8 Ways to Secure Stronger Profits With Performance Apparel

Infographic: How to Provide the Best Prices on Performance Apparel

Your clients want performance apparel, but they don’t want to break the bank to get it. In the past, this may not have been possible, but times have changed. Now you can provide affordable athleisure while still making a hefty profit, and this infographic shows you how. See for yourself how to provide better prices than your competitors. Scratch that – the best prices, period.

Step 1: place your apparel order

Let’s start with the exciting news first: You’ve won your customer’s business by offering them incredible pricing on their performance apparel. Great! Now how do you make good on that promise? Here’s where your supplier comes into play. Place your order with your supplier partner and see for yourself how they can save your clients additional costs.

Step 2: fabric is made

Once your order is received, review the fabrics. If your supplier doesn’t own their own fabric mills, they’ll have to outsource fabric production, which means hidden costs you didn’t know about. Don’t let these hidden costs take you by surprise – talk to your supplier about how they source their fabrics before your order is placed. If it’s not produced in-house, you may want to look elsewhere.

Step 2: fabric is made

Price Savings From EG-PRO

Performance apparel supplier EG-PRO owns all its fabric mills, providing complete control over production speeds, quality and costs. With no reliance on outside sources, fabrics are produced quickly and without additional markups since it’s part of a vertical structure that took two decades to create.

 

EG-PRO stocks 70 styles in 15 different performance fabrics that are proprietary and unique so your clients won’t have to worry about upcharges for inferior fabrics. Take a look at the amazing fabrics your customers can choose from while keeping their costs down.

Basic Training Interlock

Basic Training Interlock

Titanium Melange

Titanium Melange

Defender Heather

Defender Heather

Varsity Poly/Spandex

Varsity Poly/Spandex

Victory Super-Micro

Victory Super-Micro

Conquer Mesh

Conquer Mesh

EVO Double-Brushed Heather

EVO Heather

Imperial Brushed Space Dye

Imperial Brushed Space Dye

Core Mesh

Core Mesh

EVO Double-Brushed Heather

Tech Fleece

Nuts & Bolts

Nuts & Bolts

ENDURO

Enduro

Hydro-pro

Hydro-Pro

Aero Mesh

Aero Mesh

Covert Camo

Covert Camo

Step 3: Fabrics are dyed

Next up: color. Fabrics need to be dyed to match the specific shades your clients are looking for. There are two features you’ll want to look for to ensure the best price possible: First, see if your supplier stocks the colors and shades you need. If they have them on hand, you won’t have to pay to have them shipped from another location. Second, make sure they can provide consistency with their colors. If shades are off from order to order, you may have to pay out of pocket to fix an embarrassing situation.

Step 3: Fabrics are dyed

Price Savings From EG-PRO

Because EG-PRO controls the knitting and dyeing processes, you’ll never have to worry about color variances in the promos you sell. Whether your clients are buying T-shirts or hoodies, they’ll get the specific shade they ordered every time, guaranteed! This will save you money in the long run by avoiding any expense to correct shade variance issues.

 

EG-PRO stocks core athletic and team-related apparel with 20+ years of dyeing, knitting and manufacturing experience, so customers will find the exact shades they need without paying extra or worrying about colors matching between styles.

core colors
more colors
Step 4: Garments are Made

Now that the fabric is ready, it’s time for the garments to be sewn. In-house vertical production lines are essential to save on costs, of course, but be sure to ask your supplier about their operations too. If they don’t have the manpower to produce your order or if they outsource to mulitiple factories, you’ll be adding extra costs and days to your turnaround times, which could mean rush shipping fees to meet your deadlines.

Step 3: Fabrics are dyed

Price Savings From EG-PRO

To give you a sense of how large EG-PRO’s vertical factory base is, over 2,200 employees knit, dye, cut and sew all of their garments. Because they own their facilities, everything is contained in a vertical process without the need to outsource anything except cardboard boxes. This is how they keep costs so low – the middle man is cut out and the savings are passed on to you and your customers. Imagine providing better products at lower costs while adding more to your margins.

 

Despite the low costs, you can confidently promise your clients the quality they expect, thanks to features and benefits that other suppliers can’t afford to include, such as:

basic training function
  • Raglan sleeves: Provide a greater range of motion for wearers
  • Neck taping: Prevents chafing and provides a clean finish
  • Cover stitching: Offers a smooth finish inside the raglan sleeves against skin
  • Roll-forward side seams: Avoids torqueing and chafing
  • Double-needle stitching: Adds strength and prevents bursting along sleeve openings and hems
  • Tearaway labels: Easy to remove for customization
Step 5: Apparel is Decorated

Apparel decoration for large import programs should be on your radar if you want to keep prices low. Many apparel suppliers don't have this ability and will have to outsource it through an agent to manage from overseas. Not only does this add time and cost to your order, it adds a level of uncertainty – are you sure you trust this third party to handle your client’s large order? One-color imprints are one thing, but you'll want to leave more complicated decoration methods like embroidery, patches and heat seals to the pros.

Step 5: Apparel is Decorated

Price Savings From EG-PRO

Owning in-house decoration facilities overseas means EG-PRO can secure private-label programs at volumes starting at 5,000-piece minimums, thus reducing your costs down the road. Additionally, EG-PRO can import finished decorated products for companies that have licenses or require specific labeling, tags, packaging and routing logistics. With EG-PRO, you can offer your clients complete decoration programs at factory-direct prices with the assurance that they are WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production)-approved and compliant for some of the largest brands in the world.

Step 6: Shipment

At long last, it’s time for delivery. While this might seem straightforward at first glance, shipping fees can add up quickly if you didn’t do your research. Make sure your supplier is strategically located so they can reach all parts of the U.S. in a matter of days – otherwise you’ll be looking at rush charges to meet your deadlines. Don’t forget to ask about special offers, too. Some suppliers offer free shipping when you spend a certain amount, and those savings can go right into your pocket.

Step 5: Apparel is Decorated

Price Savings From EG-PRO

Savings alert: EG-PRO offers free shipping on all in-stock inventory for orders over $200, saving you and your clients additional delivery fees. On top of that, because inventory is warehoused in Chino, CA, and Queens, NY, any part of the U.S. is reachable in just 1-3 business days from the date of shipment. No matter where your clients are located, they’ll be able to get their performance apparel fast – and for less.

Step 7: Done

Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. You provided your clients with top-quality factory-direct athleisure and performance apparel from a brand with an established 20+ year infrastructure, plus saved time and money in the process. It doesn’t get much better than that.

#7: Keep Costs Simple

You like when things are simple, and so do your clients. However, some suppliers make things difficult by not being upfront about hidden costs associated with decorating, shipping or delivery. Not only does this complicate your business, it confuses your customer, and can hinder their excitement to work with you again in the future.

Save the sale by choosing a supplier who keeps their pricing simple, so you can do the same for your customers. Check and double-check the pricing you’re quoted on, and ensure their won’t be an surprise fees down the road as you get closer to delivery. Trust us, you’ll thank us later – and so will your clients.

 

Since EG-PRO is 100% vertical, they’re able to promise price reliability, consistent colors and great quality with every order. As a vertical manufacturer, they can offer distributors low costs from the get-go, so there’s no need to inflate or price gauge. You can also look forward to their free shipping program for all orders over $199 for price saving opportunities in bulk.

EG-PRO, asi/51831

To learn more, visit EGPRO.com or call 855-450-1450.