Apparel Advisory Board Member Spotlight: Jim Sinor
Six questions answered by our featured Apparel Advisory Board Member of the Month, Jim Sinor.
#1 Summarize your career path and your current position.
I have spent nearly 40 years working in the apparel industry. I started my career as an Industrial Engineer working my way into management roles overseeing manufacturing, engineering, out sourcing and quality. Some of the companies I’ve worked at include Jockey, Carhartt, VF Corporation, Delta Apparel and Tegra, LLC. I have held senior level and C-suites positions over the last 15 years.
#2 What are the “primary” responsibilities of your current position?
I currently work as an Advisor with WWA Advisors, LLC. WWA is management consulting firm focused on empowering apparel, footwear, and retail executives with the strategies, processes, and technologies that create tangible business value and sustainable competitive advantage.
#3 What are some of the major challenges of your current position?
Many of the US jobs have been outsourced to low wage countries. Many of these countries do not follow the same level of compliance, sustainability and green environmental requirements. This is a real concern for brands and retailers as they place product with manufacturers to assure their brand integrity is not compromised.
#4 What competencies are necessary for success in your current position?
An overall understanding of the supply chains and how products are engineered, produced and costed. An engineering approach is needed to believe that no matter how products are being currently sourced, there are inefficiencies built into the process and through value stream mapping they can be identified and reduced.
#5 What advice would you offer a student interested in a career in this industry?
First and foremost be sure to graduate. Look for an internship that perhaps will expose you to the many facets of the industry. Know that although you may think you want to specifically work in area like Design or Merchandising, once you get your first position, keep an open mind and realize that our industry can provide a plethora of different positions that can lead to an amazing career.
#6 What current trends or issues have the greatest impact on this job/business?
Apparel prices at retail have declined for the 6th year in a row. This creates never ending challenges for brands and retailers to continuing lower their overall costs putting pressure on their supply chain to find new creative ways to become more efficient.
Image contributed by Jim Sinor
