Helpful Hints

WHEN DO I PLACE ORDERS?
• Orders for Summer deliveries are placed from late January until mid-late March for delivery in July/August/September.
• Orders for Winter deliveries are placed from late July until mid-late September for deliveries in January/February/March.

These orders are called indent orders.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I PLACE MY ORDERS?
• After you have placed your order with your agent, it will be sent to the manufacturer.
• The manufacturer then collates all the orders and sends them to their factories overseas to commence production of the garments.
• Orders with the factories are placed shortly after you have placed your order with the agent.

WHAT DO I DO IF I WANT TO CHANGE MY ORDER?
• Please consider very carefully the garments you are ordering and the amount you are spending when you are placing your order.
• It is essential that any changes to your order are made within 7 days of placing your order.
• Contact your agent if you wish to make any changes.
• Please note: all changes to orders must be made in writing.
• Orders cannot be canceled or changed once production has commenced.

ACCOUNT APPLICATION FORMS
• All new retailers will be required to complete account application forms (sometimes called credit application forms).
• Each company will have their own account application form so you will probably have a few to fill in.
• Some companies will not place your order until the account application has been received, so please make it a priority to complete these.

WHAT INFO DO I NEED TO FILL IN AN ACCOUNT APPLICATION FORM
• Shop name, address, phone, fax and email details
• ABN/ABN
• Bank account details
• Three trade references including company names, addresses, phone and fax. If you are a new business, you may not have any trade references. Don’t worry about that, we will discuss when you come in for your appointment.
• Please bring the above information to your appointment so that you can fill in the required account application forms.

PROFORMA PAYMENTS
• The majority of companies will open your account with proforma payments. Proforma payments are payments that are made to the company before delivery.
• Please make sure that you allow for this in your seasonal budgets.
• Prompt payment of your proforma account will secure your stock. By paying your proforma payments promptly, you will establish a good trading record and you will be well on the way to establishing credit accounts.
• You will still need to send in your completed account application, even if you are paying proforma, as this will provide delivery details to the company.

MOST COMPANIES REQUIRE YOUR CREDIT CARD DETAILS FOR FIRST DELIVERY PAYMENT. PLEASE HAVE THESE DETAILS WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME TO YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT.

30 DAY ACCOUNTS
• Once you have established that you are a prompt payer and your application for credit has been approved, most companies will place you on a 30 day account.
• Some suppliers offer discounts for early payment of accounts.
• If discount terms are not detailed on your invoice, it is worth a phone call to the company to ask what discounts are available for 7 day or 14 day payment.
• This can be a considerable saving to the retailer that can add up to thousands of dollars in a year.

HOW DO I ORDER EXTRA STOCK?
• Most manufacturers only make enough stock for the orders placed. In some cases there may be some extra stock available, particularly early in the season.
• Contact Tight Knit if you require stock in season.

ORDERS FOR BASICS/ESSENTIALS
• Some companies offer products that are available all year round. These are known as basics or essentials.
• There are separate order forms for these products.
• Orders are usually completed within a week and dispatched to the retailer once payment has been received.
• For new retailers, orders will be proforma until the retailer is placed on a 30 day account.
• Most suppliers have a minimum order, this info will be made clear at each showing.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN PLACING ORDERS FOR THE FIRST TIME
• Have a budget worked out.
• Allow extra time to familiarise yourself with the different ranges available. Ask your agent how much time to allow. In some cases it may be advisable to make two appointments.
• Be fresh: These are important decisions you are making, so morning or early afternoon appointments are always best.
• Avoid distractions: It is very difficult to concentrate and make those vital decisions when you are distracted by young children. Please make suitable arrangements as you see fit.

You are required to place your order in the showroom. If you wish to make any changes you can do so within 7 days. All changes must be made in writing.

If orders are not placed and signed at the time of showing, no responsibility can be taken by your agent for incorrect orders or orders not placed.