need help to start simple embroidery business

collegekid1 · March 25th, 2009, 04:44 AM

Hello everyone

I'm so glad i ran into this site. I'm a college student and i've been looking around for ways to start a business an d make some money to reduce my loans. Please help me with ideas of how i can lock into the embroidery business by tapping into the student body here at school as my customers. I was looking at the brother PE 700 II machine to start off. Please please please am new at this...i badly need your help.
Thanks in advance.

Worn Id · March 25th, 2009, 10:36 AM

Do you know how to digitize? If you can get a fresh version of your school logo you might try putting it on a handful of polos or hoodies and handing them out to your friends... nothing like a walking billboard to help you out in your type of enviroment.

When ever we make a new screen design that we want the school to see, we make 3-4 shirts to put on our kids. It places one new shirt in each building! We did this for state FB this year and sold over 750 pieces of 3 designs!! For embroidery, I just created a new version of the schools logo, put it on 3 different type of items, including a jacket which I personally wear and I have gotton inquirys AND orders!

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Laurie

collegekid1 · March 26th, 2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worn Id

Do you know how to digitize? If you can get a fresh version of your school logo you might try putting it on a handful of polos or hoodies and handing them out to your friends... nothing like a walking billboard to help you out in your type of enviroment.

When ever we make a new screen design that we want the school to see, we make 3-4 shirts to put on our kids. It places one new shirt in each building! We did this for state FB this year and sold over 750 pieces of 3 designs!! For embroidery, I just created a new version of the schools logo, put it on 3 different type of items, including a jacket which I personally wear and I have gotton inquirys AND orders!

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Laurie

Thanks a lot for your reply. It opened my eyes about the possibilities. I don't have any digitizing experience. which one do u think is the best digitizing software? And do you think i should start a website with a couple of designs to get sneak preview of my potential customers before i invest some hard earned savings into embroidering?

Worn Id · March 26th, 2009, 10:43 AM

The better softwares are going to cost you a bit.
Wilcom or WINGS are your best bets that I am aware of.
I have neither and work with a very barberic program that has made learning interesting to say the least! Another option is to have someone digitize for you, there are some great places out there that are inexpensive and very good. I just had something done a couple weeks ago, as I couldn't do what I wanted to or needed to in my current software.
That way you could create your website and see what kind of a reaction you get.

Although I firmly believe you will get better results if you have actual product!
You can look at something online and say, "Hey thats pretty cool" and that be the end of it. You hand something to the same person, to touch and see... they say "This is awesome, how much?"

Embroidery is a BIG investment. We bought an exsisting business and have been up and running for 1 1/2 years now... its tough with the ecnomy for sure. That is why I am still working with acient stuff... can't afford to upgrad yet! I love the work though so I continue to just make it happen as I can. Good Luck and let me know if you have any other questions!!

Laurie

collegekid1 · March 26th, 2009, 07:06 PM

I was thinking of maybe investing in learning how to digitize so i can tap into the market for people who need to get their designs digitized. i was planning maybe getting a not so expensive software program but modern software to get me started and then maybe get a small machine to start off with and just take small orders and when that gets kicked off- i could buy the commercialized machines. For now i just really need to get something going to bring in some income to avoid being in deep hole of debt after graduation. O and by the way if i didn't say this before - i really truly appreciate your comments ad suggestions. Thanks

Worn Id · March 27th, 2009, 10:29 AM

Your Welcome and Good Luck!

Laurie

pittaok · November 1st, 2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by collegekid1

Hello everyone

I'm so glad i ran into this site. I'm a college student and i've been looking around for ways to start a business an d make some money to reduce my loans. Please help me with ideas of how i can lock into the embroidery business by tapping into the student body here at school as my customers. I was looking at the brother PE 700 II machine to start off. Please please please am new at this...i badly need your help.
Thanks in advance.

Keep in mind, you cant just have your college logo digitized and start embroidering shirts with the school logo.. There are trademark issues. These home embroidery machines are nice but can be tough gettting the shirt hooped. They are great for one or 2 pieces but any kind of business embroiderying, these home machines are not the way to go.

pittaok · November 1st, 2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worn Id

Do you know how to digitize? If you can get a fresh version of your school logo you might try putting it on a handful of polos or hoodies and handing them out to your friends... nothing like a walking billboard to help you out in your type of enviroment.

When ever we make a new screen design that we want the school to see, we make 3-4 shirts to put on our kids. It places one new shirt in each building! We did this for state FB this year and sold over 750 pieces of 3 designs!! For embroidery, I just created a new version of the schools logo, put it on 3 different type of items, including a jacket which I personally wear and I have gotton inquirys AND orders!

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Laurie

you can open yourself up to a lawsuit with trademark issues. We sew for many college bookstores and we pay to use the college logo. Every piece we sell, we have to pay the school,, so be careful and they will go after you

pittaok · November 1st, 2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worn Id

The better softwares are going to cost you a bit.
Wilcom or WINGS are your best bets that I am aware of.
I have neither and work with a very barberic program that has made learning interesting to say the least! Another option is to have someone digitize for you, there are some great places out there that are inexpensive and very good. I just had something done a couple weeks ago, as I couldn't do what I wanted to or needed to in my current software.
That way you could create your website and see what kind of a reaction you get.

Although I firmly believe you will get better results if you have actual product!
You can look at something online and say, "Hey thats pretty cool" and that be the end of it. You hand something to the same person, to touch and see... they say "This is awesome, how much?"

Embroidery is a BIG investment. We bought an exsisting business and have been up and running for 1 1/2 years now... its tough with the ecnomy for sure. That is why I am still working with acient stuff... can't afford to upgrad yet! I love the work though so I continue to just make it happen as I can. Good Luck and let me know if you have any other questions!!

Laurie

dont even think about digitizing until after a year of sewing,, you would be wasting your time and money. we have 4 stations of the top of the line Wilcom and it does take years to learn. Send the digitizing out and learn how the logo was made beore you even think about wasting your money on a digitizing package

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