Embroidery and More

When we think or talk about embroidery we usually focus in on standard lockstitch embroidery. There are, however, many different types and add-on devices which can help you to enhance, diversify and increase the originality of your embroidery services. Some of them include sequins, chenille, cording and taping, and boring. Some such as sequins and boring are just attachments which you can add to your existing equipment, but the others require the more expensive option of adding new equipment.
Today I am going to focus in on sequins. There are quite a few reasons for considering this simple and dramatic embellishment. It is fairly inexpensive, it dramatically reduces stitch count, it's very eye catching, and it is still a fairly unique offering.
Inexpensive
You can add a sequin attachment to a single head machine for approximately $1,000. to $1,500. A roll of sequins is priced anywhere from $3. to $30. depending on the volume and supplier.
Reduced stitch count
In the two examples above I have digitized a 1.5 x 1.5 inch square of sequins at 446 stitches and a 1.5 x 1.5 inch square of fill stitches at over 6,000 stitches, even when you account for the slower sewing speed it cuts the sewing time by over 90%.
Eye Catching
There is no mistaking the glitter and texture that sequins impart to any product or design, they catch your attention and keep it probably longer than any other embroidery technique.
Unique
The percentage of sequin attachments to embroidery machines in the market is still very low so you won't have to compete very aggressively to garner all of the sequin business in your areas and nationwide for that matter.
We sometimes, especially in economically challenging times, get so involved in keeping our businesses on track with past performance that we forget to look to the present and future for new ideas and potential customers, consider sequins as a way to fill in the lost business and customers with new and unexpected business and profits.