Off the Cuff: How to Measure Key Barometers of Business Health — Part 2
In Part One, I focused on the seven key barometers of business health and marketing performance — cost of garments, production payroll, advertising, rent, telephone, utilities and professional development — and what each ratio tells me about a company’s financial performance and its management and marketing cultures.
June 22, 2009

Off the Cuff: How to Measure Key Barometers of Business Health — Part 1 of a Two-Part Series
One of the main reasons Impressions asks me to write an online column is simply what I do for a living; I’m a full-time management and marketing consultant in the apparel graphics industry. I’ve been at it 30 years and still look forward every day to plying my trade.
June 08, 2009

Off the Cuff: Avoid Errors with Order Acknowledgments
Based on my field observations in this industry, I estimate that more than 95% of embroiderers and screen printers don’t acknowledge or confirm orders — especially orders received by phone and where there’s no paper trail. The verb “acknowledge” here refers simply to the act of sending out a written confirmation of an order placed with the vendor who’s selling this order.
May 11, 2009

Profit from Understanding Your Customers' Purchasing Process
Successfully serving your customers requires more than you think. You must recognize where they are in the purchasing process to adequately meet their needs.
To be a successful retail salesperson, you must understand how and why customers buy. Purchasing is a financial decision resulting in the exchange of money for goods. The process itself is very linear. The time it takes to move through this process varies according to each individual and the product or service purchased.
July 21, 2008

If You Build It, Will They Come? Part 5
To make the most of your investment, you need to drive traffic to your Web site. Here are some proven ways to do just that.
Driving visitors to your Web site once you've spent so much time and money is the final step you must focus on to improve the rate of return on your investment. After launching the Web site, if you magically expect new customers to appear on your doorstep, you'll be disappointed. The Web site must be promoted — to all of your existing customers as well as any prospects in your database.
July 07, 2008

How to Heat-Apply Graphics on Servicewear and Uniforms
Whether you are buying a cappuccino or getting your oil changed, chances are the person assisting you is outfitted in custom workwear or servicewear of some type. It’s hard to say exactly when the first uniform was worn and by whom. Perhaps soldiers going into battle started the phenomenon. Or maybe it was railroad workers who wore bib overalls in the late 1800’s that popularized the trend. Either way, from traditional to non-traditional, workwear has become a staple of various sectors in our labor force.
June 22, 2009

Find Relief from (Thread) Tension Headaches
Thread tensioning is such a big part of the embroidery process. If it is set correctly, the machine will purr and the design will look beautiful. If the tension is off, it can make you pull your hair out and say things you shouldn’t.
June 22, 2009

Use Specialty Threads to Spice Up Embroidery
Embroidery legend Walt Floriani once said that embroidering with just one type of thread is like a chef trying to prepare a gourmet meal with salt and pepper as the only seasonings. Don’t limit yourself; take advantage of the many thread choices out there that can spice up your embroidery.
June 05, 2009

Tech Tip: Achieving Crisp 3-D Embroidery
Puffy foam embroidery continues to be a popular option for those customers looking for something different to give dimension to their designs. One of the biggest challenges with this process, however, is preventing the foam from sticking out between the stitches in 3-D designs. Some simple solutions in both the digitizing and embroidery stages can help correct this problem.
July 01, 2009

Tips for Training Embroidery Operators
Many shops just hire a new worker and let them learn on the job. This “on-the-job osmosis” method usually results in uneven job skills and does not give your employee the best opportunity to excel.
May 22, 2009

Ink-Matching Tips
Screen printers have two options when it comes to ink color-matching systems: pigment concentrates (PC) or finished inks. Using pigment concentrates, printers can measure concentrated pigments according to the ink manufacturer's formulation guide and mix them with a plastisol carrier base. A finished ink system already has the correct base-to-pigment ratio, so the inks come ready to print.
December 01, 2008