MARKET using local suppliers???
MARKET selling an AS Colour Surf Cap in citrus for $73!!!
I’d like to preface this by saying that this isn’t a rant about why you should only use onshore production & I am totally aware that what I’m going to talk about can only work in certain situations.
Rather, this is about the reasons why working with local decorators (screenprinters, embroiderers, etc.) & onshore suppliers is used up to the very top levels of the streetwear game.
I’m hoping it gives some insight, and you can take away an idea of how this could work for you.
The first and main reason is often the financial risk is miniscule when compared with offshore products.
Having cash tied up on bad stock is a nightmare. Period. You need to do closeouts, put things on special, a screenprint blast over, re-dye, or whatever else you can think of to move on from the stock.
If you are able to use onshore blanks and partner with a local decorator, a large percentage of this risk can be avoided. You can organise the items on a system of return or sell, print on demand, or have a print run lined up once a drop ends or “sells out” (haha).
By working out how to utilise systems and processes with a local decorator, you can avoid the risk of tying all your cash up with bad stock for certain products.
Another one is utilising blank brands that have heaps of A1 options in the deep cuts.
I totally understand (more than most) that the idea of throwing a logo onto a stock-standard AS Colour T-shirt might not be an attractive idea.
This is something Market has done really well. They used the AS Colour Surf Cap and Swim Shorts in a citrus green.
Again, this is why working with a local decorator can help out. They should have a lay of the land of blank products and be able to suggest a deeper cut that could work for you.
Some options to think about are:
I’ve been going on, so I don’t lose y’all here’s my last reason: Quality assurance.
Most of these blank brands operate on a retail basis. They would not be able to do this if their garms couldn’t hold up to the wash and wear test.
This quality assurance alleviates two giant headaches.
All the R&D sampling questions are already answered and the boxes ticked. Will this twist in the wash? Is this hoodie going to pill? Does it shrink? They already know those answers.
Crazy low rate of returns on faulty garments. As these brands operate on a retail basis, you already have an inbuilt idea of what the rate of return will be for a product. AS Colour for instance is stocked at Universal Store & Colour Plane at 1st Product.
These major retailers wouldn’t take on the risk of eating returns from products that are toast after one wash, so brands have confidence that they can have the same
Good reviews at Universal store for AS Colour stuff
In short, to sum all this ish up, the reason why large brands do this it can be a smart business decision.
Again, this isn’t something can be done across the board. But if you play it smart it can have it’s time and place.
Geremy
