Know Before You Buy 

Thinking about doing some shopping? As summer begins to wind down and the season changes, it’s a good as time as any to shop for some new clothing essentials. Whether you’re looking to spruce up your wardrobe or just add an item or two. Maybe you are looking to completely change your style altogether, or perhaps you are looking to stock your own boutique shelves. Whatever your shopping goals are will determine whether you are looking at retail or wholesale clothing. Both have their benefits, as well as their downsides. Before you pull out your credit card, here is what you need to know before you buy, wholesale vs. retail. 

Like I mentioned earlier, both options have their benefits. If you are thinking of checking out some wholesalers, like Dear Lover clothing or Alibaba, you should be in the market for bulk items. The perks of wholesale clothing is you get more for your buck, if more if what you want. Typically wholesalers sell to other businesses, not necessarily to a person on their own. However, if you are planning on buying in bulk they typically don’t care. Wholesalers list things at an extremely low price point which is great, but you do have to buy a certain amount. Which is why they are able to price so low, they require bulk purchases. Whether you are running your own store front, or you have an online boutique, wholesalers are going to be your go to. 

Another helpful thing about wholesalers is if you place automatic orders, either monthly or bi-annually, you may get a better deal. It’s not uncommon for return
customers to get benefits such as free shipping, or even discounts on top of already low price points. If you’re not going to be a return customer though, it’s fine. You don’t have to have a store to buy wholesale items. No, you may not be in the right place if all you’re looking for is a new wardrobe, however you can still benefit. There are many reasons why the average person opts to purchase through wholesalers instead of a retailer. For example, private schools will sometimes buy their students uniforms all at once for each grade, each year. A wedding planner, depending on how large the wedding party is, will choose to buy all of the dresses and suits through a wholesaler to save on bulk costs. In my personal opinion, if you are looking to purchase a minimum of twenty identical items, I say go the wholesale route. 

What if you’re not looking to buy in bulk though? What if you’re only looking to buy items for yourself? Even if you are looking to splurge and make a dent in your 

checking account with the intention of filling your closet with all new clothing and accessories, wholesale still may not be for you. This is because traditionally,
wholesalers sell the same items in bulk. Even if you are looking to purchase ten new sweaters, I doubt you want ten identical new sweaters for your own closet. Retailers sell to individuals rather than businesses. The price point is higher than that of wholesale items, but that is because the price includes the added costs of operations. As well as the profit to the retailer. Retailers also have to consider payroll costs and store rent, which is why they increase the price point for the consumer. 

​ When you’re deciding between wholesale and retail clothing, what it comes down to is simple: what do you want? Are you running a business? Are you buying identical bulk items? Are you hoping to resell and make a little money on the side? Then wholesale is the way to go. However, are you just trying to live your life and shop a little? Are you looking to revamp your closet? Are you needing to holiday shop for your nieces and nephews? If so then it looks like you may be better suited for a good ole fashioned retailer.