Vintage
Clothing Stores have been in the United States for many years now, only recently
in the past 15 years have they been in more demand than ever. Perhaps it has to
with the fact that today the fashion industry is always repeating itself, thus
bringing pieces from the past back as trendy modern day attire. At one time a
vintage clothing store's cliental were solely individuals that were collectors
of eccentric period pieces, or individuals that were looking for something only
to wear to a costume party. Now days times have changed. Japanese kids have paid
over $1000 American dollars for a pair of levis, the sole reason being they have
a nearly transparent red line running down the inside seem, which is almost impossible
to see to the naked eye. At the same time it is fashionable for a youth in the
United States, guy or gal, to wear an old pair of levis or polyester pants, with
an old t-shirt, much like those of the baby boomer generation.With
generation Xer's moving up in the corporate world, continuing to wear casual vintage
pieces that were fashionable in there youth. Most of the generation Y, is following
closely behind them keeping similar trends. Needless to say the average baby boomer
still has no clue what a vintage store is, while nearly all generation x and y'ers
have known what they are there entire lives. As time goes by and individuals from
these generations age and spend more of there earned money in today's economy,
it is prevalent that more vintage clothing stores will open in the years to come.
Unfortunately the buyer for a vintage shop has to continually find ways to supply
his/her shop, in an industry that has no real set way of supplying, unlike that
of a normal apparel shop.
Normal boutiques, or shops that don't carry used apparel, have the opportunity
to obtain merchandises either directly through the manufacturer, through suppliers
or through sales representatives. Depending upon the set up of company, most manufacturers
are companies that manufacture a certain product or products to wholesale either
to suppliers or directly to a retail shop. The supplier then is a company that
carries particular merchandise, such as accessories or clothing, and warehouses
them for a manufacturer. This gives the retailer the opportunity to order what
they need, when they need it. It works almost like a chain. A good supplier has
a continual supply of what the retailer needs, and seldom has to put items on
back order. Suppliers will also set up booths at trade shows giving the retail
buyers for either a chain, or mom and pop retail shop, the opportunity to view
all their new merchandise for the season. Trade shows are usually in large affluent
cities and attract all the suppliers in a particular industry, giving opportunity
for retail buyers to visit one place, a couple of times a year to place large
orders.
Many companies also have Sales representatives to fill the gap between the retailer
and the supplier. A sales rep is an individual that focuses on a particular region
and the retailers in that region that carry the items that he represents. A sale
rep will continuously visit with retailers, keeping up on what the consumer needs.
Having a sales representative to mediate between the retailer and the supplier
give the retailer the opportunity to keep up with what is hip or fashionable at
any time. With manufactures, suppliers, trade shows, and sales reps, the buyer
for a retail shop has a few different options to insure that the product he claims
to carry, is in his shop when the consumer is there to purchase it. Without these
ways of obtaining merchandise these buyers would have to rely on tactics not uncommon
to those who buy for a vintage clothing stores. They would regrettably need to
spend allot more time, effort, and money getting the products that consumer wants
in his shop CONTINUE | |
