Apparel Wholesale Vendors Behind Smarter Clothing Sourcing

Discovering apparel wholesale vendors seems simple until a clothing business begins to sort through actual orders. Pictures of the products only reveal part of the equation. Consumption of fabric, minimum order quantities, rates, shipping, sizing, replenishment, and inventory risk must also be taken into account. A vendor selling at an enticing rate may produce greater costs down the road through variability in quality as well as sluggish restocking.

Selecting the appropriate source begins with the method of business in which a clothing line is being sold. A boutique that has little storage space requires a different wholesale model than a mature company purchasing hundreds of items at once. Recognizing this can make sourcing more economical and efficient.

Start With the Type of Wholesale Supply You Need

Independents who carry ready-stock are most suitable for store who want to clear inventory fast. Because designers choose from already-developed styles, stock colors, and available sizes without a demand for a complete product development process, ready stock is helpful for store who might want to test a new category prior to a greater development.

The third option is often created by private-label suppliers. Here, retailers bring an existing garment and simply affix their own labels, hangtags, packaging, colors or chosen styling details. This approach allows a business to have greater control of its brand without needing to create an entirely new garment from scratch.

Custom manufacturers push it a step further. The brand can choose fabrics, measurements, construction, prints, embroidery, trims and packing according to the product concept. The lead time is longer but the product can offer a much better differentiation in the market.

Stock Clothing Works When Speed Matters

Speed is often a lure for ready-stock wholesale to small retailers. Within a short time, a buyer can makes an order, receives stock, Photograph around the products and set to sell.

But there are similar products in various stores. Retailers have a higher price, photography, merchandising and customer experience pressure as the product differentiated.

Another aspect to consider is stock availability. Inquire if they keep stock of hot selling lines, how many sizes they offer, and if the same line will be available when the current stock is sold out. Best sellers tend to become hard to keep up with once they sell well.

Private Label Changes the Buying Decision

In the case where the retailer depending on the brand image wants the consumer to remember the product and not where it was purchased, the brand identity becomes even more critical. Private labels allow a product to be part of a more regular collection.

Customization may be more than placing a logo. Buyers can negotiate labels and hangtags, packaging, colors, choice of fabrics, specifications, embroidery, printing, et cetera, depending on the supplier.

Before ordering, establish which parts the vendor can modify. It‘s one supplier who only has the skill for labels and packaging, and it‘s another supplier, who has the production ability for changing the piece of clothing itself.

Custom Production Requires Better Specifications

Specifications are important at the point that a buyer enters custom production, otherwise an un-qualified estimate- e.g. “make the hoodie heavier”- leaves too much open for speculation.

Rather, give quantifiable data: fabric content, fabric weight selection, color reference, measurement chart, stitching specifications, rib design, decoration technique, and packaging instructions.

Samples offer the primary chance to verify the supplier‘s interpretation of the original design concept. Examine the fabric hand, garment dimensions, construction, decoration, trimmings and general presentation prior to allowing production of the bulk order.

MOQ Should Match Your Sales Strategy

Minimum order quantity: can significantly affect the cost of a bulk purchase. Some suppliers have a minimum order requirement on the style/color/size, others have a minimum # per carton, may apply to the entire order.

The new retailers usually look for lower MOQ because of their desire of minimizing inventory risk. This strategy makes sense when they still have to find what kind of products customers want.

Existing brands may also have different MOQs. Good selling brands tend to get a higher MOQ as they are more likely to find buyers for the A/B stock. And, established popular brands could purchase in greater quantities- lower risk of unsold stock.

Instead of automatically selecting the lowest minimum, find out what volume would be equivalent to the anticipated sales. One cannot justify ordering 500 units to gain a lower unit price when only 100 units would be feasible to sell.

Compare the Real Cost Not Just the Unit Price

It is also important to remember that list prices are not necessarily the final prices, but the only the one part. When marketing internationally additional costs may be introduced by the buyer like: freight, import taxes and tariffs, customs, insurance, local delivery costs.

Shipping needs to be specifically looked at when looking at raw overseas suppliers. A lower garment cost supplier may still have a higher landed cost, depending on the shipping charges and customs duty.

A third element is inventory turn over. Unsold stock has a cash flow implication and lost cash flow if slow moving by colour or size.

Samples Reveal Problems Before Bulk Orders

Physical samples can show things that can‘t be conveyed in photographs. Fabric weight and hand feel, stitching, measurements, quality of zippers and buttons, placement of print, embroidery details, labelling and finishing should be examined carefully.

Sizing is of particular importance. When possible, use your own size charts rather than the S, M, L designators on the pattern.

Washing is another helpful test in the case of clothing items. Shrinkage, color fastness, resilience of fabric, print fastness, and the shape of the product can be affected by washing.

It is much less expensive to test these details in the small quantity before the shipment than to find out that there were problems with the production after hundreds of pieces arrive in your warehouse.

Consistent Quality Matters After the First Order

On the other hand, consistency becomes a high priority when the retailer begins to reorder a medium or high-volume style. The customer expects it to have the same fit, fabric hand, color, and construction.

The second order may reveal faults that were so far not shown up by the previous shipment. The fabric weight may have increased or decreased, the size may have moved, the color may have shifted, the trim may have been sourced elsewhere.

Quality control therefore must have defined standards to compare against. Ensure the garments have approved samples, measurement specifications, fabric information, colour references and decoration details in order to have a baseline for future production.

Communication Can Affect Your Wholesale Margin

Simple communication can avoid surprisingly costly mistakes. Failed communications about a measurement or color reference can result in wrong production, additional shipping, rework, or stalled launches.

The written specs will provide more focus for both sides. For example, drawing of the product, dimension table, fabric specification, sample approved, packing details and the order quantity should be consistent with the final production contract.

Time zones. Serving international buyers also presents sourcing issues. Being able to respond quickly can be beneficial if a retailer requires an urgent change to be confirmed at the last minute or a manufacturing query to be cleared up before moving on to another stage.

Test a Vendor With a Small Order

THE FIRST ORDER. For example, the first order should do more than carry inventory. It should provide the buyer with a tool for easily evaluating the supplier.

The actual purchase helps to assess Response speed, order accuracy, packaging, delivery, uniformity of the product and trouble shooting.

Tester orders can minimize risk before the retailer spends a lot of money. If a vendor performs well on a smaller order then they have a better chance to get bigger and more regular orders.

Choose a Vendor That Fits Your Next Stage

Growth alters sourcing needs. When an existing retailer scales up, the purchase needs are different. He will have need for more private labeling, development to specifications, sourcing fabrics, repeat production, etc.

Ultimately product development can surpass wholesale buying and become an end in itself. When a specific fit and product becomes established, long term branding power can be achieved through measurements, fabrics, construction etc.

Long term sourcing also relies on replenishment. A good product is of no use if the vendor cannot deliver the same specifications or quality again to the shop when the retailer needs to make a new development.

JiuvelWear is managed by Dongguan Jiuzuo Clothing Co., Ltd. It provides clothing companies with customized clothing development including fabric sourcing and sampling and bulk production and performance.