Sourcing guide
How to source branded wholesale clothing in the UK
Verify authenticity, understand trade terms with the majors, and build a distribution operation that keeps top sellers in stock every week.
1. Verify authenticity before you commit
Authenticity is the one thing you cannot recover from later. A single batch of counterfeit or grey-market stock costs you far more than the margin on the order — it costs you the brand relationship and, potentially, retailer permissions across every label on your shelf.
Legitimate distributors expect these questions and answer them without friction. If any of the checks below meet resistance, walk away.
- Ask for brand authorisation letters, or invoices traceable to the brand or a named authorised distributor.
- Confirm UK company registration on Companies House and validate the VAT number on the HMRC checker.
- Request a physical warehouse address and verify it in person where possible.
- Order a small sample lot first — inspect labelling, stitching, packaging and box codes against retail reference pairs.
- Cross-check pricing against RRP. Deals that look too good almost always are.
2. Understand trade terms for the major labels
Each brand runs its wholesale channel differently. Understanding the shape of the deal — MOQs, pre-packs, delivery windows and return policy — protects your margin and cash flow.
- Nike and Adidas footwear: typically ships in pre-packed size runs of 6–12 pairs per style/colourway. Expect seasonal drops and limited exchange windows.
- Branded apparel (Timberland, Dr. Martens, New Balance, Skechers): MOQs of 6–24 units per style are common; distributors can consolidate across SKUs.
- Payment terms: new accounts start on pro-forma. Net-30 opens after 3–6 months of clean trading history.
- Returns: branded wholesale is almost always non-returnable outside of quality faults. Buy what you can sell.
- Pricing: as a benchmark, wholesale prices land at around 45–55% of RRP. Materially cheaper is a red flag, not a bargain.
3. Build a UK distribution operation that scales
Sourcing is only half the job. The retailers that win branded wholesale are the ones with the logistics discipline to keep top sellers in stock every week. Bad operations turn great sourcing into dead stock and missed sales.
- Forecast by SKU, not by category — branded lines are won and lost on specific silhouettes and colourways.
- Hold safety stock on your top 20% of SKUs; let the long tail run leaner.
- Book inbound freight and warehouse receiving windows in advance — port and warehouse slots are your real bottleneck, not the supplier.
- Track sell-through weekly and re-order early. Branded stock rarely gets replenished on demand.
- Resource goods-in properly through Q3. A missed inspection turns into faulty stock sold at full price and a Q4 returns spike.
4. Choose a distributor you can grow with
A trusted UK distributor removes most of the risk above. You get authenticated stock, consolidated MOQs across brands, a single account manager who understands your buying pattern, and — critically — a predictable replenishment lane for your best-selling silhouettes.
CAPVANE supplies retailers across the UK and EU with branded clothing and footwear from labels including Nike, Adidas, Timberland, Dr. Martens, New Balance and Skechers. If you are building or scaling a branded retail operation, we would like to talk.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a branded wholesale supplier is authentic?
Request brand authorisation letters, invoices traceable to the brand or an authorised distributor, and batch- or serial-level records. Cross-check UK company registration on Companies House, the VAT number, and a physical warehouse address before committing to volume orders.
What are typical MOQs for branded wholesale clothing in the UK?
MOQs vary by label and category. Footwear from majors like Nike and Adidas typically ships in pre-packed size runs of 6–12 pairs per style. Branded apparel usually starts at 6–24 units per style. Distributors can consolidate smaller orders across SKUs to hit a total order value.
Do I need brand approval to resell branded stock in the UK?
For most branded goods you do not need direct brand approval to resell legitimately sourced stock in the UK, but you must be able to prove the chain of custody. Working with an authorised distributor keeps this simple and gives you the paperwork if a brand ever asks.
What payment terms should I expect on a new wholesale account?
New accounts almost always start on pro-forma — you pay before the stock ships. After 3–6 months of clean trading, most distributors will move a healthy account onto net-30 terms.