Ecommerce 101: Wholesale Clothing

If you’re considering selling wholesale clothing online, it can be a nerve-wracking world you’re jumping into, especially if you’re not too familiar with it. However, don’t panic because the more you learn about it, the more comfortable you’ll feel, and you can, of course, continue to learn through your journey. So keep reading for some basics about e-commerce and selling wholesale clothing.

Table of Contents

Choosing What to Buy

You have a lot of different wholesale clothing from which to choose, such as men’s, women’s, kid’s, and unisex clothing in a range of colors, styles, sizes, and materials. Then there’s the type of clothing. For example, do you want to sell sweatshirts, like pullovers, Bella + Canvas hoodies, crop tops, or zip-ups? On the other hand, you may want to sell t-shirts or tank tops.

Refrain from overloading your store with all the types of products you like. Instead, start with what you’re most passionate about; you can always add more products to the store as you feel more comfortable.

Tips for Conversing With a Wholesaler

Should you want information from a customer service rep when you’re interested in buying wholesale clothing, you need to come prepared with questions. Sure, you may think of some while conversing, but start the call with a list of questions you already have.

For example, how pricing works, how many of each item you can buy and their cost, how long shipping takes, or what discounts you qualify for. Write all these questions down so you can jot down the responses as part of your research when you call.

The Naysayers and the Supporters

So why is this section in an article about selling wholesale clothing online? Because chances are when you start your business and even before, those who find out about it will likely fall into one of two categories: the naysayers and the supporters.

The naysayers are going to be those who are against the idea of your starting an online clothing business. You may hear things like how it’s too risky or difficult. No one will like a specific design: you shouldn’t sell that type of clothing, it’s never going to work, etc. The supporters, however, may think or say how it’s risky or complex, may ask if you’re sure you want to do it, but will ultimately cheer you on through the process and may even offer to help you if you need it.

Starting an online clothing business is challenging, but you already know. If you have a passion for what you want to do, you’ve taken time to think about it, and you’ve done the research, then all you can do is prepare, work hard, and hope for the best regardless of what anyone says.

Learning the Laws

Many who want to start selling wholesale clothing online are more thrilled about selling the clothes than they are about the legal aspects of it, but legalities are all part of any business.

Research up-to-date federal laws about selling online, but you’ll also want to investigate local and state laws where you reside and where you’ll conduct business. Laws are undoubtedly complex, so it’s always a great idea to contact a lawyer familiar with those laws who can guide you in the right direction, including obtaining the proper licenses and permits.

Buying, Pricing, and Profit

Of course, wholesale clothing sells in bulk for a discounted price, but how does the buying process work?

Essentially, you decide what clothes you want from the wholesaler and either place an order online or through customer service. You may also save additional money through other means, like receiving free shipping if you order a certain amount, buying sale items, or qualifying for special discounts.

As far as pricing your items and making a profit, that’s when some calculations come into play. Of course, your customers will want the best price, but that doesn’t mean you must sacrifice all your profit to make it happen. You need to make money, too.

You’ll probably hear a lot of different advice about how to price your products and what calculations you should do to get to that point, but it comes down to how much profit you want to make. Once you make an initial determination about the price, it should be easier going forward.

Clothing Perfection

Unfortunately, only some things go perfectly in the business world, but you can still do everything possible to make your online clothing store successful.

When buying wholesale clothing, there are several steps to ensure you get products you’re proud to sell, starting with the quality of the pieces. Even if it means you have to pay a little more, every item must be high quality. No customer wants to spend their money on a hoodie or another type of garment and notice after a few washes, the seams are pulling, the color is fading, and it’s starting to look raggedy.

Regarding the design–should you choose to have one–make sure you use the proper printing technique for the material. For example, if you’re going with DTG printing, you’ll typically want to opt for cotton fabrics. But, again, do your research on the different printing methods, compare them to the materials and designs you want to use, and decide which one you think is best.

Lastly, before you sell any products to your customers, test the finished clothing products yourself and even go as far as to ask trusted loved ones for their opinion. Feel free to put the clothing through tests to see how they stand up, such as doing a workout in a t-shirt you’re planning to sell, scratching at the front design on a crop top, or putting a sweatshirt through a few washings. As a result, this can give you an idea of what your customers can expect from the clothing they receive through your business.

You always want to make timely decisions when starting your online clothing business. So take your time, consult with professionals, ask questions, and do your research, and before long, you’ll be ready to launch your website and start selling clothes.