The links below lead to previously published blog entries on this site.
- Damage / Error Rate
- New vs. Used Clothing
- Suitability of the Garment Itself
- Time Consumption
- Profit margin
03
Aug
2011
Comparing the quality of embroidered caps
We just completed an order of embroidered caps for a client who wanted a specific label of cap. We usually try to avoid using this vendors’ caps because we have not been excited about the quality of the manufacturing. This batch not only did not persuade us to change our minds, but caused us to think of whether and how we can avoid using these hats altogether. You’ll see from the photo below that the seams are splitting. We didn’t do that. Three of the hats arrived looking like that straight from the distributor. So now, we have to try to return them and order replacements, neither of which are revenue-producing activities. Lessons to be learned:
1) We strive to ensure that our customers don’t have the bad experience of discovering flaws in the logo wear items they ordered.
2) When we recommend certain labels for certain types of clothing, we have sound reasons behind the recommendations.
Perhaps nowhere else in the world of garments is the quality of manufacturing more apparent than with embroidered polos. Sport shirts are all designed to look good on the rack when you buy them. The key question for you, the client, is: “When are my clients going to see the shirts?” Unless you’re buying for a grand opening, your clients will be forming an impression from your shirts after you and your staff have worn them to work for several months. Now how do your shirts look? Faded? Stained? Wrinkled? Collars curling up? This is when you will be wishing you had spent a few extra dollars for an upgraded model.
02
Jun
2011
Custom Embroidered Work Uniforms
We just delivered another round of light industrial work uniforms to a pest control client of ours today. This is a client who used to rent uniforms from a national, and impersonal, provider of industrial work gear. Our client has been pleased to discover that purchasing uniforms from I’m In Stitches is not only a pleasant experience in terms of customer service, but cost effective as well.
Browse here to view some of our light industrial work uniform offerings.
05
May
2011
Custom corporate logo wear can impact your bottom line — a personal experience of the owners
One of the owners of I’m In Stitches was sitting in a coffee shop today, working on a laptop while wearing an embroidered dress shirt with our I’m In Stitches Custom Embroidery logo stitched on the shirt. While waiting for a client with whom the owner planned to discuss embroidery in Sumner, WA, a stranger walked up. “Excuse me,” the stranger said, “but I could get one of your business cards?”
“Certainly,” my partner responded, and gave the gentleman a card.
“Thank you,” said the man. “My company really needs your service because we have no logo wear. I’m going to give your card to my boss.”
“Thank YOU,” my partner replied.
Just further evidence that custom embroidered shirts, caps, and logo wear do get noticed and can impact your bottom line.
24
Apr
2011
Custom Sports Team Uniforms – Track and Field
After having outfitted a number of baseball teams with team uniforms, we were delighted to have been chosen to outfit a Tacoma school’s track and field team. We are offering screen printed t-shirts, screen printed sweatshirts (hoodies), screen printed sweatpants, hats, sports bags, etc. We also are offering to the team’s booster club embroidered hats, embroidered stadium seats, and embroidered fleece blankets with which to fight off the still occasionally cold afternoons and evenings.
When you are ready to outfit your track and field team, call I’m In Stitches!
I’m In Stitches is proud to have offered to the Puyallup South Hill Rotary Auction a small quantity of custom embroidered sport shirts (i.e. “your logo embroidered here”). We were even prouder that our donation was used in the live auction, and that serious competitive bidding broke out among attendees who longed to high quality embroidery for their new corporate logo wear. The auction benefitted The Helping Hand House, a local organization that offers temporary emergency housing to intact families in need of shelter. We also donated screen printed bandanas to everyone who raised a paddle to offer a direct financial gift to The Helping Hand House.
For many who set off in search of embroidered shirts, jackets, or caps, price is the single most important factor in determining which embroidery shop to use. If you go looking for “really cheap embroidery,” you’re not only going to find it, but you’re also going to regret it.
As an example, we have a client with 14 different thread colors in the organization’s logo. This client came to us from having worked with another embroiderer in the past. The other embroidery shop would not provide their logo in 14 colors. The client compromised and the embroidered shirts were stitched in only eight colors. Was there a discount? I doubt it.
Why did the previous embroiderer not offer a 14 color logo? The first possibility is machine capacity. Not all embroidery machines are the same. Our embroidery machines can handle 15 different cones of thread. Some brands carry 12. Some carry only six. If you have a logo with 14 colors and you choose an embroidery shop that can handle only six colors at a time, it becomes very labor intensive for that shop to switch out the colors. The second possibility is laziness — they’re just not that interested in delighting their customers. So who is asked to compromise? You are.
Since moving their business to us, this client initially wanted their embroidered shirts done “exactly the same way as before” because they wanted to be able to compare apples to apples. We passed the accuracy test. By round two, the client was ready to go for the full effect. We provided a large order of custom embroidered polo shirts with 14 different colors matching the client’s logo perfectly. Our client was thrilled.
Oh, and did we charge a king’s ransom for that embroidery work? No, we charged a standard, competitive rate.
Moral of the story: It is a mistake to make price the sole factor when shopping for logo wear, and that advice is coming from a shop that wins some bids on price.
01
Mar
2011
Baseball team uniforms and booster club apparel
We just took a call from a baseball team coach in Bonney Lake WA inquiring whether we could do team uniforms. Yes, we can. We offer team uniforms for both recreational and select teams. Recreational teams are often outfitted with some screen printed t-shirts and some embroidered caps. Our select team uniforms usually come from Teamwork Athletic Apparel; however, we can also obtain uniforms from other labels if the customer expresses a particular preference. For select team uniforms, we offer a full-fledged sports team identity solution including heat press, screen printing, and embroidery, and sometimes all three on one garment.
We also offer booster club apparel, including but not limited to screen printed sweatshirts, embroidered wind shirts, embroidered sweatshirts, embroidered hats, and embroidered bags.
Give us a call and we’ll be happy to offer a quote for your team!
Like the pricing for many commodities, including gold and oil, the price for cotton is at record high levels. Real pricing for cotton has approached levels not seen since the U.S. Civil War. This is impacting pricing from farm to loom, from loom to wholesaler, from wholesaler to retailer, and from retailer to consumer. So if you are wondering why you are having particular difficulty finding cheap embroidered shirts, cheap embroidered caps, and cheap screen printed t-shirts, much of the blame falls on the weaker US dollar and the high price for cotton.