How to sell wholesale children's clothes online: an ultimate guide

In this article, we will provide an ultimate guide on how to start a wholesale children's clothes business online. We will highlight some basic information about the market, giving you a clearer understanding of the industry, including its revenue and prospect.

We will discuss the reasons why you should start this business, including some key benefits for you as a seller. You will also learn how you can open an online account today and start selling on an online marketplace such as Alibaba.com.

Selling wholesale children's clothes: the basics

Children’s wear refers to the apparel designed for kids belonging to the age group of 0 months to 12 years. It consists of innerwear, outerwear, nightwear, socks, and tights, which are manufactured using materials, such as hosiery, cotton, polyester, silk, and satin-based fabrics. In comparison to clothing for adults, they are usually more casual, comfortable, and flexible, have higher fabric quality, and are fit for play and rest. Individual clothing lines are widely available in the market for both boys and girls, along with gender-neutral clothing offering apparel in a wide variety of styles, colors, and cloth materials, depending upon the requirements of the wearer.

Revenue in the Children's Apparel segment amounts to US$263,323m in 2022.¹ The market is expected to grow annually by 2.93% (CAGR 2022-2026).¹ In global comparison, most revenue is generated in the United States (US$52,055m in 2022).¹

One of the key factors driving the market's expansion is the world's constantly growing population, including rising urbanization. Furthermore, aggressive promotional efforts by manufacturers, and the growth of the online retailing industry, which provides a hassle-free shopping experience while providing customers with a broad choice of alternatives, are expected to propel the market forward.

The industry is benefiting from increased consumer demand for luxury and branded clothes. Parents want to acquire high-quality premium clothing to assure their child's maximum comfort and safety, owing to rising spending capabilities and changing lifestyles. Additionally, the growing popularity of matching ensembles such as mommy and me and mini-me t-shirts and outfits, as well as the development of clothing lines influenced by increased celebrity exposure, are boosting product sales. With 71% of social media marketers reporting that they have an influencer marketing budget, it is clear to see that marketers are finding value in influencers.²

Why start a wholesale children's clothes business online?

One of the main reasons to start a wholesale children's clothes business online is because there’s a constant high demand for clothing. Clothing will always be one of the number one baby gifts, so tapping into this huge market can reap great financial rewards.

Here are six further benefits of why you should start this business:

1. It’s a simple business

A key benefit of a wholesale children's online clothes business is that it's a straightforward business strategy. Showing and promoting items increases traffic and income. The start-up procedure is simpler than for other businesses, and you can scale up from a small business to a large one.

2. Selling opportunities in different countries

Despite severe competition in the wholesale online sector, wholesale children's apparel companies concentrate on branding and bringing money to their sites. In addition to serving a city, state, district, or neighborhood, markets that serve multiple countries provide additional economic activity in wholesale children's clothes. Old inventory can easily be disposed of by selling online.

3. Established brands

Your online business should be aware of the wholesale apparel you're offering as well as the influence your curiosity has on the industry. You are not required to establish your own brand since you can market the businesses that have done this for you. People will approach you only when they have heard positive things about a particular brand.

4. Fast returns

The business model of a wholesale children's clothes business online is one that provides you with a swift movement. Whenever a person buys your wholesale clothes then you will be able to get the returns quickly if necessary. For whatever reason, if you are not successful in booking your order, the cancellation will not cause any inconvenience to you.

5. Convenience

Consumers can take advantage of the convenience of shopping from the comfort of their own homes while staying safe. Especially during a pandemic, they don’t have to worry about carrying a face mask or cleaning their hands all the time. There will be no long lines to pay for purchases either. The payment system is also more convenient and quicker.

Furthermore, there will be no opening and closing times - so you can benefit from maximum sales and profit at all times of the day.

6. Variety of products

An online wholesale children's clothing business, as we all know, has a wide variety of product features. Another big benefit of purchasing wholesale children's apparel is the ability to acquire an unlimited number of products. Many parents believe that their newborn infant should be dressed in new clothes, therefore they will plan ahead for their children's clothing for the following several months. They will replace the clothing at least four to five times in the first year after the baby is born. There are many styles, colors, designs, and patterns to pick from.

How to sell wholesale children's clothes online?

You should first understand the market of wholesale clothing to start your own children's clothing line, this will help you define a niche. Creating a business plan, finding reliable suppliers, and dealing with vendors that can provide clothing are all steps in the clothing sourcing process.

You will also need to create an online store and advertise it or use influencer advertising to reach customers. To expand your business, focus on your strengths.

Let’s break this down in a step to step guide:

1. Define a niche

Starting a clothing line is a personal journey. You're most likely a creative individual with something unique to contribute to in a fast-paced industry. It's possible that you've identified a market gap or have a one-of-a-kind design in mind for a certain target segment. Whatever your motivation for beginning a business, it's critical to establish a niche right away.

Perhaps it’s a clothing line that’s born out of a particular need or ethos, from cruelty-free clothing to premature baby accessories.

Know your niche, and bear it in mind. Even if you branch out and introduce lots of other designs as time goes by, your original idea gives you heritage, a guiding principle, and a reason to be remembered.

2. Create a business plan

The key to success with any business is putting a plan in place not just for setting up but for growing as well. Your strategy looks at things such as whether you are operating alone or with others, operations, how you are going to brand yourself, what sort of products you are going to sell, and what type of customers you want to attract.

You might just be starting out on a small scale, but if your ideas take off, you’ll want to scale quickly, so it’s important to have a plan in place.

The online clothing industry is difficult to predict, with constantly new trends flooding the market; it’s, therefore, important to have a flexible plan that can be modified as your business grows.

The most important part of your plan is the legal formalities. You’ll need to register it as a legal entity with the local and federal governments. The laws may vary based on where you live, so do your research beforehand. While you are at it, give some thought to how you will answer their questions. Think about the type of business you want to run (corporation, LLC, etc.) and your business name.

If you plan to make revenue from your baby clothing store, you will need to keep track of it. Otherwise, your legal entity might run into serious legal trouble. Set up a bank account, then learn how to balance the books and handle your business’s taxes.

3. Find the right supplier

You’ll need to look around for a supplier you can trust and which has the kind of products you think your customers are going to be happy to buy.

Your supplier doesn’t have to be in your home country either, they can be based anywhere in the world. What you want to find is a company that delivers quality, has sustainable practices and delivers the exciting clothing products you are looking for.

4. Build your online store

Now that you've decided how you'll manage your company, it's time to provide customers with a means of reaching you online. There are many website builders online but make sure to use one that is properly developed for wholesale e-commerce. Even at cheaper pricing levels, the software should ideally come with a large number of features.

Creating a great shopping experience means paying attention to and optimizing many different facets before launch. So ensure that navigating your website and finding products is as easy as possible.

5. Attract Customers

It will be challenging but beneficial to attract customers to your online store. You must find out how to attract people to look at your products in the most effective method possible. However, you can use influencer marketing, social media marketing, and sponsored promotions to help the business benefit.

6. Choose the right platform

The internet is a large place, and selling online allows you to market your items through a variety of methods. Do you want to start an online store, sell on social media, or use B2B e-commerce platforms like Alibaba.com? The platform you select may be determined by your company objectives and preferences.

6 useful tips for wholesaling children's clothes

Now that you know the steps to start an online wholesale clothing business, let’s look at some valuable tips to help you grow your business and scale it faster.

1. Keep integrity in mind

When trying to build your wholesale baby clothing business, it's important to keep product integrity in mind. Good quality can lead to repeat business, which is always beneficial to your company!

Always inspect the stitching on wholesale baby clothing to ensure that they are securely fastened; furthermore, bear in mind that dangling buttons and threads might pose a choking hazard.

2. Check clothing regulations

The government regulates the quality of wholesale baby clothing; keep this in mind while selling your products.

Always double-check that your items fulfill the required government criteria. Check your items against regulatory regulations for infant apparel to ensure that flammability and other requirements are satisfied.

3. Check the materials

When it comes to wholesale cheap boutique baby outfits, the quality of the material is crucial. These garments should be constructed of a soft, long-lasting material that will be comfortable for the infant.

Adult clothing fabrics, such as rayon, should always be avoided since they might irritate a baby's sensitive skin.

When trying to offer wholesale baby boutique apparel online, search for fabrics like cotton, fleece, and wool.

• Cotton: Cotton is one of the most common fabrics used in infant clothing. Cotton makes the garments breathable, allowing babies to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
• Fleece: Fleece is another great natural fabric option, especially in the winter months.

  This material is soft enough that long-term wear will not irritate the infant, yet warm enough that the baby will not become cold in cooler temperatures.

• Wool: Wool is a more natural alternative for newborns throughout the cold months, particularly for those with sensitive skin. The lanolin in the wool prevents knotting, makes it easier to wash and dry in the machine, and is gentle on the baby's skin. Wool is a preferable choice if you're running a wholesale baby clothing company in a colder climate, as it can get too hot in other climates.

4. Choose a reputable supplier

You could be tempted to acquire your materials from an up-and-coming wholesale baby clothes supplier. While this is fantastic, be sure your source is trustworthy.

Shady wholesale baby clothes providers may offer you more drastic reductions, but they will also produce substandard work, which will damage your reputation.

5. Be aware of return policies

When looking for wholesale baby clothing suppliers, be sure that their return policy, as well as prices and other crucial information, will provide you with the flexibility that you require.

Many websites will provide you with a thirty-day return policy, as well as higher discounts for larger orders and even coupons to use on your first purchase.

6. Get the best deals

When establishing a wholesale baby business, you may be wondering what are the best ways to acquire the greatest deal and quickly improve your profit margin.

Many successful business wholesalers advocate a variety of strategies for raising profit margin, including purchasing directly from the manufacturer; however, while this appears to be a fantastic secret, it does need a significant amount of effort, devotion, and time.

Because the labor prices are often lower in international countries, you can receive better discounts from them.

Getting your wholesale baby clothing from an overseas distributor may boost your profit margins dramatically, but more importantly, it can provide you with a competitive advantage in the long run. You'll be able to develop your own items once you've established a relationship with your wholesale provider, giving you an advantage over your competitors.

Sell on Alibaba.com

Alibaba.com is an online marketplace that allows wholesale vendors to create, optimize, and sell their products to customers all over the world. You may use Alibaba.com to make setting up your business easier now that you know how to sell wholesale children's clothing online.

Sellers may use this eCommerce platform to exhibit their products, connect with millions of buyers, and take advantage of free marketing tools and services to increase sales. To get started, go to Alibaba.com, open a seller account, and launch your wholesale clothing business online.