When do independents buy summer stock?

[Donna77]

Hi,
I'm planning to start a small wholesale business importing women's adventure sandals from Thailand. My target market will be independent high street boutiques and footwear shops, whilst also selling at full retail price on Amazon until the business grows. I would really appreciate some advice from forum retailers on when they place orders for spring/summer and how they connect with wholesalers. I'm considering taking a small stand at Moda at some point, but am not sure if an Autumn trade show is too early and the February show too late. Any advice on which trade shows retailers recommend and which online wholesale directories they use would be much appreciated.

 

[Paul Norman]

We have already committed to most of our summer stock, although a few orders are still to be placed. As a broad brush rule, we are ordering 6 months in advance.

 

[The Wholesaler]

If you have stock in the country already or at least samples you should be alright to get some sale for this summer.

What are your winter lines going to be? Or are you intending to rely on one seasonal line?

 

[Donna77]

Thank you for both replies. Yes, I'll have stock in the UK from early March and will try to pick up some late sales. I'll start with just this line of sandals first, as I'm pretty passionate about them and they're fresh to the UK market. I hope to source more products later but may stay in the spring/summer fashion for travel area. I'm a buyer in my day job for furniture and lighting but am new to fashion retail - so on a steep learning curve.

 

[deniser]

We order summer clothes in July for delivery in January but I think shoes are scheduled a month or so later.

 

[Unshoesual]

We're going buying in a few weeks for our winter stock (with a September / October delivery) Then August Moda will be summer stock (with a February / March delivery)

When we opened, we needed to pick up mid season stock so attended the August show but needed winter stock.

Even though I ordered all my SS stuff last August, some of it didn't make it to production so I need to find a few extra bits whilst I'm there on the 16th. I know some suppliers carry stock all year round and others will only be exhibiting SS as they don't work on forward orders.

So in answer to your original question, the August show is probably the best one for you as that's when everyone is in 'SS buying mode' but if you can afford to do the February one too next year, might be worth thinking about.

Good luck

 

[accountsandlegal]

When forward ordering (buying your stock in advance of the season) it is generally 6 months before. When buying for A/W you place orders in Jan, Feb and March, when buying for S/S you place orders Aug, Sept and Oct. Buyers can order in season though i.e. buying from stock that is already available, this is fast fashion retail and is normally trend led. You will have to decide which works best for you.

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[Twoscoops]

My business is a food/gift retail outlet so quite different, but it doesn't matter what time of year it is, if the product, price and margin are right I will take it!