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.