First Virtual Sock College by ILNA

Change is inevitable in all aspects of life and the same goes for businesses too. It is important for the possessors to learn from the pros and cons of the changes in order to provide a satisfying experience to their customers and come up with ideas to keep the ball rolling. It is indeed high time for retailers to adapt their businesses since COVID-19 is hampering sales significantly. However, virtual sales are still doing better and keeping up the momentum to some level. If one could have access to a crystal ball, foretelling would have been easier, but it is still important to think about the future in our respective capacities.

On March 3, Keith Davis, ILNA Director of Product Development and Sourcing, led Sock College Virtual Training with 11 remote attendees from ‘The Dollar Tree and Family Dollar’ stores. Jeff Shu and Kristina Griggs assisted with technology and live demonstrations. The presentation included a full agenda covering fibers, yarn formation systems, yarn numbering, knitting fundamentals, anatomy of a sock, dyeing, sock sizing, and more. Participants enjoyed a variety of sources from live teaching by Keith to educational videos and actual National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers Board examples. The virtual delivery prepared the ground for new team members from The Dollar Tree and Family Dollar to engage during these unprecedented times. Attendees included members from a variety of functional teams such as fit and technical design, global sourcing, merchandising, product management, planning, and replenishment. We received a lot of positive feedback on the content and learning.