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What to know about never out of stock fabrics
- By Katie Syk
“Sourcing is so easy, I could do it with my eyes closed” has no sourcing professional ever said. In fact, sourcing is often quite challenging. Sourcing experts are given a brief from their design team with the task of finding the right materials or products to make that garment a reality. It’s never been an easy task, and today, with countless options accessible across the globe, it can feel more overwhelming than ever. Material Exchange is out to change that – and for many brands, our new Never out of stock (NOS) collection offers a unique balance of speed and flexibility. Read more to discover what never out of stock fabrics are all about and what brands will most benefit from them.
What is a never out of stock fabric?
In its essence, a material that never goes out of stock is just that: a material that’s always available. These materials are held in inventory by mills so brands can order them at any time. To always have a given material in stock, mills must have good insights into the market demand for that fabric. The mills Material Exchange works with fall into this category, keeping careful tabs on just how much of which fabrics are sold so they know how much more they need and when.
Choosing never out of stock
Brands of all sizes have lots to consider when selecting materials for their upcoming lines. NOS won’t fulfill all their needs – but there are quite a few benefits these readily available materials have to offer.
For one thing, never out of stock fabrics are available fast. If a brand is on a tight timeline or needs to quickly get their item to market, this type of material can be a great option.
Another benefit: smaller or new start-up brands may not be able to reach minimum order quantities (MOQs) on many bulk orders. In this case, never out of stock offers an ideal alternative: high quality available in any quantity.
Given that NOS materials are already produced, their pricing is more stable since they’re not affected by fluctuating raw material inputs. Their use also allows brands improved inventory management and financial forecasting since a continuous supply helps to reduce overflow stock and storage costs. What’s more, there’s no risk of any production disruptions meaning a smooth process without the hassle of delays or price spikes.
Given that NOS materials are already produced, their pricing is more stable since they’re not affected by fluctuating raw material inputs. What’s more, there’s no risk of any production disruptions meaning a smooth process without the hassle of delays.
What about seasonal wardrobes?
The reverse side of the NOS fabric coin is seasonal sourcing: purchasing fabrics to produce garments available for a short period of time only to be removed from the shelves to make room for the next shift of season.
In general, the seasonal production mindset is starting to fade – at least in intention if not in reality – as its fast turnover of trends equates to more surplus and, subsequently, more textile waste. But to some degree, season will always impact some of the items on store shelves and brands must find a balance that works for their products and target market.
If your brand is interested in exploring NOS material options for an upcoming line, Material Exchange’s Never Out of Stock Collection is a great place to start. High-quality materials from top suppliers are available anytime for you to bring your vision to life. Check it out here:
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