How to Buy Wholesale Clothing

Market Research

Before you start purchasing, you need to thoroughly understand your target market's preferences. This involves figuring out who your customers are, what they prefer in terms of fashion, and how much they're willing to spend in your store.

Additionally, analyze what your competitors are offering. Understanding their product selection, pricing strategy, and promotional activities provides valuable insights and helps you identify gaps in the market or areas for potential differentiation.

Finding Suppliers

For most people, the internet is their go-to starting point, but if you search "where to buy clothes in bulk for resale," you're going to get millions of results. Fortunately, there are a few approaches that work a whole lot better.

Evaluating Suppliers

Reliability is essential when choosing a supplier. Check online reviews, request customer testimonials, and ask for references to evaluate their reputation and dependability. Consider factors like their track record for on-time deliveries, their response times to queries, and their ability to handle order issues or returns. Pro Tip: Be mindful of where the supplier is located. Their prices may be amazing, but if their products are being shipped from overseas, you may lose sales while waiting for your shipment to arrive.

Quality is also paramount when selecting a wholesale supplier. Ask the supplier to provide samples so you can assess the quality of the clothing. Consider the materials, craftsmanship, and overall durability of the samples provided.

Finally, ensure that the supplier's pricing fits within your budget and allows for a profitable markup on resale. While it's important to negotiate favorable terms, always be mindful of the balance between cost and quality to maintain customer satisfaction.

Negotiating With Suppliers

Negotiating with suppliers is a critical step in the wholesale buying process that leads to better prices and helps to establish a stronger relationship with your clothing supplier, which is beneficial for future transactions. Here's how you can navigate the negotiation process:

Leverage Order Quantity

The quantity of your order is a powerful lever in negotiating better prices. Suppliers will often lower their prices for larger orders because it guarantees them significant sales and reduces the inventory they need to manage.

Flexible Payment Terms

Offering to pay sooner than standard terms can sometimes incentivize suppliers to offer you a discount. If upfront payment isn't viable, negotiate for extended payment terms that could help ease your cash flow. For instance, instead of net 30, you might propose net 45 or 60, giving you more time to sell the inventory before the bill is due.

Highlight Ongoing Business Potential

If you plan to order regularly, make this clear to the supplier. Ongoing business can be a tempting incentive for them to offer you better pricing. Outline your future business plans and how the supplier fits into these plans.

Be Informed and Respectful

Come into negotiations well-informed about standard industry pricing and practices. This knowledge will help you understand when a supplier is offering fair terms and when there's room to ask for more. Always maintain professionalism and respect in your communications.

Terms of Sale

Before agreeing to any terms, thoroughly understand the supplier's return policy. This includes conditions under which items can be returned, who bears the cost of shipping returned items, and the timeframe for accepting returns.

Shipping Costs & Logistics

Shipping costs can add a substantial amount to your total purchase. Discuss these details up front to find out if you can consolidate shipments to save on transportation costs or if the supplier offers any concessions for bulk shipping. Also, consider the logistics of delivery: Does the supplier ensure shipments through reputable carriers and provide tracking information?

Maximizing Your Purchases

Effective purchasing strategies go beyond just finding the right suppliers and negotiating prices. Here's how you can optimize your buying process:

Buy Off-Season

One strategic approach to buying wholesale is to purchase out-of-season merchandise. Suppliers often discount last season's items to clear out their warehouses for new stock. These discounts are offered because the demand for off-season items is typically lower, and suppliers are eager to liquidate old stock.

Stay Updated

Most wholesalers and manufacturers send out newsletters to their clients, which include information on upcoming sales, new arrivals, and special promotions. By subscribing to these newsletters, you'll be informed of the best times to buy and get access to deals that aren't always advertised publicly.

Following your suppliers on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter can also provide a wealth of information. This direct line of communication allows you to react quickly to any opportunities that arise, ensuring you don't miss out on low-price offers.

Reasons to Choose Wholesale Accessory Market (WAM)

Here's why WAM should be your go-to choice for stocking up on stylish and affordable women's apparel: