Almost 1,300 Members and Growing

Dear Reader,

Thanks for reading Stitches Small Business, our monthly e-newsletter that's dedicated to bringing you business-related tips and news. We're looking for a few, good contributors who'd be willing to submit short-short articles and great tips to help other readers run their businesses even better.

In this month's issue, you'll meet a custom-garment guru, discover "magical" apparel trends from Las Vegas, and find out how the rise in Geek Chic can boost your bottom line.

Please e-mail me at nrollender@asicentral.com if you'd like to lend your business expertise to Stitches Small Business.

Best regards,
Nicole Rollender
Editor, Stitches
nrollender@asicentral.com

Video

Wearables and Stitches Staff Writer Matt George shows off some sports apparel in the second installment of "Where Are You Wearables."
Click here to see if the outfits he shows can be a "score" for your business!

What did you think of the video? Send your feedback to nrollender@asicentral.com.

Quick Hit: Evolve

Joel Wochner, CEO of Evolve Programs. Contact: (303) 733-3750; www.evolveprograms.com

Wearables: How did Evolve get started?
Joel Wochner: After 9/11 the economy wasn't great, so I began to work with a manufacturer that designed and developed product for a lot of major retail brands, some of which are ASI suppliers. That's how I learned the manufacturing business, and I used my background in technology sales to differentiate myself from the promotional product world. I tried to be a vendor that would listen to strategic needs from customers and would eventually come up with a solution. After a few years of understanding the manufacturing business, we went to Direct TV with a proposal to design their apparel, along with their brand. I spent a lot of time riding around on job sites with technicians to see how their uniforms could be more functional. We tied those functional elements into a product development standpoint to see what they wanted in their uniforms. The uniform turned out great, and we put a big logo on the back of them for their NFL Sunday Ticket slogan.

Wearables: Is that a unique spot for logo placement?
JW: I don't think logo placement should ever go away from the chest, whether it's right or left. Some people think otherwise, but we try to help our customers get the most amount of impact from their brand by having it stand out the most. But that doesn't mean you can't do embellishments on the sleeve or back to enhance that. It really just depends on the customer's interest.

Wearables: You customized Direct TV's uniform from scratch. Do you customize every garment you manufacture?
JW: Yes, provided that the volume is there. In order to do make sure the volume is there we have to target a medium- to large-size business. Most of the companies we do business with have the ability to develop a retail line around who they are as a customer. We can customize anything from T-shirts and jackets to pants. We're basically a sourcing agency. We sit down with our customers to see the type of volume they have and what are their challenges from a brand, functional and IT standpoint. We then design and develop a program to fit their needs from start to finish.

Wearables: What are a few tips you'd tell someone who is looking to get into the business of customized garments?
JW: You have to be realistic, but you have to be optimistic that you can make things happen. That's what we've relied on from a company culture standpoint, is to be optimistic. We tell our customers what we can and what we can't do. If you're open and transparent, it's a lot easier to execute the job at hand.

New Blog on Stitches.com

"Let me start by blowing your mind a little bit. Embroidery is sculpture." We've got another new blog on Stitches.com: "On Links and Needles." Expand your understanding and hone your technical skills as award-winning 10-year veteran digitizer, e-commerce manager and all-around technophile Erich Campbell explores and explains the intersection of embroidery, technology and business. He's the go-to guy for stitches and tech at Black Duck Inc. in Albuquerque, NM, one of the Southwest's largest screen-printing and embroidery firms. Get connected at: ecampbell@blackduckonline.com.

Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas was there. So was country crooner Kenny Chesney. Jon Gosselin from Jon & Kate Plus Eight was even rumored to be roaming the floors. But the real buzz around the MAGIC apparel show in Las Vegas came not from the celebrities in attendance (or pseudo-celebs, if you count Gosselin), but from some pretty creative, even wacky, new products on display. Perhaps the slow economy has forced apparel makers to get super-creative. Whatever the reason for this explosion in ingenuity, here's a sampling of some out-of-the-ordinary items one of our editors found while roaming the show floor:

• Green products continue to be the rage, but here's one with a twist: A new company called Intotees is showcasing organic cotton T-shirts that feature hidden messages that are exposed when wearers are out in the sun. For example, one tee features a polar bear hovering on a small iceberg with the message "no green." When exposed to sunlight, the message changes to "go green" and the polar bear is surrounded by his natural habitat. The company can customize the T-shirts with any message or artwork.
• Women can attest to this common problem: Long jeans that are the perfect length when worn with heels, but too long when worn with flats. The solution: Hem-Eze, a specially-designed doubled-sided tape for temporary hems. The product's patent-pending rounded edges are purported to result in a "crisp clean hem and is the perfect solution to those who want to wear a different height of heel with the same pair of jeans in a moment's notice," says founder and entrepreneur Debra Weisser.
• OK, so you want to store your cell phone or BlackBerry in your wallet or purse, but don't want to constantly remove it to check your messages. Two new products – the Cell Phone Purse and Cell Phone Wallet – made by Nectar Accessories have clear storage areas so that you can actually use your cell phone touch screen or keypads while the phone remains secure in your handbag or wallet.
• Plunging necklines are high fashion for women these days, and one new product – Perfect Cami – offers a solution for modest wearers. This mini cami, which looks like a tube top, slips over your head and hooks to a bra strap, eliminating extra fabric and straps of a traditional camisole. It comes in a variety of fabrics and colors and can even be adorned with Swarovski crystals.
• Tired of ring-around-the-collar? White Collar Grime is a disposable collar protector from the makers of Garment Guard. Simply cut off a piece of this 100% cotton adhesive from a special roll, stick it to the inside of your collar, and dispose of it at the end of the day.
• Women who love shoes but can't fit 10 pairs in their suitcase may be interested in Convertibles Footwear, a company which is debuting a pair of gold sandals with a thong toe and T-strap that can quickly be replaced with alternative straps featuring a number of different embellishments, including seashells and rhinestones. The company's motto: "Just pop the top and go."
• Finally, here's a cure-all for sore feet after a night of dancing in stilettos: the Footzyrolls Rollable Shoes are folding ballet flats that can be stashed in a purse for a quick change. "They're an easy solution to limping home barefoot or being carried on your boyfriend's shoulder," says Footzyrolls spokesperson Jenifer Caplan.

Listen to ASI Internet Radio [asicentral.com/radio]

A team of ASI editors has launched the first ever ASI Internet Radio show. For a half-hour each Tuesday, we debate the most important topics facing the industry, as well as offer an off-beat look at the market.

If you missed any of our shows, don't worry. Recordings are available at asicentral.com/radio. And, don't forget to join us every Tuesday morning 10:30 a.m. Eastern time when we broadcast our radio show live. We'll be taking calls from the audience, so please call us at (215) 953-4979 to hear your voice on the air.

The Obama administration's proposed health-care plan currently being debated in Congress is making some American small businesses feel ill. The bill that is in the House of Representatives would penalize small-business owners if they do not offer health care to their employees. According to a new survey from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), a majority of the organization's members see this as a far too drastic measure that will negatively impact many business owners in the ad specialties arena.

As the bill currently stands, businesses with payrolls above $400,000 will have to pay an 8% penalty if they do not provide health coverage to employees. Those with payrolls between $250,000 and $400,000 will pay a smaller penalty. Businesses with a payroll under $250,000 will not have to pay anything. Some firms may be eligible for tax credits to fund the coverage.

"It's the dumbest thing I ever heard in my life," says Bert Brander, vice president of Sim & Brander (asi/327000). "That means either you have three choices: not make any money, cheat the government or fire people to reduce payroll."

Indeed, some have called the measure a job killer. Noting that it takes employing only four or five employees to exceed the $250,000 threshold, Brander says it might just be cheaper to lay someone off rather than incur health-care costs for the entire staff. It may also prevent hiring at growing companies, says Brenda Mulberry, president of Pike Products (asi/295681). "I don't understand the point of the bill. It is ridiculous," she says. "It just makes you not want to hire another person."

Another alternative: "It would be cheaper just to pay the penalty. They don't want to help the employee. They just want your money," says Mulberry. The NFIB Chief Economist William Dunkelberg agrees. "This is an unfortunate use of small businesses as a tax collector," he says. "They like that because then people yell at the businesses instead of the politicians."

The bill's goal is to insure more than 37 million Americans over the course of the next decade. In addition to spurring small businesses, a 5.4% surtax is proposed to be levied on the income of the wealthiest Americans to help foot the $1 trillion-plus bill.

Correction: In the last issue of Stitches Small Business, we identified Chase Roh, Ph.D., president of AnaJet Inc. (asi/16000) and author of Building Your Business Using A Digital Apparel Printer, as Dr. Charles Roh. This was in the article, "Four Tips for Direct-to-Garment Beginners." This was corrected in the online version of the newsletter, but not in the initial blast that went out to readers. We apologize for the error.

This argyle sweater (EUR100) is combined with a water-resistant outer coating and a wind-proof liner. Available in 11 colors from Sunderland of Scotland (asi/90145).

One staple item – argyle sweaters – has been adopted by many groups as a popular favorite over the years. What's new is that the geeks can now pull off the look with panache – in part, because geeks have gained acceptance in the mainstream for their underrated cool. With celebs like Justin Timberlake championing the look, its popularity continues to rise.

"From a business standpoint, we have seen this trend go in cycles," says Phyllip Daymond, principal executive at Sunderland of Scotland (asi/90145). "Today, American Eagle and Aeropostale are certainly showcasing argyle sweaters in the retail market. And end-users are expressing interest and looking for them to be represented in our industry."

American comedy-drama television series Ugly Betty can also take some of the blame for the nerd movement. The award-winning show takes the geek chic fashion to a new level, with accessories such as dark-framed glasses, tunic dresses and bright-colored leggings.

"When a show of that caliber is watched during prime time hours, it will only generate more apparel buzz," Daymond says, "Viewers get inspired by what celebrities are wearing and will do anything to look more like their 'role models.'"

As a business owner, you can partake in the action by adding T-shirts with funny sayings, colorful blouses or even bow ties to your inventory. Daymond believes having a broader selection with popular colors such as "orange, brown, grey and muted greens and blues will attract more end-users." But if you're looking for an answer as to when this trend will eventually die down, Obi-Wan Kenobi may be your only hope!

Web Site for Small Business Owners
Spotlight on: http://www.dressaday.com/dressaday.html

A blogger by the name of Erin certainly loves her dresses. She showcases a new dress with each update, and believes the dress speaks and tells a story. A Dress A Day uncovers the secrets of dresses and vintage patterns. The blog dates back to May of 2005 and is updated frequently. There are several links on dress sewing techniques and books, as well.

The Spotlight Is On: This 6.2-ounce 100% polyester micromesh crew-neck shirt (128) features Tri-Mountain UltraCool moisture-wicking technology to keep the wearer cool and dry in warmer temperatures. It's accented with contrast side panels and raglan sleeves for a sporty look. It also has a half-moon yoke back, a square bottom and open cuffs for a comfortable fit. Available in six colors from sizes S-4XL.

For more information call (800) 824-6464, or visit www.trimountain.com.