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Starting a new business is definitely not an easy job. Take clothing business as an example, in order to make it work, you have to take a lot of things into consideration. Choosing a clothing manufacture is one of the most crucial things. This article will guide you through the process of choosing the right apparel manufacture for your business.
Different types of apparel manufactures
There are mainly two types of apparel manufactures. One is domestic manufacture, the other is oversea manufacture. If you choose domestic manufactures, you can get your products a lot quicker because the shipping distance is a lot shorter than oversea manufactures. Besides, you can get high quality products with regulated labor standards. However, domestic manufactures have their disadvantages, that is, it if often more expensive working with them. Oversea manufactures also have their disadvantages. The shipping time might be longer than you expected. But it will be much cheaper working with oversea manufactures. If you are cautious about money and doesn’t care about the shipping time, then oversea manufacture definitely is your first choice.
Steps for choosing apparel manufactures
Step 1: Identifying your needs
Before you start, you must know your needs clearly. You cannot do things blindly. What is your brand image? What is your budget? What are your expectations. These are the questions you need to consider carefully. Before all the things begin, you have to identify your needs.
Step 2: Researching
After you know your needs, you have to do a lot of researches relating to clothing manufactures. You need to search for information about different manufactures and make comparisons. The Internet is a great tool to do researches, but be careful, there are a lot of false information on it too.
Here are some ways to do researches:
1. Search engines
Search engines are widely used for researches. There are different search engines, such as Google, Baidu, Microsoft Bing, etc. The results are often different, you can make comparisons and select which information is useful for you.
2. Social software
Besides search engines, social software is also a great tool for researches. You can get what you need on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You can follow the official account of your ideal manufacture and ask questions by sending social media site messages.
3. Industrial exhibition
There is still another way to do researches, that is industry exhibition. You get to meet plenty of people connecting to the business face to face. You can ask them questions and get the information you need for your research.
Step 3: Asking for quotes and make comparisons
During this stage, you should give your manufacture your ideas or requirements. Your manufacture will give you quotes. The price given will be different, it depends on the material and style of the sample. You can tell the manufactures your ideal price and they will give you the lowest price they can offer. You compare those prices and take other things into consideration, then you will find the ones which suit you the most.
Step 4: Evaluating and Communicating
The next thing you should do is making evaluations. You have to consider the size, qualifications and projects of your manufactures. After that, you should let them know your needs and concerns. Through communication, both sides can get a result they are all looking for.
Step 5: Making samples
The next thing to do is let your manufactures make samples and give them to you. Once you receive the samples, you should carefully check the appearance and quality of the samples. If you find any problems during the process, do not hesitate to tell your manufactures so that they can make adjustments according to your requirements.
Step 6: Visiting the production site (if possible)
Visiting the production site is another thing you should do before signing contracts. By doing this, you will be able to know whether the chosen manufacture can meet your requirements or not. If you find any problems during your visit, you can raise the questions and ask the manufacture to solve them.
Step 7: Negotiating terms and signing contracts
Congratulations! You have come to the final step. But don’t be happy yet, you still have an important thing to do. After you choose a clothing manufacture, it is really important to negotiate terms with it, because the terms relate to the rights of both sides. After that, both sides should sign contracts to guarantee their rights.
How to avoid traps in the process of choosing apparel manufactures.
1. Examine their official websites
Today, not all the information on the Internet is true. You must have the ability to distinguish right from wrong. That means, you have to examine their official websites carefully. Don’t let the false information on the Internet blinds you. For example, you can use different search engines to check whether the information is true or not.
2. Make comparisons before making your decision
Do not make your decision easily. Remember: look before you leap. In order to get more accurate information, you should search for information of different manufactures and make comparisons. By doing this, you will be able to know the strength and weakness of each manufacture. And you can see the ability of the manufactures better and the make your decisions.
3. Be careful when it comes to terms on the contract
Remember, pay attention to every word on the contract, this is extremely important. Sometimes there will be traps hidden in the terms. If you cannot understand the contract yourself, find a lawyer to check it for you. Contracts are very important in cooperation. If you misunderstand the terms, you might end up paying more than you should.
In conclusion, a right manufacture will be of great help to your business. In order to choose a suitable manufacture, first, you should learn about different types of clothing manufactures and make your choice. Then, you follow the seven steps for finding a manufacture. Lastly, you have to be cautious so that you won’t fall into the traps. Choosing the right apparel manufacture for your business. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
