More and more clients of garment workshops sell online: through their own Shopify or WooCommerce store, through eMAG or other marketplaces, with their own warehouse or through fulfilment companies. For the workshop, that means goods no longer reach a person who unpacks and counts them patiently, but a warehouse that scans codes and follows procedures. If a label is missing or a code will not scan, the product does not enter stock and does not sell.
Start with the warehouse's inbound manual
Every warehouse and marketplace has its own delivery requirements, usually published in a supplier guide. Ask the client for this document before production, not before dispatch. Typical requirements cover:
- a barcode label on every garment or every polybag;
- the code type (for example EAN or a warehouse's internal code);
- individual packing: bag type, maximum dimensions, mandatory messages;
- carton labels and the content of each carton;
- advance notice of the delivery in the warehouse system before arrival;
- delivery time slots and format (parcels or pallets).
Requirements change from time to time, so check the current version for every order.
SKUs and barcodes
In e-commerce, every combination of style, colour and size is a separate product with its own SKU and barcode. A tee in 3 colours and 5 sizes means 15 SKUs. Practical rules:
- The client supplies the SKU list and barcodes in a spreadsheet before production.
- The workshop prints or receives the labels and checks a sample by scanning.
- The label goes in a standard position, visible without opening the bag.
- The size on the sewn-in label and the size behind the barcode must match: a mix-up here causes returns from end customers.
EAN codes are obtained by the brand owner through the authorised organisation; the workshop does not make them up.
Packing for e-commerce
The garment usually goes straight from the warehouse to the end customer, sometimes in the very bag you packed it in. So:
- the bag must be clean, sealed and the required size;
- folding must be compact and uniform, to cut storage and shipping costs;
- inserts (message cards, care instructions) are added only if requested;
- do not add anything that is not in the specification, such as pins or clips.
Cartons and advance notices
Warehouses prefer cartons containing a single SKU or, if mixed, an exact content list stuck on the carton. Each carton carries the label generated by the warehouse system or the client, the carton number and the total. Before dispatch, the client (or the workshop, if it has access) enters the advance shipping notice in the warehouse system, with quantities per SKU.
The quantities in the notice must match exactly what is in the cartons. A difference of a few pieces can block goods-in for the whole delivery until it is cleared up.
An example order for an online brand
Let's assume an online basics brand orders 900 light summer tees in 3 colours and 6 sizes, so 18 SKUs, for its fulfilment warehouse. Plan for:
- the SKU spreadsheet and barcodes approved before cutting;
- barcode labels printed and test-scanned;
- individual bags, one SKU per carton;
- a packing list by SKU, also used for the advance notice.
For the navy colourway, a fabric such as our navy 135 g single jersey suits a light summer tee and folds compactly. As a stock article, it lets the brand make quick repeats of the SKUs that sell, without ordering a full lot in one colour.
Common mistakes
- barcodes assigned to the wrong sizes;
- labels stuck on bags in different positions;
- cartons that are too heavy or over the maximum accepted size;
- delivery without a notice, or with a notice that differs from the content.
For online brands that want fast repeats, fabrics from our Afumați stock are sold by the roll with no minimum. For whole collections in their own colours, ask for a made-to-order quote, from 150 kg per colour.
Frequently asked questions
Who applies barcode labels, the workshop or the client?
It is agreed per order. The most efficient approach is for the workshop to apply them at packing, from the SKU spreadsheet approved by the client. The client remains responsible for the codes being correct, and the workshop for putting them on the right garment and size.
What happens if the warehouse refuses the delivery?
Depending on the warehouse's rules, goods may be returned, relabelled at the warehouse for a fee or held until the issue is cleared. Costs usually fall on the brand, which may pass them on to the workshop if the error was its own. That is why you check requirements before production.
Can I deliver directly to a marketplace warehouse?
Yes, if the client registers or authorises you as a shipper on their account and you follow the warehouse's rules. Ask the client for the supplier guide and delivery booking access. Without a booking, many warehouses will not accept goods.
