The expansion of the fitness industry has never been greater, and starting a gym wear brand can be rewarding and satisfying. One of an entrepreneur’s first and most important decisions is whether to work with gym clothing manufacturers or wholesalers. Both avenues will supply you with fitness apparel for your brand, but differ in brand, price, customization, and growth potential. Understanding the differences is crucial in deciding how to align with your vision of success and growth.
What is a Gym Clothing Manufacturer?
A gym clothing manufacturer is an apparel company that manufactures activewear from original designs or your specifications. You can use their template designs or submit your custom-designed files for them to manufacture. Most manufacturers provide options for custom logo, fabric, colors, stitching options, and size variations. It doesn’t matter if you’re developing a yoga line or CrossFit products; manufacturers allow you to develop products that meet your needs.
Pros of Working with Manufacturers
By working with manufacturers, you gain complete oversight over your brand identity and quality. You can source high-quality fabrics, maintain a sustainable production method, and create clothing that aligns with your brand identity. This is a huge benefit for making a distinct product in a crowded place. Another obvious benefit for your brand is that the cost is your potential profit margin, especially on orders in larger quantities! As you grow, we also hope that you view your manufacturer partner as an opportunity for growth and expansion of your product collections through a strategic partnership.
Cons of Working with Manufacturers
Although manufacturers have positive aspects, they do have challenges. Likely, most manufacturers will be stricter on minimum order quantities (MOQs). For startups, especially, that will be a greater risk to work with a manufacturer. The lead time from sampling, production, and shipping usually takes several weeks and sometimes months. The amount of learning that first-time entrepreneurs must engage with contracts, tech packs, and other production timetables can be daunting, especially if unaware of the process.
What is a Gym Clothing Wholesaler?
A gym clothing wholesaler acts as a connector between manufacturers and product sellers. They buy athletic clothing/products in larger units from manufacturers to be sold to businesses. Essentially, they are resellers at discounted prices. Generally, the products are pre-branded and already manufactured, with some exceptions, as some wholesalers have basic customizations that can occur (ie, custom labels, hangtags, package); however, wholesalers generally sell clothing that already has a label. Wholesalers are a simple solution for budding businesses looking to quickly sell a product with minimal expenses.
Pros of Working with Wholesalers
There is a real advantage to there being a wholesaler purchase, for their expeditious speed. You can obtain outfitting in days instead of weeks, as the products are already manufactured. The lower minimum order quantities(MOQs) mean that you can easily start selling small quantities while you test customer interest without excess inventory. This is especially helpful for businesses interested in a product niche or if they have attempted or experienced a trend without committing to a production amount.
Cons of Working with Wholesalers
The downside is that wholesalers typically allow no to little customization, which means you’d likely be selling the same products as dozens of other brands. This makes it more difficult to differentiate yourself. Also, because you’re purchasing someone else’s designs, the profit margins are usually narrower than custom manufacturing. Additionally, you risk inconsistent sizing or quality if you’re purchasing from multiple wholesalers.
Which One is Right for You?
Ultimately, your decision should be based on your brand goals, available capital, and time-to-market expectations.
Choose a Manufacturer if
If you’re trying to create a popular gym wear brand with a top-notch, customized merchandise line, then manufacturers provide the opportunity for creativity to build truly one-of-a-kind products. They are great for businesses that want to grow, create seasonal collections, or jump into the higher-end activewear market. Even though you’re spending more up-front, with the right product and the chance to increase, a manufacturer can help with expanding brand equity.
Choose a Wholesaler if
You’re new to the business or working on a shoestring budget. Wholesalers are a great way to get into the business of selling immediately, with merchandise that is ready to sell. They are good for trying the market, dropshipping, or running a small online store. If you are unsure of your product-market fit or want to try and limit out-of-pocket risk, you might want to roll back with a wholesaler to test the market with limited risk.
Can You Use Both?
Indeed, when we look at successful gym wear brands, most will start with wholesalers as a form of validation, a connection with customers, and some initial revenue. After they know there is demand for their products, they would shift to working with manufacturers to create exclusive designs and help develop their brand. Having this flexibility allows you to dip your toes in the water while setting your sights on the big picture.
Conclusion
Deciding between clothing manufacturers and wholesalers for your gym clothing line is dependent on your business model, objectives, and risk tolerance. If you are in it for the long term and want to build an original brand, a custom shorts manufacturer will give you the customizability and scalability you are looking for. If you are testing a new niche or with limited capital, wholesaling is an ideal way to get into the market sooner. Reflect on your situation, consider the benefits and drawbacks of both options, and make a decision that aligns with the future of your brand.
