Five Basic Tips for Threading your Way to Success

 

Being a professional dressmaker is a very hands-on craft.  You work with your hands on a daily business, creating wearable masterpieces out of nothing but fabric and thread.  Professional dressmakers, like other artisans, often focus on the art of their craft, to the detriment of their business. If you enjoy sewing and are considering making a business of it, read these five basic tips to avoid the pitfalls of the business, and to thread your way to success.

 

1) Never be afraid to talk with the experts.  Sure, you know all there is about sewing.  When it comes to your work, you don’t need to rely on the advice of experts.  You know how to sew and are able to create exquisite creations that put a smile on your customer’s faces.  But knowing your craft well doesn’t necessarily make you an expert at everything else that affects your business.  Don’t be afraid to consult with advisors, financial planners, insurance agents, lawyers, loan officers, accountants, or any other type of advisor.  In fact, experts recommend that all small businesses meet with, at the very least, an accountant once a year for tax planning. 

 

If all these experts sound costly to you, you’re right.  Hiring a marketing consultant, for instance, would probably cost you thousands.  Fortunately, with a bit of research you can find many low-cost options for expert financial and small business advice.  Many local colleges and universities offer such services, as well as certain government agencies.  Although it’s definitely not the most enjoyable aspect of running a small business, seeking professional advice is one of the most responsible things you can do.  And remember:  it’s always better to seek advice when everything is relatively OK, rather than when you are in desperate need for it. 

 

2) Make a list of your expenses.  The reason most businesses fail is simple:  a lack of funding.  Avoid this pitfall by making a list of your projected expenses for one year.  Include the cost of raw materials, sewing equipment, overhead costs, advertising, accounting, and any other expenses.  Remember that your estimate will probably fall short of the real number.  Be honest with yourself about whether you are currently able to handle the cost of launching your business.

 

3) Don’t under price!  One of the most common mistakes dressmakers make is under pricing their work.  So how would you avoid this common error? First, calculate the total cost of producing your work.  Calculate the cost of raw materials, overhead, labor, and labor.  At what price can you make a comfortable profit?  Make a decision about the lowest price that you can accept.  Don’t go below this number!  It is very tempting to do this—many dressmakers often fall below this number in the urge to sell.  Remember that under pricing is detrimental for your business.  If you find yourself consistently under pricing, expect your business to go into the red soon enough. 

 

When pricing, keep in mind that you also have to consider your competitor’s price. Do research.  If your competitors seem to be selling lower, try to pinpoint exactly where they are cutting corners.  If you’re client’s mention your competitor’s pricing, be prepared to demonstrate how your work is priced a bit higher because you haven’t cut any corners in production. 

 

4) Keep an open line of communication between you and your customers.  Learning to communicate well with your customers is one of the most important things you can do to establish a good business.  Dressmaking is often fraught with stress and personal emotions.  Try to diffuse any potential conflict by keeping the line of communication between you and your clients open at all times.  Ask for feedback on a regular basis.  Ask lots of questions and listen carefully to what your customers say. 

 

Before beginning a project, talk to your client and learn their expectations.  Even if they don’t contact you, make a serious effort to keep them informed at all stages of production.  Finally, follow up after the project has been completed to make sure that the client’s expectations have been met and that everything has been delivered. 

 

Just because you finish a project and never hear any complaints from your client, don’t assume that they are satisfied.  Very satisfied customers are some of the most vocal—they will often contact you to say thanks, or to do more business with you.  Customers who aren’t satisfied, however, will rarely make contact.  They will just make sure never to do business with you again, and spread bad word of mouth. Try to avoid this type of situation by having a clear sense of how a customer feels about your work at all times. 

 

5) Don’t take on more than you can handle. Another common mistake made by dressmakers is to accept too many new projects.  This mistake can seriously jeopardize your burgeoning business.  Taking on too many projects not only places an enormous amount of stress on you, but also makes it more likely that you will have unsatisfied customers.  Keep your expectations realistic.  The idea of making more money is very tempting, but the stress you put on yourself and your clients is not worth it.  Limit yourself to what you know you can handle.