Apparel Merchandising and Marketing Question Bank

UNIT-1
Two Marks
1. Differentiate between buyer driven and producer driven commodity chains.
Producer-driven commodity chains are those in which large, usually transnational,
manufacturers play the central roles in coordinating production networks (including their
backward and forward linkages).
This is characteristic of capital- and technology-intensive industries such as automobiles,
aircraft, computers, semiconductors and heavy machinery. The automobile industry offers a
classic illustration producer-driven chain, with multilayered production systems that involve
thousands of firms.
Buyer-driven commodity chains refer to those industries in which large retailers, branded
marketers, and branded manufacturers play the pivotal roles in setting up decentralized
production networks in a variety of exporting countries, typically located in the Third World.
This pattern of trade-led industrialization has become common in labor-intensive, consumer
goods industries such as garments, footwear, toys, house wares, consumer electronics, and a
variety of handicrafts.
2. What is meant by commodity chains?
A commodity chain refers to the whole range of activities involved in the design, production,
and marketing of a product. A critical distinction in this approach is between buyer-driven and
producer-driven commodity chains.
3. State the characteristics of buyer driven chains.
The major significance of growing retailer concentration is its tendency to augment global
sourcing. As each type of organizational buyer in the apparel commodity chain has become more
actively involved in offshore sourcing, the competition between retailers, marketers, and
manufacturers has intensified, leading to a blurring of the traditional boundaries between these firms
and a realignment of interests within the chain.
4. Enlist the factors involved in apparel commodity chains.
Geographical location, labor skills and conditions, technology, and the scale and type of
enterprises.
5. List out the industrial upgrading in apparel commodity in Asia.
(1) Within factories—upgrading involves
from cheap to expensive items, from simple to complex products, and from small to large
orders; (2) within inter-firm enterprise networks—upgrading involves moving from mass
production of standardized goods to the flexible production of differentiated merchandise; (3)
within local or national economies—upgrading involves moving from simple assembly of
imported inputs to more integrated forms of OEM and OBM production, involving a greater
use of forward and backward linkages at the local or national level; and (4) within regions—
upgrading involves shifting from bilateral, asymmetrical, inter-regional trade flows to a more
fully developed intra-regional division of labor incorporating all phases of the commodity
chain from raw material supply, through production, distribution, and consumption.
6. State the features of OEM model in building commodity chain.
OEM model is a form of commercial subcontracting in which the buyer–seller
linkage between foreign merchants and domestic manufacturers allows for a greater degree of
local learning about the upstream and downstream segments of the apparel chain.
7. Give the advantages and disadvantages of building commodity chains.

8. What is the essence of triangle manufacturing?

The essence of triangle manufacturing, which was initiated by the East Asian
countries. NIEs in the 1970s and 1980s, is that US buyers place their orders with the NIE
manufacturers they have sourced from in the past, who in turn shift some or all of the
requested production to affiliated in low-wage countries (e.g., China, Indonesia or
Vietnam).
9. Enlist the trends in non-quota markets in commodity chains.
10. How will you measure the export growth in textile and apparel industry?
11. Why shifting of textile activity to Asia taken place? Give reasons.
It has been rightly said that twenty-first century will belong to Asia. This is
getting more and clearer and holds good even in case of textile sector. It is well known that
with very high labour costs in U.S. A and Europe, entire activity from spinning to garmenting
will shift to Asian countries like China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka etc. With
the abolition of quota regime, each country would try to grab maximum share of world trade
in textile and garment sector. Indian Textile Industry will have to face fierce competition
particularly from China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It is now very clear that China
will secure much larger share vis-à-vis other competing countries and India will have to settle
down to a second position.
12. What is meant by global apparel sourcing?
The high development in the global transport and communication systems also
assisted the shifting of production locations. Fast movement of commodities over continents
and instant communications and fast transfer of any kind of data and information facilitated
much cost reduction in sourcing commodities like garments from cheap locations. The add-
on profit advantages facilitated through these new technology systems, through cost
reductions without passing on such reductions to the consumers and producers, motivated
leading market players to look for cheaper products even at locations far away from the
markets.
13. List out the latest trends in India garment exports.
In the last few years, the Indian exporters have been able to create a niche for
themselves in global markets. This comes from delivering products of exceptional quality as
well as on time at competitive rates. According to experts, these exporters can turn in this
acceptance to an opportunity. For instance, for the last many years, Indian textiles have been
well accepted in international markets for their exceptional quality, so even if these products
were to be expensive by a small margin, the buyers would still flock to Indian shores, since
the domestic exporters have created a very good reputation for themselves.
14. State the importance of SCM practices in garment industry
SCM practices will focus on location advantage, competitiveness in
manufacturing, risk management and power of collaboration. It also aimed at building the
necessary ground for SCM actions.
15. What are the essential characteristics of global garment industry?
16. Draw the process sequence involved in procuring export orders.
17. List out the steps taken for AEPC for the development of Indian garment industry.
18. Why market entry strategies more in china? Give reasons
19. List out the features of LDC suppliers in china.
• Differentiate their products;
• Take advantage of the free trade, zero tariff scheme agreement and integrate the industrial
chain vertically and horizontally to make the pipeline more effective and hence enjoy cost
savings;
• In light of the changes in market and fashion trends, pay more attention to non-cost factors
such as one package buying, the application of Information and Communications Technology
(ICT) in design and pattern making, speeding up the supply of samples, providing a variety of
products and services, and enhance credit;
• Make good use of their proximity and accessibility to the market;
• Update their product/process/quality through advanced facilities, online systems, digital
technology
etc., and improve management levels.
Governments of exporting countries should take measures to:
• Strengthen the infrastructure, enhance efficiency of transportation and communication, and
speed up customs clearance;
• Conduct training and education programmes for workers and managers;
20. Differentiate between Chinese and LDC vendor

21. Enlist the constraints in supply chain and trade logistics in south Asian countries.
Constraints in supply chains and trade logistics include a number of increasingly
important barriers to exports for South Asian countries. The lack of harmonized transport
systems, frequent reloading of goods, port congestion affecting turnaround time for ships,
complicated customs-clearance procedures, and nontransparent administrative procedures at
the customs are often at the centre of trade constraints. These constraints are often more
serious in developing countries than in developed countries.
22. State the importance of trade facilitation in south Asian countries.
The benefits of improving transport or customs administration at the regulatory
border, and institutional reforms are essential. These inside the border measures play a crucial
role in trade transactions costs. Domestic regulatory procedures and institutional structures
based on international best practice models can improve transparency and professionalism
in border clearance procedures. Streamlining regulations to remove technical barriers and
liberalizing transport and telecommunications regimes can also facilitate trade. Privatization
and deregulations in the transport sector can also increase competition and improve
efficiency.
23. Give the basic needs of retailing in India.
Apparel retailing especially has traversed its growth path beginning from
smaller formats to large department stores. The motivation is to find out what are the format
strategies that could impact the evolution and growth of apparel retail firms in India.
To help apparel retail firms in their expansion or may help new firms establish
their stores and hence the need for the study.
24. List out the advantages of retail in India.
To study the evolutionary patterns and trends of apparel retailing in India, to study
the strategies adopted by the apparel retail firms in India and abroad and make a comparative
analysis to understand the commonalities and differences and to identify the regional and
geographic influences governing the apparel retail evolution and growth in India.
25. State the importance of market segmentation in Indian Home textiles market.
26. What is meant by channel of distribution?
The mechanism of connecting the producer with the customer is referred to as the
channel of distribution.
27. List out the functions performed between the manufacturer and consumer.
There are two basic functions performed between the manufacturer and the ultimate
consumer. (See Figure: 1.). the first, called the exchange junction, involves sales of the
product to the various members of the channel of distribution. The second, the physical
distribution junction, moves products through the exchange channel, simultaneously with title
and ownership.

28. Enlist the flows involved in marketing channels.

1. Product flow
2. Negotiation flow
3. Ownership flow
4. Information flow
5. Promotion flow
29. What are the steps involved in channel management process?
 Analyze the Consumer
 Establish the Channel Objectives
 Specify Distribution Tasks
 Evaluate and Select from Channel Alternatives
 Evaluating Channel Member Performance
Big Questions
1. Explain in detail about the concepts of international apparel business pattern with suitable
examples.
2. How the trade shifts are more important for industrial upgrading in apparel commodity
chains? Give reasons.
3. Describe in detail about the international commodity chains led to the textile and apparel
chains in Asia and state its merits and demerits.
4. Explain in detail about basic business concepts adopted in Indian apparel export trend in
competitive world with suitable examples.
5. Discuss the objectives of the study to support the activities of garment supply chain with
suitable examples.
6. Elaborate the process of garment production in the study region from finished product to
 the consumers.
7. Explain in detail about various procurement procedure involved for the successful apparel
sourcing in China with suitable examples.
8. Describe the trade opportunities involved for interregional trade in south Asian countries
with suitable examples.
9. Elaborate the basic business patterns involved for Indian apparel retail and Home textile
markets as the key drivers for Textile Industry.
10. Enumerate the concepts of flow understand from concept to finished products with respect to
marketing channels in the distribution of goods and services with suitable examples.

UNIT-2
Two Marks
1. Define the term marketing.
2. State the entities of marketing.
3. What is meant by performance marketing?
4. Enlist the 4Ps used in marketing.
5. What is meant by “marketing Mix”?
6. Classify the product channel according to marketing mix.
7. Enlist the methods of price fixation.
8. State the functions of channel of distribution.
9. What are the elements of promotion mix?
10. Define the term “market research”.
11. List out the divisions of marketing research.
12. What are the major factors influences market environment?
13. Enlist the categories of applied market research.
14. Write short notes on marketing information system.
15. Give the reasons of trends in marketing research.
16. What is meant by market structure?
17. List out the elements of market structure in fashion industry.
18. Differentiate between perfect and monopolistic competition.
19. Write short notes on price discrimination.
20. Mention the salient features of marketing strategies.
21. List out the main fields of strategic marketing.
22. What are the major segments of apparel industry?
23. Give the salient features of Indian apparel sector.
24. Why the quality standards meet the apparel industry to achieve customer needs? Give reasons.
25. Classify the modern technology play a vital role in apparel industry.
26. What is meant by “international marketing”?
27. Write short notes on global marketing.
28. Differentiate between international and domestic market.
29. Enlist the 7Ps used in domestic marketing.
30. What are the advantages and disadvantages of domestic marketing?
31. List out the classification of marketing models.
32. State the purpose of modelling in marketing.
33. What are the trends in marketing models?
34. Write short notes on B to B Marketing.
35. Give the salient features of business markets in consumer.
36. Classify business products and markets.
37. List out the eight key ingredients of a business model.
38. Write the major business to consumer business models.
Big Questions
1. Explain in detail about the marketing concept for achieving organizational goals to its
target markets.
2. Explain the elements of marketing mix with relevant examples.
3. Elaborate the function of channels of distribution and its types for achieving the
objectives
of marketing department to achieve high profits.
4. Elaborate the nature of marketing research in all phases of marketing and functional
aspects of an Organisation with relevant examples.
5. Explain in detail about the various categories used for the effectiveness of marketing
management.
6. Describe the different types of market structure for achieving the key traits of a market.
7. Explain in detail about strategies of market for the promotion of product to achieve
the needs of the customer with relevant examples.
8. Discuss in detail about the various techniques used for improve the business
Performances
with suitable examples.
9. Describe the steps involved for achieve the current and future strategic objectives in
international market planning process with suitable examples.
10. Explain in detail about the various elements used to produce goods in domestic market
strategies with suitable examples.
11. Describe the basic methodologies used for marketing modelling to help managers to
make decisions and state its merits and demerits.
12. Enumerate the important characteristics of demand for consumer markets in market
concentration for business to business marketing.
13. Why the B to C concept is more important for finished products in market place? Give
reasons.
14. Discuss in detail about the identifying and understanding the target audience using
market segmentation in a direct marketing campaign.
15. Elucidate the marketing strategy used for understanding the business and brand
promotion in digital marketing with suitable examples.

UNIT-3
Two Marks
1. Write short notes on merchandising.
2. State the impact of quick response on the merchandising calendar.
3. How will you plan the merchandise assortments?
4. Write the formula for gross margin, gross margin return on inventory and adjusted gross margin.
5. What is meant by product line?
6. Why line development is more important for suppliers and retailers to merchandise the products?
7. Define the term merchandisable groups.
8. Distinguish between seasonal goods and fashion goods.
 9. Write short notes on perceptual map.
10. Highlight the importance of line planning in product line and product range.
11. Differentiate between line development and line presentation.
12. What is meant by line concept?
13. How the line presentation is more important for retail buyers and consumers?
14. Write short notes on “Creative Design”.
15. Distinguish between Creative design and Technical design.
16. State the importance of concept boards.
17. List out the fabric characteristics affecting utilization.
18. What is meant by “balance Lines”?
19. List out the stages of new product development.
20. Write short notes on “New product strategy”.
21. State the objectives and measures taken for balanced score card.
22. Highlight the stages of new product development.
23. Define the term “Apparel costing”.
24. List out the types of cost.
25. Enlist the calculated accessories used for garment costing.
26. Highlight the factors considered for costing of the product.
27. State the key issues needed for coordination and communication with the production houses.
28. What are the critical issues need to apply the marketing concepts.
29. List out the prominent dimensions of the buyer supplier relationship in export house.

Big Questions
1. Describe the context of merchandising in today’s competitive markets for firm’s strategic
business with suitable examples.
2. Explain the importance of consumer demand in merchandising plan in an apparel industry.
3. Discuss in detail about the concepts of product line throughout the manufacturing and
distribution process.
4. Elaborate the salient features of line presentation with suitable examples.
5. Explain the classification of merchandise groups to create trends in the future market.
6. Elaborate the process of perceptual map of product change in a merchandising cycle with
suitable examples.
7. Write a detailed note on:
 (a) Line development.
(b) Line Presentation.
(c) Line Adoption.
8. Describe the merchandise plan for the foundation of merchandise budget with suitable
examples.
9. Critically analyse the design characteristics of each style assembly methods according to
technical design in garments and accessories.
10. Explain the process sequence to be considered for effective creative design.
11. Discuss in detail about the fabric selection and garment finish decisions in developing a
line according to creative design in the product development process.
12. Discuss in detail about the steps involved in new product development process for
improving the product performance.
13. Discuss in detail about the various costing parameters with relevant examples.
14. Elaborate the different types of costing for apparel product with suitable examples.
15. Elaborate the process involved for coordination and communication of individual retail
customer in production house with suitable examples.
16. Explain the major challenges and benefits of apparel sourcing in India with respect to
market competitiveness in textile and apparel industry with relevant examples.
 UNIT-4
Two Marks
1. Define the term sourcing.
2. How will you understand the basis of sourcing?
3. What are the factors need to be considered for supplier sourcing and assessment?
4. List out the sourcing decisions in practice for making decisions
5. What is meant by “sourcing Strategy”?
6. State the key aspects of strategic sourcing.
7. How will you achieve the objectives of internal customer management?
8. What are the advantages of strategic sourcing?
9. Write short notes on supply chain management.
10. State the environmental changes led to the evolution of procurement.
11. Mention the importance of strategic procurement.
12. What are the critical elements of strategic procurement management?
13. Enlist the key processes that make up the core of supply chain management.
14. Why the supply chain management to be important for finished products? Give reasons.
15. Write short notes on “Customer relationship management”.
16. Distinguish between supply chain and demand chain management.
17. Mention the importance of effective order fulfilment process.
18. State the salient features of manufacturing flow management.
19. Write short notes on supplier relationship management.
20. Mention the criteria for sourcing negotiations.
21. Classification of negotiation protocol.
22. Distinguish between direct negotiation and indirect negotiation.
23. Write Short notes on “E-negotiations”.
24. List out the elements of global coordination sourcing.
25. Define the term global sourcing.
26. Classify the major types of global sourcing strategies.
27. Mention the major activities of materials management process.
28. What is meant by material management system?
29. State the objectives and functions of material management system.
30. Define the term quick response strategy.
31. Mention the benefits of quick response system.
32. Write short notes on partnering.
33. Classify the types of supplier partnership.
34. Mention the conditions for the selection and evaluation of suppliers.
35. State any four principles of customer /supplier relations.
36. What is meant by “JIT Technology”.
37. Write short notes on “line balancing”.
38. Mention the objectives of JIT technology.
39. Enlist the procedure involved in JIT technology.
Big Questions
1. Explain in detail about the best sourcing practices in supply chain management with
influence the total cost.
2. Explain the steps involved for the need of the customer to achieve objectives in the
strategic sourcing process with suitable examples.
3. Efficient procurement is crucial in the textile and apparel industry why? Give reasons.
4. Explain the critical elements of strategic procure management and state its merits and
demerits.
5. Elaborate the eight key processes for customer satisfaction in supply chain management
with suitable examples.
6. “Demand management coordinates all acts of the business that place demand on
manufacturing capacity” Give reasons and state its merits and demerits.
7. Elaborate the importance of supplier relationship management in achievement of
objectives with relevant examples.
8. Discuss in detail about the variety of ways in order to ensure that negotiations process
effectively with suitable examples.
9. Describe the global sourcing practice for the achievement of long term goals with its
merits and demerits.
10. Elucidate the types of organizational structure and position of material management
department for effective production process with suitable examples.
11. Explain in detail about the specificities of quick response system and new trends in the
fashion industry with suitable examples.
12. Elaborate the significance of supplier/customer partnership for problem solving and
quality system in apparel industry.
13. Discuss in detail about JIT philosophy for basic planning and control environment to
achieve needs of customer with suitable examples.
 UNIT-5
Two Marks
1. Write short notes on “factory cost”.
2. What is meant by conversion efficiency?
3. Mention the importance of manufacturing management.
4. List out the type of government policy adopted for textile industry.
5. State the features of promote fair competition.
6. List out the non-specific infrastructure for textiles
7. State the issues and trends in tax incentives.
8. Write short notes on Tax incentives.
9. List out the major objectives of tax incentives
10. Mention the advantages and disadvantages of tax incentives.
11. Enlist the government policies adopted in India.
12. List out the categories of export documents
13. What are the contents of commercial invoice?
14. Write short notes on marine insurance policy.
15. Mention the requirement of certificate of origin.
16. Enlist the types of certificate of origin.
17. Write short notes on bill of Lading.
18. What are the main purposes of bill of Lading?
19. State the requirements of preshipment documents.
20. What are the main functions of EXIM bank?
21. Write short notes on capital equipment finance Programme.
22. Enlist the different types of guarantee facilities.
23. Mention the financial covers for both capital and revenue expenditure.
24. What is meant by Line of credit?
25. List out the sequence of standard procedures for multilateral assistance
26. What is meant by “Letter of credit’?
27. Mention the importance of letter of credit.
28. List out the types of letter of credit
29. How will you merchandise the goods with respect to export shipping requirements?
30. Write short notes on “freight forwarders”.
31. Why the labelling is used on export shipping of goods?
32. List out the types of document used in exporting.
33. Mention the methods of obtaining information on foreign import restrictions.
34. Write short notes on export risk management.
35. State the principles of risk management.
36. List out the steps involved in risk management.
37. What are the major categories involved in potential risk management.
38. Mention the merits and demerits of risk management.
39. Enlist the different types of export risks.
40. What are the key points needed for export credit insurance.
41. Mention the characteristics of export credit insurance.
42. Write short notes on “Export Finance”.
43. Mention the importance of finance in India.
44. List out the various financial activities for export growth in India.
45. State the advantages and disadvantages of Export finance.
46. Define the term special economic zone.
47. Illustrate the chronology of special economic zone.
48. Mention the categories of special economic zone.
49. State the economic benefits of special economic zone policy.
50. List out the types of special economic zone.
Big Questions
1. Explain in detail about the various government policies on global competitiveness of
the Indian textile and clothing sectors with suitable examples.
2. Enumerate the salient features of tax incentives in India for the development of foreign direct
investment.
3. Explain the documentary procedures needed for export shipments with suitable examples.
4. Discuss in detail about the types of certificate of origin for clearance of goods by the importer.
5. Elaborate the document issued by the shipping company to deliver the goods by using bill
of lading
6. Discuss in detail about the various banking procedures needed for export promotion in
India with suitable examples.
7. Elucidate the financing mechanism support for export of projects, equipment, goods,
and services by using line of credit with suitable examples.
8. Explain in detail about the various types of credit used for documentation and good
purchased to the customers with suitable examples.
9. Discuss in detail about various shipping activities for the exporters to be aware of
packing, labelling, documentation and insurance requirements with suitable examples.
10. Elucidate the various types of risks involved in an international trade with a proper risk
management with suitable examples.
11. Explain in detail about the payment risks made by the foreign buyer using export credit
insurance for protects all exporter of products and services.
12. Describe the various financial activities involved for export promotion growth in India
with suitable examples.
13. Describe the fiscal regime and a view to attract larger foreign investment in India using
special economic zone policy for promotion of goods and services.
14. Write a detailed note on,
(a) Free Trade Zones.
(b) Export Processing Zones.
(c) Industrial Estates.