How to Improve Textile Business During COVID-19?

The pandemic has resulted in a nationwide lockdown causing halt in the business operations of many industries. The textile manufacturing industries were one of the industries that were majorly hit. Many businessmen are unable to understand what needs to be done to come back on track. They are unable to understand whether to run their livelihood or to pay salaries to the employees. So, focusing on the current scenario, we have researched and summed up a few tips to improve textile business during these tough times.

However, there is always hope at the end of the tunnel, the textile business can bounce back and can generate good profit if the business owners follow these important points. However, they can always take the help of a business loan to improve textile business with the help of external finds.

Tips to Improve Textile Business During Covid-19 Lockdowns

• Focus on innovation – Few Gujarat-based MSMEs, had thought about a brilliant idea of developing the antivirus or anti-bacterial fabric. The fabric is being used for both men and women wear. Nanotechnology products are used in these fabrics such as surface and spray coating, pad application, etc.
• Sustainable and recycled fibers – these fibers are replacing the resource-intensive raw materials at a faster pace
• Advanced technology – Data application, machine learning, 3D printing are some of the technologies that enhance product design processes and reduce the lead time, sewing robots create transparency throughout the supply chain
• Nearshoring – The companies can shift to the place which is near the raw materials or the warehouse and the final sales market. It will ensure meeting demands quickly and reduce lead times.
• Focus on prosumerism – manufacturers should produce only what is liked by customers rather than the traditional way of producing whatever they themselves liked. Small orders and quick deliveries will be the key for every segment of the domestic market.
• Cooperative societies – The textile manufacturers can come together and form a cooperative society that will safeguard the interest of all the stakeholders. The best example of such a cooperative is AMUL, a brand managed by the cooperative society of the milk producers in Gujarat.
• The benefit of Government Schemes – Ministry of textiles has set up integrated textile parks to assist small and medium entrepreneurs by providing financial support to set up manufacturing units. These parks do not only attract domestic but also international companies.
• GST Benefit – the new law results in the ‘Fibre – neutrality effect’ for the MSME. This means that both the natural as well as man-made fibers like polyester, viscose will be treated equally by the government watchdogs. Due to the effect of the new proposed laws, the textile businesses will be able to play around with both the options of the raw materials. This flexibility provided to the MSMEs will result in providing creative comfort which will help them to experiment and also boost sales.
• Automatic Route – Indian textile sector has been allowed 100% FDI under the automatic route. By automatic route, we mean that the investors from both foreign or the Indian company can invest in the sector without taking approval from the Government
• Funding Opportunities – Under the guidelines of the RBI, many financial institutions and NBFCs are providing both secured and unsecured business loans to the textile industries. Some of the emerging players that are providing reasonable MSME loans are ZipLoan, Capital Float, Aye Finance, etc.
• Take your business online: Everyone is at stuck at home, but they haven’t stopped wearing clothes, entering the online world while fulfilling the ‘at home’ clothing requirements can really improve textile businesses manifold. Designing an eCommerce website on your own by using CMS like Magento or hiring a eCommerce design agency along with digital marketing can really help!

The textile industry is managing the business well with the adequate amount of funds infusion with the Emergency Credit Link Guaranteed Scheme of the Central Government. The sector needs to take the opportunity of these shorter credit terms that will help businesses to keep track during the recovery stage.

The textile industry has become even more relevant during the Covid-19 crisis when global manufacturing has come to a stop and the ban on the export of critical medical equipment including N95 face masks and protective gears, have made it difficult for India to import. But in 2020, it soon emerges as the second-largest manufacturer after China manufacturing 2.5 lakhs unit a day.

The research and development in the textile industry should be driven through academics where the students of the textile engineering institutes, polytechnics should be given the opportunity to learn specialized subjects required for the textile industry.

The overall development of the textile industry, coupled with the availability of skilled and low-cost labor, focus on research and development activities, strong manufacturing know-how will make India increasingly preferable as an attractive investment destination.