Should I buy wholesale silk? Is it worth it?
For independent fashion brands and up and coming designers, deciding whether or not to buy wholesale fabrics can be a challenge. It’s not uncommon to question if going down the bulk buy route will work in your favour, or end up resulting in masses of wasted stock. So, it’s important to weigh up your options before putting in an order for 10 metres of chiffon and having no use for it.
Essentially, buying wholesale always boils down to the amount of fabric you require, and if you’re looking to buy a certain amount of the same fabric or not. For those looking to make one-off designs only requiring a few lengths of silk, buying in bulk may not be the most practical solution, whereas when it comes to working on a large project or creating a clothing collection to sell in your own retail store or online, then wholesale purchasing can make everything that little bit easier.
If buying wholesale may not seem like a viable prospect to you right now, if you have plans to grow your fashion business, it’s likely to be something you consider in the future. There are a whole host of benefits to buying wholesale silk as opposed to purchasing from standalone retailers, which may not be immediately obvious.
Read on below for the top reasons why you should seek out a wholesaler.
Cheaper prices
Of course, the main reason that many retailers and designers buy their fabric in bulk is because it’s cheaper. This stands for any wholesale purchasing decisions across a range of different industries, as a general rule of thumb that ‘the more you buy, the more you save’.
However, this is not to be confused with general shopping offers, in which we’re convinced to buy that extra product that we don’t necessarily need, just because it’s buy one get one half price. Instead, the low prices offered by wholesale suppliers provide genuine cost per unit discount on products which means you’re getting more for your money than you would elsewhere.
It’s important to touch on the fact that this can also often be a reason that puts consumers off buying wholesale, as it’s often thought that cheaper prices means lower standards in quality, but this isn’t the case at all. By seeking out a reputable, established company that sources the highest quality material, you can rest assured that you’re getting the best of the best, and it’s only at a reduced price because it’s cheaper for them to move the product in bulk, so they’re passing some of those savings on to you!
Consistent supply
We all know the feeling of finding exactly what you’re looking for, then looking to re-purchase as you’ve used it all up or didn’t quite buy enough to fit the demand, but then you can’t get hold of it anymore. This is a common issue with buying fabric from standard retail stores, as their supplies often tend to go in and out of stock, or be a bit hit and miss.
With buying silk in wholesale, you can easily eliminate this problem as suppliers hold large quantities of their fabric in stock, so they’re ready to be shipped out at any given moment. This is a hugely important factor for businesses making and selling products, as you don’t want to have to discontinue your best-selling line or miss out on a huge selling opportunity because you can no longer get hold of the required materials.
Establishes business relationships
Building strong business relationships in the supply chain is key to the operation of any organisation. It’s in the interest of both the supplier and the buyer to establish these good relationships in the competitive markets of today, as it ensures that you can rely on them to cater for your needs, and they can be safe in the knowledge that they can regularly send stock your way.
A major advantage of this as opposed to buying from local shops is that wholesale suppliers can be seen as a partner in your purchase process, and once that initial trust is built, they can go a long way to help you out. Suppliers may offer flexible payment plans, credit schemes and prioritise delivery schedules after working together for a while in order to keep you, the customer, coming back for more.
Convenient
When operating an efficient business, convenience is key. The joys of online wholesale means you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home to get your hands on what you need. No lengthy journeys to seek out the fabric shop, and no hassle of transporting a bulk load of fabric from A to B.
Getting the goods delivered right to your doorstep within your specified timescale can’t be beaten!
The latest styles
The silk industry is no different to the fashion market in the way that they need to stay on trend to keep up with the competitive market. We know that customers will be seeking out the latest seasonal shades and certain qualities to cater for the current on trend wardrobe staple, so it’s imperative for us to keep on top of these changes.
With our ever expanding range of silks, we’re not limited to the amount of styles we can offer and we’re able to get hold of the latest stock quicker than an independent store. This offers customers great flexibility for creating their own styles all year round, and that’s why so many rely on the wholesale industry to keep the creativity in their designs fresh and flowing.
Knowledge gained
Silk wholesalers aren’t simply stockists purely operating to ship fabric in and sell it at cheap prices. If you seek out an established, reputable company, you’ll find out that there’s much more to them than that. The silk industry is unique in that those who operate within it are passionate about what they do and have acquired a great deal of knowledge about the fabrics and are there to share that information with you, too.
Speaking for ourselves here at Biddle Sawyer Silks, we like to work with our customers to find out more about their projects and their requirements, so that we can recommend the most suitable fabrics for them and offer advice where necessary. This way, we can share the information we’ve learned over decades and hope to educate our customers on the qualities and capabilites of each silk, to ensure that they make the right purchasing decision.
Eliminates creases and folds
While this may seem like a minor advantage in comparison, it’s one that saves the customer a lot of time and hassle. Small scale retailers tend to stick to folding small quantities of fabric, so that they can easily (and cost efficiently) be sold and shipped. However, this can create problems for the end buyer who has to deal with removing the creases and folds from their stunning fabrics, which can often result in unwanted blemishes or lighter areas along the folds.
When buying wholesale, fabrics are typically sold in rolls of large quantities to eliminate this issue, ensuring that your fabric arrives in pristine condition. Not only does this save a lot of time and effort on your end, but you can be safe in the knowledge that your silk will arrive brand new, with no wear and tear signs.
Biddle Sawyer Silks are a leading UK wholesale silk supplier, specialising in fine quality silk fabrics. We’re passionate about what we do, and offer the highest standards of customer service and technical support along with an extensive collection of British made silks including silk organza, crepe de chine, chiffon and much more.
Read more: Biddle Sawyer Silks: Who we are and what we do
We offer next day delivery to anywhere in the UK, to ensure your order is with you at the time you need it. Our qualified team are on hand to offer their knowledge and we can cater for any requirements, with a bespoke colour match service to match your chosen silk to any sample.
Find out more about our order process, or get in touch with us to make an enquiry.
