Identification of overseas vendor selection criteria used by Canadian apparel buyers: Is ISO 9000 relevant?
Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management
ISSN: 1361-2026
Article publication date: 1 January 2006
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to determine the criteria used by members of the textile and apparel chain to select overseas vendors. Of specific interest is the value (if any) of ISO 9000 registration, i.e. whether Canadian apparel buyers are influenced by such registration, and whether there are determinants of how buyers respond to registration when selecting vendors.
Design/methodology/approach
A list of 16 criteria used by textile and apparel buyers to select overseas vendors was generated based on the literature, in‐depth interviews, and content analysis of a major industry publication. The criteria were tested for importance by use of a survey of representatives of the textile‐apparel supply chain in Canada.
Findings
Criteria relating to a vendor's flexibility and responsiveness were most important. Registration to a quality program such as ISO 9000 was not considered important nor did it seem to give an overseas vendor a business advantage over its domestic non‐registered counterpart. Two factors, category of apparel firm and the firm's use of quality programs, were potential determinants of favorable responses to registration.
Originality/value
This study furthers the understanding of importer behavior and overseas vendor selection criteria as well as the importance of ISO 9000 registration to buyers in the soft goods industries.
Keywords
Citation
Thaver, I. and Wilcock, A. (2006), "Identification of overseas vendor selection criteria used by Canadian apparel buyers: Is ISO 9000 relevant?", Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 56-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/13612020610651123
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited