By Brenden Prazner
Suppliers are critical to your business. They supply you with the fuel to drive your workshop, and having good, reliable suppliers is as important as having customers.
The Internet makes finding suppliers a whole lot easier, but this simplicity of searching often presents you with a lot of choices. This could either help you, or confuse you more – WHO SHOULD I CHOOSE!!!
Finding a Supplier
Finding the suppliers can be easy.
Online Forums: Ask around! There are hundreds of embroiderers surfing the world-wide-web and who are happy to share their thoughts and recommendations.
In the Community section of the EmbroideryStartup.com website is a supplier forum. Post your questions here, or read what other embroiderers have to say!Google: Search for “embroidery supplies” in Google, and you will be presented with hundreds of choices.
Google tip: search from your ‘local’ Google. If you are in Australia, use www.google.com.au or www.google.ca for Canada. For a complete list of Google regional sites, visit http://www.google.com/Top/Regional.
Telephone Directory: Sometimes letting your fingers do the walking is the quickest way to find a local supplier in your town or city. Remember, most telephone directory services have a searchable online directory.
Australia:
USA:
Canada:
UK:
Europe:
Global:
Industry Publications: Many industry publications have listings, advertisements, and often produce an annual product and buyers guide. You can often find a copy of these guides and supplier information on their websites:
EMB Magazine – www.embmagazine.com (USA)
Stitches – www.stitches.com (USA)
Printwear – www.nbm.com/pw (USA)
Printwear and Promotion – www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk (UK)
Eurostitch – www.eurostitch.com (Europe)
A complete list of embroidery publications can be found in the Resources section of the EmbroideryStartup.com website.
The One Stop Shop
It is often more cost effective to buy all your supplies, or as many as you can, from a single supplier. It is not only easier to manage a single vendor, but it could also reduce your freight costs.
Consider the size and catalog offering of a supplier when you are searching for a new partner.
Ask the vendor if they will offer a discount across the board if you move all your supply needs to their business.
Reliability and Timely Delivery
This is the most important fact you need to investigate, and can be a tricky one. If you ask the vendor if they are reliable, of course they will tell you yes. But you may soon be very disappointed when your order of thread if late, grinding your machines to a halt.
If you have no supplies you cannot complete orders, collect money and pay bills.
‘Test the waters’ with your new supplier, but providing them small, non-urgent orders for basic supplies. If they consistently delivery accurately and in a timely fashion, you can expand your orders with them as your needs require.
Consistent product
This is equally important for you and your customers.
Ensure that your supplier consistently provides the same product, and has plenty of stock of a range you may consider offering to your customers.
Ensure they don’t substitute one product for another. Subtle differences such as trims or fabric weave may not seem like a big deal, but this could cost you a return order from your customer, or worse, rejection of finished product you supplied.
Tradeshows
Industry tradeshows are also a fantastic way to find new suppliers and network with other embroiderers. At a tradeshow you can feel and examine the product in details, and also speak directly with the company representatives. These are valuable experiences you shouldn’t miss!
Visit the Events calendar in the EmbroideryStartup.com website for a list of industry tradeshows and events.
Pay your bills
A final tip... Make sure you pay your bills from your suppliers on time. As much as they love to send you their product, they will stop doing so if you don’t pay them. Once again, no supplies equals no products resulting in no money for you!