SolveYourProblem
Article Series:
How To Start
A Craft Business
Sewing & Threading
Your Way to Success
by SolveYourProblem.com
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.
# # # # # SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
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