PPB October 2019

and brands like SanMar, Under Armour, adidas and alphabroder. If a client wants to offer 20 products in their store, Hammer explains, the distributor would just type in the sku information to bring up the product, which they can drag and drop into their store using the platform. “We partner with all of these brands, so there’s a whole power around all of the partnerships we have in terms of inventory and product information,” she says. Once the products are selected, clients can choose the desired colors available—such as red and blue to represent school colors—and the sizes needed. A logo or brand message can be uploaded to the platform as a jpg file showing where its color, size and location on the apparel can be adjusted. Once approved, OrderMyGear steps in and handles the rest—it virtually couldn’t get any easier. After the store is launched, the distributor/consultant receives a custom link, which they can share with their client, who can share it with their group, or the end users. The store is not open indefinitely, but typically for 10 to 14 days, requiring customers to make purchases within this period. The end users can then access the store and purchase what they want, and all of the merchandise is received on an as-ordered basis. “The whole idea is that you’re giving the end user the ultimate buying power or choice around what particular product or size they want,” says Hammer. “It’s all about empowering our distributors’ clients and their end users.” It’s a win-win for all. The end users benefit because they can order precisely what they want, while the client avoids handling excess inventory, as the orders are made according to the end users’ purchases. “You’re removing the guessing game,” she says. The distributor also benefits, as after the store is closed, OrderMyGear provides analytics and backend support to help them grow their clients’ businesses, such as the most sizes ordered, the types of apparel ordered, the specific style and color ordered, etc. This can help distributors to better gauge the branded products that end users are seeking, as well as reach a greater number of clients. Normally, it would take distributors a certain amount of time to build a store, Hammer explains, which would likely result in only a few stores per year. “With OrderMyGear, you can open a store in 20 minutes and work with so many new clients, opening Since its inception in 2008, OrderMyGear has grown to more than 100 employees and near-tripled its occupied office space, spanning four floors, including a terrace. | OCTOBER 2019 | 83 THINK