In the recent Business Club hearing on October 19, it was noted that for most consumers, the price of a branded autumn jacket typically fluctuates by around 500 yuan. However, this year’s autumn and winter clothing prices have sparked widespread interest. Jackets priced between 600 to 800 yuan are dominating the market, while only a few hundred yuan jackets are available in limited quantities. Despite this, the sales of the higher-priced items are not considered mainstream. On the contrary, some retail stores specializing in branded clothing have managed to perform well in this season.
"Moving at 659 or 769 yuan—who would spend that kind of money on a jacket?" Wu, a regular reader of the newspaper, expressed his concern after spotting a new jacket in a men’s fashion store on the pedestrian street. He mentioned that this season’s clothing prices are significantly higher than the same period last year, and he no longer feels confident about saving money. “The prices haven’t dropped much, and with winter approaching, it doesn’t seem worth the investment,†he said. Although Wu was aware that prices would rise this season, he didn’t expect them to be so high.
At a casual clothing store on Jiu Er Road, salesperson Li Yan shared that the store introduced some autumn clothes in mid-September, but as of mid-March, sales were not going well. Compared to the same time last year, sales had dropped by at least 40%, which was unimaginable. Li admitted that rising prices were the main reason behind the decline in autumn clothing sales. Additionally, the growing popularity of online shopping has also drawn away some traditional customers. For instance, a brand-new 2010 jacket sold at the store for 659 yuan is available for just 450 yuan on a major e-commerce platform. “It’s normal,†said Mr. Zhou, a sales manager from Shishi, a men’s brand. “Dealers usually get a 35% to 40% discount, so even selling online for 450 yuan, they still make a profit.†He believes that the price increase for autumn and winter clothing is actually beneficial for online retailers.
While new autumn and winter collections struggle to sell, some old dealers who held onto last year’s stock are now smiling. “This year’s autumn and winter clothing will be easier to sell,†said Zhang, an old men’s clothing dealer. He explained that through media and online sources, he learned that clothing prices would rise by more than 15% this season. As a result, he reduced the prices of previous years’ models. Even with this, some local consumers and migrant workers still found the older styles appealing. “It might be better to go down, since winter clothes are generally more expensive than autumn ones,†Zhang said confidently. He believes that the older inventory he holds can attract more buyers this season.
Shaoxing Harbour Textile&Garments Co., Ltd , https://www.sxharbour.com