Mr. Danny Taragan
President & CEO Bagir Group Ltd.
...and the last political changes made no harm to our relationship.
In an exclusive interview with Mary Christine Joy, Mr. Danny Taragan shares his point of view on the textile industry in general and on Bagir Ltd. as a group.
Synopsis:
Daniel Taragan has been serving Bagir Group as its President and CEO since 2011. He has done his MBA from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and is widely loved and respected for his non-orthodox beliefs. He has contributed immensely in making the company a brand name, not just in Israel, but also in other parts of the world like UK, USA, Germany, and Australia.
Bagir Group is a globally operational group based in Israel. It was established in the year 1961 and specializes in tailored clothing. The company proudly claims that every six men in UK own a suit made by it.
Excerpts:
Leading a giant group in an emerging economy means a lot of responsibility. Can you tell us something about you as a professional? How do you manage work?
When I entered Bagir Group, the first thing I had put on my desk was building a senior experienced management team who are highly motivated. We now have a very professional team and a special organizational structure which gives responsibility to our end market managers who are professionals in their fields and closer to our clients.
What makes your suiting so special and different from the rest in the market?
Our main advantages are: special designs and innovative products, developed by our innovation team, like lightweight suit and many more. Quality control is very important for us, and we are maintaining the highest quality levels in all our production sites.
At present, you have made a mark in markets like USA and UK. Do you have any expansion plans? Are you targeting the emerging economies as well like India and China?
Our markets, except the two that you mentioned, are in Germany, Israel, and Australia as well. We have production cooperation in China and sourcing in India. Both of our partners are selling in China and India, and we are exploring the option of expanding this cooperation to marketing.
How do you see the future of the textile industry in Israel? Do you think it will go a long way ahead in the global textile industry?
The textile industry needs very hands-on production and fits especially well to developed countries. Israel is not one of them. But, Research and Development (R&D) and innovative designs are a part of Bagir Group Israel.
The team in Israel has evolved considerably, since 1961, and has many years of knowledge and experience. This team is the engine that makes our company so special and successful.
You only seem to be concentrating on formal business wear. Is there any particular reason?
The answer is yes. Few months after joining Bagir Group, I examined the company’s business mission which is being the provider of full service of innovative quality men’s tailoring for premium private labels and brands.
We are getting so many offers that some of them are declined since they are not meeting our business mission scope – we are always being focused in our professionalism which puts us in the best position.
As far as our research is concerned, we could hardly find any brands from emerging economies making a mark in the international arena. But you have succeeded in doing this to a certain extent. You yourself claim that one in every six men in UK own a suiting made by the Bagir Group. How did you make that possible? Do you have suggestions to give to other brands from emerging economies?
Our company’s strength is in offering customers variety. We are into making different styles, both for the more conservative customers and for those of our customers for whom the design is more important. You can find our company in very different markets and segments of fashion and co-operates in Germany, UK, USA, and Australia. Once one of the segments is reduced, we have the knowledge to compensate in many ways. The power of innovation and great service we supply to the British market in the last 40 years made this happen.
You seemed to have tied up with many retail brands all over the world. Is that a marketing strategy you employ in order to attract customers?
Our company is a provider which supplies a full service starting from sourcing and design, and ending by delivery. This way of working is like a restaurant's menu which gives our clients the ability to choose the best options for them. Some of them taking only the production and others take design and even packing and delivery. We are also dealing with corporate wear. We deal with everything that can give an added value.
Do you think that the countries nearby like Jordan and others pose a threat to the Israeli textile industry?
We see this as a big opportunity, our old partners are in these developing countries and the last political changes made no harm to our relationship.
Do you suppose all the talk about free trade between India and Israel will help the textile industry of Israel in anyway?
As far as I know, the last visit of the Indian textile delegation was not from the tailored clothing sector. If there will be any changes in this field, we are happy to investigate the Indian factories and do what is necessary to make them suitable to our market. We are looking for free trade between India and Europe, as well.
Published on: 08/03/2013
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
