Patches & Emblems - Part 7

Though patches are simple to produce, they are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them, and due to their typically small size, that tends to be on the lower end of the profit scale.  Therefore, you must focus on setting parameters that ensure you can make a profit with patch production. 

It’s imperative that you limit yourself to designs with low stitch counts and minimal detail.  For example, if you charge $1.00/1000 stitches and the customer wants a 10,000 stitch logo on a 3X5 patch, chances are he isn’t going to want to pay $10.00 (plus the cost of the patch itself).  Thus, you will need to avoid or modify such jobs, unless the customer has an unlimited budget.

 On the other hand, there are situations where the customer is willing to pay top-dollar for patches.  I serviced a small Police Department that ordered 11 shoulder patches at a time (sporadically) for their uniforms. (11 pieces is a standard quantity in the world of uniforms.)  I charged $18.00 each and they were willing to pay it, as no one else wanted a job that small, and the patches were a required part of their uniform.  Though the design was large, I managed to keep the stitch count down to about 8000 stitches and the patch itself cost $3.00.  Thus, the job was quick, simple and profitable.

Of course, most patch jobs are more likely to be in the $3.50 to $5.00 range. But considering that the typical design is basic text and the emblems themselves are usually under $0.50, they too can be profitable orders.

Bottom line, know what it costs you to produce the job, then mark it up as high as the market will allow above that cost.

And that concludes my discussion on patches and emblems.

Jimmy Lamb

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