For the Business of Apparel Decorating
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/300837
6 0 | Printwear M ay 20 1 4 Hart of EmbroidEry SpEcial ThankS Thanks to the following contributors to this month's column: Jerri Stobinski, Design Images, Monclova, Ohio Rosemarie Fralick, advanced Graphic Company, Whitney Point, Ny Melinda Hargitt, Embroi- dered Creations, Darrington, Wash. Walt Richey, B.J.'s Ukiah Embroidery, Ukiah, Calif. Tricia Blanton, about Me, LLC, Peachtree City, Ga. Jack Gaige, art Thread, Woodbridge, Va. Lucinda Day Big Sky Sportswear, Fruitland, Idaho Peggi Gamba, Shelter Cove Embroidery Co., Toms River, N.J. Colin Jenkins, Occasions, Etc., Menlo Park, Calif. Pat Baldes, Personalization Solu- tions, Fairhaven, Mich. Odds and Ends It always seems that we are already deep into a commitment before the little things we didn't think about raise their heads. Here are some ideas to get you thinking. • Visit other shops owners and home business entrepreneurs and pick their brains. • Stay out of debt. Pay for the supplies and clothing up front. • Attend trade shows to network and learn. • Think twice before taking a partner. • Work from home, if you can, to be around when the family needs you. • Check top tension with a $10 gauge. • Use #60-weight thread and a 65/9 needle and increase density on small letters. • Don't mix up cutaway and tearaway in the same stack of backing. I had some that was mistakenly mixed and I ended up using tearaway when I needed cutaway. Two $75 shirts were ruined. • Use a heat press to set your embroidery so it won't pucker after washing. That heat press can also be a great springboard to other inexpensive processes that can add to the bottom line and create a multi-faceted business that will attract customers. You can make your own transfers with just an inkjet printer, buy pre-cut lettering, invest in some rhinestone designs—and a heat press applies them all. • Take a QuickBooks class right off the bat—very beneficial. • Join or start an accountability group. I meet with several women that opened businesses at the same time. Our busi- nesses were very dissimilar, but there are many common issues. Business failures are quite common the first few years, but we were each successful. We would joke that it was because none of us want- ed to be the first to close our doors. • Do your homework before making a leap into the business of embroidery or any of the peripheral processes that can give your business dimension and open up the door of mixed media—always good for the bottom line. Final ThOughTs Thanks to my Embroidery Line members for sharing their experiences. I hope these tips will help you in your journey toward successful entrepreneurship and I hope you are enjoying your spring. Those who have read my column for a while know the spe- cial place Spring has in this Hart. So yes, it's time again to hug those flowers—HHM | | | | pw Stellar em- broidery is the product of training, hard work and years of practice. Each issue of Printwear equips you for success with any substrate, apparel type, decorating technique and niche client. Make sure you're getting maximum knowledge. Upgrade your subscription to be complete; guaranteed delivery of every issue and all bonus reports – never fear those special apparel decorating requests again! Hs_PW-FearNoApp_FP_1403.indd 1 3/4/14 9:21 AM PW_MAY14.indd 60 4/17/14 9:48 AM