Choosing a clothing supplier for your clothing brand can be difficult. There are many factors to take into account when making this decision, and it's important to have the correct information, or you may end up regretting your choice. This blog post highlights five key questions you should ask before deciding on a clothing supplier for your brand.
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How Do They Do Quality Control?
The quality control process involves checking the product for any defects at every step of production to make sure that everything goes smoothly. If you are unsure what their QC department is capable of, ask them how much time they spend on each step in the manufacturing process and if they have a separate division dedicated solely to pollution testing. The more thorough this checkup is done, the better your chances are that your products will be up to standard when it comes out from undergarments or other apparel brands' labels.
What Are Their Lead Times?
For how long do they need to produce your order? A quick turnaround is essential when it comes to clothing brands and fashion companies. The last thing you want is for a new product line that's just been released to get sold out in the first week because of late production times. Ensure that the lead times are agreed to on paper to ensure accountability when problems arise.
Do They Offer Samples?
If they don't offer samples, that doesn't necessarily mean you should look elsewhere. However, it is an important question to ask. For example, suppose a supplier can provide high-quality products at low costs without offering free samples. In that case, there might be something fishy going on, or their production capabilities are lacking in some way. It would be best to determine whether or not this is an inherent issue with their business model before making any decisions about working together long term.
Do They Have A Minimum Ordering Quantity?
Minimum ordering quantity is a significant component when it comes to choosing a supplier. Some suppliers will have very low minimums. Some suppliers won't even ask for one at all. Think about your business and how many pieces of clothing you need to order in each style/color before moving forward with a supplier. It is essential to know what the MOQ is before finalizing your financial range planning. For example, jeans manufacturers such as Trends Jeans have a MOQ of 250 per style, per fabric, per wash. This can help you when it is time to crunch the numbers and place your orders.
Do They Offer Design Services?
Some suppliers offer design services. If they do, this will be a huge plus for you because your company can focus on other tasks while the supplier creates and designs everything to spec. Look at what type of design service is offered before making a decision. Do they have an in-house team, or are you required to use an outside agency? Who pays for any changes that may occur during the production process if there is no MOQ? How many rounds of revisions does it typically take until all parties agree upon final mockups/samples? What kind of samples need to be presented before going into full production?
In conclusion, there is no such thing as the perfect supplier that can meet all of your requirements 100% of the time. However, there are good suppliers and bad ones out there just waiting to take advantage of every opening you give them. By asking these five key questions before choosing a clothing supplier for your business, it will prepare you with enough information to make an educated decision when it comes to finding a new supplier.
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