Where does the single-head fit into your business picture? The answer is . . . everywhere!

If there is an indispensible piece of equipment in the personalization arena, the single-head embroidery machine is it. Whether you are small or large, work from the home front or in a large commercial/industrial space, the single-head is the whiz kid that will always earn its keep.

Starting out with a single-head is a great idea for the small entrepreneur—and when business booms and the multi-head equipment is delivered, the single-head is not moved out of the way but placed in a position of honor. There it continues to stitch the one-of-a-kind designs, spit out short runs efficiently, apply individual names and, perhaps its most prestigious assignment, verify designs created by the digitizing department.

Even if the single-head is what fits into your start-up budget, think of it as the cornerstone of a growing endeavor. It doesn’t have to be viewed as a default or the result of financial restrictions. Maybe this single lady will be the start of something big.

Where are you going?

Many who make this purchase are dreaming about banks of multi-heads in their future.

But you may find yourself falling in love with your single-head and the concept of what multiple units could do.

The desire to offer personal service and personalization are compelling reasons to buy single-heads. Someone has to fill the niche of the small run and a few single-heads can easily tackle the under-a-thousand orders. They can also deftly handle the onesies and twosies that are otherwise the bane of existence for the large embroidery concern. The interaction and relationships with customers at this level can be very rewarding, and these customers are willing to pay a premium price for the special attention and custom work they can’t get elsewhere—that the “big boys” are unable or unwilling to do. When the time comes to add a name to that heirloom christening gown or fashion a one-of-a-kind grandmother’s shirt—whether as a “special” for your big corporate client, or merely a walk-in off the street—the single-head owner can do it with ease.

The single-head can be a deliberate selection, chosen for specific reasons or to fill a particular niche. The addition of more single-heads can be considered a stepping stone to what may become a lucrative and deliberately cultivated business.

Consider if you have a special product to offer; maybe you have created a shirt or jacket with local points of interest embroidered. Do you want to offer the customer a choice of what goes on the jacket? That’s a job for your single-head. Maybe you are a dog, cat or bird aficionado and have a waiting customer base to serve that is enchanted with your unique forte. The number of customers who want their dog, their truck, their house on a jacket back is legion.

Many a busy and thriving operation is built with multiple single-heads. In one shop, they’re circled like a wagon train and the operator moves from one to the other, stitching all the same design on a short run, or perhaps giving each its own job: names on shirts or jackets, or a single, special-occasion design. Each of many single-heads could have one job to do, even if each job consists of a dozen or more shirts—multiple “short” runs. One set-up for each machine is a time saver—and time is money when you are determining profit.

It’s easy enough to pull one machine out of the job run if a customer comes in and just has to have a name on a cap or jacket, right now. Keeping one of your single-heads set up for caps gives you the advantage if a customer arrives wanting a name added, or a whole new cap with a custom design. No time is wasted changing from flat to cap capability.

Of course, the added benefit to the single-head shop is when a needle or thread breaks: The other singles keep right on stitching while the operator deals with the fix. On a multi-head, the entire machine stops and waits—not a pretty picture when time is paramount.

Ask the owner of multiple single-heads what the most compelling reasons are for owning them and the first answer may well be flexibility. That flexibility includes the absence of emergencies meaning that, if a machine is down, the multiple single-head owner is not shut down; he can wait for a tech while the other machines are humming along.

Selling machines is a whole lot easier when they are singles. The single-head business owner can sell one machine or even two if there is a need or desire to upgrade, adding a new single-head with new features to the mix, and no capital outlay. Liquidating older equipment before the technology is obsolete in order to add a machine with boring, sequin or chenille capabilities can grow your business in new and exciting directions. Some of the new single-heads can move from chenille to embroidery to sequin application on the same design with that one machine.

Consider a machine with these special capabilities when you are getting ready to start your business. Being able to offer custom work—a design destined for your retail area or a customer request—can set your business apart from the competition and the net gain will be consideration for all jobs, not just the ones with bling and cording.

If your shop has a heat press or direct-to-substrate printer your single-head can easily add a dollop of multi-media pizzazz. Garments and goods that combine decorating techniques have a higher perceived value and can bolster your profit line nicely.

If your shop is already large and operating without the joy of this flexibility, stop and consider each time you have wished for a single to stitch those individual names on the jackets you just screen printed, try out an idea, or sew out a sample of a digitizing work-in-progress. Admit it, you would love to do this without interrupting your work flow and having to “shut down” heads on a multi-head machine to get the solo job done. Maybe one of your multi’s heads devoured a shirt and a onesie will have to be stitched at the end of the job. With a single-head in the wings, you can replace that shirt while the next six or dozen shirts are sewing, and end on time!

If you are interested in taking your show on the road, a single-head is a must. Nothing generates business better than the dancing needles on that machine, fascinating every passer-by. Even the larger business may have an occasion to showcase the single-head. Business expos, sponsored by many Chambers of Commerce, are a perfect place to set up a machine and show, not tell, what your business is about. This Diva draws a crowd wherever she goes and is always the toast of the party.

There is a large indoor baseball/softball training facility in North Carolina. From the looks of its embellishment operation, one would expect to find banks of embroidery machines in a back room. But this thriving operation specializes in outfitting small teams from head to toe—and is willing to outfit a new player added during the season for far less than the big uniform suppliers. The owner of this concern purchased two single-heads—a perfect choice for the clientele she serves and her own business model.

Shopping tips

When shopping single-heads compare the size of the sewing fields. If you are going to be stitching large jacket backs, you want the largest field you can get. Maybe you will be doing custom work—fabric lengths, scarves or frame-able art. A sash frame would be a real benefit there. So ask what the machine has as far as stitch area and additional large (sash) frames. Some of the newer machines can accommodate a cap and a shirt at the same time—a great feature, but you sacrifice sewing area. Determine which is important in your business model and decide accordingly.

Most new machines offer a trace feature. This can be invaluable in determining if a design fits in the chosen hoop, and keeping the needle from hitting a hoop if it doesn’t. Ask for a demonstration of the trace function and also ask to see how easily the operator can move backward and forward in a design.

While fast is nice, it isn’t everything so don’t be over-awed by the running speed of machines at a trade show. It is more important to know at which speed the registration and thread hold—the speed at which quality and efficiency are both served. The designs that sew at trade shows run fast and well because they are designed to do so; they serve a demonstration purpose. You need to know how the machine works in the real world, so take along a “real” design and ask to see it run.

Remember that hoops and hooping devices are proprietary, so begin as you mean to go on. Whether you add multi-heads or more singles, you don’t want to have to buy specialty hoops and hooping devices for each one. You want your investments to be interchangeable.

Ask what editing capabilities are built into the machine, and determine how often they are used. Discuss the warranty and support with the salesperson. Get every promise in writing. If you have done your research and decide to purchase your digitizing software from the same company as the machine (you don’t have to) find out what training there is for that, as well as for the operation of the machine itself.

What is included with the machine and can you substitute other features if this is your second machine purchase? Is there a company hotline for supplies, a forum for interaction with other customers? Is there telephone support and when (what time zone) is it available?

After the purchase, videotape the installation of your machine and ask that step be named, from needle threading to changing over to the cap driver. Use that tape as a refresher when the training is over. You will be more efficient and cut down on calls to tech support.

 Retiring with the Diva

Equipment may come and go in a busy shop, but the single-head will prove its worth every day. The business that starts out with a single-head and expands to a large concern with multi-heads galore seldom sells the single. It is too valuable. They may upgrade to a newer single model, but the position of the single-head in most plants is sacrosanct.

And no matter how big your business is or grows to be, at the end of the journey when you turn the keys over to the next owner, chances are you will keep that single-head to help generate a nice retirement income. (Or hand it over and buy a new one!) The desire for an extra retirement income has many an embroidery business beginning when veterans are contemplating selling. Embroidery with a single-head can be exciting as the jobs each day are different, keeping enthusiasm and interest high. That is just the ticket for a retiree, or even the working embroiderer. Keeps ‘em young and keeps ‘em going. Embroidery—and the single-head Diva—can’t be beat on that score.