BATEC SUMMARY

BSP2 PERFECTLINK Project

Survey on Competitiveness

in Textile/Clothing and Leather Sectors

in Participating Countries

ANNEX 1 - QUESTIONNAIRE ON COMPETITIVENESS

SUMMARY

Country BULGARIA

Association BATEC

1.  Company profile.

1.1 In which sector does your company operate? / Number of companies
Mainly textile (spinning/weaving) / 65
Mainly clothing (apparel) / 86
Mainly leather / 0
Mainly leather products (including shoes) / 0
Total companies / 151
1.2 Products sold: / Number of companies
Mainly yarns, fabrics / 91
Mainly men’s wear, women’s wear, baby/child wear, sportswear / 95
Mainly technical items / 11
Mainly knitwear (outwear and underwear) / 36
Mainly home textiles, upholstery/curtains/carpets / 0
Mainly leather / 0
Mainly leather products (including shoes) / 0
Mainly others (specify) / 0
Total companies / 233
1.3 Origin of products sold: / Number of companies
Own Production / 131
Traded product (outsourced/import) / 85
Total companies / 216
1.4 Size / Total companies
-  turnover (M euro) / <5 / 5-20 / 20-50 / >50
Number of companies / 63 / 72 / 4 / 0 / 139
-  n. employees / <10 / 10-50 / 50-250 / >250
Number of companies / 0 / 32 / 87 / 24 / 143
1.5 Sales (markets) / Number of companies
Mainly Domestic / 88
Mainly EU 15 / 59
Mainly EU new accession countries / 33
Mainly Rest of the world / 71
Total companies / 251

2.  General Awareness on Competitiveness (please tick your choice)

2.1 Your company’s sales are: / In terms of Quantity
(number of companies) / In terms of Value
(number of companies) / Total companies
-  Increasing / 87 / 28 / 115
-  Decreasing / 60 / 64 / 124
-  Stable / 39 / 47 / 86
Total companies / 325
2.2  Do you think that the current strengths of your company are sufficient to
cope with competition or need change: / Number of companies
-  No changes / 8
-  Minor changes / 87
-  Major changes / 48
Total companies / 143
2.3 In the next two years the competitive position of your company will be stronger, weaker or similar to present in your market? / Number of companies
-  Stronger / 20
-  Weaker / 73
-  Similar / 49
Total companies / 142
2.4 Who are the most threatening competitors? / Number of companies
Domestic / 37
European Union 10 (from newly accessed countries) / 36
European Union 15 / 55
South Mediterranean / 48
Chinese / 58
Other (specify)
- Turquie
- USA
-
- / 1
2
Total companies / 237


3. The Chinese issue

In recent years Chinese manufacturers substantially increased their market share in European markets. This trend is expected to continue in the next years, facilitated by the complete elimination of the quota system

3.1 Did your company have DIRECT consequences of the recent increase
in Chinese competition? / Number of companies
YES / 110
NO / 36
Total companies / 146

If the answer is NO, go to question n.3.6

If your answer is YES (tick the appropriate answer)

3.2 Consequences were: / Number of companies
loss of clients / 60
reduction of sales to one or more clients / 35
decrease of own prices in order to maintain the same level of sales / 16
reduction of quantities and decrease of price in own sales / 34
Other (specify):
-
-
-
- / 0
Total companies / 145
3.3 The negative impact on your business was: / Number of companies
very remarkable / 16
significant / 92
minor / 14
Other (specify):
-
-
-
-
- / 0
Total companies / 122
3.4 In which segment of your clients did your company suffer most the
Chinese competition? / Number of companies
Domestic traders (retailers/wholesalers) / 36
European (25) traders (importers/wholesaler/retailers) / 37
Rest of the world traders / 50
Domestic manufacturers (supply chain) / 1
European 25 manufacturers (supply chain) / 11
Rest of the world manufacturers / 22
Total companies / 157
3.5 Which of your products were hit the most by Chinese competition? / Number of companies
Upper range / 8
Middle range / 73
Lower range / 41
Total Companies / 122
3.6 What are the strongest competitive factors of the Chinese exporters? / Number of companies
Price / 75
Price/quality ratio / 31
Customisation/Flexibility / 14
Scope of product range / 57
Other (specify):
-
-
-
- / 0
Total companies / 177
3.7 Do you think that the Chinese manufacturers adopt unfair competitive practises? / Number of companies
Only sometimes / 22
Often / 78
All Chinese sales are characterized, to some extent, by unfair practices / 42
Total companies / 142
3.8 Do you have evidence of unfair practises? / Number of companies
Yes, direct evidence / 15
No direct evidence / 65
Only Clues / 36
Rumours of the market / 32
Total companies / 148
3.9 In your opinion, which kind of unfair commercial practises are adopted by the Chinese? / Number of companies
False custom declarations / 50
Unregistered imports/smuggling / 38
Dumping / 77
Counterfeited products / 39
Other (specify)
-
-
-
-
- / 0
Total companies / 204
3.10 Who are the strongest allies of Chinese products? / Number of companies
Local consumers / 37
Those local manufacturers who outsource production in China / 12
International brands present in your country (e.g. Benetton, Hugo Boss) / 11
Large retailers in your countries / 62
Traders (importers/wholesalers) / 72
Other (specify )
-
-
-
-
-
/ 0
Total companies / 194
3.11 Do the Chinese manufacturers have weak points? / Number of companies
Quality / 85
Delivery/service / 29
Product design / 46
Other (specify ) / 1
Total companies / 161
3.12 Under the current general conditions, how large is the competitive advantage of Chinese producers in the following factors: / Number of companies
Large
(number of companies) / Significant
(number of companies / Minor
(number of companies / no advantage
(number of companies)
Price / 135 / 7 / 0 / 0 / 142
Price/Quality ratio / 15 / 92 / 12 / 2 / 121
Customisation / 2 / 36 / 78 / 30 / 146
Product Range / 10 / 47 / 7 / 24 / 88
Other( specify ):
-
-
-
- / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Total companies / 497

4. The Future

4.1 In the next years the Chinese presence in European markets will: / Number of companies
Increase / 129
Remain as today / 13
Decrease / 1
Total companies / 143
4.2 What factor may be effective to counter Chinese competition under the current general trade condition / Number of companies
Productivity increase and costs reduction / 67
Quality / 13
Fashion/Design / 64
Brand/Communication / 39
Service/delivery / 35
No factor is really effective / 3
Other (specify )
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- / 0
Total companies / 221
4.3 In your opinion what are the levers that should be supported to enhance the competitiveness of European manufacturers / Number of companies
Support innovation (technology, design, etc ) / 79
Support the financial strengthening of companies, / 35
Support human resource development (training, etc) / 25
Lower taxes, lower social costs / 50
Other (specify)
-
-
-
-
-
- / 0
Total companies / 189
4.4 Does your company have a strategy to deal with the new competition / Number of companies
Not yet / 32
We have been thinking about but a new plan has not yet been outlined / 98
Yes, we have developed a new competitive strategy / 12
Other (specify ) / 0
Total companies / 142
4.5 If you have been thinking about a new competitive strategy what are the actions that you envisaged?
(1=low importance, 5 = high importance) / 1
(number of companies) / 2
(number of companies / 3
(number of companies / 4
(number of companies / 5
(number of companies
Price reduction through cost reduction and increased productivity / 3 / 8 / 7 / 6 / 6
Price reduction through outsourcing of some production processes/products / 8 / 2 / 9 / 6 / 26
Quality improvement (materials and manufacturing processes) / 4 / 8 / 8 / 5 / 18
Improvements in design and fashion / 4 / 3 / 4 / 8 / 40
Improvement of service component (delivery, etc ) / 2 / 6 / 1 / 6 / 2
Improvement of customer satisfaction through customisation / 3 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 26
Investments in image, brand and communication / 7 / 2 / 4 / 3 / 19
Other (specify )
-
-
-
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