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G R A P H I C S - P R O. C O M N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 2 • G R A P H I C S P R O 3 7 THINGS TO AVOID One way to ensure that embroidery thread stays in good condition, besides being concerned about the quality of the thread and how it's stored, is to make sure the thread gets used often. For some shop owners, the urge to own all the colors is huge. A thread card, with its vast array of color choices, can make owning every shade of pink, or 14 variations of blue almost irresistible, but wise shop owners will resist despite the urge. The smart way to manage a thread inventory is by starting with the basic col- ors. Most shops will use white and black, so stock up on those. Do some research and figure out what common school and corporate colors are in your area and add those colors to your inventory. If you do work often for a particular holiday that has a precise color scheme, add those col- ors as well. Resist the urge to buy all the colors simply because they're available. Also resist the urge to show customers the entire color card from your thread manu- facturer or manufacturers of choice. Color can be like candy, once you see the full array, you want a bit of everything. Try to avoid buying thread for a specific job, unless the job will be repeated. What you want to avoid is having a clutter of par- tially used cones that sit, becoming brittle and dusty, because there's no demand for that particular color on a regular basis. at's a waste of money and, eventually, product. When it comes to wasting money, infe- rior thread can cost a shop a lot more than it may seem at first glance. As with most things, the cost of the item is not the only cost that's paid. When it comes to thread, a brand that is low quality can cost in terms of production time, in terms of ruined garments or missed dead- lines, and in frustration and stress for the machine operator and shop owner. Make sure to always do the math when select- ing a thread to purchase. One thing that shops often neglect to consider is the pro- duction value of the thread. To figure out what a shop's production value is, calcu- late the shop's income per hour when machines are sewing out at top speed and then subtract the time it takes to repair each thread break. Every second of pro- duction time lost reduces your income for that hour. A thread that is poorly made, or which breaks often, may seem cheap when it comes to dollars and cents, but could end up costing you a mint in lost time and stress and frustration. Value isn't always just about price and doing the math can help show which thread brings the most value to your shop. GP Kristine Shreve is the founder and CEO of Kristine Shreve Consulting, which offers writing, marketing, and busi- ness development services. The company can be found at www.kristineshreve.com. Kristine is also the creator and host of the Business + Women podcast and is also the Director of Marketing and Outreach for Applique Get- away. Kristine was the Director of Marketing for Ensign Emblem and EnMart from 2006 to April 2020. Image courtesy Madeira USA SAY YES! TO MORE ORDERS ⊲ stahls.com/max-works GP1122 STAHLS.COM | 800.478.2457 Create professional and on-trend corporate apparel with one heat transfer. UltraColor ® MAX is your solution for affordably offering a look that's always in demand – full color logos. ⊲ One-step application, hot peel ⊲ Lightweight, stretchable, & soft feel ⊲ No outlines or color limitations – including gradients ⊲ Professional finish for corporate wear, hats, promo items, & more THE ONE-STEP SOLUTION FOR CUSTOM BRANDED APPAREL