A textile exporter is a person or company who exports fabrics overseas to buyers. Textile exporters can work with a wide variety of customers, including garment manufacturers, crafts stores, textile dealers, textile importers, and individual consumers who want to make their purchases directly. This type of work usually requires a knowledge of fibers and fabrics, as well as international business skills. Multilingual abilities are extremely helpful as well.
Textiles include natural fabrics such as wool, linen, and cotton in a variety of weights, treatments, and colors, along with artificial fibers like polyester. A textile exporter can handle a range of products or focus on a specific fabric family, such as organic textiles or textiles from a specific region. Exporters can develop relationships with particular factories or communities to establish a steady supply of textiles for export. They can also work with dealers who represent several different manufacturers, providing a broader array of fabrics.
The textile exporter works with clients to identify and meet their needs. If an exporter doesn't deal in a particular fabric, he or she usually has the connections to source it for a client with a special need. Like other exporters, textile exporters are also interested in creating a market for the products they move through their warehouses. This can include belonging to professional organizations that promote textiles, encouraging companies to consider switching suppliers, and also promoting and developing the domestic textile industry. Exporters may work with manufacturers to develop quality standards, contribute to programs to build new factories, and provide other forms of domestic support.
Exporters also develop relationships with importers and other companies overseas. Their goal is to create a strong business network that will generate a steady supply of new orders and keep the market for textiles active. Managing professional relationships can involve everything from attending social events to cultivate contacts to assisting people with making connections with exporters of other products.
With an order in hand, a textile exporter can source fabrics, have them packaged for shipment, and arrange for their transport. This can include transit by ship, train, or truck. Arrangements for insurance to protect the cargo are also made to provide protections in the event of loss, theft, or damage. The textile exporter is also responsible for preparing documentation for customs and arranging for any necessary permits and permissions to ensure that the shipment is not held up at the border.