Tennessee's Remington Industries Brokers Chinese Trade Deal to Revolutionize Auto Floor Mat Market

22 September 2000

Tennessee's Remington Industries Brokers Chinese Trade Deal to Revolutionize Auto Floor Mat Market

    OOLTEWAH, Tenn.--Sept. 22, 2000--Among the earliest results of the recent U.S.-China Bilateral WTO Agreement is a newly-announced partnership between Tennessee-based Remington Industries Inc. and Chinese mega-manufacturer TA TA Industries. Remington will market TA TA's high-quality extruded and injection molded automotive matting to North American specialty and discount retailers.
    Remington, a leading manufacturer of automotive textile products, markets a wide range of matting styles. Remington operates two manufacturing facilities in Tennessee and has distribution facilities in Cleveland, TN, Los Angeles and Toronto. In the new partnership, Remington will be responsible for R&D, product design, sales initiatives, account maintenance and warehouse distribution.
    TA TA operates over 20 enterprises in China and Taiwan and manufactures consumer products ranging from LCD monitors to golf balls. The firm is ISO 9002 certified.
    Tim Parkes, President of Remington, notes lower minimum purchase volume requirements and a domestically unprecedented pricing structure will allow retailers to reduce inventory dollars while increasing profit margins. Remington's ability to ship from Tennessee, Los Angeles or Toronto will also reduce retailers' overall costs, as well as order lead time. "It all adds up to more profit whether retailers stock the products as part of ongoing sales-builder programs or offer them as seasonal traffic-drivers," he said.
    According to Parkes, the Remington/TA TA partnership will provide the usual advantages of dealing with a domestic source, including domestic vendor agreement policies, such as returns, new stores and racking; personalized customer service; vendor warranties and quality guarantees. He also noted that Remington's R&D responsibilities will ensure that TA TA's products meet the desires and expectations of North American consumers.
    In summing up the benefits of the new partnership, Parkes said, "The ability to purchase at direct-from-China-prices, but with domestic ease, will allow more retailers --regardless of size-- to assume competitive retail positions in the category."