Buying wholesale has its benefits!

Clothing wholesalers make their money by finding bulk items from various sources all over the world, and reselling their wares to boutiques and retailers. In addition to brand new designer wholesale clothing, large lots of clothing can be found through opportunities with manufacturers that allow for some great deals. They also find their clothing from direct importers, liquidating companies and overseas directly from clothing makers. If a manufacturer can’t sell everything it has produced, its products languish on shelves, unsold, until it has to be practically given away. Wholesalers will buy large lots of clothing and sell them all over the world to clothing stores that deal directly with regular customers, in retail outlets, malls and discount shopping centers.

Everything from wholesale women’s dresses, women’s wholesale blouses, plus-sized clothing, and specialty items are continually being sought by clothing wholesale companies, to be purchased in large lots and parceled out to clothing retailers for sale to the regular buying public. Merchandise that might not otherwise be available in a normal store is found by wholesalers through maintaining relationships with the largest manufacturers in the world; they then distribute smaller lots to anyone wishing to mark the products up to retail prices, often at substantially less than one would pay in a department store setting. Department stores usually buy their products directly from a manufacturer, right off the runway and sewing machine. Substantial savings can be found by working with a wholesale clothing company that has access to the same clothing going to high-end department stores.

What makes wholesalers different too, is their usually high buying ability. They have a capacity to purchase huge lots of clothing, often with years of relationships behind dealing with clothing manufacturers and closeout distributors. The savings are then passed on to retail and boutique operations, which don’t have to buy quite as large amounts of bulk items for resale in their shops. Wholesalers maintain streamlined staff, who scour the world looking for bargains on current and trendy wholesale women’s clothing. They look for the best prices, shipping arrangements and variety of clothing so their chances of successfully reselling to retail operations stay high. They look for deals, yes, but also great prices, choices in sizes and colors, different styles in the same colors and items that are relevant in the fashion world. They can’t resell items that are out of season, or unattractive to the average consumer, so they are constantly monitoring fashion shows, keeping an eye on trends and seasonal deals.

Wholesalers don’t just sell off-season or over-runs items. They have access to discounts from brand name, new merchandise that might not otherwise be available to a small boutique or resale shop. The newest fashions can be had by wholesalers who have relationships with the larger designers and brand name manufacturers, at much better prices than someone who deals in smaller quantities can find.

MAKE LISTS!  Take an inventory of what you have and what you need more of.  Include shoes, jewelry, coats, sweaters…everything.New Kaelyn Max at Openstock Apparel

The smart thing to do, the frugal and self-respecting thing to do is learn how to shop smart for women’s clothing in the first place.

Start off by knowing what size you ACTUALLY ARE.  Find a measurement chart online and take your measurements to learn your standardized sizes.  You’ll need to take your measurements for bra size, shoe size, waist, hips, inseam length and even head size (if you’re going to buy hats).  Even know what size you really need for rings.  Next, find out what type of body you have.  Are you long-waisted?  Do you have a great chest?  Is your waist thick?  Do you have chunky thighs or a less-than-stellar butt?  You’ll need to know what you want to accentuate or de-emphasize before you head for the stores.

There are several things you’ll really need to nail down before shopping including WHICH of the clothes you love and why.  Is your look consistently casual?  Are you more of a button-down type?  Are you trying to bust out of a rut?  Then look through magazines and find what you’d love to try.  Consider whether you’re really happy with a color you consistently go to, or if you’d like to try something different.  Make sure your current color or one you’re considering is even flattering by holding it up to your face and looking in a mirror.  Do you look washed out, or tired in that color?  Do you have enough clothes for different occasions?  For instance, can you go to the beach and to a church outing on the same weekend?

The most important step to learning to shop smart for women’s clothing is to go to stores and try on every clothing item you’re considering.  Consider bringing along someone whose opinion you value, or learn to be realistic and critical on your own.  Is the item flattering, both in fit and color?  Is it comfortable?  Is it affordable? Will you be able to find shoes to go with it?  Do you already have seven of the same item sitting at home?  Can you afford your look, or do you need to learn how to be a little more sensible?

Stylish new dresses from Wishes.

Let’s face it – as women, our clothing often makes a statement about us long before we speak for ourselves. Fashion trends come and go, but there are certain wardrobe pieces no women should be without. Stocking your wardrobe with these ten timeless items will mean that unheard statement is always positive.
1.  Little Black Dress: No women should be without one. Stylish enough for a cocktail party, flirty enough for a special date and appropriate for almost any social gathering, the little black dress is the backbone of every wardrobe
2. Fitted Jeans: A solid pair of fitted jeans will see you through many occasions. Dress them down or dress them up, jeans are the everyday pant. Be sure yours are properly fitted for maximum impact.
3. Tailored Slacks: A pair of tailored slacks is ideal for almost any occasion that requires business attire. By pairing them with a tailored shirt or matching jacket, your tailored pants will see you through more than just business meetings.
4. Buttoned Blouse: a classic button blouse in white can be paired with anything from fitted jeans to skirts. An easy way to dress up your look, added stylish and classic jewelry will make this piece go even further.
5. Maxi Dress: fun and flirty, the maxi dress isn’t just for formal occasions. Select a color and cut that you feel comfortable in and you will find more and more occasions suited for your maxi dress.

Wishes block style maxi dress.

6. Trench: A classic coat is just as important. Many women turn to the tailored trench, but any lightweight coat cut in a classic line will work. Keep the coat simple by selecting a black one. Your classic black coat will work for any occasion and can be paired with any item in your wardrobe.
7. Tailored Skirt: No wardrobe is complete without at least one tailored skirt. You may decide to select several skirts in varying lengths, but if you only purchase one, be sure it is knee length and tailored.
8. Suit: Worn primarily for business, a suit is an excellent addition to any wardrobe. Keep the color simple to allow for variations. Pairing a black suit with a pink shell, baby blue blouse or a simple white button blouse will allow you to get more use out of the piece.

Nubiano Special Occasion Suit

9. Every Occasion Top: Select one top that is versatile enough to be worn with a variety of bottoms. Select a neutral color that can be used under your suit or paired with fitted jeans. Ideally the piece can be dressed up or dressed down.
10. Black Pumps: No outfit is complete without a pair of black pumps. Purchase a pair of classic black pumps. Perfect with the little black dress, they can also be paired with slacks, a suit or even jeans.
Once you have your wardrobe basics down, use current fashion trends to flesh out your wardrobe. Have fun with it and you will soon see it is possible to go from day time business attire to night time fun by simply changing one part of your outfit.

Kaelyn Max

When acquiring merchandise for your clothing store or boutique, understanding the process of buying women’s clothing wholesale will go a long way to ensuring customer satisfaction in the most cost-efficient way. Here are some smart guidelines when developing a process to create an exciting inventory that will keep your clients coming back for more.

First, you must have a sales tax ID number. This number should have been issued early on in the process. If you are planning to open a clothing store, you will need to bring a letter of intent to do so in lieu of the tax ID number.

Fashions, by their nature, will change frequently. It’s important to develop healthy relationships with your wholesalers. They are the ones on the front lines of these changing fashions. Once you pick the wholesalers you wish to work with, spend some time getting to know them, informing them of your mission and basic style choices so they can be on the lookout for what you need and like.

Finding good wholesalers can be done over the Internet, or, by making regular shopping trips each year to fashion headquarters in various cities around the world. New York City has an entire district that caters to wholesale fashion buyers. On the other hand, local flea markets are places to find other vendors selling the styles you want to carry. Strike up a conversation and see if they will be willing to share their wholesalers with you.

If you are only selling on the Internet, find a wholesaler who will update you often about new styles, sales, and hot sellers.

Be very careful if you choose to do business with foreign wholesalers. They can generally offer a much better deal around quantity and price, but educate yourself on not only tariffs and taxes, but also on customs procedures. Be sure to request that the packing list be attached to the outside of the box for easy access. Otherwise, customs officials may end up opening the packages and searching them before delivering inventory to you.

A-List Women's Multicolor Tiered Maxi Dress

When first establishing relationships with your wholesalers, be sure to place an initial order of some basic wardrobe staples, like wholesale maxi dresses. Once you receive the first order, you can check the actual quality (if you are buying for the first time from a seller you have not met in person). You also need to see how responsive and accurate in their orders they are. Pictures on a website should be excellent depictions of the items that arrive. Plus, remember you are developing a relationship. Do they ship in a timely fashion? Can you reach them over the phone? Get to know them before you invest further.

As fashions are always changing, be sure to buy what works for your store. Choose a variety of sizes and colors that will appeal to your clientele and have fun doing it!

We all have our favorite dresses, you know, the default dress for a birthday dinner or a fancier Sunday brunch. But if you’re looking for something new to really ring in the warm weather seasons, here are a few styles to consider.

The little WHITE dress : Little white cocktail styles are going to be huge this spring and summer, as girls don them for graduations, bridal rehearsals, cool nights out, and hot summer days. Whether sleek and satiny, or cotton and full, the little white dress is a must have.

Denim: Denim is huge this year, with denim and denim/cotton dresses coming back in a big way. Denim is a great casual look that’s comfortable and sturdy, and so it will likely never completely go out of style. Look for full denim skirts with cotton tops, or button-up denim shirt dresses.

Wishes Halter Maxi Dress

Maxi: While this style became huge last summer, it has stuck around as a great spring and summer staple. By nature, these dresses are flowy and free, so they add a lot to the overall spring/summer feel of your outfits. Wear a printed or even tie-dyed maxi for a great outside shopping day outfit (can also double as a cover-up by the pool!) or choose a solid-colored style for a night time outing.

Tiered: These dresses are a great choice for an after-5 dress that still has a summery feel to it. They are very flirty (how could they not be when they can literally flow in the breeze) and great at hiding those 5 extra pounds you didn’t quite loose in time for swimsuit season.

One-shouldered: Not to be confused with the toga, which can be worn to a whole different type of party (if you’re looking to pick up a frat boy or two), the one-shouldered dress allows for the same sex-appeal as a strapless while adding a little extra comfort to the mix. Go with a loose-fitting version and tie it up with a belt (gold-colored if you want to play on the Greek theme) or sport a form-fitting version to show off what you work so hard to maintain.

Anything Neon: Let your imagination run wild with this one. If you’re doing neon, do it right. If you couldn’t tell, neon is the hot thing (unfortunately, pun intended) for this season, which gives you the freedom to pick any style you want—from short, long, tailored, poofy, tight or flowy—just wear it in neon and you’re good to go. I dare you to tell us these highlighter hues don’t make you feel more confident—even if only for one night.

Wishes Strapless Tiered Party Dress

Where you actually purchase your wholesale ladies clothing depends a lot on your business model, but no matter your end goal, there are several wholesale sellers that will be able to meet your needs. If your store sells brand name items, you might want to consider buying from vendors who carry these brands. Many times, you can get a good deal if you wait for a surplus sale. Once your business is stable you can stock up on seasonal basics (stay away from fashion trends with a quick shelf life) and save them for the next year. It is especially important to check on minimum purchase requirements in the case of buying directly from vendors, as you will inherently have to mix and match designers, and don’t want to end up spending a huge percentage of your budget on multiple minimum requirements.

Another very simple place to buy wholesale apparel is online. From women’s wholesale clothing vendors, to directories of wholesale clothing, to easily searchable closeout wholesale sales, the internet makes your job as a retail clothing purchaser much easier—so take advantage of it! Many online wholesale warehouses carry thousands of products, ranging all apparel categories including handbags. So if you’re looking to add a little something extra to your women’s clothing offerings, these online wholesale vendors can be a great place to start. They also allow you to be time efficient by allowing you to search within your site for a specific item style or seasonal products. Also, they often feature sale sections on their site so you can browse items you might want to stock up on. Shopping for wholesale women’s clothing online is also a great way to find out which sellers don’t require a minimum purchase, as their policies are very easy to find (especially if they have no minimum requirement). So get searching, there is much to be found, and much fun to be had finding it!

A big trend next season for women’s apparel clothing is in textures: either patterns woven directly into the fabrics, or textures created by draping or folding. This look is good with not just the fabrics, but in the designs of the dresses, shirts and pants. Find styles that utilize these textures to help your clients bring balance to their figures. Ruching on shirts and tanks can create hourglass figures for those who need help on top, and draping can cover hips in flattering ways.

JFW Tangerine Embroider Dress

In style this year will be beads, studs and bright colored sequins. Pastels and bright colors will all be in vogue. Coral is emerging as one of the most popular colors. It looks great on most women, and compliments this seasons colors as well as the very popular black and white.

Dresses will once again be big this year, so keep a variety in stock that include maxi dresses in solids, florals and patterns, . The classic shift is back as well as styles that lean towards the 50s. These styles can be both office oriented and used in casual settings and situations. The summer shifts will allow for catering to all body shapes and sizes. While minis will never go out of style for those with the legs to wear them, this year’s hemlines are holding just above the knee.

Don’t forget that “little black dress” which is always in style. Look for styles that suit your figure. If you want to show off you shoulders, strapless styles look the best. If you like a looser, more comfortable look, go for a dress with an empire waist, and last but not least, if you want to conceal your hips, look for a dress that has a cinched waistband or has a sash at the waist.

Use colorful accessories, to create your own clothing style as well as changing up an outfit so you can wear any dress for many different occasions. Wide studded belts, scarfs, and patterned tights are very popular.

Pencil skirts will be all the rage, especially for those who are looking for work attire. But to transition to a more casual look, keep a stock of A-lines on hand as well, which can work well for both work and casual.

When considering shirts, include a variety of styles in crisp white. This classic look will allow customers to easily mix and match outfits so don’t be afraid to go all out in stocking many designs of this fashion favorite. If white is not your color, bold solid color or fun geometrical patterns also dress up business and casual attire.

This year, with many shoppers will be recycling older fashions, so make sure to carry a unique and intriguing collection from your wholesale women’s clothing vendor, using a variety of colors, texture, styles and trends to keep your customers coming back for more.

]]> http://www.blog.julie-ann.com/public/item/what-to-buy-this-summer/feed/ 0 http://www.blog.julie-ann.com/public/item/nows-the-time-to-start-setting-up-a-valentines-day-event-for-your-clothing-store/ http://www.blog.julie-ann.com/public/item/nows-the-time-to-start-setting-up-a-valentines-day-event-for-your-clothing-store/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:31:40 +0000 MGarcia http://www.blog.julie-ann.com/?p=1752

Wishes Square Neck Party Dress

Over the past few years, Valentine’s day has become an important occasion for women to purchase outfits for. Many couples celebrate Anniversaries around this holiday, and new couples are busy celebrating their relationship by going out to eat, or attending an activity together. This has driven up demand for Valentine’s dresses among women. Store owners can capitalize on this by holding a Valentine’s day event in their boutiques.

Why an event?

Events are a great opportunity to get your name out. A store event can be spread on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, which can generate a lot of one-day store purchases. They also go a long way toward building brand name and customer loyalty. By having an in-store event, you are able to connect with your community on a personal level. This may be the deciding factor that brings them to you, rather than to a big department store.

Your in-store event is a terrific place to get customer information, too. You can have a raffle, or sample auction. To sign up, you will need customer names, addresses, or email addresses. if you get a great list of email addresses, guess what – you’ve just built yourself a great marketing base!

What to do at an event?

Any event will need more than an occasion to draw people to it. You’ll need some kind of incentive, like door prizes, or free gifts with purchase. Maybe offer chocolates with the purchase of a Valentine’s dress. or coupons to local restaurants (this is a great way for you to partner with other local businesses).

As a clothing boutique, a fashion show can also be an amazing draw. Recruit your best customers as models, and allow them a discount on their outfits as compensation. Invite local press for some publicity on your event.

Set goals

Decide what you want your event to do for you, and then make all preparations what those goals in mind. If you want to establish yourself as a sophisticated shop with exclusive garments, consider having the even catered with light fare, or having a local violinist or cellist play for clients. If you want to be the hip store in town, have a local band play, or get a DJ. Let your clients mingle, and give them plenty of opportunities to see your garments in action.

If your goal is to gather information, do that by finding ways to have your clients willingly share their information. Announce a newsletter and have them sign up, or offer e-mail only coupons. Get your client base connected to you. Make sure everyone knows you have an account on Twitter if you do, and ask them to follow you.

Whatever you do for your Valentine’s clothing event, make sure everyone has a good time, and leaves with a great impression of your store!

So this Spring will take a natural turn, featuring a more subdued range of purples, pinks, grays, and browns. Many of these will also include underlying colors that complement and enhance the richness of the primary shade. This will create a more tranquil look and will refresh an existing palette.

Grays, for example will have purple or blue undertones, while pinks and brown will accent teals. For those who found

the pop pink of last season too much, this year’s trend of a soft renaissance pink will be much more pleasing, with its soft and feminine appeal.

The purples this year will have much more reds that blues. This makes a great statement for an afternoon tea dress or for early evening cocktails. A new ashy gray will be touched with a lavender undertone, allowing this color, not normally included in the season, to be perfect for Spring.

Teal replaces the shocking “vert tonic” of last season, making way for a more sober and classy alternative. The richness of this bejeweled color will lend itself well to the textured fabrics, such as jacquard. Always a great choice for the more dressy occasions, this blue-green will be stunning in formal wear and floor length gowns.

Take a cue from the top designers, and prepare yourself with these top five selections favored by New York Designers

golden colors 2010

this year:

• Violet. The undertones will provide more warmth to this cool color and moves it to number one on the list.
• Golden Yellow: It started as a highlight in accessories and handbag, but this season designers have moved it to a number two spot on most popular.
• Turquoise: This year’s soften varieties will bring to mind ocean breezes and tranquil settings and pairs nicely with the understated grays and navies.
• Coral: Designers consider this to be an extremely mellow version of orange and is appropriately flattering to a wide variety of skin tones.
• Tomato: In keeping with the subtle themes of 2010, this subdued red retains the passion without going over the top.

Whatever your preference, this year’s colors are sure to bring out the soft and feminine side of any wardrobe. Be ready to indulge in timeless basics, in colors that are appropriate not only to the season, but in these changing and challenging times. So check out what’s currently in your closet, and grab the garments you already have in these shades for the upcoming season. They can be easily matched to put together great new looks that will remain stylish throughout any changing trend.

The true niche in fashion boutiques is not just what clothing specialty you decide on; it’s what you do with that specialty that will make you stand out and create your own niche. A niche is a crevice in a rock that no one else can squeeze through. Once you’re there, that’s it. No one can even imitate you because you’re so unique. Think of Boy George. Many posers, few successors. That’s the kind of niche you’re looking for—one that is dug from the energies of your own personality.

Once you know what areas of specialization you wish to include in your boutique, the next significant step is researching your competition to see how exactly how they fail and succeed. It’s necessary to know both. When spy shopping on your competition, ask yourself what do I like about this store and how would I improve it? The best way to get the complete lesson is to know what works and what doesn’t wherever you go. There is no store that is perfect, because none of these stores are yours. This isn’t to say your store is static. Stasis and perfection are different. Your store will grow and change with the fashion seasons, but you will always have the attitude that you are attaining perfection, that your boutique is better than the one down the street. That belief will resonate with your clientele and be the color through which all your fashion selections are tinted.

In a nutshell, the best way to figure out what your boutique’s fashion specialties should be is to ask yourself what fashion you wish to be surrounded by on a daily basis. The first few years of owning a new business you will be in that store seven days a week, nearly twelve hours a day. Be around things that excite you. The next step in creating a true niche is to inflect these specialties, these specific categories of fashion, through your unique personality. The displays, arrangement, clothing, and atmosphere should all be yours. Because no one else is you, you will have a monopoly on your niche