SouthStar Says

Property Rights

2012-01-16T05:54:00.001-06:00

A few years ago, some local eggheads here in Nashville decided that they would like to create a big hotel/retail development near Music Row, the famous street where country music has been recorded and published for years and years.

The developers acquired all the land they needed except one parcel, owned by a little lady who just refused to sell.

Her late husband had started their business some decades earlier and she had continued running it after his death. It specialized in making demo records for aspiring country music performers. A lot of her business came from word of mouth. She felt the location and its longstanding reputation were important to her business.

So despite all kinds of pressure put on her by the developers and some of her neighbors who were eager for their property to appreciate, she would not budge.

No problem. The developers went to the "progressive" government of our fair city and convinced them the city stood to make a lot more tax revenue if the development were built. So the city promptly condemned her property.

End of story? No! She fought back. And she won! And for reasons that have nothing to do with her, the development was never built, but there are blocks of empty buildings around her producing hardly any tax revenue at all now!

There's a moral in this story for us small business owners: government is not our friend. And the only interest government on any level has in our property is their ability to tax it. But property rights are the absolute basis of a free market economy and thus of a nation where citizens are promised "unalienable" rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happines.

In this year of decision, those of us who fuel the economic engine of this country with our thousands of small businesses must choose carefully the candidates who recognize our rights, work to protect them, and will keep government off our property, out of our business, and off our backs.

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Made in USA: SAS Shoes

2011-11-15T09:17:00.001-06:00

Yes, you can still buy popular informal shoes styles made in the USA!

SAS Shoes - "SAS" stands for San Antonio Shoes - are not only made in America and are not only available in popular styles, but also are reasonably priced, top quality and very comfortable!

I've long been a fan of SAS shoes. In fact, the photo with this article shows my new pair of the "'Bout Time" style - next to my old pair, which I've been wearing just about every other day for the past five years! The lady in the SAS store told me that most customers wear their shoes about two years, that some like me wear them five years (rolling her eyes at this point), and she even has some who get ten years out of them (with a look of despair that makes me feel far superior to the the ten-year wearers).

I like the way SAS markets their shoes, too. They're sold only by independent businesses and they discourage e-commerce marketing. You walk in a store and all you see is SAS shoes - men's, women's, and kids', in all styles, all sizes, arranged up and down every wall and aisle. They come with a special washable foot-fitting insert and an extra pair of laces.

See the various styles and find an SAS shoes store location near you by clicking here. Then get out there and support your local retailer and another good Made in USA product!

Made in USA: Shirley's Creative Designs

2011-11-09T08:47:00.000-06:00

As I've mentioned often before, one of the greatest pleasures of working at SouthStar is hearing from entrepreneurs all around the country who are "making it" in Sew Biz in all kinds of ways.

So I'm glad I can share a delightful letter we received this week from customer Shirley Rash, owner of Shirley's Creative Designs in Carson City, Nevada.

Shirley mentioned that she had come across "An American Story" in one of our old product Bulletins and it inspired her to write:

My grandmother, Grace Branstead, was a seamstress during the Depression and made most of my clothes in Jr. High when I was growing sooooooo fast my mother couldn't find anything for me to wear (I'm 5'10 3/4"). My mother sewed, but worked all the time. I had a sewing class in 7th, 10th grades and one in JR College. The teachers in 7th and 10th grade were great, but the STUPID sewing teacher in college didn't even know how to sew in an invisible zipper and wouldn't let me sew a shirt for my then boyfriend, now husband of 36 years, so I could work at a job my other teachers found for me 6 weeks before the end of school. A man's shirt was something I hadn't ever sewed before and I was going to have him model it for her. I had to drop that sewing class. The ONLY class I EVER dropped in Jr. College!

A few years later I had 3 kids, 2 girls and 1 boy. Both girls sew and my son sewed his Halloween costume one year on my industrial machine! My eldest daughter, Sue, sews and has taught her son, Justice, and daughter, Sera, how to sew and my youngest, Jennifer, sews too.

When Jennifer was little, I sewed a doll for her because all the dolls at the store were for "3 and Up". She took the doll everywhere and our son's eye doctor's nurse ordered 3 dolls! I made a total of 33 of those dolls for friends.

I started my business sewing doll clothes for porcelain dolls. I then branched out to design and sew cloth dolls and stuffed animals. I've been at it since 1993! I THINK that makes me stubborn!

Thank you, Shirley! I hope your story will not only inspire others out there who are on the verge of taking their sewing to a professional level, but also will inspire some of our other established customers to email us their stories for sharing as well.

Robbie's back!

2011-08-17T08:57:00.000-05:00

We at SouthStar are delighted to welcome "ol' Sarge", Robbie Matthews, back to the fold!

Literally! Robbie's back to folding box flaps on your SouthStar packages after stuffing them with newspaper to cushion your goods against the cruel blows of the FedEx and UPS "logistics" experts.

Robbie has been with SouthStar since day 1 in 1989, but back in 2009 when it was apparent the downturn in the economy was about to take us down with it, he was "downsized" out with everybody else. Meanwhile he's found full time employment at a local hospital, but fortunately he can come in before his hospital shift and ship packages for us part time.

Robbie and wife Valerie have been married 37 years, raising five children. The grandchild count, so far, is just six...

Welcome back, Robbie Matthews!

Sewing Machine Mechanics Wanted

2011-08-10T06:41:00.000-05:00

Are you able to work on sewing, cutting, spreading, or finishing machines?

If so, we have customers all over the country who need you!

To let them know of your services absolutely free of charge please visit our new Mechanics page for simple instructions on how to get listed.

100 million dollars...

2011-08-02T11:23:00.003-05:00

That's how much siblings Catherine, David, and Geoff Cook got in cash and stock for the sale in July of their social networking site, myYearbook.com, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Catherine is only 21, David 22, and Geoff 36. Catherine and David cofounded the site when she was just 15. Older brother Geoff funded it out of proceeds from a site he had previously created and sold.

I myself have been working on my first $100 million for longer than Catherine has been alive. I've got a ways to go yet, but still I think it's absolutely wonderful that these "millenniums" have become "millenniumaires".

I read about the Cooks' success the same weekend of the sad death of pop singer Amy Winehouse. She was only 27, an apparently jinxed age for young entertainers, many of whom have died at that exact age. (Google it; it's spooky.)

Somehow I'm not worried that the Cooks are going to succumb to the same temptations that took down Amy Winehouse. Although their story is one of exceptional success very fast, they nevertheless made it the good old fashioned way, not just on looks or talent or luck, but perhaps all of the above plus perspicacity and the sweat equity of building a business.

We are blessed with more and more millennium generation customers. One walked in our door just the other day. She has just won a fashion design contest and is full of the excitement of being "on her way" in the fashion industry. Her enthusiasm is contagious - it made my day!

To that end, SouthStar is now on Facebook. I hope that many of you, novice and veteran alike, will "like" us on Facebook and join the conversation, all part of the most entrepreneurial of industries in the American free market paradise - Sew-Biz!

We boomers still working on our first $100 million can both give to and gain from the millenniums. We may have a head start in terms of experience and know-how, but they can run faster...

(If you'd like to receive a copy of our Product Bulletin #235 from which this column is taken, please email your snail mail address to us.)

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SouthStar Visits the Smithsonian

2011-07-10T07:34:00.002-05:00

Our apologies to those of you who were inconvenienced this past week as we closed for summer vacation - actually, we closed even a little earlier than advertised! There were too many orders coming in to get out of town in an orderly fashion! Being a small outfit serving a lot of customers, it's tough to get a breather so sometimes we just have to shut 'er down. We appreciate your patience.

Not that we weren't working for you anyway... we were still processing and shipping some orders, taking some inventory, and working on new and better things for the second half of the year.

But the highlight of the week was a long awaited trip to Washington D.C. for Independence Day!

The picture you see at left was made from the Capitol steps at the annual concert on the lawn, "A Capitol Fourth." Perhaps you saw it on PBS. It featured Steve Martin and Josh Groban among other great performers, including Little Richard bringing in the fireworks in this photo. Seeing it on TV is great, but believe you me, it's worth a trip to Washington some July 4th for the greatest shot of patriotic pride you'll ever get. Just prepare for the heat and crowds and potentially having an eye put out by all the little flags people of every stripe and accent are waving. It's truly inspiring.

Now, we couldn't just make a trip to D.C. for fun. Sew Biz is serious-biz, so we had to investigate the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and see if the sewing industry was represented fairly there, if at all. By golly, I must say it sure is! I was amazed at how much I found on display at the Smithsonian pertaining to our beloved line of work.

In fact, I spied a bona fide industrial sewing machine right off the bat upon entering the lobby, the Juki shown at left. Now, of course, this is the Smithsonian, an institution run by academics who are not necessarily known for showcasing America without some jaundice. So I was a bit miffed that my first find was a machine used to showcase the Labor Department's crackdown on so-called "sweatshops" in Los Angeles, but at least it was a sewing machine in the Smithsonian!

And no doubt there was more than one person in the masses that thronged through the museum that day (to escape the heat on the mall if for no better reason), maybe even one of the Thai immigrants "held in captivity" referred to on the placard below the machine, who pointed out this Juki to their children or grandchildren and said, "That was my ticket to freedom for you." And I wouldn't doubt that there was a SouthStar customer or two who've noticed it and said, "Oh look, that's just like the machine I use!" Anyway, sweatshop machine or not, it was encouraging to see it gracing the very lobby of the Smithsonian, so onward I pressed.

Next I found this toy sewing machine, an example of the mass production of toys in the 19th century, making better toys available to more children. Interestingly the display notes that real sewing machine manufacturers made the toys as a sideline when business was slow and as sales increased, eventually changed over to year-round production of the toys. Not a bad idea for you sewing entrepreneurs out there to keep in mind when the phone doesn't ring--how about creating toy versions of your products to sell at craft shows??? Or doll clothes? Some things about business never change...

Hey, and how about that thread clip in this display!

It's a Gold Seal #104N! These items are part of a rather extensive and well produced exhibit, including a lot of video, focusing on the growth of Los Angeles and the big part that the fashion industry played in it. You can find most of these things in the technology section on the 2nd floor east, I think, if I remember correctly. In any case it's the entrance floor and these exhibits are on your left as you enter.

Another extensive exhibit involves the Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine company, an early pioneer in mass manufacturing of industrial sewing machines. There are many very interesting photographs of the workers and managers and the physical plant and side exhibits about doing piecework at home and so forth. My picture didn't turn out well enough to show here, but there's even an early sewing machine motor on display nearby right next to a DC motor invented by the famous Nikola Tesla in an exhibit about Thomas Edison! By this time one is getting the message that sewing really has been a foundation industry for the United States.

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there was far more about the sewing business at the Smithsonian than I ever expected, and more than I can show here. But I finally did want to mention the Kevlar exhibit. Did you know that Kevlar was invented by a woman, the kindly little lady shown at left, Stephanie Kwolek?! There is a very good exhibit about Kevlar, showing many of the products made from it and its advantages over normal protective fabrics and metals. I just wished they'd asked me so I could have thrown some wisdom in there about how hard Kevlar is to cut!

So, the bottom line is, don't pass up the Smithsonian National Museum of American History if you're ever in the D.C. area - it will reinforce your pride in what you do!

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Summer Vacation

2011-06-01T06:02:00.000-05:00

SouthStar will be closed for the week of July 4th.

You may continue to place orders online and by fax, but the phones will not be manned and we will do no shipping during that week.

Thanks for planning your orders ahead of time and allowing us a little R & R!

Happy birthday, USA!

Made in USA: Men's Cargo Shorts

2011-04-10T15:34:00.000-05:00

I've searched in vain the last few years for some American-made cargo shorts. At last!

From All American Clothing Co., the new shorts feature two big buttonable pockets on the sides and two rear pockets, again with buttons. There's a draw string inside! 100% cotton makes them cool and comfortable.

I especially like the fact that All American has not skimped on quality or features to keep the price low. When you put them on, they feel like a pair of well made khakis, not the flimsy stuff you get at the big box stores. And actually the price isn't bad at all.

And another thing: All American followed up with an email about a week after delivery to make sure I was satisfied with my purchase. Note there's a good article on the importance of buying American on their web site's home page.

Check 'em out today - All American Cargo Shorts from All American Clothing Co.

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Made in USA: Men's Belts

2011-04-10T15:15:00.000-05:00

Once again I resort to my ol' buddy L.L. Bean for a couple of American made gems.

Back approximately in the Neolithic age when I was a young wayfarer to exotic locales, somebody had the good sense to give me a money belt. I have worn one ever since, and to tell you the truth, I think I've only been through two of them. I've had little experience with serious crime in my life, even when we used to have an office in Mexico, but I can attest to the money belt gambit working at least once in the span of the decades. And that was right here in Nashville when three youthful thugs held me up at gunpoint in front of our old office. Not a one of those young Einsteins thought to ask me for the money in my belt.

The last belt had performed years of faithful service but it was on its last leg. Indeed, shortly after my new belt arrived from L.L., the strap broke. The new belt is very handsome, well made, and of course made in the U.S.A. Note that a folded bill fits nicely behind the zipper. There's room for about five bills folded such. The belt is listed as the Chino Belt with Money Zip. Be careful which one you purchase, as some are imported.

Finally, I found yet another type of American made belt at L.L. Bean. Shown at left, it's a really good deal in that it is reversible, includes an extra strap, and adjusts perfectly to fit the comings and goings of the middle-aged belly. This one is known as the Four-In-One-Belt.

And that concludes my belt shopping for the year. Or perhaps the decade.

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Made in USA: Polo Shirt

2011-04-10T11:45:00.001-05:00

Now presenting my spring collection...

I have recently purchased several new items of clothing, all made in America. Pictured here is one of the excellent polo shirts made by the venerable longtime manufacturerer King Louie America, purchased from the All American Clothing Company site.

The shirts are 100% cotton, available in several colors, all made in America. I can tell you from personal experience that they feature quality stitching, a comfortable fit, and ease of laundering. (I'm just a throw it in and pull it out kind of guy and they hold up well under that regime.)

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New Product: Cork-Top Cutting Table

2011-04-10T11:10:00.000-05:00

We've had many requests over the years for cork tops on our cutting tables. Designers like to pin their patterns into a cork surface while working with them. I'm glad to report we finally have cork tops available, both for ordering with a new cutting table and in sheets for applying to an old table.

Although I have yet actually to see the cork in person, it is described as a 1/4" thick "self-healing" cork. In other words, when you pull a pin out, the hole closes back up so you still have a smooth surface for your next use. Our table company rep says it's "pretty slick stuff" - that's slick as in nifty, not slippery.

If you order it with a new table, the cork is delivered already laminated to the standard table tops. Free-standing, the cork comes on 4' wide rolls. If you want to retrofit cork to an existing table, we will cut the 4' wide sheeting to whatever length you need, but if you require wider than 4', you'll have to piece it.

Unfortunately we do not have a recommended method of applying the cork to an existing top, so you're on your own there. Glue doesn's seem to work too well, according to the table manufacturer, which is why they laminate it. But you can't do that out in the field. Double sided carpet tapes comes to my mind. If we get a good report on using that, or some other method, I'll pass it along.

We price the cork by the square foot and price it as an option, so if you'd like a quotation, please contact us.

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♪♪ “My Baby is American Made…” ♪♪

2011-04-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

It’s clear from talking to you folks out there in customer-land that many of you were not even born when the Oak Ridge Boys had a hit with this song in 1983.

The song related that so many things in life were now imported but at least the most important thing was still American made—the girlfriend!

The fact that “American Made” was written almost thirty years ago gives some perspective on where we are today. After thirty more years of the push to globalization, it’s harder than ever to find American made products.

But not if you’re a SouthStar customer! For one thing, you can go to our web site and find a big long list of other folks like you in the sewing industry making things right here in the U.S. Just click on “Sewing Business Resources” to get to our Made in America Showcase. And drop us a line if you’d like your company added.

Also, you can read our blog “SouthStar Says” (which can also be accessed from the Resources page) authored by Yours Truly. I have several reviews on the blog of American made sewn products that I buy and wear or use, and the number is growing. In fact, look for a review soon of some fabulous cargo shorts I’ve recenty acquired, some polo shirts, and a couple of belts, all made here in the U.S.

Now, let me clarify: we are not anti-import. In fact, as you know, we sell a lot of very fine imported products. But we love to champion U.S. manufacturing because that’s our “home team”—and of course it’s good for business!

Putting our money where our mouth is, this month we’ve greatly expanded our line of American-made Heritage Scissors. You may have noticed that some old American name brand scissors you’re used to using are no longer American made. Give Heritage scissors a try. They are excellent!

And then you can sing as you work:

♪♪ “My scissors are American made…” ♪♪

Manny Cuevas: SouthStar Idol!

2011-03-08T21:19:00.000-06:00

We first met Manny Cuevas when he was a teenager, picking up supplies at SouthStar to outfit his famous father's Nashville shop after their move from California many moons ago. Now that his fashion is helping make a star on American Idol, we know Manny's something of a decades long overnight success, too. We couldn't be prouder of him!

If you don't know the scoop, read this story about American Idol contestant Paul McDonald and the suit he wears made by the one and only Manny Cuevas.

I just happened to meet Paul when I was visiting Manny's shop in East Nashville a couple of months ago. He's the real deal - a genuinely friendly, charismatic guy. Good luck, Paul, with the rest of the Idol run, and way to go, Manny!

ABC World News: Made in America

2011-03-05T07:49:00.000-06:00

This past week ABC World News with Diane Sawyer has been running a series of reports entitled "Made in America", a favorite subject around here in SouthStarland.

I've just watched several of the reports on my laptop this rainy Saturday morning. They are excellent. My favorite is the one about the fellow who spent a year buying exclusively Made in America. Toward the end he makes a great observation, that you can go local, go green, etc., simply by taking the time to look at the label and choose the Made in USA product which is often on the shelf right next to an import.

An economist and a talk show host were talking about this very series a couple of days ago on the radio station I listen to here in Nashville. The host was pointing out that one of the claims made by someone connected to the series is that if every American just bought something like 1% a year more in American made products it would translate into so many hundred thousand jobs. Then the economist pointed out that jobs gained that way would translate into jobs lost by folks working in the import industry. And on and on it went. The same arguments back and forth that came up about NAFTA and that always revolve around globalism in general.

I don't think anyone is really against free trade and everyone recognizes that we live in a global economy whether we want to or not. The point is that you can't have free trade without fair trade, without everybody playing by the same rules. And America has become the rule-makingest society in the world, setting our industries up as an easy target for everybody else in the world who doesn't follow those same rules.

Anyway, back to the subject, ABC has done a dandy job with this series of presenting something we at SouthStar see all day long every day - that Americans still make good products and no matter what, you can't go wrong buying Made in America products. Get on out there and find one to buy right now!

Johannes & Catharine

2011-01-20T05:22:00.000-06:00

Family legend has it that one couldn't exist without the other.

Johannes was a talented artist. He won a job to paint Catharine's portrait. That's how they fell in love. Unable to marry in Europe because she was nobility and he a commoner, they eloped to America.

The ship carrying Johannes & Catharine landed at Philadelphia on September 28, 1749. They had just a few belongings and little money. They married and Johannes quickly found a job working with a millwright in Philly. After several years of learning the trade, he moved his growing family to New Jersey to set up his own shop.

Johannes' son Leonard served in the Revolution with New Jersey troops as one of Capt. Hazlett's "Minute Men." He married a girl named Peggy and moved to North Carolina where he was awarded a land grant and took up farming. Eventually they moved on to Tennessee, established a plantation, and raised twelve children. Even with all that, Peggy lived to be 103!

Their son Leonard Jr. moved to Nashville and set up a dry goods store on the public square. Leonard Jr.'s son John, after running away as a teenager, returned home when his dad became ill and managed that business for him until he was well again. Then John started his own business serving the new sewing factories springing up in the South in the 1900s.

One of John's daughters married a fellow from Minnesota with the first name Art and a funny last name. When Art returned from WWII John persuaded him to come to work for him, eventually turning the business over to him.

That's how my name is John today--Johannes was my great-great-great grandfather and Art was my father. Such is the story of many American families, some here for generations, some just starting out. They came here then and they still come here now seeking what Johannes and Catharine found in America in 1749: freedom and opportunity.

One can't exist without the other.

Made in USA: Chippewa Boots

2011-01-09T06:48:00.000-06:00

I've been looking for a pair of boots for quite a while, since that time I finally got the cleanout valve loose down in my basement and the last pair got drenched with... well, nevermind. They went straight to the garbage can.

I've sure missed having a good pair of boots. But I never got further with finding a new pair than looking in stores now and then on my way to buy something else. I could find no boots made in USA, so I kept going without.

Finally I got online some time ago and found that Chippewa still makes boots in the USA. So I got in the car and headed out to the local retailer, only to find that the Chippewa boots they carried were NOT made in the U.S. Chippewa, like many fashion retailers, mixes its sourcing. Moral: Don't assume that just because a brand has an American name or projects an American image, that anything or everything it makes is made in USA.

So, it was back to the drawing board. On days when I really felt the need for boots I was tempted just to go by some regardless of origin. But I found a site called Boots99 that was the perfect answer. They carry several brands including Chippewa and have a big selection. I chose a model, placed an order, and included a comment on the order that I wanted to make sure the boots were made in USA.

I was pleasantly surprised to get a note back from Lee Schulz at Boots99 informing me that the boots I had chosen were again NOT made in USA. He gave me good suggestions for choosing from other models that were marked specifically "Handcrafted in USA." The boots I chose are pictured above. They are #20065, described as 6" soft toe laceups.

They're great! They are comfortable, give good support, and they don't get too warm when I'm wearing them in the office yet provide plenty of warmth in the cold and snow we've had this year. And notice the great little American flag that rides in the shoe string. I get lots of comment on that. And it's a great way to launch into a discussion about the importance of made in USA.

Go buy you a pair. Boots99.com.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

2010-12-16T09:51:00.000-06:00

And that is Merry Christmas to one and all, regardless of your faith or tradition!

We're taking a break from December 23 through January 2 because we've just had too much business this year and can't stand any more.

We won't be answering the phones during the break but if you have an emergency, you can email us at service@southstarsupply.com . We'll get back to you to let you know if we can get it taken care of in time for your requirements. Of course, you can order online or fax or email your regular orders to us during the break and we'll get right to them on January 3.

Thank you for your business!

A Long Walk In...

2010-12-08T06:53:00.000-06:00

What a surprise when Jason Shaw and Daniel Jerabek showed up at our offices one recent day. Not that walk-in customers are so surprising... but when they're walk-ins all the way from Australia, that's special!

Jason and Daniel are pictured here in our "lobby" with SouthStar's own Carla Catignani, snapped when Jason and Daniel were freewheeling around the U.S. on holiday this fall. Among their stops were a monster truck meet in Kentucky, Nashville's night life, Dollywood.... and SouthStar! Jason's girlfriend back on the big island told him SouthStar was a must-see and like the good sensible fellow he is, he complied, picking up some essentials for her rather serious sewing hobby.

They're fine fellows and entertaining guests. We're proud to award them the first ever SouthStar virtual trophy for foreign walk-in customer of the year. Or decade for that matter!

Made in USA: Rubber Mocs

2010-11-24T07:18:00.000-06:00

Now that cold, wet weather is finally here, at least where we are in Middle Tennessee, it's time to talk about another top notch Made in USA sewn product: L.L. Bean's Rubber Mocs.

These shoes are a real surprise! They may actually be the most comfortable shoes I own thanks to their excellent arch support. And of course, in the Bean manner, they are expertly designed and crafted.

We had a good downpour recently after a long period of dry weather, so I had to get out in the yard before work and clear my drainage ditch of debris. Normally that would mean I get to work with shoes and socks about half drenched. Not this day. I pulled on the Rubber Mocs and arrived at work with feet dry and warm, raring to go in fine form for another day of serving the sewn products industry.

The sizes run larger than reality. I suppose if you want them to fit snugly you should order down a size, but I ordered my normal size and thus will have plenty of room for thick socks on those extry cold days.

And made in USA - that's just icing on the cake! Perhaps they'd make a good Christmas gift for someone on your list?

Made in USA: Men's Dress Shirts

2010-11-06T10:09:00.000-05:00

For someone who makes a big part of his living from the fashion industry, I'm a terrible shopper. I'm resistant to changes in style, for one thing. Even that's pretty much a moot point, as I wear clothes until they're full of rips and stains. And I h-a-t-e going into clothing stores.

Today it's Saturday and I've got chores to do, so I'm in my overalls. I can't put change in the right pocket because it falls right through. I don't dare unsnap the right chest snap because it's holding on by threads. And I can't close the upper side snaps because I've developed a bit of a middle age belly since I bought these things some ten years ago. I have intended to buy some new ones for some time, especially since I've found a couple of different Made in U.S.A. sources, but these still serve the purpose...

When I do shop, I always look for made in U.S.A., of course, and I'm happy to report that I've found a good source of American made shirts. Not the dressiest shirts--those are still available from some custom sources--but just some good average woven cloth shirts appropriate to wear to the office or out to dinner without a tie. One is pictured at left.

I've bought from a couple of sites in the past few years but my most recent purchase was from a site called All Seasons Uniforms. I am especially pleased with them. Service was prompt, the fabric and fit are good, and so far they're holding up well in the laundry.

So if you're going to spend some money on clothes, try supporting your fellow sew-biz professionals by spending it stateside first!

Nashville Sew-Biz Meet & Greet

2010-10-15T11:05:00.000-05:00

For years I've wanted to get all the folks together who are somehow involved in the business of commercial sewing locally. Finally I'm doing something about it.

On the surface that may not sound like much. Thirty years ago when I started out in this industry that would have included several factory managers representing thousands of sewing machines. Not today. But today it's even more interesting, if not as lucrative.

Today in and around Nashville there are a whole bunch of creative entrepreneurial type individuals who are doing everything from embroidery to upholstery, from patternmaking to high fashion, making a living or at least part of a living from sewing. Many of them are our customers. And frequently we get asked, "Where can I get such and such?" or "Who does sew and sew?"

Well, if you're one of those people, please join us at SouthStar on Sunday, December 7, from 4-6pm for the first ever Nashville Sew-Biz Meet & Greet. This is a chance to let other folks in the local sewing industry know who you are and find out who they are. It's that simple. I promise we're not selling anything. In fact we will provide refreshments and delicious snacks free gratis! Dress is casual.

Simply RSVP to us by October 31 if possible via service@southstarsupply.com.

Ya'll come!

The Mustard Seed

2010-10-07T16:03:00.000-05:00

The parable, in business terms, is that great companies grow from start-ups.

First let me reassure you customers who work for large corporations and government agencies that I value you every bit as much as our other customers. In fact I know you have to put up with far more bureaucracy and political correctness to get the job done than those of us in the private sector. I salute you!

But I have to admit I relate best to those of you who work in a private for-profit business. Sometimes it feels that we are the last of the Mohicans when it comes to free market economics. And with the new 1099 reporting requirements in Obamacare and the prospect of the Bush tax cuts running out and the inheritance tax roaring back, I think we Mohicans are the ones about to be scalped.

But that's not to say there's no hope. NFIB's "My Business" magazine reported this summer that "a recent study from the Pew Center showed that small business is the most trusted institution in America." According to the research, small business tops the pack at 71%, then churches at 63%, universities 61%, unions 32%, big business and the Feds at 25% each, and banks bring up the rear at 22%. Wow! Vindication! Almost makes you feel sorry for the banks...

So to my comrades in small business who are feeling a bit beleaguered these days, I say hold your head up and look to the future! A lot more of us are running for office now. There are big elections coming up in November. Make sure to get out and support the voices of small business.

One more thing: When my parents' generation came back from WWII, starting a business was the thing to do. But my generation seems to have sought security rather than the risk of success. Where's that gotten us? This new generation is entering in very uncertain times. Perhaps the best thing you can do for them is not tell them to get a job, but help them start a business.

Just think of the mustard seed...

Made in USA: Blue Jeans

2010-09-12T07:46:00.000-05:00

It's tough to find clothes that are made in America, especially everyday wear, but when it comes to the great American standard blue jeans, there are still a few places to find them. One of my favorite is Diamond Gusset, a local company whose jeans are tough, comfortable, and 100% made in the U.S.A. They have both men's and women's jeans available and I'm told their jeans are among the best for motorcycle riders. Personally I prefer the carpenter jeans because of all the pockets. One thing you'll notice when you buy them is that they fit right time after time. And best of all, they're competitively priced!

American Made Running Shoes

2010-08-01T08:17:00.001-05:00

For obvious reasons we're rather big on Made in USA around here. The Made in USA Showcase on the Sewing Business Resources page of our web site is a great place to shop. But the truth is, it's pretty hard to be a Made in USA purist these days when most retailers rely so heavily on imported merchandise - ourselves included. For example there are very few sewing machines or parts made in the U.S. today. The same is true for high volume sewn goods.

So I am very glad to report that you can still get some damn good running shoes made in the U.S.A. from New Balance. I've got some myself, pictured here. They're great. Next time you're buying athletic shoes, take a look at what New Balance has to offer. And note that they say Made in USA right up front. (Also note that New Balance does source source some of its shoes elsewhere, so be sure to pay attention to the source info for each particular model you consider.)

An American Story

2010-07-18T07:28:00.001-05:00

Timid people don't make a great nation.

So I'm proud to say that I come from a long line of difficult people. I've got a photo of me as a baby in diapers sitting on my grandfather's sickbed shortly before he died. He's smoking a cigarette and glaring at the camera through his bifocals. I love that picture. Nobody told him what to do.

When he was about 15 he and his father got to butting heads, so he hopped on a train and away he went. This was about 1905. Somehow he ended up in Detroit and got a job as a driver for an owner of one of the new automobile factories. That's how he learned about business among other things, I guess.

I wish I knew all the details. I've heard he wrote an autobiography before he died but some good woman in the family decided it was best his colorful stories went to the grave with him.

In any case, he wasn't all rascal. I know that when he heard his father was too sick to carry on his dry goods business, he came back to Nashville and took it over for him and eventually started a company like SouthStar serving cut and sew factories. He built it into one of the biggest employers in Nashville. It wasn't that simple, though. Along the way he was partners in a factory that went bankrupt. He had a sideline too into the early flying business that ended when his plane crashed.

He was bullheaded! As my mother says, trying to tell him anything was like hollering down a well. Does this sound like someone in your family? Or maybe YOU? It wouldn't surprise me! You have really got to be a contrarian to carry on in the sewing business, or to start out in it. It's dying, you know. Except that we get calls every single day from folks who've got a better idea about fashion, or canvas, or any fool thing and they can't or won't got to China to get it made.

I guess I'm saying you're a bunch of difficult people. But if you ask me, that's the best kind of people to have as customers. You're as American as it gets.

The Things We Make

2010-06-26T18:46:00.000-05:00

Jeep is out with an ad that features their new Grand Cherokee which makes a powerful statement about manufacturing in America:

Note our beleaguered but beloved sewing industry is part of the message in the form of a straight knife cutting through a lay of fabric!

This comes to me courtesy of Mike Todaro over at American Apparel Producers Network who sent it in one of his many informative, thoughtful email broadcasts that alone are worth the price of admission to the network. He provided as well a link to the following blog entry that shares thoughtful comments about the ad:

http://pragcap.com/the-things-we-make-make-us

As Minnie Pearl used to say, "I'm just so proud to be here!" Even if we're a mere shadow of our former self in the U.S., the sewing industry is still a great thing to be a part of.

Needling

2010-05-16T20:30:00.000-05:00

I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to explain the impossible. No, not how our country has embraced higher taxation, less freedom, and overall mediocrity, but the complex issue of ordering sewing machine needles.

The first rule of ordering sewing machine needles is: DON'T THROW AWAY YOUR OLD NEEDLE PACKAGE!!!

If you just call us and start reading all the seemingly gibberish numbers on the needle package, we can figure out what you need quite quickly.

FYI, the reason needles have so many numbers is that back when sewing machine needle brands like Singer and Pfaff and Union Special etc. were brand new on the market, they each came up with their own numbering system for needles so that customers would have to buy the needles under their brand name even though they were usually available cheaper under other brand names. This is one reason so many people hate capitalism today, it being the worst form of economic life known to man, except for all the others.

Anyway, over time we sewing supply people figured out which needles were the same, so nowadays the packages carry the most common aliases.

Also, know that there are two pieces of information we need to know about your needles: SYSTEM and SIZE. System is the type of needle, like 135X17 or B27. Size is how thick the shaft of the needle is, like 12 or 14 or 18 or whatever. Note that just to make things more confusing, there are also several sizing systems, so you will usually see something like 12/80 on the package, which is the Singer size and the metric equivalent.

We cannot reliably choose needles for you based on the machine model because over the years, mechanics might have retimed the machine to work with whatever needle they had on hand.

So here's the bottom line:
DON'T THROW AWAY YOUR OLD NEEDLE PACKAGE!!!

Sewing Business Resources

2010-03-01T20:38:00.000-06:00

This time around, I'm going to depart from my usual diatribe against big government, high taxes, and excessive regulation which make it ever harder for sewing business entrepreneurs to make it in this world. So nary a word about any of that!

Instead, noting that our business is not otherwise breaking any records, I am pleased to report that we had more online orders in January that for any previous month in our history.

So I think it appropriate to point out one of the best pages on our site to all you web surfing sew-ers: the page called "Sewing Business Resources". It is easily ignored or overlooked , but you can click to it right from the top of any page of our site.

Frankly our web editing software isn't the best, so the page is not very attractive, but it does have a lot to offer you. Right at the top of the left hand side is a list of items on the page which you can click on to get right to them.

For example, let's say you need a part for your sewing machine but you don't know the number. You will get much better and faster service from us if you call here knowing the number. Just click on "Parts Diagrams, Sewing Machines" and you'll be moved down the page to a list of sewing machine manufacturers that links to the site pages on which they have parts diagrams available for downloading.

There are also listings of trade shows, magazines, and other web sites and companies that can help you get the information you need to run your business better, not to mention our "Made in U.S.A. Showcase" where you can have your web site listed free gratis.

The pages change frequently, so don't think once you've seen it, that's all there is. And if you have suggestions for improving it, please speak up.

And thank you thank you thank you for your business!

T G I A N Y

2010-01-06T08:19:00.000-06:00

The dominant thought as I sit to write this in the last week of 2009 is Thank God It’s A New Year! Just about any new year will do and 2010 sounds just fine.

It’s a relief to have the challenges of 2009 behind us. But then I think, better to deal with the devil you know than the one you don’t. What does 2010 hold for us? Inflation? Higher taxes? More jobs lost? Less freedom and more government dictates?

No doubt, all of the above. If the powers that be don’t get their worst instincts under control, this time next year we may actually be nostalgic for 2009.

Yet there are, of course, blessings to be found even in the worst situations:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Virtually all businesses, SouthStar included, have survived this downturn by finding ways to do more with less. That puts us in a much better position when the market does improve.

Will that be this year or do we have to wait for 2012? We’ll see. But we know we can get by in the meantime. At least as long as things don’t get too much worse.

Another blessing in disguise is the opportunity that a hard change like this forces. Some who’ve lost their jobs this past year will find a rebirth from it professionally or otherwise. And according to the Wall Street Journal, many new graduates who can’t find a job are starting their own small businesses and no doubt learning in the process lessons far beyond what they got in school or would get taking a paycheck from someone else.

Finally, there’s ingenuity. Necessity is the mother of invention, and many individuals and companies are finding new markets and new ways of serving old markets.

It might be hard in a year like 2009, and maybe 2010, too, but indeed we should count our blessings. Here at SouthStar, they are many-numbered and you, our customers, make up most of them.

Happy New Year!

Used & Surplus Sewing Machines On Hand!

2009-10-30T11:11:00.000-05:00

Those of you who have dealt with us for a long time know that we don't usually keep sewing machines on hand. But now we do!

We've made room for four machines, now available for purchase and pick up in our west Nashville office/warehouse at 233 Oceola Avenue (37209 - behind the Charlotte Pike Kroger).

All machines are complete with table, stand, 110 volt motors, thread stand, and bobbin winders if applicable.

Sorry - these machines are available for on-site purchase only and all sales are final. So if you're interested in one, give us a call first to let us know you're coming, bring your thread and fabric to try them out if you want, and do the cash and carry thing.

Here's what we have available as of today:

Juki DLN-415-4 (used) single needle, needle feed flatbed high speed sewing machine. Excellent for use on denim, upholstery, and other tough to feed fabrics. REDUCED!: $550.00 complete.

Willcox & Gibbs 516-4-51 (used) five thread true safety stitch especially suited for heavy materials. Submerged setup. REDUCED!: $650.00 complete.

Consew 205RB-1 (new) single needle large bobbin walking foot machine with reverse. Ideal for upholstery and leather work. REDUCED!: $1,075.00 complete.

Consew 2043R-1 (new) artisan zig-zag machine with reverse. Use as a tailoring machine. Also can be used for free-hand embroidery. Similar to Singer 20U. REDUCED!: $625.00 complete.

We also have some excellent used Bevco ergonomic upholstered sewing chairs with hydraulic lift available to go with the machines for $90.00 each. Come on down!

Yes, We Have Paper

2009-10-29T12:55:00.000-05:00

We have stocked up for the winter quarter. Place your order now so that when January comes you won't be without.

Globalization

2009-10-17T13:03:00.000-05:00

I’m all for globalization. I myself have a really nice globe. I think every living room should have one. Globes give perspective. They remind us that we are each a tiny little dot in God’s great big world.

One thing I like about my globe is that it is nearly as old as I am. It still says Peking for Beijing, Rhodesia for Zimbabwe, and shows Germany as two countries. Life is full of changes. Some good, some not.

One kind of globalization I’m not so sold on is the kind in which Congress continually passes laws about safety, wages, and environmental impact while opening our market to countries who don’t do the same. All that safety and so forth becomes a moot point when we’ve priced ourselves right out of good productive jobs.

Back when I started in this industry nearly 30 years ago, every small town around here had one or more garment factories. Many folks who didn’t aim to be doctors or lawyers - or doing jobs that involved saying “Do you want fries with that?” - came out of high school and went to work at the factory. Many ran a sewing machine their whole lives and were happy with that, but others moved up the ranks of designing, patternmaking, mechanic work, or supervision and management. And some, of course, set out to found their own businesses.

Now, not so much. The upshot is that a tremendous amount of technical knowledge and talent has been lost in our culture. Thus it’s awfully hard to find good help in a sewing operation now.

But I have a suggestion for you: Look to your local colleges. It seems that lately a lot of them have established fashion design departments. I know because they’re buying the tools of the trade from us. And the young people in these programs might just be exactly what you need. At the same time, you can pass along some of the tricks of the trade you’ve learned along the way. And help this part of the globe to have a good bit more sewing in it again.

Dang Me

2009-09-06T07:46:00.000-05:00

That early Roger Miller hit contains one of my all-time favorite song lyrics:
“I lack fourteen dollars havin’ 27¢.”

That came to mind when I heard that our federal government is projecting $9 trillion in deficits over the next ten years.

Those of us in the real world can’t run our businesses like that. We’ve got to operate in the black.

That’s why we’ve had to make painful cutbacks in staff, work longer hours, and generally make do with less.

In times like these private sector owners and employees alike take less pay home, have fewer benefits, and a lot less job security than, say, DMV workers.

But the private sector has one thing the government will never have: blue sky. We have the potential of success, of maybe even becoming the next FedEx. At the very least, we control our own destiny.

And frankly, though a recent CNN feature said that garment manufacturing in the U.S. has shrunk 60% since 2000, I think that sewing is still a great industry for an entrepreneur.

Case in point: FSB Magazine profiles several small businesses each month from startups to established firms. You’d be surprised how many of their articles feature sewing businesses (many of whom are SouthStar customers!).

The fashion industry, you see - which is not just apparel, but in some way practically everything sewn - is and always will be a dynamic market allowing lots of room for innovation, ambition, and hard work.

In a recession like this, it’s easy to feel you’re getting nowhere when you’re working too many hours for too little gain. But I am here to tell you, you are not alone. I speak with dozens of you a day. There are thousands of you out there. You are, really, the backbone of the economy.

And while our government may be $9 trillion shy of having 27¢, you’ve got a going business and the potential for a lot more once the recession abates. As long as the dang government will just stay out of the way...

How will you ship my order?

2009-07-07T05:14:00.000-05:00

We prefer FedEx Ground (which we refer to on your invoice as "FXG") for small package delivery because it is non-union (UPS and the Teamsters have stung us more than once with strikes) and because FedEx Ground drivers are independent businesses (they are not employees of FedEx; each FedEx Ground driver contracts with FedEx and is in effect a sole proprietor). Also, it doesn't hurt that FedEx is a good Tennessee-based company like us.

However, if you prefer UPS, we are happy to ship on your account and sometimes choose to use UPS when it just works out better. Mind you, we like our UPS drivers; it's the union and company with whom we've had problems. Ironically we send most of our overnight shipments by UPS because FedEx has a quirk in their system which requires a separate driver to pick up air shipments. The fewer times we have to answer the door the better.

Whenever possible, we send smaller orders by USPS Priority Mail - basically whatever will fit in a Priority Mail Flat Rate envelope that has a value less than $100. The flat rate envelope is a real bargain at $4.95 to any U.S. address and it is trackable at usps.com.

IMPORTANT: Please take the time to make sure we have your correct PHYSICAL ADDRESS as well as MAILING ADDRESS. With the way that delivery companies are highly systematized now, the fact that your local driver knows where you are is not good enough. We are required to have exact addresses for everything including street number and street type (avenue, boulevard, etc.) or we get charged extra - which of course ends up getting passed on to you, the customer.

We normally send truck shipments via Roadway (now YRT) unless you tell us otherwise.

When will my order ship?

2009-07-06T05:32:00.000-05:00

Soon. Real soon. In most cases.

Chances are overwhelming that your order will ship within 24 hours of entry, whether out of our main office in Nashville or one of our supplier warehouses. Almost all orders ship within 48 hours.

However, there are exceptions. The biggest exception is when sewing or cutting machine parts on an order total less than $50.00. Although we keep the most commonly ordered parts in stock in Nashville, there are about a half a million possible other parts! We have to meet minimums with supplier warehouses so we group our small parts orders and bring them into Nashville twice a week. That might tack 3-5 days to your order, sometimes more if it's a specialty part.

Then of course there are those times that we or our supplier simply get caught short on stock. We'll try to warn you about that but don't always know it at the time you place your order.

The best rule of thumb is: if your delivery time is critical, don't assume. Ask!

Small-Order Surcharges

2009-07-05T06:23:00.000-05:00

The young men and women who spend their summers selling books for the Southwestern Company are advised to take a cold shower first thing in the morning. This isn't to wake up quicker nor to ward off the summer's heat but to start the day off doing something they really, really don't want to do. That way the inevitable rejection they're going to face throughout the rest of the day doesn't seem so daunting.

So I'm christening our blog with perhaps our least popular subject, small order surcharges. Here's the policy in a nutshell:

Orders which total less than $25.00 (before shipping and/or taxes) incur a $10.00 surcharge. Orders from $25.00 to $50.00 incur a $5.oo surcharge. Orders over $50.00 incur no surcharge, just shipping and taxes as applicable.

So in essence, we have a $50.00 minimum but you can order less if you're willing to pay more.

We started this policy around 2001 when the recession was sending more and more small orders our way and fewer big ones. Some days it would get absolutely ridiculous. We were chasing our tails. And operating more like a charity than a business, as we were most definitely not making money on $50.00 orders. Only a very large volume business like Amazon can do that. Many companies much larger than we are have tried it and failed. And believe me, folks, supplying to the sewing industry these days is anything but a large volume business.

Now the good news is that in this recession, we've softened the policy somewhat. Now if you are a regular customer (which we simply define by whether you've placed more than one order over $50.00 in the last twelve months), we waive the fee.

In any case, it really works to your advantage to order more at a time. The cheapest we can get anything anywhere these days is about $5.00 and I'd say our average package costs closer to $10.00 to ship. If you place a $20.00 order and it costs $5.00 to ship it, 25% of your cost is in shipping alone. Add our surcharge in and it's 75%! But if you go ahead and order $50.00, it's only 10%.

For you sewing folks, I like to use the analogy of someone coming to you with a custom job. If they just want one item you're going to charge them a higher price for it than if they order ten of the same thing. In fact, probably almost the same price for ten as it costs them for one! You know the reasons: most of the cost to you is in your setup and labor. Same here.

Thanks for reading up on this fascinating subject. I look forward to covering more scintillating topics in the future.