Embroidery adventure

[Ricky]

Hi

After reading a lot of posts about investing in an embroidery machine, I am still no clearer what to do.

The reason for me wanting to know a little bit more info is that a local secondary school would like to go into a bit of a business deal with me (basically I will supply them with there PE kits, jumpers, badges etc.) the idea of this would be to eventually branch out to other schools in the area.

Can any one recommend An embroidery machine which will be able to do large runs? I Have little/no knowledge of anything like this but I think it could end up quite beneficial, and I am hoping the pros would outway the cons.

i am hoping for a machine around (or ideally under the £10,000 mark)

thanks
Ricky

[Earl Smith]

Hi Ricky.
There is a big learning curve with embroidery and you dont earn as much as you think, at least not when you start up.
I wont go into the pros and cons but before you go any further, look at the post made recently about Tescos and schoolwear embroidery. It might make you rethink your plans.

[Ricky]

Hi Earl

i have read that post about Tesco, the thing with schools, especially around my area is that they all tend to use the same company when ordering products - I'm guessing this is only happens up in the North East of England

[Earl Smith]

If thats the case then go for it.
To get the digitising done you could use a digitising firm and save yourself from buying expensive software. Digitising is not easy to learn.
Machines? There are plenty out there. Mine are Barudans and I cannot fault them. A few others are just as good.
Its probably best to go to a fair and have a löook around. But make sure that you have support for the machine, especially on how to use it.
Without support you are buying and expensive door stop.

Good luck
Earl

[Ricky]

Thanks Earl I will have a look at a few machines. can you send me the model number of yours and I will have a look at them as well

cheers
Ricky

[Earl Smith]

Hi Ricky,
I have two single head Barudans. Elite Pro 2. Z1501 CB2. http://www.barudan.de/67/Neumaschinen/B ... hinen.html
I wanted a four head but my shop is too small. (37qmts) .
Ive had one for 6 years and the other 5 years. Never had a fault with them and they are now running 7 to 8 hours a day.

But you will need support so make sure you have good contact with the supplier.

Software to make the digitising is another facet of embroidery you need to look at. I have Wilcom Embroidery studio. Level 1. It will do anything I want but cost 4,000€. ( not a typing error).
You could buy software that will just do text and get the logos made by a profi digitiser.

Anymore questions, please ask and I will try and help.

Earl.

[smo]

We use Amaya XTS single head machines, they can be used individually or together but have many advantages over a multi-head machine as if one thread breaks just one machine stops, on a multi head setup they ALL stop.

I'd suggest that unless you have more than one big client and enough work to keep it running properly then forget it. Embroidery is a whole lot more complex than getting a machine and running jobs, thread tensions, bobbins, thread types, needles, stabiliser yada yada and then there's digitizing as Earl mentioned! You're better off subbing it out tbh.

[Ricky]

The school who wants the work done has over 1400 pupils (the average intake for students who go there from primary is about 225) initially each of these students needs a badge on the blazer, PE kits (shorts,Tshirts,jogging bottoms, rugby tops etc) not to mention the other students in different year groups will also require any additional kit.

The current person who does this subs it out, hence the price going up every year. The main idea of the possible venture into embroidery would be to do the work on site. I haven been in disscusings with the head who would be interested in me supplying his school and other schools in the area with there embroiled ununiforms

I do understand its going to be a massive learning curve but for the amount of business I 'should' get surly its worth a little bit of a risk?

[smo]

Badges on blazers are a different kettle of fish to normal embroidery.

Shorts, t-shirts, jogging bottoms wouldnt be embroidered or even logo'd normally. Rugby tops and Polo's would normally be but then from 1400 pupils your market just shrank massively for rugby tops unless its a boys school and rugby is compulsary.

Just because the head of one school is interested and suggests you could supply others doesnt mean they are also interested.

I'd recommend you tread very carefully, margins are small, learning curve is big, mistakes can be very expensive and to prepare a job like that all for august when kids get new uniforms is a massive task which probably leaves you sitting the rest of the year with little or no work. I dont think £10K would touch the sides to do that volume in what will be a very short time window.

[logobear]

Hi Ricky,
if you try to get into this market now you will fail.......... I love enthusiasm, and want to encourage you, so my advice is to chase the margin, not the volumes at first.
Embroidery is an ok place to be, but do not think for 1 minute you can take on a school of 1400 cold start.
Logobear have done embroidery for over 20 years, single head, and even with our knowledge, and money to buy (say) a 16 head machine I would not go down this path.
my 2p worth