Before the coronavirus outbreak shut down large gatherings across the country, trade shows and expos were a great way to find suppliers. Now, business owners will have to master cold calls and emails.
Wesley Kang is the cofounder of men's dress-shirt brand Nimble Made. The pandemic has not only slowed sales, it's also highlighted the downsides to working with international suppliers as an American startup. Streetwear Clothing Manufacturers
In January, the brand was expecting a major inventory shipment of new styles and restocked sizes from China before the Lunar New Year. The shipment was delayed until after the holiday break — then the coronavirus broke out across China and many factory employees didn't return to work.
Nimble Made's inventory is still sitting on factory floors. Meanwhile, February sales decreased by 45% and three best-selling shirts are almost completely out of stock, or unavailable in popular sizes.
The situation highlighted the downsides of working with an international supplier, like long lead time, lack of effective product quality control, and low visibility into the manufacturing process. "We've been inspired to get a better handle on our supply-chain process and make it into a more sustainable one," Kang told Business Insider.
To tackle these roadblocks, Nimble Made is looking for a domestic supplier that can provide a more long-term relationship. But that can take a while. "To build a brand-new supplier relationship takes an equal, if not longer, amount of time," Kang said.
Though a simple Google search can lead you to the right suppliers (and you can email them your inquiry), Kang said most factories will want to speak on the phone to be able to cover the complexity and specificity of your product.
Ladies Suit Manufacturer Whether on the phone or in person, here's the exact format Kang uses to start a conversation with a supplier: