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November 28, 2023

Why Connection Is Key To Wholesale Fashion Growth

It's these connections, strengthened and improved by digital tools, that are driving growth, especially for brands.  Learn not only how to foster these connections but why they're the cornerstone of thriving in wholesale fashion.

Why Connection Is Key To Wholesale Fashion Growth
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Why Connection Is Key To Wholesale Fashion Growth

At JOOR, we've been part of the wholesale fashion industry's pivotal shift from traditional practices to a digital-centric world since the beginning. It’s still changing, and it’s no longer just about technology. It's about how deeply connected our industry relationships, operations, and systems have become.

It's these connections, strengthened and improved by digital tools, that are driving growth, especially for brands. They help us work better together, understand each other's needs more clearly (brands and retailers alike), and build stronger, more successful wholesale businesses.

We're eager to share not only how to foster these connections but why they're the cornerstone of thriving in wholesale fashion.

The Age of Connected Wholesale Fashion

Mastering wholesale connection is more than just linking your data systems; it's building strong, long-lasting partnerships with your buyers or finding new retailers, getting access to the right market insights to skillfully grow your brand, and using digital platforms and tools to quickly adjust to market changes.

The Challenges of Disconnection

Before we get into the why and how of it all, it’s important to look at the pitfalls of disconnection in our space as they are wide and varied. Here are just a few: 

  • Static relationships, such as buyers who’ve purchased from you before but aren't moving the needle forward, can lead to slowed growth and none of us want that. We want to see you succeed. 
  • Processes that are disjointed often lead to chaotic order management, inventory mishaps, and siloed teams—negatively affecting your ability to run a smooth wholesale operation.
  • Systems that don’t easily speak to each other can create havoc, clouding decision-making and easily blurring the full market picture.
  • This may be the most important one: missed opportunities as a result not being able to quickly shift to changing trends and retailer needs. 

Why is Connected Wholesale So Important?

Connected wholesale means ensuring everything works together smoothly—from building relationships to running your operations and giving retailers and buyers a great experience.

Cohesive relationship building: 

Connected wholesale helps you form lasting, strong partnerships with your retailers. It's more than just the transaction; it's about building a network based on trust, understanding, and mutual benefit. Remarkably, 53% of brands working with JOOR report increased exposure to new retail partners, while 61% of buyers have found JOOR instrumental in discovering new brands.

Similarly, from the perspective of buyers, 61% have found JOOR to be a pivotal tool in discovering new and up-and-coming brands. This is great in a crowded market because it helps buyers create distinctive and appealing selections for their shoppers.

Streamlined operations for enhanced efficiency: 

In a connected setup, everything from ordering to keeping track of inventory is more streamlined and less prone to mistakes.

For example, an average increase in operational efficiency of 25% or more, as seen in a recent JOOR survey is not just a statistic; it shows how much a top wholesale management platform can help.

Crafting memorable retailer experiences: 

It’s competitive out there, and that’s why the buyer/retailer experience is king. Connected wholesale ensures a smooth journey from product discovery to purchase. It equips you to offer personalized, engaging experiences that resonate with your buyers, nurturing loyalty and driving repeat business.

Data-driven decision making: 

A connected system gives you a lot of useful data, helping you make smart, well-thought-out choices. You can get insights on everything from market trends to what customers want, which helps you plan a sound wholesale strategy that is both agile and ahead of the game.

Adaptability in a dynamic market: 

Everyone knows how quickly things change in this industry. Connected wholesale gives you the ability to swiftly respond to these changes, whether they involve customer preferences, market shifts, or global supply networks.

How to Create Connection: People, Process, and Technology

The way we connect everything in wholesale fashion at JOOR is based on three principles: People, Processes, and Technology. Let's take a deeper look into these areas.

Connected people:

At the core of successful wholesale is the human connection. It's about more than transactions; it's about building solid partnerships with your buyers and retailers. This involves:

  • Building Better Relationships: This goes beyond just completing sales. It's about setting up unique ways to communicate. Really getting to know and support your buyers is crucial. This includes listening to them, responding with care, and engaging in ways that improve the standard buyer-seller relationship, making it more connected and meaningful.
  • Personalized Presentations: Connecting with your buyers and retailers becomes even easier with digital linesheets that are personalized for their business. This allows buyers to visualize a clear and concise assortment that’s curated for them.
  • Making the Most of Your Network for Market Intelligence: Staying informed is strategically important. It’s not just about making more connections but also about gathering valuable insights from these connections. 

Keeping up with the latest in market trends, what consumers want, and what your competitors are up to is vital. This knowledge is really helpful for making informed decisions and keeping your competitive advantage.

  • Global Reach and Local Insight: It means getting to know the specific characteristics of each market you're in. With this approach, you can create strategies that are right for your local market, while making the most of global opportunities.

Connected processes:

Simple and open processes are really important for smooth operations. Let's look at why:

  • Streamlined Order Management: By simplifying how orders are made with a user-friendly system, things get less tangled, leading to better and quicker order handling.

This boosts customer happiness as it's easy for retailers to place orders and for you to fulfill them, increasing overall efficiency in your operations.

  • Automated Inventory Control: Using connected tech for inventory management helps you keep just the right amount of stock, lessening the risk of having too much or too little. Automation provides up-to-the-minute tracking, making it easier to manage your inventory quickly.
  • Efficient Data Management: Properly organizing your data changes it into insights you can act on. This helps you make smarter choices about styles, retailer buy-in and much more on a day-to-day basis 
  • Real-time Analytics and Reporting: Easy access to analytics and reporting tools means you can adjust fast to market changes. Getting information right away helps you make decisions early and adapt to shifts quickly.
  • Seamless Communication Channels: Keeping communication clear and ongoing, whether it's with your team or with others, helps everyone work together better and stay aligned with those who have a stake in what you do.

Connected technology:

Technology helps connect people and processes. Here’s why it’s so important: 

  • Integrated Platforms: Integration is essential in wholesale. It helps various teams and software systems, like ERPs and CRMs, to communicate effectively and share data. This streamlines work, cuts down on repeating tasks, and increases the accuracy of data.
  • User-Friendly Interfaces: Made with the user in mind, an easy-to-use interface makes sure that technology is simple and straightforward. This helps make complicated things simpler, and it's easier for everyone to use technology, no matter how much they know about it.
  • Unified Experiences: A platform that brings together brands and retailers from any location or size. This helps them work well together, creating a community feeling in one connected environment.

JOOR's Role in Cultivating Connected Wholesale

JOOR isn't just involved in wholesale fashion; we’re helping lead the way in building connections that can change the industry for the better. We show our commitment by linking thousands of brands with retailers globally, creating a network that's both wide and close-knit. This gives you access to a huge network of retailers, increasing your brand's presence and opening up new growth opportunities.

Features like our Digital Lookbook and Virtual Showroom go beyond being just online tools; they're innovative ways to showcase your products and tell your brand's story. These tools offer you a lively way to present your collections, helping you tell your story visually and attractively.

Our integrated messaging systems simplify communication, making your interactions with retailers quicker and more fruitful. This leads to a community atmosphere and simplifies doing business worldwide.

A survey revealed that 53% of brands working with JOOR experienced increased exposure to new retail partners, while a typical brand on JOOR noted a 25% increase in operational efficiency.

Getting Connected 

The importance of connection in wholesale fashion is huge. In an industry where every relationship, way of doing things, and technology is key, platforms like JOOR are not just helpers—they really change the game.

Explore the world of connected wholesale fashion with JOOR. See how our platform can help you reshape your operations, relationships, and growth strategies. 

Explore JOOR Today.

Tina Baxter
JOOR Fashion Consultant
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