Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find garment fasteners that met specific criteria by buying customized buttons

Look for customized buttons in stores that specialize in them or save on costs and make your own. Customized buttons come in different sizes, shapes, colors and mediums, so you could find the perfect fit for a decent price.

I recommend: ButtonStar offers custom buttons for prices ranging from under $1 per button. The higher the quantity, the lower the cost. Spazztic Crafts offers a tutorial for making custom buttons on your own for a couple of dollars. All you need is modeling clay, a cookie sheet and an oven.

Compare prices for a zip fastener and determine the best investments for your projects

Some people prefer fastening garments with zippers because they are stronger than most buttons. When you use zippers for garment fastenings, you have a wide selection to choose from. Prices range according to length, color and even decoration. You can also use cost-saving strategies such as purchasing in bulk.

I recommend: Lace Heaven offers a wide variety of zippers with prices ranging from under $1 to just over $1 depending on the size and color. It carries products like invisible zippers and decorative zippers. Clotilde explains ways you can save money by offering you the perfect size zipper fastener for your product with no wasted material. For a little over $10 dollars you receive 197 inches of zipper and 12 pulls.

Purchase wholesale buttons to cut costs on large quantities

Locate clothing buttons and other types of fasteners in wholesale closeouts and store liquidations. This builds your button inventory up at low cost.

I recommend: Buttons Etc explains in great detail the type of buttons customers can expect to find when making a wholesale purchase; prices vary according to button type and seller but generally run between $1 and $10. It also offers a retailers list for those interested in finding wholesale products locally. TrimFabric.com sells bags of buttons at wholesale prices, ranging from $7 to $15 per bag. You can save more by purchasing four bags at once, which puts the cost down to around $5 per bag.

Guide to Selling Buttons and Fasteners

How to effectively sell buttons and fasteners to businesses

By Angela Kovalyak, Freelance Writer/Editor, Kovalyak Editorial, Ltd.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

You need the right tools to become a button manufacturer

If you plan to offer customized buttons to your clients, you need button making machines. Although these machines seem easy to use, make sure companies offer detailed instructions on how to make buttons.

I recommend: For great tips on how to become a button manufacturer visit Button Biz. This website also sells products to help you get your button business started. Badge-A-Minit offers different types of systems to help you make your buttons. This allows you to provide custom buttons for your clients.

Buy garment fasteners and button fasteners to sell

The fashion industry relies on buttons and fasteners for most products. Purses, belts, pants, shirts and even shoes need buttons and fasteners. Appeal to the fashion industry by offering an assortment of buttons and fasteners.

I recommend: If you want to buy buttons and fasteners to resell visit U.S. Slide Fasteners Corp. This website has a wide variety of fasteners for sale, from a zip fastener to a metal snap hook. For garment fasteners and tagging tools visit ABC Target.

Search for companies and businesses that need your buttons and fasteners

Find clients before other businesses find them. There are a large number of websites that help businesses and clients come together. If you do not have money available to market your products, consider using these websites.

I recommend: Allactiontrade.com helps buyers and sellers of garment fastenings come together. In order to buy or sell products you do need to register, but registration is free. Textile Exchange allows you to buy and sell products with other businesses. Alibaba.com is an international website that helps you find companies that need your fastening buttons. EC Plaza Network, Inc. is also an international company that helps you sell your clothing buttons to other companies.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your business offers customized buttons and novelty buttons, contact local area sports teams.
• •  Offer clients free samples. This shows them more than just a picture or description.

1. Order an assortment of button fasteners, including styles like custom buttons, novelty buttons or buttons made out of different materials like resin, shells or wood.
2. Buy different types of garment fastenings like snaps, hooks, rivets and eyelets that customers will use for sewing or crafting projects.
3. Find a variety of zip fastener styles for clients seeking zippers in different lengths and colors for garment making.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Discover different types of fastening buttons to meet clients' sewing and crafting needs

Assist customers by selling buttons in diverse sizes, colors and styles. Not only do garment makers and crafters use buttons on clothing, but they also use the fasteners as decorative accents on everything from handmade cards to jewelry. Stocking a variety of themed and customized buttons will increase sales in these large markets.

I recommend: Button manufacturer Buttons Etc. offers the fasteners in traditional plastic, as well as other materials like horn, wood and pewter. Find a variety of wholesale buttons and novelty button styles including shaped and holiday themed designs through Buttons Galore and More.

Consider stocking diverse garment closures from snaps to hook and eye fasteners

Appeal to customers who don't need buttons as garment fastenings. Keep an inventory of snaps, grommets, hook and eye fasteners and knotted cord ties on hand, for example, to reach more garment makers, as well as customers who need the fasteners for garment repairs.

I recommend: Lace Heaven offers a selection of wholesale clothing fasteners like snaps and knotted cord fasteners. The company also offers a wide selection of wholesale buttons if you need to restock your supply. J. Hittle features wholesale hook and eye fasteners, buttons and other closures. Complete the brief questionnaire to obtain wholesale pricing for the garment closures.

Choose a selection of zippers for customers looking for this type of garment closures

Customers creating clothing or accessories with zippered closures will be searching for zip fastener styles to coordinate with their project or fabric patterns. Offer different zipper lengths to accommodate adult and children's clothing, as well as accessories of various sizes from large tote bags to tiny coin purses.

I recommend: Dollar Days offers zippers in neutral and vibrant colors at wholesale prices. Find zip fasteners offered in continuous, one- and two-way separating and non-separating styles through Outdoor Wilderness Fabrics. Contact the company for wholesale ordering information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Toggle buttons

Customers looking for toggle buttons are searching for decorative fasteners to sew to garments or craft projects. This type of button creates a closure with a loop of string or jute that hooks around the toggle.

I recommend: See a selection of toggle button styles from oval to straight or horn shapes through Buttons Etc.

Eyelets

Eyelets are popular with seamstresses and home crafters who like to use the fasteners on garments and craft projects. Also called grommets, eyelets fit through holes punched into fabric and flattened in back with an eyelet setter. Crafters can then wind string, floss or ribbon through the eyelets to tie the garment or create a pretty embellishment.

I recommend: Check out a selection of shaped eyelets through the Buttons Galore and More website.

Sew-on snaps

Sew-on snaps can become simple fasteners for garments like light sweaters and shirts or accessories like pockets and tote bags. Each part of the two-sided fastener is easy to attach with simple stitching.

I recommend: See an array of sew-on snap fasteners available from notions supplier Newark Dressmaker Supply.

Button fastener

Consider stocking a button fastener tool that allows crafters to affix buttons without sewing. The tools may also increase button sales since it will be easier to complete projects or replace buttons on garments.

I recommend: Discover how a button fastener like the Buttoneer works and uncover additional product features through the official website.

Shank button

Shank buttons offer a cleaner look than traditional two- or four-hole buttons since the stitching that affixes them to the garment loops through an open hole behind the button. However, you should alert customers that shank buttons won't lay flat on the surface of the garment since the shank protrudes from the back.

I recommend: Lace Heaven offers an assortment of shank buttons with different shapes, finishes, colors and textures.

Button shank remover

Clients looking for buttons to adorn craft projects like scrapbook layouts, greeting cards or home decor items may need a button shank remover to turn shank buttons into dimensional accents. By cutting the shanks off the buttons, crafters can then use the buttons as dimensional accents and affix them with liquid glue.

I recommend: Learn more about the operation and features of a manual button shank remover through Create For Less.