Shop Owner - Looking into acquiring an Embroidering System

[mk162]

wrong wrong wrong.

Just kidding.  I like the idea of both just like I like our 1 color manual.  I wouldn't print large orders on there, but for strange items or sleeve prints it's great.

I see both sides. And currently we only run a 6 head.  We will probably add a single next year with the personalization starts back up.

[GraphicDisorder]

wrong wrong wrong.

Just kidding.  I like the idea of both just like I like our 1 color manual.  I wouldn't print large orders on there, but for strange items or sleeve prints it's great.

I see both sides. And currently we only run a 6 head.  We will probably add a single next year with the personalization starts back up.

To each their own right. I guess I buy for the future, not for today. 

Why not buy a 4 or 6 head?  Then when you get those 500pcs orders you have capacity and can bang them out quicker.  A single head sample or name machine ends up being just that, a 4-6 head can be either.  You want to be flexible, make sure your machines are as well.  I used to think like you, the single head eventually in my shop was a door stop.  We gave it away as we never used it after we got rid of that mind set like its hurting a 4-6 head to run a sample or a name drop on.  It's not hurting it but a single head wont help your production when you need to run faster, if you start looking at math of cost from a 1 to 2 or 2 to 4 or 4 to 6 you start thinking about the smaller steps in money to get to more heads which will make you  money faster.

[Sirchopz]

All of this is good information from actual professionals. I really love this. Thank you very much. I am crunch numbers and see what i do.

[ZooCity]

How about finding a solid contract embroiderer?  Offer embroidery to your clients and see how it goes.  Once you get a feel for the actual sales that come through for stitching you can look at bringing it in house again.  It's easy to perceive demand for something and invest in producing it without quantifying the work you'll actually get, I'm not second guessing your assessment but don't fall into that trap!   

Anyways, contracting would provide you with a more gentle learning curve and much less risk, hassle and heartache.  Most good contractors do "good" work, nothing fantastic, nothing sloppy so it would also help you test and set a quality standard for stitching with your customers. 

There are some services a textile print shop will never want to do in house but may need to offer and there our others that should absolutely be brought in house, depends on the shop and their market/clientele.

[Sirchopz]

Thank you ZooCity I just started doing this...but they ask (embroidering shops) to many questions are you a printer. How do you know the school? do you work there? that is why i started looking for one myself. i really appreciate everyones input.

thank you

[stitches4815]

Thank you ZooCity I just started doing this...but they ask (embroidering shops) to many questions are you a printer. How do you know the school? do you work there? that is why i started looking for one myself. i really appreciate everyones input.

thank you

I would say "Why do you want to know?  Do you want to take my money or not?"

[1964GN]

Being a screen print shop that just bought their first 4 head machine I can whole hardheartedly agree with GD. Any less would have been a total waste.

For retail work a 4 head can make you good money and pay for it's self quite easily. If you plan on doing contract work you'll find that 4 heads for contract work is like having a 1 head for retail work. Pretty hard to make good money

We have taken on some contract work, mostly from good long term customers, to speed up the learning curve. Our retail work is starting to take off and as it grows we will start moving away from the low margin jobs. At least until we get to 10/12 heads

[mimosatexas]

Thank you ZooCity I just started doing this...but they ask (embroidering shops) to many questions are you a printer. How do you know the school? do you work there? that is why i started looking for one myself. i really appreciate everyones input.

thank you

That's weird...

I've never had a single person I've outsourced a job to ask any questions related to the client.  They quote, we discuss details, they do the work and get paid.  Most people appreciate not having to deal with the end user.

[Frog]

It sounds to me, that these are not true "trade" or "contract" decorators, but merely other shops who don't fully grasp the etiquette of dealing with the trade. He may need to look beyond local, albeit the addition of time and/or shipping.

[ZooCity]

Yikes.  If your "contractor" is interested in your clients they aren't contractors.  Agree with Frog, stay away from them and find a professional outfit to work with. 

[Frog]

To be clear, with "contractors", questions about your own involvement in the trade are totally legitimate, but, as noted, not about your clients (with the exception of possible copyright infringements)

Being in SoCal, I bet that right there in the San Fernando Valley, (or at least L.A.) there's a few proper embroidery contractors.

[Sirchopz]

10/4 Frog, i copy that.

[Shanarchy]

Being a screen print shop that just bought their first 4 head machine I can whole hardheartedly agree with GD. Any less would have been a total waste.

For retail work a 4 head can make you good money and pay for it's self quite easily. If you plan on doing contract work you'll find that 4 heads for contract work is like having a 1 head for retail work. Pretty hard to make good money

We have taken on some contract work, mostly from good long term customers, to speed up the learning curve. Our retail work is starting to take off and as it grows we will start moving away from the low margin jobs. At least until we get to 10/12 heads

What did you go with (brand) for embroidery machine?