WHOLESALE BUYING
How to Plan Repeat Wholesale Clothing Orders
Once a first order has sold, the next decision is when to reorder and how much. Reordering too early ties up cash; too late leaves rails empty.
Base repeat orders on what actually happened, not on hope.
A REORDER PLAN
Five inputs.
Sales pace
How many items sell per week, by category.
Stock on hand
Sorted and ready-to-sell stock, plus unopened bales.
Lead time
How long from enquiry to delivery and sorting for your orders.
Cash
What you can commit after costs; see monthly profit.
Space
What your storage can hold; see storage planning.
WHEN TO REORDER
A simple rule.
Reorder when the stock you have will run out before a new order could be delivered and sorted.
Weeks of stock = sellable stock on hand ÷ items sold per week.
If weeks of stock is less than your lead time plus a safety margin, it is time to reorder.
WHAT TO REORDER
Shape the mix.
- More of categories with high sell-through.
- Less of categories that lingered.
- Note seasonal changes ahead of time.
KEEP RECORDS
Each order teaches the next.
- Usable share and sell-through per order.
- Cost per garment per order; see tracking cost per garment.
- Supplier feedback and any issues.
NEXT STEP
Planning a regular order?
Share your categories and reorder rhythm, and we will discuss availability and commercial details for recurring requirements.
General guidance for planning purposes. Examples are illustrative; outcomes depend on your own market, stock, prices and costs.