The online apparel business is one of the most profitable and well-supplied aspects of Internet wholesale. So well supplied in fact that it is sometimes difficult for a new or expanding business owner to decide where to start. Today’s list will hopefully provide some basic information that will shine some light onto the perplexing question of which products to carry.
The online apparel business is one of the most profitable and well-supplied aspects of Internet wholesale. So well supplied in fact that it is sometimes difficult for a new or expanding business owner to decide where to start. Today’s list will hopefully provide some basic information that will shine some light onto the perplexing question of which products to carry.
Plus Sizes- the simple fact is that plus size departments in most traditional, brick and mortar retail stores are lousy. Chain department stores, if they have them at all, shove plus size areas into poorly lit and nearly inaccessible corners of the building. Increasingly plus sized customers are turning to the Internet to get clothing that fits. An online merchant who carries attractive and fashionable plus sizes will attract a loyal customer base.
Uniforms and Medical Scrubs- Nursing and related medical fields are among the fastest growing employment sectors. Increasingly department and specialty retail stores have begun to take notice and uniform stores are popping up all over. Sensibly most medical workers are reluctant to spend top dollar for clothing that is essentially disposable. An online store with economically priced scrubs can be a nurse’s best friend. It would be wise to look at the lines of scrubs with colorful patterns and prints for health care workers who deal with ill children.
Club Wear- Club wear is new name for an old favorite. Shoppers are increasingly going online to find the smart and sexy fashions meant to be shown off at the dance club. Short dresses made from flashy fabrics and revealing designs are the centerpieces of this burgeoning apparel category. While a merchant can simply select a line of sexy dresses to fill out a club wear line many wholesalers now offer especially collected articles under this heading and that makes for easy selection and buying.
Leather Apparel- Timeless leather is a valuable online product line. No matter whether a merchant sells leather jackets, pants, or bandannas there is apparently no limit to the market demand. Excellent, high quality leather apparel is available from all over the world. This abundance of sources means that an online business can provided a dazzling variety of styles and products at amazing prices.
Stage Apparel- Another case of a new name to describe a long existing line of products. Stage wear are articles of clothing either intended to be worn by performers or articles distributed at concerts. T-shirts printed with the logos of rock bands or with rock-n-roll slogans are other examples. Concert shirts have been popular for many years but new creativity and distribution methods have made this line an emerging favorite.
Men’s Suits- With the increasing wholesale availability of imported men’s suit and growing consumer confidence with online purchases is making it possible for merchants to carry successful lines of suits. Be careful; suits can be tricky to size as few men know what size suit they wear. An online suit site should be sure to explain suit sizes clearly.
Athletic Wear- At one time athletic wears meant warm-ups but we now live in an age of specialization. There are outfits meant for running, tennis, and just about any other outdoor activity you can imagine. Highly specialized apparel is an excellent addition to many existing online businesses. For example, if a site carries hunting equipment a line of camouflage clothing is a neat fit.
Special Occasion Dresses- Women’s formal wear, once the exclusive market for high-end specialty shops, has become big business for online distributors. Shoppers have become increasingly aware of the fact that the need not pay for the fancy lighting and other perks of boutique stores. Wholesalers have huge selections of special occasion dresses for weddings, proms, and similar events. Keep the prices low and the trade will come.
Maternity Wear- No longer willing to accept ugly clothing at high prices, pregnant woman are turning to online shopping to fulfill their needs. A website offering stylish maternity wear at reasonable prices will attract a devoted, at least for the term of their pregnancy, and grateful customer base.
Novelty Clothing- A curious catchall category to describe the growing number of clothing styles that are powered by the advances in chemical and textile technologies. As odd as that sounds there is a growing demand for t-shirts that change colors depending on available light or have flashing LED displays affixed to them. There is even clothing that changes color when it comes into contact with body heat; the shirt might start out blue but become green when worn. If another person puts their hand on it, adding additional body heat, the color changes again.
Art Micklewraith is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Top Ten Wholesale. He can be reached at Content and Solutions or by email at artmicklewraith@gmail.com.