Singerdirect.co.uk | Acquisition

17 Sep. 2020 – We have recently acquired SingerDirect.co.uk, an online store based on UK that market exclusively singer sewing machines. They have more than 10 years of experience running the store and we believe that the acquisition would provide us invulnerable expertise and experience in reviewing and evaluating the best sewing machines for our audience.

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PICKS OF THE WEEK

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About Us

Singer Direct is the largest independent online distributor for Singer in the UK. Our philosophy at consists in making the buying of sewing machines as hassle-free as possible.

30 day trial

Despite the huge benefits of choice and convenience which online ordering brings, it is still impossible to replicate the retail environment of experiencing products first-hand.

With this in mind, we decided that the only way to make the website a true convenience-shopping portal and to render this virtual shopping experience more real is to allow you to order a sewing machine with a 30-day trial to ensure it is the correct machine for your needs.

If you find that within 30 days it is not the machine for you we will allow you to exchange the machine for another.

Why SingerDirect?

Over 100 years of trading in domestic and industrial machines. Our current Managing Director is the fourth generation in the same company.

Over the years we have been involved with retail in our own shops, department stores, and since the early 2000s the internet and Shopping Channels. We have contracts with most TV channels.

We are open 7 days a week from 9am to Midnight to take your calls. Our service department is headed by Mr Michael, who has been in the industry for 40 years. We offer full free training in our showroom in Hertfordshire – we have qualified experienced seamstresses who can advise on any project you may have, whether it be curtain-making, pattern- cutting, embroidery quilting etc.

We offer old-fashioned, white-glove service, service that one can only expect from a company which has gone from strength to strength for over a century.

SINGER HISTORY

In 2001 Singer celebrated the 150th Anniversary of Isaac Singer’s patent on the first practical sewing machine. This anniversary marked the official beginning of Singer as a company and its leadership in the industry from the start, a great accomplishment. Singer’s leadership has remained to this day due to our continued commitment to quality, reliability, innovation and service.

Listed below are the important milestones in the sewing industry and Singer’s more than 150 years of innovation.

1811
Issac Merritt Singer was born in Schaghiticoke, New York.

1850
Orson C. Phelps of Boston was manufacturing sewing machines under license from John A. Lerow. The Lerow and Blodgett machine was not very practical. The circular movement of the shuttle took a twist out of the thread at every revolution.

Isaac Merritt Singer, after examining the machine, noted “instead of the shuttle going around in a circle, I would have it move to and fro in a straight line. In place of the needle bar pushing a curved needle horizontally, I would have a straight needle and make it work up and down.”

After 11 days and forty dollars in cost, Singer completed his invention: the world’s first practical sewing machine. This machine had a straight eye-pointed needle and transverse shuttle, an overhanging arm, a table to support the cloth, a presser foot to hold the material against the upward stroke of the needle, and a roughened feed wheel extending through a slot in the table. Motion was communicated to the needle arm and shuttle by means of gears.

Singer also conceived the idea of using a treadle similar to that of a spinning wheel; all other machines at the time used a hand crank to generate power.

1851
Isaac Merritt Singer formed I.M. Singer & Company with New York lawyer Edward C. Clark, following Singer’s first lockstitch sewing machine patent. The Singer Sewing Machine is offered for sale all over the United States. Within two years Singer is the leading manufacturer and marketer of sewing machines in the United States.

1852
Singer patented a tension device.

1853
I. M. Singer & Co. sets-up corporate offices and a manufacturing facility in New York City. Company is renamed Singer Manufacturing Company.

The first Singer sewing machines, manufactured in New York, sell for $100 each.

1855
Singer becomes the world’s largest sewing company. Singer begins overseas expansion, starting in Paris, France, making Singer the world’s first international company.

A Singer sewing machine was awarded a first prize at the World’s Fair in Paris.

1856
Edward Clark originated the hire-purchase plan, the prototype for all installment selling or time payment purchases. As a result, individuals with even meager income could own a Singer sewing machine. Even better, they could increase their productivity, earn more money and improve their position in life.

The “Turtleback” sewing machine was introduced.

Singer patented a ruffler, tucker and binder.

Branch office opened in Glasgow, Scotland.

1857
First Singer showroom and headquarters located at 458 Broadway, New York City.

1858
The first lightweight domestic machine, the “Grasshopper,” was introduced.

Unit sales topped 3,000 a year.

Singer opened three manufacturing plants in New York City.

Singer opens an operation in Brazil.

1859
Singer received first of three patents for lock-stitch vibrating shuttle machines.

1861
Foreign sales exceed U.S. sales for the first time.

1863
The company was incorporated as the Singer Manufacturing Company, holding 22 patents and with capital assets of $550,000. Some 20,000 home sewing machines were being sold annually.

Branch office opened in Hamburg, Germany.

1865
The “New Family” sewing machine introduced.

1866
Singer patented an oscillating shuttle sewing machine.

1867
Singer opens its first factory outside of the United States, in Glasgow, Scotland.

1868
Cabinet factory opened in South Bend, Indiana.

1870
The Singer Company sells 170,000 machines.

The Singer Manufacturing Company opened sales and distribution centers in England.

The Singer Red “S” girl trademark made her debut. Her trademark is produced in several languages, becoming one of the most recognized trademarks in the world.

1870
Red “S” girl trademark made her debut-destined to become one of the best known emblems in the world.

1871
Singer’s Bridgton factory became the largest in Britain.

Unit sales reached 180,000 a year.

1872
Elizabethport, New Jersey became the site of a large, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

1873
With the official opening of the factory in Elizabethport, the Singer Manufacturing Company became a New Jersey Corporation under a special charter.

Canadian manufacturing began.

1875
I.M. Singer dies in Torquay, England at age 63.

1880
An Edison electric motor drives a sewing machine.

Singer sewing machine sales worldwide exceed 500,000 machines. Additional factories are established in the United States.

1881
Factory opened in Cairo, Illinois.

1882
Factories opened in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and Floridsdorf, Austria.

1883
To meet growing demand in Europe, Singer opened the largest sewing machine factory in the world in Kilbowie Scotland. This factory at one point employed 12,000 workers and its most distinctive feature was the second largest clock tower in the world at almost 200 feet high.

1884
Statue of Liberty, believed to be in Isabella Singer’s likeness, is given to U.S.

1889
Singer introduced the first practical electric sewing machine.

1890
Singer claims 80% worldwide market share in sewing machines.

1891
First use of electric motor to power a commercial machines.

1892
Singer developed a commercial zigzag machine.

1900
Singer Company was producing 40 different sewing machine models.

The “Singer 66” was introduced.

Kilbowie, Scotland factory renamed Clydebank.

1902
Factory opened in Podolsk, Russia.

1903
Annual sales reach 1.35 million machines worldwide.

1904
New factories opened in Wittenberge, Prussia and St. John’s, Quebec, Canada.

Russian corporate headquarters opened. It was Russia’s first steel girder structure.

Singer Sewing Machine Company became the sales and distribution division of Singer Manufacturing Company.

1905
Singer acquired Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing Company.

1907
Factory opened in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

1908
Singer Building at 149 Broadway in New York City opens. At the time of its completion it was the first skyscraper and the tallest building in the world, standing at 47 stories, 612 feet tall. It was headquarters for the Executive Office for 54 years.

1913
Singer sales reach 3 million machines worldwide.

1921
Singer introduced the “Portable Electric,” an electric-motor powered model 99K.

1927
First Singer Sewing Center, offering sewing courses, was introduced in New York City.

1929
Nine worldwide Singer manufacturing facilities exist, employing 27,000 people and producing 3,000 models.

Singer purchased the Standard Sewing Machine Company.

First vacuum cleaner introduced, launching Singer’s strategy of diversification beyond sewing machines.

1933
Singer introduced its “Featherweight” at the Chicago’s World Fair.

Factories opened in Monsa, Italy and Bounieres, France.

1949
Singer developed Model 95K capable of 4,000 stitches per minute.

1950
Plant opened in Anderson, South Carolina.

1951
Singer Sewing Centers train an estimated 400,000 housewives.

Singer recovers from World War II when sewing machine production was suspended, reaching $307.8 million in sales during its centennial year.

1952 Singer introduced the model 206, its first zigzag machine.
1955
New factory in Campinas, Brazil opened.

1957
Annual sales reached $359 million.

1958
Annual sales reached $507 million.

1960
Singer begins diversification. In the following years the Company will make acquisitions in electric and electric test equipment and office machinery, including Packard Bell Electronics (1966) and General Precision Equipment Corporation (1968).

1961
Executive Office moved to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City.

1963
The Singer Manufacturing Company changed its name to “The Singer Company.”

1965
Singer introduces the “Touch and Sew” sewing machines.

Consolidated sales reached $979.8 million.

1966
Consolidated sales reached billion-dollar mark for the first time.

1970
Sales first topped $2 billion.

1971
Consolidated sales were $2.1 billion; shareholders numbered over 60,000. Singer employed nearly 120,000 people worldwide.

1973
Company stock was listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Annual Sales reached $2.5 billion.

1975
Singer introduces the world’s first electronic sewing machine, the Athena 2000.

1978
Singer introduced the Touchtronic 2001, the world’s first computer-controlled machine.

1979
Singer Headquarters are relocated to a new facility in Stamford, Connecticut.

1985
Singer introduced an entire new line of state-of the-art sewing machines with models designed to meet individual needs and budgets. These machines were built with “Duratec,” a unique material which is stronger and lighter than aluminum yet provides double insulation. These easy to use sewing machines ranged from basic to the most sophisticated sewing machines and included a top-of-the-line electronic sewing machine which had the capacity to produce an unlimited number of stitch patterns, monograms, embroidery, and even sews sideways.

1989
Singer introduced the 9900 Unlimited with the largest microprocessor ever incorporated in a sewing machine.

1990
Singer introduced the 9900 Unlimited which contained the largest microprocessor ever incorporated in sewing machines. The model 9900 had many easy-to-use, time-saving features including a LED message center offering practical advice to the sewer.

1990
Singer introduced the QUANTUM® line, a new series of sewing machines specifically for the professional and avid sewer who demands performance, ease-of-use and state of the art features.

Singer introduced the Magic Steam Ironing Press™, an at-home version of presses found in most tailor shops and dry cleaning stores.

1990
The Quantumlock 4 and Quantumlock 5 overlocks offered exceptional performance with the most stitches available on any overlock.

1990
The Magic Steam Ironing Press was introduced, an at-home version of presses found in most tailor shops and dry cleaning stores. The Magic Steam Press cut ironing time in half and included a variable temperature control and automatic shut-off safety feature, plus burst of steam for stubborn wrinkles.

1991
Singer celebrated 140 years of innovation.

In August, the company went public with an initial public offering of 16,239,300 shares.

1994
Singer introduced the QUANTUM® XL-100, its top-of-the-line embroidery sewing machine.

1995
Singer introduced the Elegance line of sewing machines and the Embroidery Unlimited Machine. The new Embroidery Unlimited machine brought professional embroidery and monogramming to your personal computer.

1996
Singer introduced the Millennium Series sewing machines.

1997
Singer introduced the QUANTUM® XL-1000, the most advanced machine in the market offering a wide variety of memory cards for serious embroiderers.

Singer Sewing Company’s consumer products division relocated to Tennessee.

2001
Singer celebrated its 150th Anniversary.

GUARANTEE

15 YEAR PARTS / LABOUR / SERVICE GUARANTEE

15 YEAR PARTS LABOUR AND FREE ANNUAL SERVICING ON ALL SINGER MACHINES

Please note

Please note that SM/Showroom/Demo/Ex-Demo are ex-display Showroom models and may have been used/demonstrated on and may show slight cosmetic marks. Full guarantee is provided which is the same as a new machine unless otherwise stated.

Important Notice

If you are using a domestic / computer machine for any business venture, large or small your guarantee is void, we only guarantee machines for domestic use. If you are a small cottage industry, as long as you notify us in writing as to what product you are buying, we will then advise you if it is correct for your business.

Guarantees from the Manufacturers
Our Machines are brand new and have a full manufacturer’s warranty. Registration may be required.
Manufacturers warranties normally 2 years.

Warranty 15 Years
Yes you’re covered for parts and labour for 15 years on Singer machines. When purchasing a selected new machine from this website you’re safe in the knowledge that you can buy with peace of mind. We only sell quality products . There is normally a charge to extend the warranty, however we have wavered this payment.

We have been established since 1903 so please don’t be sceptical when it comes to our long warranty offers. There are 5 generations in our business!

We include a NO COST service every year, however the cost of collection is to be bourne by the customer only after the first 6 months have passed, the cost of getting a sewing machine serviced locally around the country normally ranges from £60 to £100.

For the cost of £10 each way, we collect, service and redeliver your machine to you. This charge is only after the first 6 months.

A full service will only cost you the price of collection and delivery!

What’s covered? Bone-fide faults. As per the manufacturers Guarantee.

What’s not covered? Very little. Naturally this extended cover excludes willful damage, misuse, repairs caused by overuse or repairs made necessary by commercial use. Also “consumable items” such as belts, bulbs,bobbin cases and needles etc as stated on the manufacturers guarantee document. Sorry we can’t extend the warranty on presses, unless on promotion.

All our new sewing machines undergo a pre delivery inspection and are tested for your assurance, so you can be confident that your machine will reach you, ready to tackle the toughest tasks, straight from the box.

If for some reason your new machine is found to be in need of attention due to problems caused through faulty components and/or poor workmanship for a period of 6 months we will sanction our “no carriage cost” back to base, repair and return of your machine within the uk mainland.

Please phone first as all repair/returns must be authorised prior to being sent. We will e-mail you or post a RMA form before repairs are authorised, please sign and return as soon as you can to speed up the process of repair.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE

YOU MUST RETAIN ALL THE ORIGINAL PACKAGING IF YOU WISH FOR YOUR MACHINE TO BE COLLECTED

Please retain the original packing materials – just in case your machine has to be returned to us. If you choose to dispose of the original packaging then this is against our advice. We cannot be held responsible for any damages caused in transit if the machine is not in its original packaging, however we will not collect if you do not retain packaging internal as well as external.

This does not affect your statutory consumer rights and will apply only to machines purchased for use in the UK mainland. All machines must be used for normal domestic purposes. The waranty does not cover consumable items such as: needles, bobbins, bobbin cases, bulbs, belts, non-metal parts, loopers, blades, timing adjustments etc as stated in the manufacturers warranty.

Very often, problems with sewing machines, presses and overlockers are down to user error. Customers purchasing a Sewing Machine can email or phone our helpline for advice, however the first point of call should be the instruction manual.

If you have purchased your machine from another company, you can purchase our 15 year parts labour and service warranty for £299.00 plus vat – subject to pre-inspection of your machine.

Additionally, if you buy any other sewing machine from us with a lesser warranty period you can extend the warranty to 15 years parts labour and service at a cost of £299 (excluding agency machines).

This guarantee does not affect your statutory consumer rights

Industrial machines are covered for 1 year only. This is due to the weight and size of the machine, we cannot collect or redeliver during the guarantee, however, all labour and parts are free for the first year. We charge £100 for a call out within a 50 mile radius of our workshop, or you can bring to our workshop at no cost.