Guide to Children's Clothing

Adding a children’s department to your already thriving clothing store is a great way to reach out to a completely new client base. The children’s clothing business is constantly progressing. New trends in fashion as well as functionality and safety keep children’s clothing manufacturers eager to stay ahead of customer needs.

Identifying manufacturers of children’s clothing that produce quality goods at affordable prices is key to keeping your children’s clothing department or store running smoothly.

Understanding the ever-changing need of the children’s clothing consumer, as well as quality and safety standards will ensure you’re buying only the best from kids' clothing manufacturers, children’s wholesale distributors and baby clothing manufacturers.

Growing your knowledge of the children’s clothing business will:

1. Target marketing and research to particular ages, trends and demographics.
2. Empower choices in kids' clothing manufacturers, brands and wholesale children’s clothing distributors.
3. Focus your business on quality and customer satisfaction by bringing only the most reliable brands to your clients.
4. Foster confidence from your clients by providing them with the latest in research behind the products you sell.

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

Visit children's clothing shows and expos

Trade shows are the best place to get an overall look at what's new, what's coming and what's yesterday's news in the world of children's clothing. Trade shows let you connect with people in the children's clothing manufacturers industry and build relationships that will strengthen your company's reputation.

I recommend: Bubble, the Kids Trade Show and the Atlanta Apparel Markets are great sources of information on the children's clothing business. Bubble has shows in both New York and London. Each Bubble show provides opportunities for vendors and retailers to meet. The Atlanta Apparel Market is America’s largest apparel market on the east coast and features AmericasMart Children’s World and Curiosity Corner.

Keep at least a portion of your floor space for reliable children's and baby clothing manufacturers

Carter's children clothing is synonymous with quality, safety and performance. Parents trust brands they know have been around since before they were children.

I recommend: Kids Resource One-Stop Apparel Shop and Bargain Children’s Clothing. Kids Resource is a multi-brand apparel wholesaler specializing in name brands for retailers. Bargain Children’s Clothing offers wholesale children’s clothing stock to children’s clothing retailers.

Stay up to date on the latest in safety in the children's clothing industry

Parent's want merchandise they can trust from sources that are knowledgeable in their field. Keeping informed about how products work, proper care of fabrics and issues related to safety will make you a children's clothing retailer that can be trusted.

I recommend: Stay informed about recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Keep current on issues related to quality and standards for children’s clothing from the business section of the CPSC.  

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Consider spending time working for an established children's clothing business. There's no better place to learn the ins and outs of the industry, brands, manufacturers and wholesale resources than from the floor of a children's clothing department.

The official source of Children's Clothing is the Childrens Clothing page at Business.com