Abstract

This study explores how quilting and home sewing businesses adapted to the disruptive changes introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. COVID-19 altered home life and business operations in the home sewing industry radically in the spring and summer of 2020, introducing supply chain shocks and disruption of in-person events. Using qualitative analysis of a narrative study of entrepreneurial opportunity alertness and multiple surveys of owners and managers by a sewing and quilting industry organization, this paper considers how the industry responded to disruptive change, embracing the mask making movement, innovating in retail operations, and transitioning to digital spaces.

Presenters

Marie Segares
Assistant Professor, Management and Information Technology, St. Francis College, United States

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

2021 Special Focus - Preparing Organizations for New Digital Futures: New Rules of Engagement for the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

KEYWORDS

Qualitative research, Organizational change, COVID-19, Retail innovation, Small business

Digital Media

Videos