Is the digitizing industry in the West doomed?

powerstitch · November 22nd, 2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ink Guy

I did not say they had quality problems.

I said: Dealing with someone overseas is horrible at times.

Doesn't mean the quality is horrible...But when there is a problem..I think there are more problems with communication..trying to get them to understand what you want different.

I agree with this.
It can be a nightmare because there are so many mickeymouse digitizers popping up from everywhere....you will find a language barrier with them but if you look properly, Im sure there are several professional companies out there too.

megrisoft · November 22nd, 2011, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ink Guy

I did not say they had quality problems.

I said: Dealing with someone overseas is horrible at times.

Doesn't mean the quality is horrible...But when there is a problem..I think there are more problems with communication..trying to get them to understand what you want different.

I had some digitizers spell words different....as they would say it in their language.

But...Most of the time...there are good results.

Thats the balance which is in every niche.....there are some bad and some good ones also.....

inkman996 · November 22nd, 2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerstitch

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT DIGITIZER

* collect as many email addresses of digitizers all over the world (atleast 15-20)
* choose a design which has a complex side with small text, maybe gradient, etc which covers most of what is found on majority of the designs
* prepare an order template with all details
* put a note that this design is being emailed to several digitizers and the best one will be chosen
* dont blind copy the email addresses so the receipient can see the others and know its genuine
* send that same design to all the 15-20 digitizers with the same instructions

RESULTS
* you will be surprised how many of them will actually follow your instructions
* discard those who didn't follow your size stated right away because thats the most simple thing to follow
* sample all the designs and make notes for each one (how it ran, number of stitches, etc etc)
* make note of how long it took them to turnaround the design to give you an idea

I know this will be time consuming but in the long run, you will save money and find a satisfactory digitizer that you can work with.

ALL THE BEST!!

There is an older thread here where someone did exactly what you said above and he posted all the results from the digitizers that participated. It was amazing to see the different results, some where down right wrong others were close but still not what was requested. This completely backs up what someone above said aboput communication is key! I used to use an over seas digitizer that was very very good but difficult in communication to say the least. I requested of him one time to manually punch some small lettering and to not use a stock font, when I received the file back he actually misspelled one word which confirmed he used a stock font and un-grouped to fool me into thinking it was manual.

gnizitigid · November 22nd, 2011, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc

Let's talk about outsourcing. How can Western digitizers compete with less than $2/1,000 stitches, free designs, and no rush and edit charges?

In my views, lots of these change happened due the fact that western embroidery companies demanded those prices due to the economy change and to be competitive in business.

I have seen that companies mention that other company offer them this prices in USA itself (if i can offer low, or whats they will benefit if they send business to me). Not long time ago, i was charging $20 Flat Fee or $2.5 Per 1000 Stitches.

Many of us have to change price due to demand or they will go elsewhere.

As for offering Free Design, It helps the companies or embroider shops to test the quality of digitizer (without spending money) and make correct decision. Why i started to offer two design free because they ask for more free design to check quality. Here i would like to mention that although many who takes free design are not the real who comes looking for new digitizer, they just take free design (because its being offered free), it does not mean that they will send business to me.

Here point is that provider will have to change as per demand of the market otherwise no body likes to do design in lower prices and offer free samples.

DPRO · November 22nd, 2011, 01:23 PM

I work as a part time digitizer in Toronto and the pay is not enough for this kind of work. I don't see myself doing this after college. No job security whatsoever.

Marc · November 22nd, 2011, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inkman996

Marc it is obvious with the advent of the internet and advanced digitizing software it has allowed foreign digitizers to easily tap into our market. A dollar to them is like ten dollars to us. I as well remember when punching was much more time consuming and the internet was just a baby and designs were recieved on floppies.

I really do not see how anyone in the western hemishpere can compete and make any real profit, unless they are living for free in moms basement and working with pirated software.

That brings up another point I am pretty sure the majority of foreign digitizers are using pirated software to start with.

You bring up a good point. Last time I checked, the cost of Wilcom and Pulse's top level digitizing software was around $15,000.

I wonder if they have a different pricing structure in developing countries. I know Microsoft does.

inkman996 · November 23rd, 2011, 08:28 AM

We paid roughly 10,000k for our original software many years ago and it included a computer. I now have Wilcom ES6 and that ran 5,000k roughly.

I would bet there is a pricing structure for developing countries and it is not for the sake of compassion but for the fact there is a huge quantity potential. And i am still of the opinion pirated software is rampant in digitizing software in foreign countries.

Robert Young · November 23rd, 2011, 08:53 AM

I think it is rampant everywhere now, not just in foreign countries. Too bad there is not some sort of licensing or accreditation program. The last ISS show I went to I saw an embroidery machine salesperson standing in the aisle asking anyone he could: "do you have a garage or a spare bedroom? if so you need an embroidery machine! you can make tons of money!!" so goes digitizing. Especially in this economy, hey, I have a computer why not work from home, digitizing MUST be easy if it is so cheap and you don't need any "real" training.

powerstitch · November 23rd, 2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPRO

I work as a part time digitizer in Toronto and the pay is not enough for this kind of work. I don't see myself doing this after college. No job security whatsoever.

You're wrong.

If I were you, I'd look out and study the digitizing market all over the globe.
Look for digitizers that can meet your demands, quality and turnaround time.
If you can find 2-3 digitizers that you can rely on, Im not sure why you cannot be profitable.

You have the advantage of serving USA clients who do not want to outsource to another country. This is your opportunity to do that for them. They don't need to know who is digitizing as long as you check every design before you send it back to them.

If you are doing 5 designs daily, Im sure thats good enough volume to start with one digitizer to get volume discounts. All you have to do then is increase your volume and slowly start using a 2nd digitizer to keep it safe.

Don't bother digitizing yourself unless you have the time to do so and every design you have to see if your time is worth the money or are u better outsourcing. Use the extra time to do sales & marketing.

megrisoft · November 23rd, 2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPRO

I work as a part time digitizer in Toronto and the pay is not enough for this kind of work. I don't see myself doing this after college. No job security whatsoever.

I think you can earn more as compared to Indian Digitizer, You just have to look for Embroidery Shops and offer better prices as many looking for USA or Canada based digitizing. Even if you offer $1.5, in that case also, you can grow slowly towards big clients.