Garments Merchandising: The ‘Merchandising’ is known to the persons specially involved in garments trade. The term merchandising has been derived from the merchandise. Merchandise means goods that are bought and sold.
The term merchandising may de defined as: person who merchandises the goods, especially for export purposes. Garments merchandising means buying raw materials and accessories, producing garments, maintaining required quality level and exporting the garments within schedule time. From the above definition, we can say that a person involved in garments merchandising needs a wide range of knowledge and skill to perform his job successfully. The job itself is technical and general as well.
Merchandisers should have the following basic qualifications:- Good command in English and adequate knowledge of technical terms for accurate and efficient communication.
- Good knowledge of fiber, yarn, fabric, dyeing, printing, finishing, dyes, different fastness properties, garments production, etc.
- Clear conception of the usual potential quality problems in the garments manufacturing.
- Good knowledge of the usual raw materials inspection systems and garments inspection systems.
- Knowledge of the quota system used in each of the producing countries; duty rates; customs regulations; shipping and banking documentation, etc.
When an order is placed to a merchandiser, he has to schedule the following main functions to execute the export order perfectly on time:- Fabric requirements calculations;
- Accessories requirements calculations (e.g. sewing thread, button, interlining, label, poly bag, carton, etc).
- Sourcing of fabrics;
- Possible date of arrival of fabrics and accessories in the garments factory;
- Costing;
- Garments production planning;
- Pre-shipment inspection schedule;
- Shipping documents.
All the main functions, mentioned above are important but the procurement of fabric and accessories are most important as because there are many technical parameters involved in specification in this area. In most collection of fabric for the garments to be made is a major problem. To procure a fabric we should clearly specify the technical specification of the fabric during placing a fabric supply order.
The following list of points should be considered in preparation of the contract before placing a fabric purchase order:
Woven fabric:- Composition (fabric content);
- Fabric consumption;
- Warp and weft count;
- Kinds of yarn (Open end/ring spun/combed/semi-combed/carded);
- Width of the fabric;
- Woven by shuttle loom or shuttle less loom;
- If dyed then dye type;
- Color fastness to (wet/light/crocking/iron);
- Piece length of no seam (for example 75% of the fabric longer than 80% yards per piece and maximum 25% between 30 and 79 yards);
- Acceptable Quality Level (AQL – 2.5%, 3%, 4%, 4.5% etc);
- Loom state, desized/softened;
- Finishing/Pre-washed/Brushed/Skewed/Pre-shrinked;
- Specially finished (water repellent/water proof/resin finish permanent press procured/permanent press post cured/crinkled/preached on front side);
- Fabric strength (warp and weft way);
- Packing for example;
- Rolled on tube and then each roll in an un-tear able poly bag;
- Folded at one yard length and each piece in an un-tear able poly bag and then so many pieces in a 3-ply carton;
- Marking and leveling.
Knitted Fabrics:We can consider the terms used in the woven fabric which may also be applicable to knitted fabrics, but especially for knitted fabrics we should additionally specify the following:
- Type of knit;
- Tubular or open width;
- Shrinkage;
- GSM;
- Cut selvedges starched to protect curl up.
Merchandiser is he who builds up relationship with the buyer and acts as a seller. He plays a vital role in an organization in a sense that he bears more responsibility than other in regards to execution of an order.
The responsibilities which he bears on the job are as follows:- He represents as a buyer to the factory.
- He represents as a seller to the buyers.
- He inspects all the qualities as a buyer (from the buyer’s point of view);
- He negotiates a price for the sellers.
- He looks at the deal from seller’s point of view.
- He looks into the business to flourish more in the future.
- He tries to offer the deal more competitive without compromising the quality.
- His object is to satisfy the buyers to progress more of the future business.
- His aim is to impress the buyers by means of Right Products, Right Quality, Right Quantity, Right Time, and Undamaged Condition.
