Members Resources
Resources to help you refine your fashion business
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Welcome to your Visionise Members Resouces! As a team we want our clients to be as educated as possible on how everything works so that you can make conscious and calculated decisons on how to run your brand and business. In this Members Resources page are you will find a variety of brand & business resources that will help you through the development & production stages of your brand. We have categorized each stage to suite the stage of devleopment you may be in, if you would like to learn more about each stage please click on the category and read through each resource in that section. To get starte we highly reccommed going through the How to Start Fashion Brand resource below!
Sample & Bulk Lead Times
Lead times vary between factories, countries, fabrics, and product types. You need to consider all of these variables when calculating your production timeline. Often questions cannot be answered until certain stages of the development process have been met.
- Variables may include;
- Complexity of the product
- Fabrics required
- Location of the factory
- Scale of the order
- Design development
- Change of mind
- Sample rounds
Setting a realistic production timeline
As a start-up brand it is important to remember that you are new. You are building a fresh relationship with your factory, and you are also an expensive unknown to them at the start. They are about to invest a lot of time in your sample process and run at a loss to then re-coup these expenses in bulk and on-going business. If you are demanding and pushy from the start, you may have a strained relationship with your factory – this is not something that is going to be sustainable for your business. A realistic timeline expectation from the start can really change the progression of your business relationship. We have put together some approximates to help you put your timeline together yourself, again, this will vary but it’s a good jumping off point;
Sampling
On average there are 3 main sample types, these lead times depend on available fabrics, change of mind, complexity of the style, sample room availability, and of course having invoices paid on time.
Proto Sample / Fit Sample
2 – 4 weeks
SMS Sample
4 – 6 weeks
PP Sample
6 weeks
There are other sample types that can be requested, what we have included are the most common ones. Now that we have established an idea of sample lead times, let’s say you are going to be doing 3 rounds of samples, you are looking at almost 4 – 5 months in sampling. So if you are wanting a Spring / Summer delivery you need to be sampling well before Autumn.
Bulk
On average bulk takes between 45 – 90 days, this does depend on fabrics and QC too.
China 45 – 60 days
Bali – 60 – 90 days
Once your bulk is complete you need to allow time for the factory to properly QC the entire order, they need to provide this report to you so that you know this has been actioned. If there are issues you want the factory to fix them before the order is sent out and you pay for shipping & import.
We have put together an editable approximate timeline so that you can play around with yours. Please keep in mind you need to allow time for shipping, reports, updates, QC and the in-betweens of production. This is a very basic guide, there is a much more detailed guide specific to your brand in your Monday.com board.
Being able to predict the future of fashion for your brand is a tricky thing. You need to design months in advance in order to meet production deadlines, but how can you know if your product is going to be trendy so far in advance? Trend forecasting is a fantastic tool and resource to help you do your research, and make sure you are on the right path for your brands development. We have put together some of our favourite free trend forecasting resources, however, if you would like a trend forecast specifically tailored to your brand we can do this for. Just ask your designer for a quote!
TREND RESOURCES
FREE TREND FORECAST SITE – TAGWALK
A design handover is your way of communicating what your range looks like to your designer. This is a document that you just need to fill out as best as possible, we don’t expect professional design quality in handovers (this is why you have come to us) but just include as much as you can about each style so that your designer can determine if the style is basic, intermediate or complex. It can also be a great platform for you to work on your range and determine which styles you need in the range and some that can be used for future ranges.
In order to keep track of the styles in your range you will create style codes, this will be used throughout the production process to highlight the style and what is needed for it. We recommend sticking to the style code rather than the name of style, the reason for this is because this is your brand so you feel connected to each style. However, from a factory perspective they need the exact details to follow to ensure your production moves successfully, and names and confuse this.
Next up we have line sheets, these are optional but are a fantastic tool to view your range entirely before moving into production. This is also a document used for selling your product if you are moving into Wholesale for your brand.
FASHION DESIGN TEMPLATE HANDOVER
LINESHEET & LOOK BOOK DESIGN BRIEF
Fabric & trim sourcing can be daunting when you are new to the design development process and have no connections to suppliers. There are a lot of options out there, some may be perfect for your styles, and some may look perfect but not the be quality that your brand wants to uphold.
Variables to consider;
- Fabric type
Find a fabric in a garment that you already have and use this as a reference fabric. Please consider the style of our garment when researching fabric types. Do you need a knit or a woven fabric?
- Fabric weight
This is called GSM and this needs to be outlined so that the correct weight for your fabric can be sourced. There are many different GSM options available for 1 fabric type.
- Fabric composition
This is the blend of fabrics that are used to create the fabric that you are after. You may have a fabric that you want more stretch in, this can be blended with another type of fabric to create this.
Knit vs Woven Fabrics
A knit fabric has more stretch and flexibility, a woven fabric is not easily stretched and holds its shape. To give you an example;
Knit fabric – active wear, swim wear, sweaters, t-shirts, clothing with stretch in it.
Woven fabric – linens are often used in this area, women’s blouses, tailored garments, jeans, jackets.
Sustainable fabrics
You want to make sure you are sourcing fabrics in the area that you are wanting to move into. If sustainability is at the forefront of your brand, then you need to be looking at eco-friendly fabrics and trims. This means checking supplier certifications, the origins of the fabrics and what makes them sustainable. Your designer will assist you with this process and provide information required in order for you to feel confident in your sustainable choices. Please keep in mind if you are wanting to work with sustainable fabrics & trims quantity and cost need to be considered. These are not as readily available as stock fabrics so patience and compromise may be needed.
Fabric expectations
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to get exactly what you are after for your range. Fabric MOQs, availability and cost are something must be considered when sourcing. You may have a perfect fabric for 1 style, but this fabric has a higher MOQ that needs to be met. In this instance, you may need to consider dropping this style, using an alternate fabric, or updating other styles in the range to use this same fabric. To save on cost and stress your designer will recommend that you use 1 fabric across as many styles as you can. There are many ways to utilise 1 fabric type.
Cost is another area that you need to be careful of. When your designer is sourcing tour fabrics they are going to be sourcing based on your design handover and what you have requested. They cannot cost fabrics before tech packs are completed but they can give you an idea of what is going to be expensive. For example if you want your shirt to cost under 10 USD you are looking are standard cotton fabrics, not organic cotton or silk.
Stock fabric vs milled fabric
Stock fabrics are readily available fabrics that have already been created, these fabrics are usually more affordable. However, it is important to consider that these fabrics are not made specifically for your brand, so when you want to use this fabric again it may be slightly different. It also might not be available when you need it again. Colour options with this fabric type are usually set to what is available but you can also request to have stock fabrics dyed/printed.
Milled fabrics are made specifically for your brand, these MOQs are usually higher, and they take longer to be made. However, you know exactly how much there is and get it in the colourway that you are after, because it was made for you.
Fabric MOQs
MOQ translates to minimum order quantities. This is the lowest amount you can purchase of something. Fabric MOQ refers to the lowest amount of meterage that is required in order for the fabric to be purchased or milled. Fabric MOQs play a big role in the cost of fabrics, the more of 1 fabric you purchase the better price point you are going to achieve.
Fabric Sourcing Request Template
As part of the design development process you are going to need to choose colourways for your garments. These colours need to be selected in a pantone book so that you can provide a code for the exact colour you are after. This code will be used in your tech pack so that the factory knows exactly which colour you are after.
Colours
It is important that your tech packs are as user friendly as possible. This document is most probably going to be translated into another language and understood by many other people throughout he production process. A good tech pack will equal a much more streamlined production process.
Tech pack must haves;
- It should be provided as a print-ready PDF file
- It needs detailed design page + fabrics & trims + print artwork + POM + packaging + CAD + spec measurements & grading.
Your tech packs should be laid out in a professional format that is easily readable. It is important that is contains all of the necessary information need to create the garment, but not too much information to overwhelm and confuse the production team.
If you have experience with the software required to create this design document, and would like to create your own, we have put together a basic tech pack template that you can purchase in our Design Shop. This is a basic template, if you need assistance please contact your designer. Please go to the shop on our website or ask your designer for assistance.
Here is an example of what a basic tech pack looks like;
What is a size chart and why is it important?
It is the base measurements for your brands’ garments, this is what you will use on your website for your customers to determine if the garment will fit them. It is important for your brand to stay true to the sizes you create, we all know how annoying it is to get used to how a brand fits and then the new range you are a different size in what you love. Consistency is key!
Determine your brands base size;
Your base size is the size you should keep consistent for all of your base sample sizes. The reason why it is important to determine your base size when you are in design development is so that you can keep that consistency when finding your reference samples. To know what the base size for your size chart will be, you need to know who your customer is. This means you need to have a clear indication on who your target market is, who are you selling this product to.
How to accurately take base size measurements
You have 2 options for this, you can either provide your designer with the reference sample and they will take the measurements OR you can provide these measurements yourself. It is very important to keep in mind this is the size you are going to need your fit model who tries on all of your samples to be. So if you are basing this off of your size, you will be your own fit model, or if you are basing it off of a certain body shape or size you will need access to this person to try on your samples.
If you would like to determine the body measurements for your fit model yourself, we have put together a guide for you to use below:
MEASUREMENT-SIZE-GUIDE-CHART_21.3.23.pdf
MEASUREMENT-SIZE-GUIDE-CHART_S_21.3.23.pdf
MEASUREMENT-SIZE-GUIDE-CHART_S_R_21.3.23.pdf
A line sheet is a key sales tool used to visually present your range. This can be used for wholesale purposes, marketing, or in design development to help with the visuals of your range. It can be created at the time of your tech packs or at a later stage, discuss your line sheet options with your designer if you would like to have this document created.
Print design is fun, exciting and an amazing way to really create a feature, or hero piece for your range. However, it is important to consider cost, fabrics, and print method when looking into what print design is going to be best for your range.
Variables to consider when exploring Print Design;
- Can the fabrics that you have chosen be printed on?
- Print will increase the unit cost of the garment
- Which print method would you like to use?
Please go through our print resources highlighted below to ensure you are making an educated decision on how to proceed with your Print Design Artwork. If you would prefer to chose a stock print we have a variety of options to choose from in your Print Shop that has been linked below.
If you are still a bit unsure on how to proceed, please discuss any questions you have with your designer, she will be able to help you through the handover & print quotation process.
A lab drip or a strike off is something that you will come across in sampling to perfect the colourway or print you have chosen. It is a “test swatch” of either custom-dyed colours (Lab dip) or prints (Strike off) onto a selected fabric for pre-approval before sample metres or bulk material is purchased.
The request for lab dip’s and strike off’s must be placed along with tech packs and tentative PO’s. Some factories have in-house facilities for dye and printing, but most commonly this is outsourced.
Approximate timelines;
Lab dip & Print strike off’s: 10 -15 days
Dyeing of bulk fabric: 20-35 days
Printing of bulk fabric: 30-40 days
You designer will discuss these two methods with you when it Is needed as part of production. Sometimes colours can vary from lab dip to bulk production but the percentage should be small. Same goes for print strike off’s, the sample should reflect bulk with only small differences.
Branding is how your customer is going to remember your brand and how they are going to recognise your brand. Your branding speaks for your business even when you are not there.
Higher perceived value + wide brand recognition + brand loyalty = successful sales.
How to get started;
You will need to complete the branding handover for your designer to get an overview of your branding vision. We have put together some starting points to help prepare your brief and register your business name + trademark if you have not done this yet.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What is your vision?
- What do you want your designs to say about your brand?
- What is your style?
- Who is your target market? Be very specific. To be successful, you will sometimes have to adjust your designs to fit your market demand.
- What will be the price range of your garments?
- What will your clothing line add to the market? Is your line marketable?
- Who are your competitors?
You need to know your niche and stand out from the crowd. Focus on one area of fashion or product development, be specific about your style and product selection. Once you establish your brand, you can diversify and expand your line.
Brand name & logo creation;
Your brand name needs to be easily remembered, googled and spoken. Try not to be too obscure with this in your effort to stand out from the crowd. It needs to represent your company, the products and your target customer.
Use this checklist:
- Is it legible – Is it easy to read and understand?
- Is it impactful – Does it stand out and catch your eye?
- Is it meaningful – Does it support your organizations goals and objectives?
- Is it differentiated enough from your ‘competition’?
- Is it authentic – Does it feel genuine and appropriate for what you do, who you do it for and who you want to reach?
- Does it have long lasting value – Will it stand the test of time, and look just as fresh in several years as it does now?
- Is it flexible – Will it work across different media, such as your website, business card, tote bag, Power Point slide, neck label on clothes, email newsletter?
- Will it work for you both in colour and in black and white?
Ask your Visionsie designer for assistance in creating your branding and logo by completing the handover below;
Certain product types need branding. It is important to know the legalities of this in your country. If you don’t have certain types of branding on your products you could be heavily fined, it could cause harm to your customer and it could cause quality issues in washing.
- Be specific with the fibre content. If the content is 80% organic cotton, 16% recycled polyester, and 4% elastane, right exactly that.
- Remember that animal components and non-textile parts, like fur and leather, need to be stated on the care label.
- Double-check your labels, so they are correctly created. You don’t want your goods to be seized by customs.
- Check and confirm any special substance regulations.
Australian requirements
Australia’s labelling laws are enforced by ACCC. Australia has different laws, depending on the state your brand operates in, so make sure you check locally. An apparel product care label in Australia must have:
- Fibre content (For example; 60% cotton, 40% polyester)
- Country of origin (Made in Vietnam)
- Care Labels and Washing instructions.
- English language
European requirements
Textile labels are mandatory in the EU. This applies to textiles that are intended for sale to the general public. EU has a variety of regulations regarding the labelling of textile products. A textile product is considered a product that contains more than 80% of textile fibres of the entire weight.
- Fibre content (For example 60% cotton, 40% polyester). Only textiles that are made solely of fibre are allowed the be labeled100%.
- Non-textile parts like animal-origin materials must be clearly stated, such as leather, fur, etc.
- Country of origin is not required – check with your specific country though!
- Washing and Care Instruction is not required but highly recommended.
- Manufacturer Identification is not required.
- Use the language of your target markets.
United Kingdom requirements
Here are the requirements and regulations for clothing labels in the UK:
An apparel product care label must contain the following:
- Fibre content (for example 60% cotton, 40% polyester)
- Country of origin (Made in Vietnam) – Not mandatory but very good to have.
- Manufacturer/dealer identity
- Washing and Care instructions – not mandatory but highly recommend
- English language
US requirements
Requirements for the United States are quite stringent, and companies that don’t comply with these requirements may end up paying penalties. The labelling requirements only apply when the products are sold to the consumers.
An apparel product care label must have:
- Fibre content (for example 60% cotton, 40% polyester)
- Country of origin (Made in Vietnam)
- Manufacturer/dealer identity
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Care Labels
- English language
Care symbols
When it comes to the care symbol requirements and what actually to use for your products, there are some main symbols to keep in mind:
- Washing temperatures and washing type
- Drying
- Ironing temperatures
- Bleaching options
- Dry cleaning options
There are different symbols in different countries, so check what symbols are to be used in your country and the main target market.
Other packaging types that you may need for your garments;
Garments require certain types of hardware and trims, this is an area you will cover with your designer in design development and sampling. Sometimes you can put your branding on your hardware too, please discuss this with your designer.
SGS TESTED METAL RINGS AND SLIDER – CHINA
COATED RINGS AND SLIDERS – CHINA
UNDERWIRE & PADDING
We have combined our industry experience and put together an amazing resources filled with hot tips and insights into what to expect on your journey of starting and sustainably growing your fashion brand.
As a start up or small brand you may be able to access certain grants and government funding initiatives. It is important to explore your options in the area. Different states have different options, one grant that is great for business in the offshore production indsyrt is the EMDG grant. Please click through to read more on it below.
Developing your business plan helps you to prioritise – it gives your business direction, defines your objectives, maps out how you’ll achieve your goals and helps you to manage possible bumps in the road. The planning process helps you learn about the different things that could affect your success.
What you will need before you send your quotation request to your manufacturer;
- Reference sample for each style.
- Tech pack for each style.
- Intended PO (purchase order) sheet.
Reference Sample;
A reference sample is a garment that is similar in size and shape to the garment you are wanting to create. It is not used to replicate the garment you have, but to guide your fashion designer on spec measurements, shape and fabric feel.
If you don’t have a reference sample, that is ok, but it just means that you might run into more sample rounds than if you had one. Without reference samples, the fashion designer will need to guess more on measurements and the tech packs might not reflect the correct specs and shapes as accurately, resulting in a more time-consuming process and wastage of materials. Finding a reference sample is part of the research and development phase of the design process.
Tech Packs;
A quality tech pack consists of precise digital CAD drawings, spec measurements, sizing, fabrication, colours, print specifications, labelling, branding placements and maker instructions that must to be explained in a clear yet simple way for any manufacturer speaking any language to easily understand. A reference sample is helpful for the fashion designer to estimate spec measurements.
A tech pack means you are keeping record of your designs – it’s your proof of purchase.
Purchase Order (Intended PO)
A Purchase Order (PO) is a commercial document and first official offer issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products. As prices are not yet known when requesting a quotation, an Intended PO is needed to indicate to the manufacturer the QTY (quantities)by style specifying for each: fabrics, colour-ways and sizes.
The quantities ordered (by style and colour) generally make a fairly large difference in price, this is mostly because:
- MOQ’S (minimum order quantities) from fabric suppliers. If your order don’t meet the MOQ, there will usually be up-charges to split the material.
- The process of production is more efficient when making multiples of the same style using the same material as opposed to changing style and fabrics because the process of changing machine set up and fabrics can be time-consuming.
- The development and sampling process is costly and time-consuming for the manufacturer, they rely on bulk orders to compensate it, so the larger the order, the more profitable for them, hence the prices and can be reduced.
These are questions you want to ask when sourcing garment manufacturers and requesting a quotation:
✔️ Is there a MOQ per style order?
✔️ Is there a MOQ per colour?
✔️ Is there a MOQ per size?
There are multiple different sample types, we have listed all possible samples below but please keep in mind not all of them are required. If you have any questions about which samples your rband required please discuss this with your Visionsie designer.
FIT SAMPLE
PURPOSE: This is a sample made from the first pattern and intended to test the designer’s idea. This sample is often made in substitute or cheaper fabrication, however, they may also be made in the correct fabric, if sample yardage is available in white or stock colour (without dye or print) to ensure the fit and drape will be more accurate from the beginning.
Generally 1 – 2 revisions are expected at fit sample stage.
QTY: Only one copy is made at FIT sample stage, any adjustments need to be returned to the factory pinned with fit notes and updated tech packs.
COST: Fit samples may be a small fixed or variable (pending fabric) cost including patterns and 1 to 2 x free labour alterations pending the extent of change.
PROTO SAMPLE
PURPOSE: This sample is the result of previous alterations from FIT samples. This sample should meet the designer’s test for fit and execution made ideally in “correct” material, colours and trims if available. The fit and execution of this sample must be approved, and all treatment and trims confirmed by swatches strike off’s at this stage.
The prototype is used for costing. If the proto is approved, SMS samples may not be necessary.
Sizes are graded upon approved sample size. A grading speck sheet will be provided by the designer and must be approved along with samples and final updated tech pack, this will be used as bulk production sew-by. Changes after grading will cause a domino effect of double handling and cause additional cost and extended timelines.
QTY: If the prototype is approved and no SMS samples are required before bulk, then duplicates are recommended as the factory will need reference samples during production. Otherwise, the client must send back their only sample which may be needed for sales and marketing.
If adjustments need to be made, the samples must be returned to the factory pinned with fit notes and updated tech packs.
COST: 2 – 3 x bulk F.O.B price
SALESMAN SAMPLE (SMS)
PURPOSE: This is the updated (if changes to Proto was required) or duplicated version of the Proto sample, which is also made with confirmed fits and in all correct material, colours, trims and qualities if available. SMS samples are for the purpose of duplicated samples required for sales and marketing and will be used as bulk production sew-by.
QTY: Duplicates of the approved pre-production sample must be made for each party.
COST: 2 – 3 x bulk F.O.B price.
SIZING SAMPLE ** Not common
PURPOSE: Sample the grading of sizes if a graded speck sheet is not sufficient for confirmation prior to bulk. If silhouettes vary greatly between styles, test sizes of various styles may be needed. If there is a large range of sizes, there may be a limit to how many colourways and sizes can be sampled.
QTY: A copy for the client only.
COST: Same as Proto and SMS
PRE-PRODUCTION SAMPLE (PP)
PURPOSE: This is the final approved version made in bulk material after PO order is calculated, the material is purchased and received, and size grading is approved (via spec sheets or size samples), and before bulk cutting start.
PP samples are always part of the process with our factories in China, however, in Bali we recommend to avoid them wherever not necessary if Proto or SMS samples and strike off for bulk material swatches are approved. This is because lead times are longer in Bali and whilst waiting for approved PP samples, production is put on hold. PP samples have to be made in the sample room and therefore are higher cost for the factories, but are usually only charged at bulk prices.
QTY: Generally 2 copies per style only in one colour for the client only.
COST: Same as bulk F.O.B prices.
REMARK: PP samples should be specified with bulk PO.
SHIPMENT SAMPLE
PURPOSE: A set of samples are pulled from production prior to shipping the entire bulk to double-check all qualities are approved before shipping the reminder. This process is generally required unless an external QC is hired.
QTY: 1 x unit per style/colour /size will be shipped to the client from the finished bulk order for pre-approval 1 week before shipping bulk.
COST: Bulk prices/part of PO (bulk) order/invoice.
REMARK: Shipping samples should be specified with bulk PO.
- Reduce waste and carbon emission. An average of USD7-8 billion is spent on physical samples in the apparel industry every year!
- Improve overall design and technical efficiency.
- Review and edit your virtual sample to see instant results fitted on custom-sized models before you make your physical garment.
- Reduce time-consuming dress forms and multiple-size set and fit samples.
- Reduce overall development time and cost. Speed up your time-to-market anywhere in the world without shipping initial physical samples around.
A Purchase Order (PO) is a commercial document and first official offer issued by a buyer to a seller, indicating types, quantities, and agreed prices for products. As prices are not yet known when requesting a quotation, an Intended PO is needed to indicate to the manufacturer the QTY (quantities)by style specifying for each: fabrics, colour-ways and sizes.
When sending your PO you should include;
- The PO
- Updated tech packs
- Any sample reports with updates & notes
A sample report is designed to:
- Provide details of clothing fit
- Provide specifications and measurements
- Minimize sample errors
- Minimize manufacturing sample costs
- Minimize wastage in the sample stage
- Reduce the sample process time
Provide details of Clothing Fit
By taking photographs of your clothing reference sample on a live model, you will give your manufacturer a much more visually indicative example of how your designs are meant to be shaped and how they should fit when worn.
Provide Specifications and Measurements
A sample report will allow you to indicate whether the measurements of the samples are approved, or if you have some refinements that will need to be implemented for the next set of samples.
Minimise Sample Errors
A sample report is a very in-depth assessment of the samples received. It should cover everything from fit specifications, variance and relevant adjustments and an array of other specifications and comments. The reason these details are required in a sample report is to minimize sample errors and make this process as quick and efficient as possible.
Minimise Manufacturing Sample Costs
When you provide a detailed sample report, you not only reduce sample errors, but you will, by proxy, minimize your costs and wastage. Costs are already a critical factor in the success of a fashion brand, especially those that are new to the industry or funding the business alone. In this early stage, you’re investing a lot of money in your fashion brand without generating sales to offset the expense of starting the business. As such, a well thought out and detailed sample report can really help minimize costs at this stage in the fashion design process.
Reduce the Sample Process Time
A sample report provides detailed information to your clothing manufacturer and designer, which means they’re able to refine the next set of samples into much more accurate pieces. The faster your design vision can be brought to life, the quicker you can go to market and begin to make a return on your investment.
VISIONISE – SAMPLE REPORT INFORMATION
VISIONISE – SAMPLE REPORT TEMPLATE
- Reduce waste and carbon emission. An average of USD7-8 billion is spent on physical samples in the apparel industry every year!
- Improve overall design and technical efficiency.
- Review and edit your virtual sample to see instant results fitted on custom-sized models before you make your physical garment.
- Reduce time-consuming dress forms and multiple-size set and fit samples.
- Reduce overall development time and cost. Speed up your time-to-market anywhere in the world without shipping initial physical samples around.
The cost of garment pattern making as well as size grading is usually included with the sample when producing with our manufacturing team. A typical price for a fit sample is USD60, and for SMS and Proto samples it’s about x 2 the unit production cost of the garment (Eg: if the production cost for a garment is USD20, then the SMS or Proto sample would be USD40). Digitized pattern making is the creation of your garment pattern without using physical materials and the manual process of cutting the patterns. This will save on time and is a more sustainable option for pattern making. It is not necessary for all garment types, often best for complex styles or if you would like to reduce the number of samples created offshore.
Your bulk purchase order is the final instructions to the factory for what you are paying for to be produced. This PO should have all final comments, updated tech packs, sample reports and be clearly outlined with colourways, prints and style codes. Remember to cross check your Bulk PO with your commercial invoice when you receive it. Once your commercial invoice is paid your bulk is final.
FACTORY ORDER SHEET – INSTRUCTIONS
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This is used to show the factory how you would like your bulk packaged for shipping.
We are aware of the concerns of trusting in a factory’s quality control. Creating a range is a big investment and we want to make sure you have peace of mind when it comes to your products quality control. Depending on the service you are on your designer will provide guidance with QC checks and updates, however, ultimately final approval on samples to proceed to bulk production, as well as the final decision to dispatch bulk product is yours.
Sample quality control
Samples must be thoroughly tested by the client before the next sample or bulk PO is placed. It is part of the development of the garment to wear test and wash test ensuring your bulk production is the quality that you want for your brand.
Bulk quality control
This is usually done internally from the factory, in some cased 3rd party QC can be requested. It is very important that the bulk QC report is requested before bulk balance is paid. This is a way of ensuring the entire bulk has indeed been checked and that the goods that are being shipped are not faulty.
Reporting on faulty product
- A) Before goods are shipped: the client / third party QC will need to provide a clear report to the manufacturer to help rectify the issue before shipping the goods. Timeline delays as result of QC and correction may occur, this should ideally be considered as a possible risk allocated for, we recommend not plan any launch dates too close to the EST delivery dates.
- B) After goods are shipped and received: The manufacturer reserves the right to reject any compensation claims after bulk has shipped. Any QC claims after bulk shipment are to be handled direct between the Client and the Manufacturer. All liability lies with the Manufacturer.
Not all factories allow 3rd part QC, but if possible and as requested you can book this in via the link below. This is a 3rd party that is not in partnership with Visionise, we just recommend their services. Before booking a 3rd party inspection, this must be communicated and agreed upon with the manufacturer first.
During the sample and development process you may have to send parcels to and from overseas. Before doing so we highly recommend you check about regulations of import taxes and quality regulations. Taxes are based on the commercial value of the goods, and the receiver must approve the commercial value before sending. For items such as samples and fabric swatches that may not have a commercial value, you can label them as ‘samples’ and determine a price that is not going to incur unnecessary taxes, but still fair. If the estimated value of the goods is unrealistically under-valued, customs may re-value them.
INDONESIA: Indonesia has 100% import duties, so please keep item values low but realistic. Accessories or small items such as swing tags are accepted with more than 10 pieces, but if in doubt, check with us first.
CHINA: Australia has a duty free agreement with China so any import into Australia does not incur any duty charges.
BULK FREIGHT & IMPORT PREPARATION
Benefits of wholesale
+ Exposure: Your brand will be sold to a larger audience geographically, as well as feature on other websites and social channels via stockiest and their customers.
+ Increased margins: Not only because bulk production & shipping prices are reduced with increased quantity, but also because fixed expenses will then be shared cost across more units.
+ Reduced risk: Indents (pre- season orders from retailers) allow you to place your bulk orders on styles and quantity that are confirmed sold before you produce them, you can also use this data to reduce gambling on which styles/colour/sizes and units to order for your own physical / online store.
+ Increased cash flow: You can request a 30-50% deposit upon confirmed order from your W/S customers with the balance due on / before for delivery. As the W/S prices are higher than your raw cost, these deposits can essentially pay for your own bulk order deposit and more.
Wholesale timeline
Stockists have key selling seasons & budgets that they allocate for accordingly, if you miss their indenting window, you miss out on W/S orders. We have created a W/S timeline chart that helps to accurately plan timelines for all stages: design – sample – indent – bulk – and in-store delivery according to key selling months. Your wholesale orders must be confirmed by the ‘Bulk PO cut off’ dates’ specified by the season in the wholesale timeline chart below in order to meet relevant in-store store dates.
Wholesale options;
IN-HOUSE REPS
Pro’s: All of the attention is on your band.
Con’s: Smaller network of buyers. Fixed overheads which may be paid in a combination of a fixed wage and commission.
PHYSICAL AGENCIES
Pro’s: Wide network of buyers. Added exposure. Professional showroom. No fixed overheads as agencies are paid a commission on paid invoices only, which is generally 10-15% on W/S prices.
Con’s: Attention to your brand will not be exclusive.
VIRTUAL AGENCY
Much the same as a physical agency, however, the audience may be larger / worldwide and made convenient for W/S online ordering for approved buyers. Some great wholesale platforms are:
Wholesale distributors
All the same as an agency except they will pay 100% upfront on orders on behalf of their buyers which reduces risk and helps cashflow for the brand, however, their commission rate is higher than a standard agency, often around 25-35% on W/S prices.
TRADE SHOWS & FASHION SHOWS
Pro’s: A great way for buyers to discover new brands and to meet the designer (if present), which strengthens the business relationships. Added exposure by the event marketing. Access to a large audience. Opportunity to collect large volume orders in a short time. Opportunity to schedule bookings with existing and new buyers as well as catch walk-bys.
Con’s: A showroom booth can be costly, especially for the high traffic locations (usually around $6000 + furniture hire for 2 – 3 day events ), and though you can potentially collect large orders, you may also risk not getting any. Preparation is key, schedule as many appointments as possible and look at ways to direct traffic to your booth if you are not in a high traffic area.
Hot tip
Generally, stores are given exclusivity rights to stock a brand by the postcode or shopping area. In exchange of the exclusivity rights, you should request a minimum order with your terms to ensure your brand is properly presented in their store. The minimum amount per order/season may be between $2000-4000. Feel free to use our editable W’S T&C and order forms templates via links below.
LINKS
CUSTOMER CREDIT APPLICATION FORM