Should I Buy EmbroidMe?

nametags · February 20th, 2013, 10:24 AM

A simple solution, jareme, if you're indeed in business and own this franchise, I'm sure you'd love some free publicity. Give us the location of your store(s), your web page url, and we'll just check it out. Put up or shut up so to speak.

And for any other current embroider me franchise owners, same thing. Let's see what you got.

Otherwise, hush!

We don't expect you to open your books and taxes for us, no one would do that. But if you're truly in business, today, show it off to us. There's no reason not to.

I've dealt with franchises before, owned 1, looked into others. Most franchise oriented business's, eventually close or sell out, depending on the market area and geographic location, (rural or city), and the owners simply copy the business model, and open up their own independent business, and make the money for themselves. Such as oil change franchiese, cleaning companies, and many others you see on TV and the internet.

A good example is the show "Undercover Boss", where many of the shows are about the corporate owners checking to see if their franchisee's are operating within their contract, and how they perceive the franchise. Most are not within contract, it appears, due to unreasonable requirements of the franchise contra

inkman996 · February 20th, 2013, 02:57 PM

I remember no less than 3 embroidme shops in my small state open and then closing, not a good track record at all. One I know the owner well and he explained the pipe dream (smoke blown up his arse) deal with being a franchise of embroidme. It was not pretty and left him in some serious debt. Currently he is running several Dunkin Donuts in an extremely competitive market and making hand over fist. Wonder what the difference is?

Look in a nut shell you are either an able entrepreneur and no no help to set up your own business model or your not really capable and need a big daddy to help you out.

SouthPaw · February 21st, 2013, 05:48 PM

i worked for an embroidme. the owner was great, the customers were nice. the equiptment worked well. all that said, it didnt stay open for more than a year. between franchise fee's rent utilities materials.. like someone else said onsey twosy orders just dont cut it. its a good start for someone starting there own personal business but not a franchise.

Nemodogdad · March 6th, 2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaurenMSanderson

Hello,
I am wondering if anyone owns and EmbroidMe franchise or knows of anyone that works with the company. I am looking into purchasing an embroidery franchise and am looking for some advice. Should I buy EmbroidMe? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Something nobody else seems to emphasize about embroidme is the machines they hook you up with. They are made with inferior chinese steel components, and really take a good tech to keep running properly. DON'T BOTHER. Plan your business and buy any of these three machine makes, ZSK (Used to be the best in the world, but the Tajima TXFM Bridge machines are just as good), Tajima (Spend the bucks for a Bridge machine) and Barudan. Barudan hasn't had the same level of service since MacPherson went bye bye, but the machines are nice and durable.

IMO, avoid SWC, Ricoma and Babyloc. Happy's are OK if Bridge type. Buy Japanese or German.

inkman996 · March 6th, 2013, 01:48 PM

Not so sure about Barudans service suffering, we still enjoy amazing service from them on our 12 head.

But a great point on machine quality they provide, I think from memory they give you a low end Brother model but I could be wrong.

Robert Young · March 6th, 2013, 02:56 PM

Probably depends on area of the world you are in... we had a large ZSK once at a hat company I worked for, but service in this part of Texas for that type of machine really did not exist... So while it was a great machine it was not a right fit for the company. Around here Tajima, SWF, and Happy seem to have local techs available.... so for this area those would make more sense. (instead of paying travel, lodging, board, etc... before even getting to the parts and time charges!)

The EmbroidMe locations here have Brother machines

minimalist · March 6th, 2013, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemodogdad

Something nobody else seems to emphasize about embroidme is the machines they hook you up with. They are made with inferior chinese steel components, and really take a good tech to keep running properly. DON'T BOTHER. Plan your business and buy any of these three machine makes, ZSK (Used to be the best in the world, but the Tajima TXFM Bridge machines are just as good), Tajima (Spend the bucks for a Bridge machine) and Barudan. Barudan hasn't had the same level of service since MacPherson went bye bye, but the machines are nice and durable.

IMO, avoid SWC, Ricoma and Babyloc. Happy's are OK if Bridge type. Buy Japanese or German.

I mentioned the brother in post #15.

Also, I was told that US domestic tajima is mostly chinese parts. This came from someone who worked for hirsh. Don't know about all of their machines though. I'm in agreement with the ZSK. I run mostly barudan machines but bought a single head ZSK. Once I figured it out I've found I like it better other than the time to change cap drivers and the split thread tubes. Eventually I'll sell my barudan's and end up with stretch ZSK's.

Nemodogdad · March 7th, 2013, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbroidMe

There are many advantages to franchising rather than starting a new business by yourself. Franchises have a proven business model, support, training and marketing support that can assist in building the business.

Check out this Denver EmbroidMe Owner talking about his experience as an EmbroidMe Franchise Owner on CNN

It sure looks bad when someone posts as "EmbroidMe" posts to prop his own franchise. BOOOOO.

Nemodogdad · March 7th, 2013, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minimalist

I mentioned the brother in post #15.

Also, I was told that US domestic tajima is mostly chinese parts. This came from someone who worked for hirsh. Don't know about all of their machines though. I'm in agreement with the ZSK. I run mostly barudan machines but bought a single head ZSK. Once I figured it out I've found I like it better other than the time to change cap drivers and the split thread tubes. Eventually I'll sell my barudan's and end up with stretch ZSK's.

I've been told that Tajima hooks and needle bars are all Chinese, but not the beam steel that's 1/2" thick. From what I've been told, Tajima spent a ton of money on automated gear cutting, so that's still done in house. I wouldn't be suprised if they used round 1/2" shaft stock from China. Most of that product actually comes from a plant that used to be Allenwoood Steel in SE PA. Chinese moved the whole plant in early 1981. The equipment supposedly can roll out 2" down to 24 gauge wire stock. My neighbor's pop worked there for 35 years until they closed.