How to Find Reliable Garments Importers in the USA
If you are a garment exporter looking for new markets, the USA is one of the most lucrative destinations. The USA is the world’s largest garment importer, with a market share of about 25% of the global trade. However, finding reliable and trustworthy buyers in the USA can be challenging, especially if you are new to the market. Here are some tips on how to find and connect with garments importers in the USA.
1. Do your research.
Before you approach any potential buyer, you need to do some homework on the US market. You need to understand the consumer preferences, trends, regulations, standards, and competition in your product category. You also need to identify your target segments, such as mass market, mid-market, or premium market. You can use various sources of information, such as trade magazines, websites, blogs, social media, trade shows, and market reports to gather insights on the US market.
2. Build your online presence.
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for any business. You need to have a professional and attractive website that showcases your products, capabilities, certifications, and testimonials. You also need to have active social media accounts that engage with your audience and showcase your brand personality. You can use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Pinterest to promote your products and connect with potential buyers.
3. Use online platforms and directories.
Another way to find garments importers in the USA is to use online platforms and directories that list verified buyers and sellers. These platforms can help you reach a large number of buyers in a short time and save you the hassle of cold calling or emailing. Some of the popular platforms and directories for garments trade are:
- go4WorldBusiness: This is a global B2B platform that connects buyers and sellers across various industries and regions. You can register as a seller and post your products for free or upgrade to a premium membership for more features and benefits. You can also browse through the list of garments buyers from the USA and send them inquiries or quotations.
- Fibre2Fashion: This is a leading online portal for the textile and apparel industry that offers various services such as market intelligence, trade leads, news, events, and more. You can register as a seller and post your products for free or opt for a paid membership for more exposure and leads. You can also search for garments buyers from the USA by product category, country, or keyword.
- Alibaba: This is the world’s largest online marketplace that connects millions of buyers and sellers across various industries and regions. You can register as a seller and create your own storefront with your products, company profile, and contact details. You can also join Alibaba’s Trade Assurance program that provides protection for both buyers and sellers in case of any disputes or issues.
4. Attend trade shows and exhibitions.
Trade shows and exhibitions are great opportunities to showcase your products, meet potential buyers face-to-face, network with industry peers, and learn about the latest trends and innovations in the market. Some of the major trade shows and exhibitions for garments in the USA are:
- MAGIC: This is one of the largest fashion trade shows in the world that covers all aspects of the fashion industry, from apparel to footwear to accessories. It is held twice a year in Las Vegas and attracts thousands of buyers and exhibitors from around the world.
- Texworld USA: This is one of the leading sourcing events for fabrics and textiles in North America that features hundreds of exhibitors from various countries and regions. It is held twice a year in New York City and offers seminars, workshops, trend forums, and networking events.
- Apparel Sourcing USA: This is a dedicated sourcing event for apparel manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers that showcases a wide range of products, such as knitwear, denim, sportswear, outerwear, casual wear, formal wear, etc. It is held twice a year in New York City along with Texworld USA.
5. Follow up and build relationships.
Once you have found some potential buyers in the USA, you need to follow up with them regularly and build long-term relationships. You need to communicate clearly and professionally, provide timely responses, offer competitive prices and quality products, meet deadlines and delivery schedules, handle complaints and feedbacks promptly, and seek referrals and testimonials.
Finding reliable garments importers in the USA can be challenging but rewarding if you follow these tips. By doing your research, building your online presence, using online platforms and directories, attending trade shows and exhibitions, and following up and building relationships, you can increase your chances of success in the US market.
How the U.S. Apparel Market Fared in 2020
The U.S. apparel market faced unprecedented challenges in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on consumer demand, supply chains, and trade flows. According to Statista, the total value of U.S. clothing imports dropped by 13.6 percent to 82 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, compared to 95 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) reported that the U.S. domestic exports of textiles and apparel decreased by 17.1 percent to 14.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, while re-exports decreased by 5.1 percent to 4.1 billion U.S. dollars. The main sources of U.S. apparel imports in 2020 were China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India, while the main destinations of U.S. apparel exports were Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
The Outlook for the U.S. Apparel Market in 2021 and Beyond
Despite the difficulties in 2020, the U.S. apparel market is expected to recover and grow in the coming years, driven by the gradual reopening of the economy, the rollout of vaccines, the stimulus measures, and the shift in consumer preferences and behaviors. Statista projected that the revenue of the U.S. apparel market will reach 106 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, an increase of 29.3 percent from 2020, and will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.8 percent until 2027. The USITC also forecasted that the U.S. domestic exports of textiles and apparel will increase by 11 percent in 2021 and by another 8 percent in 2022. The U.S. apparel market will likely benefit from the opportunities and challenges posed by the changing global trade landscape, such as the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as the ongoing trade tensions with China and other countries.
The Best Practices for Garments Importers in the USA
For garments importers in the USA who want to succeed in this competitive and dynamic market, it is essential to follow some best practices that can help them optimize their operations, reduce costs, improve quality, and increase customer satisfaction. Some of these best practices are:
- Conducting market research and analysis to identify the current and future trends, demands, opportunities, and challenges in the U.S. apparel market and its segments.
- Developing a clear sourcing strategy that aligns with the business goals, budget, quality standards, lead time, sustainability requirements, and risk management plans.
- Choosing reliable and reputable suppliers that can offer competitive prices, high-quality products, timely delivery, compliance with regulations and standards, and good communication and collaboration.
- Negotiating favorable terms and conditions with the suppliers that cover aspects such as payment methods, shipping terms, inspection procedures, warranties, dispute resolution mechanisms, and force majeure clauses.
- Implementing effective quality control and assurance systems that ensure the products meet or exceed the expectations of the customers and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in the USA.
- Leveraging technology and digital tools that can facilitate and streamline the sourcing process, such as online platforms, e-commerce sites, cloud-based software, artificial intelligence, blockchain, etc.
- Building long-term relationships with the suppliers based on mutual trust, respect, transparency, feedback, and continuous improvement.
References:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/633143/EPRS_BRI(2019)633143_EN.pdf
https://eprints.qut.edu.au/47608/1/Payne_life-cycle_fashiongarment.pdf
https://www.statista.com/statistics/360360/total-value-of-us-clothing-imports/
https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/fashion/apparel/united-states
https://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/tradeshifts/2020/textiles.htm
US Garment Imports as of November 2021 from various countries
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