Is the business model of acting as an agent for imported glasses and clothes feasible?
Solved#Import agent#
I am currently acting as an agent for imported glasses and recently considering expanding the business to try acting as an agent for clothes. But I don't know how it is to switch from the agency of imported glasses to that of clothes. Will there be significant differences between the two in terms of market demand, supply chain management, and sales channels? Does anyone have relevant experience to share and give some suggestions to see if this business expansion is feasible and what to pay attention to?
Professional consultant answers
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
Switching from the agency of imported glasses to that of clothes has both challenges and opportunities. In terms of market demand, glasses are mainly targeted at people with vision correction and fashion decoration needs, while clothes have a wider audience, and the demand varies greatly in different seasons. It is necessary to accurately grasp the fashion trends and styles of different seasons.
In terms of supply chain management, the supply chain of glasses is relatively professional, and the product update speed is not as fast as that of clothing. For clothing, it is necessary to connect with numerous fabric suppliers and processing factories, control the quality, and adapt to the fast production rhythm.
In terms of sales channels, glasses are mostly sold through optical shops and e-commerce platforms. In addition to e-commerce, clothes can also be sold through mall counters and brand exclusive stores. If expanding the business, it is necessary to fully investigate the clothing market, integrate high-quality supply chain resources, and establish or expand channels suitable for clothing sales.
Robert ChenYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customer service consultantConsult
Note that the management of clothing sizes and colors is more complex than that of glasses. Parameters such as glasses' diopters are relatively fixed, while clothes have a wide range of sizes and rich colors, making inventory management more difficult.
Jennifer WangYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Market development consultantConsult
The customs policies and inspection and quarantine regulations involved in imported clothing may be different from those of glasses. It is necessary to understand them in advance to avoid obstacles in customs clearance.
Andrew HuangYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Supply chain optimization expertConsult
Brand positioning is crucial. The brand positioning of glasses may be different from that of clothing. It is necessary to re-identify the consumer groups targeted by the clothing agency brand.
Amanda YangYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
The ways of publicity and promotion are different. Glasses can emphasize materials, craftsmanship, etc., while clothing pays more attention to the display of styles and collocations. It is necessary to adjust the publicity strategy.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
Clothing has a strong seasonality. The risk of inventory backlog is high if the sales season is missed, unlike glasses which are relatively stable. Therefore, careful planning is needed when placing orders.
Emily LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Settlement and payment expertConsult
In terms of service, the return and exchange frequency of clothes may be higher than that of glasses. It is necessary to establish a complete after-sales system to deal with it.
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
The capital investment may increase. The costs of purchasing clothing, store decoration, etc. are different from those of the glasses agency. It is necessary to make a good capital plan.
Elizabeth LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
The clothing industry is highly competitive. New entrants need to highlight their characteristics and find differential competitive points.