The main key strategy of business is to “buy low and sell high.” The clothing retail clothing business is similar as other businesses. If you are going to start a clothing business, buying wholesale is the best way to buy at the lower price. By add the markup margin and follow by sell your clothing for a profit margin. Buying clothing wholesale is not difficult, however sourcing for the right supplier may be difficult if you are new to the business.

Do the Business’s legal setup and registration first

When starting to operate a clothing business, make sure you are legal to do business in your country of origin. Secure all the required business permits and licenses to run your business. A business registration is must for most countries around the world, whether it is a self-entity or company setup.

Deciding on a suitable business location is a main consideration. If your clothing business is purely retail, then you will need to choose retail store with human traffic. Your business will need the marketing materials and a marketing plan in place and the staff to run the store.

Determine Your Clothing Niche

Decide on your target market customers. This will then determine the types of clothes that you want to retail.  If you do not have a preference, do a market research in  your store location surroundings and find out which types of clothes are currently not available and how your business can fit into the area.

If there are not a lot of choices for plus-size ladies, then opening a clothing store targeting this group will be filling this niche.

Find Wholesalers Online

Once you have decided on your business plan and the types of clothing that you intend to retail, it is the time to begin working with wholesale suppliers. Relationships are key in retail, so you will want to invest both time and money in finding the best wholesalers and working with them closely. If you are looking to manufacture your own clothing design, you will need to look for a manufacturer.

Finding Wholesalers

There are a couple of ways to locate clothing wholesalers. One option is to find websites for companies that represent multiple clothing brands. The other is to visit the website of a clothing brand you would like to sell. You can typically find links to wholesale information on the top or bottom of these sites, though you shouldn’t expect too much detail regarding qualifications, order minimums, pricing or terms. Instead, use the website to contact the brand or wholesaler.

Contacting Wholesalers

In the initial stages, you will need to source for wholesalers online. Browse thru their websites for email contacts and also register for an account on their websites. The application process may be straightforward, though wholesalers of more elite brands could make it more difficult for you to qualify as a reseller when your business is still new.

Keep a close watch for the wholesaler’s new designs arrivals. For most online wholesale websites, you will be able to purchase their clothing online and they will ship to your address for a shipping fee.

Developing Supplier Relationships

It is important to developing strong relationships with wholesale suppliers as this is a essential to the success of your business. After you have built a relationship with a clothing wholesale supplier, you will likely be able to enjoy preferred pricing, access to in-demand merchandising and accommodating payment terms.

Other Inventory Options

Other options for developing inventory include:

• You can go offline and go to industry trade shows. The advantage of going to a trade show is that you can meet representatives in person and can inspect merchandise samples before placing an order.
• Purchasing inventory from stores that are going out of business or that are getting rid of merchandise at the end of a season. While these items won’t be on-trend, they can represent a significant profit centre for your business. Your customers will appreciate getting a good deal and you’ll be able to offer a more extensive selection of merchandise. 

• Notable countries are clothing producers, namely India, China and Thailand. If your budget permits, travel to the wholesale market area of these countries to meet suppliers personally.