Summer is just around the corner, so you own an embroidery machine, you can profit by decorating your own swimsuits and beach apparel!

Sunglasses, MP3 players, six packs and sandals - it's summertime, and we will soon be beachward bound. Equipped with sunscreen, inflatable mattress, beach towel, T-shirt cover-up, crossword puzzles and iPads, they'll be ready for a relaxing day in the sun. Who says they can't also be sporting the best in summer-fun embroidery?

Adding a Custom Design

Starting this month, millions of sun worshippers will flock to the nation's beaches for water-related recreation, and by the end of next month, thousands of private and community swimming pools will be open to swimmers, too. It's time, then, to outfit these hordes of water babies for the summer-long agenda of beach and poolside activities.

Summer time apparel can be a lucrative product niche, whether you sell embroidered swimwear, customized swimsuits, or towels, robes, and beach bags. Above average mark-up and below-average storage space can add up to big bucks, especially because swimwear is a quick sell. At the time of purchase, in fact, most swimwear buyers are already in the mood to buy a swimsuit; they do not just impulse-shop swimwear when they are shopping for other apparel items.

For retailers, the most inviting side of the swimwear story relates to the variety of ways swimwear is worn these days. No longer is a swimsuit destined only for the beach; when paired with shorts or a wrap skirt, the swimsuit becomes a suitable substitute for a standard top-and the outfit can go anywhere.

What began as ultimate accessorizing has reached a very blurry line, as swim attire is slowly converted into mainstream, non-swim apparel. And as plavky steps outside the bounds of beach and pool-appropriate clothing, other types of garments are coming into the circle. Today, the garments worn with swimsuits like cover-ups, T-shirts, shorts, caps and even sandals-are just as significant a part of the broadening category of poolside apparel.

This is the most exciting news for embroidery companies and screenprinters, because the opportunity to coordinate swimsuits with accessory items practically begs for embroidery.

In the apparel marketplace, swimwear is the exception to nearly every fashion rule. Colors and styles deemed inappropriate or outdated are somehow acceptable for swimwear. For example, look at the continued popularity of neon colors in this apparel segment. Retail price per square inch of fabric is higher than for most other garments; a designer swimsuit can cost $300 (as much as a fully lined, linen jacket, even though it uses about one tenth the fabric).