Nowadays small business owners are concerned about how to find wholesale clothing distributors for their businesses. A wholesaler is a business owner who buys products from the manufacturers and sells them to other businesses. The wholesaler does not operate a store; instead, they supply the inventory to your small business for selling to your clients.
Whether you're running a brick and mortar company or an e-commerce shop, wholesale distributors play an important role in linking suppliers and store owners.
How To Find Wholesale Clothing Distributors To Supply Your Small Businesses
You can operate as a small business with one or more wholesale clothing distributors. Yet it can be difficult to find the best one to work with. You will have to locate a wholesale clothing distributor who will:
- Connect you to the suppliers and goods that your company needs
- Have prices to afford
- Serve your geographical area
- Is reliable, dependable and easy to work with
You need to study what type of goods you are offering before you can find the best wholesale clothing distributor to work with. Once you are aware of what you are looking for, you can start looking for the right wholesaler to supply your clothing business.
1. Study The Distribution Channel of Your Industry
There are many ways to carry a product from the manufacturer to the retailer. Let’s discuss 4 types of distribution channels…
Manufacturer: You can buy directly from the manufacturer for some of the goods. Boutique stores usually buy from small manufacturers (sometimes one person).
Importer / Exclusive Distributor: An enterprise may have the sole right to import and distribute a product in a particular country. Some may sell to retailers directly and others may sell to smaller local wholesalers who will sell to retail stores further.
Wholesaler / National Distributor: National wholesalers typically take delivery of boxcar-sized lots and market them to local wholesalers who distribute them to small businesses.
Jobbers: These people make daily deliveries to local retail clothing stores.
2. Try First With The Manufacturers
Paying the wholesalers will cut your profit. You should start at the root to remove intermediaries from the equation to maximize your profit.
If you are selling branded items, go straight to the product manufacturer. Depending on their minimum order criteria, they could sell to you. If you are too small for them, or they sell only through established channels of distribution, ask them for a list of reputable distributors that you can contact.
The fewer people you have to go through, the lower your cost will be. Thus you’ll make yourself more competitive in the marketplace.
Related topic: How To Find Wholesale Clothing Manufacturers
3. Be More Specific In Online Searches
Do not just look for general wholesale clothing distributors when you are doing an online search. Be sure to include your products or niche keywords. Experiment with product names, model numbers, and brand names. If any of the possible distributors you want to encounter but do not have readily available an email address or telephone number, you can do a WHOIS search to find the contact details of the website owner.
The more potential wholesalers you find, the better you will be able to compare the shop and get a sense of what the normal prices of the industry are, as well as having competitive quotes.
4. Have Good Relationship With Wholesale Supplier
Start contacting wholesale clothing distributors, either using the manufacturer's database, phonebook lists, or a wholesale directory you would like to find out:
- Their minimum requirements on order
- Their prices for wholesales units
- The region where they provide
You can make this initial contact by telephone or email, then follow up by telephone if you need more information or want to move on. Be honest about what you're looking for and don't try to sound bigger than your capability.
Let's discuss our wholesale clothing store JNNA. JNNA is the fastest growing wholesale clothing store in the USA. We are providing styles that are ready to wear from everyday lifestyle to elegant occasions. We are specialized in women’s tops, dresses, bottoms, sweaters and outerwear mostly for the young contemporary. We are providing service from the heart of California, Los Angeles. You are invited to experience the innovative creative styles with JNNA.
5. Look For Wholesale Lots on Alibaba
Alibaba's business model is different from those of other players like eBay and Amazon. It focused more on business-to-business(B2B) trade. Unlike the normal business-to-consumer(B2C) approach, Alibaba focuses on being a forum for manufacturers to sell goods in bulk at wholesale rates to small or medium-sized companies around the world who then resell them in their domestic markets in retail.
Related topic: How To Buy Wholesale Clothing
6. Keep Updated With Major B2B Marketplaces
There are several large online B2B marketplaces where you can buy huge numbers of products at low prices. Like Alibaba.com some of the other largest B2B marketplaces including clothing manufacturers, importers and wholesale clothing distributors have been mentioned below:
- Global Sources (USA)
- Buyer Zone (USA)
- EC21 (Korea)
- EC Plaza (Korea)
Look for a marketplace serviceable to your country or region. There are also industry-specific B2B marketplaces; these can serve either a single country or a global retail population.
If you are looking for wholesale women’s clothing marketplaces, we’ll recommend our marketplace Stylepick from Los Angeles, CA, USA. Stylepick is an online wholesale fashion marketplace dedicated to inspire manufacturers and the best wholesale women's clothing vendors through the combination of trendy styles and user friendly web interface. It is a virtual fashion district for all vendors and retailers globally. Established in Los Angeles, Stylepick offers experiential wholesale environments and a mix of the latest and top wholesale women's clothing from different vendors like J.nna, Blue B, Day & Night, Hers & Mine, Davi & Dani, Spotlite and many more.
7. Enter Business Associations, Forums & Other Networks of Professionals
Small business owners with more experience in your industry or niche are often the best source of wholesaler knowledge. Other retailers will probably not be eager to share information about the supplier with competitors. Invest time in networking to develop the trust and connections to help you find the best wholesale suppliers for your small company.
Participate in online forums that can be a great source of free information, and get help from other people with market or industry experience. You can also develop your LinkedIn profile, subscribe to industry newsletters and join your local Chamber of Commerce or small business networking groups to build your professional connections.
8. Join A Trade Show
Trade shows are one of the most powerful ways to build and grow your business. Those events are designed to link retailers with wholesale clothing distributors and manufacturers.
Trade shows allow you to meet and converse in a single day with dozens of wholesalers or manufacturers. These face-to-face conversations often avoid misinformation or difficulties in communication that may arise when contacting people online.
Trade Show News Network is the biggest online tradeshow index. You can search for a trade show by name of industry, date, city, country or state and/or event.
9. Subscribe to Fashion Trade Publications
Trade magazines are a wealth of business and relationship information in your sector. Nearly every advertiser in the magazine will be a product manufacturer or distributor looking to reach you, and the names of dozens of wholesale clothing distributors or small clothing manufacturers may be given by a single issue of a fashion magazine.
Subscribe to online newsletters and blogs, as well as fashion magazines. These are often the best way to keep updated through the news from the industry daily or weekly.
10. Don't Worry About Making A Mistake
Your first wholesale clothing distributor may not be a long-term provider for you. Creating your perfect supply chain is an evolution which involves many trials and errors.
Your first goal is to get a product delivered. Then, while you continue to build and grow your business, you can improve your bottom line by trying other wholesale clothing distributors.
Source: https://stylepick.net/blog
FAQs
How do I find my local wholesale vendor? ›
- Check Online Directories for Wholesale Suppliers. ...
- Attend Local & International Trade Shows. ...
- Subscribe to Your Industry's Trade Publications. ...
- Go to Google. ...
- Use the US Customs Database. ...
- Research Business Directories in Your Local Library.
- Alanic. First on our alphabetical list of best wholesale clothing vendors is US-based Alanic. ...
- Bloom Wholesale. ...
- Boulevard Apparel. ...
- Chase USA International. ...
- City Goddess. ...
- Direct Discount Clothing. ...
- Influence Fashion Wholesale. ...
- LA Showroom.
Attend networking events and trade shows to meet interested investors. Launch an email marketing campaign to reach large numbers at a time. Start a direct mail campaign searching for potential buyers. Hand out business cards to anyone you meet, letting them know what you are looking for.
How do you reach out to suppliers? ›- Be informed. ...
- Straight talk. ...
- Ask questions. ...
- Give your vendor time to answer. ...
- Broach the money subject. ...
- Set clear expectations. ...
- Address issues. ...
- Don't ask for the impossible.
Other options for finding wholesale suppliers include: Going to an industry trade show and connecting with wholesale suppliers in person. Joining social media groups for your niche and talking shop with other merchants. Joining trade organizations for your product to see if any names come up.
What is the difference between wholesaler and distributor? ›A distributor works closely with a manufacturer in order to sell more goods and gain better visibility on these goods. Distributors find wholesalers who will resale their products. A wholesaler works more closely with retailers to match their needs through buying products in bulk at a discount.
How do I find a distributor for my clothing line? ›- Understand Your Industry's Distribution Channels. ...
- Try the Manufacturer First. ...
- Have a Productive First Contact With a Wholesale Supplier. ...
- Get Specific in Online Searches. ...
- Look for Wholesale Lots on eBay.
If you are wondering if you can put your label on wholesale clothing? The answer is yes. However, there are legal parameters you must follow. After purchasing clothing items from a manufacturer, it becomes yours, and you can do whatever you wish.
Where can I buy quality clothes wholesale? ›- Wholesale 7. Wholesale7 is one of the reputed China-based reliable wholesale clothing vendor. ...
- Emma Cloth. ...
- Brands Gateway. ...
- MX Wholesale. ...
- Bloom Wholesale. ...
- Magnolia Fashion. ...
- Parisian Wholesale.
- Step 1: Do your research. ...
- Step 2: Build a buyers list. ...
- Step 3: Find deals to market. ...
- Step 4: Graduate to buying property. ...
- Step 5: Find financing. ...
- Step 6: Have an exit strategy.
Can a normal person buy wholesale? ›
The only legal way to buy wholesale without a license is if you're a consumer. If you're a customer of a business that resells wholesale goods to the public, this is not a problem. There are hundreds of wholesale businesses that simply import goods and turn them around at a profit.
Can you buy wholesale without selling? ›There are at least three general options for buying wholesale goods if you do not have a business. You have the option of purchasing as a reseller without having a Sales ID or EIN. The second option is to buy as a reseller with a Sales ID or EIN without having your business registered.
How do I approach a new wholesale vendor? ›You can simply call or email the wholesaler, tell them that you'd like to carry their goods, and ask them how to make a purchase. If you're in the US, they'll probably ask you for your sellers permit for tax purposes and tell you their minimum order requirements. That's it!
How do you start an email to a supplier? ›Hi (Name), Dear (Name), Greetings, or Hi there, (To be used when you don't know the name of the recipient or when you are emailing to company email addresses like 'contact@xyz.com') Hello (Name), [The less formal than a 'dear' and more formal than a 'hi']
How do you know if a wholesaler is real? ›Check Business Reports
Research the company on sites such as Better Business Bureau (BBB), Ripoff Report, or Scam.com. The BBB can help verify the legal status of the company and will provide information on any claims of fraud.
- Look into wholesalers for dropshipping.
- Search online for the best wholesale suppliers.
- Read the label.
- Ask the manufacturers.
- Ask your network how to find wholesale suppliers.
- Media.
- Trade shows.
- Online whole directories.
Distribution channels include wholesalers, retailers, distributors, and the Internet. In a direct distribution channel, the manufacturer sells directly to the consumer. Indirect channels involve multiple intermediaries before the product ends up in the hands of the consumer.
Who earns more distributor or wholesaler? ›In fact, wholesale is more profitable to maximize profits. Wholesale offers a lower purchase price, which means "the more you buy, the cheaper the price" for expanding the business scale, which is an advantage that retail does not have. The premise is to choose wholesale suppliers with a competitive advantage.
What is distributor pricing? ›Pricing is the process by which a distributor or wholesaler sets the price at which they will sell their products, and is one of the 4 elements of the business's marketing plan. Normally, the distribution companies set a base price based on the cost of acquiring or manufacturing the products, multiplied by a factor.
How do I find the best distributor? ›- Run a Google Search.
- Check Wholesale Marketplaces.
- Subscribe To Industry Publications.
- Read the Label.
- Join Online Communities and Associations.
- Attend a Trade Show.
- Ask for Referrals.
- Evaluate Their Business Operations.
Where does Shein buy their clothes from? ›
Shein is from China, but Shein clothes can come from all over the globe. In short, Shein produces its clothes in generic wholesale factories to keep its costs at a minimum. While this allows you to buy clothes at dirt-cheap prices, it poses an ethical dilemma.
Who is Gucci distributor? ›Kering (French: [kɛːʁiŋ]) is a French-based multinational corporation specializing in luxury goods. It owns the brands Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Yves Saint Laurent. Kering S.A.
How much money do you need to start a clothing line? ›How much does it cost to start a clothing line? Like any business of any size, the startup costs will depend on how large you want the business to start out. A small clothing business will need about $500, a medium-sized line between $1,000 and $5,000, and a large line might need up to $50,000.
How much money do you need to start a clothing label? ›Startup costs can vary greatly across different clothing lines, but in general, a small-sized clothing line will need a minimum of $500 to get started, a medium-sized line should have between $1,000 to $5,000 for startup costs and a large line will need approximately $25,000 to $50,000 upfront.
How much should I mark up wholesale clothing? ›Set your wholesale price
Apparel retail brands typically aim for a 30% to 50% wholesale profit margin, while direct-to-consumer retailers aim for a profit margin of 55% to 65%. (A margin is sometimes also referred to as “markup percentage.”)
How do I buy wholesale clothes for resale? To find wholesale clothing suppliers, you can either opt for in-person opportunities such as trade shows or fashion referrals by your connections. Alternatively, there are online opportunities such as social media networking and B2B online fashion marketplaces such as Whola.
How do I find other wholesale? ›Look for marketing by wholesalers:
Look for bandit signs, billboards, Craigslist ads, Facebook posts, and call the number. Most wholesalers market by advertising they will buy houses fast for cash. Tell them you don't want to sell your house but want to be on their buyer's list.
With an average wholesale assignment fee of around $10,000 per transaction, it doesn't take many deals to quickly earn a respectable income as a wholesaler. Even just closing one deal every two months, an amateur wholesale investor could make around $50,000 in their first year.
How can I be successful wholesale? ›- Be the GURU of your Cash Flow position daily. ...
- Know your Customer. ...
- Keep inventory super organized. ...
- Give your team what they need to succeed. ...
- Don't compete on price, compete on customer service. ...
- Speed up order fulfillment. ...
- Build long-term customers.
Wholesaling Is Lucrative
On average, real estate wholesalers can expect to make between $5,000-$10,000 in commission per property. Once you have a property, a contract, and an interested buyer, this process can move quickly and you can start your business.
Can I start wholesale without any experience? ›
All anyone needs to start wholesaling is drive and fundamentals. If you have the fundamentals and the drive to execute them, then you should be golden.
What is the minimum order for wholesale? ›Most wholesalers set their MOQ terms – say $100, $500 or $1000 – in order to preserve their cash flow and peace of mind. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) simply means the minimum amount your retailer has to spend per order to be able to stock your products at their store.
Can you wholesale without a business? ›Yes, you can wholesale houses without a limited liability company (LLC). However, it is advisable to create an LLC and then wholesale houses. Many wholesalers, unfortunately, make the critical mistake of not creating or procrastinating on setting up an LLC.
Do I need a team for wholesale? ›The nature of the wholesaling industry will require investors to assemble a team of individuals, as to accommodate the increased workload that accompanies expansion. Accordingly, building a wholesale team will allow a respective business to reach its full potential.
How do I start a small business wholesale? ›- Decide what you want to sell.
- Choose a business name and entity.
- Write a business plan.
- Get a wholesale license and other permits.
- Apply for an employer identification number.
- Figure out logistics.
- Expand your product lines and service.
- Increase your marketing efforts.
- Research your local market before getting started.
- Curate a buyers list for your area.
- Secure a financing source that works best for you.
- Begin searching for potential wholesaling properties.
- Decide whether to sell the contract or work on a double closing.
...
- Arming yourself with research. ...
- Practice, practice, practice. ...
- Don't be afraid to express what you want. ...
- Establishing rapport. ...
- Emphasize learning, over selling.
Negotiate
Then, get ready to make an offer on your wholesale deal. You'll want to leave plenty of room for negotiation, so make your initial offer low. Experts recommend anywhere from 40 to 60 percent below the asking price. Just remember, distressed homeowners want to sell their property at the end of the day.
- On your computer, go to Gmail.
- At the top left, click Compose.
- In the "To" field, add recipients. You can also add recipients: In the "Cc" and "Bcc" fields. ...
- Add a subject.
- Write your message.
- At the bottom of the page, click Send.
- Use a descriptive subject line. ...
- Keep your emails short. ...
- Write simple, direct English. ...
- Make sure your reader knows what to do next. ...
- Reduce the amount of email you send. ...
- Don't send heavy attachments. ...
- Be careful what you write in your email. ...
- Check your email before you send it.
How do I write a wholesale proposal letter? ›
- Make a list of businesses to send the letter to. ...
- State the purpose of the letter. ...
- Offer details about the company. ...
- List the benefits. ...
- Offer a follow-up call or price list. ...
- Close the letter.
You can simply call or email the wholesaler, tell them that you'd like to carry their goods, and ask them how to make a purchase. If you're in the US, they'll probably ask you for your sellers permit for tax purposes and tell you their minimum order requirements. That's it!
How do I find a company's vendor? ›Search a company's SEC filings in Edgar Online or LexisNexis. In addition, search the company website. Companies also report information about customers, suppliers and market partners in press releases, conference calls and investor presentations that are found on the company website.
How do I find a vendor master? ›- From the Accounts Payable menu, choose Master records Maintain centrally Display .
- The system displays the initial screen for displaying master data, Display Vendor: Initial screen .
- Enter the account number, the company code and the purchasing organization.