How To Get The Clothes: Step By Step
28 Feb
Alright, it’s been fun talking about other lines and celebrity fashion, but I think it’s about time we get back to business! Just to update on my progress, I’m STILL working on designing the site but more importantly, I’ve found a photographer! Her work is great, and it’s going to be a great collaboration; I’ll post more about her in the future. My first photoshoot is scheduled April 6th and I have three deliveries coming in before then (the end of this month, mid March and late March).
Moving on, I’ve had several people ask me exactly how do you go about contacting designers and labels. I realized I never explained this clearly, so here it is, step by step:
Contacting the Designers
Unless we’re talking about an indie designer, it’s usually not the designer him/herself who you would contact (nor is it corporate). The vast majority of the time all sales would be handled through a sales representative who works out of a showroom. If you’re on the West Coast, use the LA Fashion District Directory to the find out who the sales rep is for a particular label. They have just about every line listed with the location of their showroom, suite number and phone number.
Before making contact, I would recommend getting a bit more information (showroom name, sales rep name, etc). You can usually find that as well as email contact info at the website for the particular building as showroom is located in, and there are four total:
Call or email the showroom and ask them to email you (some may snail mail) a line sheet. A line sheet should show you all the styles as well as color ways, wholesale prices, fabrication, sizing, etc. Be sure to ask about minimum order quantities as well.
Also keep in mind that buying is done pretty far ahead of the season. Right now, you would be buying for either Summer or Fall.
Trade Shows
Trade shows are like exhibits. It’s one of the best ways to find new lines, and you can also place orders while you’re there. Here are the major shows:
- Brighte (LA) – Happens during the LA Fashion, Home & Gift show during market week at the California Mart. I’ve been twice. It’s usually the same designers, and there are good labels (I found one that I bought from) but there isn’t too much to see.
- Designers & Agents (LA) – This usually goes on at the same time as Brighte, across the street at the New Mart. I previously was unaware of this and now I’m kicking myself for not going (although I might go in March). Apparently, it’s a bigger group of designers.
- MAGIC (Las Vegas) - By FAR the biggest trade show, and it’s a huge deal in the industry. This happens in February and at the end of August every year.
- Intermezzo (NY)
- Coterie (NY)
That’s for fashion. If you’re looking for skate/surfwear or action sports, there are completely different shows for that (I think there’s a big one in San Diego).
Everytime I go down to the mart I get completely overwhelmed and can’t find any lines that I really like.. any suggestions on how to make the most of a trip down to the mart – not only during a show but even just during the week?
^Hey Sunita! That’s a very, very, very good question. To be honest, Im kinda sorta in the same place as you right now. I mentioned in another post that I went to D&A and I was soooooo lost, I only found like 1 or 2 clothing lines I liked. And I dont think that’s necessarily our fault as buyers; there are so many lines out there and most aren’t going to fit our vision, and so many of the lines look the same anyways.
I think when you see a line you like, you’ll KNOW it, so it’s not something you really have to rush. It might also be a good idea to just et business cards and email them for linesheets, then sleep on the lines and decide what you’ll actually buy at a late time.
And also, I would say to only visit a small amount of lines/showrooms at a time. When you do it all in one day, like I did, its really easy to get overwhelmed, burned out, and then everything starts to run together in your mind. I hope that helps!
Hello kim, I’ve just started reading your blog, I’ve a Q?
How do you know exactly how much to buy at startup?
Hi Neil, there’s no rule of thumb really, it’s all up to you. It’s good of course to buy at least one piece in each size, and some lines will probably have minimums. Beyond that you basically need to decide how much merchandise you’ll need to make the store not look too empty.
I hope that helps!
Hi Kim,
First of all your blog is great, it really does explain everything I needed to know. But i do have question..
When i go to a designer’s website such as “True Religion Brand Jeans” I click on “distributors” and I get bunch of names and info. but before the list starts this is what it says:
* Please note the following are Distributors who deal exclusively with Retailers around the world NOT individuals looking to buy True Religion Apparel. Please do not contact anyone below unless you are a specialty boutique or retailer looking to open a store that carries True Religion Apparel.
so yes I do want to open a specialty boutique and carry True Religion..but is that who i should go through? “Distributors” and if so
I heard that it is hard to get HIGH END clothing to sell is that true?
Hi Violet! Yup, the places listed on the website is where you would go to get the clothes. Those are the names of the showrooms, and showrooms are pretty much always who you go through to get a new label in your store.
It can be hard to get high end clothing. If you’re looking for some exclusive designers or VERY high end brands like Dolce & Gabanna or Chloe or something they have very high minimums and they’re picky about what areas and what types of shops they go into. And a lot of times it depends on what boutiques around you are carrying. Just email a BUNCH of brands that you want and try to work with the sales reps and narrow it down.
Best of luck!
I LOVE your blog/site, found it through the fashion spot! I am planning on opening an online store next summer for fall, but am wondering how early I should start contacting reps? Do you have an office space or do you run it out of your home? Also, do you ever notice some brand reps who will not work with brand new stores? Thanks so much for your advice, you should write a book!
hi Kim,
blog is fabulous.
you really helped a lot since I am now in process of getting into boutique business.
my ‘problem’ is that I live in the Caribbean,meaning, only summer clothes and shoes is what I need during the whole year.so if I go to shows and showrooms in winter time can I still get summer dresses and sandals?
also,I do not want big designer names,not even brands,just cute,unique,trendy,good quality stuff.can I find that there too?
thanks,
Itana
Kimmy – I’ll email you!
Itana – Im gonna do a post answering your question!