[amayausers] Re: Trade Show FLOP!
- From: David Smith <macaddicted@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: amayausers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 20 May 2006 19:40:56 -0700
Steve,
I too am just starting with embroidery. Before this I did freelance
graphic design and I had a saying that I would tell potential
clients: If I can't do it I'll tell you where to go... politely.
It's a silly line I know, but it was based on a simple fact: I didn't
know how to do everything, and was uncomfortable trying to do
somethings. When I first started I might spend a half a day figuring
out how to do something that should have taken half an hour. I would
charge the client for 1/2 hour and mark the difference up to my
learning something I would need to know later.
You might think about taking one-offs using materials that you have
bought wholesale (giving you the opportunity to mark them up). This
would get around your worry about goofing up a clients personal item
and get you the experience you need to develop.
The hardest thing for a new business to do is say "No" to a potential
customer. I learned the hard way that it is better to say no and
guide a customer to someone who can do the work than to say yes and
lose them because the work was done wrong and you don't know how to
fix it. In the former case there is always the potential of that
customer coming back to you later, in the latter case they are gone
forever.
In the mean time learn everything you can. Ask questions, we were all
of us beginners at one time, just as you and I are now in embroidery.
Experiment and practice on your machine and in your software. Just
because you don't have work doesn't mean you should be working.
Dave
macaddicted
On May 20, 2006, at 7:06 PM, Steve Griswold wrote:
> Hi,
> Thanks. I am also at the spa show with my wife. It's our first
> show and with only two weeks since we started the business it's
> still a good learning experiece.
>
> Since there are no people that have really come for a "Spa" show,
> the handful of people that do want something, want a one off. They
> also want this one off on a hat they have, a jacket, a bags, etc.
>
> We are set up at the show to do monogrammed towels and nice tote
> bags and have samples for people to choose from. We are really
> targeting larger spas and resorts and have lots of sample robes,
> towel, slippers, etc. The spa items require us to get a medium
> size order to make it worth while with digitizing a logo, setup,
> shipping, etc.
>
> My concerns with the one offs people want are:
>
> 1. It's not our item and we are new and I don't want to mess it up.
> 2. It's a bunch of effort to do one hat, one robe, one jacket.
> They would have to ship the item to us and we would have to ship it
> back since they don't have the item with them at the show. Some
> want a design, etc., that would need to be digitized, or created in
> Design Shop to be close. Most come up with a business card and ask
> if they can get the exact logo on one shirt, and they already have
> the one shirt.
>
> I just don't see the money in doing these one off items. I think
> we would have to charge a bunch by the time we pay to get it
> digitized, send the client an email proof, setup the machine, ship
> the item, etc. Maybe it could lead to more work, but not sure if
> it is worth it. Any thoughts?
>
> It's difficult to figure out how to get medium size orders. We
> were hoping other vendors would want shirts, hats etc and spas
> would want 10-100 robes etc. But so far we are luck if a person
> walks up and asks to get the hat on their head done with their name
> on the back.
>
> Any ideas on target markets for medium size orders? Or is just
> keep getting your name out by word of mouth over time the only way
> to grow?
>
> Thanks,
> Steve
>
> Atlanta GA
> OnleeJudy@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Oh, that must be rotten...so few people.
>
> To keep the machine running, make something for YOURSELF. The maid
> has the
> dirty house, the cobbler's kids are barefoot, and the embroiderer
> doesn't
> have anything embroidered. Do a shirt with lots of different
> animals of the
> same theme...jungle, dogs, cats, butterflies, etc. Work on your
> Christmas
> presents, make a baby blanket, quilt something, etc. That way even
> if no one
> shows up you've still gotten some of YOUR things done, and make
> samples to hang
> up for the next show.
>
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