Workout clothes, sports attire, and active wear clothing are not just a passing trend. People increasingly want to be in shape. If you own a retail business, or are thinking about opening a business that sells workout wear, then you definitely have a large potential client base.
Activewear and casualwear used to be for the weekends only, but a large number of businesses have decided to allow employees to "dress down" and casualwear for work has become the norm in a lot of offices. Adding corporate and casual activewear to your business is also a good marketing move.
Buying clothing can be tricky, though. Trends come and go very quickly, and you can't afford to own a large amount of out-of-date merchandise. To avoid this, keep the following in mind:
1. When purchasing women's activewear or casual work wear, buy items that will outlast fashion trends. Stick to the basics: workout pants and shirts, black casual pants, and basic casual shirts in monotones.
2. Buy activewear brands. Many people stay loyal to products they know and trust, so consider selling brand name products that are already well-known.
3. Provide a large selection of activewear and casualwear for men, women, and children.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Find workout clothes for your business
Adding workout clothes to your existing business is always a good idea. Fitness seems to be a trend that is just not going away, so there will always be a market for active wear.
I recommend: Fit Couture is a company that sells workout wear for women. They offer a large selection of women's activewear. They also offer wholesale options for businesses looking to sell their products. In order to access the wholesale activewear section, you need to provide your retail information.
Zobha is a store that specializes in yoga and fitness clothing. They do offer wholesale options for businesses, but you need to contact them about this opportunity.
Eastbay is a website that offers a lot of men's activewear. You can choose to search by the type of sports attire you need, by brand name, or by product type.
Jockey also has a nice variety of workout wear for men.
Find activewear brands to sell at your store
Brand names may help you gain clients. If you sell products that your clientele base is familiar with, they will be more inclined to buy these products. Since many people may be leery about buying a product from an unknown company, you may want to begin by stocking your store with well-known items.
I recommend: Danskin is a company that sells women's activewear. They do offer services to businesses interested in selling their products, however, you will need to provide your company information.
Champion offers both men's activewear and women's activewear on their website. This company has everything you need for active wear, from sweats and socks to sports bras and plus sizes. Other activewear brands are:
K-Swiss, Inc.,
Nike Store, and
Gaiam.
Buy corporate and casual activewear
Whether you are a business looking to purchase casual work wear for your employees or a business looking to sell casualwear to other businesses, you need to offer a variety of products. If you are interested in having your personal business logo printed on your products, find a company that will not only provide the clothing but the printing as well.
I recommend: Vickery provides casualwear for work and activewear for men and women. Here you will find everything from biking apparel to casual skirts and tops for the office. This unique company makes all of its products from organic cotton.
Barrie Pace is a women's store that sells designer casualwear. The clothing is a bit pricey, but all items are name brands. If you are looking to find activewear for your business employees,
Corporate Apparel Unlimited is a website to visit. Here you will find everything you need for your company outings, and this company will even print your company or team logo on the items you purchase. Other websites worth visiting are:
Lucy and
Ajax Corporate Casuals.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- If you are a company purchasing corporate and casual activewear for your employees, try to buy these items in bulk. This will help keep down the unit costs.
- Men's activewear styles tend to stay the same, so there may not be a large variety in this area. If you do see some unique items in workout clothes for men, be leery. These are probably just passing trends and may not be easy to sell.
The official source of Activewear and Casualwear is
the Activewear and Casualwear page at Business.com
Featured Vendors
Suresafe WorkwearWorkwear clothing and safety equipment supplies. Embroidery and badging service. Caterpillar, Timberland and Helly Hansen. Next day delivery.
www.suresafe.co.uk