and Shima Seiki’s original SlideNeedle, capable of producing high-quality fine gauge Wholegarment knitwear in all needles.
MACH2S is a V-bed machine that offers the flexibility of producing Wholegarment knitwear using every other needle, as well as conventional shaped knitwear using all needles. SWG091N2 provides opportunities in Wholegarment knitting across a wide range of items in a compact, economical package. In conventional shaped knitting, SVR123SP and SVR093SP each feature a loop presser bed mounted above the rear needle bed and is capable of inlay technique for producing unique, value-added hybrid knit-weave fabrics.
Each also features such Shima Seiki innovations as DSCS Digital Stitch Control System, spring-type moveable sinker system, stitch presser, yarn gripper and cutter and takedown comb. “Made in Japan quality, reliability, productivity, user-friendliness and cost performance all combine to satisfy the high expectations of the world’s fashion industry,” the company reports.
SVR123SP at DTG features the new i-Plating option, capable of alternating yarn colours in any pattern, producing jacquardlike designs using plain jersey stitch. Plating can be performed within the same course and for individual needles for even greater diversity in knit design.
“Shima Seiki will also show its all-around strength as a textile machine manufacturer by displaying its P-CAM series computerized multiply cutting machine and prototype P-SPR2 automatic spreading machine as part of its Shima Cutting Solutions strategically developed for the Asian and South Asian markets.”
Also shown will be the SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system. At the core of Shima Seiki’s Total Fashion System concept, APEX3 integrates all stages of apparel production into one smooth and efficient workflow from planning and design to production and sales promotion. With ultrarealistic product simulations, APEX3 is also capable of Virtual Sampling that minimises time, material and cost from the sample-making process. Also demonstrated at DTG is Shima KnitPLM, specialised PLM software for the knitting industry.
Exhibition details
Date: 9-12 January 2019
Hours: 12:00 Noon 8:00PM (Final day 7:30PM)
Location: International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB), Kuril Bishwa Road (Next to 300ft. Purbachal Express Highway), Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
Tel: +880 2 58970100
Organiser: Chan Chao Int’l
Tel: +886 226596000
Booth No.: Hall 7, Booth 311
Exhibited technology:
MACH2X 15L / MACH2S 8G / SWG091N2 15G Wholegarment knitting machines
SVR123SP-SV 14G / SVR093SP-SV 14G computerised flat knitting machines
SDS-ONE APEX3 3D design system
P-CAM223SA computerised cutting machine
P-SPR2 (prototype) automatic spreading machine
Shima KnitPLM PLM software for knitting
Philadelphia, PA- Digital printing was introduced to the apparel industry 10 years ago but has struggled to supplant traditional silkscreening due to the high cost, low speed, and narrow fabric options. Ampro was a beta site for one of the largest digital printing technology firms 10 years ago, and has been following the technological improvements every year. With the knowledge that digital printing is likely to continue to become more popular, Ampro has been looking for digital printing equipment that can operate fast enough to compete with their high-end screenprinting presses.
“The Digital Squeegee is the first device entering the marketplace with the speed and quality we have been looking for. We’re extremely passionate about screenprinting as an art, but we recognize that digital printing is the future. Up until now, all the digital printing equipment was limited by speed, quality or reliability. They also were limited to printing on cotton only- no blended fabrics like CVC’s or triblends. As a hybrid printing technology, we are capturing the best of both worlds. We can utilize our superior, breathable, highly opaque screenprinting inks underneath the digital inks, so we can print on any fabric and guarantee the longevity of the print. The print should outlast the garment. This technology is extremely new; we will be one of only 9 printers in the nation with this equipment. We plan to put Philadelphia on the map as a Hybrid printing hub,” said Steph Shea, CEO of Ampro. “The Digital Squeegee is the fastest digital printer in the field, capable of printing over 1,000 t-shirts a day which is approaching the speed of our other commercial presses which can run upward of 4,000 t-shirts per day.”
Ampro is going to spend the months of January and February developing and refining their printing techniques on the Digital Squeegee before making it available to their clients. By Spring, they expect to be printing t-shirts and hoodies on new technology before rolling it out to additional items. Steph Shea notes, “We want to take some time to get comfortable with the new press- this technology is emergent and requires a fair amount of development. We’ll develop our own recipes for use before we run any production for customers. Our employees will receive all kinds of exciting new Ampro gear for wash and wear testing! If the print can survive the wash and use of a commercial print shop, it can survive anything.”
Check www.amprogo.com for updates on pricing and availability.
For more information about Ampro, contact the company here:
Ampro
Steph Shea
610-623-9000
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
30 Bunting Lane. Clifton Heights, PA 19018
Announcing the development plan for Asia in 2019, Kornit Digital has revealed its upcoming launch of a new industrial production printing solution and a new solution for dark polyester printing. Both introductions will make waves in the textile printing market and bring unprecedented opportunities for the growth of the Kornit digital printing business. Now is the best time for Kornit Digital to seek breakthroughs in the digital printing market and continue to expand its business, said Kornit Digital CEO Ronen Samuel foreseeing business growth strategy for Asia.
With his veteran printing technology expertise and in-depth understanding of the textile market and technology, Samuel will continue to bring significant value for Kornit Digital and lead the company to achieve a global market revenue of $500 million within five years. At a media session during his first Asia tour this year, he revealed the three key factors for Kornit Digital’s rapid development – ??the right timing, the right technology and the right company.
"The e-commerce market is growing rapidly. Statistics reveal that the e-commerce market grows by $100 billion per year between 2014 and 2020. By 2020, the volume of the e-commerce market will reach $410 billion. The e-commerce market is largely occupied by clothiers who rely on the digital printing solutions led by Kornit Digital for rapid development of online and offline linkage, which in turn also boosts Kornit Digital’s development," Samuel said.
Kornit Digital can shorten the original 3-month and 6-month delivery cycle to just 2 to 3 days. This not only meets the on-demand production requirements of small-batch personalised products at the same or even lower cost but also significantly reduces the pressure on stocks.
Samuel forecasts that efficient, environmentally friendly and automated digital printing is the solution of choice for manufacturers to enhance their own strengths. "The concept of environmental protection is embodied in Kornit Digital’s DNA. From non-hazardous water-based inks to energy-efficient equipment and raw materials to finished products, the whole process is eco-friendly which provides manufacturers with sustainable production means."
Equipped with adequate prerequisites, Kornit Digital can respond efficiently to market changes and production needs while gaining market share. Kornit Digital also applies the concept of the micro-factory to its roll-to-roll printing. By integrating the production processes, it turns roll-to-roll printing into 'roll-to-product' to form a complete supply chain which is leading the market revolution.
Kornit Digital's new HD printing was widely adopted since its launch last year - over 200 units of the related equipment have been shipped. This new technology solution could print several hundreds of products per hour providing customers with both speed and quantity answers they’re looking for. The cutting-edge solution catering for dark polyester printing will also go to market in April next year. With new inks and processes, the new solution is designed to break through the limitations of traditional and digital production methods on dark polyester fabrics, while improving the color-fastness. Samuel revealed that the new inks secure enhanced adhesion, better hand-feel and richer color gamut. They can be printed on a wider variety of fabrics. A new ink with metallic feel will follow next.
"We look at the entire Asia market with a long-term perspective and we look forward with great anticipation to the lifting of the veils in the Asia Pacific market," he concluded. (RR)
FESPA’s Textile Ambassador Debbie McKeegan discusses her experience at the Digital Textile Conference 2018 in North Carolina on 5th – 6th December. The event brought together industry experts and practitioners for an inspiring conversation.
The landscape of Digital printing is moving at an incredible pace. Driven primarily by the industries need for sustainable manufacturing across all market sectors. Digital technologies and Industry 4.0 practice offer the industry the roadmap for efficient manufacturing methods and our industry must adapt. Staying ahead of new developments as technologies emerge is critical for businesses large and small, worldwide.
The SGIA | AATCC Digital Textile Printing conference, which is now in its 3rd year, provides a forum for conversation, and was held in Raleigh, North Carolina on the 5th-6th of December 2018. Gathering Industry experts and practitioners together in one location for inspiring conversation….
The conference offers an insight into current and future technologies for manufacturers, and an explanation of current working practice and the changes needed, as we move towards automation and the consolidation of the supply chain.
Providing an insightful, inside track to technology and access to industry experts from both manufacturing and technology companies, the agenda provides an engaging, open forum and offers valuable use of our precious time.
Without question the most topical discussion was Sustainability, which was a consistent trend throughout many of the presentations. Talks from industry experts, manufacturers and software providers about how we manufacture our products regardless of industry sector sustainably, offered the audience an in depth, real time view into the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Customization has become the industries new normal and in order to manufacture efficiently we all need to adopt new working practices at every stage of a products lifecycle. Starting at the very beginning. We need to make products on demand, and in doing so we will become more sustainable. But what tools do you need?
Software, and PLM programmes offer a number of solutions and there can be no doubt that the supply chain has to become automated to be able to offer flexible, just in time manufacturing to Retailers and Print Buyers.
Manufacturing equipment too, must be digitized wherever possible. Choosing the right technology for your application is critical and the conference offered a number of informative presentations from some of the world’s leading digital print technology companies.
Alongside a number of presentations from Industry practitioners, who are utilizing digital solutions at the front line of manufacturing in order to rationalize their businesses and produce sustainably.
Re-shoring was also a hot topic, as many large Retailers look to speed up their supply chain to offer localized, efficient, and importantly cost-effective production. However, it was also apparent that there are challenges ahead, and the manufacturing industry needs to invest in training. The Micro-Factory offers a sustainable solution for print on demand however, in the USA as in the West, practical resources for sewing and processing are few and far between. Companies must train from within to re-build the technical, practical skills of manufacturing.
The next decade will be an exciting chapter of Innovation for the Textile Industry, as it flexes and transforms to meet the demands of the Millennial consumer. As our supply chain management moves online all software, suppliers, machinery, manufacturers and consumables must talk the same digital language if they are to be part of a seamless manufacturing ethos.
It’s an age of collaboration and reform and one that I’m sure will deliver incredible opportunities for our Industry in the years ahead….
Words of Industry Wisdom:
“Sixty-two percent of millennials prefer to buy sustainable products” Debbie McKeegan, Texintel
“The Future requires an end to end solution” J Flint Davis, WeaveUp
“Our industry focusses on the value of items Sold, to be sustainable we must define the hidden value of what we waste” Duncan Ross, AVA CAD CAM
“Ink-jet printing is expected to replace srceen printing as the main method of production by 2021” Ming Wang, North Carolina State University
“Higher resolution and smaller drops expand gamut and improve colour consistency” Mike Raymond, Xaar
”Ink Fastness is more important that gamut and brilliancy” Roland Zimmer, Zimmer Austria
“The Sustainable solution - Purchase Activated Production” Sharon Donovich, Kornit Digital
Digital ink development company Digital Ink Sciences has come up with DIS-250, a new ink formulation for Direct to Garment Printers and wide format Printers. This novelty is a Mid Viscosity ink formulation that is considered a breakthrough by industry insiders.
It requires lower maintenance and has better stability, jet, ability and nozzle integrity. The company also says that their inks 
means less printer downtime and more shirt printing with fewer issues.
“This new ink set is surpassing every expectation. We’re getting better colors, deeper blacks, and the custom ink formulation is significantly reducing maintenance on the print heads.” – Grant French, Business Development Manager, Digital Ink Sciences
The company focuses their products on final output not just by developing the best colours available for Aqueous Textile inks, but also by concentrating on what company calls the ‘Perfect drop’”, which means more of the ink lands on the shirt and less gets dispersed into the air, and onto unwanted areas.
The system helps the operators to print the fabric with lower resolution and faster without compromising print quality. Moreover the optimized drop shape of the ink helps the printer to hit the same spot on textiles over and over again.
Notably, the current models that supports the ink are Ricoh G4, Ricoh G5- with optimized waveform and Ricoh GH2220/2420 heads.
Qingdao Haijia Machinery Co. Ltd.founded in 1995, is the largest research and development, manufacture, sale and service professional jet loom manufacturer of China, which produced water jet loom taking the first market share for 8 years. Now the company has two standard production bases, the total area of 80,000 square meters, construction area of 40,000 square meters, has 8 advanced CNC machining centers, Nissan can produce 10 CNC lathes, more than 60 general machinery processing equipments such as vehicles, milling, drilling, a 200 meters automatically paint line, and more than 40 other auxiliary equipment. Company has more than 300 staff, 35 in management position. Since long time, company has always been adhering to "let quality create value for customers" as a core business purpose.
Through continuous exploration, efforts and providing customers with valuable advice, it pushed out HW3851, HW4008
, HW4010 series water jet loom, having advantage of stable performance, high efficiency, long service life, and widely sold in the world are well favored by customers. In recent years, company won the honorary titles, awards, recognitions and international standard quality management system certifications too.
Qingdao Haijia Machinery had arranged 3 weaving factories with medium size firms i.e. 1) Hong Ping Company, 2) Ling Shz Company, 3) Tran Taz Textile who are using Air jet technology for weaving with Haijia Machine which is fine demonstration of old technology to new technology of airjet. Company has arranged authentic Chinese Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian Lunch, everyone appreciated their hospitality.
We also met Distributor of Qingdao Haijia Machinery from India ie. Go Tex Machineries, incorporated by founder members Sandip Kedia and Ghanshyam Kukadiya, are the sole-selling agents of HAIJIA Waterjets & Airjets, Tayu Circular Knitting machines, KINGTEX Rapiers.
Go Tex Machineries have group company, called GOLDEN JD who also deals in multi head embroidery machines. It is also engaged in manufacturing top class embroidery thread with polyester, viscose & metallic yarn and created a brand image by providing consistent quality products.
Recently company have shifted to a new centrally located 6000 sq. ft. office with eye-catching interiors, audio-visual conference room, ample space for well-managed store room with a vision to serve all types of clientele as well and multiply their business exponentially in near future.
They have sold approximately 5000 sets waterjet looms & Airjet looms in India. Company have separate sales & service department, 20 persons team for the service for Machine Installation, Quality and Fabrics Settings with efficient team and 24 hours service. Vision of Directors came true after lot of hard work.
The challenges for the textile machinery industry are manifold with a view to 2019, according to Thomas Waldmann, Managing Director of the VDMA Textile Machinery Federation. “The political and economic framework conditions have deteriorated, incoming orders in important markets are difficult to predict,” he said.
“Markets that have so far been less in focus have to be observed and worked on more intensively. Digitalization requires the design of business processes and models. At the same time, the recruitment and retention of both academic and industrial junior staff is becoming a permanent task for companies.”
ITMA Asia 2018
The ITMA Asia was the most important marketing and sales event for the industry in 2018 – albeit in China in a demand environment that is currently declining in many segments. Nevertheless, in a VDMA survey, 74% of participants rated the number of visitors to their own stand as “satisfactory” to “very good”.
“The quality of the discussions held with visitors from outside China was assessed even more positively,” added Mr Waldmann. “Members took advantage of the VDMA offers for image promotion, networking and exchange, in particular, the press conference and the Association’s half-time results evening.”
ITMA 2019
ITMA 2019, which will take place from 20-26 June in Barcelona, Spain, will offer visitors an overview of the innovation diversity of the entire industry: In line with this goal, a group of experts led by the VDMA is developing the Research & Education Area initiated in 2007 into the ITMA Innovation Lab.
Four strategic topics for textile entrepreneurs will be addressed by prominent experts at the Speakers Corner. These will include:
Innovative Raw Materials & Manufacturing Technology
Strategic Business Innovation through Automation & Digitisation
Technical Textiles Innovations and Manufacturing Technology
Sustainable Textile & Garment Manufacturing in the Circular Economy
The ITMA Innovation Lab approach also includes exhibitors presenting their innovative technology in the virtual framework of the ITMA Innovation Video Showcase.
New talent
“In 2017, joint textile research was able to raise project funds amounting to millions of Euros. Eighty-two projects were started, 161 projects are running at German textile institutes. Textiles continue to be the frontrunners of industries carrying out joint industrial research,” continued Mr Waldmann.
“Recruitment of is a long runner. Competition from other technology sectors is fierce. In 2019, the VDMA’s Walter Reiners Foundation will continue the tried and tested instruments of recruiting young people, at the same time breaking new ground and developing answers with its member companies to the question of how engineers can be enthusiastic about I4.0 tasks in the industry.” At the ITMA in Barcelona, the VDMA will once again give students the opportunity to visit the leading trade fair as part of an excursion group.
In April, the creativity awards of the Foundation will be presented for the first time in a “young environment” at the recruiting fair MG ZIEHT AN - GO TEXTILE. This year, the awards ceremony of the Walter Reiners Foundation of the German Textile Machinery Industry took place in the Digital Capability Center in
Aachen.
"As the fashion industry moves towards size-inclusivity and sustainable practices, consumers are still facing issues with ‘one size fits all body types’. To cater to individual needs new made-to-measure business model will be the trend in future. Fashion brands are tailoring each garment to customer's size, body type and — in some cases — style preference. Businesses, such as Zozo and Red Thread, are using mobile technology to acquire a 3-D body scan for an accurately-sized garment, while others like Olivia Rose The Label -make their pieces, taking individual measurements and aesthetics into account."
As the fashion industry moves towards size-inclusivity and sustainable practices, consumers are still facing issues with ‘one size fits all body types’. To cater to individual needs new made-to-measure business model will be the trend in future. Fashion brands are tailoring each garment to customer's size, body type and — in some cases — style preference. Businesses, such as Zozo and Red Thread, are using mobile technology to acquire a 3-D body scan for an accurately-sized garment, while others like Olivia Rose The Label -make their pieces, taking individual measurements and aesthetics into account.
Home Fitting Box for new styles
Shoppers can use Sene's Home Fitting Box to try out three styles for five days; using feedback from a ‘Smart Size quiz that uses the consumer’s personal clothes for reference and a virtual fitting over videochat, Sene uses its integrated pattern technology to manufacture a correctly-sized garment.
A 3-D model for perfect measurements
Red Thread's garments are tailored to fit in San Francisco. A team of fit analysts design, tailor, measure, cut and sew the
garment to the customer's desired specification using Red Thread's mobile scanning technology, which creates a 3-D body model that supplies up to 15 key measurements.
Zozo system and app for custom-fitting of garments
Zozo, launched in November 2017 in Japan, uses the Zozo measurement system, which includes the Zozo Suit, to capture precise measurements of your unique body. Customers can also use the Zozo app to capture 12 photos — standing at each point on the face of a clock — to create a 3-D rendering that will get turned into a custom-fitting garment.
Responding rather than predicting
Eshakti responds to of-the-moment trends rather than anticipating what will be trending in three or six months. The results are off-the-rack styles that come in a wide array of fabrics and colors in sizes 0 through 36, as well as custom clothing, which requires Eshakti's specialised software to take customer measurements and create personalised garments.
Proprietary algorithm for well-fitting tops
Careste was launched in October 2018 with the goal of bringing luxury couture to every woman's wardrobe, as well as reducing the waste used by mass production and environmental problems caused by synthetic fabrics. Its debut pieces included five different top silhouettes made from select fabrics and colors that tie into the brand's current concept and inspiration. Its factory and tech team use a proprietary algorithm that converts key customer measurements into well-fitting tops.
Powered by 3-D imaging technology
Suit Kits's made-to-measure service is powered by the 3-D imaging technology on its website, which allows customers to see themselves in the suits in real time. Its app allows human tailors to record your measurements and link them to your profile.
Olivia Rose the Label
Launched in January 2017, the Olivia Rose label tailors each piece and every detail to the individual customer. Its designer makes every garment herself by hand which can take a few months and multiple samples to get a design perfect. She can accept around 25 to 30 orders per week, depending on the length of time it takes to make one item.
Turning pre-made clothing into customised garments
Launched in 2016, Hemster, an on-demand tailoring service offers customers the ability to resize their clothing without leaving their homes. The home-fit service is currently available in California and New York. Hemster is able to turn any pre-made clothing into customised garments, which allows the company to increase sales and lower returns for brands, while understanding each shopper's preferences better.
Thus, by utilising advanced technology and eliminating overstock, made-to-measure brands aim to not just to survive in the short term, but also pave the path for the industry’s future.
"Apparel retailers are embracing advanced analytics and blending intuition with science to regain control and price smarter. This has brought about a margin and sales lift of three to six percentage points for some companies. Pricing smarter requires understanding where customers perceive value and having the agility to respond to competitors’ moves with full insight into the impact on financial performance. Industry leaders are investing carefully in price and promotion, as well as leveraging insights from advanced analytics to make smart decisions."
Apparel retailers are embracing advanced analytics and blending intuition with science to regain control and price smarter. This has brought about a margin and sales lift of three to six percentage points for some companies. Pricing smarter requires understanding where customers perceive value and having the agility to respond to competitors’ moves with full insight into the impact on financial performance.
Industry leaders are investing carefully in price and promotion, as well as leveraging insights from advanced analytics to make smart decisions. This approach gives merchants clear, analytics-informed price for a style before they plan sales volumes and make inventory commitments. Such foresight can spell the difference between strong sell-through and piles of excess inventory later in the season.
Integrating technology for price-sensitive styles
New styles appear every season, often with little connection to products sold previously. As a result, products do not have a long sales history to analyse. Artificial intelligence can address these style-matching challenges more accurately and efficiently than merchants ever could. Integrating techniques such as computer vision, text mining, and machine learning can identify groups of styles that are likely to respond similarly to changes in price and promotions.
In many other industries, and even in some retail sectors, off-the-shelf models of price elasticity and responses to promotions
describe consumer behavior accurately. But the nuances of apparel—not least of which are seasonality and trends—require a more tailored approach.
Analytical approach to determine preseason decision
To isolate the impact of each promotion, leading retailers have integrated cutting-edge approaches to elasticity modeling, controlling for factors that might dampen or amplify sales results. This enables planners and merchants to assess the impact of their promotional plan and in-season tactics on both the top and bottom lines of the business.
In the era of real-time, dynamic, and individualised pricing, it’s even more challenging to make investment, costing, and pricing decisions months before a product hits the floor and consumers react to it.
Many retailers address this challenge with concept testing, online or in stores. However, retailers can apply analytical approaches to better inform preseason buying and pricing decisions. Instead of relying solely on trends or intuition to plan each style, they can use analysis to deconstruct style-level performance into discrete drivers, such as underlying category trends, changes in prices, and inventory levels by store.
Retailers must now take into account the logistics costs of shipping inventory between stores and between channels. This requires understanding consumer demand at much more granular levels to determine not only appropriate markdown timing and depth but also optimal channel and location.
Of course, leading retailers use a combination of algorithms helpful for optimising markdown options, including a number of trade-offs inherent in the omnichannel model. The best rank and prioritise scenarios to make it easy for planners to manage by exception rather than by reviewing every potential consideration.
Accessing key facts needed to make smart pricing decisions: price elasticity, competitors’ prices, and the role of a category in creating value perceptions etc, requires a year-round commitment to pricing analytics. Apparel retailers who apply science to their historically art-based pricing decisions will develop a powerful capability that can restore full-price selling.
"A number of brands will actively engage themselves in improving their eco-footprint in 2019. Younger consumers will align themselves with businesses that support their values. This includes tracing the origin of products, its manufacturing technique and impact on environment. Recycled fashion will become more popular, with major brands starting to offer recycled (second-hand) clothing, as they keep up with the demand for more sustainable and conscientious practices."
According to predictions by Immago, the top five emerging trends for 2019 are:
Growing emphasis on sustainability
A number of brands will actively engage themselves in improving their eco-footprint in 2019. Younger consumers will align themselves with businesses that support their values. This includes tracing the origin of products, its manufacturing technique and impact on environment. Recycled fashion will become more popular, with major brands starting to offer recycled (second-hand) clothing, as they keep up with the demand for more sustainable and conscientious practices.
Bigger role for artificial intelligence
Next year will see a rise in application of Artificial Intelligence for developing human-like qualities, enabling more interaction with clients and a faster resolution time. AI is streamlining the industry, improving everything from shipping routes to marketing decisions. These systems will now become cheaper allowing small to medium business enterprises to harness the power of AI.
Social media, mobiles to take the market by storm
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all other platforms have become the playing field for improving customer relations. Online
marketing, specifically through social media platforms, will dominate over everything else in 2019. A meaningful dialogue with clients on a personal level will become the new norm, instead of leaving feedback forms or waiting for a reply from an email.
With online purchasing becoming safer and giving more options, consumers are expecting brands to offer mobile purchasing apps, or purchasing on a mobile-ready website. As per Google, three out of 4 consumers will switch from a poorly designed mobile site to an alternative mobile site that makes purchasing easier.
As consumers become more comfortable buying online through their phones, any business which doesn’t have an app for easy purchase should seriously think about investing in one.
Preparing for the future
Since Donald Trump became President, the US has focused on turning inwards to protect itself, rather than looking to grow and expand free trade around the globe. This has led to tariff wars with China, which has caused turmoil in markets around the world. The geopolitical landscape is extremely complex, making it almost impossible to predict the specific effects that they will have on your business, but it’s important to keep a close eye on what’s happening, to try to anticipate and prepare for any changes that could affect you.
