Business is about numbers. Let’s move beyond feelings and look at the real math behind choosing a label supplier. That “cheaper” quote often hides costs that silently eat into your profit and brand equity.
The Visible Math (The Quote):
- Supplier A (Cheap): $0.07 per label. MOQ 1000pcs. Total: $70.
- Supplier B (Us, Quality): $0.11 per label. MOQ 1000pcs. Total: $110.
- Per-Garment “Savings” with A: $0.04.
The Invisible Math (The Real Cost):
1. Defect & Rejection Cost:
- Cheap supplier defect rate: ~5% (industry low-end average).
- Defective labels in your batch: 50 pieces.
- Cost to replace garments (fabric, labor, lost time): $15 per garment (conservative).
- Hidden cost: 50 * $15 = $750.
2. Customer Return & Reputation Cost:
- A frayed, faded label leads to returns and negative reviews.
- Cost of a single return (refund, shipping, restocking): $30.
- Even 2-3 returns from a batch of 1000 garments: $60 – $90.
- Hidden cost of brand damage: Priceless, but real.
3. Operational Friction Cost:
- Your time spent managing the bad supplier: emails, complaints, re-orders.
- Value of your time: $50/hour. Just 2 hours of hassle: $100.
The Real Total Cost Comparison:
- Supplier A (Cheap): $70 (quoted) + $750 (defects) + $75 (returns) + $100 (your time) = $995.
- Supplier B (Us): $110 (quoted) + $0 (near-zero defects) + $0 (returns) + $0 (hassle) = $110.
Cost per Sellable Garment:
- With Supplier A: $995 / 950 good garments = $1.05 per garment.
- With Us: $110 / 1000 good garments = $0.11 per garment.
The Bottom Line:
That “cheaper” $0.04 saving per label can multiply into $0.94 of extra cost per sellable garment when the hidden costs are counted. Quality isn’t an expense; it’s insurance against these catastrophic hidden costs.
Invest in Your Bottom Line.
Buying quality labels is one of the highest-ROI decisions you can make for your brand’s profitability and sanity.
Let’s calculate the real cost for your next order. Send us your specs, and we’ll show you the math for your specific volumes.