Specialty Fabrics Review July 2021 - 6

[ FIRST IMPRESSIONS ]
[ CALENDAR OF EVENTS ]
Oh, the places you'll go!
F
or the last year, I've been dreaming about the places where I'll go
and the things I'll do when the pandemic is over. So once I was fully
vaccinated, where did I first brave the crowds? The Mall of America.
Trust me, this was not on my bucket list-I was there so that
my daughter could attend a job fair. As the in-person retail economy
opens up, the mall needs workers. Lots of them. From what I could see
that afternoon, the late-pandemic economy is clipping along. (And if an
afternoon at a mall sounds miserable to you, imagine an afternoon at a
mall doing five job interviews.)
Labor challenges are one of the perennial issues
facing businesses in the industrial fabrics industry.
In fact, the need for skilled labor was both the top
pre-pandemic and current challenge identified in
IFAI's 2021 State of the Industry report, a summary
of which appears in this issue.
IFAI has produced this annual report for years,
Jill C. Lafferty, Senior Editor
STAY IN TOUCH
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what you're loving in this
issue and what you'd like
to see more of.
Stay in touch by emailing
jclafferty@ifai.com.
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for additional content.
but with the pandemic affecting everything from
global supply chains to where, when and how
companies operate day-to-day, the information in
this report is more valuable than ever. At the request
of IFAI members, this year's report takes a different
approach than past reports. Rather than breaking
down the industry by market and emphasizing
financial metrics, the report provides a snapshot
of industry composition, identifying crossovers
and connections along with manufacturing trends
and future outlook. What do other companies with
your skill set produce? How many markets does a
typical company in this industry serve? Where are
the growth opportunities? The report offers all sorts
of insights that can help you see where you fit in
the industry today and where you could lead your
company in the future.
I'm writing this a few days before my daughter
graduates high school, and I'll be surprised if she doesn't receive at least
one copy of Dr. Seuss's " Oh, the Places You'll Go! " as a gift. I'll warn
you right now that the State of the Industry report doesn't entertain
with Seuss's rhyme and whimsy. But it may provide a similar level of
inspiration-and illuminate a place or two where you and your company
can go and grow.
August 2021
Outlook Conference 2021
AUG. 29-31 / Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront
Resort, Hilton Head, S.C.
www.ifai.com/outlook
November 2021
Oct. 1-4, 2019
Orlando, FL
Orange County Convention Center
SAVE THE DATE
Nov. 2-4, 2021 | Education: Nov. 1-4
Music City Center | Nashville, TN USA
www.ifaiexpo.com
NEW! GeoNashville
NOV. 4-5 / Music City Center, Nashville, Tenn.
https://geosyntheticsconference.com
January 2022
Marine Fabricators Conference
JAN. 13-15 / Wild Dunes, Charleston's
Island Resort, Isle of Palms, S.C.
https://marine.ifai.com/marine-fabricatorsconference/
Tent
Expo
JAN. 18-20 / ONE DAYTONA
Daytona Beach, Fla.
www.ifai.com/tentexpo
February 2022
Women in Textiles Summit
FEB. 16-18 / Chateau Elan, Braselton, Ga.
www.ifai.com/women
April 2022
Outlook Conference 2022
APRIL 24-26 / The Omni Homestead Resort,
Hot Springs, Va.
www.ifai.com/event/outlook-conference-2022
All calendar events are subject to change.
Please check event websites for the latest information.
6 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / July 2021

http://www.ifai.com/outlook http://www.ifaiexpo.com https://www.geosyntheticsconference.com https://marine.ifai.com/marine-fabricators http://www.ifai.com/tentexpo http://www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com http://www.ifai.com/women http://www.ifai.com/event/outlook-conference-2022

Specialty Fabrics Review July 2021

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