How Fossa Helps Zorch Deliver On-Demand Branded Apparel to Fortune-500 Companies

At Fossa, we pride ourselves on creating branded apparel that helps end users stand out in a sea of sameness. We also love working with customers who dare to be different.  

Take Zorch for example. The promotional products distributor has a unique, technology-driven business model that allows Fortune-500 companies to order branded merchandise on-demand. This means Zorch does not purchase items in bulk and store them in a warehouse like most distributors. Instead, Zorch offers each of its corporate clients—which encompass industries from healthcare to technology to finance—an e-store that’s customized to their brand. Through this retail-style shopping experience, corporations can purchase the items they need, when they need them.   

From there, Zorch’s technology platform is set up for turnkey order processing. When Zorch receives an order from a client through its online swag store, its technology platform automatically generates a vendor purchase order. Clients enjoy the convenience of self-service and a rich selection of products without having to worry about inventory storage or shipping logistics.   

Behind the scenes, Zorch works to find nimble branded apparel manufacturers who can complement its one-of-a-kind business model through fast-turn, on-demand production. And that’s where Fossa comes in.

The Challenge

Zorch’s biggest challenge is that, due to economies of scale, very few vendors offer on-demand decoration and shipping for small quantities, let alone single-piece orders. In 2020, Zorch was evaluating this limited selection of vendors, in search of a partner that would not only work with its business model but also offer great quality and value, innovative designs, and a variety of decoration methods.  

While Fossa fit the bill, it was more than our capabilities that helped us stand out; it was also our brand values. Zorch is very strict in choosing its partners, and Fossa’s background as a woman- and minority owned family business aligned with what Zorch and its clients are looking for. Large corporations like JP Morgan Chase, Ecolab, State Farm, and Citibank have DEI initiatives that encourage partnerships with diverse suppliers like Fossa.  

Our Solution & Services

Due to the nature of Zorch’s clients—high-profile accounts with budgets that allow them to gravitate toward retail-inspired designs—the distributor found perfect alignment with Fossa. Our designs and quality are on par with retail but come at a lower cost and in a wider range of sizes. While most retail brands only go up to size 3XL, Fossa offers size inclusivity, with apparel available in sizes XS through 5XL. Fossa’s agile in-house decoration facilities are also equipped to handle on-demand programs and save clients the costs of shipping apparel to a third-party decorator. Unlike many of our competitors, our assembly lines and embroidery machines are set up to handle single-piece decoration orders.    

“Partnering with Zorch was about finding each other’s sweet spot,” said Fossa President Michelle Chen. “While we have the look corporate craves and branding capabilities to complement a variety of products, we are thoughtful in the way we pitch different branding placements depending on what we know about a client.”  

This mindset helps Zorch stock its clients’ swag stores with apparel that’s the perfect fit for employees. If a client is on the conservative side, Fossa will offer apparel with clean and simple left-chest branding, the industry standard. If a client welcomes creative input, Fossa showcases fun and unique branding placements, such as on the bottom hem or upper shoulder blade, along with different decoration methods to really push the boundaries of creative branding.

The Result

Despite all the advantages that Fossa brought to the table, working with Zorch was a leap of faith. We trusted that over time, the partnership would generate the high volume of orders required for Fossa to run a very labor-intensive program at a low margin.   

Within just 12 months, our revenue figures made it clear that our new partnership was a success. Zorch had inserted Fossa into almost all its major programs, and we have stayed on pace as demand continues to increase, never falling behind in order processing. We make sure that if certain Fossa products are placed in several of Zorch’s programs, we dial up our inventory to best support the demand. For example, our Eco-Friendly collection performs particularly well among Zorch’s ESG-minded clientele, so we ensure apparel made with sustainable fabrics is always well stocked.  

We have also implemented new processes and tools to drive efficiency specifically with Zorch. We created an internal flow chart so that at any given time, Zorch knows the exact status of any pending order. We also created a dynamic quoting tool to help streamline order pricing with Zorch, eliminating a high volume of back-and-forth communication. “Our proactive efforts are all in the name of providing great service,” says Michelle.   

And this extra effort does not go unnoticed. “Fossa has been a great supplier to work with, especially when we need something for a small order with a quick turnaround time,” says Alissa Cagney, Vice President of Merchandising & Supply Chain at Zorch. “They are clear in their communication and always provide fast responses. On top of it all, our customers are happy when they find out we worked with a women-owned, diverse vendor. Overall, Fossa provides excellent customer service to Zorch!”

Looking for a branded apparel partner who fits your unique business model? Let’s chat!

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