You can sell t-shirts, workwear, women’s, or men’s clothes by buying in bulk. This will allow you to get low prices and include your markup. Then you can sell your items at a profit. This post will discuss how to purchase wholesale clothing and set up an online store.

Fulfill your Legal Requirements

Before you can start a clothing store in your locality, check that it is legal. To operate legally as an entity, you must obtain all required licenses. To become an official entity, you may need a business license from the city or state. For more information about the legal requirements to start a business, visit the Small Business Administration website.

Legally register to obtain a tax ID number (EIN) number if you want to source wholesale clothing. This ID is essential when purchasing products from wholesalers. You may be asked to show proof of legal business operation by some wholesalers. Before you contact them about bulk orders, make sure you have your EIN.

Wholesalers of Bulk Clothing

Once you have legally registered your business, it is important to have a list of wholesale clothing suppliers that you can choose from to get your clothing store up and running. 

These steps will help you start a profitable business if you want to purchase clothes in bulk.

Let’s start with the basics: are there any domestic or international wholesale clothing suppliers?

Domestic vs. Overseas

Everyone must decide whether they want their wholesale clothing suppliers from the United States or overseas. Both have their benefits and disadvantages. The choice will depend on your personal preferences, the products that you sell, and your values. To make the right decision for your business, research the quality standards of wholesale clothing vendors in the United States and internationally.

Advantages of domestic clothing suppliers

Let’s begin with the benefits of using a domestic wholesale clothes supplier. The shipping time will be considerably shorter because they are located in the country. Because there is no language barrier between the vendor and you, communication will be much easier. This will reduce the chances of making mistakes and errors. A higher quality manufacturing is also desirable.

The disadvantages of domestic clothing suppliers

The two biggest drawbacks are the lack of product choices and higher prices. The US has fewer wholesale clothing suppliers than countries like China and India. The US has better labor laws and a higher quality product, so the prices of the goods will be higher. If you’re looking for a lower-cost route, it is possible to find wholesale clothing suppliers locally. 

Benefits of Overseas Clothing Suppliers

You also have the option of outsourcing manufacturing. It also has some advantages, such as lower manufacturing costs. This is especially true when compared to American manufacturers. This is due to lower labor standards, and lower-quality products. There are many wholesale vendors available, including clothing suppliers. It’s easy and simple to work with overseas suppliers thanks to services such as AliExpress.

Advantages of Overseas Clothing Suppliers

Longer shipping times because most of these manufacturers are located in China. It will take longer to ship the product to North American customers. Sometimes, you might have to deal with customs. It won’t be possible to visit manufacturers personally, at least not inexpensively. If you don’t have the time or resources to verify products, it could prove difficult. Language barriers and cultural differences could lead to more mistakes and headaches.

Where to buy wholesale clothing

1. Wholesale Marketplaces

An online marketplace is a great place to start your search for legitimate, high-quality suppliers. You’ll find hundreds of products on this platform.

If you’re based in the US, I recommend Handshake. This is Shopify’s wholesale marketplace. You can sign up for Handshake free of charge and immediately can browse and purchase from thousands of suppliers that have been verified for quality and reliability. Faire, Abound, and Bulletin is other wholesale marketplaces.

2. Online directories

Free online directories are the best place to begin your search for vendors. This applies to both domestic US suppliers and international suppliers.

I recommend starting with Maker’s Row or ThomasNet for domestic directories. Let’s make it happen and Sqetch is also a good option. If you are looking for overseas suppliers, Alibaba or IndiaMart might be a good place to start. For dropshipping, however, I recommend AliExpress. They have a great selection of wholesale clothing suppliers. They have more than 700,000 suppliers in Asia and many millions of products to choose from.

3. Search Engines

You can also Google Search “Whole Clothing Suppliers” to find something more specific like “Wholesale Clothing USA”. Many of the websites used by suppliers are outdated and not up-to-date. Google rewards suppliers who are regularly updated to avoid manufacturers being buried. They won’t rank well in a search. To find any useful information, you will need to go deep into pages 5 and 6. This is something I wouldn’t recommend unless you have the patience and time.

4. Word of Mouth Referrals

If you are still not sure where to look for a vendor, word-of-mouth referrals might be the answer. Ask your friends and family for their recommendations if they are clothing wholesalers. Even if they don’t know you personally, you might be able to contact people who may be able to help you. If you’re able to ask, people are always available to help.

5. Forums and Groups for Social Media

You can also use online forms to discuss clothing, specifically wholesale clothing if you are still uncomfortable with reaching out. You can also research social media. There are many resources available and people are willing to share their knowledge. You should also look out for forums that discuss clothing vendors and suppliers.

6. Trade Events

Trade shows are an option if you have the time and money. This is just one option you might want to consider. 10times and Trade Show News Network can help you locate a trade fair in your area. You can visit the wholesalers and speak with them in person. They will be happy to talk to you. This will allow you to network with other wholesalers and purchase clothing. You never know what you might find at these events.

How to buy wholesale clothing: Vetting suppliers 

Once you have a list of wholesale suppliers, you need to start vetting them to ensure that you can purchase wholesale bulk clothing for your business. Most wholesale clothing suppliers will require you to request a quote. Once you have established a relationship, it is time to decide which one to do business with.

#1 RFQ

The request for quotation is the most common first communication with the supplier.

Wholesale vendors of all types should request quotations or RFQ. This is the best way to get prices from suppliers. You’ll quickly learn the ropes because you’ll be doing it frequently.

You send an email asking for the price of something based on how many you are buying. This is not a straightforward process. It should be treated as a serious business inquiry and not an IM between the provider and you.

To get the best response, you should plan your email. Do not waste time rehashing information that isn’t complete.

#2 MOQ

You should be aware of a few things, starting with the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for the vendor.

This varies from one supplier to the next. It is important to determine if you can afford the minimum amount they sell. You should also ask how much they will charge you.

For larger quantities, suppliers will often offer high discounts. To get an idea of their product pricing, ask for the prices for different quantities.

#3 Shipping Times

Next, determine your shipping terms and delivery time. Ecommerce businesses are dependent on timing. It is important to know how long it takes for them to ship the item. It is important to determine if an item takes a long time to ship.

You should also ask about their payment terms to be sure you are comfortable with the way they charge for their products. It will vary depending on the supplier. It’s not a good idea to be surprised by how much they expect you will pay for inventory.

#4 Sample Orders

about the samples are not something you want to ask. While some suppliers offer discounts for them, others don’t. If you can afford them, it is important to ask for an order. You’ll be able to get a sense of the products that you will be selling your customer.

Contacting the supplier to request a quotation will let you decide if they are a good match for you. You can move on to the next step if they aren’t. There are many options.

Conclusion

Wholesale clothing is a necessity for any online clothing company. It is a matter of researching wholesale clothing suppliers on different platforms and doing your research. You need to find the right one. You want the one that can supply the products you need at the right price. Although it takes a lot of work to screen, it is worth it when you have satisfied customers.