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Purchase hangers and clothing racks for clothing and accessories

The best way to let your customers see what merchandise you have for sale is to hang it up on clothing racks. That way, a customer can easily look through what you have to offer. And, you and your employees can spend less time straightening the area, as you would if you had to fold clothing and arrange it on shelves. Also remember to buy hangers that will properly hold the clothes.

I recommend: Display Warehouse has a selection of clothing racks to choose from that will fit in any size retail space. If you need hangers, Palay Display has every type of retail style hanger you can think of, from clear to black, and wood to metal.

Find mannequins to display apparel and accessories put together

The only way a customer will know that you offer the latest trends and style in your clothing and accessories is to display a complete outfit that shows off the best of your merchandise. This is easily done with a mannequin or a series of mannequins in highly visible places. Most stores utilize the store's front window for mannequins.

I recommend: Allen Display is a wholesale apparel display supplier that offers realistic mannequin forms, as well as more abstract forms. Mannequinland has a large selection of hand, feet and head mannequin forms perfect for displaying all kinds of apparel accessories.

Purchase display cases to display accessories for apparel

Once a customer chooses an outfit, he or she will usually look for accessories to match. Offering accessories that coordinate with your apparel is a great way to improve your customers' experience and boost sales. If you also sell many accessory items, like jewelry, having a large, lighted display case to highlight these items will grab the attention of many customers.

I recommend: Hubert has many options for display racks for inexpensive fashion jewelry. If you can more expensive accessory items, you can choose a larger, lighted case from Tecno Display.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you need find wholesale apparel and accessories displays that save a lot of space, consider using smaller displays that can sit on top of existing display counters or clothing racks. This is the perfect place for miscellaneous apparel accessories like belts, wallets and purses.

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Purchase wholesale apparel and accessories for your store

Start with wholesale retailers when purchasing inventory for your store. Prices are reasonable, and you have the option of buying in bulk quantities.

I recommend: When you're shopping for accessories, WholesaleFashionSquare.com offers a wide variety from classic style to trendy. If you want to offer fashionable clothing, wholesalers like US Style, Inc. offer modish selections. Shop for men at websites such as merchandizeliquidators.com, which offers a wide selection from Ralph Lauren to Roca. Daughter Nature sells jewelry, belt buckles, money clips and other accessories at wholesale prices.

Mix miscellaneous apparel and accessories

Offer customers a wide variety in price range and styles by mixing designer labels with replica designer clothing and accessories. Carry lines from swimsuits and jeans to formal dress.

I recommend: JD Closeouts offers high end new brand name clothing from companies such as XOXO, Liz Claiborne, Nautica, Tommy and Calvin Klein. For a variety in accessories, AR Design offers choices from beads to pearls.

Offer variety in sizes for wholesale apparel

Provide clothing for full figures and petites to your clientele. Offer clothing and accessories in maternity, baby, children and adult categories. Many customers will appreciate the one-stop-shop for all their family needs.

I recommend: Offering a selection for plus sizes gives your store an edge, since many stores don't carry this line. Find discounts at Wholesale Plus Size Clothing. Another feature that gives you an edge is offering formal wear for young boys, which you can find at Children's Wholesale.com. Customers will value a selection of maternity wear from business suits to swimsuits. Purchase high quality maternity fashions in bulk at Nicole Michelle Maternity Wholesale.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always shop well ahead of the next season, allowing time for delivery and inventory.
• •  Cross-promote your apparel and accessories using mannequins strategically placed around the store.

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Specialize in children's apparel and accessories

Children grow out of clothes very fast, especially in those first few months. Parents are constantly updating their children's apparel and accessories basics so the clothes fit properly and look nice. Specializing in children's apparel and accessories will give you the freedom to have fun with your business.

I recommend: You can find many children's apparel items at wholesale prices from Kid's Wholesale Warehouse and Children's Wholesale.

Buy women's fashion apparel and accessories for your business

Women's apparel and clothing accessories are by far the most popular products on the clothing market today. In order to cater to all types of women, remember to carry a wide selection of styles and sizes. Women also like to be able to shop for whole outfits in one location, so providing many options for accessories such as shoes, jewelry and purses give women an overall quality shopping experience.

I recommend: Choose from many modern styles of women's apparel from wholesalers such as Rhino Mart and Julie Ann Apparel.

Find men's clothing and accessories

While many men resist the idea of shopping for clothes, there are many many who love stay on top of the latest trends. This is why many smaller clothing stores will focus on either men's or women's clothing, but not both. If you choose to run a men's clothing store, make sure you provide different styles for men of different ages.

I recommend: Choose men's wholesale apparel, accessories, and shoes from companies such as American Apparel and Orange Zone. Buying wholesale apparel and accessories for men will save your business a lot of money.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Miscellaneous apparel, accessories, and other items found at any clothing store only add to its appeal. When you offer other items besides basic clothing stock, customers will be drawn in either by the clothes, the accessories or both.

Guide to Apparel and Accessories Key Terms

Become familiar with apparel and accessories terminology

By Denise Brown

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Bar tack, or bar tacking

A bar tack provides a reinforced seam. Pockets, zipper ends and other openings often have this narrow row of zigzag stitching to prevent the seam from ripping open at stress points.

I recommend: Read how to do make a bar tack stitch on wise Geek. You can also read about more applications for bar tacking on apparel and accessories.

Binding, or binding tape

Binding finishes the edge of a garment. It has many uses in apparel and fashion accessories. Binding tape may have a bias cut that allows it to fit around curved edges.

I recommend: You can see what twill binding tape looks like at Horn Textile.

Full cut

Full-cut clothing refers to a garment's roominess. The term full cut is generally applied to pants or jeans. Full-cut pants have more room in the seat and thigh area for a more comfortable fit.

I recommend: Sierra Trading Post has an example of full-cut jeans. You can compare the picture with regular-cut jeans on the same page to see the fuller cut through the thighs.

Garment washed

Garment-washed apparel goes through a wash cycle after the garment is complete. This softens the fabric and makes the garment feel comfortable from the first wearing.

I recommend: Style Source has more information on the garment-washing process.

Placket

A placket is an opening in a garment. A zipper fly is an example of a placket. Buttons and buttonholes on the front of a shirt also are examples of a placket opening. A shirt placket may be the same fabric as the shirt or it may be a contrasting material.

I recommend: The dark, contrast trim area on this sweater from Omiru shows the sweater’s placket opening.

Serged or serge-stitched

A serged seam is one that has an overlock stitch that prevents the fabric from raveling. Many mass-produced garments have serged seams. To make serged stitches you need a three- or four-needle overlock machine or serger.

I recommend: See the example of serged stitching at What The Craft.