MISSION STATEMENT
WOMEN'S APPAREL TRADE MISSION TO EUROPE
Düsseldorf, Germany March 15-16, 2004
London, England March 18-19, 2004
Stockholm, Sweden March 22-23 2004*


Mission Description

The Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), of the International Trade Administration (ITA), United States Department of Commerce (USDOC) will sponsor a woman's plus size apparel trade mission to Europe on March 15-23, 2004. The mission will include a Commerce staff member from OTEXA, and representatives from U.S. apparel companies interested in selling plus size apparel and related products in Europe, or establishing representation agreements for such products.

The mission is planned to consist of apparel manufacturers and suppliers of women's plus size apparel related products including fabrics and accessories. Companies selling product in the better price and quality ranges are likely to have the best chance of success.

Commercial Setting

The European apparel market is currently supplied with apparel from both domestic and foreign manufacturers and suppliers. As with the United States, the European market is permeated with mass produced, lower quality and priced imports from other countries.

Domestic plus size apparel suppliers of such niche products can be successful in Europe due to the established nature of the U.S plus size industry, which produces fashion forward designs, and high quality products.

Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom are key markets in Europe where there has been an increase in demand for fashionable plus size women's apparel. Traditionally, plus size apparel is seen as an "afterthought" in these markets. However, over the past twenty years the plus size market in these areas has become one of the fastest growing segments. Women who wear plus size clothing are no longer content with ill-fitting clothes without a sense of fashion. Today's plus-size woman is looking for trendy, fashion forward clothing that flatter their body types. For European women it is not a question of finding plus size clothing, it is a question of finding fashionable plus size clothing. This is an opportunity for U.S. manufacturers of fashion forward plus size apparel in the better qualities to increase their sales and expand their customer base.

Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom are members of the European Union (EU). Members of the EU share common tariffs on imported products from non-EU countries. Currently the duty rates for apparel entering the EU range from 6.3-12.4%.

Using the current data available (July 2003), the U.S. exported $88.3 million dollars in apparel to the United Kingdom; $37.4 million to Germany; and $2.1 million to Sweden.


Mission Goals

This mission's goal is to increase mission members' exports of women's plus size apparel and related products to Europe, and to secure representation agreements for mission members with pre-screened agents and distributors.

Mission Scenario and Cost

Between ten and fifteen companies are expected to participate in this mission. The Department of Commerce reserves the right to adjust this number due to market or logistical constraints.

Appointments will take place in three cities in Europe: Stockholm, Sweden; London, England; and Düsseldorf, Germany. Mission participants will meet individually by appointment with buyers, agents and distributors pre-screened by the U.S. Commercial Service. There will be a mission briefing for participants on local market conditions and selling opportunities.

The cost to each participant will depend on a number of factors, including hotel space and display rental, market promotion, travel and per diem. The number of participants will divide the total cost of the mission. We anticipate that the mission cost will be approximately $4,800 per company, excluding travel, hotel accommodation, ground transportation, and meals.

*Sweden will be an optional third stop because of the relative market size and time constraints for some mission participants. There will an extra cost of $1200 for those participants traveling to Stockholm.

Timetable

The mission is scheduled to arrive in Düsseldorf, Germany on Sunday, March 14, 2004. On Monday, March 15, 2003 following set-up and a breakfast briefing, appointments will be scheduled from 9:30 am-5:00 pm. Each mission participant will be allotted time for a lunch break. On the evening of Monday, March 15, 2004 a reception will be held at the mission site from 7:00-9:00 pm. On Tuesday, March 16, 2003 appointments will be scheduled from 9:30 am-5:00 pm. On Wednesday, March 17, 2004 the mission will travel to the second stop, London, England.

The mission is scheduled to arrive in London, England on the Wednesday, March 17, 2004. On the afternoon of March 17, 2004 a briefing for exhibitors will be held. On Thursday, March 18, 2004 following set-up, appointments will be scheduled from 10:00 am-5:00 pm. Each mission participant will be allotted time for a lunch break. On the evening of Thursday, March 18, 2004 a reception will be held at the mission site from 7:00-9:00 pm. On Friday, March 19, 2004 appointments will be scheduled from 9:30 am- 5:00 pm.

March 20-21, 2004 (Saturday-Sunday) Mission members will have the weekend free. Mission members are scheduled to arrive at the third and final stop of the mission in Stockholm, Sweden on the evening of Sunday, March 21, 2004

On Monday, March 22, 2004 following set-up and a breakfast briefing, appointments will be scheduled from 9:30 am-5:00 pm. Each mission participant will be allotted time for a lunch break. On the evening of Monday, March 22, 2004 a reception will be held at the mission site from 7:00-9:00 pm. On Tuesday, March 23, 2004 appointments will be scheduled from 9:30 am-5:00 pm. The mission will conclude on the evening of Tuesday, March 23, 2004 with the conclusion of the last appointment.

Members will depart individually from the mission on Wednesday, March 24, 2004.

Recruitment will begin immediately and conclude on January 12, 2004. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Criteria for Participant Selection

Mission recruitment will be conduced in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Internet, press releases to the general and trade media, direct mail and fax, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and at industry meetings, conferences, trade shows, etc.

A company's products must be either produced or converted in the United States. If manufactured or produced outside the United States, each product displayed must be marketed under the name of a U.S. firm and have U.S. content representing at least 51 percent of the value of the finished product. Any partisan political activities (including political contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Contact: Rachel Alarid at (202) 482-5154, Rachel_Alarid@ita.doc.gov or Dana Rothstein at (202) 482-2043, Dana_Rothstein@ita.doc.gov

Or mail to:
U.S. Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave. NW
Room 3100
Washington, D.C. 20230