Panel Programs II Embroidery Project

Caps are not the only products offered in panel programs. Some jacket manufacturers also offer this service to their customers. Les Tandler, VP of GAME Sportswear, NY elaborates. “Panel programs offer more versatility to the embellisher by expanding the locations available for decoration. For example, finished sleeve embroidery is quite difficult, if not impossible for most embroidery shops. However, if the sleeve is available as an individual panel, then it can be hooped and sewn using a regular hoop. Not only is it simple to sew on, it also provides the embroiderer the ability to offer more options to his customer with the end result being increased profits.”

In addition to sleeves, GAME Sportswear’s panel program includes the jacket-back. According to Handler, “one of the obvious benefits of a jacket-back panel is that it costs a fraction of the entire jacket, meaning that if the embroiderer damages the panel, he only has a small replacement cost. Plus, it’s much easier to hoop a rectangular panel of fabric than a bulky jacket. In addition, the lining is added after the embroidery, which provides for a nice finish on the inside of the jacket.”

Anyone who has ever sewn a heavyweight jacket realizes the challenges of hooping the garment. The combination of a thick fabric and a heavy lining can make for a hooping nightmare. In fact, in some cases the hoop can’t be expanded far enough to accommodate the jacket without the adjustment screw coming out. And should you be lucky enough to actually get the jacket secured within the hoop, there is the ever-present tendency for the jacket to pop out of the hoop during sewing. By using a jacket-back panel program, these problems can be avoided.

As with cap panel programs, the turnaround time is longer than with finished jackets and the price is slightly higher. But the advantages of a panel program far outweigh any of the perceived inconveniences. “We only charge an additional dollar per jacket for the panel process,” says Handler. “In comparison to the overall cost of a finished jacket, an extra dollar in price is insignificant, especially when compared against the advantages of doing panels. Plus turnaround time is minimal. Typically, the panels are shipped out to the customer within 10-14 days. Upon return of the panels, the jacket sewing process is usually done within 5 days.”

Handler does caution embroiderers about one aspect of a panel program. “Don’t order an inventory of panels and then sit on them waiting for future orders. There may be a dye lot mismatch when you finally send back the panels many months later. We cut panels from our on-hand inventory of fabric, with the expectation that they will be returned for finishing within several weeks. Thus, we are able to cut the remaining jacket pieces from the same fabric dye lot without any problem. But when the panels are many months old, there is a possibility that the in-stock fabric will be from a different dye-lot which could lead to a color mismatch between the panel and the rest of the jacket. It’s not a frequent occurrence, but it can happen. We recommend to anyone using the panel program to just order what they need when they need it and to return it promptly.”

Panels programs offer the embroiderer plenty of positive advantages, yet they have all but disappeared from the domestic embroidery industry. This can be attributed to the fact that many shops have sacrificed quality in favor of quick turnarounds and cheap prices, especially during the late 1990’s. But as prices have been driven down, so have profits.

With the start of a new century, some of that thinking has changed. Savvy business owners have realized that price isn’t everything and have started looking at other ways to separate themselves from the competition. This has lead to a renewed effort towards achieving top quality sewing and offering additional decoration options to their customers. Panel programs provide the perfect opportunity to make this happen and every embroiderer should take the time to investigate this option.