By Robert Young on
Nov. 29, 2011
Forums:
As an embroiderer or as a digitizer are there any times throughout the year that you just don't take new clients? Or you advise new clients that their work will be on a slower schedule? In a perfect world we could just work extra hours, or hire temp help during those times that we get too busy to provide the level of service each of us has set as our own bar.... but this is not a perfect world.
Location:
United States
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Modern Embroidery Designer
volant-tech.com
volantfineart.com
Re: Do you ever STOP taking new clients?
We are always open to take new clients.....We add new digitizers if work load goes high like this time in Oct and Nov....
Re: Do you ever STOP taking new clients?
I certainly don't have enough business to turn it away or delay it, (except one...) however...that being said: I also have a long arm quilting machine and I have a FIRM cut-off date for the holidays. And that cut-off is Thanksgiving weekend. New customers or old. It was a HARD decision, but as Prince Charming told me............be prepared to do tomorrow what you do today. Since I have established that Thanksgiving cut-off, I have been able to enjoy my holidays with my family much better. Now, if you're talking about "business" in a non-holiday time of the year, I think you would have to turn the work away if you can't keep up the pace without #1 buying additional machines and/or #2 hiring any more help. That's how I'd do. As I referenced in my first sentence, the only work I refused to do was for some idgit jerk I work with. He asked me to embroider some rather vulgar on a hat. I don't want to be known for that type of work. No matter what I get paid.
Sam
Re: Do you ever STOP taking new clients?
I dont' ever turn them away, but I tell them their order will take longer due to other orders in front of them. I've already had to do this for the holidays. ( I never thought I'd be this busy!)
I did start taking deposits on customers I don't know, or don't know where they live or work,,,,,even though we're a small town, there's folks I don't know.
I had several last christmas that asked me to do an order for them and needed it "now", and I told them of my "first come, first serve" issue, and they offered me extra money to do theirs now,,,,and I did, as long as I could make sure the other orders would be delivered when promised. (had to take a few vacation days to get them done, but it was worth it to me).