I've never used an embroidery machine and don't know what the ones under £500 do.

I need regular batches of embroidered labels, and the going rate seems to be over 20p on a 500 minimum order.

Does anyone know if the cheaper embroidery machines write simple lettering or shapes on one inch tape? My particular labels are pull-tags for boots, one inch by five inches of a very long roll. The design would be in a single colour just under two inches long. I wouldn't want to spend more than a few hours making my 500 or whatever number.

Obviously a machine shop could advise me, but they'll tend to suggest the more expensive machines to any help to get me started would be welcome!