For those who are new to the fashion industry but would like to understand more about the different processes, here is a great place to start. Established fashion wholesalers and manufacturers, Whispering Smith, have provided this handy guide to the process of buying wholesale clothing. Helping those new to the industry and fashion buying understand the steps involved in buying quality garments for their retail collections.
Finding an established fashion wholesaler
The first step in the buying process, if not already done, is finding an established fashion wholesaler to buy wholesale clothing from. When searching for a wholesaler there are several points you should be aware of.
Some fashion wholesalers choose to sell all their clothing online, while others combine this with a mixture of trade shows, their own showrooms, and online directories. There are a lot of clothing wholesalers out there, so it is important to consider what you want and how much you wish to pay for it.
It is important that you vet wholesale clothing suppliers so you know exactly what they offer. This includes asking about their MOQ (minimum order quantity) and shipping fees. Another important thing to ask about is delivery times. If a wholesale supplier is located outside of your home country, they may have specific delivery times for shipping abroad that you should be aware of. This will help you when it comes to placing an order, knowing exactly when to order so that the clothing arrives to you when you require it.
Consider upcoming fashion trends
If you want to keep your retail collection in line with fashion trends, it is important you do some research into this before ordering anything from a wholesaler.
This is where predictive forecasting comes into play. Looking back at recent trends and considering current trends to make your predictions for upcoming seasons. By doing so, you will be able to create a schedule for what you should buy and when you should buy it. This forecasting may also help you when it comes to deciding the quantities of each garment. Buying 400 women’s leather trousers, for example, is only sensible if you know they will sell.
Shop for wholesale clothing
Now you can start shopping for your wholesale clothing. With a reliable wholesale supplier and a plan in mind, this process shouldn’t be difficult. Now is your chance to browse and explore a wide range of men’s, women’s, and kids’ wholesale clothing to find fashion pieces that will work in your retail store or on your e-commerce website.
Most fashion wholesale sites will require you to sign up with an account to begin placing orders. Many will also assign a dedicated account manager, who will work to help you with your orders, order queries, and deliveries.
As you were able to find out the minimum order quantity when finding your chosen fashion wholesaler, you should know the minimum number of clothing pieces you can order at one time. If you are planning to place a large order, your wholesaler may even offer discounts on shipping.
