| Wholesale clothing distributors purchase cloth, apparel, | | | | are basically three categories of customers in the |
| trimmings, home furnishing and accessories from | | | | clothing industry. They are upper, middle and budget |
| manufacturers in large lots and resell them in smaller | | | | sectors with the budget sectors accounting for the |
| lots to retailers. Wholesale distributors usually work | | | | largest chunk. Generally wholesale clothing distributors |
| from warehouses or offices with no display of their | | | | do not specialize in a particular product or products for |
| merchandise. They interact with their customers | | | | a specific category of customers since specialization |
| through salespeople, over the phone and using the | | | | has not been a major trend in this industry. However, |
| Internet.Wholesale clothing distributors sell either | | | | some wholesale distributors focus on sub segments |
| imported goods or locally manufactured goods or both. | | | | such as women's clothing, children's clothing or |
| The clothes may include readymade apparel or cloth | | | | accessories.The traditional distinctions between clothing |
| material. The product range not only includes garments | | | | manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers are slowly |
| for men, women, boys, girls and infants, but also | | | | becoming a thing of the past. Some large retailers are |
| includes accessories such as scarves, hats and gloves | | | | bypassing the wholesale distributors and are dealing |
| as well as some home furnishings. The industry is | | | | with manufacturers directly. This is often accomplished |
| tightly integrated and many distributors often | | | | by setting up a subsidiary company that handles the |
| manufacture the goods themselves or get it contract | | | | purchasing and wholesaling activities for the retailer. On |
| manufactured from low cost locations such as China. | | | | the other hand, some large whole sale distributors are |
| This is because of the seasonal nature of the industry. | | | | venturing into retail by setting up their own retail outlets. |
| There are also wholesalers who act purely as a | | | | The industry is dynamic and distribution systems are |
| distributor from manufacturers to retailers. Their | | | | seeing improvements. Internet-based wholesale clothing |
| customers include retailers and online merchantsThere | | | | distribution is also growing rapidly. |