Starting an eCommerce business is an act that will change your financial situation. But one of the problems prospective players often run into is finding the right supplier. The key to your business success depends on how reliable and considerate your supplier is. Get it wrong, and you will find yourself closing sooner than you expect.
In this article, you will not only learn how to search for clothing suppliers, but how to pick the perfect one for your online business. Furthermore, your motivation will be boosted to take action. With that in mind, let’s delve into the business of the day.
Domestic vs. Overseas Suppliers
It is one of the most frequently asked questions by prospective dropshippers. They ask, “Should my wholesale clothing supplier be domestic or overseas?” There is no doubt that both have their cons and pros, but the primary determinant is your products, your values, and your personal preference. Before you settle for any, you must do some research. The supplier that offers a more quality product is the one you should use. Below are some pros and cons of both destinations. It would further help you make the right decision.
Advantages Of Domestic Clothing Suppliers
Since they have their factories domestically, that means shipping time will be minimal
There will be no communication barrier between you and your supplier
The quality of domestic products are often higher
Few mistakes and errors since you’re dealing with local suppliers
Disadvantages Of Domestic Clothing Suppliers
There are a limited amount of products to choose from
Most household products and their high cost is a discouragement
Fewer wholesale clothing suppliers in the USA, compared to places like China and India
Advantages Of Overseas Clothing Suppliers
Low manufacturing cost, compared to manufacturers in the USA
A lot of wholesale vendors to choose from
It is pretty easy to start working with oversea suppliers
Disadvantages Of Overseas Clothing Suppliers
Longer shipping time is one thing that discourages foreign trade
Often find yourself running into issues with customers
Product verification can become a big problem
Language and culture can serve as a considerable barrier, causing you to make mistakes and errors
How To Find The Right Supplier
Online directories
Whether you’re looking for overseas or domestic suppliers, you can search for them through online directories. If you’re seeking for local suppliers, the best route is with Maker’s Row, ThomasNet, or Sqetch. However, if you want overseas suppliers, you can start with Alibaba and Indiamart. If you’re into dropshipping, AliExpress might be the best option. They have a massive list of wholesalers. According to stats, there are over 700,000 suppliers from Asia alone. The products to choose from runs in millions, giving you lots of options.
Search Engine
The search engine giant, Google, is one of the great places to find suppliers. All you need to do is punch in relevant keywords, and it will pull up results. In this case, you can search for ‘wholesale clothing suppliers.” To get a more narrowed search, you can decide to add your location. For instance, “Wholesale Clothing Supplier in the USA.”
Although, due to the Google algorithm, this method can prove to be a hassle. Google rewards websites that are often updated. But since most of these suppliers hardly do such, they will be buried deep in Google Search results. You might need to keep digging deeper to uncover them. If you have plenty of time in your hands, then go ahead and explore.
Word Of Mouth Referrals
Another option you can leverage into finding suppliers is through word of mouth. There are countless people in the eCommerce business – who are always ready to recommend suppliers when called. Contact people who can help you. It cuts down on the stress of having to hunt for them on the internet. If you ask nicely, they are ever ready to help.
Social Media Groups And Forums
If you don’t like the idea of getting recommendations, Facebook groups and forums are another option to explore. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of groups on Facebook dedicated to wholesale clothing.
Most of these groups serve as a community to suppliers and eCommerce business tycoons. A word of caution – try your best to follow the group rules to avoid being kicked out by the admins. Not only would you meet great suppliers, but you will also find lots of resources that would help in your eCommerce journey.
Apart from Facebook groups, there are also lots of forums. Look for discussions on clothing suppliers and vendors and join.
Trade Events
If you have a few bucks, you might need to consider going to trade events in your area. 10times and Trade Show News Network are websites that will help you locate trade shows near you. With this, you will be able to meet the supplier or vendor in person. You can also speak to their representative and sample some of your products. These events come with opportunities; you never can tell how great it will turn out.
What To Look For In A Clothing Supplier
The Minimum Order Quantity
When working with a clothing supplier, you need to find out the minimum order quantity (MOQ). That is the number of items you can purchase at a single order. The MOQ can range from 200 to 2000 products, depending on the supplier.
Shipping time
Another crucial factor to consider is the supplier’s shipping time and methods. For overseas suppliers, shipping time might range from 3 to over 28 days. Choose a fast supplier cause delivering time is what determines if your customers will return to your store or not. Timing is everything in this business, so don’t mess it up.
Affordability
You don’t need a supplier who charges ridiculously high, both in shipping and cost of products. To make money in your eCommerce business, discover a supplier who sells quality and yet, cheap products.
Product quality
The quality of your products is paramount, which is why you need a supplier with quality products. When your customers are dissatisfied, the chances of coming back to your store becomes very slim.
Reliable and honest
Your supplier needs to be trustworthy and dependable. Without these two attributes, the relationship will go sour before you can say, Jack Robinson.
Sample products
You can request a sample from the suppliers, to get a feel of the product. It will help you know what you will be selling to your customers.
Payment terms and method
Last on this list is the supplier’s payment terms. You need to be able to use the payment method after a smooth transaction. If the supplier prefers to receive funds through bitcoin, and unfortunately, you’re not good with it, you can check out the next supplier. Some suppliers, however, prefer a full upfront payment.
Requesting a quote from potential suppliers is what helps in making your final decision. Through such, you get to know more about the supplier and how he operates.
Avoid Being Ignored By Suppliers
Suppliers are always battling with overwhelming emails from flaky buyers who are merely ‘kicking the tires.’ For that, suppliers are often reluctant when it comes to responding to emails. It is a common issue in the eCommerce business.
In other not to make the list of ignored folks, here are a few things you might have to do when you reach out to suppliers.
Long emails
You don’t need to bore the supplier with your story or background. Your email has to be short and concise. Suppliers are mostly interested in what you’re trying to source, and how they can help you get them. So, long mails can be a turn-off.
Too many requests
Too many quotes can overwhelm the supplier, leading to you not receiving the attention that you need. To avoid that, make only a few requests. It is not always easy for suppliers to provide results. Stick to what is important, and you will certainly get a response back.
Asking for too little
Every supplier has their minimum order quantity. When you ask for a quote below the supplier’s MOQ, the chances of being ignored is higher. In other to avoid your email getting ignored, know their minimum order quantity before shooting them an email.
Communicate effectively
If you’re emailing a foreign supplier, you need to learn to communicate comprehensively. Grammar errors and not so clear emails can get ignored. No one has the time to start decoding a head cracking email. Use simple words and avoid using bogus words; you aren’t writing an essay to your English teacher.
Negotiating The Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)
When you have gotten a supplier for the first time, you might want to make some commitment. Every supplier has its unique minimum order quantity, and fortunately, they are negotiable. The purpose is being able to convince the supplier that, indeed, you’re serious about doing business. One of the downsides with MOQ is when you can’t afford the minimum order quantity. It also makes it hard to start small, if the units required runs in their hundreds and thousands.
Before you roll up your sleeves to negotiate, you need first to understand the motive of the supplier. Is such a quantity imposed due to lots of work upfront? Is it because they want to work with big buyers? By understanding the supplier’s motive, you will be able to strike a chord during negotiation.
After grasping the stance of your supplier, you will have a better edge in making a compelling compromise. It could be giving the supplier a large deposit for a large order, but to be delivered in small amounts at a time.
That way, you won’t be taking a horrendous risk. In case the small products ordered aren’t moving as envisioned, you can also switch to another without incurring lost.
Start Your Clothing Business Today
A wise man once said that the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now. If you’re yet to gather the courage and kick off that clothing eCommerce business, now is the appropriate time. Finding a clothing supplier is not a barrier. When your mind’s made up to kick-off, you will be surprised at how everything falls into place.
To keep the passion and motivation burning, you should join an eCommerce community. There are countless Facebook groups that you can join. Such association is bound to keep your focus and on the target.
Choosing a clothing supplier doesn’t have to be hard. There are millions of suppliers on the planet. The difference is finding one that understands your needs and business — someone whose aim is to satisfy and keep the relationship going. There are lots of suppliers who don’t care about their small clients. Others do regardless of order size. You aim to find such reliable, honest, and competent suppliers.
When you have the right supplier, the only thing standing in your way of success will be marketing. If you’re yet to take a marketing course or perhaps, attend a marketing seminar, maybe you need to reconsider.
Wrapping up
That is all for choosing the right clothing supplier. The next logical step expected of you is action. Now is the time to start hunting for that supplier that makes all the difference. The right supplier is fast in delivery, has affordable and high-quality products, and is always reliable whenever needed. To contact them, follow the sources already mentioned in this article. Get as many as you can, then make your final selection from the best. Are you ready? Why don’t you start on AliExpress? You will be surprised at the number of available suppliers waiting for you.
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