Deadstock buyers for brands: sell your unsold clothing stock in bulk

In fashion, deadstock means new stock that never sold. It's not worn, not second-hand and usually still tagged: last season's colourways, a cancelled wholesale order, a range that didn't land. We've been buying it for over 30 years. We buy the parcel ourselves and resell it through our own buyers, so it clears quickly and quietly without eroding your full-price business.

For a wider look at the apparel we buy, see our clothing and footwear page. This page is for labels, wholesalers and boutiques with deadstock to sell now.

Selling your own pre-loved clothes? We only buy new stock in bulk from businesses. A pre-loved resale platform or a local market will suit you better.

What does deadstock mean in fashion?

Deadstock in fashion is unsold, unworn product, new with tags. It is not the same as the "dead stock" accountants talk about, which is any stock that has stopped selling. The word confuses people because resale sneaker sites also use "deadstock" to mean brand new in box, which is a selling point there.

For a label, deadstock is usually one of these:

• End of season fashion stock left after markdowns
• Cancelled or cut wholesale orders already made and delivered
• Overruns from a factory minimum order quantity
• Broken size runs, where the core sizes sold and the edges didn't
• Discontinued styles and colourways

If it's not about fashion, our page on dead stock buyers covers old and slow-moving stock in general.

How do I sell deadstock clothing or shoes to you?

Send us a line sheet or stock list, we survey the market, and in most cases we make an offer for the lot.

1. Send the details. Line sheet or stock list, photos and location.
2. Hear back the same business day. John replies with his first response and any questions.
3. We survey the market discreetly. John talks quietly to buyers who suit your styles and price point.
4. We make an offer, usually for the whole parcel.
5. We agree terms, including where the stock may be sold and any de-labelling. Collection is flexible: we arrange it or you deliver, agreed per parcel.
6. You get paid promptly, as per our agreed terms.

What should I send?

A good line sheet or stock list is the fastest route to a firm offer. Include:

• Style, colour and size run for each line, with quantities per size
• Description and fabric composition, including season (for example, winter outerwear)
• Photos: flat lays or on-model shots, plus swing tags and boxed footwear
• RRP and wholesale price, if you're happy to share them
• How it's packed, such as bagged by size, in cartons or on hangers
• Location, in Australia or offshore
• Your conditions, such as no sales into certain retailers, regions or online
• Anything wrong, such as seconds, samples, missing care labels or damaged shoe boxes

Your own export is fine. You don't need to reformat it.

Who buys end of season stock?

End of season stock is bought by discount chains, wholesalers, overseas buyers and charities, usually through a stock buyer like us. Each wants something different, so the offer is shaped to suit them while keeping your stock away from the channels you want to protect.

Why do size runs matter so much?

Buyers think in size curves. A full curve per style is far easier to place than the leftover edges. Here's how a fashion deadstock parcel looks to a buyer.

Broken size runs aren't a dead end. Combined with other lines, or sent to markets with different size profiles, they often find a buyer. Tell us the breakdown honestly and we'll work with it.

Season is the other big one. Offer winter stock while it's still winter, or to buyers in the northern hemisphere, and you have more buyers. Wait six months and you have fewer.

How do you protect my brand?

We put your rules into the deal and choose buyers whose customers don't overlap with yours. Our four guarantees:

1. "We strictly follow your guidelines in relation to pricing and distribution locations."
2. "We send payment promptly, as per our agreed terms."
3. "We place a priority focus on clearing your stock."
4. "We speedily and discreetly convert your stock into cash at the highest possible price, without damaging your market position."

For fashion labels, the common tools are:

• De-labelling: removing or covering brand labels and swing tags before resale
• Channel rules: no online marketplaces, no named retailers, no sales under your brand name
• Region rules: not in certain states, or not in Australia and New Zealand at all
• Export: sending the parcel to overseas buyers, well away from your customers

Each restriction narrows the buyer list a little, so keep the ones that matter. More in our guide to protecting your brand when clearing stock.

What fashion deadstock have you handled?

These are real parcels from our case studies:

• 85,798 pairs of shoes in Singapore, made for Brazilian schools before the order was cancelled.
• 106,154 units of children's clothing in Italy, including gift sets, bibs, robes and polos, from a cancelled order.
• 2,797 pieces of fashion clothing: t-shirts, tops, hoodies, jean shorts and jeans.
• Over 31,000 units of underwear and socks for men, women and children.
• 17,931 units of leading-brand workwear: shorts, pants, overalls, jackets and vests.

What about resale apps and marketplaces?

They suit a handful of pieces. For a parcel they're slow, and they show your product at a discount to your own customers. Our article on why not to sell excess stock on auction sites explains the risks. Donating or upcycling can be the right call for a small amount, but they don't turn stock into cash.

Ready to sell your deadstock?

Send your line sheet or stock list, photos and location to john@coorey.com, or call John on 0411 430 047. You can also use the form below. You'll hear back the same business day.