Business Suit News and Trends

Study business suit news and trends to keep your inventory enticing and sales consistent

Although business suits for men often appear similar, subtle changes in cut, color or fabrics can make the difference between a bestseller and a style that stalls in your inventory. By keeping up with business suit news and trends like manufacturer developments, seasonal forecasts and customer demands, you’ll ensure your business suit store out performs the competition.

Gather industry information and see designer trends through a variety of reliable sources. When looking for details to guide your ordering, business suit prices and merchandising ideas, try to:

1. Take in a menswear trade show or fashion show to see new mens business suits in person and discuss the industry with manufacturers, designers and other retailers.

2. Seek out publications, blogs, news stories and trend watches that discuss the direction of mens dress suits and the state of the industry.

3. Sign up with organizations for apparel retailers to network with other menswear business owners, manufacturers and business suit wholesalers.

 

Attend trade and fashion shows to see new mens business attire trends in person

A first-hand look at new mens formal wear and business suits in exhibits and on the runway will not only let you check out the direction of fabrics and styles, but also give you ensemble, accessory and display ideas. Also take the opportunity to talk to designers and mens dress suit distributors about what classics you should continue to sell.
Try: Attend one of the Chicago Collective retailer-only events to see the new offerings in mens suits and discuss the industry with fashion journalists, buyers and manufacturers. Check out the directory of fall and spring designer menswear shows through New York Magazine. Click on the specific designer to see previews of the business suit designs that will appear in the show.

Read articles about the business suit industry to uncover bestsellers and new mens suit distributors

When deciding which professional business suits to add to your inventory and which mens suit manufacturers to order from, use industry news reports and trend watches to guide your decisions. Get information from those in the know like fashion magazines, designers, menswear journalists and other retailers.
Try: Scope the trends in mens business suits and related accessories through the Men’s Fashion section at Luxe Mag. Blogs and news stories track the latest styles, designer news and the fashion industry. Get trend reports and reviews of designer men’s suits through Men Style, the online site of men’s magazines Details and GQ.

Join retailer groups to network and hone your business suit marketing strategies

Associations for retailers give you the opportunity to discuss the industry with other business suit retailers, interact with manufacturers and improve your business savvy through roundtable events, shows and educational seminars. Join those geared toward menswear, but also consider groups aimed at the apparel industry in general to discover other hot trends that you market along with your business suits.
Try: Check out the listing of men’s clothing associations and apparel groups that feature menswear retailers through Men’s Clothing. Sign up with the Fashion Retailers group at CollectiveX.com to discuss the menswear industry on blogs and in the online forum, share marketing strategies, discover new mens suit distributors and check out links to new men’s suit collections recommended by other retailers. Get consumer trend data, take retail seminars and read industry news through the National Retail Federation, a group that merged with the Apparel Retailers of America, formerly known as the Menswear Retailers of America.

 

• While you're discovering new business suit styles, also keep an eye out for ways that designers and retailers are updating and merchandising classic styles. With strategies to make basic business suits appealing to customers, you'll be able to keep sales consistent without a completely overhauling your inventory.

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