What supplies do I need??

Edward Richter · April 27th, 2012, 07:16 PM

So I am getting my embroidery machine next week. What kind of embroidery supplies do I need/what kind of Thread, backing do you recommend?? What are the best shirts to work with. I am open to any info that you can pass my way. Thanks in advance.

Robert Young · April 29th, 2012, 02:17 PM

Ouch, Cart before the Horse! If you go to Best Buy and pick up some Business Plan software for about $30, by the time you go through that process and have a formal written plan you will have nearly all your questions answered.. The software is very intuitive.. kinda like using Turbo Tax for your taxes.. it knows many of the things you don't know.. so it fills in lots of the blanks of things you need to think of to start and run a business.

For just .. buy this and buy that.. then I would call an embroidery supplier that sells Madeira or Robinson Anton threads, (google them) tell them what types of product you have in mind to sew on.. and they will be more than happy to sell you what they think you need from deciding whether you need Rayon or Poly thread, what kind of Pellon you need, what needles, etc. The company you bought your machine from should also be able to guide to to reputable suppliers. But unless you know exactly what you want to sew on, you are going to buy MORE than you will use.

Edward Richter · April 29th, 2012, 08:45 PM

I am buying a used brother from someone who never really used his machine. It's been about six years since he produced anything so he does not have a supplier or the like. For what I think is a really good deal, I am getting his machine and all of his inventory (about 1,500 pieces). But eventually,I will have to purchase my own supplies. I bought the machine right away because a deal like this does not come around very often. The machine will be fully serviced and ready to pick up this coming weekend. Thanks for starting the process and pointing me in the right direction. I will need all the help I can get.

gnizitigid · April 30th, 2012, 11:02 AM

Also for any design to turn out great, you need to good in digitizing or you need to find good digitizer

forster75 · April 30th, 2012, 04:14 PM

Are you buying a home model Brother?

Edward Richter · April 30th, 2012, 07:22 PM

No, It is a Brother bas 416 single head 9 needle. All tuned up and ready to go plus all of the inventory, thread, Corel drawings. Having not seen it yet, I do not know everything it comes with. I will let you all know what comes of this. Thanks again to everyone who has chimed in so far

Robert Young · May 1st, 2012, 05:03 PM

but what made you want to get into the business without knowing much about it? If someone offered me a complete screen printing shop I would not take it.. don't know a thing about screen printing so it would be useless to me.

Edward Richter · May 1st, 2012, 07:49 PM

I have wanted an embroidery machine for over 15 years. I could not do it in the military so after I retired, I had been thinking about it off and on for the last several years. So then this opportunity presented itself, I jumped on it. And it is not like I do not know how to sew. I have had a sewing machine for several years. Now it is time to take the next logical step, turn my enjoyment of sewing into something more. I have done quite a bit of research before I made the leap so I feel confident That The adventure that I am about to embark on will be will be enjoyabe and hopefully profitable. I am not defending myself, just letting you know where I am coming from.

Robert Young · May 4th, 2012, 12:48 PM

very cool! I am so glad to hear your story.. it is not the norm from what I see. Too many people seem to get into the business thinking they can make a fortune and haven't a clue about what it takes. Low entry threshold so many line up to put machines in their garages or spare bedrooms.... only to learn later that they were mistaken and the machines just sit there...

sydney.fedesna · May 4th, 2012, 09:49 PM

Robert, I went outside of the box and put mine in the study

Edward, please heed Robert's advice. I had done quite a bit of sewing as well, but no one could prepare me for the HUGE learning curve I have faced running a commerical machine. Robert can attest - I have come to him panicked several times. I am also very green and just starting out, and although I am getting a decent amount of business, my clients have NO IDEA how long it takes me to come up with their designs that are not just logos I can have digitized. If I worked it out, I am probably making like $2/hr or something ridiculous. But I am having a blast, so it is so far been worth it