Thanks for your response, Ed. The fact that you are a tech for other equipment and have 3 Amayas (and keep buying more) sounds like a substantial endorsement to me. You have listed a lot of questions for me. If you answered them you could easily get published! I have done the things you suggested about research. The people who do not have Amayas were very emphatic to stay away. I have been in the computer field for 30 years and have often been on the leading edge of technology regardless that everyone recommended what everyone else was using, and I always felt more productive. I have the same feeling about this decision. A couple of Amaya users & techs have said that having no embroidery experience is often better because the Amaya is not like the others. We will find out soon. Thanks again. David > [Original Message] > From: E. Orantes <e3m@xxxxxxx> > To: <amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Date: 10/20/04 12:51:43 PM > Subject: [amayausers] Re: About to Jump In! > > David, > If I were you, and I was just starting out again, I would suggest you speak > with embroidery technicians. Preferably the one's that work on various > makes and models. And if you're lucky, find one (or more) that actually > owns a machine(s) as well. Unbiased opinions will be hard to find. > Obviously, look for more than one technical opinion. The industry of > embroidery is not as simple as it may first appear, and I don't think all > the sales people out there really have your best interest at heart. > Personally, I know embroidery machines but what I find inconsistent are the > people who use them. Nothing against anyone in particular, but some > newcomers to embroidery have a background in automated textile machine > manufacturing whereas others don't know the difference between a left and a > right mouse click. You should do a little self assessment as to whether > you're the kind of person who likes to lead the pack or rather follow. > Education is the key but headaches will be a given. Like most things, it > will get easier as you go. A few areas of knowledge to consider (and not > limited to...) might be: > > Fabric (stable vs. unstable, satin vs. canvas,etc...) > Fashion (Consider your market) > Sewing (fundamentals of how a stitch is made, types of > stitches-walk,run,column,fill,...) > Computers (Or have a PC guy, Also - Internet and E-mail) > Software (embroidery software that is user friendly with enough tools to > grow,installation, uninstallation, file organization, file formats,...) > Networking (basic communication between machine and PC) > Thread & bobbin (many to choose from, polyester vs. rayon, imports vs. > domestic,...) > Hooping (basic vs. specialized, different techniques and devices,...) > Backing (Cut away vs. tear away vs. solvy, when and what to use > Digitizing (learn it yourself or shop it out?, how much to charge for > vs. > include in job price, who owns design -you or customer?,etc...) > Stock Designs (Dakota vs. Okalahoma vs. Great Notions, full catalog vs. > only what's necessary,etc...) > Tools (like screwdrivers and Alan wrenches, metric vs. standard,...) > Embroidery Machines (how many heads-needles, what size hoops, do I need > a > forklift to move {multi-head},conventional vs. new technology, new vs. > refurbished,warranty,will this machine grow with my business, how many years > will I have this machine before I upgrade to new again, and...just like > cars - the more you buy in package now, the better price you get vs. buying > more than you need or will ever use) > Machine Lubrication (When & where to do,Grease vs. polymers vs. light > oil > vs. heavy oil...) > Machine Service (what to do when you break down, we all have machine issues > at some point. Even under warranty you could be down and out for several > days and even a couple of weeks depending where you live, warranty vs. > extended warranty, who will be the tech in your area? ) > Business- especially as you grow (financing, accounting, advertising, > customer relations, location, retail pricing, employees, salaries, etc...) > Vendors (where will you purchase goods for resale and at what pricing > structure) > Training (Travel vs. In-house, Who and where will you learn from,...) > Competition > > And of course(definitely not least), how to operate the machine you just > purchased to get optimum results to pay for the darn thing! Try to find out > who will be your trainer and contact them BEFORE YOU BUY to get an idea of > their personality and experience. Ever had a professor in college you just > couldn't stand or simply couldn't understand??? > ISS is an excellent place to be. We attend once a year. Did the > seminar > thing one year - very beneficial but don't think the full seminar package is > necessary every year. When at ISS, ask 3rd party vendors what machines and > machine companies they have had experience with. But always consider the > opinion along with the source. (I asked a guy at a hooping booth who he > liked and he recommended company "x". As the conversation moved on, come to > find out, he only recommended them because he had a negative experience with > company "y".) > Very important*** Ask your sales rep(s) to put you in touch with other > companies in your area (but not too close-competition) who own similar > machines they're trying to sell you and ask to visit them to see their > machine(s) (and location- he he). We regularly offer up our place to do > local demonstrations for would-be new customers. > As long as you learn one thing new everyday, you'll be alright. Don't try > to take it all in at the same time either. You might find yourself confused > especially from one machine company to another. > > Best of luck to you! And if you're curious, we have been in this industry > for three years and have three Amayas. Looks like we're buying one a year > as we grow. I'm also an embroidery technician (Melco,Tajima,and Barudan) > which means I get to meet a great number of embroidery shops in a four state > area. Feel free to ask any questions and I'll do my best to offer up > personal advice. > > Ed Orantes > 504-258-6260 > New Orleans, La. > emservice@xxxxxxx > > > Ed & Maralien Orantes > E.M. Broidery > 900 Terry Parkway, Ste. 200 > Terrytown, La. 70131 > 504-EMBROID (504-362-7643) > or > 504-433-0099 office > 504-433-0100 fax > > -----Original Message----- > From: amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:amayausers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of David Sklar > Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 11:32 AM > To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [amayausers] Re: About to Jump In! > > > I want to thank everyone who responded to my request for information. No > one had much that was negative to say about recent experiences. I am going > to ISS to try to put it all together. If you have any strong thoughts > about required or desired accessories that you find indispensable or even > helpful, your insight will be appreciated as well. Thanks again. > > David Sklar > Ballyhoo! > Arlington VA > 571-217-4940 > ballyhoo_ds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > > > >