Clothing liquidators: we buy excess clothing and footwear stock

Clothing goes out of date faster than almost anything else we buy. A colour misses, a cold snap comes late, a retailer cancels an order after it's been cut and sewn, and suddenly there are thousands of pieces with nowhere to go. We have been buying excess clothing stock and footwear for over 30 years. What works hasn't changed: move it quickly and quietly, and keep it well away from your full-price customers.

We buy the parcel ourselves and resell it through our own buyer network, and we don't charge broking fees. You send the details, John surveys the market, and in most cases he makes an offer to buy the lot.

What clothing and footwear stock do you buy?

We buy apparel, footwear and accessories across men's, women's and children's ranges, in any quantity.

That includes:

• Fashion and casualwear: t-shirts, tops, hoodies, jeans and shorts
• Basics: underwear, socks, singlets and stockings
• Workwear: shorts, pants, overalls, jackets and vests
• Children's and babywear: gift sets, bibs, robes and polos
• Footwear: shoes, sandals and school and sports shoes
• Accessories: sunglasses, bags and knee guards

We buy from brand owners, importers, wholesalers, retailers and administrators and liquidators, anywhere in Australia, New Zealand and overseas.

What makes clothing stock easier or harder to sell?

Size spread, season and brand matter most. Here's how buyers look at a clothing parcel.

Season is the big one. End of season stock sells best to buyers who can hold it for the next cycle, or who sell into a different hemisphere. Offer winter stock in winter and you have more buyers than you'd think. Wait six months and you have fewer.

Basics hold their value. Socks, underwear and workwear don't date the way fashion does. A parcel of 31,000 pairs of underwear and socks is a very different proposition from 31,000 fashion tops.

Labelling is non-negotiable for many buyers. Major retailers and some overseas markets are strict about care and fibre labelling. If labels are missing or wrong, tell us. We are honest with buyers about it and can often still place the stock.

How do clothing brands protect their brand when clearing stock?

You set the rules on price and channel, and we follow them. Our first guarantee is "We strictly follow your guidelines in relation to pricing and distribution locations."

Fashion brands usually worry about two things. One is their stock turning up at a discounter next to their best retail account. The other is a flood of cheap product online that teaches customers to wait for a sale. These are the ways we deal with it:

• Export. Sending a parcel offshore keeps it out of your home market entirely. One shoe parcel we handled was made for Brazil and ended up in Singapore after the order was cancelled.
• De-labelling or repackaging, where you ask for it, so the garment doesn't carry your name into the new channel.
• Channel exclusions. You name the retailers, regions or online platforms to avoid.
• Charities. These suit basics and children's wear that's sound but out of season.

For more on this, read our guide to protecting your brand when clearing stock.

What should I send you?

A stock list spreadsheet and photos are all we need to start. For clothing and footwear, include:

1. Style number and description, including fabric where you have it
2. Size and colour breakdown per style, which matters more than the total
3. Quantity per style, and in total
4. Cost or RRP, if you're happy to share
5. Photos of a sample of styles, the swing tags or labels, and the packing
6. Season or year of the range
7. Location, and how it's packed: cartons, hanging or on pallets
8. Any restrictions on channel, region or labelling

Collection is flexible and agreed per parcel. We can arrange it, or you can deliver.

Real clothing and footwear parcels we've handled

These are real parcels. Brands and prices stay confidential.

• 2,797 pieces of fashion clothing: t-shirts, tops, hoodies, jean shorts and jeans from a fashion manufacturer.
• Over 31,000 units of underwear and socks for men, women and children, in Sydney.
• 17,931 units of leading-brand workwear, valued at over $700,000 and located in Melbourne.
• 85,798 pairs of shoes in Singapore. They were 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, all from a cancelled order.

Notice how many of these started with a cancelled order. That's very common in apparel, and it's nobody's fault. The stock is often first quality and packed for retail, which makes it easier to place.

Should I sell it myself or use a clothing liquidator?

If you have a few dozen pieces and a loyal following, a warehouse sale or your own outlet might do better than any buyer. If you have thousands of units, broken sizes and a brand to protect, one offer for the whole parcel is usually simpler.

Online marketplaces and auctions can work for small lots, but they put your product in front of your own customers at a discount. Our article on why not to sell excess stock on auction sites explains the risks. If the range is being discontinued altogether, see our page on discontinued stock.

When you're ready, tell us about your clothing stock or call John on 0411 430 047.