Two Ways to Make Money with an Embroidery Machine
Here's the thing that I have come to believe after more than 20 years in this industry...
There really are only two ways to make money with an embroidery machine -
- Your mouth has to be moving up and down talking with customers, or
- Your embroidery machine needles have to be moving up and down making designs
It is that simple, and it is that difficult.
Most of the people that I meet and work with as the founder of the NNEP (the national organization that serves embroidery and apparel decoration professionals) own or are about to purchase a commercial embroidery machine. They are "producers." Their default mode for how they want to earn an income is through the production of embroidered and decorated apparel. Unfortunately, if they are not that comfortable interacting with people that want to buy their decorated apparel, things get dicey in the income department pretty quickly!
In this industry, as in many, there are two types of business owners - there are producers and there are sellers. In order to succeed in this business, you need to make the stuff (or get someone to make it) and you need to sell the stuff you make (or get someone or something to sell it). Both sides of the process must exist within your company.
Developing the skills to do both is where things get tough because you probably lean more towards the production side of the process if you own an embroidery machine. Your solution to starting a business was to make the goods yourself. And that is great! Where you may need help is on the sales side of the process. And it would not surprise me at all if even the word sales gives you the "willies."
For people that are not comfortable with the sales part of the process, getting customers through a sales process seems completely overwhelming, if not beyond impossible.
I've heard it all from embroidery business owners, the ones that I categorize as producers:
- I do not want to come off like a used car salesman
- If someone needs something, they will find me
- I have no idea how to tell people what I do
- I'm afraid to tell them the price, they will never pay that
- I have no idea where to find customers
- I live in the middle of nowhere
- It just feels so pushy
If you are nodding your head yes to any of these points, then you, my friend, are probably a producer! And that is totally OK. The great news for you is that we now have a system to help you keep in touch with your customers that makes it less overwhelming for you, yet it keeps you connected with your customers. It is simple, it is easy and it works.
Two ways to make money with an embroidery machine - made simple
NNEP is excited to present the Joe Logo Marketing System - a tool to help you keep your business and the services you offer in front of your customers in a way that provides them with helpful information without pounding them with "buy my stuff" junk. The Joe Logo Marketing System positions you as their brand-building partner. The information you share is focused on helping them grow their businesses.
It is engaging. It is straight forward. And most importantly, it is effective at keeping you on their radar, so that when they need to get something with their logo on it, you are the person they will contact. You can build up your comfort level with the sales side of the business by letting the Joe Logo Marketing System do the heavy lifting. You are not cold calling your customers - they are now calling you and now you can use these two ways to make money with an embroidery machine.
The Joe Logo Marketing System puts you in front of your customers with targeted, helpful ideas to build and reinforce their brand every two weeks. It positions you and your business as their brand building partner. It keeps you in play as their "go to resource" to help them succeed. And when your customers succeed, it is likely that you will be a part of that success by providing more products for them. Talk about a "win, win" situation!
Due to the customized nature of this unique marketing solution, we accept a limited number of businesses each month into the system to help you make money with an embroidery machine. If you would like to know more about NNEP's Joe Logo Marketing System, please contact me directly at 800 . 866 . 7396 or email me at jennifer @ nnep.com. We can do a quick evaluation to see if you are a good candidate for this industry-specific and customized marketing system.
6 Responses
Hi.
I am a registered nurse, who started machine embroidery on a single needle machine 2 years ago. 4 months ago I purchased a 10 needle machine, and I am using it every day enjoying all my projects.I have always been into arts and crafts and have been sewing since my childhood. I have made so many gifts for friends and family ,and I feel that I now need to move on to make a little extra money with my machine. Can you give me any advice on how to get started?
Hi Susanne! So many people come into the embroidery and decorated apparel business from health care industries, part-time and then even eventually full time! We are hosting a trade show in Atlanta at the end of January (not sure where you are located) and then also in Nashville and Indianapolis this summer. The day before the show in Atlanta, we are offering a special 4-hour workshop on turning your hobby embroidery into an embroidery business, for an additional nominal fee. Get all the details online here: https://embroiderymart.com/atlanta/. That would be one place to start, as you will get to see so many products, suppliers, and equipment all in just a few days in one place. We also have a free eNewsletter that you might find helpful. And then of course, you are most welcome to join the NNEP, the National Network of Embroidery Professionals once you are sure you want to move ahead as a business.
Is this for America or any part of the world?
Hi Jolanta! Nearly all of our members are in the United States, simply because the bulk of the preferred vendors are here as well. You are welcome to join NNEP if you feel that all the other member benefits outside of the supplier savings would serve your needs.
Hello.
I, or rather WE, are in the process of doing some research to find out if it is reasonable to purchase an embroidery machine in order to try make money. By Make money, I don't mean get rich, or get rich quick, but to supplement household in come, in an aim to eventually and hopefully be busy enough to solidify working from home. Our needs are simple, our reality is such that we already work from home, in a really artsy area close to a big centre.. The underlying apprehension is simply that though we are confident in our ability to work together and make something WORK, we are venturing into something NEW. That is always laced with fear, regardless of ones confidence. I come from a hobby level machining back ground (CNC and Cad Cam drawing) coupled with an artistic flare and vision with most things. My friend comes from an accounting back ground, with a hobby level experience in sewing and knitting and other crafts alike coupled with a desire to HAVE to do less book keeping more creative money making. It is too deep to get into in one email, but you might get the gist. We have a source for some nice machines and supplies otherwise close to us, and have found good support through them alone, aside from any other possible support via other routes yet to be determined. So, it is a matter of understand where to start and how to aim it towards making money, keeping in mind how I started this lengthy write up. :). I am long winded. This caught my eye, and I am interested in learning more. I don't yet know where this road will take us, but given that we are considering the purchase of a machine, it better fit what we want it to do. The range being go small (ie: Brother 1400/1600 realm or jump in hard and heavy in the realm of the brother entrepreneur 1050) or that ilk. We are located in South Central Alberta, and certainly have inroads with some bigger companies, but need to get the wheel rolling, before I push that envelope.
Hi Sean - I understand your concerns about knowing which level of equipment makes sense for you at this stage of the game. While I do not have a crystal ball which lets me know that you will need Machine A or Machine B, I CAN tell you that no matter where your business ends up, you will always have use of a basic machine. Ever companies that end up with many multihead machines have plenty of use for a single head machine, for sewouts and quick jobs. In the meantime, you could always outsource the work to a contract decorator until you decide that you want to get the machine and do the embroidery yourself. If you would like assistance finding a contract shop, please let us know. We wish you all the best!