Working With Budget Clothing Lines
20 Mar
So this weekend I finally entered the world of “budget clothing”. For a now while I’ve been wondering where some shops get less expensive pieces. When you’re working with contemporary designers, it’s hard to find collections that retail under $100; I can count all of those labels on one hand, I can’t name one I actually like and would carry. So after a lot of research (ie. googling) I came across a couple of brands, which eventually lead me to the online showrooms. Turns out these showrooms are pretty much where I expected them to be — deep in the heart of the garment district. In fact I remember stumbling upon a few of them on accident while shopping with friends down there one time.
And, as usual, I’ve uncovered a whole new set of frustrations. Where do I begin…
So, I’m mainly looking for more affordable pieces for my shop at the salon. These lines are great because a lot of the tops retail for around $35 and the dresses a little bit more for that and the jeans actually LESS than that. Is the quality the same as pieces I carry now? Of course not, but some of it is a lot better than one would expect. But you have to look….and look, and look….and then look a lot more to find them. I mean, there’s a lot of horribly ugly crap in this market, and I really wonder who’s designing for these labels sometimes to be honest. But every once in a while you stumble upon a gem.
The real issue here is with minimums — not delivery minimums (they’re usually about $100), but size minimums, because budget lines come prepackaged with a set number of items in each size. Im used to buying four pieces and being able to choose which sizes I want, but with these lines you’re (on average) required to purchase six pieces (sometimes 5) and you don’t even get to choose the sizes. And for a small store, six pieces seems a bit daunting. If you’re talking jeans or shoes, be prepared to stock a lot more.
Even more frusterating, though, are the sizes. Just earlier today I was looking at a VERY promising line with peices retailing around $80 and $90 each. Only thing is they require you to buy 2 small, 2 medium and 1 large. Yeah, maybe in LA sizes 2 and 4 are more popular than 6 and 8, but in my town? Not so much. I asked the sales rep about this and she told me that I can “always add more larges on to the order”. Well thanks, but that’s not exactly what I was getting at.
To make matters even worse, most of these showrooms are closed on Saturdays….even during market week. I know they don’t work ahead of the season, but this I don’t get at all. I guess they think all buyers live in LA or can just abandon work in the middle of the week.
So far, I’ve found a couple of great jewelry vendors and placed an order for a few pieces. I’m pretty excited about them; cute stuff, and it’s all going to retail under $25. Should be a great addition to the salon, since we have absolutely NO jewelry there. Crazy, huh?
Kim, I ran into the same problem when I had my store. My college girls wanted the designer look but for less. One of my favorite stores in Dallas which is across the street from SMU carries a good variety of high and low. google-cotton island, dallas, tx. I think the web site is http://www.cottonisland.com but not sure. I also sold miss me, it was prepacked and some of my competitors did well with the Karlie line which is sold at the Dallas and Atlanta market not sure about L.A., I did a few sourcing from online places like you did and I don’t remember the website but I had to send them my tax id. and log in to order. but the prices where crazy cheap. One line was “honey pot” and it was cute summer, cheap jersey dresses. I marked them up 3x and they sold like hot cakes. I think the jersey prepacks are good for leggings too! yes and sizes were always too small. I usually ended marking down my xxs and xs after the rest had sold. usually a few weeks to a month after the others had sold. the turnover was fast and crazy. it’s a hard decision though. you don’t want to loose your designer style and integrity. Good Luck Girl! I am so proud of you!
” you don’t want to loose your designer style and integrity”
Oh gosh, this is my delimma to a tee! This is all mainly for my shop at the salon though; if I put all of it online I think it would be a disaster, which is why i’m CONSIDERING doing a separate shop and calling it Ooh La Less or something (lol, jk). The clientele at the salon isn’t high end. But the thing is I DO want to spinoff and have a full range store eventually, and Id like to start building a customer base now. SO I have think about being consistent with prices and what not.
Yeah that sounds like the wholesale sources I’m using. That’s awesome to hear that the lower priced lines worked so well for you. I’m going to start trying them little by little. Thanks for the info on those lines too — I’ll have to check them out!
Hi Kim…. i came across your blog entry about reasonable fashion lines. I have a line like that!
you can check it out at http://www.lubica.com Please let me know if you are interested and i will send you a price list and order form. I will also email you a proper catalogue. 
(all the clothes wholesales well under $100usd)…
thank you!!!
and looking froward hearing from you!!!
Lubica
I go the same route as you two mentioned for purchasing merchandise in my boutique. I am in sacramento california. We been open three weeks now and sometimes its just really dead in the boutique no one is comming in or everyone comes in and only window shops. What methods have you used for advertising and getting more people to come to your boutique
@Lubica Awesome! I’ll email you about the catalogue, thanks!
@Natasha I think location has a lot to do with it. I go into some new boutiques here in town and they’re just packed because they’re in a HIGHLY trafficed shopping area. I learned the importance of the saying “location, location, location” with my (now defunct) salon shop xD
I go the same route as you two mentioned for purchasing merchandise in my boutique. I am in sacramento california. We been open three weeks now and sometimes its just really dead in the boutique no one is comming in or everyone comes in and only window shops. What methods have you used for advertising and getting more people to come to your boutique
^Well I’m online so advertising is very, very different. But most of the boutiques around here are located in heavy shopping areas to begin with, or if they’re downtown they’ll advertise via radio and local magazine ads. You can also get involved with charity and local events. It’ll just take some time, but eventaully people will get to know your stores name!