Digitizer Advice

nametags · August 31st, 2011, 12:29 PM

Folks, nothing personal here at all, just my side of my business and my experience. I'm so new to this I've still got some of the tags on my machines. No Brent, no problem at all., not worry. Sure I'm somewhat wrong in my feelings, but, also, I'm somewhat correct.

But in a short time, I've learned a lot, most all by trial and error. I'm just like "widners" above, almost to the T, except only one machine for now. I'm fighting 5 or 6 other people, just like me, in our area, for limited business, and all I have to offer is good service in all aspects of the sale. I've won some, lost some. I'm just trying to stay the course, and outlast them.

Those digitizers that want to give all their discounts to the big guys,,,again, you're only there until someone beats your price, and you're gone.

Sorry to keep this up,,,but to me, it's at the heart of my business and all the other single owner embroiderers out there.

And one other thing,,,,,,you need to joing the NNEP (National Network of Embroidery Professionals),,,,,you'll be surprised at the benefits and information available to the "small time operators".

gnizitigid · August 31st, 2011, 02:18 PM

I agree with you thats why i have $10 flat prices per design for every client. However after giving these prices, as well as doing 4 free designs, some times i also not get the client business, like this client (ALLEmbroidery)...they look for more best prices......

nametags · August 31st, 2011, 03:34 PM

Strange that you say that Steve, you just did an edit from a design I sent you,,,,,I've yet to sew it out to see if it works.

Do you not want any of my business? Just let me know!

widners · August 31st, 2011, 03:40 PM

I think he was responding to you and telling you that he can give free designs and offer good pricing and sometimes it doesn't work out. I think he was referring to the original poster looking for better pricing not about you.

gnizitigid · August 31st, 2011, 03:43 PM

Hi,

You are one of the best clients of mine.

My comments was for AllEmbroidery

nametags · August 31st, 2011, 05:36 PM

Then I wholeheartedly apologize Steve, I hope you accept it. You do great work, and I hope to continue to do business with you.

Robert Young · September 1st, 2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nametags

You opinion, Robert Young, and you're entitled to it, and I as well. Now that I know how you feel, I'll make sure I DON"T do business with you. And as other "mom&pop" shops and small timers read your comments, I'd say they may say the same thing. To me, your comments show you care only about the big volume customers. Thats fine,,,,. ,

Sorry you took it that way, I fail to see anywhere in my comments that I stated I did NOT want smaller clients... 85% of my business is Mom and Pop. I was just pointing out that there IS a difference, a pretty large one. And if your digitizer only gets a few designs from you that I hope you give them a little leeway until they learn what you like. Discounts are an individual concern but I am more apt to provide them to clients I LIKE and RESPECT regardless of sales volume... that is about as personal attention as it gets.

At no point on this forum do I think I have ever asked for digitizing business. I just share when I can what I have learned in my 23 years of digitizing.

nametags · September 1st, 2011, 03:14 PM

Since you used my quote in your post, Robert Young, regarding my opinion of giving price breaks, I took it that your reply was in regard to that issue, price breaks, for low and high volume customers.

My issue was giving the "little guys" a price break just as you give the high volume customers one. I say, and still do, there is NO difference in who should get a price break or discount, and who does not. Your work is the same. You still go through the same motions. I"m not a digitizer, and don't plan on being one anytime soon. So telling me about your issues of why you charge me one price, and another customer a different price, doesn't matter to me.

I'd don't agree with charging me, the new customer, for YOU to learn what I want and how I want it or any other of the issues you mention, and charging me a higher price just because I'm new or don't do a large volume.

We can keep beating this horse to death, as we'll both had totally different opinions on the matter, we just don't need to take it personal, just agree we disagree.

Gilligan · September 1st, 2011, 07:12 PM

Look at it this way... I'm sure you charge less for a 144pcs job than you do a 2 pcs job.

The reason is that with all that goes into the job (the setup) is the same essentially for both jobs. So as you do 144 pcs you have spread that setup time across 144 pcs for the job vs just 2 pcs.

It's sort of the same with digitizing/artwork... if you KNOW what your clients expect and the direction they are going or like Brent said... the quirks of their operation. You can better design/digitize for that client without much need to converse back and forth and send files and have to go back and tweak them because it didn't translate the way the expected or whatever.

You spend more time with a new customer getting to know them than you do a customer that does more volume with you and you just have to be given the artwork or direction and then turn out a product and know they will be happy because you knew what they expected before they even ordered it.

I can tell Brent, Left Chest 3x5 and give him the artwork and he sends me back a file that is perfect. But that is because he knows what I need and knows what machine I have. If someone new contacts him then he will have to take the time to get to know that client as he knows me. This takes time and in our business time = money.

nametags · September 1st, 2011, 10:41 PM

144 pcs get a deal because it's free shipping on the garment, and I can pay for the digitizing through the entire deal, all at one time. I may even get a deal on volume buying of the item (rarely). If you don't make your margin, it doesn't matter what you charge. My work is the same, hooping, sewing, watching, trimming, folding, for every garment. But, I understand what you're saying.

You only digitize the design for 144 pcs one time. But, if you digitize 144 different designs, it's the same amount of work for each design, as it is for 1. Again, I understand what you're saying though.

And,,,,to throw this in the mix, if you're a digitizer, and you decide to upgrade your software, or something that you feel enhances your digitizing process, then fine. But don't expect me to agree to pay higher prices because you want to make your job easier or faster. I don't care what or how you do it. You add $5 onto my design because of an upgrade, that don't affect me, and I'll go elsewhere. You make your money on volume by increasing your work load,,,not on the individual. It's my decision to stay with you, it's your decision to try to charge me more for something that don't affect me directly.

You can't charge a customer more for getting to know them because they're new, or learning their machine. You absorb that.

This is a very informative and respectful thread,,,,I enjoyed it. I've learned a lot as well from it. I look forward to more like it, and hopefully we ALL will be here next year and many more to come.