Professionals
Souvenir shop in Guadeloupe: preparing your first T-shirt stock
For a souvenir shop in Guadeloupe, starting with three designs may seem limited. Adding multiple colors and sizes quickly increases the number of references. Before working with a local workshop in the Antilles, prepare a selection that remains clear to customers and easy for your team to manage. Here is a method with a numerical example.
Counting combinations, not just designs
Here is an example: 3 designs, 2 colors, and 5 sizes yield 30 unique combinations. With 2 items of each, the stock totals 60 T-shirts. Adding a third color raises the assortment to 90 pieces. These are example calculations, not minimum order quantities or recommended distributions.
Do this calculation before choosing variants. A seemingly simple new item can add many pieces. By distinguishing models, sizes, and colors upfront, you can discuss an accurate assortment rather than isolated design counts.
Assign a clear role to each part of the assortment
Separate pieces that best represent the section’s identity from those you want to test. An assortment should be clear for customers but also for the team: being able to find a size or explain differences between models is part of the decision.
Don’t assign the same number of pieces to every size automatically. Use your past sales if available or treat your first selection as a hypothesis to observe. Note sizes requested but unavailable, since sales alone don’t show all demands.
Plan a simple follow-up from the first sale.
For each reference, keep a stable title combining model, design, color and size. Track initial stock, sales and remaining items. Add notes when a customer requests another variant: this information helps to adjust the next order.
Also consider the presentation. A poorly visible item may sell less even if the design is good. Before removing a reference, compare its placement, remaining sizes, and team feedback. These observations are more useful than a general impression of the display.
Plan restocking based on the point of sale
In Guadeloupe, please specify if the merchandise is intended for a sales point in Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, or one of the islands in the archipelago. For other destinations in the Antilles, also indicate the exact location. Ask about delivery times and arrangements before planning, as these affect stock needs and the timing of your next order.
Restocking thresholds are based on your sales rhythm and confirmed lead time. There isn’t a single threshold for all shops. A regularly requested reference deserves different attention than a design tested on a few items.
Prepare a workable reseller request
Describe your store, its clientele, the space reserved for T-shirts, and your schedule. Add a table with planned combinations, quantities, and any uncertainties. Specify if you want ready-to-sell items or discuss on-demand arrangements.
Atelier Karaïbes can consider your project based on these guidelines. The products involved, professional terms, possible minimums, and deadlines will be agreed upon in a proposal. The assortment calculation helps you prepare for this discussion but does not constitute a quote or a guarantee of availability.