Questions to Ask Your Clothing Manufacturer

Questions to Ask Your Clothing Manufacturer

Manufacturers are going to be your partners in your clothing business. After designing your products, the next step to take is to find a manufacturer that will make your sketches come to life. Finding the right one is very important because if your manufacturer is not reliable, you might encounter a lot of problems which can affect your business negatively. It can cause delays in delivering your customers’ items. As a result, your business might receive negative feedback from clients. That’s why it’s important for you to do your best and find the right manufacturer using some of the following questions.

1. Ask If They Can Accommodate New Customers

Once you are able to get a hold of the manufacturer on the phone, one of the first things that you need to ask them is if they can still accommodate new customers. Some manufacturers might be overbooked. If they tell you that they already have a lot of projects lined up right now, then you can thank them and move on to the next manufacturer. Avoid pushing a manufacturer to accommodate your orders since this might cause your orders to get delayed.

2. Ask the Brands or Companies They Are Working For

You can also try asking the manufacturers about the brands or companies that they are supplying. By doing this, you’ll be able to know the quality of the manufacturer’s work especially if you are already familiar with the brand. You can also ask if the manufacturer can give you some references. Contact these references to verify the reliability of the manufacturer. If you are eyeing an overseas manufacturer, then it can be a little difficult to check the reliability of the manufacturer. But through contacting their references, you’ll have a peace of mind that the manufacturer is a good one.

3. Ask if They Will Be Able Tto Create Your Products

Another important thing to know when you’re looking for a manufacturer is if they will be able to create your products. Some designs might require special kinds of machines to get done. Because of this, you might be required to discuss the design that you are planning to get produced. Try to tell the manufacturer as much details as possible. This will give them an idea if they have the right equipment to make your designs.

4. Ask for Quotations

To avoid getting surprised in the end, it’s also recommended to talk about the quotations for the project. However, you also need to remember that an accurate estimation of the costs can only be given once the manufacturer already made the prototype of the product. But if they can give you a rough estimate, this would give you an idea of the overall production cost that you need to fund for the business. By asking for quotations you will also be able to compare the rates of various manufacturers.

5. Ask About the Services They Provide to Clients

You can also ask the manufacturer if they offer other services to clients like fabric sourcing, grading, patterns, and designing. It can be a little risky to let manufacturers do these tasks for you aside from the production process. Allowing them to handle these would mean less control for you. But being aware of the services that they provide can come in handy especially when you’ll need more help later on.

6. The Minimum Order

This is another important question to ask your manufacturer. Know the minimum order per color, style, or size. You should also ask how much surcharge you’ll need to pay if you ask them to produce a quantity that is lower than the minimum order.

7. The Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions of your transaction with the manufacturer should be clear between the two of you. One example of this is the payment terms. This should be discussed and agreed before you sign a contract or an agreement. If you are unsure about certain parts of your agreement, don’t hesitate to ask or clarify with your manufacturer. You can also talk about adding a few things in the agreement if you think that they are necessary. The terms and conditions are important for you to have a good relationship with your manufacturer.

8. Ask About Certifications

Having a business to earn money is not the only thing that you are aiming for as a business owner. You also think about providing the best quality of products to your customers, and you also want to provide work to people who need it. This is why it’s a must to know if the manufacturer that you want to partner with is also a good employer and business owner. By asking about their certifications, you’ll be certain that they are operating legally, they comply with the standards of the industry, and they are also responsible when it comes to their employees.

9. What Are the Factors That Might Cause the Prices to Change?

Every business owner should know the factors that might cause the prices of production to increase so that he or she can prepare the business. Ask your manufacturer if inflation or the industry index will affect their rates. It would also be useful to know if the cost will go down in case the supplier’s cost for production goes down as well.

Where Do You Start?

Now that you finally understand the things that you need to ask manufacturers, it’s time to start sending emails, calling their contact numbers, and even visiting their manufacturing site if you want to. But where do you start? Is there a way to make the hunt easier for you?

As a business owner, you’ll have a lot of things to do. You have to supervise your employees, look at designs, market your business, and think of strategies that will make your business grow. Because of these, it can be quite difficult to find a manufacturer using directories and call them one by one. If you want to skip all the hassle, the supplier sourcing website Sewport can help you find a good manufacturer that is located in your country, and even overseas. You’ll be able to close a deal faster using this platform.