How to Connect with Fabric Suppliers
Recently I read a post from an agency that helps designers connect with suppliers. Now this agency is incredibly helpful to many and rightfully so.
However,
I was struck by the information I read on her take on how to reach out to suppliers.
She says,
“Do not ask suppliers what their minimum order quantities (or MOQS) are in the first email.”
What?
No, no no no. I greatly disagree here.
What has made her feel the need to make this statement? I feel it’s not a good way at all to start a relationship with a textile supplier or manufacturer.
Imagine you are a designer and you are just starting up. You already could be feeling insecure, uncertain of yourself and the necessary steps you need to take.
When you finally manage to find a supplier that has the fabric you dream to design with, and you are feeling brave and courageous to connect with the supplier and then you read….. but don’t ask them the details.
This is terrible and misleading advice.
I have reached out to countless suppliers and manufacturers in the history of my career. And I have always, always been honest, transparent and direct.
This is who I am, ie my name, not my life story.
This is my business.
This is the type of fabric I am looking for.
What are your MOQs?
What are your shipping policies?
Being direct, simple and asking for basic information is necessary for your business to move forward and it creates trust from the first introduction. If you start playing around, being evasive or not being upfront, you simply are wasting your own time, the supplier or manufacturers times and possibly missing out on a good designer-supplier relationship.
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