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From: Seams Sew Right
Date: 07-25-2003, 10:46 AM (1 of 13)
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How can I tap into the prom gown market? Also, I am currently doing mostly alterations, some custom work, but I think I work too slowly, and it seems that I am not really making any money. Any ideas how I can learn to work faster? It seems that even simple alterations take me so long to do. What other markets might be profitable? Our family needs a second income as soon as I can-my dh is very supportive of my doing what I love, and is willing to wait for me to get more profitable. Thanks! Lisa |
User: Seams Sew Right
Member since: 04-25-2003 Total posts: 18 |
From: ReenieBess
Date: 07-30-2003, 01:41 PM (2 of 13)
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I know the feeling. I have no answers, but I have experience with the slow alterations syndrome. I think it is due to the small job/ piecemeal nature of alterations. If you keep having to change thread colors, change machine feet, etc for each and every small job, you just never have the push to work fast--you can't! Unless you can save up jobs and group them and do all at once (not likely!) you can't make good use of your time. It's probably just that, and not your own shortcomings. I lucked out a few years ago and fell into a large ongoing alterations job with school uniforms. They even provide work space. SO in September I am forced to set up a production line, which gets you fast--FAST!! They want some 300 kids in uniform in 2 days!! LOTS of hems in a hurry! That is kind of a rush--and very lucrative when you get fast. As I say, it was luck and LOTS of networking. Whenever I am short of work (and most broke!) I end up having catchy business cards made. Carry them everywhere--give them to everyone--and years from now you MAY have a booming business! |
User: ReenieBess
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 11 |
From: ReenieBess
Date: 07-30-2003, 01:48 PM (3 of 13)
| ps- my advice (hard to follow!) is DO NOT get sucked into hanging out in the flea market/ penny saver "neighborhood"! Lots of people want something for nothing and will make you feel like your work is worth little. While you don't want to become mercenary and hard hearted, charity and friendship are one thing and business and work, another. Custom work should be fairly expensive. And it's often the syndrome of priced higher= valued higher. SO far (many years!) I've made wedding gowns and prom gowns for people, and never actually tapped into that market. These things tend to be one time things, unfortunately, and I wonder if you can ever get a Name unless you set up a formal shop or are VERY lucky and VERY, VERY good? |
User: ReenieBess
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 11 |
From: weB2cats
Date: 09-06-2003, 04:11 PM (4 of 13)
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Put up flyers at High Schools, Jr High, etc. Enclose business cards in all your payments for bills, magnetic advertising board on your car. Also, call the various shops in your area to see if they have ideas. If you handle alterations, that may be a way to get your foot in the door, so to speak. Also, why not start with your own business cards? You can purchase 500 business cards for about $8.00 from this source: http://www.vistaprint.com I purchased my first batch there and was quite pleased with the way they turned out. And it's fun seeing your business name for the first time on a business card. Maybe leave some cards in the lounge areas of restaurants or malls. Eileen 
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User: weB2cats
Member since: 11-07-2002 Total posts: 232 |
From: ReenieBess
Date: 09-07-2003, 12:31 PM (5 of 13)
| thanks for the advice. I sort of already have my foot in the door but it mostly just stays there--hahaha! The source for cards sounds great--you wouldn't believe what I paid for my last batch locally! |
User: ReenieBess
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 11 |
From: Seams Sew Right
Date: 09-12-2003, 02:43 PM (6 of 13)
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Thanks, ReenieBess andEileen, I bought 1,000 business cards at our local Staples for about $20 and have passed out about half of that in the past 6 mos. I have also posted flyers in laundromats, grocery stores, libraries, senior residences, any public forum I can. I have a few friends who sometimes refer to me through word of mouth. Most of my referrals have come, believe it or not, from a local fabric store and from our local Jo-Anne Fabrics. I guess I just am having trouble understanding our local markets. It's discouraging at times. I hope I'm going to have a viable home business in the near future. I'd hate to have to give up sewing to go to work outside my home again. Lisa |
User: Seams Sew Right
Member since: 04-25-2003 Total posts: 18 |
From: lou-dezynz
Date: 09-14-2003, 12:12 AM (7 of 13)
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I agree with ReenieBess. When PGH with my oldest [26y/o] I learned that hanging out in fabric stores in upperscale areas offered me my best customers. I'd overhear well-bred, well- dressed women talking while trying to decipher fiber, whether the choice pattern would work with the fabric, how to "do that", et al... And I'd offer opinions and advice; next thing I knew I had customers who were well-to-do and willing to pay for what they wanted simply because they had no clue of how to do it and money didn't matter to them. Lisa, if you want to make prom dresses, then beginning at xmas, go to tanning spa's frequented by teens. Hairdressers, too. But especially the tanning spa's. These girls all start prepping for prom after the holidays amd hopefully you can work a deal with the local spas to post your flyers or keep a stack of your cards. You may need to offer the owner or the people working in there a discount for doing so, but you will probably get eon's of work! Good luck, Lou- Take life as it comes; there's always someone in a worse situation!
**I have A GREAT DEAL OF sew-quilt-craft FABRIC, PATTERNS, BOOKS, TOOLS for sale, along w/ vintage machines. Must sell off much of the contents of my sewing room due to lost home in divorce, need to downsize re relocating..** CHECK MY PHOTOS OF ITEMS FOR SALE at <http://photos.yahoo.com/<email address removed for privacy>> PAYPAL PREFERRED <<email address removed for privacy>> |
User: lou-dezynz
Member since: 02-02-2002 Total posts: 61 |
From: ReenieBess
Date: 09-14-2003, 02:30 PM (8 of 13)
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Absolutely, Lou! My best paying and most fun customer came from a friend being in a fabric store at just such a time! A woman was buying all the fabric for a new (professional) clowning costume, all the while complaining that she didn't have anyone to make the costume.So I got the job, it was fun and easy, AND the lovely woman kept urging MORE money on me! However, after declaring that she was delighted with my work, she planned to have another pair of pants made soon. And as usual, I never heard from her again! This is not the first time this has happened. And every time the customer has spontaneously claimed to be VERY happy with my work! What gives, do you all think?!? |
User: ReenieBess
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 11 |
From: lou-dezynz
Date: 09-23-2003, 05:21 PM (9 of 13)
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Reenie, I understand and appreciate what you're saying. My easiest maerkets have been customers in fabric shoppes, whom are clearly non- sewing. i did a layette and maternity clothing for a very wealthy woman when PG w/ my oldest [25y/o] in exchange for equal monies credited to my fabric store account as per those she choose for her own and baby's, in addition to a fee. She too ended up paying me much more then I'd requested, claiming she'd call again, tho didn't. I've had this occur before and found that one common demoninator is kids: every mom wants her child in the best costume, the most spectacular prom dress, et al... I THINK that since so many mom's sew, the ones who don't hate to admit that the costume/ dress wasn't "made at home" thou "sewn for the particular person/ purpose". I overheard one such mom brag about the costume she made years ago, which placed in a school contest, and I know for a fact that sHE didn't make it since I DID. I guess my experience dictates that each of these type customers should be looked upon as a single order, with no future hopes. If you're really interested in costume design, check out local dance studios. When my youngest was in a dance troope, the mom's of the little ones could care less about the skill, interested more in the costumes. Try small local studios first; ask whether they participate in expos, competitions, annual spring dance shows. This is a VERY lucrative market! My best, lou- Take life as it comes; there's always someone in a worse situation!
**I have A GREAT DEAL OF sew-quilt-craft FABRIC, PATTERNS, BOOKS, TOOLS for sale, along w/ vintage machines. Must sell off much of the contents of my sewing room due to lost home in divorce, need to downsize re relocating..** CHECK MY PHOTOS OF ITEMS FOR SALE at <http://photos.yahoo.com/<email address removed for privacy>> PAYPAL PREFERRED <<email address removed for privacy>> |
User: lou-dezynz
Member since: 02-02-2002 Total posts: 61 |
From: ReenieBess
Date: 09-23-2003, 09:42 PM (10 of 13)
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the "yes, I made it myself" syndrome is good insight--I 'd never have thought of that one! Of course, another possible gold mine is the baby and kid beauty pageant market, altho I hate them so much I'd be reluctant to profit from them. But other special interest groups/hobbists are also lucrative--just gotta get your toe in that door. Groups such as historic reenactors, square dancers, horse show people,etc--they all want special "costumes" that are not readily available in retail stores. You usually have to study up to become "authentic", but sometimes it's worth it--'specially if you LIKE the hobby or group! |
User: ReenieBess
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 11 |
From: MaryW
Date: 09-24-2003, 09:04 AM (11 of 13)
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Something in these posts just reminded me. When I was sewing for others, square dance costumes were very much in demand. Once you make one or alter one, the others will follow.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: ReenieBess
Date: 09-24-2003, 01:03 PM (12 of 13)
| oh,Maarryy--send pictures , please! I've always wanted to see Noav Scotia. Think about a house swap for nest summer. Just kidding (sort of!). Well, how bout a Nova Scotia sewing retreat? Any excuse for a trip! |
User: ReenieBess
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 11 |
From: ReenieBess
Date: 09-24-2003, 01:06 PM (13 of 13)
| whoops--that would be NEXT summer |
User: ReenieBess
Member since: 03-29-2003 Total posts: 11 |
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