Soft Goods Retail Lines Can Transform Your Margins & Sales

Soft Goods Retail Lines Can Transform Your Margins & Sales

Developing retail soft goods lines presents a valuable opportunity for companies to increase their revenue, personify their brands and reach new markets.

The increasing demand for soft goods and the development of design-led technology in the cut and sew industry means that your business, regardless of size, can design and create a bespoke, fully branded product ready for sales in a few short months. 

In this post, we’ll explore some of the top questions businesses have regarding adding retail soft goods. We'll also cover choosing the right soft goods and tips for choosing the best soft goods designer and manufacturer.

What Are Soft Goods?

The most common answer to ‘what are soft goods?’ is that soft goods are literally soft products - clothing, linen, etc. Soft goods are typically made from woven fabric that is cut and sewn.  While most people think of soft goods as textile-based products, items made from rubber, gels, and other soft materials can also be considered soft goods.  Increasing innovation has also resulted in a number of sustainable and recycled or recyclable materials that can make up durable soft goods.

What are Examples of soft goods?

●      Clothing

●      Hats

●      Luggage & Bags

●      Bed Linen

Soft goods shouldn’t just be thought about as the products you might find on retailers’ shelves. They apply to a wide range of applications across multiple industries. They are often created to support, accompany, or enhance other goods.

Benefits Of Adding Soft Goods Retail Lines

There are many benefits to adding soft goods as a new product line, not least the opportunity to generate additional revenue. Working with the right cut and sew partner to deliver an end-to-end process will ensure your costs stay low and margins are maximized.

The Balance Small Business say the gross margin in hardline goods is lower than that of soft lines. Because of this, retailers source soft retail goods and accessories with higher margins. These offset low margin hard goods.

As well as including a new or increased range of retail soft goods to boost sales, many businesses also see soft goods as an opportunity to diversify their product offer and mitigate some of the global supply chain issues that are hitting multiple sectors.

Branding can be applied to almost any product, so businesses with a loyal following can quickly and efficiently introduce new products. This helps to meet customer demand and maintain market share.

Soft goods are also a popular tool used by brands to position themselves in the market. Sometimes to promote and extend their brand values, too.

Tote bags are a great example. Many brands that would never have previously sold tote bags but are interested in the environment and reducing plastic consumption use totes to promote their environmental commitments. Tote bags are now sold by everyone from grocery stores to coffee roasters to banks! They're a great example of retail soft goods in action.

How To Choose The Right Soft Goods Products For Your Business

If you're thinking about adding soft goods, you need to think about the goods to choose for your business specifically. You can add many products to your line-up, but a strategic approach is much better than an ad hoc, unplanned process.  

These are some initial ideas you can build into your soft goods retail line plan.

●      Consider Complementary Products. If you’re selling hard goods like beds or bedroom furniture, complimentary soft interests you could add to your line include bed linen and curtains, potentially even pajamas and duvets. Essentially, you're looking for products that are commonly bought with or used with your current range.

●      Develop Your Own Accessories. It could be an untapped opportunity to introduce a branded accessory if you’ve got hot selling hard goods that are prime for accessories. A simple example is a snowboard manufacturer introducing snowboard travel bags. The cases might match the style and design of the boards they manufacture. Here you’re looking for opportunities to enhance the use of the core product.

●      New Product Development. If you’ve got a strong brand with a loyal following, adding a new line of stand-alone soft goods range is a great way to diversify your offer, reach new markets and find new customers. New Product Development can be risky, especially if you’re going into unknown markets, but the rewards can match the risk.

How To Find The Best Retail Soft Goods Designers & Manufacturers

Before setting off on your soft goods’ journey, it’s essential to find an experienced and reliable partner. They will be able to help you implement your soft goods product idea. The best retail soft goods suppliers will help you across the whole process, including:

●      Initial conversations and ideas

●      Research and learn about the market

●      Design and refine the product spec and scope

●      Build and test the new product

●      Shipping and logistics

Carry Gear Solutions has a range of expertise with valuable cross-industry experience. We build full and flexible partnerships with our clients to find solutions for your design problems.

With factories in the US, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Honduras, we are perfectly positioned to supply a global market and ensure COC, CPSIA, FDA, and other levels of compliance.

Conclusion - Softlines Can Boost Your Sales

Introducing a soft retail line into your product mix is an excellent way to offset the lower margins you may have on hard goods, extend the lifetime value of your existing customers and generate new business for your physical or online store.

It’s important to remember that you can think outside the box when it comes to idea development. There may be opportunities to sell complementary products and accessories for the inventory you already hold.

If you’re looking to bring a new product to market, the process will be much more in-depth. This is where expert advice from a company like Carry Gear Solutions is precious.   We are unique in that we offer a low capital investment alternative to extending your brand presence.

Contact a member of our team today to find out more about the process of incorporating soft goods into your product line and to discuss how Carry Gear Solutions can bring your ideas to reality.