Embroidery Business Overcomes Challenges By Diversifying

During COVID-19, businesses have been impacted dramatically, and StitchMine Custom Embroidery is no exception. Due to uncertainty, the one-stop apparel decoration shop says it has had to pivot multiple times during the pandemic. Now in the aftermath of the height of COVD-19, it faces new issues. According to the shop, it is becoming a high-demand resource for companies while navigating shortages due to supply chain issues.

With businesses reopening, many have reached out for promotional and branding items, causing a significant spike in business. Gary Glenn, co-owner of StitchMine, states, “We’re grateful for this business. We witnessed several embroidery businesses around us go under; we are survivors.”

Now, StitchMine says it faces some new issues: the growing concerns of supply chain bottlenecks are making it difficult to fulfill orders. Additionally, the company says the influx of new business has caused a great need for more employees in its facility, which has proven to be challenging to find.

StitchMine says it has been able to overcome these challenges by diversifying sourcing. A product that would have been restocked in a few weeks isn’t estimated to restock until beyond the new year. Ordering the same shirt from multiple vendors or changing brands/vendors to fulfill an order has become the norm.

The shop’s offerings include design services, custom embroidery, screen printing, applique and tackle twill, foil and glitter, heat transfer, and dye sublimation. Glenn tells customers looking forward to purchasing gifts for employees, family, and friends to order well ahead of time to ensure they will be ready as uncertainty grows.

He concludes, “Moving forward, we will continue to face challenges head-on and provide alternative suggestions for clients if need be.”