Outsourcing questions with Angela Dawson

My name is Angela Dawson. I am an independent sales rep for 8 clothing and accessory lines selling wholesale to various boutiques, catalogs and chain stores. I am a previous boutique owner/ buyer and jewelry designer. I attend many wholesale trade shows (ENK Las Vegas, Coterie Manhattan, Travelers Show Pilly & Baltimore, and the WAT Show Atlantic City). I employ and manage 4 sub reps throughout the country as well. I have been in this business for 15 years

Q and A with Angela

Q: In the fashion industry are most top fashion lines producing a product outside of the united states?

A: Most of the larger lines do produce outside of the USA. However I do find that buyers are discouraged by this and are willing to pay more money for domestic products. Of my lines, 1 is produced in Indonesia, one in India, and the rest in the USA.

Q: Should a up in coming clothing line manufacture in america or outsource through another country?

A: There is no question that samples should be produced outside of the states however if at all possible, I think production should stay in the USA. Especially if the target is a boutique customer, domestic production is paramount.

Q: Has the economy affected the average consumer to not care about where the product is manufactured vs. the price of the product?

A: No. I have been saying all along that the American woman would bring us out os the recession and I realize most people see that as a joke. There is some seriousness to the statement. We are hard working Americans who have grown accustomed to a certain way of life and I think we are only willing to deprive ourselves for so long.
I know my sales have begun to grow again and while we are not where we once were, we are on our way back. I have seen that domestic production is now more desired than ever before.

Q: If you were to start your own clothing line what would you do about where your product is manufactured?

A: Usually if the designer does a good job securing a reputable factory there is not a huge difference. I know this can be a huge job and most of the designers I know will travel overseas to oversee production.  Hands on is the only way to be sure no matter where production is taking place.

Q: If you were to start your own clothing line what would you do about where your product is manufactured?

A: If I were to start a line I would insist on that line be a "made in the USA" line.  A close friend of mine designs and manufactures in LA and she has great success at a great price point.

Outsourcing Pros and Cons for Small Business

Outsourcing Pros and Cons - Essential Guide to the Key Pros and Cons of Outsourcing for SMBs

Outsourcing for the longest time only really effected big business, but thanks to companies like Elance and Odesk the internet has given the small business owner access to these countries all over the globe. In this discussion there is three main points on outsourcing: General Outsourcing Pros and Cons, Pros and Cons of Outsourcing at the Small and Medium Business Level, and Simple Strategy for Dealing with Outsourcing Pros and Cons. All these subjects were very import for the consideration of either outsourcing my company or manufacturing local. The one that mostly influenced my decision on going local over outsourcing was "possible negative impact on company customers" for what is going to stand out about my company, besides the clothes, would be the knowledge and communication between customer and manufacture. My company is made to support americans in America and has the least effect environmentally. Ordering online will be able to show video upon purchase of a product of a worker that worked on the product thanking them for the help to continue a demand for local business in America. That communication will touch a part of my target market, for to show that a clothing actually cares, but is that price increase worth it to those customers? If anyone can get me the statistics on what percentage of environmentally conscious people have enough money to pay forty/thirty bucks for a tee shirt that would help my business. The products self presents it's environmental aspect, just so the customer knows, wither that customer cares or not that's his option, that's the key customer freedom.

Will you as the consumer really care about how the product is manufactured vs. the cost of the product?

Me as the creator of this blog I am starting my clothing line and do believe in supporting local and the environment friendly product even thought the cost will be higher.