Coats plc is the world's largest sewing thread and needlecraft supplies manufacturer, processor, and distributor, with 22,000 employees and plants in more than 65 countries while the company's products are sold in 150 countries.
History
In 1755 James and Patrick Clark began a
loom equipment and
silk thread business in
Paisley, Scotland. In 1806 Patrick Clark invented a way of twisting
cotton threads together to substitute for silk threads which were unavailable due to France's blockade of Great Britain and opened the first plant for manufacturing the cotton thread in 1812.
In 1802 James Coats set up a weaving business, also in Paisley. In 1826 he opened a cotton mill at Ferguslie to produce his own thread and, when he retired in 1830, his sons, James & Peter, took up the business under the name of J. & P. Coats.
Operations
Coats plc does business under different names in different countries but most variations include "Coats". For example, in the U.S., it does business as "Coats & Clark, Inc." (consumer) and "Coats American, Inc." (industrial). In the UK and Ireland, it does business as "Coats (UK) Ltd", in Canada as "Coats Canada Inc" (and has an industrial subsidiary "Coats Bell"), and as "Coats Australian Pty Ltd" in Australia. Coats in Egypt does business as "Coats Egypt".
Products
Coats makes and sells thread, zips, yarn, speciality textiles and related goods.
Speciality
Coats sells a comprehensive product range catering to the needs industries such as footwear, mattresses, quilting, automotive, outdoor and camping goods and furniture. Coats' efforts to improve quality are highlighted by the fact that all key operational units are accredited with
TS16949,
ISO9001, Ford Q1 Mark, SATRA Quality Mark and many more.
Zips
Coats claims to be the second largest zip (or
zipper) manufacturer in the world. Under the OPTI brand, Coats offers a wide range of zips suitable for all kinds of industrial applications in the apparel and speciality sectors, as well as for craft and home sewing usage.
Crafts
Coats has the largest market share in the world of needlecrafts.
Coats' combined traditional craft methods combined with the computer aided designs and technology to develop a wide range of products for a variety of needlecrafts both for the expert and the beginner.
Brands
Dual Duty Plus
Red Heart
TLC
Anchor
J & P Coats
South Maid
Susan Bates
Aunt Lydia
Milward Henry Milward & Sons
Prym
Sylko
References
Further reading
Kim, Dong-Woon. "From a Family Partnership to a Corporate Company: J. & P. Coats, Thread Manufacturers," Textile History, Autumn 1994, Vol. 25 Issue 2, pp 185-225
Kim, Dong-Woon. "The British multinational enterprise in the United States before 1914: The case of J. & P. Coats," Business History Review, Winter 1998, Vol. 72 Issue 4, pp 523-52
Kim, Dong-Woon. "J. & P. Coats in Tsarist Russia, 1889-1917," Business History Review, Winter 1995, Vol. 69 Issue 4, pp 465-94
Kininmonth, Kirsten W. "The growth, development and management of J. & P. Coats Ltd, c.1890–1960: An analysis of strategy and structure," Business History Oct2006, Vol. 48 Issue 4, pp 551-579
Knox, William W. Hanging by a Thread: The Scottish Cotton Industry, c. 1850-1914 (1995),
External links
Coats plc official website
Coats & Clark Inc. official website
Guinness Peat Group plc official website
Coats Sewing Solutions official website
Coats Embroidery Design Viewer official website
Category:1755 establishments
Category:Companies established in 1755
Category:Companies established in the 18th century
Category:Textile manufacturers of Scotland
Category:Privately held companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Manufacturing companies of Scotland
Category:Companies based in London
Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange