The Transformation of Trade Intermediaries: A Case Study of Garment Fabric Trading Companies

Junnan Xia

doi:10.63313/EPP.9042

Authors

Junnan Xia Guildhouse School, London, WC1A 2RA, UK Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/EPP.9042

Keywords:

Trade Intermediaries, Garment Fabric Trade, Digital Transformation, Supply Chain Integration, Enterprise Transformation Path

Abstract

In the global trade landscape characterized by the rise of trade protectionism and the accelerated digital transformation, clothing fabric trade intermediaries are confronted with multiple survival crises, including profit compression, supply - chain instability, and information asymmetry. Existing research on the transformation of fabric traders is relatively scarce. This paper takes clothing fabric trading enterprises as the research object, outlines the four - stage evolutionary characteristics of the domestic fabric industry since 2000, analyzes the four core development dilemmas of traditional intermediaries, and quantitatively disassembles the driving weights of industry transformation from three dimensions: market, industry, and policy - technology. Based on this, four differentiated transformation paths are proposed: comprehensive supply - chain service providers, cross - border e - commerce multi - channel operators, full - chain industrial and trading integrated enterprises, and fabric brand operators. The applicable entities, profit - making logics, and implementation thresholds of each model are compared, and four typical enterprises are selected for case studies to quantitatively verify the improvement effects of different transformation models on revenue structure, profit margin, and operational efficiency. The research finds that the shortage of funds, the gap in professional talents, and the difficulties in digital technology adaptation are the main obstacles to enterprise transformation. Corresponding countermeasures such as diversified financing, joint talent cultivation between schools and enterprises, and technology collaboration among industry, academia, and research are proposed. The research predicts that the industry will evolve towards green and low - carbon development and the intelligent application of AI and the Internet of Things, providing theoretical basis and practical references for the digital and service - oriented upgrading of fabric trade intermediaries at home and abroad.

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