To hang my garments or not to hang my garments… That is a question that has long been debated within the retail supply chain.
Garments on Hanger (GOH) is apparel that is moved through some or all of the supply chain on hangers. In some stages of the supply chain they may be placed in a carton while attached to a hanger, instead of hanging on a rail or string.
If you’ve ever considered shipping GOH, you may have heard things like “I can only move my product by flat pack because…” or “I cannot afford to ship GOH due to…”
In order to determine if GOH is right for your supply chain, think about the following three key questions:
- How are you going to sell the garments? Will your garments be packed into cartons for the final mile? Will your goods be finished in the store?
If the garments are packed in cartons they are often damaged or frequently require refinishing at destination, GOH is definitely worth considering. GOH can help protect your garments throughout the supply chain.
If your garments are going to be packed into cartons for the final mile, you will more likely ship flat-packed from origin.
- What fabric are the garments made out of? How is the product affected being on a hanger? Does the fabric cause the garments to fall off more easily? Are they easily wrinkled/crushed?
Leather garments or bulkier garments are often considered for GOH movement because they normally travel better and require less re-work in the store. If you ship thicker garments, they could push hangers off the rail if they are not properly fixed to the bar.
Silky garments are sometimes more likely to fall off if they are not properly secured on the hanger.
- What is your origin and your destination? Will your factories load goods into GOH units? Can your transport partner handle GOH products at origin and destination? Can your stores/customers manage GOH units?
If your factory does not have the capabilities to handle GOH units in the factory or if the stores cannot handle larger GOH units, GOH will be less appealing. Both scenarios will result in additional handlings of the garments and/or packing the garments in smaller units.
If your factory or partners do not have the desired capabilities today, consider whether or not the benefits justify future development. It is always important to look at the end-to-end impact.
These questions should help you evaluate how product moves within the context of your current set up and product mix.
Once you have determined when it makes sense to ship GOH, the next thing is to determine how.
How you ship GOH is truly dependent on whether your logistics partner can ensure the following:
- Consistency, reliability, and availability of standardized GOH shipping units
- Garment integrity – Can the logistics provider minimize fall-off rate, crushing etc?
- Security - How will handling be minimized and theft be reduced?
- Flexible capacity - Can they provide cost-effective shipping for a range of quantities and enable better consolidation with boxed merchandise?
- Support of all modes of transportation – How will your logistics partner support multi-modal shipping options - airfreight, sea, truck, sea+air, rail, and airfreight?
- Lower costs - Can your provider ensure lower costs for your products across the end-to-end supply chain?
Finding a service provider that understands all of these factors and can create tailored solutions that meet your needs today and tomorrow is critical to your continued success.
Luckily, Expeditors has extensive expertise in this area and can help you find a tailored supply chain solution for your unique needs. Reach out to one of our retail subject matter experts for a customized needs assessment on GOH.
