Good question. We touched on the subject in a 2012 article: "Branding Your Work With Custom Labels"

However, we didn't discuss it in much depth. I'd also love to hear everyone's thoughts.

When I first started I thought about having small tags made up to sew into the covers, like the motorcycle seats. I never got around to it and honestly haven't felt the need to do so. My customers do all my advertising for me. Word of mouth is very powerful!

Though if I ever find an embroidery machine for a reasonable price I'd think about a small LC like my profile pic....... Hmmmm now you've got me thinkin again....

The best way to get your business out there is to do quality work! Then let your customers spread the word!

I spoke with someone on Instagram awhile back , but I can remember who and he said he had a local company make his.

I used waterproof stickers for years inside of door jams and bottom of bike seats. They were peel and stick and there was a space to date the job along with the logo and shop info. Relatively inexpensive and discreet. I am personally not a fan of tags or other elements taking away from the clean lines of a nice job.

I have recently made 3 different sized stamps for leather. However, you have to practice for a good result a little. Thick leather as for belts or similar is no problem. You only need pressure.


Likewise, vegetable tanned leathers are not particularly difficult. The most complicated are the chrome leather for the automotive industry. Here one needs absolutely heat and pressure:

and the thick leather also look better:

the best results I got with this machine. With this one you can make pressure and temperature well.
I think for vinyl you have to work with microwaves tool. So I have no experience - not yet. But I have recently found a company that produces such machines. I will keep you up-to-date.

Nice!

Besides, my customers are totally crazy about the key chains. :D

That's beautiful Jens. Where on a customer's interior do you usually leave your mark? Or does it change depending on the layout / project?

I love the idea of labels, vinyl decals and leather impressions. It's a great branding tool.

However, I don't think many shops can get away with this. It's usually just those that focus on custom builds. Am I right?

Those that do it, has a client ever asked you not to leave your mark? How do you respond?

That depends entirely on the project.
All tarpaulins or other products from Technical textiles get a sign from my company. Nobody cares about it. But this is also common and every company does it like that.


Difficulty with other products ...

Classic cars:
When it comes to originality, you can not make an interior trim for a gullwing, get more than 10000$ from the customer, and then imprint your logo into the headrest - ok the gullwing has no headrest, but you know what I mean. Here I use the small stemp and put a discreet logo in the "heelpad" of the carpet - if the customer says later that he does not want it, I can change with little effort.

Motorcycle seats (or other interior and projects):
Motorcyle seats are the reason why I have dealt with the subject. Many customers appreciate the quality of our seats. So I wanted to have a logo on our seats for a long time. But I did not want to sew labels like Corbin does. Because I think that every project should always be a "complete artwork". I have discarded the labels. Because you need the right size, the right color, it must be guaranteed UV-stable and worth doing the stick also only from 10000 pcs. So I came to embossing. It is always matching in color and more discreet than a lable in the seam. For leather saddles, I have already found the solution - for vinyl i am searching for a good solution.
Basically, I think it is important to establish yourself or your business as a brand. If you managed that, I think it is relatively easy that the customers accept it. As soon as the customer is proud that he has YOUR equipment and not that of any saddler down the road. Your work must make the car something special. Here is an example ... This is no special craftsmanship or design performance. I've seen a thousand better seats from you than this one. So why should not we show where the work comes from? 8-)

Thanks for the thoughtful answer. You hit the nail on the head with this: "Basically, I think it is important to establish yourself or your business as a brand. If you manage that, I think it is relatively easy that the customers accept it."

In my opinion, the embossing is definitely the classier way to go. As you say, it's discreet. Plus, I think it adds to the handcrafted look and feel of the project.

BTW, your example about the gullwing cracked me up! X-)

That emblem is awesome! How is it mounted? Does it have a threaded stud on the backside?

Its solid pewter, i have a very strong 2 sided tape i use

I mainly do seat repair these days. I've never felt the need to literally brand my work, but I do feel it is important leave my mark. I used to sign and date the foam on the back of all inserts, after the work was done, for prosperity and to let anyone who opened up the seat again, I was there. What I finally ended up doing was, I got some light weight, white awning or boat cover material, 8 oz. or less, cut it into 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch rectangles, made a rubber stamp with my name, address and phone number, (the same rubber stamp I stamp my checks with) and stamped the fabric, and there's still enough room to sign and date. Then sew into back of seat cover, next to the made in Mexico label. It looks cool, and for the twenty dollar investment you have enough labels to last a lifetime.

You're also doing this for premade seat covers you install? I ask because you mentioned a "made in Mexico" label.

The majority of OEM seat covers on all vehicles, are manufactured in Mexico. There are some exceptions. It is a little white label sewn to the inside of the rear of the seat cover. It has the time, date, shift, plant it was manufactured in, color code, and MADE IN MEXICO. This is nothing new, they have been doing this for decades. I do remember seeing the labels in the seventy's, when they were made in Detroit. There are very few parts on a car today, that are manufactured in the USA. We have assembly plants in this country. Not long ago, I was talking to a used car dealer, who needed a set of OEM wheels for a late model Cadillac. He ordered them through the Cadillac dealership. When he received them, they were stamped MADE IN CHINA. When he questioned the dealership, they said that's where Cadillac wheels are manufactured. WOW. I only sew my label on a cover that I have repaired.