Promotional Product of the Month!

Collapsible Trunk Organizer

Marketing research shows that it is a lot cheaper to retain your existing customers than it is to attain new ones. A great way to do this is by showing your appreciation by rewarding your customers with a small token of your appreciation. A little friendly gesture will go a long way. This week's product of the week is fun yet functional!

Organize your life by starting with your trunk! This practical gift folds down for easy storage and shipping, then expands to hold an array of products from groceries to tools.

Folds down and secures closed for easy shipping and storage Features two large compartments, perfect for auto essentials, groceries or sports equipment

Materials: 70D nylon, frosted polypropylene plastic (0.8mm) front, 210D polyester and foam at bottom

Price Includes: 1-color imprint, 1-location

Product Size: 14-1/4"w x 12"h x 24-1/2"d

Item Colors: Black

Set-Up Charge: $50 per color

Standard Imprint Method(s): Screen Print: Front, 6"w x 1-1/2"h, 1 color(s) max

Notes: Not intended for use by children.

Min. order 35 pieces
$17.49 each

*shipping cost not included

Stand Out, Be Different!

Okay, so the title of this blog could apply to a lot of things but this is Threads Talk after all so for the purpose of the post it will pertain to logo placement. People always ask how large the embroidery logo should be and where to place it. The basic rule of thumb is that a left chest logo should be no wider than 4 inches and a cap logo should be no taller than 2.5 inches. Polo shirts are the most popular garment to embellish and the standard placement is on the left chest. While the left chest makes sense as it can easily be seen when shaking hands and talking face to face, why not venture out and do something a little different?

Embroidering your logo on the sleeve or on the back of the shirt below the collar are two great options. You can embroider your logo on one or both of these areas in place of or in addition to the left chest. Most companies have a website these days so strategically embroidering your website address on the back of your shirt below the collar is a terrific idea. Why you ask? Think about how many times you're standing in line at the bank, waiting for your plate lunch, to use the restroom, at the grocery store, etc. Chances are someone is standing behind you and sure enough they'll be looking at the URL on your back. Go ahead, stand out, be different.

What is Digitizing?

This is a question I get asked quite a bit and understandably many people do not know much about it. Digitizing is the art of converting a logo or design into a data format that embroidery machines understand. It is a popular misconception that since embroidery machines are computerized that all the embroiderer has to do is scan an image and the computer will do the rest. Unfortunately, it's not like "Weird Science" where you simply input images and PRESTO, there it is! Unlike screen printing, what you see on paper or screen is not what you will always get. Every detail of the design needs to be traced by the digitizer and then the correct type of stitching needs to be applied in order to create beautiful embroidery. Some digitizers are better than others which explains why the same logo can come out looking entirely different.

Here are a few key things to know to make sure your design will be digitized at its best:

1) Provide the digitizer/embroiderer a high resolution image of your design. Vector files such as Adobe Illustrator and eps files work the best but a high resolution jpeg (300 dpi) will work just fine too. Remember (GIGO, Garbage In, Garbage Out). If you provide a low quality design, it is highly likely you will end up with low quality embroidery.

2) Let the embroiderer know what you plan to embroider and what size you want it to be. A jacket back logo vs. a left chest logo will need to be digitized differently. The type of material the logo will be embroidered on will also determine how the design will be digitized.

3) The digitizing fee is based on complexity.

4) Digitizing requires specialized software and is not something anyone can do using Photoshop. A Digitized file is very different from a Digital file.

5) Once you have your design digitized, you can use the file over and over without paying the digitizing fee again unless major edits are required.

Hopefully, this bit of information provides some clarification and gives you a greater appreciation of the art of digitizing. Happy stitching!

Cost Effective Marketing in Tough Economic times

It's no secret that these economic times have been tough on everyone. The first thing most businesses do is cut back on their advertising budget. As many of us learned in marketing 101, this is a big NO-NO. In fact, we were told by our professors that in slow times, we should actually increase our advertising because most of our competitors are cutting back and our business would be on the top of our customers' minds once they decide to make purchases again. Easier said than done, believe me, I understand. Although many of us can't afford to run more tv or radio commercials or any at all, we all can afford to capitalize on the greatest advertising of all..word of mouth. And a great way to do this is through embellished apparel. Whether you decide to do screen printing or embroidery or hand out products with your business name and logo on it, people start talking and generally that's a good thing for your business. Every time you walk in a restaurant, a bank, a salon, or your son's baseball game with your shirt or cap with your business logo on it, you are a walking advertisement and are creating an opportunity for people to ask about your business. So even in these harsh economic times, you CAN increase your advertising and be cost effective about it. Let's turn the "R" word into rejuvenate.