Buying and selling wholesale apparel is not very difficult, with enough planning and foresight. Here are five great tips to help get your business moving when you sell wholesale clothing.
Tip 1 Open a brick and mortar store. Selling online is great, but on the net you have millions of competitors. Opening a physical store will bring your merchandise to general people – some of whom mistrust online sellers, or don’t like to buy clothing without seeing it, and trying it on.
Tip 2 Don’t skimp on marketing. Marketing is the single most important tool you have for getting your product out there. However, you have to be willing to make an investment in it. Open a registry online or in your store, and gather some information on your customers. Send out a few postcards every month to tell them about sales, thank them, or offer special deals. Your customers will appreciate the extra effort. It will also give them an incentive to shop with you, rather than at your competitor, or go to a large chain in the mall.
Tip 3 Rent a flea market booth. Most flea market vendors are still dealing with local suppliers and are not shopping online. This means that if you buy your wholesale merchandise online you will have much better pricing, and possibly a better selection. You should have little competition at the flea market if you buy right. (Credit, Donny Lowy)
Tip 4 Look at your customers. What are they wearing (aside from your great items, of course)? Follow the latest trends, and know your demographic. If you’re selling to the wrong crowd, sales will lag.
Tip 5 Always stock the essentials. Cheaply. It’s all right to take less of a markup on staples like camisoles, and basic solid tees. People always need those, and if you can, it doesn’t hurt to sell them for a comparable price to the big chains like Wal-Mart. Customers will come to you for these, and then stay in the store to spend on pricier items that they can’t get elsewhere.