Article - Choosing the right Sports Clothing Manufacturer in South Africa | XCO Group
29 Apr 2019
6 Steps To Choosing Sports Clothing Manufacturers In South Africa
It is a fact that branded clothing is a very effective way of getting your company seen, especially at sports events. Teams are usually required to wear the same team colours or outfits, and this not only binds them together as a team, but boosts their morale and provides them with a collective identity. The important part, however, is to provide high visibility of the brand, which is easily achieved when you choose the best sports clothing manufacturers in South Africa to create and brand the clothing for you.
Choosing, however, can be a bit of a hassle. While there are a lot of clothing manufacturers in South Africa, not all of them provide the same level of service or the quality of attire you need. Often, there are also procurement policies in place at your company, so a process of selection is needed. Remember that you cannot only choose your sports attire manufacturers based on price, because there are other important factors to consider as well.
Here are a few suggested steps to follow when you need to choose a manufacturer that will fulfil your needs:
1. Know Your Needs: You need to make sure that you have a good understanding of what is needed, and what the objectives of the branded sports attire will be. The type of event, the climate, and other factors will also play a role. In order for any manufacturer to meet your needs, you need to know what they are!
2. Do Research: The internet is, of course, a great source of information, and can provide you with a long list of sports attire suppliers throughout South Africa. A good tip, however, is to focus on the companies that are more local to you. This makes meetings, fittings, and delivery easier. There are, however, clothing manufacturers that distribute throughout the country, but it makes face to face meetings harder when the company is located at the other end of the country.
Ask around. If you have recently seen some attire at a sports event that you liked, ask the team who designed their attire. You can also ask colleagues and friends for recommendations. Get to know the company through their website first. Often, they will have photos of items they have done and also catalogues. This will give you a better idea of what they can provide and what the costs may be. If they have many prominent clients, it also usually means that they produce high-quality sports clothing. Once you have learnt more about these suppliers, you can shortlist it down to three to five manufacturers in South Africa or in your area.
3. Organise Meetings: It is usually best to have face to face meetings with suppliers. This means that you can discuss specific types of clothes, designs, and ideas, and that the chances of your needs being met the first time around are greater. With modern technology, however, it is possible to have Skype meetings if a company in another location comes highly recommended. Discuss the types of clothing, see if they have ideas or suggestions, and ask for a quote. Some companies will usually provide samples before a decision is made to give you an idea of the type of clothing, print quality, and quality of fabrics and fasteners that are used.
4. Draw Up a Checklist: You will need a reminder of to which extent the supplier can meet your needs, and a checklist with factors like proximity, quality, product range, creative design, price, timelines, and delivery can help a lot. This will allow you to compare the companies better and to make a more informed decision.
5. Get a Quote: Once you are sure that the company representatives understand what you need and you have seen the samples, it is time to ask for a quote. Remember to also ask about additional costs, such as rush jobs, delivery costs, and other factors that might influence the price.
6. Make a Choice: Once you have filled in your checklist and seen the samples and received the quotes, you can go ahead and choose the manufacturer that best meets your needs. Again, a reminder: cost should not be the only deciding factor. Rather focus on creativity, quality, and brand visibility!
XCO Group is one of the most prominent manufacturers in South Africa, and we can produce results at an affordable cost. Give our team a call today to find out more!