A new virtual component added to Costa Mesa-based Z Supply LLC’s wholesale platform brings the online lookbook that much closer to the in-real-life experience.
While buyers won’t necessarily be able to feel fabrics like they can in-person at a showroom, they can see the fit on models via the latest addition to the apparel company’s ShopB2Z, a business-to-business online portal.
Voiceover narration of each garment plays as video footage of the product is shown. Pieces can then be added to a cart with checkout also done through the platform.
Retailers also have access to stats to inform buying decisions.
ShopB2Z is relatively new, launched by Z Supply in 2018. It uses proprietary software.
Z Supply is a multi-brand portfolio apparel company with its namesake line, in addition to Rag Poets, White Crow and Others Follow.
“Since ShopB2Z was recently launched, it has been steadily growing and accounting for a larger percentage of our total wholesale business as time goes on,” said Z Supply E-commerce and IT Director Tyler Beckert.
COVID helped accelerate the trend, and perhaps also points to how transactions between brands and buyers ultimately changes post-pandemic.
“Since the pandemic and lockdowns, this percentage to total has continued to grow at an even faster rate thanks to the virtual showroom area of the site, which seeks to emulate the trade show experience,” Beckert said.
Plans call for additional features to be added to the platform in the future, such as real-time conferencing and reordering backed by artificial intelligence.
