One of the most important aspects of running a successful clothing boutique (whether you run an online or brick and mortar business) is knowing how and where to buy wholesale clothing for your store. Sourcing the latest high-quality fashion trends at a great price is what will set you apart from the rest — and is a great way to turn a profit on high-quality clothing.
Are you looking to learn how to source products for your store like a pro? If so, here are some of our best tips to guide you on finding high-quality wholesale clothing suppliers that will help you to achieve a constant flow of customers flocking to your door and bringing their friends and family with them.
6 tips on where to buy wholesale clothing for your store
Identify your ideal customer
Whether you’re a small startup or a multinational franchise, customers are the lifeblood of any business. Identifying your ideal customer is a crucial step when searching for where to buy clothes for your retail store. The process starts with identifying the demographics of your target market, including details like age, ethnicity, gender, relationship status, education, employment and income.
For example, a boutique that caters to younger single women in high-powered corporate jobs would want clothing brands that feature sleek lines and more professional looks. Meanwhile, a store whose target market is older, more affluent mums who work from home would be more interested in the casually chic collections that M Made In Italy has become known for.
An ideal customer goes beyond the typical target market though. What makes an ideal customer different is the number of resources, effort and time you put into attracting them to your store and making them feel good about shopping with you. They also tend to be your biggest brand ambassadors — for free.
Decide your boutique’s clothing niche
Studies have shown that 71% of customers are more likely to support stores and brands that align with their personal values. If you want to make it easier to attract your target market to your store, then you need to decide what type of clothing you want to stock. This will also make it easier to decide where to buy wholesale clothing for your online boutique.
Things to consider include whether you want to sell more affordable, fast fashion to customers who tend to spend less but return more often, or you prefer more ethical brands with items made from natural fibres and designed to last, such as what Gretty Zueger has to offer.
Choose whether to shop domestic or international
One of the first decisions you will need to make when deciding where to buy wholesale clothing for your store is whether to find a supplier based overseas or a local one. As with any decision, both have their pros and cons, so it will all come down to your personal preference, what type of clothing you’re selling, and your own values.
One of the top advantages of choosing a domestic wholesale clothing supplier like Lufema is the fact that the shipping times for your products will be shorter. Communication also tends to be easier, as there is usually no language barrier, which means there is less potential for mistakes with your orders and more. Local suppliers will also make the extra effort to source ethically made and higher-quality products.
Decide where to find wholesale clothing
Now that you’ve identified your ideal customer, clothing niche and whether to shop locally or overseas, you may be wondering where and how to buy clothes for your boutique. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of options to choose from, and you can mix and match them to suit your needs. Some common sources for finding quality goods include:
- Buy clothes wholesale online — The first and probably the easiest option is to search for online wholesale marketplaces. Thanks to customer reviews and the power of Google, you will be able to find a good-quality legitimate supplier almost instantly with just one search. Find domestic suppliers or international ones. Search for wholesalers who stock a specific brand you’re interested in. Or search for online stores that have physical showrooms all around Australia and New Zealand as Lufema does.
- Word-of-mouth referrals — One of the best ways to find where to buy wholesale clothing for your boutique is through word of mouth. Speak to other boutique owners nearby in person, on social media and through forums to find out where they get their clothing from. Visit trade shows, pay attention to which vendors are getting the most visitors, speak to the other retailers you meet, and find out who they feel is their best source for clothing at wholesale prices.
Beware of illegitimate wholesalers
Between the ability to create a fully operational online store in just a few hours and the power of drop shipping, there are a lot of ‘fake’ wholesalers who make every effort to appear as though they are the real deal. But they are, in fact, just middlemen who are adding their cut on top of the actual wholesale price — meaning you end up paying more for your store’s clothing.
Some easy signs to spot someone who is parading as a wholesale clothing retailer include the following:
- They don’t ask you for your sales tax ID
- You can’t find their complete contact information on their website
- You get marketing emails claiming how much money you will be able to make if you buy the clothing for your store through them
- They keep trying to sell you additional services or even go so far as to offer you a deal that sounds entirely too good to be true — this could indicate that it’s a scam where they take your money and never provide the goods you ordered.
- They want to charge you a sign up fee or a monthly subscription to access their catalogues.
Always be wary, and at the first sign of red flag opt for another wholesale option with a trusted reputation. This is the best way to prevent unnecessary losses.
Always vet your suppliers
Now that you know where to buy the clothes for your online boutique, it is time to start vetting the suppliers you’ve identified through your queries and online searches. This can take some time, but it is an important part of making sure that you’re building a relationship with a supplier who is reliable, trustworthy and is the best for the type of clothing you want to sell.
- Request for quotation (RFQ) — This will probably be the very first communication you have with a wholesale vendor and is often the only way to find out the prices for their bulk wholesale clothing. Different wholesalers may have slightly different processes for this step, but you’ll be doing it often enough that you’ll quickly get the hang of it.
- Minimum order quantity (MOQ) — Most wholesalers will have a minimum order quantity, and some may even offer different price points depending on the quantity that you order. While it is always tempting to get your products for a lower price, it is important to know if you can afford and handle those minimum quantities. Consider the cost if an item you buy doesn’t sell as well as you hoped it would.
- Shipping times — This is one of the most important considerations for any clothing boutique. Fashion is seasonable, but if your supplier’s shipping times are too long, the clothing you order will be outdated before they’ve even arrived. Some wholesalers also offer drop shipping services, which can be very helpful for smaller boutiques that don’t have the storage space to support an online store.
- Sample orders — When it comes to clothing, how an item feels and looks in real life can often be a very important factor. It is helpful to find out if a wholesaler has a showroom where you can view the clothing you’re interested in. If they don’t have a showroom, do they offer sample orders and do these have a discounted rate?
Find high-quality wholesale clothing at Lufema
Learning how to buy wholesale merchandise is an incredibly important step on your journey to having a successful boutique clothing store. Not only does it help you keep your inventory current with the latest fashion trends, but the right supplier can also help increase your profit margins.
Interested in buying bulk quantities of the latest high-quality fashion for your boutique? Lufema is a wholesale women’s clothing supplier with over 40 years of experience in the industry. We offer a one-of-a-kind shopping experience with everything you need to ensure your boutique is as successful as possible, so contact us today or register as a customer here.
