1. Textile Centre of Excellence, UK
The TCBL Project
H2020 NMP GA n
New business models for sustainable, customer-driven short run production
Bill Macbeth
Textile Centre of Excellence, UK

2. Short runs: barriers, opportunities & routes to incremental business growth

3. The Buyer profile Might be a small organisation or an individual
Has an idea, concept and / or pattern in mind
Might buy existing products and create new items
Might commission a bespoke or short run piece
Cost likely to be important
Doesn’t know of you
Doesn’t buy often, or at all outside of their country
Might (or might not) have good language skills

4. Questions to the Buyer How will they find you?
How can they be sure about your quality?
Why should they buy from you?

5. The Manufacturer Might be a small to medium sized organisation
Manufactures to order
Could accommodate bespoke or short run pieces
Occasionally has excess stock to sell
Might not sell often or at all outside of their country
Might (or might not) have good language skills
Finds it can be costly to deal with lots of small buyers
Concerned about getting paid/credit arrangements
Finds that small buyers often don’t provide a clear specification of their requirements

6. Questions to the Manufacturer
Are you looking for new business?
How do prospective customers find you?
Why should you sell to them?
How can you make sure you get paid?

7. Can TCBL help?
TCBL:
Knowledge
Services
Customers
Buyer
Seller

8. A buying process (part 1)
Users log in to the service
The service offers assistance, e.g. NDA or design,
production and costing advice.
Designer posts an opportunity
Terms of work agreed

9. A buying process (part 2)
Designer pays for goods to be held on the service platform via an escrow account
Work carried out according to specification
Goods received and accepted
The service platform releases payment

10. There are new national and international business opportunities
There are new national and international business opportunities. Use and adapt existing business models or build a new one to access them....will you rise to the challenge?

11. Thank you for your attention
Bill Macbeth
Textile Centre of Excellence, UK