Images_December_2019_Digital Edition

KB TIPS & TECHNIQUES www.images-magazine.com 34 images DECEMBER 2019 I’m seeing increasing numbers of small, custom embroiderers enjoying profitable niche markets by expanding into non-apparel embroidery. To examine the potential of this type of business, I asked a few friends to weigh in on the subject… Who does it? As a starting point, I spoke to friends who have boutique shops that are well used to creating specialised, one- off projects. “Shops [positioned] for production apparel can’t invest the time needed for these types of projects,” says Carolyn Cagle of Strikke Knits. “Multi- heads are not for speciality jobs and speciality jobs are usually single items.” Although boutique shops’ business models made sense of bespoke work, their concerns were similar to those of larger producers attempting to ‘fit’ these orders into standard production and profit models. Even so, they collectively reported 25-50% of their revenue came from non-apparel work. Is it profitable? The decorators I spoke to boasted high returns, but offer a few words of Erich Campbell explains why there’s a lot to be gained from embroidery on non-apparel items caution. Laura Jastrzemski, creator of embroideries for the car industry, says: “The cost of custom upholstery can be pricey, along with the cost of the vehicle itself. [When] working with a leather panel that goes into a built- to-order, limited production exotic sports car, there’s room for a serious profit on a small design of 8,000 stitches.” However, Carolyn emphasises the importance of educated quoting as the first step to rendering these jobs profitable. The extra effort in consultation, design exploration, and special handling and execution have to be factored in. You must sell customers on the value of your knowledge of, and willingness to pursue, these non-traditional applications. What makes it challenging? Compared to garments, hooping these items isn’t easy, whether you’re stitching custom gun-cases or crushed velvet upholstery panels. Materials that don’t take well to hooping and are oddly- shaped, heavy or otherwise awkward to get under the needles require special treatment. Laura says of her process: “I’m working with pre-cut and pre- marked pieces of leather or suede, in all sorts of odd shapes, depending on what the ‘panel’ will end up being used for. Some are small and narrow (such as a door panel insert), others may Apparel Off-beat furniture restorer Omforme turned to Strikke Knits to realise the Jackalope crest on this defiantly vibrant chair. Working with creative souls who value your abilities and input is a bonus beyond the financial compensation such creative projects can bring [Image courtesy Strikke Knits, Omforme of Minneapolis] Strikke Knits embroidered the Jackalope crest on this vibrant Omforme chair Beyond