There are a lot of tips and tricks that clothing stores should know in order to get the most profit out of their operations. One simple little trick that might not seem obvious at first is bulk-ordering blank clothing. This can help clothing stores in many ways, from resupplying the storefront to the long-standing operations looking for ideas they may not have tried yet.

There are some reasons companies may be hesitant to do this. Perhaps they have had a bad experience with an online vendor that left them distrustful, or maybe they’ve heard negative gossip that paints the process in a bad light. Whatever the case, in most situations bulk-ordering clothing can be a good investment with the right vendor, and at least for blank clothing, the usual risks are not as detrimental.

What to Know About Bulk Ordering Blank Clothing

A good place to start is to decide what kind of vendor you will be looking for. Find a vendor you feel you can trust who also offers a simple style of clothing that you feel will be a fit for your store. There are many options out there, but if you’re looking for something like a raglan crewneck sweatshirt then you can start with an option like Bella + Canvas.

With the simplicity of blank shirts, it comes down to the quality of what is being offered. Sure style and fashion will still play a part in how well the product is going to sell through a vendor, but it’s simple enough to keep track of what is doing well at any given time when it’s as basic as a blank shirt. That’s why the quality of the material used is so important.

Make sure the product isn’t made cheaply, but that it’s also not going to break the bank. While higher quality is great, it has to be weighed against the cost.

If you can find the best quality at a decent price that’s incredible, but you don’t want to be caught in a situation where you feel like you’re getting ripped off by an overpriced bulk order. That does bring up the general question of costs you should expect.

Bulk Order Pricing and Costs for Blank Clothing

The cost of bulk orders should be the primary benefit you get from them. Wholesalers are usually the way to go here as they offer a big price difference in the long run.

When it comes to buying one or even a few articles of clothing, there might not seem to be obvious differences between different brands. However, it’s still best to do your research to make sure that you’re sourcing bulk orders from companies that use ethically made, environmentally friendly materials. You’ll also want to work with a brand that minimizes its costs and margins so to avoid overpaying.

When the amount of blank clothing that is being bought starts to climb to even a moderate number then there is no contest. It might not always be as easy as just going down to a big-box store to grab all the shirts you need, but in the long run, the tiny bit of extra effort will go a long way in saving money. In the fashion industry right now finding any way to save money without cutting corners on quality is of the utmost importance.

Planning for Bulk Orders

Getting a bulk order isn’t always as simple as walking into a store and grabbing what you need. You need to think ahead. That’s why it’s best to start off the process by planning out what you will be doing.

Assuming you have your vendor of choice selected already, the process then turns to what you want your inventory to be. You should start by figuring out your sizes and how many of each you are going to need. Knowing your general market is also a great first step to figure out in any clothing business.

When you have your sizes and numbers figured out, it’s best to place your order for all of your blanks at the same time. By doing this, you not only get the expected savings of doing a bulk order, but you also get some extra savings by minimizing the cost of shipping.

Combining some of your purchases into one larger order is another way to find ways to save. The more you can batch things together, the better.

In some cases, it may be cheaper to order a surplus of clothing items you want if it means breaking a bulk order threshold. Know what those thresholds may be for any supplier you look into so that you know when to add on just a few more blank items to push it over. You will be using them eventually even if it’s a bit more than you initially wanted.

Bulk Ordering Shipping Costs

It was touched upon earlier, but shipping costs are something you also want to keep an eye on. Considering how big bulk orders can get, the shipping costs can sometimes end up costing more than the clothing itself.

Any time there is an option for reduced or free shipping, it is best to go with that, even if it will take longer for the apparel to arrive. As mentioned before, you will also want to condense as much of your order together as possible in order to limit the amount of shipping costs that will drain your budget.

Take advantage of any savings you can find. Those costs you might save on discounted shipping start to add up in the long run.

Watch Out for Hidden Fees and Scams

This should go without saying but you should only work with a supplier that you can trust. Make sure they have a good reputation and don’t have any negative history. Check in with people that have supplied them in the past and see what their experiences have been.

Read the fine print of any company policies that relate to bulk orders. There is always a chance that hidden fees have been put in to make what at first seems like a good deal a terrible one. You don’t want to be caught by a last-minute slew of price increases after all, so it’s best to know every detail you can before you submit any orders.