Background to Report / Scenario You are an importer and retailer of sports footwear products and are based in the USA. You sell trainers to the 18-34 years old American market who are passionate about sports, fitness and health. Your current supplier of trainers is based in Hong Kong. In view of the political uncertainty in Hong Kong, you are seeking an alternative supplier outside Hong Kong. Your Managing Director has identified a potential new supplier based in Paris (France) and is looking to establish a business relationship with them. You are due to go overseas next month to visit this potential supplier in France to inspect their premises and operations. As part of this on-site visit, you will be examining the extent to which this potential supplier engages in both the ethical and sustainable sourcing of raw materials for their trainers and in sustainable manufacturing practices. Furthermore, your Managing Director is considering expanding into serving overseas markets. However, before they can select any particular market to expand into, they need an insight into how social media platforms can be used to support business-to-consumer relationship development within the sports footwear industry.

QUESTION

1. Discussion of how sports footwear manufacturers can ensure that their global supply chain activities adhere to business practices that are ethically informed and sustainable, including the importance of being legally compliant with all operational practices associated with workers' rights within the sport footwear industry's global supply chain.