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CMR vs CCR Mitumba Bales: Differences Explained

As a mitumba trader, choosing the right bale is essential to satisfy your customers and maximize profits. Many traders often ask about the differences between Children Mix Rummage (CMR) and Children Cotton Rummage (CCR). In this article, we break down these two types of bales, providing clarity to help you make informed purchasing decisions.
1. Bale Content
- CMR: Contains a mix of both lightweight and heavier clothing for children. You’ll find a blend of jackets, trousers, dresses, sweaters, jeans and shorts, making it suitable for both cold and warm seasons. This versatility is perfect for markets that experience changing weather conditions.
- CCR: Mainly contains lightweight clothes for kids such as shorts, shirts, blouses, jeans, dungarees, light rompers and t-shirts. The focus here is on warm-weather attire, ideal for regions with consistently hot climates.
2. Types of Clothing
- CMR: Includes seasonal clothing, such as jackets and sweaters for cold weather, as well as lighter garments for warmer climates. This mix makes it versatile for traders looking to stock a variety of items.
- CCR: Exclusively offers lighter clothing, suitable for warm climates or the summer season. It’s perfect for traders whose markets demand breathable, comfortable clothes.
3. Number of Pieces
- CMR: Typically contains fewer pieces (around 280-300 items), as heavier clothing like jackets and sweaters take up more space in the bale.
- CCR: Contains a higher number of pieces (around 300-350 items) due to the lightweight nature of the clothing. This gives traders more items to sell per bale.
4. Market Suitability
- CMR: Best for markets with mixed weather conditions, as it offers both heavy and light clothing options for different seasons.
- CCR: Ideal for regions with predominantly warm weather, where lightweight, breathable clothes are in high demand.
5. Pricing
- CMR: Generally more affordable, making it a great option for traders looking for a balanced mix of seasonal clothing at competitive prices.
- CCR: Often priced higher, especially the premium CCR 1 bale, which contains a higher number of first camera pieces. This can yield better returns for traders in more selective markets.
6. First Camera Pieces
CMR: May contain fewer first camera pieces due to the mix of light and heavy clothing.
CCR: Particularly in CCR 1, you’ll find a higher percentage of first camera items, making it attractive for traders focused on premium-quality clothing.
Challenges Traders Face with CMR Bales
CMR bales are meant to carry clothes for children aged 1 to 8 years. However, sometimes you’ll find bales leaning heavily towards one side. Some bales contain more clothes for younger age groups. Still, others may contain clothes that are meant for older children, and very few pieces for young kids.
Think about a trader who picks a CMR bale from Gikomba, and upon sorting realizes that it contains mostly clothes for babies aged 0 to 2 years. This can be frustrating if he/she was looking to stock bigger sizes. However, while this may disappoint some, a trader who mainly sells smaller-sized clothing would celebrate, as such a bale perfectly matches their market demand.
Conclusion
A CCR mitumba bale primarily contains lightweight clothes worn during summer in Europe. Here in Kenya, these are perfect for our hot, dry seasons. CMR, on the other hand, is a mix of light and heavy clothes, designed for colder weather, making them more suited to the rainy or cooler months.
CCR is more versatile as an everyday outfit, and because of its broader appeal and weather suitability, it tends to sell better and at higher prices than CMR, which is more seasonal. Choosing the right bale will depend on your market needs, whether it’s for everyday wear or seasonal clothing.