Why May is a key node for lingerie sourcing: preparing for hot sales in the third quarter
In the global apparel industry chain, the grasp of time often determines the initiative in the market. For buyers engaged in the lingerie industry, May is not only a turning point to build on, but also a key node to lay the foundation for hot sales in the third quarter. Whether it is retailers, brands, or B2B distributors, the sourcing strategy at this time will directly affect the sales performance from July to September.
In this article, we will analyze why May is the best time for lingerie sourcing from multiple dimensions such as market cycle, production rhythm, inventory management and consumer trends.
1. The third quarter is the peak of sales, early layout is the key From July to September every year, the lingerie market usually ushers in several sales climaxes:
Summer promotion (July-August): Especially in the European and American markets, a large number of consumers replace light underwear in the summer, especially the surge in demand for non-steel ring, breathable and quick-drying products.
Back-to-school season (late August-early September): students and young consumers update their daily outfits, and lingerie, as a close-fitting basic, is an indispensable purchase item.
Fall season update (September): many brands start launching their fall collections in September, requiring orders and stocking to be completed by July.
These sales nodes all mean: purchasing can't wait until July to start, but need to complete the selection and order in May, ready for the entire third quarter.
2. Purchasing in May to ensure adequate delivery and quality control For products like lingerie with high process requirements and a wide range of sizes, the production cycle is often long. From order confirmation to sampling, mass production, quality inspection, packaging, and international logistics, it takes 30-60 days or more on average. If you wait until June or even July to start placing orders, the following problems are likely to occur:
Tight delivery schedule, affecting the sales plan The factory scheduling is full, and the delayed delivery schedule will directly cause the goods to miss the best time to be on the shelves.
Difficult to control the quality, high risk of temporary orders Rush production in order to catch up with the time, may affect the workmanship and details of the product, resulting in a higher rate of customer returns.
High logistics costs, air transportation instead of sea transportation Emergency replenishment often needs to be transported by air, which is costly and compresses profit margins.
Therefore, in May to complete the order and scheduling, not only to protect the quality of the product, but also have enough time to control logistics costs and warehousing rhythm.
3. May is the ideal time for multi-category product selection For B-end customers, it is crucial to plan product lines in advance and manage the pace of new product launches in different categories in a refined way. May is a good time for category sorting and product trial orders for a number of reasons, including:
Manufacturers focus on releasing new models: many lingerie factories will launch neutral seasonal products suitable for the alternation of summer and fall in May, following the release of new products in the spring.
Beneficial to test the market response: May selected a few core single product small batch trial order, can be quickly tested in June feedback, optimize the structure of the main promotional models.
More complete combinations: For example, bras, panties, home pajamas and shaping products are packaged as a whole, which is more in line with customers' one-stop purchasing needs.
4. Global festivals and marketing rhythms drive purchasing in advance In addition to the regular sales cycle, the third quarter also contains a number of holiday sales opportunities, such as:
Tanabata (China): Although it is a B2B independent station, but many customer service end markets in China or Southeast Asia, Tanabata promotions for lingerie products is a major node.
Valentine's Day (some countries in South America/Middle East)
Black Friday prep (stocking starts in September)
These holiday-type spends drive brands to complete stocking and marketing planning before July. If procurement lags behind, it is easy to miss the peak dividends of holiday consumption.
5.May procurement and price advantage and negotiation space In the factory side, May is a relatively low season to peak season transition period: scheduling is not yet saturated, factories are more willing to accept small and medium orders;
accessories and raw material costs are still in a controllable range, the price is more stable;
May has not yet entered the peak of the peak season of the production peak, the buyer bargaining power is stronger.
This means: May not only ensures product delivery and quality, but also makes it easier to get competitive prices and terms of service.
Conclusion: Capture the market, start sourcing in May For B2B buyers in the lingerie industry, May is not just an ordinary month, but also a key window period to determine the performance trend in the second half of the year. The earlier you make strategic selections, confirm samples and schedule orders, the more you can take the initiative in the upcoming sales season.
If you are looking for a trustworthy lingerie supplier, our factory focuses on B2B Customized Lingerie cooperation, with many years of export experience, perfect design and sampling process, as well as a variety of best-selling products for flexible selection. Welcome to contact us in May, and together we will start the road to the third quarter's hot sales!
