One of the most frequent questions I receive at Qdigitzing is, \u201cDo you also provide embroidery services?\u201d\u00a0 Unfortunately the answer to this question is, \u201cno\u201d but I can refer anyone who asks to several companies I personally know who would do a good job for you.<\/p>\n
However, I would not expect you to just take my word for it so listed here are several questions you should ask and carefully consider the answers before you make a decision on who you will trust your work to.<\/p>\n
\u00a01. How many and what kind of embroidery machines (heads) does the vendor have?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The answer to this question will provide insight to the capacity of the facility.\u00a0 Ask your embroidery provider what their daily capacity is based on their equipment lineup and average stitch count.\u00a0 A good vendor will know the answer to this question.\u00a0 If your embroidery supplier cannot answer this question effortlessly you need to prepare yourself for late deliveries.<\/p>\n 2. Is the vendor local to you?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n If the answer is \u201cno\u201d this should not be a show stopper for you.\u00a0 However, if they are ask the vendor for a tour of their facility.\u00a0 Most owners are proud to show off their equipment and the effciency of their operation.\u00a0 If a vendor is reluctant to show you their production this might be a red flag.\u00a0 My experience has shown me that a neat and organized shop will generally be more reliable at meeting deadlines with quality work.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Get Referrals!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n More than anything else your vendor should be willing and able to provide referrals for their work.\u00a0 However, a vendor is not likely to knowingly provide you with a bad reference.\u00a0 To combat this you should go to a meeting of professionals (like a Chamber of Commerce meeting) and ask other professionals who they use.\u00a0 Compare their responses to the provided referrals and you will get a good idea for what to expect.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 What is the Damaged Product Policy?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n In the real world of embroidery product will get damaged in production.\u00a0 It happens to all embroidery shops regardless of how good they are.\u00a0 You should be aware of this and you need to ask what the Damage Policy is.\u00a0 Most contract embroidery shops will have a 1% to 2% damage policy.\u00a0 That means if a product is ruined on the machine you will be responsible for 1 or 2 pieces out of every 100.\u00a0 Damage over that number would be the vendors responsibilty.\u00a0 Hats are far more difficult to embroider than \u201cflats\u201d and some companies might have a Damage Policy as high as 3% to 5% for hats.\u00a0 You need to have a candid conversation about this with your vendor.\u00a0 Damage policies are meant to cover issues that are virtually impossible to control, not incompetance.\u00a0 It is your responisbility to understand what is covered by a Damage Policy.<\/p>\n There are many other questions you may want to ask an embroidery provider before you decide to trust them with your work.\u00a0 On the most basic level your vendor is applying for a job.\u00a0 And each time you bring them work they are renewing that relationship.\u00a0 As with any relationship the key to success is open, two way communication and realistic expectations of what each party will get out of the relationship.\u00a0 You will probably notice I have made no mention of price in this blog\u00a0 because I feel price is irrelvant to this conversation.\u00a0 If I cannot get satisfactory answers to the four basic questions above I would not use a vendor no matter what their price is and neither should you.<\/p>\n As we enter what is the busiest time of year for many of you it is important to have reliable vendors.\u00a0 The most important thing you can do is go in to the experience with your eyes and ears wide open.\u00a0 Observe the surroundings (look for piles of ruined product) listen for claims that seem unreasonable.\u00a0 Like the shop with 6 heads who say they can turn five thousand shirts with a\u00a012,000 stitch logo in a week.\u00a0 They can’t\u00a0unless they\u00a0are outsourcing the work.<\/p>\n