Oral History Interview with Robert Sidney Smith, January 25, 1999. Interview I-0081. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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Abstract
Robert Sidney Smith, president and CEO of the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers, discusses the hosiery industry in North Carolina and the United States, delving into its history, present challenges, and future. Smith describes the minutiae of hosiery business, such as the development of new techniques and technologies, as well as stepping back to evaluate the place of American hosiery manufacturers in the world market and the increasing need to market products as well as produce them.
Excerpts
Smith learned values from his parents, his church, and the marines
Innovation leads to personal and company success
Lobbying in Washington
History of the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers
Consolidation of hosiery business
History of the hosiery industry
Hosiery marketing innovations
Technological innovations in hosiery manufacturing
History of the hosiery industry
Difficulty for the sock industry due to lack of innovation
A global picture of the hosiery industry
Effects of NAFTA on hosiery industry
History of unions in hosiery industry and current lack of need for them
Dealing with employees' needs
Hopes for traditional hosiery industry despite state focus on technology
Textiles' influence wanes on national level, strong on state level
Waning regional culture in North Carolina
Race was not an issue in the textile industry
Party affiliation in the post-Civil War South
Intrusive state government annoys Smith
Increased focus on marketing changes hosiery industry
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Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
Subjects
National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers (U.S.)
Hosiery industry--United States
Hosiery workers--United States
Smith, Robert Sidney
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