When sourcing for fabrics, there are some important questions you must ask in order to make sure you get high quality and safe products. These questions will also help you get an idea of the price, availability,and the type of materials you want to purchase . The following are the questions you should ask when sourcing for fabric:
MOQ
The #MOQ is an abbreviation which stands for Minimum Order Quantity. For large quantity suppliers, the minimum order quantity might be more than hundred yards. If you only need a small quantity, then it would be better to get alternatives from a low minimum supplier . Companies with a low minimum order quantity usually have a MOQ of around 20 to 100 yards. If your business is still new, it's better to work with a company that has a low MOQ.
Length Per Roll
It is important to know how many meters of fabric are present in a fabric roll before buying. There are different lengths of fabric rolls and it is important to clarify before buying to know what you are getting. A single fabric roll usually has 25 to 100 meters of fabric. The length depends on the linear meters per kgs. A linear meter refers to the length measured in a straight line. You still have to ask for the fabric width also as the wider the width, the less fabric you'll need . The fabric rolls also differ based on their weight. Light fabric will have longer rolls than heavy fabric.
Quotation (For Sample And Mass Production)
The quotation is another thing you should ask for when sourcing for fabric. You may require a sample and then ask for the quotation. This would help you compare the price with other suppliers to get a favorable business deal. The supplier prepares the quotation which describes the products, the price, and the terms and conditions. The sample should be sold for higher than the normal price.
Quotation Unit
The quotation unit refers to the unit price of each product. It is simply the price per fabric roll. The supplier may also offer discounts depending on the quantity you want to purchase. In China, quotation units normally are kg, yard and meter.
Fabric Width
When sourcing for fabric, you should not totally assume the fabric width is standard, you should check before buying. Most handwoven fabrics are usually thinner than the usual machine woven fabrics. Some fabrics can also be wider than what you think which will mean you can buy less than what you plan to buy. Though fabric prices are calculated by the length and not the width, it is still necessary to get the width size. You also need to get the fabric width in order to prevent fabric waste due to a shortage or surplus.
In Stock Or Not?
Fabrics can either be a stock item, or a made to order item. Stock items are fabrics that are constantly in stock. These are easy to reorder as they are always in stock. Made to order items refer to items which are made available based on the customer's order, i.e you send in the fabric specification and the supplier or company provides the fabric after your order. Made to order items have a longer lead time as they have to be customized to your specifications. Therefore, the minimum order is usually higher for made to order items. There may also be continuity problems with made to order fabrics as the manufacturer only makes them with each single order you make.
Lead Time
The lead time is simply the time between the order and when the products get ready to ship. Made to order items will have a longer lead time than in stock fabrics. There are many factors that affect the lead time, factors such as order quantity, product workmanship, factory production schedule and manufacturing capacity. However, the major factors that affect the lead time are whether the products are open stock or made to order.
Continuity
This question is important especially if you would like to make repeat orders. Continuity implies that you can get the same fabrics again. This is very important to prevent disappointment and to make sure your future orders will be uniform with your current order.
Continuity is highly important especially when you want made to order fabrics.
Zhengda is one of the largest outdoor fabric manufacturers in China, with a 4,000 square meter modern fabric manufacturing factory. Our fabrics find their place in a diverse range of applications, from outdoor furniture and awnings to deck chairs, beach chairs, cushions, and outdoor decorations.
If you have any purchasing needs, please feel free to contact us.
