Admin post, meant to do this some time ago. Here’s a listing of free chapters of my book (Entrepreneur’s Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing) online. I was reminded I needed to post this announcement because an old garmento supplier found the TOC page today and thought one of the entries was so hilarious -and true- he was compelled to call me. Specifically, he thought Weird Things that No One Ever Tells You was laugh out loud funny, especially when I talked about suppliers, presumably like him. He said this is exactly correct:
…calling a supplier and requesting a catalog can be perceived as threatening.
and under Interrogation 101:
Suppliers have things to sell but they won’t tell you what they have!
So between designers being too paranoid to tell suppliers what they’re making and suppliers too paranoid to tell designers what they’re selling, it is truly a miracle anyone launches a line without elaborate formal introductions. I’ve also been told many times that the chapter on how to buy wholesale fabric is a verbatim description of what really happens. Brrr, that’s so scary I shiver all over. Things have improved somewhat but I tell you, I couldn’t make this stuff up. It is so not like what people think.
Preamble dispensed with, here’s the free stuff, sorry I can’t do more:
Section 1: Introduction
Introduction
What is Manufacturing?
Reality 101
Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid
Weird Things that No One Ever Tells You
What Your Name Says About You
Free-Lance Design
Licensing
Section 2: Line planning
Job Descriptions in the Industry
Do You Need a Pattern Maker?
How to Hire a Pattern Maker
Section 4: Production
How to Hire a Grading Service
Section 7: Resources
Test Your Knowledge ( answers)
Forms, charts and tables:
Define Your Target Customer
Sketch Sheet (pdf)
Pattern Card (pdf)
Allocation Table
CM&T Worksheet
Note: All of the forms in the book (not just the ones listed above) are available in both pdf and word doc format here in the forum, along with a lot of other useful forms, charts, manuals and service lines.
I hope you’ll consider adding it to your library, you won’t regret it and it’s what keeps this site going.
I’ve read it before, but it’s still hillarious. This week I called a trim company. Actually, I was on their website (woohoo…how progressive) and I had to”apply” to be able to look at their online offerings. So, I applied. It said to wait 24 hrs. Honestly, I need reflective tape for a new equestrian saddle skirt I’ve designed. I’m a real customer… 2 days later, still nothing. So I called. The girl who answered was nice, and told me to email the tech. I did. In the meantime, I asked if she could take a couple of pictures of overruns they had, and send it to me. She did.
4 days later, still not access to their site. I did get one more email from the girl with a couple more pictures….but I am also an elastic, binding, etc. customer and would have likely purchased that stuff too. Instead, I’ve called another place and ordered my trim. Oh, and they asked if I used binding, and are getting me a better price on that too.
I wonder if I’ll ever be approved to see what the first site had to offer. Weird.
Leslie
I ordered the book and am had it shipped overnite! Exactly what I needed at exactly the right time! Can’t wait to get it in my hands. Thank you!
I have hovered my finger over the “buy” button so many times, but always chickened out, thinking that if I purchase it, I have to make a committment to myself that I am not sure I want to. Thanks for the post Kathleen, this will give me the shove I need!
Connie,
You can’t make a commitment to yourself without the book, and the price of the book is CHEAP compared to what would happen if you made the commitment without it!
Buy it so you know what’s what in making your decision. You won’t regret it. If you need convincing, go read the reviews on amazon.
Marguerite
It’s on it’s way!! Thanks Kathleen- and Marguerite for the shove!
This is the best marketing idea. I hesitated to buy the book before reading the “sneak preview”. It is worth the investment just with the fraction of material I read for FREE. Thanks.