Choosing where you source your women’s apparel from can shape everything in your boutique store, from front-of-house stuff like brand identity to back-of-house stuff like profit margins. With today’s fashion marketplace being so global, there’s a debate about whether US boutiques should stick to domestic suppliers or those from major emerging markets, like China. In this article, we’ll cover why one has outperformed the other in recent years.
Let’s start with the good news for all those boutiques out there looking to source their apparel from either America or China: for most of you, either option can be smart (and profitable!) if you know what you’re optimizing for. We’re not here to pit one country’s marketplace against the other, we’re merely giving you the tools to help sharpen your decision-making for your own boutique store. So, here are some research tips to think about when it comes to choosing your women’s apparel supplier:
Speed, Shipping, and Minimum Order Quantity (MOQs) Needs
If you’re a US boutique and you need clothing items on the racks within a matter of days, American suppliers will obviously have the edge on speed. Domestic shipping is faster and more predictable; from this measurement, it stands to reason that returns are also simpler, and minimum order quantities (MOQs) are often more reasonable.
Chinese suppliers can take longer due to production and transit times. However, many now offer expedited shipping and pre-stocked items. Additionally, major vendors, like Dear Lover, have the economies of scale to advertise low MOQs and frequent new drops, meaning that it’s easier for boutiques to test all the latest trends – without overcommitting. Indeed, Dear Lover is one of many Chinese wholesale clothing brands that have delivered faster shipping speeds thanks to their wide global reach.
Pricing and Profit Margins
You’ll no doubt have guessed that wholesalers from China usually deliver lower unit costs compared to America, meaning they’re better placed to help boutiques that want to widen their margins. If boutiques are able to secure great pricing when it comes to duties and shipping – which they can get from going with a trusted wholesaler – they can benefit from significantly lower costs.
Quality and Consistency
Domestic suppliers in the US often provide tight quality control, as well as consistent sizing and fabrics that meet U.S. expectations. However, this isn’t to dismiss the quality of Chinese wholesalers. Chinese partners can be excellent too, particularly if a boutique sticks to an established vendor (and requests samples first, of course). Knowing what to ask for when it comes to detailed size charts and wash test results will help you choose whether you want to go domestic or be ambitious by going international.
Bottom line? Your decision will depend on what you’re prepared to invest for your boutique.
U.S. suppliers offer consistency, which many boutiques value – but it cannot be denied that Chinese wholesalers bring huge benefits when it comes to price, variety, and efficiency.
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