Problems with the storage of deadstock in the fashion industry

The damaging waste of clothes

During every season of every year, 30% of clothes and shoes produced by fashion brands go unsold. These garments often get stored away in warehouses for months, even years sometimes, without use.

However, sending clothes to storage facilities creates various complications for companies:

• Appropriately maintaining the warehouse to store these spare clothing items creates a significant expense. Additionally, employing workers to store the tonnes of clothing in warehouses also adds to the company’s costs.
• There is a high chance that when the clothes are returned to be resold, they won’t be desirable by customers as they may be out of fashion.
• More often than not, product cannibalisation takes place in the retail environment. This term describes the way a company’s old product reduces the purchases of new products.

In the worst cases, these extra textile products get dumped into landfills or destroyed by other means, leading to environmental pollution and wastage.

How to transform the costs generated by transportation, storage, and maintenance of unsold clothes into something good.

A company’s reputation is built over time through its interactions with customers, employees, suppliers, and the community. It is influenced by a variety of factors, including the quality of its products and services, the level of customer service it provides, its ethical and environmental practices, and its overall commitment to social responsibility.

There are a few things that companies can do to differentiate and grow brand recognition when it comes to social responsibility and environmental-friendly practices, and this is donating surplus stock.

The importance and benefits of donating surplus stock.

In the UK, limited companies can claim Corporation Tax relief on the value of the stock they donate to charity, meaning that they can deduct the value of the stock from their taxable profits. On top of this, donations can reduce many of the costs associated with the storage and disposal of clothing items.

Businesses that donate surplus stock gain a competitive advantage by growing their brand awareness and make a difference to potential clients and the community. Not to mention, donations are also very attractive to employees as many will be drawn to companies that are concerned about social and environmental issues regarding the wastage of textile items, which can help businesses to retain top talent.

Ultimately, by donating to We Recycle Clothes, businesses participate in helping the community by providing unsold clothing to charities, which can change the lives of families and individuals.

How to get started

We Recycle Clothes provides the perfect free-of-charge service for these companies to provide for charities in many different struggling communities.

Go to our website www.werecycleclothes.org.uk to schedule a free pick-up service to any place of business.

The resources, cost, and labour put into making a single garment of clothing are important and should never be wasted or destroyed.

Get in touch with us to make the most out of your products.