John Sommers - President j. Harold Distributors, Inc

I started my embroidery sales career in 1983.  Being in Texas, a “big state for chenille”, I have seen a lot of chenille produced and am familiar with the market for letter jacket patches.  Embroidery and chenille go hand in hand, and chenille can be a very profitable addition to an existing shop. With a single head chenille machine, a smaller business can be more responsive to the customer.  Three single head chenille machines currently exist on the market.  To meet the demand of the chenille industry, you need to be able to produce customized and personalized chenille patches.  Personalization comes from embroidering award specific lettering on the patch.  Customization includes creating mascots and other school specific patches in addition to typical footballs and baseballs.  Award patches are not limited to athletic achievements, awards our given for academics, band, spirit, etc

One of the necessities to the production of High School award patches is responsive delivery times.  Of all the garment embellishments available, none have as much “emotion” attached to the purchase.  When a student receives an award, they want it now.  Delivery of a chenille patch after graduation does the kid no good.  .

Pricing of chenille has been stable for many years.  The cost of scrim felt and yarn is minimal, which creates a sizeable profit margin.  Limited color selection for both scrim felt and yarn allows for very manageable inventories. If you can produce what the customer wants, standard footballs, soccer balls, megaphones or custom school logo mascots with personalization, there is little fluctuation in retail pricing.   In other words, you don’t go to Wal-Mart to shop prices.

The chenille market does not include school patches alone. There are many opportunities for fashion chenille.  The “chain stitch” can be done in metallic threads and the “moss stitch” in softer, thinner yarn, making a beautiful statement on flat goods, such as cloth napkins, table clothes, towels, etc.  Opportunity is limited only to your imagination and the market is ready for you.

You can contact John Sommers at jsommers@jhdonline.com or by calling +1 877-540-2500.