Questions for Sports World Embroidery

An Interview with Christy Costley Sports World Embroidery

Congratulations! Have you always wanted to own your own business? So far, is it what you had hoped it would be?

I had Christy’s Optical for 17 years. I was in the optical business for over 30 years. I wanted to do something different and new.

It all started when I was designing my own gym attire. I would take my jackets to places in town to get embroidery work done on them, and it would take over a month, sometimes longer, to get the completed work. Crazy right!!!

At the silk screen convention in 2017 that Todd and I went to, I looked at embroidery equipment. I wanted to have my own equipment to do on my own attire. Then Todd and I started to think about closing my optical store and opening an embroidery shop. Would Gallup support it? Yes! The support has been better then we imagined. Since the first month we opened, the store has been nothing but a success.

You use the title Sports World in the business name. How do the two businesses complement each other, and what makes you different?

When looking for a name for the shop, Todd and I knew right away that Sports World should be part of the name for the embroidery shop. Sports World has been around for over 30 years and is a very respected name in Gallup and the surrounding area for the quality and service they provide.

What can customers expect from Sports World Embroidery? Is your focus aimed at doing everything? Are you going to specialize, focus on price, focus on customer service?

Sports World and Sports World Embroidery are a one-stop-shop for all your T-shirts and embroidery needs.

Customers can expect fast turn-around time, as well as top quality designs. We do embroidery on anything we can hoop, but we also do vinyl, windows, uniforms, t-shirts, stickers, and much more.

This is your first year; how hard was it to figure out this embroidery stuff? I know this industry relies on lots of software, and you need to be technical. Did you realize what you were getting into, or has it been an easy transition?

As far as figuring out the embroidery stuff, I will say it was not the easiest thing I have had to learn. I tell people all the time that the optical business was a piece of cake compared to this. The 15-hour days, 7-days-a-week also were tough. But over the months, things fell into place, and it all became easier. We had to learn fast - we had orders that had to be filled from the first day we opened. Although we knew nothing about the embroidery business, we both knew about customer service and quality work and that has been key to our success so far and will be our number one priority always.

The transition has been easy and exciting. People ask me all the time if I miss the optical business. The truth is I don’t, but I do miss my customers very much. This new venture has been a blast. I still get to help people look good - just in a different way now.

Customers have been very pleased with the work we have done for them, and they like the new store. This year we already had the opportunity to make the uniforms for the GABSA league. Although it was a lot of work and long hours, it was a blast, and we pulled it off without any problems; being very organized helped.

Are you going to carry a large inventory; or is Sports World Embroidery set up to walk you through the design and fashion choices and then order the inventory?

We have a large inventory of hats, jackets, polos, work attire, and much, much more.

Come see us at 1500 S. Second Street Gallup, New Mexico 505-863-8819 Monday-Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm Saturday 10:00am to 2:00pm