Custom Wholesale Logo Embroiderers

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About us

Northwest Embroidery was founded back in 1977 by Jim Mickelson. He entered the embroidery business like many others serendipitously. Jim was traveling from Washington to Alaska every other week to work as an administration manager for the Alaska Pipeline. Jim then came up with the idea to sell embroidered caps to all the pipeline employees. When his trial run of 300 sold out in 3 days, he knew he was on to something.

"I had two careers until the pipeline was finished," Mickelson says. "We flew back and forth between Washington and Alaska by charter. I had all this room in the plane, so I filled it with hats. I just kept hauling hats up there and selling them until I started making more money selling hats than working for Atlantic Richfield.

The business grew quickly and Mickelson rented a facility back home in Milton, Washington. Because of the poor service he received from his embroidery contractor, he purchased an 11 head machine to do production himself. "Within two weeks, we knew an 11 head wasn't enough," says Mickelson. Since those early days, the owner estimates he has spent more than $2 million on embroidery equipment.

Once the pipeline was finished, Mickelson turned his full-time attention to Northwest Embroidery, which was officially started in 1977. One of its earliest niches was construction companies. But it didn't take long for the entrepreneur to identify which market held the most profit and potential.

In 1978, he was approached by an emerging apparel company called Blue Ribbon Sports. For a full year, Mickelson got $2.50 a garment for embroidering a little swoosh logo. If you haven't guessed by now, the brand name of that company was Nike. At its peak during this period, Northwest Embroidery was running 160 heads, seven days a week, 24 hours per day.

Today, Northwest Embroidery employees 2 of the Mickelsons. Jim Mickelson is still President followed by his 2 children; Erik and Scott. The two Mickelson brothers have individual departments and responsibilities. "It is great working with my dad and brother . We have our own responsibilities and never step on each other's toes" says Erik Mickelson. Northwest Embroidery will continue its success for another 30 years!
Embroidered badges

Our company has provided embroidery for many noteworthy customers such as: Nike, L.L. Bean, Boeing, Seattle Seahawks, Microsoft, Air Force One and thousands of companies, groups and sports teams throughout the Northwest.

Whatever the order may be, Northwest Embroidery holds true to our belief that customer service is job one.

Full time sales staff
Full scale showroom
Full time art and digitizing service
Quality garments and caps
Group apparel programs
Quick and easy ordering
Union-made apparel is available

We also provide screenprinting
31 years in the embroidery industry
Five major quality control points during production
Two production buildings
Updated showroom for 2008
In-house marketing department
100 high speed sewing heads
New SWF cap machines for 2008

Stop in our showroom today and check us out. We have new Nike apparel available and Cutter and Buck.