EnMart Embroidery Talk

For the last week or so,  I’ve been talking about the Stitches Golden Needle Awards.    I wrote a blog post about it for the DecQuorum blog.   I mentioned the contest on the EnMart Twitter Feed and referenced links to the contest information on the EnMart Facebook page.  You might be wondering why I’m doing everything I can to spread the word about this contest when EnMart has no stake in the outcome.  We won’t be awarding prizes.  No one from our organization will be entering work.   So why am I pushing the contest so often?   Well, there are a couple reasons.

The first is that I think the Golden Needle Awards are a good thing for the machine embroidery community.  Any event that spotlights outstanding work,  points out innovations and rewards those who put a lot of time and effort into being the best at what they do is something worth promoting.   Machine embroidery can be,  I think, something that people take for granted, or something that gets reduced to a left chest logo when people think about it at all.  Contests like the Golden Needle Awards showcase the best of what’s being done and allow people to see that machine embroidery goes far beyond a left chest logo,  while also helping them understand that a left chest logo can be a work of art all on its own.

Second,  I know some of the people who have judged the awards in past years,  and I know how much time and effort they put into making their decisions.   If you’re looking for a critique of your work that is both fair and exacting,  you can’t go wrong if you enter this contest.  It’s not a popularity contest, it’s about finding the people who are doing great work and spotlighting that work,  while also explaining what makes it great.   The people who judge this contest don’t take the responsibilities of judging lightly.   They want to find and reward the best,  while also helping those who may still have a way to go get a little further in their individual journeys understand what they need to do to take things to the next level.   Not to be cliche,  but they care  about the craft of embroidery and about the embroiderers who enter the contest.

Finally,  everyone can benefit from entering this contest,  whether you win your category or not.  If you win,  it’s certainly a line item on your list of reasons why people should hire you.   You also get spotlighted in Stitches Magazine, which is great publicity.   If your design doesn’t place,  you still get valuable feedback which will help improve your skills,  which is no small thing.   Entering the contest is definitely a good idea,  and there’s still time.  The deadline for entries is May 21, 2012.

First up today we have a post from Stahl’s about their CutUps – clip art that you can buy for your vinyl cutter.   Some of us aren’t great at creating our own art (raises my hand) or sometimes can’t think of what to create.   This collection offers over 1200 designs suitable for heat applied graphics, so you’ll always have art available and ready for use.

Second at bat we have a post from Bonnie Landsberger,  which celebrates the 25 anniversary of Stitches Magazine by telling a bit of Bonnie’s history.   I find stories about how people started out to be fascinating and this one is a good one.   Plus, this post highlights how much help and advice Stitches Magazine imparts to the embroidery community.   Lovely read, as usual.

Third,  those of us who are affiliated with Stitches in some way have been talking a lot about the Stitches Golden Needle Awards recently.   We definitely want to encourage everyone to enter their work.    If you’re wondering how the Awards are judged,  Erich Campbell, who has been a judge for the competition,  provides some insight into the process in his latest blog post.   It’s definitely worth a read if you are considering entering.

Fourth on the docket we have a post from Nimah at Urban Threads,  writing on the Designs in Machine Embroidery blog.  Her subject is embroidering clothes for men that don’t feature fish, deer or golf balls.   Now,  let me be clear, there’s nothing wrong with fish, deer or golf balls,  but there are also a lot of other options for embroidering men’s clothing  and some of them are very cool.   If you do,  or would like to do,  a lot of embroidering clothing for men,  this post is a must read.

Fifth on the list is a post from Brass Tack Thinking that deals with the subject of when you should offer your expertise and knowledge for free.   I’m sure this is a question that most of us have encountered at one time or another,  whether it’s an expert embroiderer helping a novice embroiderer figure out a problem,  or a marketer giving someone advice on pumping up their Facebook page.    The answer, at least in this post,  is that working for free has to be strategic, and you have to consider what benefits will accrue before you make the decision about whether or not to let someone pick your brain.

Finally,  we have a post from Six Pixels of Separation which discusses the reasons you should and shouldn’t blog.   I love this post,  mostly because of what it says about why you should blog (really) and for what it says about the dirty truth of blogging, which is that it’s not easy and that building a compelling voice and an audience takes a lot of work and dedication.   A blog can be a great communication tool for any business,  but it’s also work.   If you’re thinking of starting a blog,  read this post, and then give it some more thought.

And, as a P.S. today,  I have a book recommendation for you.   Occasionally, in the Round-Up,  I’ve linked to posts from a blog called The Bloggess.   The author of that blog,  Jenny Lawson,  now has a book out.   I bought the book last week and I can tell you it’s hilarious.  If you like the blog,  you’ll love this book.  There were places in the book that made me laugh so hard I cried.  It’s the perfect summer read, and I highly recommend it.

We at EnMart always try to do two things when we select a new product.  The first is to make sure it will be useful to our customers.   The second is to determine if we can sell the product at a price point that is reasonable for those that purchase while still generating revenue for EnMart.    When we find a product that meets all the criteria,   we’re always happy and excited about introducing that product to you.

Today I want to introduce the latest stabilizer product we’ve added to our inventory,  a backing we call EconoTear.  It is a 1.7 oz. backing,  and is a moderate quality tearaway.  Like all EnMart tearaway backings,  EconoTear is designed to tear away from your embroidery once you have completed your stitch out.   It tears cleanly,  and holds stitches well.    EconoTear is a non woven backing designed for general use,  and is recommended for sturdier fabrics.

Because EconoTear is a moderate quality tearaway,  it has a lower price point than some of the other EnMart tearaway products.   Currently,  EconoTear is available in white and packaged in 500 piece packs in the following sizes:

• 8 x8
• 7.5 x 7.5
• 6 x 6

As this is a new product,  all three sizes are currently only stocked in full in the Traverse City location.   Our New Jersey,  Georgia and California locations currently may have a limited stock of the product, but will be stocked in full with EconoTear as sales increase.   If you have any questions about this product, or if you would like to request a sample,  please contact us for further information.

Ooh,  it’s Friday the 13th!  Are any of you superstitious about this day?

First up to day is a post from Bonnie at My Two Stitches.   I’m always fascinated by the way an artist’s mind works,  and this post is a great discussion of what sort of thought goes into creating a great digitized design.   Plus,  there’s an adorable picture of a dust bunny, complete with ears,  and who wouldn’t like that?

Second on the list are some tips from Retail Minded about how to shop a trade show.   We all know trade shows can be overwhelming and the best way to get the most out of the show is to go in with a plan.    This post will give you some ideas on how to make your plan.   Also,  while I’m talking about Retail Minded,  did you know that they now offer a magazine?   If you have retail space,  you definitely should check this out.

Third on the docket is another “this is so cool” project from Urban Threads.   This is a different version of the Baroque Jacket made by a customer.    I always love the stories behind why people choose the fabrics and designs that they choose and this post offers some great insight.  Plus,  the jacket is just plain cool.

Fourth at bat is a series of posts I wrote for the SubliStuff blog called “The 5 W’s of Sublimation” .  While I know the Friday Blog Round-Up is usually embroidery centered,  I figured that some embroidery shops also do sublimation and might find this series of posts helpful.    So far the series has discussed who should sublimate, what can be sublimated, why a company should sublimate, and which markets will buy sublimated goods.

Fifth in the countdown (or is it the count up) is a post from John Morgan about what moves your prospective customers to buy.   He makes a terrific point about the fact that you need to know who your market is before you can figure out what makes them purchase from you.   He also has a line in this post that I love ” Smart marketing isn’t blasting your “please buy my stuff” message to the masses”.  Every one who does marketing should have that line tattooed on their brains.  It would save us all from a lot of bad marketing.

Finally,  I wanted to mention a post that, while I didn’t write it,  could have come straight from my heart.    I’m well aware that it’s the fact that people take the time to read what I write that allows me to do the work I love and I’m so grateful for that.    The post that Erika from Redhead Writing wrote talks about the death of a devoted reader, which thankfully has not yet happened to me so far as I’m aware,   but the sentiments she expressed are ones I totally agree with.  It’s a great post.

I’ll admit,  I’m a devoted admirer of quilting,  but don’t have a lot of practical knowledge.   Mine is the sincere admiration of a person who wants to take beautiful quilts home and hang them on the wall as art,  but who has no real practical knowledge,  beyond the extremely basic, of how quilts are made.   I am however, as many of you know,  all about education,  although in this case I’m hoping it will be you sharing some knowledge with me  (not that you don’t always do that) instead of the other way around.  My specific interest is in the types of backing or stabilizer that quilters use when they create, if I even have the terms right.

I guess the first question I have would be about the terminology.  I see the word backing used to refer to the material that comprises the underside of the quilt,  the side that would lie on the bed.    Then there is the term batting.   From what I’ve read,  batting goes inside the quilt and helps determine its weight and warmth,  and then is covered by the backing.    What I would call backing or embroidery stabilizer doesn’t even come into the equation, as far as I can tell,  unless you plan to embroider squares or designs for your quilt.  Am I correct about that?

Finally, from what I understand, there are two basic types of quilting,  hand quilting and machine quilting.  Hand quilting is sewing the area to be quilted by hand.   Machine quilting,  which would be, I would think, where the stabilizer would come in,  involves using a sewing machine or long arm quilting machine to create your quilt.  I’m not sure, however, if you can embroider a quilt top all in one piece,  or if you embroider portions or squares first and then piece them together or if it can be done either way.

If you’re wondering why I’m asking all these questions,  it’s really some exploratory research to see if EnMart should or could start offering supplies for quilters.  We know that quilters already use Iris thread,  so it seemed a natural fit to start adding some other supplies.   I’m just trying to gather some information as to what we might want to offer and if offering quilting supplies would be a good fit.  If you quilt and you have any opinions to offer,  I’d love to hear them.

It all started on Facebook.   Actually it started a while before that,  but the whole notion of offering an alternative shipping method was really jump started again after a few people commented on the EnMart Facebook page about wanting a cheaper option for shipping smaller orders.   Because we do listen to what people tell us, and because we like to help out our customers whenever we can,  we decided to try out USPS Priority Mail as a shipping option on a trial basis.   Priority Mail is now a shipping option when you place an order,  but there are a few items of which you should be aware.

Item 1:  Currently USPS shipping is only available from the Traverse City location – Because this is a pilot program,  we are currently only offering shipping by USPS through the Traverse City, MI location.  If you select that option, regardless of where you are in the country,  your order will ship from Michigan.   If we do not have all the product available in Michigan,  you will be notified and offered the option of amending your order or shipping it via our standard Fed Ex shipping.

Item 2:  Maximum weight that can be shipped USPS is 10 lbs  -  This weight limit may change as time goes on,  but for right now,  if your order weighs more than 10 lbs,  USPS shipping will not be offered as on option when you place your order.

Item 3:  USPS orders may take longer to ship and arrive at their destination – EnMart prides itself on same day turn around for the majority of the orders for already created goods we receive.  USPS picks up packages the next day after a pick-up request is made, so ship dates will always be a day behind.

Item 4: Priority Mail shipments can be tracked – If you choose to have your order shipped via USPS you can still track your order with the package tracking option just as you always have.   EnMart chose Priority Mail because it offered us the option of package tracking.

If you have any questions about our shipping options,  or if you have any suggestions for us,  please feel free to contact us and share your thoughts.

First up,  we have a post from Stahls revealing the secrets of Glitter Flake.  Let’s face it,  the bling is here to stay,  and Glitter Flake looks like one great way to add some sparkle to your garment decoration.   This post gives you some tips on working with Glitter Flake.

Second on the list today is a post from Erich Campbell about making the transition from hobbyist to embroidery business.   He maintains that the first thing to which attention needs to be paid is profit.   Newly minted embroidery businesses often undercharge in an effort to bring in business, or just because they don’t really know their own costs yet.   As Erich tells us,  it’s all about measuring your costs and planning for the future.   This is a great post for anyone who is poised to make the leap into the business world, or for those who have just done so.

Third on the docket,  we have a post from ASI about the top selling pet gifts.   Pet clothing and supplies can be a real money maker,  and it certainly can’t hurt to have a few special products to offer groomers, veterinary offices and other pet related clients you might have.   If you deal with a lot of pet related businesses, check out this list .

Fourth at bat today,  we have a post from Peter Shankman about his “fate worse than death”.   In his case,  his FWTD is mediocrity or not living up to his potential.   I get a lot of what he’s saying here.  When you’ve accomplished goals that once seemed impossible,  opening a new business for instance,  what do you do next?  Do you rest on your laurels, or do you try for something bigger?   I found this post really interesting and thought provoking.

Fifth on the list is a post from ClickZ about customer service and what you can learn about it from dealing with small children.   While the premise may sound a bit condescending,  the actual content makes a lot of sense.   Customers who are calling in for help or information may be adults,  but they often have to be handled with patience,  lots of praise and an understanding of their side of the situation.

Finally, today,  we have a post about some things you might be doing wrong if you have a blog,  and how to fix them.    It’s easy to get in a rut with blogging, and it’s always a good idea to take another look at what you’re doing on a regular basis and see what works and what doesn’t work.    As a side note,  I also think Erika (who wrote the post about blogging) has a fabulous post about failure on her blog.  I’m not going to link directly to the post since it contains some language that is NSFW,  but I highly recommend going over and reading the post.

Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis know that I’ve often talked about the greatness of Iris Metallic Thread.  It’s the thread that can turn metallic thread haters into metallic thread lovers, I’ve seen it happen.    One of the most fun things is to give out samples of the thread and watch people look skeptical.  Then they take the sample home and we subsequently get an e-mail or a phone call or see that person at a trade show and get an earful about how wonderful the Iris Metallic thread runs and how it has completely changed the embroiderer’s attitude about metallic thread.

Don’t take my word for it;  just look at the glowing comments on the EnMart Facebook page.

Laura-Ann Quin It really does make a WORLD of difference… I know i have an inexpensive machine but your thread make it sew like an expensive one. I get almost no breaks with your threads. … and anyone thinking METALLIC.. USE THERES!.. it’s so amazing.

Rusty Pullen Great metallic thread!

Monica Lau Hernandez I love the gold metallic! it rocks…. I am ready to buy some and get silver too! loved your sample!

Erich Campbell It’s really fantastic stuff. I used it in this piece, one of many! -> Acanthus Hoodie

Lori Messelt Gertz Thanks for the samples I used the gold today and it stitched well

Erich Campbell You have to show the metallic. It’s pretty impressive. After James Auclair tuned our machines, it was amazing running that metallic- with properly running machines and good thread, it’s a joy to run.

Thanks to everyone who has left us a comment to let us know how much they like the thread.   If you’re sewing with metallic and frustrated,  EnMart can help.   Just contact us and ask for a metallic sample.  We’ll be glad to send you one.

First up is a terrific post from Urban Threads about how to photograph your embroidery.   Getting good product photographs can be a very tough thing to do,  so any tips about how to do it better are very useful.   Urban Threads has provided a great list of tips that will help you create photos that will sell your work.  Even if you’re just posting a photo to share your work with others,  a quality photo will help show off the quality of the embroidery you created.

Second at bat is a post from Erich Campbell about calls to action.   A call to action is probably the most important part of anything, a brochure or a web site for instance,  that is trying to sell a product or service,  but it’s often the thing that people forget.   Erich points out some ways to use calls to action to help increase your sales and satisfy your customers.

Third on the list this week is a cancer dedication bracelet from Sadia Sews.   Cancer is a rotten disease and a lot of people are working to raise funds to help further research or to help those who are battling cancer.    Sadia has created her bracelets as yet another way to raise awareness and funds.  You can download the directions for making the bracelet and she is fine with people making and selling the awareness bracelets to raise funds.

Fourth on the docket is a post from Seth Godin about why we lie to salespeople and marketers instead of telling the truth.    He makes a good point that many salespeople or marketers will imply that you’re stupid or disregard your reasoning if you go with something other than what they’re suggesting.  Seth suggests, instead,  that the job of a salesperson or marketer is to figure out what the buyer believes or thinks that is leading them to the decision they’re making, and then to help them understand what you, as the salesperson or marketer already knows.   It’s a different way of looking at things,  but I think it’s a good one.

Fifth in the spotlight this week is a post about why geeks are sexy.  As a card carrying geek and a person who went my own way in high school,  I totally understand what this post says.   Being different does have a price,  but it also teaches you skills that can benefit you as a business owner.    I like the way this post sees the positive side of being different and shows the value that lies within following your own path.  Plus,  she’s right, a brilliant mind and an independent spirit can be dead sexy.

And finally, because as usual this post made me laugh like a goon and is proof that famous people, like the rest of us, sometimes do random stuff just because it’s fun,  we have this post from The Bloggess.   Seriously,  this is just random and funny and also an example of the power of a blog,  Twitter and some followers.

First up this week is a great post from Kathleen Fasanella from Fashion Incubator which deals in a common sense way with the fact that whichever choice you make,  working for someone else or working for yourself,  there will be a downside.   The way to decide which option is better for you is to be realistic about which downside suits you better.    I like these kind of posts because I think a lot of people think going out on their own will solve all their problems.  It can solve a lot of them, but it also brings new problems to the table.  The only way to be successful is to be realistic about the challenges of whatever choice you make.

Second on deck is a post from the Stahl’s ID Blog.  This post is a good reminder that heat presses need maintenance and check-ups just as people do.   The post offers a few quick maintenance tips that will help keep your heat press in good working order.   Spending a few minutes doing routine maintenance on your press could save you hundreds of dollars by keeping your press running longer,  so it’s a good idea to take the tips in this post to heart.

Third at bat is a post from Erich Campbell about why you should enter your work into contests.   As many of you already know,  the Stitches Golden Needle Awards is looking for entries,  and Erich talks about why entering contests like this one is a good idea.  Contests can help you learn and grow as an embroiderer,  may inspire you to try something new and unique and can give you a gauge for the quality of your work.   Even if you think there’s no chance you’ll win,  entering a contest can still benefit you in a lot of ways.

Fourth on the list this week is a post about Pinterest.   As some of you may already know,  Pinterest has released code that can be added to a website or blog and which will block people from pinning images from the site in which the code is placed.   The question now becomes,  should you block Pinterest on your site or blog.   The post I’m referencing says,  and I agree,  that for the most part the answer to that question should be no.  The value of Pinterest far outweighs, in the majority of cases,  the risk of copyright infringement.

It’s a bit of a short round-up this week,  sorry about that.   I’d say I’ll try to do better next week,  but I’ll be working a trade show next week, so I’m not sure I could keep my word.   I just hope you guys find the Round-Ups valuable,  no matter how long or short they are.