Finding a trendy clothes manufacturer is difficult enough, but obtaining a response to your inquiry is a whole other level of difficulty for most entrepreneurs. It’s no secret that breaking into the fashion business is difficult, particularly if you’re a rookie. As a new fashion house, you will face numerous hurdles in the beginning.
Finding a dependable clothing manufacturer with good communication and the ability to produce high-quality gear, on the other hand, can be a breath of fresh air. Learning how to contact the manufacturer and what to say are the first steps.
You’ll need a large list of prospects to be able to be discerning and not just settle for whatever clothes manufacturer will accept to deal with you. Things that you should include in your list-
Introduce yourself
Making a positive first impression on a manufacturer is an excellent way to begin a commercial relationship. Make a strong first impression by introducing yourself and your company. Give them enough information to convince them that you are a trustworthy customer who is ready to do a deal.
Define your brand’s mission and unique selling points. Please provide as much information as possible. Also, tell them about your background and experience in the clothing sector. This could be reflected in the way the manufacturer communicates with you.
The subject of money comes up. If you feel compelled to tell the manufacturer about your financial condition during your initial encounter, resist the desire.
Networking
Attend events and meet other startup companies. It takes time to use this strategy. Because established companies will not simply open their doors to you and hand away all of the hard work they put into building their production processes.
The important thing is to share. Give accurate data you have to others. And if you do so, they’ll be more willing to open up and tell you about the clothes suppliers with whom they collaborate. Consider networking to be a give-and-take situation. When you offer more than you take, you’ll always get exactly what you’re looking for.
Production stages
You must be explicit about the stage of production you have already reached when contacting a supplier. Consider the next steps: what activities will you require, and what services do you anticipate from your manufacturer? Don’t take it for granted that it will meet all of your requirements.
Manufacturers may engage with subcontractors who are eager to assist you in some instances. In other circumstances, they may be able to recommend you to service providers who are familiar with your needs. However, you should expect to outsource some work, so plan accordingly.
Locate a suitable manufacturer
When describing the type of clothing you intend to make to a manufacturer, make sure to ask about their prior experience. Have they ever done anything like this before? Attempt to get as much information as possible.
Can they mention any of the brands with which they collaborated? Is there anything in the way of photographs or links? Finding out that the supplier you’re considering has never completed similar orders isn’t a reason to abandon the project. Just keep in mind that they, like you, are working it out as they go.
Here are some pros and cons on how to choose manufacturers-
Pros
- Manufacturers can offer you high profit margins by cutting the cost per unit if you purchase goods.
- Having your products made allows you to develop your brand and try out new products whenever you desire.
- You can inspect and quality manage your product on a regular schedule, unlike with wholesale and direct shipping.
Cons
- The initial investment is substantial.
- Prototyping, sampling, testing, improving, and production are all
time-consuming steps in the manufacturing process.
Type of supplier
The first and most critical step is to figure out what kind of supplier you want to work with. The following are the three most prevalent methods of acquiring inventory:
- Find a company who will make your unique designs and styles.
- Purchase current brands and items with the help of a distributor.
- Collaborate with a drop shipper to provide products and fulfill orders for established brands and products.
The large factories are very specialized
Working with a large manufacturing company also has the disadvantage of being very specialized. Big companies don’t operate with just one manufacturer. They work with hundreds of people at times. Furthermore, each of their supply chain’s suppliers is highly technical.
This specialization is preferred by large factories because it increases efficiency. As their employees create the same thing time after time, they become very proficient at it and much faster at it.
Stick to the budget
Set a budget and consider how much wiggle room you’re willing to allow. Then inquire with the manufacturer to see if they can meet it. Obtain a precise analysis to verify that the overall production cost does not increase. Requesting pricing per unit may appear to be the simplest method to go about this.
Writing the correct kind of email
Writing a good email is the key to getting to the manufacturers. Reduce your topic to a single sentence. This is the first item the factory will see when they open their inbox, so make it as clear and exact as possible.
Remember that if the subject line is confusing, the recipient is likely not to read any further. Make absolutely sure your title tag is concise and professional. If you have a manufacturing contact, use their name in your correspondence. If you don’t, professional titles like sir/madam can be used instead.
Give a clear and concise description to yourself and your fashion label. Include this if you are the owner, director, designer, or founder, as it gives credibility! Describe the type of business you are and the products you offer, as well as any special values. Make sure you provide enough information to show you’re informed and ready to do business.
Also, avoid coming across as arrogant or disrespectful, as this can damage your chances of receiving a favourable response. In your introduction, be kind and modest, and make it brief.
It’s the kind of information you’d give without thinking in a face-to-face chat, but when it comes to writing or contacting to inquire, we forget the essentials and make things more difficult for ourselves. So following the list will help you to find and contact the right manufacturer.
