How to Find Clothing Wholesalers – Domestic and Overseas

Are you looking for an easier, more effective way of finding new clothing wholesalers for your fashion business? 

PRODUCT SOURCING can be a difficult task. It’s a complex and involved process where you must analyse and compare various aspects such as location, price, source and reliability to find the best supplier for your boutique. 

Buying from clothing wholesalers is one of the best options for stocking your fashion store. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly popular among fashion boutique owners across the globe.

Understanding the benefits of this type of supplier is one thing. But how can you actually find the best wholesaler for you? To help you out, we’ve created an easy guide to finding clothing wholesalers, whether you manage an ECOMMERCE STORE or a brick-and-mortar boutique in Australia.

Ready to stock hot-selling styles from 100+ unique Australian brands? JOIN WHOLA now. 

THE BENEFITS OF SOURCING YOUR PRODUCTS FROM WHOLESALERS

As mentioned above, sourcing products from WHOLESALERS is a popular option for fashion businesses. But why is it better to buy from a wholesaler instead of from the manufacturer or label itself? 

Here are just a few of the main reasons why wholesalers are a better option for your fashion business:

• Buy a variety of stock from one place: Wholesalers often allow you to buy numerous pieces from various brands all in one place. No need to track down several manufacturers or labels! You can order as much or as little stock as you need with just a few clicks of a button.
• No surprise additional fees: Today, the majority of clothing manufacturers are located in China. Although buying directly from manufacturers may seem cheaper, you run the risk of encountering additional surprise fees like taxes, shipping, handling and quality control. This often incurs more costs than going to a wholesaler.
• Better customer service: Particularly for small fashion stores, big labels and manufacturers can be unresponsive and unhelpful if you encounter issues with your order. Wholesalers are more likely to understand the importance of customer service and are usually better equipped to assist smaller fashion retailers.

DOMESTIC VS OVERSEAS: WHERE SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR FASHION WHOLESALERS?

When choosing the right wholesaler for your fashion retail business, you should consider whether a domestic or an overseas wholesaler will be a better fit. 

Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of domestic vs overseas wholesalers for Australian-based fashion stores:

PROS OF SOURCING PRODUCTS FROM DOMESTIC CLOTHING WHOLESALERS

• Lower additional costs: Additional costs that come with buying stock from wholesalers are much cheaper when the wholesaler is located domestically. With reduced travel time, shipping costs are more affordable, which is a great advantage compared to shipping overseas from areas like China and America.
  
• Quicker turnaround time: Similarly, domestic locations also mean a shorter turnaround from order to shipment. This is particularly important for fashion stores who prefer to order stock after acquiring their orders, as they rely on quick delivery to fulfil their customer requirements. 

CONS OF SOURCING PRODUCTS FROM DOMESTIC CLOTHING WHOLESALERS

• More expensive stock: Ordering stock from Australia will comparatively be more expensive than ordering from countries such as China where labour costs are lower. However, it’s important to note that the higher price tag may also mean higher quality products.

PROS OF SOURCING PRODUCTS FROM OVERSEAS CLOTHING WHOLESALERS

• Increased variety of labels: Expanding your search overseas will, of course, give you a greater variety of worldwide brands to choose from. Certain labels – both big and small – have not yet ventured into the Australian market. So finding a wholesaler overseas will open up the opportunity for more variety. 

CONS OF SOURCING PRODUCTS FROM OVERSEAS CLOTHING WHOLESALERS

• Expensive returns: Buying from wholesalers overseas can become a costly option if you need to return items. Shipping costs for returns to places like America may lead to freight costs outweighing your original stock investment.
  
• Communication issues: Venturing overseas can become a tricky business when it comes to communication. You may experience a language barrier that runs a higher likelihood of error (such as the wrong order). This is not only costly but will also cause delays.
  
• Different trends: In an industry like fashion, trends can be fleeting and are very dependent on geography. Choosing wholesalers overseas to find unique pieces is a risk, as your Aussie customers may not like the style.
  
• Opposite season cycle: It’s also essential to note the seasonal difference between the northern and southern hemispheres. Popular overseas wholesalers in America will be stocking clothes that are a season “behind” Australia. 

Once you have determined which route is best for you, it’s time to find the best wholesalers out there.

5 WAYS TO FIND CLOTHING WHOLESALERS 

There are numerous ways you can find the perfect fashion wholesaler for you, from in-person trade shows to online fashion communities. 

Here are the top 5 ways for finding clothing wholesalers for your fashion business: 

1. B2B FASHION MARKETPLACES

B2B fashion marketplaces are one of the best sources for finding a range of clothing items for your own fashion business. These marketplaces serve as a one-stop shop stocked with a variety of labels that makes buying easier than ever. 

WHOLA is an Australian B2B fashion marketplace with everything you need to find unique labels for your boutique, saving you time, money and hassle. With a curated edit of 100+ leading AUSTRALIAN CLOTHING BRANDS, you have an exclusive pick of Australia’s hottest selling fast-to-market labels, which you can shop whenever and wherever you like. 

Unlike wholesale agents or sales reps, Whola doesn’t pressure you to buy. Instead, we give the buying power back to you to buy whenever you need it from our 24/7 online store. We also ensure that you always have a unique retail mix by notifying you if a competitor in your area already stocks an item. We promise that your store remains one-of-a-kind with the best brands in the fashion market today!

2. SEARCH ENGINES 

If you’re unsure where to start looking for clothing wholesalers, a simple Google search can be highly effective. Customising your searches specific to you (such as your location, fashion labels, item names etc.) will help you find the right wholesaler for your needs. 

Features such as Google’s Advanced Search are particularly effective for niche searches. From here, you can compare wholesalers or use their contact details to find out more. 

3. TRADE SHOWS 

Trade shows are a fantastic opportunity to find new fashion wholesalers in person. You can connect with multiple wholesalers or manufacturers in just one day, and you also have the opportunity to see some of their pieces face-to-face instead of online. 

Trade shows are a great way to take a more immersive approach to find clothing wholesalers and ensure you have all the information you need from the very beginning of your supply journey. However, they only happen a few times a year, so keep an eye out for events in your area. 

 

4. REFERRALS 

If you are well-connected in the fashion business, referrals are a great way to find your next clothing wholesaler. Receiving recommendations from those around you is the best way of finding a wholesaler you can trust. 

On the other hand, if you’re just getting started, you’ll first need to expand your network. And that brings us to our next point. 

 

5. NETWORKING 

Networking is one of the most effective ways for small fashion store owners with less experience in the industry to broaden their knowledge, find new connections and source the best wholesalers. 

There are numerous ways of networking, from events to online forums and social media groups, where you can meet industry peers. Once you’ve established some relationships, you can ask them to share their tips and tricks for finding clothing wholesalers. 

CONCLUSION: HOW TO FIND CLOTHING WHOLESALERS

Sourcing products from clothing wholesalers has numerous benefits compared to going directly to the manufacturer or label. These include clothing variety, better customer service, lower prices, and lower additional fees. 

Before starting your search for clothing wholesalers, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of buying from domestic vs overseas wholesalers. 

Once you’ve made up your mind, the five best ways of finding the best clothing wholesaler for you include B2B fashion marketplaces like Whola, advanced online searches, in-person trade shows, referrals and networking. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FINDING CLOTHING WHOLESALERS FOR YOUR BOUTIQUE 

HOW DO I FIND A CLOTHING BOUTIQUE VENDOR? 

Finding clothing vendors for your boutique is easy. You can find B2B fashion marketplaces like Whola, which specialise in selling boutique clothing for fashion stores worldwide. Alternatively, you can participate in your local fashion boutique community to get referrals and recommendations for the best vendors in your area.

 

HOW DO I FIND WHOLESALE CLOTHING VENDORS?

There are numerous ways to find wholesale clothing vendors. You can use B2B fashion marketplaces like Whola which acts as a one-stop shop for all your buying needs. You can participate in trade shows or online networking to connect with potential vendors.  

HOW DO I FIND WHOLESALE SUPPLIERS? 

To find wholesale suppliers for your own fashion store, you can opt for in-person opportunities such as trade shows and referrals to connect with wholesalers. You can also use online resources such as B2B fashion marketplaces, online forums and social networking groups to make connections and discover new suppliers. 

WHAT ARE THE BEST WHOLESALE CLOTHING WEBSITES? 

B2B fashion marketplaces like Whola are great wholesale clothing websites, with various labels and items all in one place. Whola has over 80 leading Australian labels to choose from, stocking fast-to-market brands that you can buy whenever and wherever through their 24/7 online shop. 

Ready to stock hot-selling styles from 100+ unique Australian brands? JOIN WHOLA now.