Purchasing your first wholesale saree order can be an exciting experience. Seeing many sarees of various designs and getting tempted to buy everything is understandable. But you, as a smart buyer, should verify several key factors.
This is particularly important if you are a home-based seller, boutique owner, Instagram reseller, retailer, or first-time saree business buyer. A small mistake can result in being stuck with the goods that do not necessarily meet your clients’ demands and that may not be sold.
However, the great news is that you do not need to become an expert in the field. You just need a small checklist to buy safely. Below you will see the most important points to verify before making your first wholesale saree purchase.
Why a First Wholesale Saree Order Needs a Checklist?
Your first order is not only the purchase of a saree. You will not only learn about your client’s desires, but also about the supplier’s policy, budget, and the potential profit from the sale.
A saree may seem relatively cheap, but additional costs such as GST, shipping, packaging, etc. can change the final price of the item significantly. A pre-purchase checklist helps you to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Moreover, it will help you to avoid buying too many similar sarees by colour and design. Thus, you will begin with a well-balanced set and learn what kind of sarees are actually popular among your clients.
The Complete 15-Point Wholesale Saree Buying Checklist
1. Define Who You Plan to Sell To
First of all, identify your potential customers. What are they looking for? Are they interested in daily wear, office wear, festive sarees, party wear, or bridal sarees?
Make sure that your collection matches their needs and budget. Do not buy whatever you like, regardless of the needs of your customers.
2. Set a Complete Buying Budget
Decide how much you can spend on the purchase before beginning to browse.
Do not spend your whole budget on sarees. Always allocate some funds for GST, shipping, packaging, promotion, and other expenses related to the business.
Having a strict budget can help you to not buy too much because of attractive designs.
3. Understand the Minimum Order Quantity
MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity. It is a measure of the minimum number of pieces you have to purchase.
Each supplier and each collection can have its own MOQ. Find out if you should buy a whole catalogue, a certain number of pieces, or if single sarees are available.
The Ethnic World has the possibilities for those buyers, who are interested in purchasing individual sarees, as well as wholesale collections.
4. Check Whether Mix & Match Is Available
It can be helpful for the first-time seller.
With the Mix & Match function, you will have a possibility to select different designs or colors rather than buy multiple pieces of the same design. It will give a choice to your clients.
Before making an order, find out if the Mix & Match function is available for the particular collection.
5. Choose Fabrics According to Customer Demand and Season
Not all fabrics are suitable for all clients and seasons.
Cotton fabric is perfect for daily wear, whereas lightweight sarees can be useful in summer collections. Silk sarees and other designer sarees may suit better for festive events and weddings.
You can choose the best fabric and style for you among the Wholesale Sarees Collection from The Ethnic World.
6. Create a Well-Balanced Color and Design Assortment
Do not buy too many similar sarees.
Try to make the collection consist of different colors, prints, borders, and designs. There are people who prefer bright colors, whereas there are people who prefer light colors.
Such well-balanced collection will provide you with many choices for your clients.
7. Read the Complete Product Specifications
Do not buy a saree just seeing its picture.
It is important to check the fabric type, saree length, blouse piece, work details, color, and other product specifications.
In case of any unclear moments, it is better to ask the supplier to get clarifications. This simple step will save you from misunderstandings in the future.
8. Review Product Images Carefully
Images play an extremely important role when buying online.
It is necessary to see the border, pallu, print, embroidery, color, and overall finish of the saree. Where possible, it is necessary to find photos taken from different angles.
Do not forget that screen lighting and color setting can influence the color slightly. In case you need it to be exact, ask for additional photos or videos.
9. Understand the Displayed Price, GST and Shipping
Product price may not equal the total cost in many cases.
Before payment, it is necessary to clarify if GST and shipping are included in the price. Also, check whether there are additional costs related to packing or other operations.
It will help you to calculate your total business cost correctly.
10. Calculate Your Landed Cost Per Saree
Landed cost is the real cost of one saree for your business.
Thus, if the price of one saree is ₹500, you also need to include applicable GST, shipping and other costs.
This information will help you to define your selling price and expected profit.
11. Consider Ordering a Sample When Necessary
Sometimes, it can be useful to order a sample of a new supplier, fabric, or collection.
It will give you a chance to see the fabric, color, embroidery, finishing, and overall quality before ordering a greater quantity.
It can be especially helpful when you are not sure about the product.
12. Confirm Processing and Delivery Expectations
Find out the dates of your order preparation and shipping.
It is especially important if you need the order for the festive event, wedding season, exhibition, or special order.
Do not make any promises to your customer before you learn the processing and shipping time of your order.
Ready to Place Your First Wholesale Order?
When you have verified all 15 points, you are in a much better position to place your first order.
Do not try to order a very large quantity. Your first order should also help you to understand your customers and your supplier.
Based on the knowledge of which sarees sell the best, you can increase the number of items you ordered.
Sample First Wholesale Order Plans
Example 1: Home-Based WhatsApp or Instagram Reseller
Order a small and varied collection. It will help you to show the customers many products without spending much money on the stock.
Example 2: New Boutique Owner
New boutique can order a mixture of daily wear, festive, party wear, and premium sarees. The products you choose will depend on the customer you expect to visit the shop.
Example 3: Existing Saree Retailer
If you already have a saree shop, it is important to use the data from your previous sales.
If your clients prefer cotton, printed, or any other category, then order a larger quantity of this category in the future.
Example 4: Corporate or Uniform Buyer
Corporate buyers usually need consistent products. Make sure you know the color, fabric, quantity, delivery date, and replacement policy of the product before the order.
In case of large requirement, discuss all your needs with the supplier before payment.
Common First-Time Wholesale Buying Mistakes
It is common mistake to order a lot of sarees because of low prices. Cheap price is not always high-quality product.
Another mistake is the purchase of too many pieces of the same design. Clients like variety.
Some new buyers also forget to consider GST and shipping when calculating profit.
And finally, do not neglect the product specification and supplier policy. Just a couple of minutes spent before the order can help to avoid problems in the future.
How to Select Beginner-Friendly Wholesale Collections
If this is your first order, it is necessary to choose collections suitable for your customers and budget.
Kota Doria Sarees
Kota Doria sarees are lightweight and can be suitable for clients who want to buy comfortable sarees for everyday or for simple events.
Cotton and Cotton-Blend Sarees
Cotton sarees can be a convenient starting point for daily wear. They can suit many age groups and customers who like comfortable clothes.
Linen and Linen-Blend Sarees
Linen and linen-blend sarees can suit customers who prefer elegant look. These sarees can be appropriate for casual and office collections.
Banarasi and Silk Collections
Banarasi and silk sarees can be suitable for weddings, festive days, and traditional events. As these products are relatively expensive, beginners should be careful about the quantity of order.
Wholesale Dress Materials
If you want to offer your customers something beyond sarees, you can try wholesale dress materials. The Ethnic World also provides dress materials along with the other ethnic wear.
A Simple Pre-Payment Checklist You Can Save
Before making the payment, it is worth to check:
- Have I understood the requirements of my customers?
- Is my order within the budget?
- Do I understand the MOQ?
- Can I mix different designs?
- Have I read the fabric and product details?
- Have I checked the photos carefully?
- Do I know the GST and shipping charges?
What Happens After You Place a Wholesale Order?
After the payment, the supplier will process the order according to the mutually agreed terms.
Once the order is shipped, it is necessary to keep the order details and tracking information safe. When the parcel arrives, it is time to check the quantity, color, design, fabric, and overall condition of your order.
In case you notice any problem, contact the supplier immediately and follow the applicable replacement/return procedure.
Your first order may seem complex, but the process becomes easier with practice. The main thing is to be careful, ask any questions and buy what suits your customers’ demands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I check before placing my first wholesale saree order?
You need to check saree quality, fabric, MOQ, product details, price, GST, shipping, delivery time, return policy, and your final selling price.
How many sarees should I buy for my first wholesale order?
There is no definite quantity for every business. You need to start with an appropriate quantity that suits your budget and client’s needs. It is useful to begin with a mixed collection of smaller quantity.
Is it better to order a sample before buying sarees in bulk?
It is good to order samples when you are going to try a new supplier or product. It will give you a chance to check the fabric, color, finishing, and overall quality of the products before making a large order.
Where can I buy wholesale sarees online from Surat?
You can buy wholesale sarees online from the suppliers from Surat. The Ethnic World offers wholesale sarees and other Indian ethnic wear for retailers, boutiques, resellers, and buyers.