Everything a shop owner or decorator needs to know before buying cheap hoodies in bulk. Written by Jon Lauren Apparel, a family business that has sold nothing but fleece since 1981.
How many hoodies come in a case?
Twenty-four. That is the industry standard for adult fleece and it is what we ship: 24 pieces per carton, one color per carton. Some suppliers call it two dozen, some call it a prepack, some call it a case. Same thing.
Nylon jackets pack 12 to a carton because they are bulkier per piece.
What is a size scale and why does it matter?
A size scale is how the 24 pieces are split across sizes. It is written as a run of numbers matching a run of sizes. Our standard adult scale is:
- S-M-L-XL at 6-6-6-6. Six of each. The safe default.
- S-M-L-XL at 6-8-6-4. Weighted to medium and large, which is closer to how the general public actually sizes.
- S-M-L-XL-2X at 2-6-8-6-2. Adds 2XL, common on zip-ups.
Getting the scale wrong is the most common way shops lose money on fleece. You sell through medium and large in three weeks and sit on small until March. If your customer base skews larger, ask for the 6-8-6-4 scale or take single-size cartons.
What does a case weigh, and what does freight cost?
A 24-piece adult fleece carton weighs about 31 pounds. Zip-ups run closer to 35. Big Man cartons run 38 to 40.
That weight is what drives your freight bill, and it is the number most bulk sites hide until checkout. Rough FedEx residential ground from New Jersey:
- 1 case to the Northeast: about $32
- 1 case to the Midwest or Southeast: about $40
- 1 case to Texas or the Mountain states: about $50
- 1 case to the West Coast: about $60
Freight does not scale linearly forever. Past about six cases, parcel stops making sense and pallet freight is cheaper. If your order is that size, call for a quote instead of paying six parcel rates.
First quality versus irregulars
Plenty of sites advertise hoodies at $4 or $5. Read carefully, because a lot of that inventory is irregulars or seconds: mislabeled sizes, dye lot variation, small holes, crooked seams. Fine if you are selling a bin at a flea market. Not fine if you are printing forty pieces for a school and cannot have two of them come back.
Everything we sell is first quality. When we say cheap we mean the price.
What weight fleece should you buy?
Fleece is sold by ounces per square yard. Most budget blanks are 7.5 to 8 oz. Ours is 9 oz.
The difference shows up after washing. Lighter fleece pills and goes thin at the elbows. Heavier fleece holds its hand and its shape, which matters more if your customer is paying $35 retail than if they are paying $15.
Buying blanks for screen printing
Look for three things. A smooth face with minimal pilling, so ink lays flat. A stable knit that does not stretch out of registration on a multi-color job. And no exterior branding, so your print is the only thing on the garment.
White is the standard base for tie-dye and full-color transfers. Black is the highest-volume print base overall. Between those two you cover most of what walks in the door.
Buying blanks for embroidery
Density matters more than weight for embroidery. A dense 9 oz fleece takes left-chest work without puckering and without needing heavy backing. Kangaroo pockets limit placement, so plan left chest, sleeve or full back.
How much should you order the first time?
One carton of black, one of white, one seasonal color. That is $576 at $8 a piece and it tells you what your customers actually buy before you commit to depth. Reorder what sells.
Our minimum is one carton. There is no membership, no account fee and no annual spend requirement.
Do wholesalers sell to individuals?
We sell wholesale only. That means you are buying by the case for resale, decoration or an organization, not buying one hoodie for yourself. You do not need a storefront, but you do need to buy by the carton.
Questions we get on the phone
Can I mix colors in one carton?
No. One color per carton is how the price stays at $8. Order multiple cartons to mix.
Do you ship outside the United States?
Continental United States only.
How fast do you ship?
Same day on in-stock cartons ordered before cutoff.
Can I see a sample first?
Call 732-254-7400 and ask. We would rather you know what you are getting.
What if a piece is defective?
Call us. We have been doing this since 1981 and we are still here because we make it right.
Talk to a person
Jon Lauren Apparel, 4980 Bordentown Ave, Old Bridge, NJ 08857. Call 732-254-7400.