Is it wrong to tell a client that their client's baby is ugly?

Robert Young · September 6th, 2019, 11:06 AM

so the client is just a "salesperson" so they don't know much if anything about the medium of embroidery. (don't get all upset this is true MOST of the time) so we, as digitizers, have to let Our client know that Their client's design is UGLY. ((UGLY meaning not set up for embroidery whether it is their fault (thought up around the kitchen table)or heaven forbid they actually Paid an Ad Agency (the perps) to make the design))

The end user (the client's client) are very proud of their baby/design.

How do you handle it?

Personally I have no problem telling them about "Rosemary's Baby"

Robert Young · September 10th, 2019, 12:46 PM

so no body else deals with this? wish I were you!

ltpemb · September 10th, 2019, 03:58 PM

Usually Its a conversation about how to achieve the design and what chagnes would be needed in order to achieve moderate translation of the design etc. Half the time i give them options discuss what is impossible and whats not and try to pull it off. if they don't want to listen/change then there isnt much that can be done.

Most recently I had a client That had a customer with a highly detailed logo for left chest. I never say "no it can't be done" I say its too detailed for a 1:1 production at that size. However because Embroidery is an interpretive process We can simulate and suggest details. (see attatched image)

Other times I have the option of offering thin thread details but because I have 12 heads to fill and am working on contract work (tight margins) I pass the costs of adding new "stock" threads to my shelf, onto the clients.

Robert Young · September 12th, 2019, 12:39 PM

I wISH i had your patience... seriously.. I just called a clent and told him he is a Pi&& Ant B Hasn't paid us for work done in Jan. SO He either pays OR I shall send all those designs (12) to the individual clients' places. I do not own them , the embroidery shop doesn't as they never paid... so they rightfully belong to the end user. so they get their dst to use however they want, with a nice truthful letter.

AlisonB · September 13th, 2019, 04:34 AM

I have often explained to customers that thread is not ink and, while I will interpret their design the best I can, it will NEVER look like a printed one. Then it is up to them to make up their minds. Any hand drawn design I will interpret as best I can - but I am not a graphic artist.

ltpemb · September 17th, 2019, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Young

I wISH i had your patience... seriously.. I just called a clent and told him he is a Pi&& Ant B Hasn't paid us for work done in Jan. SO He either pays OR I shall send all those designs (12) to the individual clients' places. I do not own them , the embroidery shop doesn't as they never paid... so they rightfully belong to the end user. so they get their dst to use however they want, with a nice truthful letter.

I have a few clients who are like that. I don't have as much patience as you think but because I am both digitizer owner production etc. What I have is a way to leverage an order into my lap better to get the real money. "The order"

I have a set price for standard <6" setup it could take me 5 minutes or it could take me 2 hrs Its 1 price (average out the orders it comes out fine). Revisions have a pricelist but are negotiable. The goal is to get that order in the building. I can leverage that skill and a set price to get the real money maker. THE WORK. (Plus as a production level digitizer I have control over production rate problems such as trims and order of sewout contol that can save me time which is the real cost)

My offer is 1 price for anything under 6" circular/square (i havent been asked yet)... Setup including 1 sewout proof (on any similar to product scrap material i have) before production for maximum accuracy and lack of rejection/refusal.

But I have material fees. You have a heavy twill? This... You have a mixed order that includes a fluffy nap blanket.... This... etc.... How to make this happen? This... I charge for each step in one way or another. But its education. does it work? *shrug* Maybe? I dont know yet Ive been making business moves so fast I cant asses.

ltpemb · September 17th, 2019, 12:10 AM

And at the end of the day I ask "what do you want me to make and what do you want to pay me?" if they want to pay as little as possible then i answer with "I can make one pos file that might work on everything but you have to pay" if anything is rejected *hands up* sorry you have to pay. And I do my best.