By Yvonne Keen, Editor – Machine Embroidery Magazine

This is an unabridged copy of a recent article featured in Machine Embroidery Magazine.

It says it all really.

We look forward to you getting in touch if it sounds like you!

Working from home at times to suit your busy lifestyle and doing something you love - sounds too marvellous to be true! Well not anymore, I recently caught up with Bryan Doyle, CEO of the Australian College of Computer Embroidery and Textile Technologies who explained this revolutionary opportunity now open to all home embroiderers.

“There is no doubt this is a ground breaking initiative that will undoubtedly alter the way all hobby embroiderers view their digitising and embroidery skills and how semi-professionals and small embroidery businesses view their work load too” Bryan explained enthusiastically.

Bryan and his wife Myra both have a long history in the machine and embroidery trade and so fully understand the needs, ambitions and even the psyche of the dedicated and committed embroiderer. This innovative and far-reaching scheme will represent financial freedom for literally hundreds, if not thousands, of domestic embroiderers. This successful business initiative has been developed for domestic embroiderers keen to extend their horizons and will undoubtedly catch the imagination of everyone who owns a technologically advanced embroidery machine whether it is a single needle or a multi-needle model. The scheme also has application for those using multi needle, single head professional machines in a small business operation - such as you see in the shopping centres.

This imaginative scheme is open to all from the mature lady at home looking for a change, a retiree keen to start a new venture, a jaded soul wanting a new career path or a keen school leaver looking for a creative and tactile life-style.

The idea originated, as Bryan explained, after he had spoken to hundreds of students who had gone through the digitise-wise™ courses and others who have progressed through the Certificate III Qualification in Digitising and Hoop Embroidery at the College. He was also aware that there was a gap in the education system with nothing available to enhance, promote and educate at a higher level within this subject. Having been around couture sewing and stitch craft and high level embroidery for so many years, he realised that creative people want, indeed need, to express their talents to their very best capability. However, what did surprise Bryan, was the number who wanted to do work for friends, family, the children's school footie team, local clubs and special events. He found a level of frustration as they were not being held back by the embroidery and digitising at which they now excelled, but getting to grips with questions like - how much do I charge and how do I cost out 20 or 30 shirts or caps? “Please help us find a way” was the plea from his students that spurred Bryan on to find a solution.

"I had to come up with something,” said Bryan as he reminded me of the famous quotation - 'do something you love for a living and you will never do a day's work in your life'. Which is also how the particular name of the new initiative was chosen - Just Love It™ - is now their registered trading name.

Bryan successfully won the support and endorsement of several major companies and not least, the Federal Government - which is no mean feat!

So how does it work? “It is a co-operative of embroiderers and digitisers - a network of computer embroiderers across the whole Australian continent who can use their embroidery skills to earn an income whether it be just a little pin money or a significant amount” Bryan detailed with pride. “They can get paid for doing the craft they love with a reward scheme based on the number of embroideries that can be produced in a day, a week, a month - whatever time/space they can fit in and which can be built around family and other commitments” he added.

The most common questions Bryan is asked are: What's it all about? What do I have to do? What's in it for me as an owner of an embroidery machine and as a digitiser? What will it cost me?

Everyone involved in the project has the same opportunities and the most amazing thing is that there is absolutely zero financial cost to join. The cost to the individual is in time and commitment, but as Bryan pointed out, these embroiderers are already spending time and commitment on their projects. Those individuals who apply and are accepted to join Just Love It™ are required to already have skills to a standard that protects the integrity of the whole co-operative.

Training is provided by the Australian College of Computer Embroidery on sharpening up artistic skills as well as how to set about the business side of the venture - costing, quotes, copyright, advertising and so much more. When the training is concluded, they are presented with the corporate uniform that includes the coveted Just Love It™ emblem and logo. Another bonus is that the member is also provided free of charge with their own personal Just Love It™ up-and-running website with a PayPal system already in place for their clients to use. Catalogues, stationery and order forms are also provided.

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages is that the required training is fully funded by the Commonwealth Government Traineeship Scheme which is open to all to apply. To do the Traineeship and follow on to become a Just Love It™ team member, you must be truly committed and passionate about embroidery and digitising. You must be prepared to give 15 hours a week - 60 hours a month minimum of dedicated time to promote and create sales of embroidered goods in your own area. Obviously you must also be prepared to embroider these items but being part of this co-operative embroidery community you have the support of very many like-minded, enthusiastic people just like you - who love it too.

So the help, support, training, encouragement are all there from the beginning. In practical terms there is also a system in place whereby there is access to the core materials required - backings, threads, caps, garments and all the other paraphernalia required to run your own enterprise. However, through the co-operative these are provided at advantageous wholesale prices only usually obtained by big businesses and certainly not by the domestic sewer for just a small order. Among the big companies already on board are Bisley and Biz Collection with others having made an approach to join in too giving you access to great brands.

Another innovative feature of the scheme is the reward point system. Understanding the psyche of the group of embroidery enthusiasts, Bryan realised that it is not always just the money that brings reward. Every item sold receives a commission and every design digitised receives a digitiser fee providing the participants income but every item sold and embroidered will also attract reward points and very excitingly these can be exchanged for items such as a brand new sewing machine, digitising software, notions and other supplies. Or they can just be used for attendance at the Just Love It™ co-operatives only convention.

I asked Bryan what happens if a member only wants to stitch and not digitise or alternatively only wants to digitise and not stitch. “It's no problem - members should use their strongest assets in the best way. By being part of the co-operative if you only want to do one area of the production work that is absolutely fine, for someone else is on hand to do the other part of the job for you” he explained.

Now to the important part of the equation - what's the pay like! “It's hard to give a blanket reply,” says Bryan “as everyone will be different depending on the amount of time they can devote to their new business”. But as an example he illustrated that someone doing just 10 shirts and 10 caps a week - not even a day's work - for 50 weeks in the year, with an embroiderers fee and a digitisers fee would earn in excess of $13,000 plus, of course, 2000 reward points. Even if you do not have a cap machine and just did say 20 embroideries a week this would still result in the same payment. But most would probably do a lot more than that because keen enthusiasts do already!

So if you have given even half a thought to a small or larger embroidery business but felt that competing with the big embroidery companies is just too hard to do, then the first thing you need is an identity of your own. If you think that Just Love It™ could provide you with that identity and the integral companionship, help and support to 'give it a go' in your own backyard there is just one thing to do - contact Bryan at Just Love It™ on phone: (07) 5500 3734 or email iloveit2@justloveit.com.au He is happy to personally talk it over and promises to listen, help and advise all individual potential applicants to this vibrant, innovative and ground breaking project. Just remember, he just loves it too!