New Thread Company Advice

[Ed in Tx]

20 hours ago, Garyspruill said:

Hey Ed in TX,

Another Texan here. Have I touched base with Springfield, District, Buckle Guy, Frog Jelly, Makers, yes.

I am working with some top notch thread engineer's (never knew there was such a thing), and wanted to get this (if) idea off the ground as a stand alone first, then if we choose to offer the product to the wholesale route, can do so at that time. My main concept is going to be: maker to user market. This may change, but for now, this is the path I am on.

Sewing machine thread: this is what the thread guru's keep pushing me to do first?? Same type of thread as mentioned above, yet non-waxed in the size 130's and 90's just for sewing machines. Maybe down the road along with the Linen goods.

Thank you kindly for the input. Something to put on the chalk board.

Gary

Gary, 

The sizes of thread that you mention 130's and 90's is going to limit your audience to the folks doing primarily light/middle weight leather work. Items such as holsters, duty belts and saddles etc. that use heavier weight leathers rarely use and thread lighter than a #207 and use thread sizes all the way up to #346 and above.

Garment makers and those using lighter weight leather might even use something smaller than a #69.

You have your work cut out for you. Best of luck in your venture.

[Garyspruill]

6 minutes ago, Ed in Tx said:

Gary, 

The sizes of thread that you mention 130's and 90's is going to limit your audience to the folks doing primarily light/middle weight leather work. Items such as holsters, duty belts and saddles etc. that use heavier weight leathers rarely use and thread lighter than a #207 and use thread sizes all the way up to #346 and above.

Garment makers and those using lighter weight leather might even use something smaller than a #69.

You have your work cut out for you. Best of luck in your venture.

Hey Ed In TX

Thank you for your advice, So in the sewing machine world, I need to be looking in the #346 through the #69 thickness range. Reminder: I personally hand sew. Picking irons and awl. Learning the sewing machine concept is a new world to me. I personally own around 8 sewing machines, but I personally do not use them :-). I want to say they are Juki LU-1508N's with a servo and speed reducer? I can learn, but as stated, new to me. Main focus right now is the hand sewing thread. With my personal sewing machines, I use them on garment goods, 800 Newton material, I use a #69 poly bonded thread for strength and the folks that use what we make, sweat a ton!

ED: when we get to that point, you mind if I call you and pick your brain?

 

Thanks again

Gary

 

[NVLeatherWorx]

3 hours ago, Garyspruill said:

Thanks NVLeatherworx,

Consistency : I agree with you. 

I have already been approached by the Asian mfgs. That solution is not even in my wheelhouse in anyway! I already do business in Asia with another company and know first hand the acceptable tolerance levels they accept. Not happening.  

I currently have (3) mfgs I am working with. (2) of them are mfgs in Europe and (1) here in the States. The youngest of the (3) companies is 70 years in business. The tolerances we are speaking about between us is less than a 1% variance which is too high for me at this time.

I am very aware of the Golden Ring rule. That is the "why" I keep saying: Trying to make it better, not the same, but better. The word "better" has many meanings, to one, it means pricing, or consistency, or color selection, and the really hard one is: working with it. This is the reason I am asking the questions: what is better to you and why is it better to you?

You sound like a businessman same as me. If I came to your shop and you and I sat down and had a cup of coffee and in the conversation the topic of thread came up, and I asked you: what is it you like about your favorite thread, bullet point it for me, you would say?  I am handing you a John James 002, a yard of Tiger thread 0.80, know that I respect your opinion, tell me what you like about it? Time and true is hard to put a pen to.

Please note: I am just a educated red-neck businessman from Texas trying to figure out if there is a market for what I am doing. If not, I can move on. Done it before. If there is a market for it, I want to pursue it.

Here is a thought: In about (3) weeks from now, I will have samples, you want to get some a test drive?  See if I am on the right track or not? Reminder: my perception of "better" may be different than yours. I don't need my perception, I need the public's perception.

Gary

Hey Gary,

If you end up with some samples I would give it a try and provide you some honest critique against my standard thread (Tiger).  I have done many studies/comparisons of products over the years for various items so I know where to go with the data/information that is crucial to a designer when trying to bring something new to market.  Many, many moons ago I was making custom fit and made golf clubs for people, even some big names (can't share them though) and I was always being "entertained" by the many clubhead designers and manufacturers to give their product a try.  I was able to provide great feedback on these items because of my professionally trained skills on golf club performance characteristics as well as the fact that I am a Professional Golfer (semi-retired now) and could put the clubs through the wringer to get some results that you wouldn't get from other sources or methods.  I would also let the rep's know what I thought about the clubs/components and whether or not there was a market for what they were trying to target (each ability group has a different set of specifications that applies to their abilities).  If there was an item that I put on the top of the list and it provided better results than what I was currently working with I would add it to my program, regardless of what the cost was.  I use the same methods of testing and evaluation for leather craft related products and with my over 40 years of hands-on experience and formal training/education I know how to properly evaluate whether or not there is an improvement over a currently used product or not and I would give you honest and fair results.

Keep me posted on where you are going and we will see what comes up down the road.

[Garyspruill]

1 hour ago, NVLeatherWorx said:

Hey Gary,

If you end up with some samples I would give it a try and provide you some honest critique against my standard thread (Tiger).  I have done many studies/comparisons of products over the years for various items so I know where to go with the data/information that is crucial to a designer when trying to bring something new to market.  Many, many moons ago I was making custom fit and made golf clubs for people, even some big names (can't share them though) and I was always being "entertained" by the many clubhead designers and manufacturers to give their product a try.  I was able to provide great feedback on these items because of my professionally trained skills on golf club performance characteristics as well as the fact that I am a Professional Golfer (semi-retired now) and could put the clubs through the wringer to get some results that you wouldn't get from other sources or methods.  I would also let the rep's know what I thought about the clubs/components and whether or not there was a market for what they were trying to target (each ability group has a different set of specifications that applies to their abilities).  If there was an item that I put on the top of the list and it provided better results than what I was currently working with I would add it to my program, regardless of what the cost was.  I use the same methods of testing and evaluation for leather craft related products and with my over 40 years of hands-on experience and formal training/education I know how to properly evaluate whether or not there is an improvement over a currently used product or not and I would give you honest and fair results.

Keep me posted on where you are going and we will see what comes up down the road.

 

1 hour ago, NVLeatherWorx said:

Hey Gary,

If you end up with some samples I would give it a try and provide you some honest critique against my standard thread (Tiger).  I have done many studies/comparisons of products over the years for various items so I know where to go with the data/information that is crucial to a designer when trying to bring something new to market.  Many, many moons ago I was making custom fit and made golf clubs for people, even some big names (can't share them though) and I was always being "entertained" by the many clubhead designers and manufacturers to give their product a try.  I was able to provide great feedback on these items because of my professionally trained skills on golf club performance characteristics as well as the fact that I am a Professional Golfer (semi-retired now) and could put the clubs through the wringer to get some results that you wouldn't get from other sources or methods.  I would also let the rep's know what I thought about the clubs/components and whether or not there was a market for what they were trying to target (each ability group has a different set of specifications that applies to their abilities).  If there was an item that I put on the top of the list and it provided better results than what I was currently working with I would add it to my program, regardless of what the cost was.  I use the same methods of testing and evaluation for leather craft related products and with my over 40 years of hands-on experience and formal training/education I know how to properly evaluate whether or not there is an improvement over a currently used product or not and I would give you honest and fair results.

Keep me posted on where you are going and we will see what comes up down the road.

NVLeatherWorx

It would be my honor to send you what ever you wanted or I have to test.

I would soak up advice from you like a sponge.

I have sent you a private message letting you know my information just in case you ever needed it.

Will need your shipping address at some point to send you the samples.

 

Thanks again

Gary

Edited August 5, 2018 by Garyspruill

[Garyspruill]

On 8/5/2018 at 2:49 PM, NVLeatherWorx said:

Guys - Gals, 

Have gotten in some samples, anyone want to try it out? If so, will need a shipping address

[ScoobyNewbie]

Cheaper? More colors? Braided? Waxed? Sign me up!

[Garyspruill]

Hey ScoobyNewbie

Understood, this is exactly how I feel

Working with (3) companies right now to have it made.

Have some high standards for them to hit for both hand sew and machine sew.

I see you are from Omaha! Cool, lived there for 7 winters :-) 132nd and Fort area (actually 128th and Fort), lived on the north side of Fort on 128th st.

If you want to try some, PM me and will send some samples out at your address. Note: its in raw format right now, no coloring.

I have some 1.2mm here that is in sample format. 

I have already tried a bunch of lines with it, yet know, this is the first group.

Gary

[LetterT]

Seeing a few new players in the field from China (Amy Roke for linen, polyester and linen/cotton blend, MeiSi for linen, fluorescent and color changing, Wuta as a decent quality at low price option) it looks like there is room for anyone willing to bring in something new to the filed. Good luck, I will be keeping an eye on this thread (pun unintended).

 

[Garyspruill]

41 minutes ago, LetterT said:

Seeing a few new players in the field from China (Amy Roke for linen, polyester and linen/cotton blend, MeiSi for linen, fluorescent and color changing, Wuta as a decent quality at low price option) it looks like there is room for anyone willing to bring in something new to the filed. Good luck, I will be keeping an eye on this thread (pun unintended).

 

Thanks LetterT

I am working with (3) companies right now.

1 in Germany, 1 in France and the last one is in Harligen, TX

Which ever one can or does meet what I am asking for and can get the ($) in line to have a workable margin, is the company I am going to be using to have it made. I reached out to the Asian market, and quickly learned: (Texan): this ain't the way to go! The high end companies are all asking for a (+)(-) 5% tolerance, I am working on less than 2%. The Asian market wanted close to 15%?

 

Good pun!

 

Thanks

Gary

[ScoobyNewbie]

Gretna, Elkhorn, La Vista! For the win Alex! Lol.