As we bring in the new year, we usually reflect on the past one and are not able to resist comparison to previous years. I think it's safe to say, for most, 2009 didn't compare well to it's predecessors. Looking ahead is important and learning to flex and change with the times and situation of your business is the best protocol.
Take a look at your business and adjust in places you feel necessary. The direction you took even 2 years ago may bring you to another fork with another decision to make about the future of the way you do business, who your customers are, the services you provide and the way these customers will find you. It seems everything is done by computer now; day to day business, marketing, data streaming & customer contact. If you're not texting, tweeting or video streaming you are not in the loop, right? Well.....
Being an old(-er) dog that is still learning the new tricks, I still have a few up my sleeves. It's no secret the old dinosaurs like "cold calling" are extinct, but there are some new fangled ways to provide great service and let your customers know you are ready, willing and able to fulfill all their embroidery needs. You just need to be creative and stay up with the times. You may not feel that you have something to "tweet" every minute of the day but many companies have successfully incorporated Twitter into their marketing lineup. Social networking sites are abundant and there are even sites specifically geared toward embroidery and promotional advertisers. Many times you can have a page on these sites dedicated to your business with a profile to let potential customers know who you are and what you do.
Get creative and go to work! What things do you plan to incorporate into your business this year?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
NeedleUp Digitizing - Video
NeedleUp has a new company video we'd like you to see!
*VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR SERVICES* * WWW.NEEDLEUP.COM *
Monday, May 25, 2009
Embroidery Digitizing - Mom was right!
This might be a bit on the rant side of the fence today but there’s something I just don’t get. After doing this for years and years, I still don’t understand what people don’t get about “You get what you pay for”. Now, granted, there are people who wouldn’t know good digitizing from bad, or are just willing to compromise for price sake. These are the one’s that seem shocked when they purchase digitizing from some $4/1000 online, faceless website or overseas only to get under par or inconsistent quality designs, 3-5 business days down the line where they are pushing their deadlines and go into a panic.
Did you ever wonder how these companies can charge only $4/1000 st and still stay in business? For the overseas companies the answer is obvious (and a whole other Oprah) but what about the US companies that are $4 -$6/1000? How do they pay for multiple softwares/computers, employees, overhead, and general operating expenses on that type of income? They may use some “automatic digitizing” software feature to save time which would be fine if it worked well and didn’t compromise quality; which they ALL do. That way they can pump out more design average per hour….or is that more average designs?
They may also add their editing fees on each time you request a change. And…we know how often customers change their mind or request changes…..at least 50% of the time. How often do you get designs from the digitizer that your customer never wants to change a thing? Or, the $4 price that is advertised happens to be their price for 5 day service; if you want a more normal 2 days service, it's quite a bit more.
Believe me, I know the draw of getting something you want or need for a cheaper price. And some may still say they’ve used a $4/1000 st company and gotten a decent design and they may, in fact, have. The thing is, even using the same web company each time, they will never get consistent quality because they’ll never get the same person digitizing for them each time. Plus, it’s very difficult (if not impossible) to get to actually speak to the digitizer; the person who actually created the design, to tell them what your customer wants.
BUT ITS SO MUCH CHEAPER…….
And it’s all good, paying that cheap price, until you get it to the machine. A good embroiderer understands that the final look is only half the equation. Is it alright with you if the design looks OK at the end but you tear out your hair just trying to make it through the runs on the machine. Is it fine with you that the machine is stopping and starting multiple times more than necessary due to poor pathing, giving you false thread breaks, tearing the fabric and having multiple excessive color changes?
If you’re doing this as a business, the idea is to keep your machine running to make your money (hair intact). If your designs continually slow down or stop your production, it’s time to find a new digitizer.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to find a digitizer you could speak to all the time, is consistently providing the quality you are proud to show your customers and meets your deadlines time after time so you can count on them? People, people, people, part of what you’re paying for is experience!!! Just like everything else, the good stuff cost a little more.
In the end, you’re able to provide a higher quality product and your quantity goes up because the designs run more efficiently enabling you to turn more production in a shorter time. This also helps your bottom line in labor costs and keeps your customers happy and returning!
….and who doesn’t love happy and returning customers? I sure do!
Did you ever wonder how these companies can charge only $4/1000 st and still stay in business? For the overseas companies the answer is obvious (and a whole other Oprah) but what about the US companies that are $4 -$6/1000? How do they pay for multiple softwares/computers, employees, overhead, and general operating expenses on that type of income? They may use some “automatic digitizing” software feature to save time which would be fine if it worked well and didn’t compromise quality; which they ALL do. That way they can pump out more design average per hour….or is that more average designs?
They may also add their editing fees on each time you request a change. And…we know how often customers change their mind or request changes…..at least 50% of the time. How often do you get designs from the digitizer that your customer never wants to change a thing? Or, the $4 price that is advertised happens to be their price for 5 day service; if you want a more normal 2 days service, it's quite a bit more.
Believe me, I know the draw of getting something you want or need for a cheaper price. And some may still say they’ve used a $4/1000 st company and gotten a decent design and they may, in fact, have. The thing is, even using the same web company each time, they will never get consistent quality because they’ll never get the same person digitizing for them each time. Plus, it’s very difficult (if not impossible) to get to actually speak to the digitizer; the person who actually created the design, to tell them what your customer wants.
BUT ITS SO MUCH CHEAPER…….
And it’s all good, paying that cheap price, until you get it to the machine. A good embroiderer understands that the final look is only half the equation. Is it alright with you if the design looks OK at the end but you tear out your hair just trying to make it through the runs on the machine. Is it fine with you that the machine is stopping and starting multiple times more than necessary due to poor pathing, giving you false thread breaks, tearing the fabric and having multiple excessive color changes?
If you’re doing this as a business, the idea is to keep your machine running to make your money (hair intact). If your designs continually slow down or stop your production, it’s time to find a new digitizer.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to find a digitizer you could speak to all the time, is consistently providing the quality you are proud to show your customers and meets your deadlines time after time so you can count on them? People, people, people, part of what you’re paying for is experience!!! Just like everything else, the good stuff cost a little more.
In the end, you’re able to provide a higher quality product and your quantity goes up because the designs run more efficiently enabling you to turn more production in a shorter time. This also helps your bottom line in labor costs and keeps your customers happy and returning!
….and who doesn’t love happy and returning customers? I sure do!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Embroidery - Treading, Sinking or Swimming
The current economic state of our world makes our industry a scary place to try and make a living right now. We, of course, don’t work in a “recession-proof” industry, not even close (that is if there are any recession-proof industries). If fact, when corporate belts are cinched tighter, the custom embroidered apparel, printed shirts, custom logoed swag, coffee cups, pens and magnets are the first to go. Company budgets are smaller or non-existent and this early in the year, they have a tendency to hold on to them longer to see what the year has in store.
Merriam Webster defines economy as: thrifty and efficient use of resources.
How do you deal with this in your business? How do you keep your head up and revenue flowing? Are you treading, sinking or swimming?
Firstly, you’re gonna have to do that marketing that you keep putting off. I know, believe me…but it can mean the difference between feast and famine (OK, maybe not feast in this economy but you know what I mean). Carve out some time every day, even if it’s half and hour to devote to getting some new customers. Right now local is better because you can save your customer shipping fees and meet people in person. They’re more likely to buy from someone they feel they know. Phone calls and emails are free.
If you’re an embroiderer, wear your logo everywhere! This is you, marketing your business and a great way to show potential customers your quality. Pass out business cards like Halloween candy. Narrow your efforts to the area that’s most likely to pay off.
Get serious about your receivables. Current customers that owe you money and go out too far wreck havoc with your cash flow. If you have a policy, stick with it and work to collect. If you have no policy, make one.
Really talk to your customers. Remind them that now is the time to spend a bit on their marketing, not stop it completely. Just make sure that you are the go-to person to help them with that and reassure them that they’re getting the best bang for their buck. Get creative and find them options they can afford on a tighter budget.
Make sure your customers always get the best quality for their money and realize that great customer service doesn’t cost you anything; that’s your advertising. Trust me, if you help them when times are tough, they will be with you when things get better.….and they will get better…. right?
Merriam Webster defines economy as: thrifty and efficient use of resources.
How do you deal with this in your business? How do you keep your head up and revenue flowing? Are you treading, sinking or swimming?
Firstly, you’re gonna have to do that marketing that you keep putting off. I know, believe me…but it can mean the difference between feast and famine (OK, maybe not feast in this economy but you know what I mean). Carve out some time every day, even if it’s half and hour to devote to getting some new customers. Right now local is better because you can save your customer shipping fees and meet people in person. They’re more likely to buy from someone they feel they know. Phone calls and emails are free.
If you’re an embroiderer, wear your logo everywhere! This is you, marketing your business and a great way to show potential customers your quality. Pass out business cards like Halloween candy. Narrow your efforts to the area that’s most likely to pay off.
Get serious about your receivables. Current customers that owe you money and go out too far wreck havoc with your cash flow. If you have a policy, stick with it and work to collect. If you have no policy, make one.
Really talk to your customers. Remind them that now is the time to spend a bit on their marketing, not stop it completely. Just make sure that you are the go-to person to help them with that and reassure them that they’re getting the best bang for their buck. Get creative and find them options they can afford on a tighter budget.
Make sure your customers always get the best quality for their money and realize that great customer service doesn’t cost you anything; that’s your advertising. Trust me, if you help them when times are tough, they will be with you when things get better.….and they will get better…. right?
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Embroidery Digitizing - The Digitizing Side of the Embroidery Fence (Part II of II)
For all you Embroiderers out there:
With all that being said from the last post (Part I)...a look on the embroiderers side as to whether its better to use an outside digitizing company, hire an on-staff digitizer or learn the process yourself.
The truth that no salesperson when you bought the digitizing software will tell you, but that you very quickly find, is that the learning curve to get up to digitizing at a commercial (professional)level of quality is HUGE. And, worse, there's no place to learn the art, save for a few books and online classes. And make no mistake, it is an ART and some people, if they're honest, just aren't cut out for this art.
On the positive side of this, if you have the time to dedicate, the artistic ability to apply and the where-with-all to stick to it, you can master the digitizing side of your embroidery business. But do you want to?
Maybe not, "Do you want to?" BUT "Is it a wise use of your time with regard to running your business"? As you know, you're not making money if the machines aren't running. As an embroidery business owner you will wear many hats and juggle many balls. Do you have the time to wear the digitizing hat also or would your time be more effective doing production, marketing, customer service or management and leaving the digitizing to the pros?
You could hire and/or train a staff member to digitize but be sure you have enough work to warrant and sustain this person full-time, year around. A good digitizer commands a decent salary. It's not cost efficient if you don't have enough digitizing to do. If your training, realize that it will be awhile til they're up to speed.
That leaves us back again to using a reliable digitizing company that will be there when you need them and allows you to talk directly to your digitizer. You don't have to provide health benefits or vacation pay. You pay them only for the work that is done and you get the very best digitizing from an experienced professional to provide your customers with the best quality possible.
Do your homework, figure out what's best for your company! If you need great digitizing now, call NeedleUp Digitizing, 303-287-6633
You didn't think I'd pass up that opportunity, did you?
With all that being said from the last post (Part I)...a look on the embroiderers side as to whether its better to use an outside digitizing company, hire an on-staff digitizer or learn the process yourself.
The truth that no salesperson when you bought the digitizing software will tell you, but that you very quickly find, is that the learning curve to get up to digitizing at a commercial (professional)level of quality is HUGE. And, worse, there's no place to learn the art, save for a few books and online classes. And make no mistake, it is an ART and some people, if they're honest, just aren't cut out for this art.
On the positive side of this, if you have the time to dedicate, the artistic ability to apply and the where-with-all to stick to it, you can master the digitizing side of your embroidery business. But do you want to?
Maybe not, "Do you want to?" BUT "Is it a wise use of your time with regard to running your business"? As you know, you're not making money if the machines aren't running. As an embroidery business owner you will wear many hats and juggle many balls. Do you have the time to wear the digitizing hat also or would your time be more effective doing production, marketing, customer service or management and leaving the digitizing to the pros?
You could hire and/or train a staff member to digitize but be sure you have enough work to warrant and sustain this person full-time, year around. A good digitizer commands a decent salary. It's not cost efficient if you don't have enough digitizing to do. If your training, realize that it will be awhile til they're up to speed.
That leaves us back again to using a reliable digitizing company that will be there when you need them and allows you to talk directly to your digitizer. You don't have to provide health benefits or vacation pay. You pay them only for the work that is done and you get the very best digitizing from an experienced professional to provide your customers with the best quality possible.
Do your homework, figure out what's best for your company! If you need great digitizing now, call NeedleUp Digitizing, 303-287-6633
You didn't think I'd pass up that opportunity, did you?
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