A minimum is the lowest quantity you can order from a supplier. Sometimes the work or costs involved in producing or selling smaller quantities can make it unprofitable. To make a worthwhile profit margin, the supplier will put a minimum order on the products purchased or produced. Sometimes, especially for new brands, the minimum order can leave you with money being tied up in unused goods or a budget unable to meet minimums.
You will often find that the minimum order is not set in stone and you may be able to negotiate a lower minimum. Here are some methods you can use to work around the minimum order problem.
By cutting down on the variation of styles used within your range and offering less color options, you can rearrange your designs to use the same fabrics to be able to meet the minimum order requirements.
You could offer to pay more per unit for quantities under the minimum order. This could save you having money tied up in surplus materials.
Sometimes when ordering fabrics they will need to be manufactured before being delivered to you which leads to a much more strict minimum order. Some manufacturers, however, will keep some goods stocked, with the possibility of more relaxed minimum order and the manufacturer being open to negotiation.
