Key Takeaway
A wholesale jacket buy needs to work at the size, margin and reorder level. Assess the actual garments and pack composition, then calculate expected revenue after markdowns and landed costs.
Wholesale stock can shorten development work, but it transfers more of the product decision to your buying process. The garment already exists: your job is to establish whether its fit, quality and assortment suit your customers.
Ask for quantities by style, colour and size, with a date attached to the stock list. Confirm whether the units are finished, awaiting completion or available only to order. A catalogue photograph does not reserve inventory.
For preorders, record the delivery window, permitted substitutions and cancellation terms. For finished stock, confirm when it will be allocated to you and whether the photographed sample represents the shipment.
Some wholesalers sell fixed packs, sometimes described as a seri. The pack quantity and size ratio vary by seller. Ask whether sizes can be exchanged and whether the minimum applies by style, colour or invoice.
An illustrative six-piece pack might contain one S, two M, two L and one XL. Buying four packs produces 24 jackets: four S, eight M, eight L and four XL. Compare that allocation with your own sales history. Do not assume that a nationally labelled size or a standard bundle matches your customers.
Request a measurement chart and physically check a sample. Record whether dimensions are garment measurements or body measurements and test the jacket over the intended clothing layer.
| Area | Practical check |
|---|---|
| Fit | Closed-front comfort, sleeve movement and layering |
| Materials | Composition records, handle and consistency with the sample |
| Construction | Pocket corners, lining ease, seam finish and symmetry |
| Closures | Repeated zipper operation and secure buttons or snaps |
| Presentation | Labels, care information and packaging condition |
| Consistency | Variation between sizes, colours and available lots |
A showroom location does not prove these qualities. Compare the actual merchandise from each supplier rather than assigning quality based on district or country.
For a simple illustration, suppose a jacket lands at €50 and sells for €100 excluding VAT or sales tax. Gross margin is (€100 − €50) ÷ €100 = 50%. The markup on cost is 100%; these are different measures.
If a second jacket sells at a markdown for €70, the two together produce €170 in revenue against €100 in product cost. Combined gross margin is about 41.2%. This calculation excludes store overhead, payment fees and returns. The figures are hypothetical, not suggested selling prices.
Run a scenario with likely markdowns and unsold sizes before increasing the order to obtain a lower unit price. Use tax treatment appropriate to your business and destination.
Ask whether the fabric and style are ongoing or a one-off lot, how stock is reserved and whether repeat colours may vary by dye lot. Get the reorder minimum and current availability instead of relying on a general promise of rapid replenishment.
Before payment, agree how shortages, defects and size discrepancies must be reported, what evidence is required and which remedies are available. Check the claim deadline against how quickly you can inspect incoming cartons.
Confirm freight, importer responsibilities and destination charges separately. For a full comparison of order costs, use the jacket costing guide.
Common Sourcing Questions
Compare the available ratio with your demand and expected markdowns. Open sizing offers flexibility, but its price and minimums may differ. A fixed pack can work when its allocation matches your customers.
Confirm physical availability, allocation, payment release, packing and freight separately. Ask for a dispatch date and a delivery estimate for your destination.
Manufacturing Journal
A low sewing minimum does not guarantee a small total commitment. Check minimums separately for each style, colour, fabric and trim, then calculate the cost of materials left over after the order.
Start with a comparable brief, approve a physical production reference, and schedule material procurement separately from sewing. Confirm shipping and customs requirements for the destination before accepting a delivery promise.
Verify the legal seller, payment beneficiary, production location and product evidence separately. Registration proves an entity exists; a video call shows a moment in time. Neither replaces sample testing or a clear order agreement.