Confidentiality agreements protect more than your assets. Just as importantly, they protect your customers.
Some of you might recall a column I published last November that addressed how to keep contract customers out of your production area in order to protect your work. This week's column looks at the other side of the same coin -- employee confidentiality agreements. These are legal agreements that are intended to keep your employees from talking about who's placing orders, for what quantities and dollars, what's being produced and who the end-user might.
September 15, 2008
Charging for rush service is justifiable, but be sure to outline policies upfront and inform your customers.
The issues of whether and what to charge for rush service are common in the decorated apparel industry and there are valid arguments on all sides. Most companies feel they’re entitled to some degree of additional compensation for going our of their way to accommodate a rush order, for bumping other customers a notch or two back in the production line and for having to deal with the potential hazards of doing something faster than necessary. Oh, and the more sanguine reason: you can, if you choose, stick it to ’em when they’re on the ropes.
August 29, 2008
Thanks to Uncle Sam, you can deduct certain trade show and conference expenses from your income tax filing. Learn what’s deductible — and what’s not.
Imagine an enjoyable — and educational — vacation with Uncle Sam picking up part of the tab. That's right, every decorated apparel business, the owner and employees of that business (even someone who is a shareholder/employee), can legitimately claim an income tax deduction for the expenses paid or incurred in attending trade shows, conventions and meetings.
August 18, 2008
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
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
An e-commerce site may be just what your decorated apparel business needs and your customers want, but as in any business decision, it pays to look before you leap.
E-commerce sites typically fall into two groups: the custom-designed site that serves your own business and the company store that serves a business you represent. In this article, the fourth in our five-part series, we discuss the differences between these two approaches.
June 19, 2008
Modern stabilizers and hooping systems aren't necessarily time-saving, profit-boosting conveniences. Sometimes, conventional practices yield the greatest results.
As we continue to look at the differences between a home hobbyist and a commercial embroiderer, let me reiterate that the difference between the two is not just a matter of location. I am a commercial embroiderer who works from home. The difference is mainly a matter of mindset. We can get technical and try to classify embroiders by their equipment, but the reality is that a commercial embroiderer is in business for profit and the other in it for fun.
September 15, 2008
Eliminate time-wasting practices.
Earlier, we looked at the differences between home embroidery machines and commercial machines, and found the biggest difference, besides durability, is that commercial machines are designed around production; it’s about getting work on and off the machine as quickly as possible.
August 29, 2008
When starting an embroidery business, one of the first steps is choosing your machine. Make sure you know what to expect before deciding between a consumer-grade or commercial embroidery machine.
Recently, I received a phone call from a woman who is considering opening an embroidery business and wanted some advice. One of the questions I asked regarded the type of machine she wanted to purchase. She told me that it was a sewing machine with an embroidery attachment and that she could get the whole package for about $600.
August 18, 2008
Think of metallic embroidery thread as the equivalent of the foil effect popular on screen printed T-shirts sold at retail today. It adds a similar trendy look whether used in concert with other apparel decoration applications or alone.
June 09, 2008
Don't forget these important tips when creating a digital embroidery design file to sew out on towels and other deep-pile fabrics.
Monogramming bath towels and bathrobes can be a lucrative niche for embroiderers. Upscale department stores and linen shops are eager to set up arrangements with embroiderers who can monogram towels as wedding gifts.
May 22, 2008
The latest embroidery threads include unique materials designed to create special eye-catching effects, improve production efficiency and open new markets.
It's easy to marvel at the technical sophistication of today's computerized embroidery machines and overlook the more mundane role of thread in the embroidery process.
April 29, 2008
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