Friday, December 28, 2007

Embroidery - New Year, New Plan

I know, I know. Don't you hate the New Year's Resolutions? Do they really help or is it just another sign post to later pinpoint exactly where your good intentions went astray?

This year, don't make yourself a resolution, make a plan. Put it down on paper. Hang it up by your desk if you have to. Decide what you need to do to grow your business and how you are going to get there. You don't want to go tripping and stumbling into the new year. Baby steps though; making an unattainable and unrealistic goal is sure failure. Sure, the lofty idea of what your business should be is a mighty inspiration. But take smaller steps in that direction and adjust when need be to reach each incremental goal along the way.

If it's marketing you wish to accomplish, adding more customers to your base, decide the best possible route to add new clients while keeping the ones you have already. Maybe an incentive program for referrals and a new ad placed where your target customers are abundant.

Maybe you feel the need for additional training for you or your staff in some area of the embroidery business. Nowadays, on-line training is offered by many software manufacturers and independent companies in the industry. Maybe you feel pulled to add a service to your current offerings. Great! Find out all you can about the new service, how the costs will affect your business and weight all your options before jumping.

Whatever it is you need to work on in 2008, be thorough and organized. Thinking through your plan and how you're going to get there will help you foresee the obstacles in your path and hurdle them easily. Set it in motion and do a little every day. Have a prosperous 2008!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Digitizing - Free Holiday design from NeedleUp!


Just dropping in to post a free seasonal design for your download!

Please leave a comment about what you think and return often for more free downloadable designs brought to you by NeedleUp Digitizing!


Click below to download (dst format)

Seasons Greetings


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Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Embroidery - Digitizing for Specialty Items

Late in the year is always the time for working on specialty items what with the holidays coming and fall in the air. For football season we have stadium blankets and heavier coats, school items such as backpacks and special uniforms and everything Christmas including stockings, home items and gifts.

When digitizing or embroidering these items, remember to take the time to review what you'd need to do the job, in your head. High pile items such as fleece and fur need more underlay and special toppings to get the job done and look polished. Have plenty of the correct backings on hand. You may need to digitize several versions of the same logo for optimal sewing on different fabrics.

When embroidering school team items, make sure the school has approved the design and thread colors beforehand so there's no issue later. Kids love having their names on items but be sure to mention to your customer that maybe their initials are a better choice for safety reasons.

Home design items are a big player in the holiday season. Gifts of embroidered towels or kitchen items are a one of a kind gift that show your thoughtfulness. Unique designs and placements are all the rage and you are only limited by your imagination! Monograms can add a touch of elegance to linens and bath items and make perfect gifts.

What specialty item services do you offer in your shop?

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Embroidery - Marketing your Talents

You know you need to market your embroidery business but you're just not sure what to do....exactly. Sure, you wear clothing with your logo out into the world and you carry your business cards with you at all times. You may have even sent out fliers in the hope of securing a few new customers but it's a slow-go and nothing is guaranteed, right?

Well, it is said that the best advertising is word of mouth so why not inspire your current customers to speak...about you and your business! Offer them a benefit to talking about your talents and reward them when you acquire a new customer through an established one. Word of mouth works better because it appears to be an unsolicited, let-me-give-you-a-hot-tip sort of thing. Everyone wants to know the inside scoop and feel like they are "in the loop". Talk to 5 of your best customers and ask them for what you want. Ask them to tell every business contact they know about you and give them some of your cards to pass out.

Of course, you still want to pass out your cards like Halloween candy yourself. If there is a retail business board where you can leave your cards, do it. Always post them in places where you have the highest content of people interested in your services and they will do the most good! Search out new niches to go after. You never know, the next customer you may be embroidering for just might be the person next to you on the bus, in line after you at the store, or the owner of that cute little fashion clothing store around the corner that you like.

SO, tell us what you do to market your embroidery business and what works the best for you!

Friday, May 25, 2007

Embroidery Stock Designs - What are you looking for?

Since NeedleUp has added a stock design website to the world wide web, I've been curious to know.....What are your criteria for purchasing stock designs?

I guess it would be different things to different people. Depending on whether you're running a business or just embroidering as a hobby or crafter, but just generally, do you go first for price and then appeal or do you pick what you like and worry about the price second? And what about quality? Do you only purchase from vendors you are familiar with?

Would you rather purchase sets of designs or one design at a time?

What insires you to purchase one stock design or set over another? Tell us what you think, and visit our new stock design website at: www.creativendeavors.com

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Embroidery - The moralities of stitching

Let's talk about the moralities and political correctness some embroiderers face from time to time. What may be a non-issue for some, really bothers others.

Let me just ask: We all know that recreating copyrighted logos and designs is not only wrong but illegal (without permission), but how do you feel about embroidering words or images that are offensive? What about offensive politically slanted views? How about a job with pagan symbols if you're Christian (or anything religious that you don't believe and view as negative)? Or what if a job for some warmup jackets came through your front door, with some strange symbols or words that you learned were gang related?

Do you turn away jobs for moral or PC reasons or is it "Just Business" and you set aside personal feelings to do the work? Is it not that black and white? Where do you draw the line?

Tell us what you think........

Saturday, March 10, 2007

EMBROIDERY - 60 wt Thread

What's the deal with 60 wt thread? Well, here's the skinny....anyone who's ever been frustrated with small lettering (and really, who hasn't?) has one more avenue to try with lower weight thread. The problem is, for those in the commercial production side, it's more trouble than it's worth as far as some are concerned. Not only do the embroiderers not want to carry a full complement of 60 wt thread inventory because it's costly, you must also use a smaller needle with 60 wt which is also adds to the cost. For the production conscious embroidery company, the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to this option. Text has to be digitized specifically for this wt thread which causes another problem; you have to have designs edited (or be able to do it yourself) to enlarge the same designs for other applications. All stock designs are created with the industry standard 40 wt thread because that is by far, what everyone uses. What's more, digitizers will create logos for 40 wt unless told otherwise. We can certainly customize the design for 60 wt when we work with the embroiderer directly but many times, we digitize logos for customers that purchase the stitch file without knowing who will be doing the production. This requires us to stay with the industry standard 40 wt.

So what's an embroiderer to do? You have to make the best decision for your business; what's cost effective for you. If you're a small, one or two head shop, is it worth stopping the machine to change out thread and needles for short runs? What about if you run multiheads, can you afford the time it takes to change out needles and thread across the board? Is it worth the expense considering you have to carry at least a few colors available for your customers in quantities to match the number of heads you run? And, if you're spending the extra time to put up special thread and needles, you'll have to charge more, right?

One final thing: some embroidery companies with multiheads find that it is worth carrying 60 wt thread in a few basic colors, in order to be able to provide small lettering to their customers by dedicating one needle color to the 60wt thread and leaving the smaller needles on the machine so they're not changing them out constantly.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION: Have you made this decision for your business? How do you feel about this topic? Post your comments & questions.........

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Question: Help for new embroiderers

What would you say would be the single most helpful piece of information that you wish someone would have told you as you were entering the embroidery industry that would have saved you time and/or frustration?

Tell us your answer and share your insights!

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Auto-digitizing....Not what it's cracked up to be

You've heard the hype. There are lots of auto-digitizing programs out there....some are integrated as part of the higher end embroidery softwares on the market. Some are connected and work through graphics programs like Corel. None are everything they claim to be.

I guess they have their place in some niches of the embroidery market but let me tell you, in the competitive world of commercial corporate digitizing, they simply don't do the job if you want to play in the "big ball park".

First, in order to even understand and run the software you have to have a decent and basic knowledge of digitizing so that you can make selections to tell the software what to do. If you don't know what the software is asking you, you cannot even set the parameters for it to complete a design. Beyond that the software can only create design files from very crisp vector art with definition and specific areas of color. In today's market, most designs have complicated gradient blends, fades and multiple areas that come together in a way that only a human can digitize using a creative mix of artistic ability and technical knowledge. The software can't think or reason and certainly isn't artistic. They cannot determine a 3D effect of one element passing behind another but over the next, such as a Celtic knot for one example.

Auto-digitizing softwares are only good for very simple designs of basic elements that are 2 dimensional, with no color blends or crossovers, with few outlining capabilities and no text. That leaves out most, if not all, corporate logos.

That leaves us with the text question. If you're expecting to have it digitize the text, forget it. You could use keyboard fonts but half the time, corporate logos have their own text style that needs to be digitized by hand. Most of the time, even if the text is a basic style, a digitizer can make the text sew better digitizing by hand than using keyboard fonts. And true type font converters are pretty bad also....they cannot do the professional job of a good digitizer.

So, if you're thinking of venturing into the digitizing aspect of our industry, understand there are no shortcuts to professional digitizing. There is a large learning curve and the only way to get there is one step at a time, really learn the business, time under your belt and realize it's a full time job all by itself. If you own an embroidery business, and you run the business hands on every day then the digitizing is best left to a commercial digitizer you trust that works well with you and understands production. Build a business relationship with this person, get to know them and they, you. Your time is best utilized running your embroidery business and bringing in the profits.

Sunday, February 4, 2007

Customer service in the embroidery industry, PT 2

So...have you noticed? The lack of customer service at the "front counter" in today's business is appalling. A recent conversation with a friend talking about the same topic made me think about the problem and how things used to be. Now I'm probably dating myself but picture this: pull into a gas station and not 1 but 2 guys run out to help you, pumping your gas and washing your windows. An usher at the movie theatre actually seats you. You pick up the phone and an operator places your call for you...no extra charge. Or, you are shopping for clothes and you have a sales person helping you pick out colors and bringing you sizes. No, this isn't an alien civilization.....this is the way it used to be.

We're not too far from a place where the grocery registers will all be self scan. (Of course, they say it keeps the prices down but everything's more expensive than its ever been.) And there's my personal favorite, the banks....less personal attention, less service, less live people behind the counter, and more charges for everything you can imagine, to use YOUR OWN money.

Have you ever called a business and no matter when you call or how many times, a live person never answers the phone....ever? It's irritating, especially when their push button choices don't include the reason you're calling or an option to talk to a representative of the company. Or worse, there's nothing but a voice mail system for you to leave a message that goes, apparently, into oblivion never to be returned.

The GOOD news: With nothing more than a little effort, you can stand out in your crowd by focusing on the face forward your customers don't see anymore. And the best part is it doesn't cost anything but the benefits will be immense!! The customer may not usually say anything, but believe me, they notice and every once in a while, you'll get a comment that lets you know your effort isn't wasted. Go out of your way a little, jot a thank you note and include it inside the box of your customers next order. Give them a call a week later just to see how they liked the service or how the order went.

Look, we both know that we have these crazy days when everything is behind the eight ball and nothings going smooth. I promise, if you take an extra breath when the phone rings and put on a smile before you pick up the receiver, your company image will be the better for it.

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Customer service in the embroidery industry, PT 1

So, what do you think? Is the customer always right?

Anyone who's ever had to "eat" an order of shirts may disagree with this old maxim. It depends on the situation, of course, but the best way to avoid problems and miscommunications is to write everything out as an order that the customer has to sign, approving the elements of the order; color, size, application, etc. It may take a few more minutes or you may say, "I know these people very well, it'll be fine." but there will come a time you will thank yourself for it. It's not only a more professional way to conduct your business but it's a great way to cover yourself to avoid any disagreements.

What type of procedures have you implemented in your business that helps keep everyone on the same page? (either at the front counter or back in the shop)

Friday, February 2, 2007

Inaugural Post

The inaugural post:

The beginning, the start of something fresh, the commencement of something I hope will serve as a place to exchange ideas, share tips and experiences and discuss topics that we, as members of the embroidery industry, feel are important to us and our respective businesses.

NeedleUp Digitizing had been in existence as a company for 5 years, however, I have been commercially digitizing for 15 years. I've worked for embroiderers, manufacturers of machines and software, and now own NeedleUp. I know the business side, I know production, and I certainly know the digitizing aspect of our industry.

What information will help you the most? What experiences do you want to share with us? We'd like to hear from you.

So please, ask questions, participate with your ideas and comment on our current topics! Enjoy!