I need opinions on which direction to head into...
Hey everyone! Ok, I was wondering if you guys could help me out? Right now i have been working out of my home, cutting decals, graphics and screen printing on the side for the last two years now. I really hate my job and love my side business. I have been mainly teaching myself from square one and learning Flexi Sign Pro 7.5. I feel like if i were to open a business, although I cannot design to save my life, that I could figure out other problems as i go. I was planning on buying an embriodary machine and going for it. This is something i want soo much but can't get over my fear of doing it. Do you think there is a big enough market for just my signs, decals and lettering, as well as screenprinting? Do you think buying the embriodary machine is my next best move? Do you think if i know my way around Flexi i can easily figure out the embriodary software? I was also wondering if a lot of you have your own designs on display or just do custom orders as they come in?
I guess im just at a point in my life where i either have to do it, or not do it. My g.f of 6 years is up my *** for a house and a ring so i need to start making moves because my 40 hour work week isn't cutting it and im not getting enough business running this out of my basement.
Thank you for all your opinions in advance...Nick Romano
Re: I need opinions on which direction to head into...
I opened my shop just 6 months ago, very much in the same way you're talking about. I got an embroidery machine to expand my side business where I was doing t-shirts and stationery.
Embroidery has been good for me. Stock designs are easily accessable, and you can outsource things like logo digitizing and pass that cost on to the customer.
I do mostly personalized gifts, so there isn't a great deal of graphics involved. It helps to have some design sense, it helps if you know how to sew, and it helps if you can do some hand embroidery (for touching up).
I purchased a 15 needle machine (an SWF). Because I don't do a great deal of graphic intensive work, and when I do the design rarely has more than 6 colors, I realize now that I could have gone with a 6 or 9 needle machine.
Should you decide to add embroidery, my advice is this. Do not try to use a home machine...changing thread colors takes too much time, and a small machine is too limiting as far as the types of items you can do on them.
Check out all the machines. The most important question to ask is "do you have a service/repair person in my area?".
As for figuring the software out on your own, it's possible depending on your background. However, the dealer you buy the machine an software from should offer training -- I'd suggest you utilize that.
If you're looking to make money right away though, then you just need to find another job. Even in a store front, with advertising, it's going to take time. You really need to be prepared to go with little or no income while you build your business.
Re: I need opinions on which direction to head into...
I have considered the print/cut machine. My delima with that is my creativity and lack of design skills. Im not really an artsy person. I feel like if i were to buy one of those I would have to outsource pretty much all of my work and not only cut down on my profit but be more work than its worth. I don't know? How do you guys feel about that? I just figured the embriodary machine software will be similar to the flexi software, I could pick it up easily and keep most everything in house.
Re: I need opinions on which direction to head into...
You would be surprised at how fast you learn from practicing doing designs. Find some interesting designs on apparel in magazines and stores and try to duplicate them. Also several transfer companies offer templates where all you need to do is change a name or color or clip art. Check out transfer express and their idea book. Lou
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Re: I need opinions on which direction to head into...
So can you design right on the software the embriodary comes with? I have some one color logos and designs that i have thrown together, simple stuff for some of the car clubs i make stuff for. I know one of the clubs i am a vender of decals and tee shirts for are dying for embrioded headrests. It would be a huge plus to add in fitted hats and polo shirts with the car club logo. Would i be able to do something like that without having it digitialized?
I was also wondering if you could make iron/stitch on patches with say the toyota or swf?
Dechez, what kind of personalized gifts do you do? I was just wondering? I also think i would only need to go with a 6 needle 1 head machine. Im a little on the fence about buying a used machine but i may take that route as well...we'll see what happens. I like the idea of buying a new one with a warrenty
Re: I need opinions on which direction to head into...
Quote:
Originally Posted by nromano1212
So can you design right on the software the embriodary comes with? I have some one color logos and designs that i have thrown together, simple stuff for some of the car clubs i make stuff for. I know one of the clubs i am a vender of decals and tee shirts for are dying for embrioded headrests. It would be a huge plus to add in fitted hats and polo shirts with the car club logo. Would i be able to do something like that without having it digitialized?
I was also wondering if you could make iron/stitch on patches with say the toyota or swf?
Dechez, what kind of personalized gifts do you do? I was just wondering? I also think i would only need to go with a 6 needle 1 head machine. Im a little on the fence about buying a used machine but i may take that route as well...we'll see what happens. I like the idea of buying a new one with a warrenty
I do baby items (bibs, blankets, etc.), lots of various bags (totes, backpacks, etc.), winter scarves, caps, gloves...all kinds of towels. Really, anything I can hoop.
I also do custom shirts. And oh yes...I do uniforms -- chef coats, aprons, and industrial. On that side, I cater to the mom & pop shops who love the "no minimum" thing.
I don't have a really large space, so I don't keep a lot of stock...but I try to have a good variety of display items. I have catalogs in the store and on my website. This works for me because my distributor is fast...I can order today by 4:00, and have the item tomorrow.
In this case, I think you're right about buying a new machine...the warranty is important, and the support is even more crucial for a first timer.
Re: I need opinions on which direction to head into...
I think thats more or less what I want to do, caiter to the people who just want a few items done. It would be nice to get some bigger orders done as well but Im planning on keeping this low key as i have other business endevours i plan on going after. I guess its just taking that leap. Leaving my job and taking a chance. I was thinking if i were to buy one of these machines for say $9000, its warrentied for 5 years. So thats more than enough time to make my money back on it and from what im seeing in my online searches, these things have a pretty good re sell value, so why not just buy new? At this point i think im going to try and hold off till after xmass so I will have about $2000 to put down on the machine right away.
Re: I need opinions on which direction to head into...
You can make some bank on emb but it takes a little bit of practice to get good at it. Outsource your digitizing and try to sell orders that have a lot of pieces with the same design.
Your customers will place a higher value on emb over screen printing.
I need opinions on which direction to head into... 
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