Category: JUKI Posts

JUKI Posts, JUKI Spotlight

JUKI Spotlight: Tails Up, Pup

by sewinwithjuki1 Comment on JUKI Spotlight: Tails Up, Pup
Photo credit: Tails Up, Pup

So many of our furry best friends are spoiled, and companies like Tails Up, Pup is here to help you do more of that! Tails Up, Pup, a small business run by Danielle and her husband Nick, is a dog mom shop that believes your dog deserves to be spoiled while keeping you in mind. They create the perfect duo for dog moms and their dogs, customizing and matching clothing items with pet bandanas! Follow along as we speak with Danielle about what it was like becoming her own boss and opening up Tails Up, Pup.

The Tails Up, Pup journey began in Danielle and Nick’s basement in 2018. After creating dog bandanas for her very own furry friends, and posting her final projects on social media, friends, and others started requesting their very own pet bandannas! With time Danielle realized her shop was growing, and after hosting her first black Friday sale, she brought in her husband Nick to help fulfill orders.

Photo credit: Tails Up, Pup

After 18 months of setting up shop in her basement, Tails Up, Pup found its first office space in Marietta, Georgia. Primarily an eCommerce business, Tails Up, Pup has grown into a storefront shop, where the company has continued to see new fans and customers every year! As time passed and Tails Up, Pup continued to be a success, Danielle and Nick decided it was time to grow their space and expand to the office next door.

With two offices under their belt now, Danielle could designate a production office and shop! Over time her team has grown to its current line-up, three full-time employees and one part-time. It’s a great success to hire your very own team, and at their small business, everyone has their hats to wear. Tails Up, Pup’s current team members include Lauren, their head seamstress; Connor, their cutter and handyman; Ensley, their Inventory manager; and Keelan, their other seamstress. With each member bringing in their own set of skills, Danielle says, “we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without them.”

Using their JUKI TL-2000Qi machines, the Tails Up, Pup team has created slip-on and tie-on bandannas for their shop. Small businesses like Tail’s Up Pup are a great example of how small items like bandanas can turn into their very own business when you let yourself be creative and have fun! Starting from just a piece of fabric, their team uses personalized stencils for sizing, sewing techniques to keep their products looking clean, and pressing to create the perfect bandana. In addition, with machines in their line that can do embroidering, they also offer the chance to personalize your pet bandanas with your pet names! Using embroidery in your projects is one of the easiest ways to give a product a touch of personalization that you can’t find everywhere.

Having a great product isn’t the only reason so many customers continue to love Tails Up, Pup, but in fact, it is the community they have been able to grow and create through marketing on social media platforms! Social media marketing has been in their company DNA from the start, and as they first started as an eCommerce-only shop, social media marketing was a no-brainer for getting their brand out there. By consistently posting and interacting with their followers, they were able to see real growth in their shop! While Danielle shares Tails Up, Pup’s social media wasn’t an overnight success, it can instead be seen as an example of how a long and steady process can help you grow in the long run.

Since building their following online, Danielle shares how the community within Tails Up, Pup makes the business unique. When she and Nick first opened up their social media pages, they hadn’t set out to do anything special; Tails Up, Pup just happened. When they legitimatized Tails Up, Pup as a proper business, Danielle says terrific things started to happen.

“We started to find an amazing community of dog lovers that shared many of the same passions as us. Over time this has become what we like to call the Tails Up, Pup Family.”

This community has focused on inspiring others to pursue their passions, helping people build their confidence and spread happiness when the opportunity is there. With the TUP family ever-growing, Danielle and her team appreciate every new member that follows along and joins their journey.

Since Tails Up, Pup has opened, they have continued to grow their team, followers, customers, and even property. When asked about the future of Tails Up, Pup Danielle brought us back to how this business wasn’t even an idea three years ago. While we don’t know what the future holds, Danielle shares this, “I hope we can continue to add to the TUP family and keep pursuing our mission of inspiring others to pursue their passions, helping people build their confidence, and spreading happiness in any way that we can.”

It’s a big transition to becoming your own bosses like Danielle and her husband Nick. The hardest part was knowing when it was time to take a break. If you’re planning to open your own small business, it can be difficult finding that balance between work and personal life sometimes, but it’s essential to figure it out early on. Starting a business isn’t always fun and games and includes a lot of moments where you can be physically or emotionally drained, but being prepared will make life easier. As Danielle says, “-if you are prepared for the difficult times to come, running your own business can be extremely fulfilling and rewarding. Nick and I wouldn’t trade what we get to do for anything.”

Before closing our interview with Tails Up, Pup, we asked Danielle what advice she has for those out there who have been dreaming about owning their own business.

“My biggest advice would be to just start. Good and done is better than perfect and incomplete. Taking that first step is always the hardest part.”

Take advantage of the resources available and enjoy what the internet can do for you! Use the internet to start your side hustle when it’s time to open your business. Then, grow and transition from your old job to your new career. Financial stability is one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle when you own a business, so prepare yourself by creating business plans, marketing ideas, and learning your finances.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning more about Tails Up, Pup, and how Danielle and Nick were able to grow their company from their basement to where it is now! With so many small businesses popping up over the past few years, we at JUKI love learning how you create and start your businesses. So check out the links below to learn more about Tails Up, Pup, and how you can get a sweet matching set for you and your furry friend today!

Click here to visit the Tails Up, Pup website!

Follow their Instagram here to keep up with new products!

Check out behind-the-scenes footage on their TikTok here!

Lastly, don’t forget to follow their Facebook here!

Business Plus, JUKI Posts, Tajima Sai

5 Reasons to get a JUKI Tajima Sai, Embroidery Machine

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on 5 Reasons to get a JUKI Tajima Sai, Embroidery Machine

Thinking of starting an embroidery business? Trying to decide on a suitable machine? Then, follow along as we go over the top 5 reasons you should consider the Tajima Sai, JUKI’s 8-needle embroidery machine!

A hobby that is forever growing in popularity, it’s no wonder many creators are beginning to open their small embroidery businesses. With the ability to personalize, design, and create unique pieces, purchasing the proper embroidery machine for your small business is the first step to success. Before you take this initial step, here are some things to keep in mind when looking at our Tajima Sai embroidery machine.

Fast Production and Speed

Finding a suitable embroidery machine means looking into key features that are going to elevate your small business. One of the top things to keep an eye out for is the speed and efficiency a machine can offer. When your business picks up, and you need to push out many products, think about how fast your machine can create. While many machines can offer 1,000 stitches per minute, steps in between the stitching, like cutting and knotting, can slow that process down on other machines. The Tajima Sai, on the other hand, uses a system that doesn’t slow down, and in fact, keeps its momentum through the stitching process. Because of this, the Tajima Sai can, at times, finish a project faster.

As for production, think of what projects you’ll create and what accessories you’ll need. Many embroidery machine users will work on pieces like apparel, for example. The Tajima Sai machine offers 2 sets of accessories like our 200mm x 300mm frames, 100mm x 100mm frames, and cap frames. Having two sets allows you to set up the following product while one is being embroidered. Using these pieces, you can create customized sweaters, t-shirts, kitchen towels, and more.

You also have the advantage of 8 thread options on your machine at all times, making it easy to create beautiful multi-color designs with few thread changes. Inheriting the high-performance ability of industrial embroidery machines, it offers fine lines and wide areas that can be embroidered. It also provides a large laser pointing system, lining up your start point and tracing your design more effortless than ever, taking out the guesswork before you stitch.

Cost-Effective

When starting your business, it’s best to create a budget and focus on small investments before moving into a significant production mindset. However, the embroidery business doesn’t require a huge budget to get into. The Tajima Sai, for example, can be found for USD 14,999.00 (MSRP) and includes its easy-to-use software, frames, and/or other options depending on the package and vendor you purchase from.

Easy-to-Use Software

When choosing an embroidery machine, you can choose one that comes with software or is separated. Remember that selecting the machine with software included can save you money in the long run since programs can run from $600 – $1,000 depending on the machine’s brand and type. The Tajima Sai includes its program, the Tajima Writer Plus, a digitizer software for Windows with built-in design templates.

Having software included can also help you save on spending for designs and fonts since the Tajima Sai has integrated fonts and designs for your use right out of the box, allowing you to start working on your business the second you receive the machine. It offers more than 200 designs and 31 fonts pre-installed with an additional 1,000 embroidery designs by Pulse. 

Space-Saving Design

Think of location when you’re going to open a shop, whether online or in person. If you’re starting your business from a small space in your home, a machine like the Tajima Sai could be a perfect fit. Compact sized and only 82 pounds, this machine is not only able to fit in small corners but can be used for on-location sales like your local markets or inside smaller brick and mortar shops.

Endless Possibilities 

There are a limitless amount of projects you can create with an embroidery machine at your disposals, such as embroidered table cloth, t-shirts and sweaters, baby towels and gloves, embroidered memoirs, and more. Like any other small business, you only need to decide what your niche and products will be.

Starting a small business is exciting! Think of what embroidered products you enjoy purchasing or that you’ve thought of enhancing with some personalization. The wonderful thing about owning your small business is the endless possibilities of projects at your disposal and the ability to try and test new ideas.

With the Tajima Sai, you can create many projects, but some top ones we recommend are embroidered t-shirts, sweaters, home décor, hats, and socks. Designs can be used straight from your Tajima Software or downloaded by you to showcase the creations you’ve designed yourself.

When it comes time to buy your embroidery machine, remember to keep these things in mind:

  1. What’s the production and speed like?
  2. What’s the cost?
  3. Does it include software, and what resources are available to learn the program?
  4. Where will the machine be placed, and will I need to travel with it?
  5. What accessories are available for the machine, and what can I create on it?

Make Your Embroidery Business a Success with the Right Equipment!

While the embroidery business continues to grow, there will always be a need for personalized and unique products. Your small business can bring a new and fun product into the fold, which is why you must be readily prepared and have the right equipment on hand. Remember, your machine is the base for your business, so make sure you research and choose the right one for you!

Business Plus, JUKI Posts, Tajima Sai

How to Start Your Embroidery Business         

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on How to Start Your Embroidery Business         

A hobby where the community is ever-growing, embroidery is forever growing in popularity around the world. Due to this, it’s no surprise so many have begun their own business in embroidery projects ranging from fashion to accessories to home décor. Thankfully it’s never been easier to set up your own embroidery business! So whether you’re starting from a corner in your room or a more extensive scale location, we’re here to explore things you need to know before starting.

What Skills Will I Need?

Before starting any business, it’s essential to understand what skills you need to know first. If you don’t know a skill, that doesn’t mean you can’t start a business; it only means it’s time to pick up a new skill! Don’t forget that you can also reach out to friends and family you want to work with who already have those skills you need.

Machine Operation:

Handling an embroidery machine is exciting, and while it comes with a small learning hill, once these machines are set up, they’re an exciting new thing to use! An embroidery machine like the Tajima Sai is perfect for businesses and hobbyists who want to upgrade. Its software, Tajima Writers Plus, converts text to embroidery data or creates embroidery data by combining registered designs and text. It’s easy to switch thread color, set embroidery positions, make adjustments, and more using its digital screen, helping new users handle the machine easier.

Design Software and Creating Art:

When opening up an embroidery business, the vital thing to keep in mind is that you don’t need to be artistic, just creative! Like the Tajima Sai, some machines come installed with their Writer Plus Software used for digitizing, editing, and font software and are accessible on its LED screen. Finding a machine with built-in software is one the best ways to start an embroidery business, as this will keep you from having to purchase another part for your machine separately.

When it comes to creating artwork, you need your PC and machine. For example, computerized embroidery machines require vector images. This can be accomplished through software like Adobe Illustrator. By designing art on Adobe Illustrator, a popular application with many guides and how-to-use references on the internet, you can create your artwork. Once it comes to downloading these new artworks onto the machine, it’s dependent on what form of software you have.

An Illustrator Embroidery Plugin is plugin software that converts a vector image into an embroidery pattern. You can also choose Embroidery Software, such as Tajima Sai Writer Plus Software, which can import your Adobe Illustrator vector image and transform it into a pattern used by an embroidery machine. Keep in mind that these programs are likely to work on the machine they’re created for and not others in choosing Embroidery Software.

What Equipment Will I Need?

The Machine: 

While this will depend on the size of your business looking to set up, you’re going to need to start with one machine. There are many different options on the market, and this will be your most valuable asset. When choosing a suitable machine it should be able to keep up with productivity (think of machine speed and consistency) and easy to operate. The Tajima Sai, for example, was created with small businesses in mind. This means it’s compact, easy to use for beginners, comes with the programs you need, and includes the accessories you need for embroidery. Finding the right package when purchasing a machine can also save money in the long run, as this will keep you from needing to buy accessories or extra programs at a later date.

Embroidery Merchandise:

There are two options you can follow when starting your business, made to order or order to be made. The concept behind these is that you can choose to have constant inventory or keep a list and only create when an order is placed. While these two things can be changed, it’s best to always have stock of items you’re going to embroider on ready to be used.

Some popular items we recommend are:

  • T-shirts
  • Polo Shirts
  • Home Décor
  • Handbags
  • Sweaters
  • Caps

When you start choosing items for your shop, think of who you’re selling to and focus on what type of items customers in your niche are purchasing embroidered.

How Do I Market My Business?

The first thing to do when marketing your new small business is to determine what your goals are. What do you want to achieve? Is it a revenue goal or a profit goal? How many sales per month do you need to generate that revenue? Having a clear idea of what success is to you will help you to define a budget.

Website:

The first thing we recommend having is a shop base like a website or Etsy shop. Think of this as the public face for your online or at-home business. Here you’ll be able to share your company message, introduce yourself to buyers, and showcase your products and services in a way that’s unique to your brand. Keep in mind ‘Key Words’ (In terms of Search Engine Optimization, better known as SEO, they’re the words and phrases that searchers enter into search engines, also called “search queries.”) Using the right keywords on your website for your product will help you show up in higher ranking on search engines.

Advertising:

Once you have your budget think of where your audience is based. Free marketing you can start with is creating social media accounts that you’re audience uses. For example, if your audience is between the ages of 30-55, you’ll have a high chance of finding sales on Facebook. If your audience is mothers, you can post on Pinterest and Instagram. Ways to be found on social media rely on hashtags, geo-location (when you tag a city or spot), and getting others to put your name out there.

Paid advertising differs, but it’s still important to keep in mind what websites and google searches your audience is doing to promote correctly. Startup businesses can look into programs like Google ads, Yahoo Ads, and paid Facebook and Instagram Ads.  

Opening up Shop

Once you have your machine, products, and website up, it’s time to start putting yourself out there! Take advantage of social media sites and use these as a platform to reach and interact with your audiences. So many people enjoy finding new items to buy on their social pages, and getting yourself on there is a great way to reach customers.

There’s a reason why embroidery businesses do well. Whether it’s the fun in personalization that’s available, or the opportunity to purchase from a small business something unique and in their interest, the market is always welcoming new ideas. To keep your company successful, focus on what you can control and make sure you choose the right equipment and programs. With these being the foundation to a long-lasting business, it’s essential to choose suitable materials.

We hope this helps give a glimpse into the beginning of opening your own embroidery business! Visit here to check out JUKI’s Tajima Sai embroidery machine to learn more about its Writer plus Software, the machine’s speed, features, and more!

Business Plus, JUKI Posts, Tajima Sai

10 Reasons to Start an Embroidery Business

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on 10 Reasons to Start an Embroidery Business

Starting an embroidery business is an exciting and growing venture. If you’re interested in starting an at-home business, embroidery is a great option, especially for those with creative ideas that others would love in their niches.

Below, we will give you ten reasons why the embroidery business could be the best idea for your new venture with a machine like the JUKI Tajima Sai.

Keep Your Space

When you start an at-home business, you may not have the space available for a large machine and equipment. So finding a single head embroidery machine like the Tajima Sai or similar is a great idea because they’re for compact spaces.

Minimal Set Up Cost

Starting a new business, we want to create something low-cost to create to achieve a profit. Therefore, the initial money you put into an embroidery business doesn’t require a considerable amount. For example, the Tajima Sai can be found for under 12K with software and supplies included. Many machines will also have training videos or resources for starting users.

Supply Cost is Low

When it comes to buying supplies for a business, you want to make sure that it will be a profitable outcome. For example, a 5000-meter cone of embroidery thread is under $7.00, and the line will last for many projects.

Creative Freedom

Creating merchandise can be a great experience! If you have many ideas, owning a business that allows you to create is perfect. You can find yourself in many niches, whether it be creating for hobbies you enjoy, TV shows or movies you follow, and more; there is a customer base for everything.

Flexible Work Hours

When you own a business, you’re able to create work hours for yourself. This can be a great side business for many after their workdays, at night, or on weekends and special events. The ability to choose when and how you work is a pro for many owners.

Profitable Business

It makes sense that when you start an at-home business, you want something that will be low cost with high profit. The great thing about embroidery is the low cost of supplies. Remember that you will never receive 100% profit on an item you create, but hitting 10% profit is average and hitting 20% profit is good!

Customer Demand

Small businesses are currently experiencing a boom! With social media and the online network at your disposal, small businesses are constantly growing and creating audience bases. However, while there are many in the game, there is never someone who creates the same way you create, and you should keep this in mind when choosing to enter into the embroidery market.

Resources are Everywhere

Embroidery is not a new thing! However, one of the best things about the embroidery world is the number of resources available to new and advanced users. Whether it be training videos, attending workshops, or other programs, embroidery offers the chance to learn a new product and new project with much help.

Easy Expansion

When it’s time to upgrade your small business, it’s easy to expand. Certain machines can easily link together, allowing you to create your own production ‘floor’ right in your home. With the ability to easily grow your business when you need it, knowing the possibility is always there is good.

Product Choices

Designing and creating a new product to sell should be fun, even if there is work to do. The possibilities with an embroidery machine allow you to focus on different niches! With accessories available to embroider socks, hats, bags, t-shirts, jackets, and more, a pro for this machine is the ability to be multi-dimensional in your merchandise.

Whether this pushes you to open that embroidery business you’ve been thinking about or not, we hope this helps you see the prod of opening your own small business! So, what questions do you have about embroidery? Let us know down below!

JUKI Posts, JUKI Projects, RICOH Ri 100 (DTG Printer)

5 Things You Create On Your Direct-To-Garment Printer

by sewinwithjukiLeave a Comment on 5 Things You Create On Your Direct-To-Garment Printer

Focusing on direct to garment (DTG) printing can be the beginning of a successful business venture! With this technology, you can now print quality images and graphics onto garments and have the ability to customize designs, fonts, and more. Using a machine like the RICOH Ri 100, you’re now able to create the highest print quality for the lowest cost per print. If you’re looking into starting up a business or upgrading your current one, DTG printing is the ideal choice. Let’s deep dive into some options you can create on your DTG machine today!

Custom Made, Personalized Apparel on Demand

A highly competitive market that’s constantly growing due to high demands is custom-made apparel. With the ability to print-on-demand small production volumes cost-effectively while quickly following market trends, you’re able to create your brand easily. These items don’t need to stop at custom t-shirts but polo’s, socks, aprons, tapestries, and more. There is a wide range of options for what you can create.

Memory Quilts

Are you thinking about creating or expanding your quilting business? An exciting venture is creating your unique fabric pieces for memory quilting. With the RICOH Ri 100 software, you can import photos of loved ones, graphics of their interests, and more to create a unique, personalized quilt.  In addition, you can provide fabric printing services to other quilters that want to create their very own memory quilt or are looking to make a quilt with their fabric design. DTG printers, like the RICOH Ri 100, use a wide range of colors, going as far as being able to print a photo taken in real-time with a webcam.

Fashion Textile Printing

DTG printers, like the RICOH Ri 100, use a wide range of colors, going as far as being able to print a photo taken in real-time with a webcam. With access to these unlimited colors, designers can make their fashion trends by creating prints for their projects. This can be a great niche to enter if you enjoy clothing construction and add more personalization to your projects. In addition, you can create on-demand accessories that users will love by printing limited edition fabric and using these on your projects. Some additions you can focus on are tote bags, socks, beach bags, and more!

Home Décor

We all enjoy decorating our home, and a fun way to do this is using personalized home textile! Using your DTG printer, you can create pieces like holiday-themed table runners for the dining room, tea towels with funny phrases for the kitchen, and monogrammed pillowcases for the bedroom. The possibilities are endless! You can also develop themes that transfer over different products, inviting shoppers to buy sets instead of one product.

Event Products

Marketing products are popular items to personalize and create for other small businesses, sports teams, school events, and more. You can also design pieces for birthdays, weddings, and other events that involve goodies being handed out. Follow your niche’s needs and open your business to personalized projects instead of creating designs or products. You can also offer up your services and attend events for onsite printing. Using a machine like the RICOH Ri 100, you’re able to take a photo and instantly print it onto a garment, creating a fun giveaway item for special events and shows.

Additionally, if you’re attending conventions or sporting events, you can take the RICOH Ri 100 on the go due to its compact nature! It can fit into a space as small as 15.7″ wide x 27.5″ deep, making it one of the smallest DTG printers. In addition, the printer and its finisher can be stacked to maximize functionality without sacrificing space.

With so many possibilities for creative products, the world of DTG is an exciting venture for many to enter. Creating personalized and commissioned pieces is also a perfect option for those who aren’t art savvy but enjoy creating otherwise. If you’re interested in starting your own DTG business, continue reading for tips on how to begin! What would you create on your DTG machine? Let us know down below!