Starting Out  Owning Your Embroidery Business
Owning your own business can be a big, exciting move!  When it comes to starting up an embroidery business, there are a lot of good reasons why so many people are doing it, and coming out successful.  TEXMAC provides a well-rounded solution for those considering it, with superior service, support and training for HAPPY embroidery equipment.
Why partner with TEXMAC for your embroidery business success?
The resources that we offer new HAPPY machine owners helps get people started and oriented in commercial embroidery, whether as a full-fledged business or an ongoing hobby.   We at TEXMAC have been doing this successfully for years.  To learn more about TEXMAC as a company, check out the  TEXMAC Company history.
1. Educated Sales Staff.  Everyone's situation is unique.  Your conversation with our experienced sales professionals can be helpful in finding the embroidery equipment that best fits your particular plan or goals.  
2. Training.  Our ongoing education programs let you learn at your own pace.  There's a lot to do to get your business off the ground, so we've made education easy to get to, when you need it, and as often as you need it.  We have several education programs:
Classroom training: TEXMAC has several offices around the country where customers can learn how to operate their embroidery equipment directly from our in-house experts in a classroom environment.  TEXMAC provides equipment, written materials, experienced instructors and other resources to help customers learn
On-Site Training:  Optional on-site training is available as well for all HAPPY embroidery machines, giving you the convenience of having a trained HAPPY technician visit your location, assist with installation/setup of your equipment and train your personnel on your own machine.
Online Training: 
Self-Help Training Guides:  Our Support and Education pages contain lots of useful guides
 
3. Service.  TEXMAC/HAPPY customers have been our greatest referral source because of our stellar service.  Combined with the quality of HAPPY embroidery machines, your confidence will grow, the more you run your machines.  
4. Ongoing Lessons.  Because learning is an ongoing process, TEXMAC provides updated lessons and techniques to help you provide innovative products for your customers, as well as help you maximize quality and productivity.  Check our website from time to time for updated lessons and new techniques.  
   
Finally , we've provided some insights below, based on the experience we've shared with our customers over the years.  Look for updated articles like the one below, here at www.happyemb.com, to help you with your embroidery business.  
   Why start an embroidery business ?
There are many reasons why starting an embroidery business makes sense, and why it's become so popular way for entrepreneurs from all walks of life.  Here are just a few:

Be your own employer! 

  • There's nothing like the thrill of being your own boss, or the satisfaction of taking direct control of your career.
  • Follow your own pace and path to success.
  • You don't need a fortune to get started.  Profitable embroidery businesses can be built with a home-operated, starter-single head machine for very little investment.  You can choose how much you would like to spend for your small business startup.
  • The demand for embroidered goods is steady, and will only grow.  More and more types of businesses and organizations are turning to embroidered wearables and other goods to help build identity or communicate a message.  In addition, embroidery is finding a resurgence in fashion and boutique markets, from embroidered jeans to shower curtains, handbags and other creative applications.  And once you've established a good customer base, re-orders can keep your business flowing and remove some or all of the pressure to win new sales.  Many of TEXMAC's successful customers have stopped advertising and cold-calling for new business, their production schedules satisfyingly full from re-orders and word-of-mouth sales.
  • Choose where you want to work.   Embroidery businesses work well operating from home as well as in dedicated shops or retail space.  TEXMAC has helped equip many big, multi-head customers who are proud of their large, efficient factories with their HAPPY machines.  However, we also have as many if not more success stories from HAPPY embroidery machine owners who operate out of their homes with a much smaller setup.  Truly, an embroidery business offers broad appeal for those who are looking to spend more time at home.
Things to consider when getting started in your embroidery business
  Here's an overview some key bases to cover when considering getting started:
1.  Embroidery Equipment.  Because your machine is the cornerstone of the whole business, investing in a quality machine will quickly pay off. You'll often find that the price of your equipment (i.e. monthly payments) is actually a very small percentage of your operating costs, meaning that the price difference between a quality embroidery machine and one bought strictly on price is very small.  Also, that small price difference buys the peace of mind knowing that you've purchased quality equipment that will last even through hard production cycles. 
2. Embroidery Business Plan.  There's a lot of work out there that embroiderers can take on, and it's all a matter of finding a way that best suits you to go after your piece of the pie.  Consider these good, solid tips when planning your embroidery business:
Understand what embroidery can do.  Take advantage of the free classes and seminars offered to HAPPY owners.  The instructors demonstrate more than just turning a machine on and pressing START.  They'll show you the road to a quality product, and more about embroidery's unique appeal.  Understanding and playing to embroidery's unique strengths will better-enable you to learn about your market.

Find your starter "niche" market.  Okay, so you want to take on the world, but you've gotta start somewhere.  A lot of our customers have started by going after the business they are best-connected in: their children's school, equestrian fans, or even simply local    businesses around their areas.  There's nothing like the confidence-building exercise of putting out those first few orders, and that can come easier when you start off in familiar territory.

Research your numbers.  You may already know how profitable embroidery can be - if not, contact your HAPPY sales rep to learn more.  Then, do some research on what kind of pricing is in your market (stop by some embroidery shops around your area and get an idea of pricing). 

Go to embroidery related websites and/or trade shows, and attend classes where you can.  When visiting us at our trade shows or just browsing the Internet, you'll find lots of educational media and classes at your disposal.

Take advantage of inexpensive promotion opportunities.   Whether you plan a full-scale campaign with yellow page ads, websites, mailers and launch parties, or want to start off quietly until you get the hang of it, there are lots of inexpensive ways to entice business that can form an important part of your business.  Here are a few: 
Embroidery is "viral" in nature: anyone you embroider for becomes a walking advertisement for your business.  A child's embroidered backpack generates interest from parents of the child's friends, who see it, or a few well-done logos on shirts for a nearby store generates comments, as a couple of examples.
Embroider on anything practical with your business name and contact info including a website.  You never know who's reading.
     c.  Automobiles:  Cheaply-made magnets advertising your business name, phone, and e-mail/website
     d.  Basic website:  Basic, informational websites today are very inexpensive and can let you educate your potential customers
         on the benefits of embroidery and help them get to the order stage.
3.  Services Checklist.  Find the resources you'll need to set up your embroidery business and keep it running.
   - Government services for business licensing, tax ID, etc.
   - Merchant services to allow credit card processing, etc.  Whether you wish to online or simply in your storefront, you expand your potential
     customer base by increasing payment options that you can offer.
   - Garment suppliers - there are many to choose from.  Try to find at least one in your area, but also find alternates to cope with.
   - Service/education/parts and supplies for your embroidery equipment and ongoing learning - TEXMAC provides all of these in a convenient, 1-stop shop
      - Just call our toll-free number!
   - Express courier services for shipping to points beyond driving distance - establish a business account with UPS, FEDEX, DHL or other
     similar services to take advantages of volume discounts, etc