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From: airolg
Date: 12-02-2005, 01:53 PM (1 of 7)
Okay, I've decided that I need a way to pay for my brand-new and not totally mastered sewing machine.  Hence, an online shop in the making while I get better acquainted with my new toy. I've only sewn for my family and friends, but I'm hoping the talent is there for others to want to buy! I don't have the funds yet to attend shows and get my name out there, not sure I should go that route anyway. I've been reading the forum and someone mentioned there is a ton of competition out there, but all I need is a few bucks/month.  Should I give up now?So, aside from the financial stuff and the day-to-day running of a sewing business and online shop (already pretty much finished, sans products), stuff with which I'm already comfortable...thank goodness--what else do I need to know? Huge question, but I'll break it down a bit. 1. Fabric -- I need a cheap place to make my purchases, ideas? 2. Patterns -- which ones can and can't I use? 3. Products -- what sells the best until I have that niche product that sets me apart from the world? 4. Embroidery patterns -- do I really have to design my own to sell stuff? 5. Premade products -- where would I get cheap products on which I could embroidery? I don't want to make the item and embroider it, too. I'm not looking to become a sweatshop, just a small amount a month to get this thing paid for!!! Is there a site or resource out there that can/will answer some of these start-up questions? Who are the big names in sewing/embroidery? Has anyone ever written a how-to book/leaflet/Web site that I could check out? I've Googled a ton of things and all I ever get is a huge long list of links that turn out to be just another long list of links--what a chore that was! Thanks for any guidance, suggestions, comments...whatever you have time to offer would be great. |
User: airolg
Member since: 12-02-2005 Total posts: 1 |
From: Carol in ME
Date: 12-04-2005, 03:07 PM (2 of 7)
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I think if you want simple items to embroider, those are called "blanks." Dharma Trading sells some. You can , as far as I know, use most commercial patterns to make one garment for one person. If Josie, the accountant down the street, and you, collaborate and decide on a pattern and fabric and you make a suit for her, that's fine. It may not be used for commercial purposes-that is, making up a bunch of pattern XXXX and selling them. There is one exception: the owner of Reconstructing History patterns does not allow even for one time professional use. I suspect there are restrictions on embroidery patterns as well. |
User: Carol in ME
Member since: 01-27-2003 Total posts: 105 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 12-04-2005, 09:01 PM (3 of 7)
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Should I give up now? No way!!! You have a clearly stated objective. Go for it! 1. Fabric -- cheap place to make my purchases Try a search under "wholesale fabrics." Have you looked in the back section of a sewing magazine? 2. Patterns -- which ones can and can't I use? Can: Ones you've designed yourself. Can't: all others (see caveat below) 3. Products -- what sells the best? The ultimate question! You might choose an area and dabble within it (baby/bridal/bathroom/kitchen/car/travel accessories) and then see what people get excited about. Friends speak right up when they like something. They tend to say, "You MADE these??? You should really SELL them!" 4. Embroidery patterns -- do I really have to design my own to sell stuff? Really. If you can use a pattern (or text/website for that matter) for your own gain, you will usually see a note that says so explicitly. 5. Premade products -- cheap products on which I could embroidery? Somebody recently posted about this. I can't think of the name, but they sell "blanks" of all kinds and do mostly bulk sales for groups, clubs, schools... Caveat about the patterns: If you want to make fashion your niche, then you can charge for a shopping service and accompany your clients to the fabric store to select appropriate patterns and fabrics. Then you can keep the pattern for him/her with his/her measurements and tweakings and use it for that client. If your client is a bridal party, then each bridesmaid needs to buy her own pattern. I understand your notion about not wanting a home-sweatshop. There's a big difference between manufacturing and hand-crafting. It's the personal touch that makes the product worthwhile to you, and worth the money to your client. Stick around. Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 01-14-2006, 11:19 PM (4 of 7)
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www.embroideryonline.com is also now selling blanks of all kinds to embroider, for EVERYONE. Have you tried embroidering quilt squares, for those who like to quilt, but don't have embroidery machines ? Make small samples and tell people what sizes they can have them in 2x2, 4x4, 5x5, 8x8. etc. I know there are a LOT of quilters here in FL, but they don't want the expense of an embroidery machine. (e-bay might be a place for that too). I find that MOST embroiderers online who sell patterns, say you may sell YOUR work (their patterns), but not as a wholesale business. You may sell a few, but not to companies and commercial use. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: kathleenfasanel
Date: 01-22-2006, 03:32 PM (5 of 7)
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I understand your notion about not wanting a home-sweatshop. There's a big difference between manufacturing and hand-crafting. Hi Ladies...I did want to bring up that in this thread (and elsewhere on the web) the prevailing attitude is that 1. manufacturing=sweatshops 2. manufacturing=crap and nothing could be further from the truth. I've been working in factories all my life and I've never worked in a sweatshop. Not only that, I don't know anyone who has worked in a sweatshop either. It's estimated that fewer than 3% of manufacturers run a sweatshop. Just because it's in the media doesn't mean that it's typical. In fact, it's on the news because it's RARE -that's what makes it newsworthy! Regarding the manufacturing=crap thing, that's not true either. Just as often, home sewers insist that we are keeping secrets from them and all I can say, is that if we're making crap, why would that be a secret worth keeping? Why would anybody want to know that? I work in manufacturing and I definitely don't make crap. It's like any other business, some make nice products and some don't. Btw, I teach people how to run factories. I don't teach people how to run sweatshops. We work together to learn how to make better products of better quality and better value, just like all of you do. Not only that, but I let people like you in, so you can learn our "secrets". We're not bad guys. We're people just like you. Thanks, I had to get that out. best regards Kathleen Fasanella Nurture people, not products
Fashion-incubator.com |
User: kathleenfasanel
Member since: 08-26-2005 Total posts: 15 |
From: allie-oops
Date: 01-22-2006, 11:49 PM (6 of 7)
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Hi and welcome - you can do this! 1. Fabric -- I need a cheap place to make my purchases, ideas? You need a resale license from your county to buy wholesale, but not everywhere - but it's cheap enough to go ahead and get one. You'll also need it for TAXES. 2. Patterns -- which ones can and can't I use? You can't use patterns, you'll have to make your own. All the commercial pattern companies will tell you that. 3. Products -- what sells the best until I have that niche product that sets me apart from the world? I have a friend that just started with pet items. I'm planning on doing purses and baby items, I think they'll sell in my area. 4. Embroidery patterns -- do I really have to design my own to sell stuff? No. Most digitizers will allow you to sell so many per year. Check their websites, or email them, they are extremely nice about it and will be very up front with you. It doesn't sound like you're going to be selling in mass quantities. 5. Premade products -- where would I get cheap products on which I could embroidery? I don't want to make the item and embroider it, too. Here's a link to a trade magazine: http://www.stitches.com/profitableembroiderer/ It's FREE. Lots and lots of info there. A company called American Apparel makes nice stuff. As you browse the embroidery design websites, you'll see that a lot of them offer blanks or group buys on blanks. Here's another site you should check out. http://www.uspto.gov/ This is the Trademark website. When you pick a name for your business, go here. On the left hand side, click on "search" under Trademarks and type in your name - you want live or dead trademarks. Make sure nobody else is using it. Then, go to www.anywho.com, or your favorite business search engine, and type in your name again, for your state. See if there are any businesses with your name. You should also have business cards. I use www.vistaprint.com, you get 250 cards for just shipping [4.99, last time I checked]. Hand them out EVERYWHERE. You can also go to local boutiques and shops in your area, especially if you have a trendy, upscale area nearby. Talk to everyone you meet about your goals, you never know who you might meet that could help you. Embroider everything you own and be your own advertising! You can also have "home" parties, have your friends bring friends and family. You know, like tupperware, *G*. Check out local craft shows. I wish you success! Blessings, Allie "onward through the fog"
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User: allie-oops
Member since: 10-25-2002 Total posts: 282 
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From: crazy4quilting
Date: 03-06-2006, 01:11 AM (7 of 7)
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5. Premade products -- where would I get cheap products on which I could embroidery? I don't want to make the item and embroider it, too. I get my T Shirts from Walgreens. I know it is a pharmacy/HBA type store, but right around summer time, they get in boxes and boxes of Hanes T Shirts (the nice heavy weight kind) for $2 a piece. I would use these for my craft shows for Embroidery Projects and Iron On Projects. They ususally came in white, but sometimes they had a few Black ones too. Great price though. If you try to get these types of shirts wholesale from an Embroidery company, you usually wind up paying $5 - $7 a shirt. Trust me...I've looked. When Walgreens gets them in, that's when I would stock up literally buying about a 60 - 70 shirts at a time in all different sizes. Maybe they have a Walgreens by you. If so, call the Mgr. and ask when will he get the seasonal Hanes T Shirts in. They are well worth the price. A Girl Can Never Have Too Much Fabric!
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User: crazy4quilting
Member since: 03-14-2002 Total posts: 51 
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