Many people sell clothing in retail outlets, and those who do so successfully soon learn to specialize in order to attract the maximum amount of shoppers. Those who manage to diversify their lines are usually able to carry an extremely broad variety of different clothing. For smaller shops, independent retailers, and entrepreneurs, specializing is almost always necessary. Once they’ve built a decent consumer base, they can look into diversification.

Athletic apparel is a great choice for those who are looking to sell retail clothing because of the broad range of applications it has. While it’s designed primarily for sporting events, athletic apparel is also considered quite fashionable by many different demographics. For example, jerseys are used for identifying teams on the field, but they’re also worn by fans to show pride in their favorite team. Basketball shorts are, of course, designed for comfortable play on the basketball court, but they’re also a favorite of teenagers for wearing casually. They’re also great for lounging around the house in, regardless of age.

When choosing an athletic apparel manufacturer or distributor, there are several different things that retailers should keep in mind:

1. What athletic activities will they focus on?

Naturally, even when specializing in sports gear, it’s a good idea to have some idea of what sports activities the shop will focus on. Football, basketball, running, hockey, dance, hiking each requires their own specialty gear, and it’s wise for the retailer to decide which sports they will target. It’s also important to choose sports that complement one another a football/dance shop may not work, but a dance/yoga shop would attract the same customer group.

2. What price ranges are they looking for?

Retailers that are perusing different suppliers should already have worked out a budget and understand something of the scope of the inventory they wish to keep on hand. With these numbers in mind, they can determine the wholesale price points they’re looking for. It’s critical to calculate the price of shipping or other associated costs into this price to ensure that the buyer is getting the best deal.

3. What is the quality of the apparel being produced?

Athletic gear has to take a lot of abuse, so it’s imperative that the clothing being sold be of sound quality. Athletic consumers are more discriminating than most when it comes to the quality and materials of their clothing options, so retailers must be conscientious about these factors as well.

4. How quickly will the distributor or manufacturer fulfill orders?

Many manufacturers require long lead times to fulfill orders, which will affect the quantity and frequency of the orders the retailer makes.

5. How established is the manufacturer or distributor?

New distributors are cropping up all the time, and these newcomers to the market often offer surprisingly low prices. While this may simply be an effort to increase their client base, it’s often smarter to choose an athletic apparel wholesale dealer that has been established for some time.