My Stitchin' Business

Let’s get organized!

Jan — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:56:23 +0000

After doing applique for awhile, you’ll probably accumulate a small….”stash”.

The stash is a good thing–if you can see what you have, or have a photographic memory. Since I don’t have a photographic memory, I had to come up with a way to store the little (and some that are not-so-little) pieces.

What I came up with were plastic boxes in various sizes, but all by the same company, so they’d all stack together. The largest will hold about 20 gallons (think largish fish tank), while the smallest would hold about 2 cups of sugar. The smaller ones will stack on the larger ones and sort of “lock” into place. It’s not really a lock, but it holds it in place so it doesn’t slide around.

The larger boxes hold larger amounts of fabrics, of course, so they usually have pinks, blues, and browns. I have smaller amounts of colors like yellow and orange so they are in the smaller boxes. The beauty of it is that if I begin to acquire more of a fabric color, I can just graduate it to a larger box. If I use almost all of my pinks, I can move them down a size if I need to.

I thought about labeling the boxes, but changed my mind once I started working with the fabrics. The boxes are see-through for the most part, so as long as the fabric is stacked neatly inside, I can see what’s in the box. Usually I’m looking for a certain color though, and will pull a box just to see what I have in that color family that might work.

I also have a large box that is just for satin, and one just for the fabrics I use for tooth fairy pillows.

The boxes are kept on metal shelves in the room where I do my embroidery. They’re out of the sunlight, which is good. The shelves are sturdy so there’s no danger of anything falling over.

What system do you use for storage? Do you like it? If you could have any type of storage system, what would it be?

Made in the USA?

Jan — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:12:30 +0000

Are your products or supplies made in the U.S.A.? Does it matter to you? Does it matter to your customers? I’ve been noticing that vendors are advertising their items as “Made in the U.S.A.”, or “Made here in Indiana”. While I’ll almost always choose an item that’s been made here rather than in another country, I’ve been wondering if it matters to anyone else.

What do you think? Do you advertise your products’ origin?

Now it’s time to get out your camera!

Jan — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:28:00 +0000

You’re on the homestretch! You have your inventory, price, and descriptions; now it’s time for photographs! Photos for your website need to be sharp and clear without a lot of background distractions. I like for my photos to be in context (photographed where you might use it), or on a single-colored background.

Photos in context are usually not very difficult. If you’re photographing a placemat, take at least one photo with a place setting on it. If you have monogrammed towels, photograph them in a bathroom.

If doing your own photos just isn’t your cup of tea (we can’t be experts at everything!), you can always have someone else take the photos for you. I choose this option a lot of times. It saves me the time and trouble of doing something I don’t really enjoy to begin with. My friend who does my photos will tell you how she takes most of them:

“Hi! Dana here!

“Large items can be photographed on single-colored backgrounds. Go to your nearest educational store (where teachers go for things in the classroom) and buy seamless bulletin board paper. Get 2 yards of white to start with. When you get home tape one of the short ends to the wall 4-5 feet up. I like to do this by a sunny window. Roll the paper down and onto the floor. Place books on the bottom corners to hold your paper in place. Place your item on the floor on the paper in front of the wall.

“If you have a point-and-shoot camera, take several photos. Do some with the flash, and some without. Use several angles, and don’t forget to photograph the back.

“If you’re using a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex), you have a few more options. I have a Canon Digital Rebel xti with a hotshoe for a flash. Using a Vivitar 283 flash, I bounce it off the ceiling at an angle. Getting the exposure in the ballpark is hit and miss at first. Once you find
which setting works for you, write it down and use it for your starting point each time. I start with a manual camera setting of ASA 200, 1/125, 4.0. After each shot, I can see how it’s looking and adjust from there. The best part about shooting digital is that you can easily edit on the computer, making each shot look great in the end!

“You can photograph smaller items on a piece of posterboard. Set it on the floor about 4 feet away from a wall. Using the same camera and flash, bend over the object, pointing your flash at the wall. When you take the picture, the flash will bounce off the wall, giving you a nice,
even light. Use different colors of posterboard depending on your item.”

Do you have any trick up your sleeve for getting good photos? Do you have a camera that your love…or hate?

Embroidery Expo

Jan — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:03:56 +0000

Not long ago, I received and email from the National Network of Embroidery Professionals. While I don’t belong to their organization at this time, they sent information about their Embroidery Trade Show. The dates are March 30-31, 2012, and it’s going to be at the Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio. (Resort??? It’s sounding better all the time!)

They’re going to have demonstrations where you’ll be able to see equipment in action. It’s also for people who have a heat press, screenprint, or digital garment print businesses.

Their website is www.NNEP.net.

Anybody out there planning on attending?

Anyone Started on an Easter outfit?

Jan — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:57:35 +0000

Ok, so I don’t do a lot of sewing from patterns. :-/ HOWEVER….I’m seriously thinking about making my daughter’s Easter dress this year. Am I crazy?

I’m thinking about using Simplicity 2683 or, perhaps Simplicity 4647. I also like McCalls 6062 (right).

Does anyone have any ideas for a novice seamstress who wants to make a simple dress that looks impressive? What should I look for in an easy pattern? Any fabrics I should totally avoid?

I’d love to hear if you’re making any Easter dresses this year! What patterns are you using?

Looking for new tips, techniques, and inspirations?

Jan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:22:59 +0000

Last time we talked about ways to find new inventory for your business. This time let’s talk about new tips, techniques, and inspiration!

One way to add something new isn’t to have a new product at all. By just altering your technique will give an item a fresh look, without changing the item.

A place to go for inspiration is your local shop–probably the same place you purchased your machine. The majority of retailers offer classes–sometimes free–that will show you new ways to use it. You could learn easier ways to do a technique, new accessories that will increase your proficiency, or new approaches that you’d never even thought of!

Check online for local classes or expos. And, just because you’re an embroiderer, don’t pass over quilt expositions. If you sew children’s clothing, you might find a new inspiration at a bridal fair, or even a tractor show!

Have you ever learned a new technique that totally changed the way you do things? Where do you go for inspiration?

Where to find Discount Embroidery Blanks

Administrator — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:02:04 +0000

It seems that one of the struggles embroidery business owners have is finding a good source for embroidery blanks. They need to carry a good variety, be consistent with the quality and be quick and inexpensive with the shipping.

Well, The Sewphisticated Stitcher hits all those requirements. The variety is great, ranging from Kiwi Paper and key fobs accessories, to tote and make-up bags as well as the typical baby items. They prices are not bad, shipping charges are average but most importantly, items are shipped quickly. For the small quantity I usually order, this site is perfect.

For those that order in larger quantities, they have a sister site, Discount Embroidery Blanks. It’s the place to go. You get better prices at this site, but you also have to place a minimum order of $75.00. Anyone can order from this site, there is no business license or tax ID required.

These are both great sites, check them out.

Steps to Get your Items Ready to Sell

Jan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:26:35 +0000

Now that your inventory has arrived, you need to get it ready to sell!

First, Price: Determine your selling price. I take the net price of an item and double it. If there were shipping costs, I take the dollar amount for shipping and divide it by the number of items that were shipped. Add that to the doubled net price to get your selling price. It’s a totally psychological thing, but I like for prices to end in .95 or .99. I will often round up or down to that number so that it ends in that amount. You can also go to websites like www.etsy.com to see what similar items are selling for. It may be a lot more than what you came up with!

Next, Describe: I struggle with writing descriptions for my website. Your descriptions need to let your customers “touch” your items. They need to be wordy enough to be engaging, and detailed enough to answer all of their questions. I like to have very illustrative descriptions, but writing interesting, detailed copy can be overwhelming. I’ve found that I can go to the company’s website to find the dimensions and details without having to wrack my brain. www.thesaurus.com also helps when I can’t think of the word I want, but know what I want it to mean.

Do you have a different way to determine your selling price? How about your descriptions? Do your product descriptions tend to be bare-bones or chatty?

Organizing your Inventory to Sell with Ease!

Jan — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:12:14 +0000

Wow! We’re back from Market in Atlanta–and ready for a rest! Unfortunately, now isn’t the time to rest. Now’s the time to get organized! If you get organized before your inventory starts arriving, it’ll be a lot easier to *stay* organized for the rest of the year.

Get your filing system in order. I have files for expenses, sales, and new catalogs. If it’s a company I use a lot, I have a file folder just for them because updated catalogs can arrive with every order.

Don’t forget about setting up files on your computer also. You can use Excel or OpenOffice for spreadsheets to keep track of the money going in and out. Entering the data at the end of each month has been the best for me. It’s very easy to procrastinate about keeping up your records, but it’s much simpler to do it on a schedule. And don’t forget to backup every file!

Once your stock starts arriving, be sure to check your packing slips against what you received, and be sure to report any discrepancies. Put all of your paperwork in one spot so you can quickly find it when you need it!

So, do you have a good filing system? What works well for you? Have you ever tried a system that *didn’t* work?

Next time: Getting your inventory ready for your website!

Welcome to 2012!

Jan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:22:17 +0000

Welcome to 2012!

Now that schools are back in session and everyone is getting back to their normal post-holiday routine, it’s a good time to think about where you want your business to go in the next 12 months.

It’s Time to Shop!

Now’s the time to go shopping for new inventory. Many dealers are rolling out their lines for the next year, and there are good deals to be had. Online shopping is one great way to see what’s new. Sit back in your jammies with a cup of coffee and browse your favorite retailers and wholesalers. Make notes about items you like and their price. Search for similar items and you may find a new favorite dealer, a better price, or new product you hadn’t even thought of!

One of my favorite ways to find new products is to attend the annual America’s Mart that is held in various locations around the country. (Go to www.americasmart.com for information.)

I’ll be attending the show in Atlanta on January 15-19. I love being able to see and touch items prior to purchase, and many companies will be
offering incentives like free shipping on orders placed at the show. It’s also a great opportunity to do some networking and meet people who share your love of new inventory….and shopping!

Photos from AmericasMart January 2011 courtesy of www.americasmart.com