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From: kylefty
Date: 09-20-2006, 12:50 PM (1 of 11)
| I don't have a business but have been contemplating one for years. I would like to know how those who do have a business charge for simple things like sewing on a button or a seam that has come out, stuff like that. This is how I might like to start out, by just taking care of little things until I have the courage and experience to go further. Anybody have any answers? Appreciate any help I can get. |
User: kylefty
Member since: 01-02-2003 Total posts: 33 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 09-20-2006, 01:16 PM (2 of 11)
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The value of the work varies so much by region. You might pop in a local dry cleaner that provides alterations and see if they can hand you a price list. That'll give you an idea of the local "going-rate" and you can choose for yourself whether your time is worth the same or more.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: lendube
Date: 09-20-2006, 04:07 PM (3 of 11)
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Excellent, Andrea! That's what I did. I find pricing the hardest of all. It's way harder sometimes to figure out what to charge than to do the actual job sometimes!! Another way to do it is to take your costs for materials and then add your time figuring that you want to make $12.00 an hour or whatever. A zipper for $1.50 plus the 1/2 hour to take out the old one and install the new one (I know, I know, in a perfect world!) comes to $7.50. That's the way I usually do it. Between that and the dry cleaner's list it seems to be agreeable to everyone. Besides I pick up and deliver as well. Small town so we usually meet at the P.O.  Good luck, Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: kylefty
Date: 09-21-2006, 09:47 AM (4 of 11)
| Thanks ladies for the advice. I'll add these to my notes and start checking out the dry cleaners. I still have a lot to learn but my knowledge is increasing step by step. |
User: kylefty
Member since: 01-02-2003 Total posts: 33 |
From: CarolWI
Date: 11-24-2006, 04:07 PM (5 of 11)
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Greetings, ijust was reading over the past posts and saw this one about the simple sewing business. Did you start it and has it worked? Does anyone else have any input on how this is working for someone to do simple mending and alteration sewing? It would seem like there is alot of people either not knowing how or not wanting to do this simple sewing and with career incomes would pay to have this done rather than ditch the clothes. Or am I missing something here? Thanks, Carol |
User: CarolWI
Member since: 04-03-2003 Total posts: 33 |
From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 11-26-2006, 12:36 PM (6 of 11)
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In answer to the previous question, I have been doing alterations for the last almost 17 years. You are all correct -- pricing your work is THE hardest part of sewing in any specialty. Lennie had a good idea of taking what you want to make per hour and divide that by the amount of time it would take you to do a particular alteration or repair. But Lennie! $12.00 per hour??? That's way too low in any area, in my opinion! Start at about $15.00 or $20.00 per hour, depending on your region and your experience. Then raise your pricing as you gain experience and the cost of living goes up. AndreaSews had another good idea of checking with local dry cleaners. You can also call another professional seamstress in your area. Most won't give out exact quotes, but many will give "ballpark" figures. Adjust what you learn to reflect your rates and your experience. After you have been doing alterations for a while you will get a feel for how long it takes per alteration, and how much you want to earn from each alteration. Many of us will not even thread our machines for less the $xx. In my case that number is $8.00. On the other hand, I have in the past and continue to do things for long time customers -- like fixing a torn seam or putting on a missing button -- for a lot less than $8.00. You will have to get to know your clientelle and determine what each repair is worth to you. One caveat, though. Simple alterations may be what you want to do, but once you start doing any kind of alterations, you will be asked to do some really "funky" things. Do them if you can and want to, or let them go if you want to stick to very simple things. One more thing -- Carol asked about career people not knowing how or not wanting to do the work of fixing career wear. Yep, that happens because people are too busy with other things, don't have the knowledge or do not want to do any alterations or repairs on their own clothing. Fair enough. Gives us work! GRIN |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: lendube
Date: 11-26-2006, 02:27 PM (7 of 11)
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Hey Linda and ladies, I guess $12. per hour is cheap but I'm not a pro by a long shot and this is not a wealthy community, just your average town with regular people. It's hard for me to charge a lot because so far I've known everyone I've sewn for. A recent job was re-making banners for high school championships from 1971 and 1975! I charged just $45.00 per full sized banner but the hours I put into each one would have made them unaffordable for the small booster club at the school. My kids went to this school and I see that as just another way to give to the community. I'm busy embroidering 40 shirts for the local fire dept. Since my dh is chief he can't pay me for my time, just reimburse me for my materials. Carol, if you're in a small town word of mouth is your best friend. I just started putting business cards I made around in different places where people gather. I'm as busy as I want to be now but if I wanted more business I would just put an ad in our town paper saying I do household sewing, hemming and simple alterations. I'd be flooded. Also, I spoke to the local dress shop owner who does alterations, etc. and I get overflow from her when she's busy. Most of my sewing income comes from the local dog groomer. She keeps me busy with making all sorts of fun stuff for animals. I make custom jackets, totes, bandanas, dresses, shirts, beds, etc. I know it's frivilous but I give a good percentage to animal charities from the money I make. I'm lucky in that my income doesn't put food on the table. I'd be sewing anyway and if I make a little money it's fun. The downside is that I never have time for any projects of my own. Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: VenusElaine
Date: 11-30-2006, 10:41 PM (8 of 11)
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"I cannot judge the value of other's work, only my own." Anyone who is able and has the ability and desire to sew for others is a valuable asset in today's society. Your first decision must be exactly what type of sewing you will do. You cannot be everyone to every client. My experience includes: custom clothier, alterations, home dec, and upholstery. In my current "incarnation" I do only alterations. I do not have the space or time schedule to perform anything else. There are also sewing jobs that I prefer not to do, and limiting the scope of my work helps eliminate these jobs. The general public believes that because I am "a seamstress" that I will sew anything. Not so! Do check with your local dry cleaners' and other sewing professionals. Then decide if your experience and skill is equal or exceeds these services. I, personally, have over 40 years of sewing experience. I charge a minimum of $1.00 per minute of actual sewing time. This amount covers fittings, research, notion location and ordering, etc. You must remember that your clients must not only pay you for your time, but also for your knowledge. When you do alterations, ripping time must be figured into your final price. Many times "ripping" the garment takes more time than the actual sewing. I can sew a zipper into a garment much more quickly than I can remove the old one without damaging the garment. Separating zippers must not only be matched at top and bottom, but at every seam or detail that crosses the zipper. All of these factors must be taken into consideration when pricing your work. Then you must consider dealing with the public. Decide now what you will accept or not. Attitude from your clientele will affect your work. I have "fired" customers that were more stress than they were worth, monetarily. Good luck, and remember: Man plans, and God laughs! VenusElaine "Always put as much effort into your marriage as you do into your wedding."
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User: VenusElaine
Member since: 10-22-2005 Total posts: 126 |
From: Linda in Colorado
Date: 12-02-2006, 02:05 PM (9 of 11)
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VenueElaine, You are a lady after my own heart! You gave a succinct answer to the question. Well said! Linda in Colorado |
User: Linda in Colorado
Member since: 03-27-2000 Total posts: 102 |
From: VenusElaine
Date: 12-06-2006, 01:47 AM (10 of 11)
Linda (my mother's name, love it )Thanks for the reply. I was beginning to think I was becoming jaded due to the excessive demands I receive daily. Check the "Vent" thread for more kvetching and attitude. Christmas is coming, and so (sew) is the the "it's only", "I need it now", "but, but but". I have adopted the policy of a friend of mine which states, "Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part". VenusElaine "Always put as much effort into your marriage as you do into your wedding."
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User: VenusElaine
Member since: 10-22-2005 Total posts: 126 |
From: lsoutherla
Date: 12-06-2006, 12:02 PM (11 of 11)
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or as I've always put it, your urgency is not my urgency. (I believe when you reach this point in life, it's so much easier to say no.) situations fall into four catagories: not important not urgent important urgent The point would be to get things done before they reach the fourth level. laura |
User: lsoutherla
Member since: 05-04-2006 Total posts: 72 |
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