Introduction

Buying houses in the apparel industry serve as middlemen between the suppliers (garment manufacturers) and retailers (apparel buyers). A buying house may also be referred to as a sourcing agent or buying agency.
The buying agency may work as an independent entity that deals with several retailers, brands, and buyers. On the other hand, some companies have their regional buying offices for sourcing purposes. Essentially a buying house acts as a trade partner between the producer and the buyer.

Types of Garment Buying Houses

In the garments business world, there are two different sorts of Buying House: 

1. Trading/Purchasing offices
2. Buying agencies/Liaison offices

Responsibilities of a Buying House 

Buying houses are responsible for providing a range of services to buyers, including the following:

• Developing and sampling products for buyers
• Identifying suitable suppliers for buyers
• Processing orders from locally based vendors
• Getting in touch with buyers and seeking approval for aspects such as product development, sampling, and swatches
• Forwarding comments from buyers regarding specific requirements and samples to vendors
• Approving local vendors
• Following up on processed orders with export houses
• Ensuring that product quality is maintained from product development to the last inspection
• Buying houses may outsource fabrics & accessories  for vendors and buyers
• Carrying out compliance audits at factories
• Logistics and shipping

Evolving Role of Buying Houses

Depending on the company, roles may differ but buying houses are generally mandated to oversee the development of a variety of products that target a specific customer base and price range. 

Within the organization, there are various divisions and roles. Product development, Sample development, design, merchandising, technical work, quality control, textile testing, fabric sourcing, shipping, and administrative responsibilities are a few of these.

Buying House holds great importance in the garment manufacturing sector of Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s RMG industry is totally reliant on foreign customers, and those customers rely on Buying Houses.

Apparel buying houses usually provide them with considerable aid by providing them with clothing products that fit their needs, because they are often ignorant about the place of production, the style of communication, the culture, the environment, and other pertinent variables.

To reduce their reliance on buying houses, a few of the more well-known buyers such as H&M, Bestseller, C&A have established their own offices in Bangladesh, which came at a big investment. That isn’t a choice for most of the buyers or purchasers from abroad. This explains why there are an increasing number of new buying houses.

Advantages of Buying House

Enhancing Efficiency through Specialization

One of the foremost advantages of engaging a buying house is the specialized expertise it brings to the table. Unlike generic sourcing approaches, buying houses are dedicated entities equipped with extensive knowledge and networks within the garment industry. This specialization enables them to efficiently match retailers with manufacturers that best align with their specific requirements and products resulting in enhanced productivity and reduced lead times.

Facilitating Quality Assurance

Quality assurance stands as a cornerstone of successful garment-sourcing endeavors. Through meticulous vendor selection processes and stringent quality control measures, our buying house ensures that retailers receive products of unparalleled quality. By conducting comprehensive factory audits and implementing rigorous inspection protocols, we mitigate the risk of substandard products, thereby safeguarding our clients’ reputation and fostering long-term trust.

Negotiating Competitive Pricing

In today’s competitive market landscape, securing favorable pricing terms is paramount for retailers seeking to maximize profitability. Leveraging our extensive industry insights and negotiating prowess, adeptly navigate pricing negotiations on behalf of the clients. Through strategic supplier partnerships and economies of scale, they facilitate cost-effective sourcing solutions without compromising on product quality or integrity.

Streamlining Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Efficient logistics and supply chain management serve as linchpins in the garment sourcing process. Buying house excels in orchestrating seamless logistics operations, sea shipments, optimizing freight routes, and expediting order fulfilment processes. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and robust logistical infrastructure, they ensure timely delivery of goods while minimizing transit costs and logistical bottlenecks.

Cultivating Long-Term Partnerships

A buying house recognizes the importance of fostering enduring partnerships built on trust, transparency, and mutual benefit. Through personalized client engagement strategies and proactive communication channels, they cultivate long-term relationships with both retailers and manufacturers. This collaborative approach fosters a symbiotic ecosystem wherein all stakeholders thrive and prosper in tandem.

Requirements of a Good Buying House 

Like any other type of business, a buying agency is expected to fulfill a specific need in the market. It requires an office that it operates from as a credible existing business entity. Buying houses consist of product development facilities that typically include designers, sampling rooms, and showrooms.  

Team Work

One of the essential aspects of running a successful buying house is developing a product profile or range with an innovative team. It is vital to create a team that consists of merchants, quality assurance, and technical departments. 

Merchants are responsible for communicating with buyers and suppliers on a daily basis. This role can extend to developing samples from supplier and vendor factories, sourcing materials, and giving suppliers approval. 

Suppliers

Buying houses develops supplier bases, which involves having an extensive list of suppliers. A large supplier base offers the benefit of access to competitive pricing for products and covers a broader range of products and increases production capacity for large buyers. It is always a good idea to include small, medium, and large manufacturers in a supplier base for social compliance in the supply and distribution chain. 

Samples and Sourcing

Several small buyers seek buying houses that have facilities for sample development services. Buying houses can perform this task on behalf of purchasing companies. Buying houses have the option of setting up their own sample rooms to achieve this or collaborate with suppliers who can develop them after being given production orders.

Purchasing companies generally prefer dealing with buying houses that give them a comprehensive solution for textile sourcing. When a sourcing agent offers a complete package for orders, this often includes product development, sampling, quality assurance, final inspection, shipment, and logistics. 

Good Working Relationships

A thriving buying house depends on the relationship it develops with buyers. This relationship involves being aware of what companies require and their particular product preferences. The buying house is prepared to handle fabric preferences, product ranges, colors for different seasons, and costing.

Significance of Buying Houses 

Buying houses are integral components of South Asia export and import markets. Although several large buyers directly deal with factories, several medium and smaller buyers opt to work through mediators commonly referred to as buying agents. These are basically companies that facilitate coordination between one or more factories and the buyer. 

A purchasing agent is beneficial because several factories producing quality products may not be big enough to work effectively with larger global buyers. There may also be cultural issues and language barriers. 

Additionally, the skills required to manage production and staff locally differ from the necessary skills for handling international clients. Ultimately, managing all the needs of a global buyer is not the same as managing a workforce on a local scale and yielding quality production results. 

Expenses

Companies that are not planning to set up offices for the purpose of managing their operations in South Asia can hire a buying agent to represent them locally while working closely with them to research, locate, negotiate and handle suppliers in the region. They can also help with quality control, inspections, and developing a network of suppliers. Investing in a buying house is useful for minimizing operating costs and boosting revenue. 

Safety and Security

Understandably, some buyers may be worried about dealing with buying houses in the garment sector. Like with any industry, it is crucial to be aware of where the products are being made and ensure that all the factories treat their workers following stipulated local and international laws. 

Working via a buying agent does not mean that the buyer is restricted from approving the factories. It also does not indicate that the buyer will completely lose control of who makes the products and how the products are made. Importers can rest assured they will always have the option of being actively involved. 

Several large buyers carry out inspections and conduct audits randomly to make sure that standards are maintained. Therefore, using a buying agent is a worthwhile consideration, and involving this type of company can yield real value. 

Making Business Easier and Cutting Costs

Sourcing agents play a valuable role in helping a company during the process of finding sources of supplies and products at competitive prices for the company to cut costs on production. These agents may run businesses that serve different companies or represent one employer. 

This type of work usually requires ample knowledge of several languages and coordination and sound business principles. Companies can use sourcing agents locally to access the best prices possible. 

Agents are well-connected to local companies and know where they can find a variety of supplies. They have the skills required to negotiate with potential suppliers and work out deals and discounts that the purchasing company does not have time to discuss on its own. 

This strength is a significant benefit that can go a long way towards saving the buyer money, along with the prospect of creating valuable and ongoing contracts for suppliers. Both the buyer and supplier have a lot to gain from working with the right sourcing agent. 

Conclusion

There are several benefits of using a buying house in the apparel industry. One of the main reasons to take this approach is that it increases the likelihood of locating high-quality products quickly and resourcefully. 

Sourcing from overseas makes it harder to keep track of suppliers locally, and you will not be able to keep a close eye on product quality. Additionally, communication between buyers and suppliers may not be exact and efficient when dealing with people from different cultures. An essential aspect of ensuring that you receive goods that meet your standards and can be easily resold within your market is to find a credible apparel-buying house. 

Professional buying houses act as reliable middlemen who are prepared to invest their resources to connect you to dependable suppliers for you to get the right products at an affordable price. Getting help from a buying house means that you are more likely to reduce costs, maximize profitability, and save time.