by Sana Ahmed
The most important stage of a product launch is the production stage. Picking the right manufacture to work with will be the most critical decision you make in this stage of your company. If you are ready to look for a manufacturer, that should mean you have drawn up design sketches, you have a brand niche and target audience, you have finalized your business plan, and you have a sufficient budget to move into a production stage. If you haven’t, please ensure you do before you look for a supplier. You will need these in order to find the right factory for your designs. Now, it’s time to find the right manufacturer that is able to bring your ideas to life but first, here are some things you have to consider:
- Do I want to drop-ship?
- Do I want to find a clothing supplier?
- Do I want to find a manufacturer to create my sketches?
If you answered one or two, please refer back to our future articles that will further discuss the drop-shipping and clothing supplier route. If you have answered three, this article will help you get started. Now that you know you are looking for a manufacture to create your sketches, you will have to consider whether you will be brining your own materials and patterns for the supplier to assemble or do you want to source materials, create a pattern and assemble your sketch?
Depending on the road you pick, you will have to find a supplier that can meet your needs. Some factories offer CMT (cut-measure trim,) and others offer FPP (full package production) and knowing what you want will help you make a more strategic search. FPP are more expensive, but it might be worth the extra cost, especially if you do not have any garment making or pattern-cutting experience. So let’s get started.
Step 1: Research, Research and More Research
The first step should be research. Doing your due diligence can save you a lot of headache in the long run. Ask friends, peers or even your network for recommendations. Your search should also include a background check of your own. Contact their past and current partners (if there are listed) and get their feedback on their work experience with the factory. You could also search the web for any reviews or information on the company. You must know who you are working for and their reputation in the industry. If you are in the US you could use Maker’s row , a database of manufacturers, and if you are looking for UK based factories you could check out Let’s make it here. An alternative method could be attending trade-shows and meeting suppliers face to face.
Extra Tip: A few other methods to find suppliers are through search engines or Facebook groups.
Step 2. Make a Short-List
After your research, create a short-list of the ones that meet your needs. There are a few parts to creating a short-list like wether you want a local supplier or someone overseas, like China or India. Each route has it’s pros and cons but many production managers do urge start-up brands to start with local suppliers.
One of the major factors why is that it could eliminate shipping cost and you will be closer to the factory for in person visits. This allows the designer to have a more hands on experience with the production, improved speed to market, accurate budget forecasting, ethical integrity (labor practices) and it also makes quality control easier. If you are less experienced, this could be a great practice to learning more about the process and ensuring your designs are accurately created. Now, there are benefits to doing things overseas as well, like cheaper production cost, availability of world-class technology that exists in certain markets, and design or specialized knowledge.
Location isn’t the only thing to factor in when you are making your decision, you should also ensure that the supplier is experienced in the type of production you need and that they are equipped with the right machinery for your project.
Things to consider when you are picking your supplier:
Have they worked with the type of material you are sourcing?
How long have they worked in the fashion production industry?
What type of machinery do they have at their factories?
These are all important questions to consider because the more experience they have and the more qualified they are to make your designs, the better the end product will be. Another thing to look into are their MOQ (minimum order requirements) which plays a big role in calculations for your production budget. For example, if the factory has a large moq that you can not meet, you may need to reconsider whether you want to work with that supplier at this stage of your company.
In summary, these are the following things to consider: what other brands have they worked with, quality assurance, fees, shipping cost, sample cost, production cost, turnaround time, moq, production capacity, what are their available payment methods, quality certifications and reliability. You should also make a quality check-list of what you deem acceptable (say, minor discrepancies among products) and unacceptable (major shipment delays) and have that in hand when you give them a call. When you do speak to them, ask as many questions as you can before making your short-list.
Ultimately the decision is up-to you in deciding which avenue fit you best in terms of funding, quality and your business ethics.
Step 3. Make a Prototype and Get Samples
Now, its time to see what the short-list has to offer. Having your top three picks brings you one step closer to your finale supplier. However, before you can make that decision you should evaluate the quality of their work more closely. If some of the suppliers are local you can do and a in-person visit but if not, you can request a sample. Create a tech-pack and find a local seamstress to create the prototype. A detailed tech park will provide a solid foundation and ensure that everyone is on the same page. Since there may be language barriers when you are working with overseas suppliers, it may be a good idea to give them as much detailed information as possible with your prototype.
Extra tip: Before you start brining in people into your project, you may want to draft a non-disclosure agreement or an NDA to protect your intellectual property. You don’t want anyone copying your designs and selling it as their own.
Step 4. Finalize the Pre-production
Once you have received all of the samples, pick the ones that meet your standards and start reaching out to those suppliers to negotiate a final quote. Each breakdown they provide you should include a final price for distribution, shipping, and duty rates. Once that is completed, you should have your final decision.
You have found the right manufacturer, congratulations but don’t forget the most important paper, your contract!
Step 5 : Negotiate a Strong and Solid Contract
Finally, you will want to create a contract between you and your manufacture. There are various things you will need to pay attention to like payment terms, intellectual property, timeframe, quantity, quality, exclusivity clause, and post-termination. If you need guidance on this step, please feel free to contact us at fashionlawclub@gmail.com.
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