When it comes to wardrobe staples, few items are as versatile as the classic hoodie. Whether you prefer a pullover hoodie or a zip-up, a hooded sweatshirt is one of those garments that can be worn year-round. From keeping you warm on the coldest winter days to cutting the chill on cooler summer evenings, it seems like there is always a reason to wear a hoodie.
If you are a business that customizes shirts, it’s always a good idea to keep plenty of blank hoodies on hand. Since hooded sweatshirts are sold and worn more frequently during the winter months, you might not give them much thought during warmer weather. The off season may actually be the perfect time to stock up, though. Here are just a few of the benefits of stocking up on blank hoodies in the off season.
Plan Ahead
Any good business owner understands the importance of planning ahead. While summer may be the time when your customers are shopping for t shirts and tanks, it’s the time when you should be shopping for supplies for your winter line. Planning ahead ensures that you won’t be rushing around at the last minute trying to decide on products and designs. Purchasing the hoodies now that you will need for winter helps you stay one step ahead of your competition, too.
Better Prices
Hoodies typically don’t fly off the shelves during the summer months. As a result, wholesalers often offer discounts to help clear their warehouses. Since the overall styling of a hooded sweatshirt has changed very little over the years, you don’t need to worry about buying “last year’s” styles. Manufacturers may offer slightly different colors from one season to the next, but the overall shape usually doesn’t change. Since they remain largely unchanged from year to year, you can feel confident purchasing low-priced previous-season stock in preparation for the next season.
Keep Up with Demand During the Busy Season
If you customize shirts, you probably sell a lot of hoodies during the fall and winter months. From custom-made hooded sweatshirts for the entire local football team to individually personalized ones for parties and other special events, your products likely fly off the shelves during colder weather. Are you prepared for a huge rush? By stocking up on blank hoodies during the offseason, you can make sure that you will have plenty of stock for when sales pick up again. Instead of having to worry about whether your next shipment will arrive in time to meet your deadlines, you’ll already have a supply room filled with everything you need.
Decreased Competition
When cold weather hits, everyone needs hoodies. While most wholesalers of hooded sweatshirts have massive warehouses filled with products, they could run out of the sizes or colors you need when they have hundreds – or even thousands – of orders pouring in at once. When you stock up during the off season, you are much more likely to be able to obtain everything you need without having to worry about anything being out of stock or back ordered. And of course, if a delay does occur, it’s less likely to be an emergency since you’ll have a few months before they are in high demand.
Take Your Business Global
Just because it’s summer in your part of the world doesn’t mean it’s summer everywhere. While we are enjoying nice warm weather here in the Northern Hemisphere, winter is in full effect in the Southern Hemisphere. Your American customers may not be spending their paychecks on hooded sweatshirts in June or July, but offering them year-round could mean drumming up a lot of business in Australia or New Zealand, for example. While these countries generally have mild winters, it still gets chilly enough for the locals to enjoy snuggling up in cozy hooded sweatshirts.
Conclusion
When the temperature soars, hoodies may be the last thing on your mind. As a business owner, though, it’s always important to be thinking ahead. By purchasing blank hoodies in the off season, you can save money while making sure you will have the inventory you will need in the coming months. You will be able to keep up with consumer demand, and with some careful planning, buying your hoodies early could even help you stay a step ahead of your competition.
