Apparel Suppliers play an important role as customers need different types of clothes for various occasions. The main aim for any apparel supplier is to deliver the best products within scheduled deadlines and at the most reasonable prices. Apparel Suppliers can either be local or chain stores depending on the geographical location. Local distributors cater to a small local area, whereas chain stores, which are usually international, can cater to a wide customer base. The customers who shop at a local outlet are usually the ones who can afford expensive brand names; therefore, price competition among suppliers is very keen.
Wholesale clothing supply chains are the most common type of apparel supplier. These provide apparel at wholesale prices without any contract with the manufacturer. This means that the manufacturer decides the pricing structure and the quantity for each product. Wholesale dealers can offer competitive prices for their products, which makes them a popular choice of buyers, especially when the customer wants to purchase large quantities of items. They can purchase these products from the manufacturer and deliver them to the wholesaler, who in turn distributes them to retailers or directly to customers.
Apart from wholesalers, there are also specialized suppliers. A specialized supplier can offer anything from swimwear to golf bags, jeans to golf shoes and accessories to eyewear. Some of the major apparel suppliers include: APH, Atlas Apparel, Blu-Tack Apparel, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Diesel, Burberry, Coach, D&G, Evisu, Fruit Of The Loom, Gucci, Harry Winston, Lacoste, Marklin, Nike, Oakley, Prada, Ray Ban Glasses, Silhouette, Target, Tony Lama and Vera. Apart from these, there are many more companies manufacturing women’s, men’s and children’s apparels. Wholesale distributors can help the buyer by providing good discounts on bulk orders.
A successful supply chain can be determined by having the right supplier relationships and developing a strong partnership with the right suppliers. Apparel manufacturers often outsource their manufacturing requirements to countries like China, India and the Philippines where labor costs are much cheaper than in the U.S., U.K. or Europe. They do this to reduce their operating costs and increase profitability. Many apparel companies also choose to import their raw materials from Asia and ship them to their factories in other parts of the world, where they are converted into finished goods.
Good apparel suppliers make it easy for retailers to source products quickly. It is important for a retailer to work with the right supplier for every type of product they sell. If a retailer only finds one type of product that meets their requirements, they will be unable to source similar products from other suppliers. In order to find the right apparel supplier for a particular product, it is important to consider the type of products they sell, their lead times, the lead times of other suppliers and the type of technology they require to process the transaction.
As retailers plan their inventory, they should think about their future supply needs and how they will manage these needs. Many companies are planning to expand their footprint abroad or increase their focus on e-commerce. In this competitive environment, it is imperative to grow your brand to stay on top. The best way to grow a brand is to have a flexible supply base and a streamlined distribution network. One of the best ways to grow your brand is to find an apparel supplier with the following capabilities: