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With Jakarta being the latest stop for the  wholesale fashion and home textile trade show, INDO INTERTEX, Indonesia International Textile & Garment Machinery & Accessories Exhibition, we thought it would be a great time to A: Tell you about it because you should definitely attend! And B: Review some questions to ask fabric reps when you attend trade shows and are sourcing fabric for your brand.

Whether your company is brand new or you have many seasons or even years under your belt, sourcing is a task that never ends. There is constantly new development from textile mills, trends change, and of course you want to design with new materials and give your customers new options to shop!

1. INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU ARE MAKING.
Many newer designers try to keep their products a secret, but the truth is, the fabric supplier (and your pattern maker, design team, and factory partners) are not in the business of being your competitor.

The fabric rep wants to sell you fabric, and they can help you best if they know what market and end product the fabric is intended for. You don’t have to share your specific designs, but being able to tell them, “I’m making an evening dress,” or, “I’m making a hunting jacket,” or, “I’m making a technical pant for cross-fit athletes,” is very helpful to them. They can make proper recommendations, or help guide you if you choose something that might not work well for the purpose you intend. That said, having your sketches or photos on hand is not a bad idea!

2. WHAT IS THE PRICE, MOQ, AND DO THEY SELL SAMPLE YARDAGE?
If you are a new company, you will want to work with companies that have low minimums, usually 20-100 yards, and offer sample yardage as low as 5-10 yards. MOQ = Minimum Order Quantity.

3. IS THERE A SURCHARGE OR DIFFERENT PRICING FOR SAMPLE YARDAGE?
Sometimes a company will sell sample yardage, less than their production minimum, but the cost per yard is $7 instead of $5, or they might charge a cutting fee such as $50 in order to sell you less.

4. IF THE MINIMUM IS “1 ROLL” – HOW MANY YARDS IS ON A ROLL OF THIS FABRIC?
Rolls differ based on weight, so it’s good practice to confirm how many yards on on the roll – 50? 80? 100?

5. IS THIS A STOCK ITEM, MADE TO ORDER, AND IS THERE CONTINUITY?
Stock items are things that the vendor keeps in stock on a regular basis, meaning re-orders should be easy for you. Made to order items will usually have a longer lead time, or may have a higher minimum order each time you re-order. Continuity means it’s something you can get again. Mills typically have continuity; Jobbers (or fabric re-sellers) typically don’t. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, you just need to know if this fabric is limited or not so you can design and plan for sales and inventory accordingly.

6. WHERE DOES IT SHIP FROM? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECEIVE AFTER I PLACE MY ORDER?
Knowing whether the fabric is being shipped from Jakarta or Bandung vs. China or Korea is important, as you will be responsible for the shipping costs. Keep this in mind when calculating your product pricing, to add in shipping costs as applicable. It might make your cost per yard $0.50 higher, or it might be more significant. Also keep in mind, if it is being shipped from overseas, you should plan ahead and try to ship by sea rather than air if that’s an option, since it will usually save money. Find out what the ship lead time is, regardless of where it comes from, so you can plan your production timeline accordingly.

7. WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT TERMS?
Typically, as a smaller company, or a new customer, you should expect to pay in full for everything. Established customers may be extended credit terms where you can pay a deposit and balance after delivery. Find out if they take credit cards, or if you need to send a check or wire transfer.

Now that you’ve found out some basic information from the vendor, and have perused their collection of fabrics and materials, gather your notes and order swatches so you can review your options at home.

Ask to take photos, which will help you remember everything you saw. It’s easy to forget after a day at a trade show, seeing many materials and vendors, what you saw and what you liked best.

Take a photo of your order form and/or take note of item numbers, content, color options that you requested. That way you are able to easily follow up with the vendor once you receive your swatches. Make sure the fabric headers indicate the item number, fiber content, and weight. If not, ask.

Need help with your sourcing? Get in touch with us as we visit Jakarta from 19-23 March 2024 at hanniz@bestevents-asia.com.

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