A clothing manufacturer is the one that normally works according to the requirements of apparel brands to help them start businesses or establish existing clothing lines. This is what signifies the importance of a manufacturing expert in the industry. However, for a brand, which clothing supplier to trust is the most important question because the entire process, from designing to delivering, is in the hands of the producer.
If your projects are in incapable hands, you could face massive financial losses and business instability. Therefore, every business entity that is closely related to the apparel industry or wants to be a part of the industry should ask a few of the most significant questions before hiring or working with a manufacturer.
Are you a registered company?
A clothing manufacturing company should be registered under the names LLC, CO, org, etc. So you need to ask the suppliers if the company they are running is registered or not. If yes, then you are one step closer to trusting your potential production house. The reason is that the registered companies are not exposed to legal setbacks or thefts. If a firm is not registered and faces legal problems, it will directly affect the operations of your brand.
What is the nature of your work?
Knowing and understanding the work nature of the manufacturers is very important since it identifies their skills in the different niches. For example, if you want to start a fashion clothing line, a good custom clothing manufacturer with expertise in producing fashion products would be the right one for you. So if you inquire about the work prior to placing the order, you will have a better chance of starting or running your clothing line efficiently with quality products.
Can you share your previous work?
To build trust, knowing about the prior work of a manufacturer is also important. Hence, you can ask your potential manufacturing partner to share their successful ventures or work with prior clients. This way, you will get to know how many brands have become successful by working with that manufacturing company.
Can you manufacture our products?
Asking a manufacturing company if it can manufacture the products you want is a wise approach because you don’t want to invest your time and money in a company that has no expertise in creating your preferred apparel.
You are supposed to form an alliance with a production company that is efficient and advanced in manufacturing all kinds of apparel products, or at least the clothes you want. For instance, if you want to launch a sports clothing line, you may approach a sports clothing manufacturer that is proficient in crafting the best quality sports apparel.
Do You Make Samples?
This is a very reasonable and wise question to ask because brands should get samples before final products to see if the manufacturer is capable of creating accurate and quality products or not. So, if you are a clothing brand or want to become one, you need to ask the manufacturing company if they will make samples for you.
How much do you charge for samples?
After knowing that the company is capable of manufacturing samples, inquire about the pricing structure. If you find the costs affordable, then it is a win-win situation for you and the manufacturing company.
What is your minimum order quantity?
Clothing manufacturers create bulk products for brands, and they always set a MOQ for samples and bulk. Thus, inquire about the low MOQ of samples. It is important, especially for small-scale brands that can’t invest a large chunk of money. So, they can place an order for a few samples according to the company’s minimum order quantity policy.
Are you capable of producing bulk products?
Ask the manufacturing candidate if bulk production is possible or not. If yes, then how much quantity can the company produce? This will ensure that the production company you are trying to partner with is capable of producing a reasonable bulk quantity of apparel.
Do You Have Advanced Ways of Manufacturing Products?
It is very important to know that a manufacturer has the latest technology and machinery to manufacture apparel products. The reason is that brands that require bulk products want quick and efficient work.
What are your quality control measures?
Inquire about the quality control measures and procedures from the manufacturers because flaws may occur while producing apparel, and a reliable manufacturing firm should have certain measures to cater to problems. Most of the quality control measures include remaking the apparel products that were created with flaws. The manufacturer should be able to rectify the errors efficiently.
What is your turnaround time?
Turnaround time means the time period in which a manufacturer completes the bulk order. Ask your potential manufacturing company about its turnaround time. If you find the time appropriate, make a wise decision.
What is your production process?
Brands need to ask about the production process of the manufacturer to determine if the clothes are going to be made without any flaws. The process includes many things, for instance, designing, cutting and sewing, printing, dyeing, washing, and so on. So, be specific about your question and request a valid answer from the clothing supplier.
What is your delivery method?
The delivery method or process includes multiple things, like whether the manufacturer offers doorstep delivery or if the company is associated with several delivery companies to carry out the deliveries. These are some significant inquiries that will ensure a good relationship with your manufacturer.
How much time does the delivery take?
Usually, manufacturers have set a certain number of business days to deliver samples and bulk orders. Therefore, asking them about the specified time of sample delivery and bulk delivery would help you make the decision to choose the manufacturer quickly.
What are your payment methods?
Knowing about the payment methods is absolutely essential since you will be able to make transactions successfully. Make sure the methods are reliable and trustworthy in order to avoid any financial loss or fraud.
