Preparing for Year-End Orders with Open Communication
Pre-COVID, the year-end preparation process for apparel decorators (and even promotional products distributors) might have looked something like this:
- Customer comes to the decorator or PPD with a last-minute holiday rush order for 50 screen-printed T-shirts and 50 embroidered hats
- Customer and decorator go back and forth on details
- Decorator works around the clock to fill the order, sacrificing sleep even to get the job done by the last-minute deadline
- Order gets done and shipped in the nick of time
When inventory wasn’t so limited, when the supply chain wasn’t so volatile, year-end rush orders were, dare we say it, easier to fulfill. Now, that’s all up in smoke. And as apparel decorators everywhere prepare for the close of 2022 and look forward to 2023, it’s safe to say that there is still a lot of unknown.
It might feel intimidating trying to prepare for the unknown, but if you continue to work closely with both suppliers and customers, the chances of finding yourself in a hole are significantly reduced. And while we might be unsure of the future, there are a few partners out there, like Delta Apparel, who are at the ready to help.
Communicate with All Parties
The first thing most apparel decorators might think of when preparing for year-end is holiday orders, or more specifically, holiday rush orders. But because of the current state of the world, we need to put that “rush order” mindset aside.
“Last minute holiday rush orders are risky these days,” says Mary Bostwick, VP of marketing at Delta. “Inventories appear to be rebounding but you could still see outages. Planning ahead is still the way to success.”
Many customers might still be trained on the next-day mindset (thank you, Amazon), but if they really want quality items that look and feel great, and meet the customer’s needs, then they need to place holiday orders early. It’s up to the apparel decorators and PPDs to guide them.
“Gently pushing your customers who have historically purchased holiday gear [toward ordering] now is a much better plan,” suggests Bostwick. “Remind them that flexibility is still a key component in this process. Encourage your customers to think about the future and start looking for product early.”
But it’s not enough to simply communicate with customers. Decorators must also communicate with vendor partners. This is especially true if your usual vendors may not have what you’re looking for. “Ask your vendors for alternate products if you experience inventory issues,” Bostwick says.
Here is where suppliers like Delta really shine. “Being the manufacturer and distributor of our Delta lines and our CVC and Triblend Platinum line gives us the ability to plan and understand when inventories will arrive and at what location,” states Bostwick. “With this information, customers can plan.”
The company’s large selection of cold-weather gear is particularly helpful for those looking to fill year-end orders. “The Delta brand has plenty of cool, cold, and colder weather options to choose from, like our trendy Platinum fleece and more traditional multi-weight fleece options,” Bostwick notes. “We also have several brands offering warm options including Soffe, Burnside, Dri Duck, and not to miss, our new Penguin, Callaway, and Perry Ellis outerwear offerings.”
We all know that year-end orders aren’t just limited to hoodies and long-sleeves. Luckily, Delta is the solution for other items, as well. “Need warm hats? Check out our Outdoor Cap line of in-stock choices,” Bostwick says.
Valuable Partners
Ultimately, it comes down to the simple point of planning. The more you plan now, the better prepared you will be for the unknowns that will, without a doubt, rear up as 2022 makes way for 2023. Decorators who work with the right vendor partners will increase their chances at success.
“Delta Apparel is ready to ship orders same day from locations across the U.S.,” says Bostwick. “Our inventories are consistently improving and will continue to do so into 2023 and beyond. We offer real-time inventory online and experienced customer service via chat, email, or phone until 7 p.m. EST. You can login to your account anytime and order at your convenience — your pricing will be available.”