Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tamela Carter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tamela, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
A little back story about how my vision went from a “what if” I could build a business doing something I love that I could build from my own home into becoming a woman-owned business that is still growing 26 years later? I have always been a creative person that loved the art of sewing and creating beautiful things with my sewing skills. In the beginning, my dad asked me if I could add his welding logo to some shirts and at the time I had no clue how to do that but I promised that I would find the right machine that would add his logo to his work shirts. I went to a trade show and found the machine. Only it cost more than my car at the time. As a single mom, that was a significant investment and I was living paycheck to paycheck, so that machine felt like a unattainable dream. My parents took a chance on my vision and refinanced their home to give me a loan to make the purchase of a lifetime – A sixteen needle industrial embroidery machine. This was such a big and expensive risk for a single mom chasing a dream. Needless to say, I have never looked back. The welding logo was the first design we made.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Tailor Made by Tamela is a woman owned business that has grown, changed, found ways to pivot and has most excellent customer service. We take pride in being actively engaged with every logo, every finished garment and product as if it were our own logo. We understand that embroidery provides elevated branding to a business. We consistently provide exceptional service and have a consult with every client to make sure we are part of their branding with their current and future needs. We offer new ideas, new options and to build ongoing relationships and partnerships. Our business has been built by trusted referrals from our existing customer base. Many of our customers have been doing business with Tailor Made by Tamela since the beginning of time. Most of our customers send us referrals on a regular basis. We take pride in staying up with the trends, learning new skills, and delivering the most exceptional quality embroidery in a timely and consistent manner. We have built our business on being transparent and honest. We are in the community we serve. We love Keeping people in Stitches!
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
There was a significant learning curve to become and expert in embroidery services. The machines that we run are well engineered and the smallest issue can ruin a garment. Oftentimes, the journey felt like being alone on an island. Industrial embroidery machines require extensive maintenance, are highly technical, and require constant learning to keep them running smoothly. In the beginning we had a week of in person training and then it was sink or swim. I chose to swim, to learn, to ask questions and to find the resources that could teach me everything they knew about embroidery. We all know that nearly 26 years ago, the internet access was limited so finding the support I needed took creativity to a new level. We were determined to find the path of success. Over time I became an embroidery expert, but I marvel at the fact that I still learn something new nearly everyday in this business.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
As a creative, a big challenge is staying relevant. There have been days when all orders were completed and delivered and there were no other orders on the books. A business owner knows that if there are no orders in the pipeline then it is time to change, pivot and go out and find the opportunities. The grind can be daunting, and stressful. Staying relevant might be as simple as knowing what the Pantone color of the year is so we can recommend new ideas for our clients. During the slow times, we have been known to send our customers different products with their brand on them. An example of this might be sending them tote bags or hats with their logo embroidered on it so that they can experience a new item which often leads to more sales. Taking the time to provide customer service throughout the year has proven successful time and time again. Especially before social media. Be creative means thinking outside of the boundaries showing up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tailormadebytamela.com
- Instagram: @embroirderybytamela
- Facebook: @embroiderybytamela
