Learn how to decrease design run time to increase profitability.
In this politically charged season there has been a lot talk from all sides about wasting resources and the need for change because current policies are ineffective. This week, I’m jumping into the fray.
October 24, 2008
Quality and efficiency are two major points to consider when shopping for digitizing software.
As we continue to explore the differences between hobbyists and commercial embroiderers, I would like to focus on digitizing systems. When comparing consumer-grade vs. commercial-grade machinery, there is a huge difference in capability and functionality. The same is true when it comes to digitizing software, but not necessarily the way you might think.
October 10, 2008
Modern stabilizers and hooping systems aren't necessarily time-saving, profit-boosting conveniences. Sometimes, conventional practices yield the greatest results.
As we continue to look at the differences between a home hobbyist and a commercial embroiderer, let me reiterate that the difference between the two is not just a matter of location. I am a commercial embroiderer who works from home. The difference is mainly a matter of mindset. We can get technical and try to classify embroiders by their equipment, but the reality is that a commercial embroiderer is in business for profit and the other in it for fun.
September 15, 2008
Eliminate time-wasting practices.
Earlier, we looked at the differences between home embroidery machines and commercial machines, and found the biggest difference, besides durability, is that commercial machines are designed around production; it’s about getting work on and off the machine as quickly as possible.
August 29, 2008
When starting an embroidery business, one of the first steps is choosing your machine. Make sure you know what to expect before deciding between a consumer-grade or commercial embroidery machine.
Recently, I received a phone call from a woman who is considering opening an embroidery business and wanted some advice. One of the questions I asked regarded the type of machine she wanted to purchase. She told me that it was a sewing machine with an embroidery attachment and that she could get the whole package for about $600.
August 18, 2008
Many hobbyist embroiderers make the transition to commercial embroidery. But there are a few basics to know before venturing out into the commercial world.
Something interesting has happened during the past decade. Home sewing machines with embroidery attachments have increased in popularity, creating a new generation of embroiderers. A love of embroidery is driving this new segment, and many are realizing the possibility of a career doing what they love.
August 04, 2008
Take one of these books on your vacation, and you may discover ways for business improvement you never dreamed of.
As we enter the summer months, many of you will head to the beach or other spots for relaxation. And while on vacation, you may enjoy picking up a good book to read. If you are going to be reading, you might as well read something that will improve your business. For this issue of the Impressions Newsletter, I thought I would share with you my summer reading plan since you may find some of these books useful for your business.
July 21, 2008
While the choices are many, the decision boils down to number of needles, field size and physical size.
When I started in the embroidery industry as a technician in 1991, every machine manufacturer had a singlehead machine, but it was not their best-selling model. Twelve-head and 6-head machines were the top sellers. For the company I was with, the singlehead was kind of a red-headed stepchild. But how things have changed!
July 07, 2008
When buying embroidery equipment, be sure to shop for a large enough machine to handle your typical order size and frequency.
Buying an embroidery machine, whether your first piece of equipment or your 100th, always involves deciding on machine size. Though size could refer to the sewing area or the number of needles, usually it means the number of sewing heads, as the number of heads affects your ability to produce embroidery efficiently.
June 19, 2008
When is the right time to leave home for a commercial embroidery location?
Working from a home-based location has definite advantages. Low overhead, control over your own schedule and a relaxed atmosphere are hard to beat. There are times, however, when leaving the comfort of home and expanding to a commercial location it make sense.
June 09, 2008
Before you dive headlong into a full-time business, have you considered whether you have the capital or volume of business?
Whether you've just started as a part-time embroidery business or have been operating that way for a while, you may decide one day that you want to go into business full-time.
May 12, 2008
Before you jump into an embroidery business, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of part-time vs. full-time work.
One nice thing about starting an embroidery business is that it's the type of business you can ease into. You actually have a choice of whether to go into it full time or part time. If you have the time and resources, you can jump into it full time. If you're unsure or you're just looking for a side income, it can work that way, too.
April 29, 2008
There's more to running an embroidery business than knowing embroidery. If you want your business to flourish, you need to first take stock of why you're starting the business in the first place.
Though I've been involved in the embroidery industry for more than 17 years now, I've only been an embroidery business shop owner for just over five years — a significant anniversary for me. Statistics show us that a high percentage of small businesses close their doors within the first five years, so by making it to the five-year mark, I have, if nothing else, beaten the odds.
March 17, 2008
The first five years of starting a business are all about surviving to make it to the next five. I've made it this far — and so can you! Here's how.
The first five years of starting a business are all about surviving to make it to the next five years. Make it that far, the statistics tell us, and you have a decent chance of survival. Based on my own experience, I've narrowed down the embroidery startup survival manual to the five areas a shop owner needs to focus on to make it to that magical fifth anniversary.
March 03, 2008
If done well, word-of-mouth advertising not only gets the word out but also gets it to the right people.
The custom embroidery market primarily relies on “word-of-mouth” advertising to generate business. This is mainly because custom embroidery shops tend to be smaller than many companies and have smaller advertising budgets.
February 04, 2008
Word-of-mouth advertising is an effective way to market your business, and there’s no better example of word-of-mouth at work than when it comes to maintaining and growing a niche.
There are several ways to market your business. For the embroidery industry, especially for smaller shops, most business comes as a result of word-of-mouth advertising. This is the cheapest yet one of the most effective ways to advertise. It’s cheap in that it costs you nothing and effective in that what better way to get business than a referral from an existing customer?
December 17, 2007
Knowing your costs and factoring that figure into your embroidery price is essential for ensuring that you operate a profitable business.
Knowing your cost of doing business is paramount to setting your price for embroidery. If you don't know what your cost is, you might end up like the guys who bought watermelons for $1.00 each and sold them for $0.90 each, thinking that they would make their profit on volume.
December 03, 2007
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Be Successful in the Growing Imprinted Promotional Product Market
Apparel buyers in many markets typically don't make purchases without requiring some type of decoration on it. This is especially true for apparel buyers purchasing performance apparel for the athletic, safety and outdoor work markets. Impressions can help you locate performance apparel sources and choose the best decoration method so that you can capitalize on this hot market.
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