Due to technical difficulties, we did not have a moderated session.
This is a transcript of the general discussion.

Alan: Welcome to tonight's special event.
Alan: Our guest tonight Ruby Bollinger with Ruby's Sewing Etc.
Alan: Tonight we are going to discuss:
"Mobile Embroidery"
Alan: Welcome Ruby
Ruby: Thank You.
Alan: Why don't we start by you telling us a little bit about your Embroidery biz
Alan: and how you got into it
Ruby: I started in '97 with a single head Tajima and I had to figure out how to make the payments. So I started doing livestock show.
Ruby: Then over the course of the summer antique tractor shows.
Rick Parsley: I think I remember that Ruby. LOL
Alan: how was your first traveling show experience
Ruby: I have to think which one was my first one.
The moderated stage has terminated.
Erin: all about timing :)
Ruby: The first show was a livestock show at State College, PA, before I had my Tajima. I had my Baby Lock.
Ruby: I sold things that I couldn't do on the Baby Lock.
Ruby: So then the Tajima found a home.
Ruby: ...in the trailer.
Alan: what made you start on the traveling circuit?
Erin: OK...i got a notice that it was over
Alan: event is in here tonight
Ruby: I had to come up with money to make the payments and it just kinda happened. Besides, it got me out of the barn!!!
Rick Parsley: Literally.
Erin: Ruby...do you have a trailer to transport your machine?
Ruby: Yes. But now I'm back in the barn and still doing the road show and busier than ever with two employees.
Ruby: Yes, a 12' trailer.
Erin: You work in the trailer or just transport in it?
Rick Parsley: I got that notice too.
Ruby: No, we just transport, however we have worked out of it on occasion. It's not a fun place to be. One of my prerequisits is a roof over my head.
Erin: got ya'...we've been rained out...not fun.
Ruby: And many shows will find a way to accomodate me.
Ruby: Any questions?
Rick Parsley: Erin also works in a Barn but thats normal for those from WV
Erin: Watch it Parsley!
Ruby: You're awful.
Erin: yes he is
Ruby: Erin, what is your business name?
Erin: ruby..what do you take for display? We've taken gridwall, but it's heavy
Erin: In Stitches
Sue T.: Ruby, how long did take for you to get up and going and be profitable in this venue?
Erin: Seems to me li
Ruby: We wing it. Sometimes we use the trailer as a back drop and we use cloths racks.
Rick Parsley: Grid works great but your right. It is Heavy.
Erin: seems to me like WV is pretty good to you rick...
Ruby: I sold enough in the first eight months (gross) to pay for the machine.
Erin: wow...What do you usually take to show Ruby?
Erin: mdse wise
Rick Parsley: Erin I have to agree lately. Got a few machines headed that way.
Ruby: Three years into it I bought the second machine, a single head Toyota.
Ruby: Usually, samples of EVERYTHING.
Rick Parsley: Ruby is your trailor Single axle and any comments about that.
Erin: Yes you do...and i know where one is going :) It better get there SOON
Ruby: The trailer is full as is the Tahoe.
Ruby: Yes, it is a single axle, no breaks. Never had any trouble.
Erin: How much does a trailer that size cost?
Sue T.: Where are you located Ruby?
Rick Parsley: See ya soon erin.
Erin: Rick..what did you take to the shows you did? # of heads and mdse?
Ruby: But, the next one will have breaks and double axle and filp out side. Almost $3000. Lancaster, PA
Rick Parsley: Double Axle is MUCH better for the machines.
Erin: 3000 isn't bad..i'd have thought it was more...it have a window and A/C?
Rick Parsley: Mine is 24 foot. 3 to 4 machines fit inside and travel just fine.
Ruby: No window, no a/c, two doors, side & back.
Erin: you work in yours rick?
Erin: 3-4 full size singles?
Ruby: Rick, so you don't have a farm to support. So quit bragging about your trailer or I'll come get it.
Rick Parsley: Erin Yeah I used to use Tajimas. Now I use Sprints.
Ruby: I'm sure I wouldn
Erin: Im looking at a pretty big show this fall...may have to talk about it :)
Rick Parsley: Ruby its for sale. I want a bigger one.
Ruby: How much?
Erin: Yea..how much
Rick Parsley: Id RATHER support the farm. sounds fun
Erin: you know...if someone bought a 4 head from you..i think you should throw in the trailer
Rick Parsley: Erin if I did that I would not be able to make deliveries like I am wiht you.
Ruby: You come walk in my shoes for a WEEK, then we'll see how you would RATHER support the farm.
Erin: true..give it to me and get a bigger one
Erin: with a lift gate
Rick Parsley: RUBY Yeah I hear you. Can you give them some Insight on how to find or Judge what events your going to do. That was always hard for me.
Erin: Ruby you do farm shows? Like FFA etc?
Ruby: The lift gate sounds good. It beats pushing it up a ramp.
Ruby: Erin, yes.
Ruby: We do the show once, but if it doesn
Ruby: but if it doesn't pan out we don't go back
Erin: Has either of you ever taken just a single head and MADE money?
Ruby: Yes, for three years
Erin: to a single day show?
Rick Parsley: Would have to be a smaller and cheap to get into event.
Erin: only so much you can emb in a day
tp: I use to take a singlehead to dog shows
Rick Parsley: Erin Im sure Ruby will agree. At shows you do all you can do.
Erin: We've got the chance to do a big cheer comp at the civic center
Ruby: Some of them. Yeah, you don't pay anything to go, you just give a donation.
Erin: we've done smaller ones...with just heat pressed goods
Rick Parsley: Donations Thats a good thing
Ruby: Do it! I used to do baton competions. they were good
Sue T.: Do you complete all you orders at the show for the day, or do you take a lot of orders to complete and mail out at home.
Erin: this would be free...some emb for the cheer coach who sponsors
tp: do it....don't pass itup
Ruby: We do our best. And we ship, ship, and ship some more when we get home.
Erin: Just wondering if it would be worth it to take the single head or If we should just stick with the presses
Erin: Ruby do yo build shipping into your prices?
Ruby: I'd take the single head and do a lot of name drops
Ruby: We have to with costs where they are.
Rick Parsley: Shipping means loss of sales.
tp: I disagree Rick
Sue T.: Rick, do you need some glue for your hair?
Rick Parsley: LOL yeah its falling out
Rick Parsley: TP you get some. but you will also loose some.
Ruby: No always. People know me after six years. And if you're reasonable about it, they don
Erin: i've always thought if they can take it with them they spend more
tp: This is Tammy
Ruby: don
Ruby: don't mind
Rick Parsley: People dont like to trust people to ship things. Some of these are Impulse buys.
tp: at all the shows I did, I had repeat business and because they were custom, they didn't mind shipping
Erin: i agree with you rick
Erin: now there's a FIRST
Ruby: Some yes, but not all and that
tp: the last show I did was $6,000 in 2 1/2 days
Ruby: that's the chance you take
Erin: tp what kind of show?
tp: dog/pet
Rick Parsley: I ship all Jacket Backs from shows
Erin: makes sense
Erin: how much inventory do you take?
tp: I would take all blank inventory with a few samples sewn
Ruby: I do a lot of jacket backs at the show. One machine does all jacket backs and one is doing hats all the time
Erin: My very first cheer comp...i WAY overdid...took like 10K in inventory
tp: wide variety of sizes, etc
tp: wow
Erin: it was almost funny
tp: I think I'm at $2,000-$2,500
Erin: til it rained
Rick Parsley: Interesting. I do the opposite. I do left chest and hats. Ship jacket backs.
tp: but it built it up over the years
Ruby: I don't have that much inventory in my entire stock.
Erin: Ruby...i don't either...i had ordered it all
Erin: we lost our shirts on that one
Sue T.: So,how do you figure what to take with you Ruby?
Erin: sent back alot that wasn't ruined by the rain
Rick Parsley: You learn what to take
Erin: No more outdoor events for us
Ruby: After seven years of going to some of these shows you gauge it from the year before.
Rick Parsley: Fire Shows its just NAVY BLUE SHIRTS>
Rick Parsley: and hats
Erin: Fire shows sound like my cup of tea
Ruby: Farm related shows are five panel hats
Erin: i hear the guy that used to do them is too busy now
Rick Parsley: Cowboy Hats huh Ruby
Erin: foam fronts?
Ruby: used to do what kind of shows
Ruby: NO
Ruby: No foam fronts. We don't like them
Sue T.: Ruby, when you were using just one machine....did you do just caps or shirts?
Erin: Ruby..the guy that used to do all the fire shows is way too busy to do them..i might have to do them now :)
Ruby: Mostly caps.
Erin: hate caps
Rick Parsley: Caps make the most amount of money.
Erin: really hate caps
Ruby: I love them, they make good money
Rick Parsley: Erin thats about to change
Erin: how much do you charge for a cap
Erin: I sure hope so
Ruby: $15
Sue T.: When you say mostly caps. Did you change your machine out at the show from caps to shirts?
Ruby: That includes an animal and farm name
Ruby: Yes
Erin: I'm really looking forward to getting my new machine Rick
Rick Parsley: Ruby thats cheap. I think
Erin: can you tell
Erin: $15 is cheap
Erin: that's what we charge and we make them wait forever :)
Sue T.: Wasn't it kind of a pain to keep switching?
Alan: what shows do you do other than farm shows?
Ruby: Yes, but I work with farmers we're trying to hold our own as long as possible. If you keep your prices low people will continue to come back. We don't need to make a killing on every hat.
Erin: makes sense
Erin: what do farmers put on the front of a 5 panel hat?
Ruby: Antique tractor steam shows, maybe two craft shows, local fairs.
Erin: Anyone have a twill cutter?
Ruby: Animals, farm name
Ruby: I'm on the phone with one of my shows right now and you wouldn't beleive what is happening.
Rick Parsley: @64,64 !It's Rick Parsley
Erin: what?
Erin: ruby it's late there too isn't it?
Erin: rick..where's your clothes?
Ruby: After seven years of doing All American Dairy Show in Harrisburg pay day has finally arrived!!!
Erin: do tell
Ruby: Yes, it's about 10:15
Sue T.: What...what Ruby!
Rick Parsley: Naked this time
Erin: ruby...the suspense is killing us
Rick K: @64,64 !It's Rick K
pam: @64,64 !It's pam
Ruby: No, we're doing all of the banners that will drap the cows, and all show shirts for all participants, there isn't nothing that we aren't doing. All the showcase banners!!
Erin: how many banners is that ruby?
tp: wonderful Ruby, congrats
Sue T.: CONGRATULATIONS!
Sue T.: )APPLAUSE
Sue T.: )APPLAUSE
Sue T.: )APPLAUSE
Ruby: 28 banners plus a supreme blanket
Erin: how big are these banners?
Ruby: 20 x 36
Sue T.: How much time to you have to make them?
Erin: what size hoop will you use? These are emb or twill?
Ruby: until Sept. 1
Ruby: Emb. 16 size hoop
Erin: 16 size hoop?
Erin: that's a new one on me
Ruby: 16 x 14 sorry the BIG one for the Tajima
Ruby: Alan, I'll have to send you a picture to post somewhere
Alan: please do
Ruby: Actually, I'll probably enter it in a contest
Erin: how many stitches in something like that?
Alan: which contest
Ruby: the last on had 82,000
Erin: and you're doing $23? wow...how much do you sell something that big for?
Erin: oops..no $ just 23
Ruby: one with one of the Atlantic City shows
Ruby: I'm going to get $75 per banner
Ruby: the large blanket for supreme champion i'll get $200
Ruby: it doesn't always happen like this
Ruby: it also took seven years to arrive at this point
Erin: not too shabby considering the time frame
Erin: except i'd prob wait til the last minute to do them
Ruby: the other kicker is that we have to digitize the cows and they must be perfect
Erin: you get a digi fee?
Ruby: i can't wait until the last min. i have two people that won't let me do that
Ruby: yeah
Erin: ruby what software are you using?
Ruby: plus i get to use the cows for my own use
Ruby: Pulse
Erin: i'm trading my pulse for wilcom
Alan: how do you use the cows?
Ruby: for hats, jackets, etc
Ruby: they'll be my stock designs
Ruby: Rick, I like the bird, just watch your head!!!
Ruby: Rick, when are you selling your trailer, I may need another one.
Rick Parsley: Its gonna be a 6 months min. I am using it to deliver machines. I am getting a larger one and a lift gate truck
Ruby: You must be doing rather well with your new venture
Erin: Ruby have you seen the ZSK machines in action?
Rick Parsley: Ruby things are going well. Erin in here just ordered a 4 head.
Ruby: No
Rick Parsley: On the way
Erin: Saw it in Columbus..I was WAY impressed
Erin: it ran HATS at 1000spm for 3 days
Ruby: Rick told me all about them
Erin: i NEVER saw a thread or a needle break
Ruby: they always run like that at a show
Erin: not all the machines I looked at
Erin: i saw some dogs
Rick Parsley: Ruby I own them too. They always run like that period
Erin: and I am DONE with HIRSCH
Rick Parsley: but I dont want to advertise in here. Rather talk shop
Ruby: no not all of them
Erin: ruby do you have all single heads?
Ruby: i can't complain about the two that i have, they have been through a lot
Ruby: yes
Erin: two 1501's?
Ruby: my two machines have more miles than some people's cars
Erin: lol
Ruby: i have a 1201 Tajima and a 860 Toyota
Erin: which was first?
Ruby: the Tajima
Erin: what made you go with the Toyota? size?
Ruby: yes that was all the room i had
Erin: in a BARN?
Erin: :)
Ruby: NO!!! the Tajima goes in the trailer and the Toyota goes in the back of the Tahoe
Erin: lol...ok
Erin: scared me there
Ruby: The barn is a little dirty and full of cows
Erin: how's that affect your machines?
Ruby: the machines are in the house
Erin: im so confused
Erin: tp where are you from?
Ruby: when we go to the shows we transport them in the trailer. We live on a Dairy Farm
Erin: Ruby...how far from Birdsboro?
Rick Parsley: Got MILK
Rick Parsley: Chocolate Please
Ruby: LOTS of Milk. Sure we'll take you to Hershey for that.
Erin: Do brown cows give chocolate milk?
Ruby: About 45 min
Ruby: Yes
Rick Parsley: alan never has a POT of coffee just that ONE damn cup
Alan: I sip it all day long
Erin: not exactly fair is it
Ruby: It would be nice if he would share
Erin: seems like there would be some for all of us
Ruby: I'll supply the cream!!
Rick Parsley: LOL
Ruby: Well Guys anymore questions
Alan: Ruby thanks for your help this evening
Erin: Hi Tam
Ruby: I need to milk cows in the AM
Erin: better you than me
Erin: i like my sleep
Ruby: Rick do you want to come and help
Alan: I don't know if I wll attempt a transcript of this sessioin
Sue T.: Alan, are you going to have this transcript available?
Sue T.: Oops, sorry, was a little slow with the question.
Rick Parsley: Ruby I like Farms
Alan: This is the end of the session... please stay and chat if you wish
Sue T.: Thanks so much Ruby. If everyone enjoyed the show tonight, please make mention of it on the Embroidery List please.
Rick Parsley: Ruby you did a good job
Ruby: Thanks it was fun
Sue T.: The next 4 weeks will be about Stabelizers and everything you wanted to know but was afraid to ask. Guest Fred Lebow

Closing Log (May 25, 2004 10:30PM)

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