Impressions - October/November 2020 - 37

CAMPUS CHALET EMBROIDERY AT A GLANCE
C OMPAN Y N AME: Campus Chalet Embroidery
ADDRESS: 2514 Old Lewis Rd., Johnson City, TN 37601
FOUN DED: 1967
N O. OF EMPLOYEES: 15
DEC ORATIN G METHODS OFFERED: Contract embroidery, custom patches
WEBSITE: campuschalet.com

Campus Chalet operates eight
12-head Tajima embroidery
machines, two singlehead Tajimas
and a singlehead ZSK.

The Campus Chalet Embroidery team
also realized they could only do so much
on manual, free-hand monogram machines. "Instead of doing single-piece
work, we needed to be able to deliver
mass embroidery to grow the business
the way we wanted," Dance says."We had
heard about an embroidery machine made
by a company called Gross that could do
multiple pieces at the same time. So, we
bought an 8-head, wide-field mechanical
machine, then added a 12-head machine."
Dance says the machine greatly improved production capabilities and allowed
Campus Chalet to do contract embroidery on jeans and childrenswear for area
sewing plants.
An electronic, high-speed Tajima embroidery machine, was purchased in the
late 1970s. As more people entered the
embroidery niche, he and his team developed more relationships with sewing
contractors. Being in business prior to
the electronic age was advantageous, as
Campus Chalet already was considered
a go-to embroidery source. Eventually,
Dance and his team added more than 25
12-head machines.
Dance hired his sister, Joi, who had
worked in all phases of the business and
had experience with mechanical punching
machines. She adapted easily to electronic
digitizing and grew in her role as the
company grew.
"The embroidery industry was great

for everyone in the 1980s," Dance says.
"After NAFTA, we survived by expanding
our domestic patch/emblem production,
and providing contract embroidery for
smaller shops and specialty companies
who knew our emphasis on quality and
on-time service."
Campus Chalet won jobs from
well-known brands such as Healthtex,
Buster Brown, OshKosh, IZOD and
Tommy Hilfiger. Dance says the lessons
he and his team learned in the early years
allowed them to produce a wide range
of high-quality work.
"We were able to win over some of the
tough customers, which was a big part
of bringing in larger accounts," he says.
Rolling with the Punches
In the 1990s, major textile companies began relocating in Mexico, Central America
and the Far East. Campus Chalet was hit
hard as large portions of its customer base
disappeared nearly overnight.
"We were used to people coming to
us," Dance says. "Now, we had to find
them.We knew that we couldn't compete
against China regarding price and didn't
try, but we could turn big orders around
faster, and that gave us an edge."
To be sure, Dance and his crew have
pivoted, rolled with the punches and remained in business for longer than half a
century.The business still is a family affair,

with his wife, Cyndie, and Joi playing
active roles in day-to-day management.
They helm a team of 15 employees who
keep eight 12-head Tajima embroidery
machines, two singlehead Tajimas and a
singlehead ZSK running full time.
Campus Chalet has largely stayed true
to embroidery instead of offering other
decoration techniques."We have always
had a special love for embroidery," Dance
says. "It's our niche, and we have a large
base of multiple customers who appreciate our superior quality and our ability
to accommodate rushes and requested
ship dates.We also have loyal, conscientious employees who have been with the
company for 15 years or [much] longer."
Dance says it's important to be able to
change directions when required, and to
treat other embroiderers as customers,
not competitors.As for Campus Chalet's
future, he says it's wide open.
"After 50-plus years in the business, we
realize it is time for someone to step in
and carry on the Campus Chalet tradition and legacy," Dance says."Therefore,
we are open to discussion with anyone
who would like to take advantage of this
unique opportunity." 
Jennifer Morrell is an award-winning writer who
has written for a number of national consumer
and trade publications. For more information
or to comment on this article, email Jennifer at
jennmorrell@hotmail.com.
OCT./NOV. 2020

P.37
http://www.campuschalet.com
Impressions - October/November 2020

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