Clarification of Answer by
nancylynn-ga
on
05 Dec 2003 09:56 PST
Hello again pendleton-ga:
I went back through some places I'd listed in my original answer, and
I also found some new outlets for you.
Here are items you can buy, in bulk, at $3.50 -- or less -- a piece:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
I did some additional searching for you this morning and I found:
Liquidation.com
http://www.liquidation.com/buyer/?tid=DC00000079
runs bulk auctions, including lots and pallets of children's clothes.
Click on "Clothing & Accessories" in the menu at left, to bring up
auctions.
You have to hunt around here, as you do on eBay. I found a clothing
listing for "Infant & toddler":
http://web.liquidation.com/auction/view?id=303582
with an auction for a 209-item lot, with the current top bid at $225
(obviously, at this point, under $1 per item, but there's four days to
go on this auction). At that page click on "View Manifest" (see that
near the top, to the right) to bring up:
http://www.liquidation.com/aucimg/303/m303582.htm
which shows you precisely which items are included in that lot. In the
case of this lot, the clothing brands range from Ralph Lauren to
Barbie to Liz Claiborne to OshKosh to Guess.
Check Rhinomart, which carries all kinds of apparel:
http://www.rhinomart.com/apparel.php
You have to search for baby and toddler clothing. I found "Y
Children's Clothing" pallet and clicking it brought up:
http://www.rhinomart.com/apparel_detail.php?recordID=1482028-b
"1 pallet lot of general apparel for children from a national
department store. Expect to find all types of clothing including
jeans, sleepwear, tops, tees, jackets and more!"
The price is $150 for that pallet of 500 pieces = $3.33 each.
For more details about inventory and prices, call Rhinomart at 1-877-447-4466.
TDW Closeouts:
http://www.tdwcloseouts.com/bannerG.html
Scrolling down you'll see apparel, but much of it is listed at about
$4.50-$6.50 per piece, to be ordered in pallets. But I did find "From
Code #3 Department Store: *** We Got the Loads for You! *** Top brand
named merchandise. All new, shelf-pulls and overstock. A mixture of
Men's, Women's and/or Children's clothing/accessories, name brands
such as Liz Claiborne, Johns Of New York, Kane, XOXO, Alfred Dunner,
Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica and more. F.O.B. NJ. Florida and
California. *Please call for guaranteed low prices*!" leading me to
think these particular items may be priced below $4.50.
Call TDW at 1-800-946-8736 to see if you can order in pallets at your
target price of $3.50.
World Liquidators, under "Soft Goods":
http://www.worldliquidators.net/softgoods.html
Keep scrolling to find infant and children's clothing. Scrolling down
that page I found "Ashivini" blouses for little girls sold at 75 cents
each for a 2,960 pallet. Beneath that see "Creepers" American flag
baby tees at $1.50 each, and over 3,000 pieces are available. Call
World Liquidators at 1-888-567-7621.
It's really important that you call these distributors, as their
inventory can change day-to-day. Also, don't hesitate to barter when
you call any of the above outlets. The worst they can do is say "No"!
There's a very good chance that at least some of these slightly
higher-priced places will agree to a price of $3.50 a piece -- or less
-- if you buy lots of volume. If they think you may become a regular
buyer, they should be even more amenable to meeting your target price.
CLARIFICATIONS:
From places listed in my original answer:
1AAA Wholesale Merchandise:
http://www.1aaawholesalemerchandise.com/childrensclothing.htm
Phone: 1-800-299-0230
Scroll down to these three paragraphs:
"From Codes #3 Department Stores:
Children's clothing & accessories: All merchandise is store returns
and may contain some overstock. A huge variety of brand name
merchandise: shirts, pants, tops, shorts, jackets, 2 piece sets and
jeans. A large selection of styles and sizes is available. Minimum
order is one gaylord. High end brand names clothing such as: Ralph
Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's, Nautica, Calvin Klein, Polo and many
more. Your cost is *$2.95* per piece."
"All New Children's Clothing:
All new 1st quality. Summer merchandise. Large selection of items,
colors and sizes. Don't miss this opportunely to buy brand name
children's clothing for pennies on the wholesale dollar. Reserve your
loads today and save! All clothing with tags and labels. Min order is
3000 pieces. Your cost is $1.50 each."
"From Code #2 Department Store:
Children's Clothing/Accessories: All merchandise is store returns and
may contain some overstock. A huge variety of: shirts, pants, tops,
shorts, jackets, 2-piece set outfits and many brand name jeans. A
large selection of styles and sizes. Super low price of $1.25 each."
Clearance Bargains:
http://www.clearance-bargains.com/childrens_clothing.htm
Call 1-800-373-6826
The items noted on this page are returned (but not used) items:
Scroll down to:
From Codes #3 & #9 Department Stores: Children's clothing
& accessories: All merchandise is store returns and may contain
some overstock. A huge variety of brand name merchandise: shirts,
pants, tops, shorts, jackets, 2 piece sets and jeans. A large
selection of styles and sizes is available. Minimum order is one
gaylord. High end brand names clothing such as: Ralph Lauren, Tommy
Hilfiger, Levi's, Nautica, Calvin Klein, Polo and many more. Your cost
is *$2.95* per piece."
From Code #2 Department Store: Children's Clothing/Accessories: All
merchandise is store returns and may contain some overstock. A huge
variety of: shirts, pants, tops, shorts, jackets, 2-piece set outfits
and many brand name jeans. A large selection of styles and sizes.
Super low price of $1.25 each.
At the bottom of the page you can click to see which department stores
the codes represent. When you click, you'll bring up an e-mail form
for customer service.
I also tried Clearance Bargains' "Baby Items" clearance page at:
http://www.clearance-bargains.com/sit.htm
Since specific designers and prices weren't listed for "Baby Items," I
called Clearance Bargains and a customer service rep told me that
these items, which include Ralph Lauren, French Toast, Nautica, are
priced at $4.50-$5.50 a piece. The reason for the difference in price:
the "Baby Items" are new; not returns, unlike the Clearance Bargain
children's items listed above. (It's possible that some of the items
you bought at eBay were returns.)
Under Fashion.net, I had found "Closeouts Concepts:
http://eis.net/lib/start.cgi/closeoutsconcepts/listings.html
Here you would buy thousands, not hundreds, of pieces. For instance:
"new Kids Clothing and Accessoires [sic] Only $2.00 each
4000 units . . . "
If you're interested in buying that much volume, you can call them for
more details, and to learn which name brands are currently available,
at 1-800-279-9016.
Eastern Off Price:
http://www.easternoffprice.com/
You have to do some hunting within the six categories pertaining to
infants' clothing.
For instance, under "Fall/Winter", I clicked on "Infant Girl" and brought up:
http://www.easternoffprice.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?command=listitems&type=search&pos=0&size=INFANT&gender=GIRLS&season=FALL/WINTER
There, you'll see a range of prices: for instance "Chubby Cheeks" knit
dress at $3.50 each, in a package of 24 for $84, and you can order as
many packages as you like. Keep scrolling and you'll see "Top Rocks
Polar Fleece & Quilt Vests" at $1.75 each, sold in packages of 24 for
$42.
Go back to the main page:
http://www.easternoffprice.com/
and click on "Volume Deals (100 dozen or more)" and that will bring up:
http://www.easternoffprice.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?command=listitems&type=search&pos=0&volume=Y&season=FALL/WINTER
and you'll see such items as "Butterscotch" brand jumpers priced at $3.50 each.
Go back to the main page and click "Infant Boy":
http://www.easternoffprice.com/cgi-bin/cart.cgi?command=listitems&type=search&pos=0&size=INFANT&gender=BOYS&season=FALL/WINTER
and see "Jolly Jam" sleepers at $2.50 each.
Quality Wholesale:
http://www.qualitywholesaleapparel.com/childrensclothing.htm
Scroll down to:
"Code #2 Department Store: Children's Clothing/Accessories: All
merchandise is store returns and may contain some overstock. A huge
variety of: shirts, pants, tops, shorts, jackets, 2-piece set outfits
and many brand name jeans. A large selection of styles and sizes.
Super low price of $1.50 each."
Call 1-800-758-8086 for more information.
Kids Wholesale Wearhouse:
http://www.kidswholesalewearhouse.builderspot.com/page/page/476656.htm
At left see a menu that lists four categories of infant wear. I
clicked on "Infant Boy":
http://www.kidswholesalewearhouse.builderspot.com/page/page/476713.htm
and did some hunting. I found the Girard pre-pack of 6 mesh-top with
shorts basketball outfits:
http://www.kidswholesalewearhouse.builderspot.com/catalog/item/476713/429661.
htm
at $3.80 each, sold in packages of six.
I also found "Baby Star onesies":
http://www.kidswholesalewearhouse.builderspot.com/catalog/item/477284/364747.
htm
priced at a package of six for $9.00 = $1.50 each.
I would suggest that you call Kids Wholesale Wearhouse: 308-635-2032
or 308-641-6788, or e-mail them:
contactus@kidswholesalewearhouse.builderspot.com
because their homepage makes clear they sell to retailers (minimum
order is $100), and their inventory changes very frequently. Just tell
them the kinds of items you want and your target price -- they may be
able to meet your criteria.
Don't hesitate to call
http://www.liquidationmerchandise.com/baby-clothes.htm, a site you had
mentioned earlier as not having what you want. Again, all these
outlets have ever-changing inventory. These outlets may even be
willing to call or e-mail you whenever the brands you want, at $3.50
per piece or less, are in stock.
I reiterate: you need to call these outlets because their inventory
and prices change so frequently. They may be willing to discount a bit
more upon talking to you and realizing how serious you are about
starting a business. If you may become a regular buyer, that's an
incentive for them to make you happy.
Also, some of the higher-priced items I'd listed in my original answer
-- such as jackets for babies and toddlers -- can produce a very nice
profit for you. I would caution you not to become wedded to a $3.50 or
less price and correlating items. As your business and profits grow,
consider buying $9-$12 items that you can sell at $18-$22, etc., etc.
I once again couldn't find any resources for Baby Gap or Old Navy *at
the prices you want.* In fact, all those searches once again
inevitably led to eBay stores. I suggest you contact those companies
directly (I gave you their contact info earlier), as they both have
"business affiliate" programs, and may be able to direct you to
below-wholesale outlets for their products; or they may even be
willing to sell you their products at steep discounts.
I hope this helps you.
Regards,
nancylynn-ga
,
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