PVC Yoga Mat Factory – Definitive FAQ Guide

Have you started a new distribution center business and are looking for a PVC yoga mat factory to buy products from them? Well, you are on a long journey to find a reliable one. 

To help you in this quest, we have compiled this ultimate guide on the PVC yoga mat factories. This guide will teach you how you can start hunting for a PVC yoga mat factory. 

In this article, we are going to discuss different yoga mat factory models options and how you can establish a business relationship with them. 

So, without any delay, let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

What are the selling methods used by PVC yoga mat factories?

PVC yoga mat factory can sell its products using three channels. These channels are based on how many times the product travels from seller to buyer before reaching its final customer. 

Distribution Channels of PVC Yoga Mat Factory

One Level Channel

In this channel, there is only one middleman between the manufacturer and the customer. This middle-man is known as the retailer. 

Figure 1: One-level distribution channel Illustration

The PVC yoga mat factory sells the products to the retailer. The retailer then sells the product to the consumers or end-users. 

Two-level Channel

In this channel, three are two intermediaries between the manufacturer and the consumer. 

Figure 2: Two-level distribution channel Illustration

The two intermediaries in this channel are the wholesaler and the retailer. The wholesaler buys products from the PVC yoga mat factory and sells them to the retailer. Consumers buy the yoga mat from the retailer. 

Three-level Channel

This channel involves three intermediaries. It is the longest form of distribution channel. In this channel, the products go from the manufacturer to an agent. The agent then sells it to the wholesaler from where it goes to the retailer and then to the consumer. 

Figure 3: Three-level distribution channel Illustration 

The agents are hired by the manufacturers. They have to find buyers for the manufacturers. On the other hand, some wholesalers also hire agents to find the best PVC yoga mat manufacturers for them. 

Understanding the different distribution channels is important because it will help you decide which PVC yoga mat distribution channel suits best your business requirements. 

What are the benefits of buying directly from a PVC yoga mat factory?

There are multiple benefits of buying directly from the PVC yoga mat factory. Some of those benefits are as follows:

• Cheaper Products
• Direct Communication Channel
• Can Be Bought in Smaller Quantities
• Better Transportation
• Better Customer Support
• Best Quality Management 

Cheaper Products

If you buy directly from a PVC yoga mat factory, your chances of getting company discounts are highest. Besides, you will only pay for the product manufacturing and the company’s profit. The expenditure for all the intermediaries will be eliminated in this case. 

Figure 4: Comparison between the purchase cost from different distribution channels 

Can Be Bought in Smaller Quantities

All PVC yoga mat factories have a minimum order quantity also known as MOQ. However, these MOQs are sometimes too large for small companies. But that is not something you should worry about. Because there are multiple ways through which you can order small quantities of PVC yoga mats. 

The following are a few ways to do that:

• Those PVC yoga mat factories that are trying to establish a customer base outside their country are very likely to set up a low MOQ. Therefore, if you need to order small quantities, you can do business with such manufacturers. 
• If you establish long-term contact with a PVC yoga mat factory, they may agree to supply your smaller quantities of products. 
• Some factories might have extra stock. If you buy from them, they will be happy to sell you the required quantity as some of their load will be lessened. 
• If you have a budget, you can pay a slightly higher price for the products to lower the MOQ.

Direct Communication Channel

If you buy directly from a PVC yoga mat factory, you can directly contact them in case anything goes wrong. It can either be related to the product quality or the delivery faults. 

Therefore, you are more likely to be listened to and the manufacturers try their best to resolve your issues. It also reduces the chances of any miscommunication or misconceptions. 

Figure 5: Negative aspects of bad and indirect communication

Better Transportation

Multiple issues can arise during the transportation of the products. If you buy from any wholesaler or retailer, they are not responsible to keep a check on the quality of the product during delivery. 

They also do not have a say in the order placement and shipment lines. Therefore, there is a higher chance that your shipment might be delayed. It is best to buy directly from the factory to avoid all these issues. 

Better Quality Management 

If you buy directly from the PVC yoga mat factory, they are responsible for resolving issues if there is anything wrong with the product. However, if you buy from a wholesaler, the factory is not responsible for any missing items or damaged products since they shipped the products to the wholesaler. 

Even if the wholesaler or the distributor agrees to resolve the issue, they will contact the factory and the resolution time would be a lot. 

Better Customer Service

The PVC yoga mat factory knows its products best. You can take selling or usage advice from them. You can also ask them the best usage method of the products. All this is not possible from the wholesalers since they are just buying the products from someone and selling them forward keeping their profit margin. 

What are the benefits of becoming a wholesaler or distributor of PVC yoga mats?

Figure 6: Pros and cons of being a wholesaler and distributor

To know the benefits, you should first understand what these wholesalers and distributors do. Here is a brief description of that:

Wholesaler

Wholesalers are the companies or individuals who buy products from the factories in bulk quantity and sell them to the end-users or small shop owners. Their selling price is very high as compared to the original price. 

They are not bound by any contract. Wholesalers usually follow two-level and three-level distribution channels. However, their reach is limited as they sell only to retailers or end-users. They do not need much marketing to sell their products. 

Distributor

As the name indicates, distributors are the ones that buy products from the factory and pass it on to different distribution channels. 

They are usually bound in a contract with the factory. These contracts determine if they are allowed to sell other products or not.

They follow a three-level distribution channel hence their serving area is large. They can sell products to end-users, retailers, as well as wholesalers. They require active marketing techniques to improve their sales. 

If you want to analyze whether being a wholesaler or distributor suits you, read the following advantages and disadvantages

Pros and Cons of being a Distributor

Figure 7: Advantages of being a distributor

A distributor enjoys the perks of a long-term contract with the PVC yoga mat factory. However, they are not allowed to utilize the manufacturer’s name for marketing purposes. They can use the product description and names only. 

Distributors are the first point of contact of the PVC yoga mat factory. All the updates reach them first. On the other hand, some people think that being a distributor is equivalent to being the factory’s employee. 

Some contracts between the distributor and the factory allow them to be the sole seller of their products. Therefore, if the product is in high demand, they can gain huge profits. However, in those contracts, distributors are not allowed to sell products from the factory’s competitors. 

Some distributors might be able to earn money only if they promote the manufacturer’s products and establish deals with the retailers and wholesalers. However, in some cases, this income is not sufficient and might be lower than the wholesalers. 

In some types of contracts, distributors can also sell the products from the competitors. In that case, there is no restriction on the income source. Some manufacturers might handle the costs of establishing a distributing business. In that case, you can start your business with minimum to no investment. 

The distribution market does not have a lot of competition. Therefore, there are higher chances of establishing a trusted name. The selling options are not limited. A distributor can sell the products to wholesalers, retailers, to even end-users. 

Since distributors are directly in contact with the manufacturer and receive all the updates, retailers contact them to buy new models of products that are not yet available in the market. 

Pros and Cons of being a Wholesaler

Figure 8: Benefits of being a Wholesaler

Wholesalers are not usually in direct contact with the manufacturers, therefore, they can sell every type of product they want. Although wholesalers mostly buy from distributors, buying directly from the manufacturer is also possible. 

They are free to set the selling terms and conditions. However, their selling scope is restricted only to end-users and retailers. 

Wholesalers buy the products at a very low cost as compared to the original price. However, they have to beat a lot of competition in the market. 

It is estimated that wholesalers earn much higher than the distributors because of no contractual obligations with the supplier and minimum marketing requirements. 

How can I establish a wholesale partnership with the PVC yoga mat factory?

Before we talk about how you can establish a wholesale partnership with the PVC yoga mat factory, let us talk about how this system works. 

Understand this scheme below to know about the system. 

After you understand the scheme, you need to design a working business model. The following steps are involved in this process:

• Identify the selling market
• Determine your preferred wholesale business style
• Locate an office and warehouse
• Choose a PVC yoga mat factory
• Go online through the website
• Create rules and regulations such as return policy

Identify the Selling Market

Firstly, you need to decide where you will be selling your products. You can sell within your city, province, country, or you can reach international customers depending on your capabilities. 

Locate an Office and Warehouse

You can choose an office location depending on your business model. Many people choose convenient options such as home-based offices. However, if you are sourcing products directly from the manufacturer, this might not be the best option for you. 

You should choose a location for your office and warehouse that can be as close to the factory and your customers as possible. 

If you want to determine a suitable location for your office, consider the following points:

• Rental taxes and rates

In the initial stages of business, you will probably have to find a warehouse on lease. In that case, the rental rates in the United States range from $2.56/sqft to $16.50/sqft.

Moreover, you should also carefully analyze the government regulations, tax structure, and incentives in your locality. There is a high chance that you might find something useful for your business. 

• Availability of workforce

It would be in your best interests to choose a warehouse location where you have access to cheap labor. If you choose an area that has a larger number of warehouses with a lesser workforce, the costs would naturally increase. Therefore, it will have a negative impact on your profit margins. 

Figure 10: Graph showing the relationship between wage rate and labor demand

While finding the workforce, also analyze their skill level. If you find an amateur workforce at cheap rates, that would not be in your favor. It would affect the customer service and warehouse management. Delayed or canceled orders, mishandled products are just a few of those problems. 

• Accessibility

The following are some of the required characteristics of a suitable warehouse:

1. Access to exit ramps and highways
2. Average traffic volume and speed
3. Connection with highway
4. Excellent road conditions
5. Public transportation availability
6. Road signals and safety signs placement

• Proximity

A warehouse that is close to airports, seaports, railways, and your target market would be beneficial in all aspects. 

What are the target markets for PVC yoga mat factories?

PVC yoga mat factories sell their products to wholesalers, distributors, and retailers. Although they advertise their products by showing advertisements regarding usage, they do not usually sell to end-users. 

Figure 9: Points to conduct consumer analysis 

As a wholesaler for PVC yoga mats, you should know the variety of target audiences. It will help you in making correct marketing strategies. 

Here is a brief description of who, when, and why people buy PVC yoga mats. 

Who?

• Women in their 20s or 30s. 
• Health and fitness enthusiasts
• Those who can afford such products
• People who do yoga to release their stress and to remain physically fit. 
• Yogis looking to have the ultimate experience
• People who travel and appreciate art

Why?

• New yogis who want to buy an affordable yoga mat
• People looking for a cool or cute yoga mat
• Previous mats are slippery or worn out
• Current mats do not meet their standards or smell bad
• New mat at the starting of the new year
• To gift someone

When?

• January and February

People often buy new things at the start of the new year and a yoga mat is no exception. It is done to begin the new year with lifted spirits. Therefore, a yoga mat can add to their new year experience. 

• Summer

Selling a yoga mat in early summer is very beneficial. People want to live the best summer in their trunks or bikinis. Therefore, they find yoga a great way to connect with nature. 

• November and December

These two months are the holiday and gifts season. There is a fair chance that the yoga community might be gifting yoga mats to each other. 

Which type of wholesalers are preferred by PVC yoga mat factories?

PVC yoga mat factories very carefully choose the wholesalers. They analyze the factors that fit the structure of their business. They only choose wholesalers that are trustworthy to ensure that their products are in safe hands. 

The following are the few types of wholesalers:

• Merchant

These wholesalers hire agents between them and the retailers. The brokers or agents find clients for the wholesalers and earn commission on every sale. 

Merchant wholesalers often sell a wide range of products. They might hire multiple agents for each category of the products.

• Specialty

Specialty wholesalers only sell a specific type of product. 

The benefit of being a specialty wholesaler is that all your resources and efforts are focused on one type of product, therefore, the chances of marketing success are higher. Since you develop ample experience in that field over time. 

• Online

Online wholesalers sell their products on B2B websites such as eBay, Alibaba, or DHgate. In this type of wholesale, you have to open an account on the website and create listings for your products. Digital marketing strategies are very important in this case. 

• Dropshipper

Dropshippers also sell their products online. They do not own the products. They connect with retailers that deliver the products to customer’s addresses. 

Figure 11: Schematic representation of dropshipping 

This model works on a contractual basis. The dropshipper receives the order on their website. They forward this order to the wholesaler who then delivers the products. The dropshipper earns a commission on each sale. 

What are wholesaler’s characteristics that PVC yoga mat factories require?

PVC yoga mat factories look for the following characteristics in a wholesaler.

• Place regular orders
• Order more than or equal to the MOQ
• Have a wide base of customers 
• Have excellent communication skills
• Never delay payments
• Can establish a friendly partnership

Whenever you contact a PVC yoga mat factory, highlight these characteristics to increase the chances of establishing a partnership with them. You can also give them business strategies that will help them in growing the business. In this way, they will know that you value them. 

How to find a PVC yoga mat factory to source products for my wholesale business?

The following are the methods to find a reliable PVC yoga mat factory:

Internet

You can find a PVC yoga mat factory by searching on Google, social media, and B2B marketplaces. 

Social Media

LinkedIn and Facebook are the best social media websites to find a PVC yoga mat factory. These websites give you insights into the company size, procedures, and head office location. You can also connect with the company employees and talk to them about the factory’s operating procedures and much more. 

Figure 12: Yanre Fitness LinkedIn Profile

B2B websites

These websites are a great way to find PVC yoga mat factories. It also features reviews from past customers. Moreover, you can compare different factories in one place. All this can be done in a few searches. 

Some of the most famous B2B websites are as follows:

• Alibaba
• eWorldTrade
• DHgate
• EC21
• Marker’s Row
• Thomasnet

Google

You must have heard the phrase that Google knows everything. Therefore, you can easily find many PVC yoga mats on Google. 

To narrow down your list, you can search using the keywords “best PVC yoga mat factories” or “reliable PVC yoga mat factories”. In the results, you will find multiple blogs discussing the top factories. You can skim those articles to find the name of manufacturers that are frequently appearing in most of them. 

Exhibitions and Trade Shows

You can find PVC yoga mat factories in multiple types of exhibitions such as health and fitness and gym accessory trade shows. 

Figure 13: Yanre Strength display in an exhibition 

The following are a few advantages of finding reliable manufacturers through trade shows or exhibitions:

• The PVC yoga mat factories appearing in these trade shows are reliable because they are initially surveyed by the exhibition organizers. 
• You can meet the factory representative there and get answers to your queries. 
• You can physically inspect the PVC yoga mats in the exhibition. It will also save you the costs of visiting their factories. 
• You can find a manufacturer quicker than usual. Moreover, you can also compare different manufacturers participating in that exhibition. 

You can easily find information about the upcoming tradeshows and exhibitions about health and fitness on multiple websites. 

Networks

You can consult your social circle about PVC yoga mat factories. It can include your friends, colleagues, and business partners. They might refer you to some reliable manufacturers or agents. 

Figure 14: Use your social circle to find a reliable PVC yoga mat factory

Your country must have a chamber of commerce. These organizations usually have a list of verified PVC yoga mat factories. 

Sourcing Agencies

Multiple sourcing agencies connect buyers to manufacturers. They can probably connect you with multiple factories. Besides that, they can also be useful for the following purposes:

• Act as a negotiation agent on your behalf
• Communication your payment terms
• Test the quality of products
• Conduct market research
• Check the quality standards
• Conduct factory audits
• Assist you in logistics matters such as shipment and import/export process
• Help in hiring a QC

Figure 15: Qualities of a Good Sourcing agency 

What is the process of choosing a PVC yoga mat factory?

Follow the steps below to choose a reliable PVC yoga mat factory among various options:

• Ask for a custom price quote from your shortlisted manufacturers
• Based on that price quote, choose 5 of them
• Order sample products from those manufacturers
• Choose the top 3 manufacturers from that list based on the quality of products
• Do a factory audit for all three of them
• Choose the best manufacturer from those 3. It is important to note here that you can also order supplies from multiple manufactures for your wholesale business. In this way, you will be able to provide a variety of products to your customers. 

What should I mention while asking for a custom price quote from the PVC yoga mat factory?

While asking for a custom price quote from the PVC yoga mat factory, mention the following details:

• Name of your company along with a brief description
• Your required PVC yoga mat specifications such as thickness, dimensions, color, design, texture, etc.)
• The required quantity of PVC yoga mats (If you are ordering multiple types of mats, clearly mention their names and the quantity required for each mat)
• Complete Shipping address with postal code

Figure 16: Custom price request template

While you ask for a price quote, ask the manufacturer for the following information:

• Price for each type of mat you are ordering
• Shipping and other logistics charges
• Their minimum order quantity (MOQ)
• Payment methods and conditions
• Product patents
• Quality and standard certifications
• Time required from order placement to delivery
• Publicity brochures for the products you are ordering

This information is important because it will help you in estimating the credibility of PVC yoga mat factories. Tabulate the data received from each manufacturer to perform a comparison. After careful analysis, choose a manufacturer that fulfills most of your requirements. 

What information do I need to give the PVC yoga mat factory while ordering sample products?

The following information should be given to the PVC yoga mat factory while ordering sample products:

• Make a list of all the products you want to order. Carefully mention the specifications such as model number, color, thickness, and dimensions. 
• Ask for the price of the sample
• Complete shipping address
• Mention in the request that you intend to run quality tests on the samples
• Ask about the time required for delivery of the samples. 

Figure 17: Product sample request form

What do I need to check in the PVC yoga mat factory during visitation?

You need to check the following points while visiting the PVC yoga mat factory:

• The facility should be organized efficiently
• They should have the production capabilities for bulk orders
• The factory should provide a good working environment for their employees
• They should have a warehouse to store their inventory. 
• The products should be properly maintained. 

Factory Organization

If you want to analyze if a factory is properly organized or not, then you should check if they follow the 5S of workplace organization

Set in order: Their tools are organized according to easy access and usage.

Sort: They follow proper procedures to organize products and discard waste. 

Shine: The factory is properly cleaned. 

Sustain: They set forth rules to ensure that everyone follows the 5S of workplace organization. 

Standardize: They take equipment maintenance seriously and follows all the guidelines to ensure all equipment work properly

Figure 18: 5S of workplace organization

Production Capacity and Planning

You can check this characteristic by observing the following points:

Target achievement: This information will tell you if the factory’s production meets its set targets or not. It can be found on the visual boards of the production department. 

Relying on sub-suppliers: some factories use sub-suppliers for packaging and delivery purposes. While others order some products from different manufacturers. Make sure that your chosen factory does not rely a lot on other suppliers. This is because too much involvement can decrease the quality of products, increase the production and shipping timings. 

Operation planning during festivals: Ask the representative about how they manage their manufacturing and shipping procedures during holidays such as Thanksgiving, New Year, and Christmas. If possible, ask for their operation scheme for these days of the previous year. Since these festivals delay the work, it is important to carefully plan the procedures to ensure that production targets and commitments are fulfilled. 

Working Conditions

Carefully observe the working conditions in the factory. Here are a few things that you should note:

• Employees should be wearing adequate PPE. 
• All equipment must be tagged with repair and maintenance updates. 
• The factory should be properly ventilated. 
• There are minimal to no safety hazards. 
• Evacuation plans and pathways should be properly labeled. 

Figure 19: Excellent working conditions

Inventory and Warehouse

Here are a few things that you should check about the factory warehouse:

• All products and raw materials should be used on a first-in-first-out policy. 
• Flammable and toxic materials should be properly stored.
• The materials should be properly addressed. Their names, quantity, usage, etc. should be labeled. 
• Sufficient storage space for bulk orders. 

Figure 20: Efficient warehousing

What are the quality control measures for a PVC yoga mat factory?

Yanre Strength, a trusted PVC yoga mat factory, follows the following quality control measures:

Product measurement (thickness, size)

• Appearance check
• Function check
• Colorfastness
• Odor check
• Pantone comparison
• Seam strength test
• Fitting tests for parts
• Loading test
• If applicable, material density check
• Adhesive quality check

Factory’s QC and, in some cases, third parties do all these quality tests to ensure that all products are of the best quality. Yanre Strength ensures appropriate QC for all products. 

Can I get customized mats from the PVC yoga mat factory?

Yes, PVC yoga mat factories can customize the mats on request. However, the customization services depend on the available equipment. You might have to negotiate a bit to get your demands fulfilled. 

Yanre Strength offers multiple customization services for PVC yoga mats. We have patented designs and a well-equipped R&D facility to meet customer requirements. 

Can I get my logo printed on mats from the PVC yoga mat factory?

Yes, PVC yoga mat factories like Yanre Strength can print the logo on your mats. Please contact us for more information regarding these customization services. 

Conclusion

We hope that after reading this detailed FAQ guide, you are now ready to choose a PVC yoga mat factory to fulfill your business requirements. 

We assure you that you will find Yanre Strength as your best business companion. Our yoga mats are of the highest quality with an affordable price tag. 

If you need to know more about our services, please feel free to contact us. We would be delighted to assist you.

Recommended Reading: The Ultimate Gym Owner’s Buying Guide to Yoga Mats