Sewing for profit
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cledwards58 | Joined: 02-11-12 10:37 am |
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Number of Posts: 2 | |
| Role: member |
Sat, 2012-02-11 11:42
Hello everybody, my name is Cindy and I'm new to sewingdistrict.com; I have had a sewing business for years, but have just recently gotten serious about it by quitting my day job and focusing 100% on making my business work. At this time we concentrate on children and baby items, but we also do custom work for all ages including weddings, alterations, window treatments.... etc. You name it, we do it. We have a website and also a Facebook page. We do trade shows and craft fairs (about 2 sometimes 3 a month). We also have an Etsy page. Here's our problem: we have a very viable and marketable product, but we just don't seem to know how to get our product out there. We've been going at this hard-core since October; does anyone have any suggestions on what more we can do to get our product out there? We make onesies with tutus attached, burp cloths, bibs, mini-diaper bags, comforter/blanket sets, all using patterns we've made up ourselves. Most of our onesies are tie-dyed, which we do ourselves. Any suggestions would be more than welcome. Did I mention we are working on a shoestring budget? We have an ad on www.yp.com and www.localyahoo.com. Please visit our website at www.manddsspecialtouch.com and let me know what you think and any suggestions on how we can get our product more visible to the public. Thank you so much for whatever assistance you can offer.
Replies
dont be discouraged if things
dont be discouraged if things are as busy as you would like them to be. The good thing is that you have connected with this forum and other online groups for support and ideas. I have been sewing draperies out of our home for 20 years now. Some years were real good and other years where slower. Your website is nice and blogging at least once a week and posting the blog on twitter and facebook helps keep traffic coming to your website. I do vending shows where I showcase my portfolio, fabrics and sample of window treatments, from there I get phone numbers and email addresses to contact them for in home consultations. I send out christmas cards to previous customers from years past. I do participate in vending shows in the wierdest events, such as Health Fairs where there are message therapits givng small messages and people selling holistic things and there I am with my window treatment ideas and I do get business that way. One year i particiated in a Fairy Fest for little kids who dressed up in fairies and they had face painting and other fairy theme vendors and there I was with my window treatment ideas and I got a big job from that fair. If sewing is your passion, word of mouth will also get you more business. You are very very talented, keep up the great work. see my blog at www.isew4u.blogspot.com. Thank you
Check out the "Sew Biz"
Check out the "Sew Biz" columns in 2011 issues of Creative Machine Embroidery. Each issue covers a relevant business topic, including start-up, legalities, fulfillment and more. The May/June 2011 installment discusses marketing principles and tactics. These issues are available to purchase at quiltandsewshop.com. Good luck!
I have found that it's
I have found that it's important you be found by the customer (target market) so really need to go where they may be found. Online is tricky since there are so many places but the best way to figure that out is observing page rank. Higher # may mean busier. Build awareness through family and parent sites (forums), offer articles to other sites (guest blogging), answer and question sites, business listings.
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