what’s working
A Stitch In Time
A Pacific Northwest icon leverages its historic past to build for the future.
Pendleton Woolen Mills started making wholesale fabric almost 150 years ago, but is now faced with reinventing itself
as a retailer. By making strategic investments in technology, the company’s core manufacturing competencies are still
paying off, giving Pendleton a significant competitive advantage in a marketplace dominated by overseas competition.
Tom Layson
The American ideal of free speech is
alive and well at Pendleton Woolen Mills’
Washougal manufacturing plant, but if
you dare mention the word, “itchy,” the
reprimand is immediate.
Replacing old ideas about wool
clothing — how it feels, how it’s made
and what fashion niches it can occupy —
has required a lot of time and attention
over the years as Pendleton works to
make the transition from a wholesale
fiber and fabric supplier to a cutting edge,
consumer-facing retail company.
After more than 100 years of operation,
constant change has been the rule rather
than the exception.
the manufacturing side
“We see having our own mills
as a major competitive advantage.”
Charles Bishop represents the
fifth generation of Bishop family
— Bill Lawrence, CEO, Pendleton Woolen Mills
ownership. While his ancestors
would certainly recognize the raw
wool coming into the loading docks, they would probably be lost in the rest of the plant.
“We’ve had to really invest in technology in order to improve quality, reduce costs and
reduce the time to market,” said Bishop, vice president of mill operations. According to Bis