What to look for in a clothing wholesaler when starting a brand
One of the most important practical considerations associated with starting a new clothing brand is finding a clothing wholesaler. You’ll likely have started off with far more idealistic, less logistically-oriented concerns, but the wholesaler you end up choosing really can make or break your business. Starting a brand that succeeds relies on you looking for the right wholesaler.
Knowing what to look for in your search will, obviously, make things a lot easier. From appropriate minimum order sizes to customisation, these are a few things to keep an eye on. If you are starting a brand that requires clothing samples, these tips should help you find the best supplier and avoid pitfalls.
Moderate minimum order sizes
If you’re just starting your clothing brand, you may not be ready to make large orders. You’ll want to make sure that the suppliers you’re considering using can accept smaller orders, allowing you to test out designs and assess demand without having to risk lots of unsold stock. Unsold stock will, of course, cost your brand unnecessarily so it is important to try and reduce these where you can with smaller minimum orders.
Consistent quality
Quality is one of the most important things to assess. The quality of the garments that you sell will directly impact how people perceive your brand, and will have a fundamental impact on your business’s success.
Make sure that you order some samples from suppliers before committing to a complete order, and consider washing those samples a few times to see how they withstand regular usage and wear. The reputation of your brand will rely on good quality products that last. It is no use having products that look amazing but start falling apart after one or two washes!
Clear pricing
The price at which you get your garments will have a direct impact on how you price your items to your own customers, and will influence the kinds of profit margins you can expect.
Make sure that you understand all of the fees involved, including any setup fees, sample costs, and shipping or customs charges. Factor all of this into the cost per garment, and then figure out whether or not that leaves you with an acceptable margin, once you’ve factored in all of your other operating costs.
Consistent lead times
For smaller brands in particular that are more likely to need to place irregular, small orders as customer demand ebbs and flows, it’s critical that you find a supplier with consistent lead times and reliable stock.
You absolutely don’t want to find yourself consistently running low on stock and not being able to sell your most popular items. This will obviously limit how much you’re able to sell, but it can also end up having a negative impact on how people perceive your brand. Check reviews as well as asking their lead times because this is really important.
Customisation
Lastly, if you’re looking to sell customised items, it’s worth checking whether your clothing wholesaler might also be able to do that for you.
Suppliers like Screen Textiles can customise the items they provide you with using embroidery or screen printing techniques, which could be perfect.
Combining your customisation provider with your wholesale provider can make this a bit easier, and potentially a little cheaper, which might be especially attractive for a new brand.
Finding the right clothing wholesaler when starting a brand is pretty simple, but you really do want to put in the effort when doing your due diligence. The option you go with can have a big impact on multiple areas of your business, from brand perception to your actual profit margins, and you want to get it right the first time around.
