Sew For Dough

Ok, you’re here because you’d like to start sewing for profit.

Chances are, you like to either construct garments or alter them, right? Not many people like to do both. I started out constructing bridesmaid dresses, then bridal gowns and now I only do alterations. Maybe you’re good at home decor. Figure out what you’d like to do first.

Do you have a catchy business name? Once you do, get a business license with your city. I got a business license, not because I am going to sell anything (you don’t collect sales tax on a service like sewing), but I got it to be legitimate. I don’t have to pay an annual license fee. In this city, it’s free. But, this way, I have a full fledged, honorable business going on.

I got business cards printed up. I made some flyers. Not professionally, mind you, just good. Hot off my own printer. They had the important facts on them:

They described what my business entails, what kinds of sewing I offer and that references are available. They gave prices on each service and how they compared with other businesses in town. (Don’t underprice yourself. But, if you’re just starting up in your area, and your competitors are pricing their hems at $12, for example, you could pull in alot of customers at $10 each). Offer to pick up and deliver if you can. My business is so busy, that I only do that for my oldest customers who can’t get out.

I walked the upper class neighborhoods for 2 afternoons (that’s all!) putting these flyers on people’s doorknobs. Sometimes, if they didn’t have a doorknob, I stuck it under the newspaper rubber band on the front porch. Get creative on where you leave it so they’ll find it.

That’s it! Do you know that I did this one time and I’ve had customers coming out the wazoo ever since? Word of mouth is powerful. There are all sorts of people who need a good seamstress and they never think to look in the yellow pages. Actually, I have advertised in the paper occasionally with no results. It’s a waste of time in this area. Save yourself some big dough and make the flyers.

Leaving flyers may be against the law where you live. Check it out first. If they are, then start spreading the word in your neighborhood.

I specialize in bridal alterations, so I also visited a few bridal shops until I got on as their sole seamstress. In my situation, I only work from home, not in their shop. So, that means my hours are flexible and I can see people during my preset hours.  It was a great advantage when my kids were growing up.

I usually work from 8-5 Monday through Friday. I think I’ve only seen people on Saturdays twice ever! Customers are flexible in their schedules. 

If you’d like to look at pricing strategies, click on this post.

I hope I have encouraged you to start getting serious about your sewing profession. In this economy, the time is ripe!

 

Note: To find other related posts on this topic, look at the left side of this page and click under “More Articles, Select Category”. You’ll get a drop down menu. Then, click on “Sew For Dough” or any other category you are interested in. There are several pages of information under each category, so I hope you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for. If not, drop me a line and I’ll get right back to you.

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