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Strategic Alliance

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CHAPTER ONE

1. Introduction to the study

The purpose of study is to evaluate the effects of strategic buyer-supplier alliances and partnerships in the South African clothing stores, sector and industry. Strategic Alliances, Partnerships and Joint Ventures involve the establishment of informal and formal relationships with other individuals or businesses to share resources, ideas or capital (Hugo, Badenhorst-Weiss & Biljon 2007). The research indicates that during the past decade, companies in all types of industries and all parts of the world have elected to form strategic alliances and partnerships to complement their own strategic initiatives and strengthen their competitiveness in domestic and international markets (Thompson Jr, Gamble & Strickland, 2006), the statement confirms that some of the companies realize the importance of strategic alliances and partnerships.
The current situation in South Africa indicates that the government is imposing Quotas on Chinese imports with intent to influence the South Africa retailers to buy from local suppliers (Sandrey & Fundra, 2008). The quotas have encouraged the major retailers in South Africa to procure more from local suppliers than ever before given the growth in their collective businesses over the last four years. Preliminary investigation between the retailers and clothing manufacturers confirm the retailers’ expectations that local companies will be unable to make up the expected shortfall the quotas will inflict, even where there is some excess capacity locally, retailers are convinced the local companies will not match the current price, quality or fashionability South African consumers currently enjoy (Edcon, 2006)
The study aims to assess if the strategic alliances and partnerships can improve the situation that the South African clothing retailers is facing, the above statement indicates that

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