Internal key factors in export performance: A comparative analysis in the Italian and Spanish textile‐clothing sector (part 1)
Abstract
Purpose
This is the first part of two papers which examine the Italian and Spanish textile‐clothing sector The purpose of this paper is to analyse the key factors in the international performance of textile manufacturing companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper provides a comparative study of the main factors that have affected the export performance of the Spanish and Italian businesses. A wide range of factors has been studied, such as size, dispersion of sales and export experience. In order to compare Spanish and Italian cases, the empirical study used a standardized questionnaire for collecting data. The cases analysed were respective geographical zones with a great tradition in textile‐clothing industry in their country, Catalonian (in the Spanish case) and Lombardian business (in the Italian case).
Findings
It was found that international experience is the main factor in the export performance for both cases but the investment in R&D and the export experience have been the keys for explaining the major export performance of the Italian businesses.
Research limitations/implications
The sample is formed basically for small textile‐clothing businesses (with less than five employees).
Originality/value
The paper explains why the Lambardian textile‐clothing companies export more, in relation to total sales, than the Catalan companies in the same sector. The general character of the study suggests new future lines of investigation.
Keywords
Citation
Eusebio, R., Llonch Andreu, J. and Pilar López Belbeze, M. (2007), "Internal key factors in export performance: A comparative analysis in the Italian and Spanish textile‐clothing sector (part 1)", Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 11 No. 1, pp. 9-23. https://doi.org/10.1108/13612020710734373
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited