Whether you’re a startup retailer with a physical presence or an eCommerce store looking to start selling activewear, one of your first questions is going to be, “Where can I find a wholesale activewear supplier?”
The answer, unfortunately, is not as simple as we would like. The wholesale activewear industry is largely unregulated, which means anyone can sell you activewear and call themselves a supplier. With the industry set to be worth over half a billion dollars by 2024, new entrants are coming into the market every day.
This can make finding a reputable wholesale activewear vendor a challenge, but it’s not impossible. With the right research and due diligence, you can find a supplier that will help your business grow.
Here are a few tips on how to find an excellent wholesale activewear supplier.
1. Do Your Research
The first step in finding a wholesale activewear supplier is to do your research. This means more than just doing a quick Google search. You need to understand the industry and learn about the different types of suppliers that are out there.
This will help you decide on the best supplier for your specific needs. For example, do you need a supplier that specializes in eco-friendly activewear? Or do you need a supplier with a wide range of products to meet your customer’s needs? What about their ability to work with you on creating custom designs?
These are all questions that will likely pop up during your research phase. As you navigate this process, you will find that you have a much better idea of what you need from your activewear factory partner.
2. Look for Activewear Wholesalers That Cater to Small or Independent Brands
It’s no good finding what you think is the perfect wholesale activewear vendor, only to find that their Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) are 2,000 pieces per item. These volumes are just not feasible for a small, independent, or boutique brand.
Instead, you need to be looking for activewear wholesalers who are set up to work with small businesses. These suppliers usually have lower MOQs, ranging from 10 pieces per item to 100 pieces per item, and some might not even have specific MOQs at all, giving you even more flexibility.
Additionally, these suppliers are usually more open to working with you on custom designs and small batches. This is essential for new brands still testing the waters and don’t want to commit to large orders.
3. Check To See If They Offer Custom Design Services
One of the fastest ways to stand out in the activewear industry is to have unique designs that no one else has. This is where working with a wholesale activewear factory that offers custom design services can be a game-changer.
These services allow you to create activewear that is specific to your brand and that better meets the needs of your customers. You can work with the supplier’s design team to create a one-of-a-kind piece or design an entire collection.
Exclusive designs like these are a great way to differentiate your brand and give your customers something that they can’t find anywhere else.
4. Look For a Range of Shipping Options
As an activewear retailer, you depend on your wholesaler to get your products to you on time and in good condition. This means that you need to work with a supplier offering a range of shipping options. From express delivery to worldwide coverage, you should have a few options to choose from.
Reliable fulfillment is critical to your success. Remember, you could have a runaway success with one of your designs, but if you can’t get it restocked quickly, you’ll lose out on sales. So make sure that your wholesale activewear vendor can meet your shipping needs.
5. Look for Ethical Credentials You Can Market to Your Customers
Many activewear wholesalers will boast ethical credentials that you can then turn around and use as promotional points for your customers. For example, if they use eco-friendly fabrics or sustainable production methods, you can use this to market your products.
According to recent sustainable fashion statistics, 67% of consumers now pay attention to the environmental impacts of their clothing. Therefore, it’s more important than ever to be able to market your products as sustainable.
When looking at wholesale activewear suppliers, check to see if they have any ethical credentials you can use to market your products.
6. Check to See if They Have a Base Near You
In retail fashion, things move quickly. Whether you’ve hit on a new trend or you need to restock your best-selling items, you need to be able to get your hands on products quickly. The same is true if there is a problem with one of your orders. You need someone in the same time zone, or at least the same country, to reply to messages quickly.
Therefore, it’s always a good idea to try and find wholesale activewear vendors with a base near you. While fashion and textile factories tend to be based in Asia, at least if you have a sales representative or customer service team in your country, you’ll be able to get the help that you need quickly.
7. Order Samples
Of course, once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential activewear wholesale suppliers, you will want to order some samples. This is the only way you can be sure that the quality of their products is up to scratch.
When you’re ordering samples, pay attention to the following:
- The quality of the fabric
- The construction of the garments
- The fit of the garments
- The packaging
- The branding (if you’ve requested your logo to be added etc.)
All these factors will play a role in the quality of the products you’re selling to your customers. Once you’ve received your samples, you can decide if the quality is good enough to merit working with that particular supplier.
Speak to Wonderxfans Today Regarding Your Wholesale Activewear Needs
As you can see, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind when you’re looking for wholesale activewear suppliers.
At Wonderxfans, we tick all of the boxes.
We have a wide range of wholesale activewear options for you to choose from. We use ethical and sustainable production methods, offer a range of shipping options worldwide, and can even bring your custom designs to life.
To find out more about what we can do for you, contact us today. One of our wholesale activewear specialists will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.
Alternatively, why not browse our catalog to see some of the wholesale activewear options that we have available? We’re sure you’ll find something that’s perfect for your needs.
