Educating our current clients and people we meet through networking avenues is an important part to Embroidery For You STL’s marketing initiatives. Explaining what type of client or business is ideal for decorated apparel helps first to explain the embroidery industry as well as let referral partners know what works for us, thereby saving everyone time and effort. Our industry is unique in that a potential client, whether commercial or individual, either needs/wants embroidery or they don’t. The “being in the right place at the right time” adage is very true for us.

Referral sources can come from:
– Friends and Family who want to see you succeed
– Business contacts: Those clients you have worked with in the past as well as vendors that you interact with on a continual basis
– Meeting new people in all circles: Grocery Store, Summer Parties, Wedding Receptions, On the Golf Course, At The Gym, Networking Events, Educational Settings.

For Embroidery For You STL, a referral is the best kind of compliment we can receive. It shows we did a good job and we exceeded expectations of a past client. The embroidery business is very saturated in the Midwest and we like to differentiate ourselves through our excellent customer service as well and our quality workmanship.

We would look forward to “Embroidering For You!” as well as establishing a referral partnership with you.

Do you read and trust reviews before making a purchase, or eating at a restaurant? In a recent study, 88% of people surveyed said they always check GOOGLE or YELP when they are looking for a vendor or service. So as a decorated apparel vendor in a “saturated” industry, it is always an honor to receive a review from a happy client. We know they were pleased with their order and that they took time out of their busy day to write and submit a review. And a referral from a current client is always a great compliment.

Embroidery For You STL does everything we can to provide a great experience when we are face to face with our customers as well as the ever popular social media correspondence.

For our loyalty clients, we can put a name with a face, try to remember their personal preferences (font style, color, favorite font), and enjoy interacting with them at appointments. Working with a bride is one of our favorite service offerings. We hope our clients leave our offices knowing we will offer excellent quality and customer service.

We look forward to ‘Embroidering For You!”

It’s amazing how many small businesses fail to take advantage of the Internet’s growth in use for searching. People use the Internet to search for just about anything. This creates a great opportunity for you to grow your apparel business.

Here are some crazy facts from the Internet:

• 85% of consumers use the Internet to find local businesses

• The amount of time adults use the Internet has more than doubled since 2008

• A big reason for the increase in Internet search usage is 80% of users own a smart phone

• And local searches are soaring because of niche categories, like embroidery and screen printing.

Google remains the king of search engines, accounting for nearly 80% of searches. Bing and Yahoo account for about 16% of the searches.
There is Importance of top of page ranking: If you’re in spots 2 or 3 for a keyword, e.g., “embroidery”, you can estimate that about 10% of the monthly search volume will visit your website. If you’re in spot 1, about 30% of the search volume will go to your website. Obviously the top spot is where everyone wants to be and it is the best investment you can make in your business.

Here are three easy ways to grow your business using local searches:

First, use Google.

Google’s business model is to get your business listed. They want you to be ranked for the right keywords. If you’re relevant, Google is relevant. Keywords are those words that describe your business. So for “Embroidery For You!” our keywords in very simple words could be screen printing and embroidery, decorated apparel, monogramming, personalization, St. Louis.
One of the best free services offered by Google is Google My Business. By registering you list your business with Google and automatically create a Google+ account. And it is easy to use.

1. Make sure your business information is correct. Name. Address. Phone. Business hours. Website URL, etc.

2. Proximity. Google My Business and Google+ allow for more than one location if you have one.

3. Local directory references. Google relies on other online directories, like Yelp, and customer reviews from these directories. The more you have the better.

A couple tips on writing a good ad listing:

1. Create a strong offer, e.g., “10 Shirts Free with First Order”

2. Clear call-to-action, e.g, “Give Us a Call Today” or “Learn More”

3. Clear benefits, e.g., “100% cotton t-shirts”

4. And take the time to put these keywords on the webpage you’re directing people to.

Second, use Yelp AND get customer reviews.

Yelp has 144 million monthly visitors a month. And people are searching for just about everything, including decorated apparel local businesses.
Local Yelp listing is free. Again, make sure your business information is correct. And the most important thing to remember about Yelp (and Google+) is get customer reviews. This will help get you listed high in search results, driving more business.

Third, use the other online directories, like YP.com.

While the other directories are not as relevant as Google My Business and Yelp, they help with ranking. Nearly all provide a free service and all you need to do is make sure your business information is correct. Embroidery For You! uses Google AdWords.

Small businesses HAVE to find time for social media OR hire digital marketer to this for you. The embroidery and decorate apparel business in St. Louis is very competitive and is actually over saturated. Embroidery For You! posts or markets on several different platforms and thru training and talking to digital marketers, we have learned that we need to post at different times of the day, post different information including pictures, videos, calls to actions, a “did you know” article. A small business needs to grasp the attention of your customers and then hold that attention by offering information in your posts that is interesting enough to make the potential client to keep reading, click to your website, and eventually make a purchase. Once you have the client’s attention, or business, YOU need to keep it by offering quality products and excellent customer service. Visit us at www.embroidery4ustl.com.

Polo Shirts with your Company Logo

With the explosion of videos and “going LIVE” on social media platforms, be sure to advertise your brand. Of course, quality content is needed in the video but you want to be sure your company name/ logo / brand is also noticeable. While social media marketing is the current trend, when you are LIVE or doing a video, your potential client can see you and see your logo. Your clients will retain your logo by shape / color with repetition. Post that video to your Facebook business page, to your website, and to your LinkedIn page. Embroidery For You! can assist with your custom logo design and your embroidery needs. We can also provide the apparel as well as the embroidery services to make us your one stop for your branding and promotional needs.

We would look forward to “Embroidering For You!”

A left chest logo is “prime real estate” to advertise your business.

PRESS RELEASE

Embroidery For You! named preferred vendor.
Business presence expanding in the commercial arena.

St. Louis, MO, May, 1, 2017: Embroidery For You! has been named as a preferred vendor for decorated apparel to Makeup Eraser Company. Embroidery For You! is located in St Louis, Missouri offering high-quality and unique embroidered apparel and gifts. Our computerized machines and our state-of-the-art software allow us to digitize or re-create your business logo in order for the embroidery machine to read the design. We can also custom design something for a special event or occasion or can offer stock designs for you to select from. We pride ourselves on giving excellent customer service, promptness in delivery, and offering design advice. The small business and the bridal industry have become our niche markets. Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, Embroidery For You! Owned and operated by Barbara A. Davidson.

The Original MakeUp Eraser™ was founded in 2012 By Daniel & Elexsis McCarthy. The Makeup Eraser was brought the masses by direct sales and continues to change the way MakeUp is removed. The MakeUp Eraser™ is a revolutionary tool used by millions of women worldwide. Since the launch of the MakeUp Eraser, MUE Lifestyle, the parent company has brought new revolutionary products to the marketplace that compliment the MakeUp Eraser. Daniel & Elexsis are changing direct sales industry by giving their sales force an abundance of amazing products and a compensation plan that exceeds any expectations.

https://www.embroidery4ustl.com/wp/2017/05/3322/

Feedback in a service industry is quite important. Feedback is information about reactions to a product or a person’s performance of a task or project. It is used as a basis for improvement. A response, a reaction, or a comment can all be deemed as feedback. The information is usually helpful information or criticism that is given to someone to say what can be done to improve a performance or a product. At Embroidery For You! we are always looking for feedback – good or bad. We can’t fix something if we don’t know it is broken. When we get a referral from another client, which is the best compliment we can get, we look at that as positive feedback that we did a good job.

Any business needs need regular guideposts to let them know that their efforts bring progress to achieving their service offered or exceling at customer services. Businesses need to know they are pointed in the correct direction to get wherever it is they need to go. For Embroidery For You! we want to be at the top of your Google search and be your “go-to” decorated apparel provider.

For our clients, we give them constant status updates in the form of phone calls or emails to assure them that we are paying adequate attention to their needs and that their orders are progressing. Even when setbacks occur, regular feedback and responsive communication assures them that we are in control and taking care of their orders. Getting feedback from customers helps to reassure our salespeople that they have properly understood instructions and allows them to confidently draft instructions for production.
In the Embroidery For You offices, appropriate feedback to everyone involved in an order about its status insures every person is able to track progress of an order, and feels confident to tell customers what to expect when they ask for an update. With order processing, open communication helps to keep everyone aligned to the intended outcome and completion date for jobs, especially during peak seasons such as wedding and holiday season.
From a human resources point of view, it is important to give employees some idea as to how they do their work, but providing them with feedback on their performance and allowing them to contribute to the higher level of company success to help them to feel connected. In addition, getting feedback from employees helps managers understand the conditions on the shop floor and gives them insight both into what they can provide to make production and fulfillment processes smoother. Employees are more motivated when they feel managers are responsive and receptive to enhancing the embroidery production or running of the office.

Embroidery For You!
www.embroidery4ustl.com

Embroidery is a form of decorating apparel and items.   

It is a popular trend and used today for everything from baby gifts, kids apparel, sporting items, weddings and household items.  It is also common; to corporate branding with polos, jackets, dress shirts, and promotional items. Today we will delve more into the history of embroidery and where it came from, and what it has evolved into. Embroidery comes from the French word “embrouderie” and dates back to the 1400’s!

Embroidery has the following definition according to the latest Webster dictionary:

1. the art of working raised and ornamental designs in threads of silk, cotton, gold, silver, or other material, upon any woven fabric, leather, paper, etc., with a needle.

2. Ornamentation.

3. Elaboration or embellishment.

What is embroidery?

Embroidery is detailed sewing. Many people think all there is to embroidery is throwing material onto a machine.   The process actually requires much practice and attention to detail. It is the small, intricate designs on fabric. A design can be on a pillowcase, a tablecloth, or even the cuff of a dress shirt. Whether it is machine embroidery or hand done, it adds an extra elegance to an item. It is also popular with business professionals and corporations for branding and marketing.

Embroidery in its beginnings also showcased your level of class. In 1574 in England, it was law that only barons and above (levels of class) were allowed to have stitching adorned to their clothing.   The thread was made from gold, silver, or pearl. Embroidery work was all done by hand when it originated. The first embroidery machine was actually developed 20 years before Isaac Singer invented the sewing machine in 1846. This new embroidery “machine” could do the work of four hand-embroiderers at once; this machine was developed by a Frenchman named Josue Heilmann.

Schiffli Shuttle Machines

These machines were the next step up from the hand embroidery machines. Isaac Groebli, from Switzerland created this advanced machine which involved punching a design on paper that ran through the embroidery machine.  This is where the term “punching” a design came from.   Today, this process is called digitizing.

While present day embroidery can still be quite time consuming, today’s commercial machines can stitch between 500 and 800 stitches per minute (SPM) depending on the design and fabric being used.

Embroidery is a learned art.

Embroidery can be created from various designs and fonts that come with a software program.  Or when a custom design is needed, the process of digitizing a design comes is used.    Digitizing is a learned skill that takes a lot of time to master through practice, and trial and error.  This is the process of converting artwork to stitch file that the embroidery machine can read.

To learn to embroider, or the art of embroidery, collection information, training, and practice/experience is required.  To find information on the skill and various techniques,  one can attend in person classes, online classes, and books are also all available.    Embroidery For You! attended a week long class when we started the business, and we attend a two day refresher class each year. Having a seasoned embroiderer, or mentor, to ask questions of and to see real life projects, has been of tremendous value.

You get what you pay for!

Embroidery, monogramming, or personalization is very trendy in the United States, and in Asian countries. However, it is a relatively new concept in European countries. Some may be surprised, but embroidery is a, competitive market right now.  It is a concept of, “you get what you pay for”.  For decorated apparel, there is a hierarchy in price and quality; starting with heat transfers, vinyl application, screen or silk printing, and then embroidery.  The desired medium to be used would be based on specific project and budget, keeping in mind the client will pay for quality work.

Digitizing

Digitizing is the process of editing artwork for embroidery. We take the artwork provided and bring it into specific embroidery software. When digitizing, we have to determine what type of stitch should be used for the specific pattern,  fabric to be embroidered and size of design also need to be considered.    Embroidery For You! can assist with your digitizing and vector files.

Please visit our website, OR our Facebook page at: Embroidery For You! – St. Louis, MO.

We look forward to “Embroidering For You!”