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Embroidery Startup Advice

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Old January 22nd, 2016, 12:40 PM   #1 (permalink)
Prosperi-Tees Prosperi-Tees is offline
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Default Embroidery Startup Advice

How does one learn how to sell embroidery? I do very little in embroidery that is outsourced but would like to grow it. Maybe bring a single head in house and do some smaller orders to get my feet wet. It just seems embroidery is way more complicated than screen printing which we do day in and day out.
When I first started screen printing I bought a Brother PR620 but never learned it because I was still learning how to screen print plus I had a full time job so I didn't give any effort into figuring out how it works so I sold it. Now I have more time and can put the effort into learning.

How hard is it to learn everything?
What budget machine and software that is the most user friendly?
Should I not even try to learn digitizing?
Do you find that there is money to be made in the 1-11 piece orders?

Thank you!
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Old January 22nd, 2016, 01:06 PM   #2 (permalink)
crazy mike crazy mike is offline
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prosperi-Tees View Post
How does one learn how to sell embroidery? I do very little in embroidery that is outsourced but would like to grow it. Maybe bring a single head in house and do some smaller orders to get my feet wet. It just seems embroidery is way more complicated than screen printing which we do day in and day out.
When I first started screen printing I bought a Brother PR620 but never learned it because I was still learning how to screen print plus I had a full time job so I didn't give any effort into figuring out how it works so I sold it. Now I have more time and can put the effort into learning.

How hard is it to learn everything?
What budget machine and software that is the most user friendly?
Should I not even try to learn digitizing?
Do you find that there is money to be made in the 1-11 piece orders?

Thank you!
You will make more money for your time spent doing
low ball screen printing pricing than you will on a single head
embroidery machine.
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Old January 22nd, 2016, 01:51 PM   #3 (permalink)
gnizitigid gnizitigid is offline
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prosperi-Tees View Post
Should I not even try to learn digitizing?
Thank you!
You should if you have lot of free time
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Old January 22nd, 2016, 02:38 PM   #4 (permalink)
crazy mike crazy mike is offline
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

According to the NNEP 30% of the embroidery businesses
go out of business each year.
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Old January 22nd, 2016, 03:31 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

I'm also wondering if it would be feasible to have embroidery as a sort of gateway to screen print orders.
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Old January 22nd, 2016, 05:30 PM   #6 (permalink)
crazy mike crazy mike is offline
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

I think it is an expensive and time consuming way to get screen printing
orders. Embroidery is is harder to learn than screen printing.
If you are a one man shop you would be much better to do one
or the other. Embroidery in a screen shop is best if you have another person
to do that department.
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Old January 24th, 2016, 08:48 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by crazy mike View Post
You will make more money for your time spent doing
low ball screen printing pricing than you will on a single head
embroidery machine.
Yes, and you could make MORE money doing a myriad of other things too. That is not the point.

Not EVERYTHING needs to be done for money... they already have printing... at some time they obviously were "interested" in embroidery. They got busy with the printing which is Great and put the embroidery idea aside... but here they are now coming back to something they had an interest in years ago. GO WITH YOUR PASSION... if you Want to do something don't worry about the money as it will follow.

You cannot open a business or a new division NEEDING money, it does not work that way. I have to make 300 per week on this machine starting THIS WEEK... sorry, not going to happen usually. You start a business/division because you are interested in it and your passion will come through to your clients and the money will follow. It will. AND you have the added perk of not feeling like it is "work" at all!!

The poster wants "advice" that is the question of this thread. Simply saying DONT DO IT to me is not really advice, that is a projection of fear. And while a certain amount of fear in business is healthy it cannot/should not stop anyone from following what they want to try.
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Old January 24th, 2016, 09:09 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by crazy mike View Post
According to the NNEP 30% of the embroidery businesses
go out of business each year.
Yes, and:

1: according to Forbes 8 out of 10 businesses fail within the first 18 months

2: according to Gallup.com 50% of businesses fail in the first 5 years

3: according to Inc.com 96% of businesses fail in the first 10 years

So WHAT? we are all supposed to sit home and watch TV all day... I mean WHY TRY?? what is the point?? seriously??? (we are a fickle lot and there are many reasons something fails, just like the marriage rate... but that does not stop people from tying the knot often)


I do believe it would be beneficial for any serious startup embroiderer to join NNEP. And to attend at least once a show of their's. Attending an ISS show or two would be beneficial as well. Attend the classes offered on embroidery.

The 30% number cited makes sense when you watch salespeople at one of these shows... "hey do you have a garage?, spare bedroom? Do I have a business opportunity for you!" Then these people purchase every item the rep tells them they need... they get home and are overwhelmed.... OF COURSE they go out of business. Quite frankly they never WERE in business!
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Old January 24th, 2016, 09:16 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prosperi-Tees View Post
How does one learn how to sell embroidery? !
Since you have been in business for a bit you must already have the ability to sell! So all you are doing is offering another option to your clients. Value added option!

Joining industry organizations (NNEP as one) would be beneficial as a start. Trade magazines are probably already coming to you... "Wearables" has now gobbled up "Stitches" magazine so you need that one as well.

The real question here is WHAT do you want to sell? What market do you want to cater to? Any particular niche you would like to start with? When you determine this (and doing a business plan will let you hone this answer) hint hint The answer to this will help you come up with a marketing plan for that niche.
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Old January 24th, 2016, 04:14 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Default Re: Embroidery Startup Advice

I think I asked the question too broadly. In screen printing I know the questions to ask a customer. How many shirts are you looking for. What type? Do you have art? How many colors and locations etc etc. What are those questions that I would have to ask and know the answers to. I think that would be a better question.
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