Market for Item-Level RFID in Fashion Apparel and Footwear Will Nearly Triple by 2014 According to ABI Research

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
RFID`s ability to help apparel companies do more with less in the wake of
economic downturn is driving an unprecedented surge in adoption throughout the
sector.

Global sales of item-level RFID systems to apparel companies will essentially
triple in size over the next five years, approaching $125 million by the end of
2014.

"RFID`s use in the apparel sector represents the greatest near-term opportunity
for business improvements and fewest impediments to growth in the retail
industry," says ABI Research's RFID practice director Michael J. Liard. "A
quick, demonstrable ROI and key business metrics for adoption have been clearly
established and the results of nearly all evaluations conducted have been
compelling. As a result, market activity is brisk and promising, especially
among early-adopter specialty apparel retailers."

According to a new Research Brief from ABI Research, item-level RFID systems
have become a key competitive advantage and business process automation
differentiator for apparel companies due to their ability to drive increased
sales and facilitate significant labor cost reductions by providing improved
inventory visibility.

Previously limited to a small number of large-volume pilot tests, adoption of
item-level RFID is beginning to permeate throughout the apparel sector and is
increasingly evolving into full-scale implementations. According to Liard,
"While installations at Marks and Spencer in the UK, American Apparel in the US,
and Charles Vögele in Switzerland remain the largest contributors to market
growth, scores of companies are now in various stages of implementation. RFID in
fashion apparel is undoubtedly here and now."

The new Research Brief, "RFID Item-Level Tagging in Fashion and Apparel"
(http://www.abiresearch.com/research/1002645) quantifies the potential for
deployments of item-level tagging in the fashion apparel and footwear sector
over the next five years and identifies some of the main forces currently
driving market growth. Other topics discussed include recent technological and
product innovation, results reported from recent pilot tests and deployments,
key vendor evaluation criteria, and market opportunity by geographic region.

It forms part of the firm`s RFID Research Service
(http://www.abiresearch.com/products/service/RFID_Research_Service) which also
includes other Research Briefs, Research Reports, Market Data, ABI Vendor
Matrices, ABI Insights, and analyst inquiry support.

ABI Research provides in-depth analysis and quantitative forecasting of emerging
trends in global connectivity. From offices in North America, Europe and Asia,
ABI Research`s worldwide team of experts advise thousands of decision makers
through 25 research and advisory services. Est. 1990. For more information visit
www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500.

ABI Research
Christine Gallen, +1-516-624-2542
pr@abiresearch.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009