What Are Wholesale Fabric Distributors? Does Your Brand Need One?

Sourcing fabric may not be the quickest or easiest part of the job, but it surely is significant. Therefore, one must ensure that all parameters are met while buying fabric. This task becomes far more challenging when it comes to finding the right wholesaler. Thus, we bring to you ways to source the right wholesale upholstery fabric for you.

Anyone who buys fabric from sellers such as mills, converters, or a jobber and distributes it to smaller designers or manufacturers can be called a wholesaler. Buying from a wholesaler can be cheaper than purchasing fabric from a retailer. 

The quantity of your order is very important to keep in mind while considering a fabric wholesaler. While buying a few yards of fabric may be best bought from a store, buying in bulk makes much more sense from wholesale distributors.

Here’s why you should consider a wholesale fabric distributor for your brand. 

1. Cost-efficient

While buying wholesale, it all boils down to a cheaper price point for every unit of the item purchased. Bulk orders often save on delivery costs and guarantee the seller a big order, bringing down the overall price.

2. Establishing trust

It is often true that wholesalers end up establishing a good rapport with their customers. This is because bulk buyers ensure a regular source of income to the seller. Due to this, the customer gets space for negotiation and even some special privileges. Having a quality distributor also establishes trust. Running into issues with deliveries and payment times can be heavily negated. 

3. Knowledge and contacts

While the industry is vast, wholesalers have ample knowledge about it and benefit from a myriad of contacts. These include mills, converters, and other people they can source from. Working with a wholesale dealer can be beneficial because they know how to source fabric that gives them the best deals, ultimately helping you. 

Let's go over certain key factors that make up for wise and sustainable sourcing of materials. 

1. Location

Most purchases these days are made through the internet. The same goes for wholesale fabric. Yet, the location of your supplier plays a  very important part when it comes to selecting the right wholesaler. There are many things to consider with regards to this.

Having a good and stable connection with the supplier is of utmost significance to running a smooth business. Things such as a difference in timezone, delay in shipping, and hindrance due to customs and seriously sabotage the process. 

While India and China are leading exporters of textiles, many companies prefer working with in-house wholesalers. This is due to the challenges posed by choosing suppliers from overseas.

Domestic producers can offer added benefits of visiting the facility as well as a better solution to the off chance of damaged or unfulfilled orders.  

2. Where the fabric is sourced

The quality of the fabric can make or break your product. Thus, it is important to know where the wholesaler sources the fabric from. Different fabrics are best produced in different regions of the world. Providing fair information on the sourcing of these fabrics is the responsibility of the provider.

The durability of the product and its aesthetic value are directly related to the quality of the fabric. Therefore, they are very important factors while choosing a distributor.  

3. Meeting timelines and working on a time crunch

 Ensuring the quality of the delivery of the product is essential to a good wholesaler dynamic. Thus, it is important that the supplier is able to meet deadlines. This can be ensured through good communication as well as the location of the manufacturer. 

4. References to other work

 It is completely alright to ask for references to a supplier's previous works. Understanding and comparing can help one find the right fit for their needs. These references can also help resolve any future issues, ensuring a smoother process of production. 

What to look for in a wholesale fabric distributor 

1. Quality Customer Service

Most good wholesalers will be available for customer service. Having good communication with your supplier is highly essential while working in the clothing industry. This is especially true with incorrect deliveries. In a space where inventories need to be fast-moving, your supplier must keep up. Meeting delivery timelines and correcting wrong orders can help prevent backlogs and make for a smooth run. In addition, the quality of the supplier you are working with impacts two factors: when you receive your order and how well your supplier communicates with you regarding an expected timeline. Thus, making sure that your wholesale fabric supplier has prompt customer service is essential. 

2. The Ability To Fulfill Your Quantity

One of the main features of any wholesaler is its ability to provide big bulk orders. However, a good quality supplier will ensure that your bulk orders meet deadlines. This is only possible if the supplier has a good direct relationship with where they source their materials from. Another important issue on hand is the quality of the product that is sourced by them. Having open lines of communication and constant contact of your wholesaler to their supplier directly impacts the quality of your transaction.  

3. Custom Services

Quality wholesale fabric suppliers, through custom services like dyeing and printing, will allow you to create your perfect fabric. Having a custom dye can help you prevent color variations, meeting the desired standard of the fabric. Variations around 3-5% are often appreciated. Other custom printing services that can be provided include digital printing and rotary printing. While digital printing is based on an inkjet method, rotary printing uses a direct-to-fabric printing technique. This technique allows you to engrave images using precision-cut stencils. Multiple colors can be added through a number of screens. The precision of lines is also very high in such a printing method.

A good-quality wholesaler will be able to provide such customization within a stipulated time frame. 

4. Minimum orders. 

Another important thing to consider is whether a wholesale distributor provides minimum orders. This is to prevent you from buying in excess and ending up wasting resources. While it is a given the order is in bulk, check what the supplier provides minimum before making a purchase. 

Fashinza is an online marketplace that makes all your sourcing problems come to an end. A B2B organization where one can simply find the answers to all their needs. As easy as clicking a button, Fashinza consorts with various suppliers and wholesalers that can be found on their site. With various criteria kept in mind, one can choose who best suits their needs.