Did you buy an existing business or start from scratch?

[Maureen]

This is just for casual discussion. I am finding it difficult to grow my business while working full time at my 'regular' job, but can't afford to quit it yet. So I'm just wondering if people would be willing to share their stories when they have time:
- Did you start your business from scratch?
- Did you buy or ever consider buying an existing business?
- Are you home-based or do you have a retail space or something else?
- What do you do in addition to embroidery?
- Do you do general embroidery or do you find it's better to really look for a niche?
I know many veterans on this board have relayed some of this information before.
As always, thanks in advance!

[Juli in Kona]

Who buys embroidery? Golf guys, schools, booster clubs, tourists, small businesses, wedding shops, sports shops, Dr's offices and hospitals. How do you get the word out? Pass out tons of business cards, stress that no job is too small. Wear your embroidery! Try to drop by at least one potential customer every week of two, bring samples.

I am retired, so I have a lot of time on my hands. I slid into this business because I wanted bigger and better machines than just the home variety and figured that I have to sell to help defray the cost. I do lots of hats for alumni clubs and for tourist shops. I live in Kona where we have a big tourist industry. Occasionally I stop by some small business, and gee, they were just thinking of doing something like that and wasn't it nice that I just happened to drop by. I try to get customers that sell my products so that there is repeat business.

Just some ideas.

Juli in Kona

[TinaK]

Hi Maureen:

We started from scratch with one personal embroidery machine about a year and a half ago. We basically started just doing the small things like towels, bibs, shirts etc and took things to the local craft shows then we started selling our shirts on Ebay and have been growing ever since.
We were making some money just with Ebay but we knew if we wanted to really grow our business we would have to invest in a commercial machine and so we started looking. Since getting our Amaya in May of this year we are able to do alot more items and our production time went way down which is great.
We do this out of my home and are hoping to move into a small building within a year or two but if it takes longer so be it we are in no rush as we don't want to accumulate debt and our business really is running itself at this point so no money out of our pockets is a blessing for us.
We do have other jobs that we do as well as embroidery. I am actually a travel agent of over 12 years and work out of the home with that as well and both my business partner and myself live on ranches and raise beef cattle.
As far as regular embroidery or a niche we actually do both but really because I am a travel agent we like to concentrate on that market as we have not really found to many embroidery shops to cater to the travel market.
One thing is I believe that everyone should have some sort of website these days as we are from a small community of about 100 people and if it weren't for the web we wouldn't be growing the business as much as we have been.

Good Luck!

[Steve]

My parents started in embroidery in 1993 with a single head Melco. I knew they were going to retire so I bought my own machine because I did not want their 13 year old machine. (They retired and sold in 2006.) I only have a couple accounts from them but 95% of my business I go and get myself. I already had experience with Melco and embroidery so it was easy for me to go buy a used machine. I have a full-time job working in IT which gives me all the benefits i need (Health insurance, vacation, 401k, etc.) so I do the embroidery part-time in a spare bedroom. Embroidery will not meet my salary unless I have a 4-head running 30-40 hours a week so I will probably keep doing it part-time for a while. I have been looking for a second machine so I have some more free time.

[Debbie Rinehart]

Maureen,
My business started as a hobby and intensified into my passion. I still work part time in my previous career (public relations)which has actually helped me sell more since I'm with these people twice a week. I work out of my big finished basement which keeps expenses down considerably. I don't find that a store front would help all that much since I'm in a small town (population about 12,000) and most people know I do this. I am a Chamber of Commerce member and advertise a little. I do a lot of business logos, but also make ladies sets; twill shirt with a design, over a matching tee with a smaller coordinating design and take them to several shows in Sept., Oct., November and have an open house in December. So, I guess you could say that is my nitch. The designs include everything from seasonal, floral, patriotic, personalized etc. But, I love my big red Amaya and wouldn't change much. Debbie in Indiana