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Discussion:
The swimwear market is incredibly increasing these days after the pandemicEveryone wants to get out to enjoy with his family or friends or all cousins gathering together at pool parties or bbq parties at the seasideSo, you want to start your own wholesale swimsuits brand? And you’ve already got some designs and patterns in your mind? But now you’re thinking about having your bases coveredDon’t leave any stone unturned because in this article we’ve got you sortedHere’s everything you need to have in place before you manufacture your swimwear!
1Figure out your audience and target market strategy
The audience matters a lot in the swimwear marketIf you get audience attention by launching some unique designs and patterns of high quality at a cheap price then you’re already matching the market strategyThough the excitement of actually designing your swimwear line is far more exciting than you think it ismany early-stage entrepreneurs underestimate the value of market strategy planning and financial budgeting.
You might be thinking, “yes, we already know this, let’s move on,” but wait there for a secondUnderstanding the potential capacity of your target market and the financial requirements is a key factor in substantiating your hard workLet’s elaborate a little: Visiting your market opens you up to understanding how to design your swimwearAnd thus, be able to give your potential to manufacture the exact requirements.
Are you looking for polyester blends? Perhaps nylon? How about the weight and qualities of your material? Are you looking for something that is chlorine resistant? What trends are your audiences liking and rejecting? Are they season-savvy? These are all questions you need to ask the manufacturer when entering into the needs of your target marketThis will be the narrow down that forms the entirety of your relationship with manufacturers and defines the parameters of your requirements.
2Dropping knowledge before you drop your $$$
Now comes your financesFirst, check the cost of your designs and patterns by visiting the market which will be the price at which your swimwear gets soldThe cost per piece of garment can change depending open your designs, customization, and quality of what you needif you need some extra decorative things on your swimwear like zips, studs, clasps, and decorative trims, then the cost will increase according to it.
So very early on when you want to start a swimwear brand you ask yourself, how much does it cost to start a swimwear brand? To answer it, Depending on your brand, designs, patterns and swimwear goals, retailing areas, size ranges and quantities to macro assumptions about the market size, growth rates, and so on will help you to create a budget for the next few yearsAs we always have in our mind that the cheaper the price the more customers will attract.
On the other hand, if you’re dipping yourself into designing swimwear clothes and their patterns to reach out to your network and do some extra research you will understand the costs involved so you can be prepared to get success when you are on your way to finding a swimwear manufacturer.
3Have a tech pack ready
A tech pack is like a dating checklist:
Have a tech pack with all your requirements ready to goA swimwear tech pack is a non-negotiable necessity that will see your designer swimwear come to lifeYour swimsuit tech pack will be the go-to document you and your manufacturer will use as a reference.
This document is created by the designer and will contain design patterns and sketches, the product dimensions, fabric type, and exact specifications such as fabrics, the weight of the fabric, the colors, embellishments, any required printing, how the seams will be finished, compliance requirements and so on.
A tech pack is an absolute must-have to avoid ugly design finish and quality, and delays in production due to unclear knowledgeMany clothing design manufacturers will refuse to work without it.
Having a tech pack enables accuracy in design, greatly reduces human error, enforces a greater degree of quality control, and allows a manufacturer to give you an exact estimate of the cost.
4Know what you are looking for and what to ask for
Once you have your tech pack ready to go, you’ll need to make a list of the qualities and things you are looking for in the perfect manufacturing partner.
The first step before you even start thinking about a manufacturer is deciding if you want to go ahead with a “local manufacturer” or go with a foreign manufacturerThere are pros and cons in both and the decision should be based on your expectations and requirementsthe difference between them is the cost of the local one will be lower than the foreign one.
Overseas manufacturers are cost-effective, but long-distance relationships can be tough and you will need clear communication and stricter quality control processes.
If you decide to go with a manufacturer who may not have access to all the materials and fabrics you needyou may have to build to source these requirementswhich decision you choose to go with, make sure your tech pack has every minute detail about each design’s fabric and material useThe more detail you have, the more beneficial your communication will be and this will altogether avoid expectations falling through.
5Clearly defined time frames and production quantity
Outsourcing your swimwear manufacture versus having to create your custom swimsuits can greatly reduce your time-to-market and improve profit margins.
So, whilst you get everything ready to hunt down that perfect manufacturer who’ll make all your dreams come true, make sure you have an idea of timelines and quantities.
On top of this, estimate how much you’ll sellKnowing how much to manufacture will help you understand your total costs and have clear expectations when you reach out to swimwear manufacturers.
The hardest part is always the start and if you have a goal of a label that will stand the test of time, finding the right fit when it comes to a manufacturing partner will be crucial to survive you’ll have to wait several years for it.
But before you even think about finding a manufacturer, have your homework done and take your time to finalize your goals from financials to tech packs to timelines and quantitiesIt might seem wrong and you might even feel a little impatient to get this ball rolling, but trust us when we say, good things take time.