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considering a embroidery machine

1924 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  vlcnmstr, 
1
i do screen printing for a while now and i am considering a embroidery machine to further my business. i do roughly 50 to 300 screen printed shirts a month. i now and again my customer will ask for 5 to 12 polo t shirts with embroidery. so i am considering a home based unit with a 5 by 7 hoop. so far i have looked at lots of them and think this may be a good buy Brother PE770+ FREE MyEditor Sizer Format Color 44Threads 12Stabilizers DVD StartKit 3900CD 21Alpha, 5x7" Emb USB Stick Card Mach 136Design 6Font Trim - New Low Price! at AllBrands.com

secondly they say it will support usb stick and customer service says it will connect to a computer. i know i am going to need software. but don't know which one. i called a few companies the told me from 2200 usd to 10000 usd. i am not doing any thing complicated and not willing to invest that much for a dozen shirts. i tried to sub out the embroidery but it cost too much by the time i get the shirts its nearly 20 dollars. so can u please help
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T
You just havenot found the right person to contract to.

For that volume-contract it out. I would look for someone on the board here that can do it.

Most larger shops charge anything from .25 per 1,000 stitches up with a minimum of $1.50 to $3.00. Of course you will have a slight stup fee-but nothing compared to the payment on a commercial machine and what you are looking at will still not fit "all" of your needs, so it is just not a complete solution.

If you do go down that road-look at Embird.com for software. We have commercial machines, but do not digitize-we outsource it-just cheaper in the long run and looks better. Embird is $100 and a good used embroudery machine can be had for about $2500.

But again-for that volume-out source it until you are doing about $1000 a month with the contractor-it just does not pay in the short term.

I would spend the time selling instead of sewing.
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J
try contacting Atlas Embroidery, they do contact printing and are great to work with. If you need digitizing I swear by Wicked Stitch of the East, Jay is fantastic.

Contract Embroidery, Custom Screen Printing, Embroidered T-shirts and Hats
Digitizing service for the embroidery industry worldwide. Stock designs available. Digitize designs for most commercial embroidery formats. Corporate logos to fashion embroidery. Free consultations.
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imeccentric
Leon,
I agree, for that quantity, sub it out. There is a lot to learn in embroidery and you would still have to outsource the digitizing. Also, the cost of the machine is just the beginning, there are lots of extras you have to have. If you do decide to buy something, I'd go with the brother or babylock 6 needle machines. You can pick used ones up for around 5-6 grand and it could grow your business and do hats. When doing multiple shirts, they are a pain on a home machine. Most of us have hoop masters so that we can consistently place them in exactly the same spot(another $800). Embird($500 for the whole suite) will work with almost any machine out there and is every bit as good as much more expensive stuff. Again, keep looking, as I'm sure there are plenty of people with home shops who would be happy to do this for you. One final thought, if your embroiderer is supplying the shirt and doing the embroidery for twenty bucks, that's a bargain. You should be charging at least $30 ea for shirts in that quantity range
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T
yep-for what it is worth we have 2 SWF machines and still outsource sometimes just because we either do not have the time to do it or it would take far too long with just 2 heads sewing at the same time.

If I had someone local that would consistently turn it around in just a few days we would sell both machines and buy another screen press to put in its spot.
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1
to what u guys are recommending i ain't even gonna try it. i opted for a heat press and some vinyl. i already have a plotter and the knowledge of cutters. i also got two Epson printers one for dye sub and one for making positive films.

i humbly appreciate all the advise thanks.

i gonna save and get a brother 6 thread one head.
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A
1leonchen said:
to what u guys are recommending i ain't even gonna try it. i opted for a heat press and some vinyl. i already have a plotter and the knowledge of cutters. i also got two Epson printers one for dye sub and one for making positive films.

i humbly appreciate all the advise thanks.

i gonna save and get a brother 6 thread one head.
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hi leon i am anthony from malaysia for all the advise given to you all r referring to a home base business because the machines used are home base besides the swf of cause however if i were u, if i want to grow the business i would do contract first than consider the machine and software later the same time i can save more money to buy i better and hassle free liability that can really help me to make more money smoothly.
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vlcnmstr
1leonchen said:
i do screen printing for a while now and i am considering a embroidery machine to further my business. i do roughly 50 to 300 screen printed shirts a month. i now and again my customer will ask for 5 to 12 polo t shirts with embroidery. so i am considering a home based unit with a 5 by 7 hoop. so far i have looked at lots of them and think this may be a good buy Brother PE770+ FREE MyEditor Sizer Format Color 44Threads 12Stabilizers DVD StartKit 3900CD 21Alpha, 5x7" Emb USB Stick Card Mach 136Design 6Font Trim - New Low Price! at AllBrands.com

secondly they say it will support usb stick and customer service says it will connect to a computer. i know i am going to need software. but don't know which one. i called a few companies the told me from 2200 usd to 10000 usd. i am not doing any thing complicated and not willing to invest that much for a dozen shirts. i tried to sub out the embroidery but it cost too much by the time i get the shirts its nearly 20 dollars. so can u please help
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google "embird" software. really good and really good price.
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