Marketing

Website? To Have or Not to Have? That is the Question.

Response Post to the SewBiz List - Website Marketing

Here is a question to all of you business people out there who have websites. Do you feel that having a website for your business is worth the cost?

This depends on what you define as "cost". There's money, time and your personal frustration level.

The basic monetary cost of setting up the site is little. The fee for the domain name and what ever fees the ISP you choose sets. I do not recommend setting up a site at Geocities or any other "free" type ISP. First is the problem everyone's been discussing - you can't directly sell from them. But some now do let you have some modest e-commerce.

I also don't recommend that you do a mall type site where you are in with other business and an administrator controls your site. This is nice to start off with , but I would not like the control. I'm just enough of a bitch to want certain things my way for my business and it just would cost me too much in frustration.

The reason I do not recommend it is that it does nothing for your business image and can even hurt it. If you want a business site you should do a domain name site and that you have to pay a monthly fee for. (Unless you are a computer geek with a server in your bedroom with an ISDN line and can have your site on your own system)

At first, 40 year's ago, my site costs me $50 a month. Now, it's about $100. And the way sites and created an managed has changed a lot! That 40 year's ago, I had to learn html. That's the way site were created, using a rather simple computer language that wasn't hard to learn, but today with Java scrip and all the other stuff, you just about need a college degree to understand it all. Most website hosting companies now have template driven interfaces that create and let you edit your site with more ease.

I do all the work for my site so my time spent is much, but once you get the hang of it it's not hard. I have even been doing friend's sites. It's a nice break from sewing and helps me learn more to use on my site.

Now, as for frustration . . . I've had a lot lately. Folks have been writing to complain about the changes I've made on the site. These people get nasty and it's really not my idea of fun reading these letters, but I respond to every one and try to give clear answers. It's hard knowing that there are people that can be mean out there and it seems that the anonymity of e-mail makes it easy for them to be just as nasty as possible. I've had 2 people threaten me with violence because they wanted my domain name.

Other things can be frustrating too, like having your site not work for 2 weeks for something beyond your control. If you are depending on the income from the site this could be very frustrating. Some of you know this happened to me a last month and it was so very frustrating because I was getting e-mails from all over the world saying they could not access my site but I checked everything out and it was fine from here. People on the lists were saying, "Hay, any one know where leanna.com went?" What I didn't know is that I could get to my site because I use the same ISP for my dial up service. Everyone else in the world could not. I finally was able to contact the right people to fix things but I was out of business for over 2 weeks.

These things happen on the Internet and you have to learn to go with the flow. Also, what every one has been saying about backing up your site is very important. You just have no idea what could happen to the computers at your ISP, or the phone lines, or electrical service, or . . . .

Do you feel that you generate enough business from your websites to cover your cost of having one?

Up to a few month's ago, I would have said, "no." I have had to make some changes in my business and the website is now consistently paying for itself and hopefully will start making me a profit down the road.

If you are just starting out I would first contact the company you are now using for your dial-up service and e-mail. You might already have a small space for what is called a "HomePage" site. This is how I started out. My ISP, netcom, did provide a 5MB space and even helped you write the pages with templets and some simple HTML. These sites are included in what you are already paying in access fees, so you might as well use it for a trial. You probably won't be able to sell anything but you can usually advertise your business.

So, is it worth it for me? Yes. It doesn't cost a lot monetarily and I like spending the time and learning new skills. The frustrations you can keep, but that's all part of doing business.

Getting Started with a Store

I was living in North Carolina, about an hour and a half east of Raleigh. In Raleigh is a big Talbots that many ladies from my town would shop at. They would bring their purchases back home and have me do the hemming and such because it was just inconvenient to have the Talbots do them. They may not of had an alteration service either, I never found out.

When I knew I was moving to Cincinnati, I got a local phone book and sent out resumes to various places including Talbots. I enclosed a letter stating that I would be visiting the city to apartment hunt on a certain date and would be available for interviews during that time. Talbots was one of the places that called me back and scheduled an interview. At the time they were using a local Dry Cleaners and not very pleased with their workmanship. My offer of fittings in the store sounded great to them and I've been working for them for 12 years now.

I don't really work "for" them, but with them. I am independent and make my own rules and prices. I do respect their "return for any reason" policy and assure customers that they will be satisfied with my work. I have at times adjusted things a second time, but it's very rare that a customer wants to return something after it's been altered. In those cases I reverse the alteration if I can so Talbots can resell the item. Talbots customers have high standards but they aren't overly picky as a rule. Now and then I get one of those ladies that is not going to be pleased no matter what you do, but they are very rare.

On the technical side, I give each customer an invoice at the time of the fitting with the cost and date of delivery. Also included is my address and phone number so they can know where their things are and call if they have any questions they didn't think of at the fitting session. They often use this later to bring me non-Talbots items they need done. After the items are delivered the customer may pick them up at their convenience. They pay the store the amount I required. Talbots does not add on to my prices nor take a cut from me. A great plus I think.

At the end of each month I add up all the invoices and create a bill for each store (I am now servicing 4 stores). Actually, I simply tell the computer to print out the list I have been logging work on for each store on my letterhead. It makes a nice looking statement. Each store manager checks the statement and sends it off to the home office. I get a check in about 4 weeks.

Now and then they get behind and I have trouble getting paid, but they are usually good about it and keep fairly on schedule. I do think the whole store system works this way. Each store manager has the freedom to decide how to handle it. For many years I couldn't convince one Talbots store in town to use me while the other 3 did. They finally started last year and are glad they did. It is a great selling tool for them to be able to offer someone skilled and willing to come to the store for fittings and drop off of finished work so they can use their Talbots credit to pay for the work.

There are many other stores that don't have the space or budget to have an alteration lady on staff. I have worked for several lady's boutiques in town, but they come and go. Talbots is a stable establishment that I doubt will fold any time soon.

Another neat perk is that Talbots doesn't mind me telling a customer to not buy something if I think she won't be satisfied after the altering. Lots of larger stores have a sell-it-at-any-cost policy and have their alteration department do some pretty unconventional altering to make it fit. I can't handle that kind of pressure. I want to do what is good for the garment and the customer, not simply rank up sales for the store.

~Lea

Our Visitors ask Questions

Attracting Customers
added January 2006

Hi leanna,

I am beginning a studio apartment sewing business specializing in alterations and bridal attire. Can you offer advice on how to attract clients for my business.

Thank you, khalilah

My best advice is: Do an excellent job for every client you get and they will tell their friends and before you know it you will have as much work as you want.

Having a listing in the Yellow pages used to help a lot, but now-a-days it's a must to have a Google listing. It's not difficult. Just go to Google, type in your address and declare it as a new business. You can also request a Google business assistant give you a 1 hour consultation to set this up, for a very low fee.

I also have my name on a referral list that a local bridal salon gives to it's customers. I get a lot of calls from that list.

~Lea
Advertising for Work
added October 2005

I have my business card to do alterations at a local bridal shop. When I first asked them to hand my cards out at their shop they asked if I would do work for them for free. Such as sew in a loose hook or a couple of beads. I didn't think that would be such a big deal, but since then they have approached me four different times telling me that their advertising is their biggest expense and that they are doing my advertising for me, so I should not be giving them bills for work that I have done for the shop. I have stated that I would not work for nothing. Sewing on a hook, or a similar thing that takes less than an hour, I will do, but anything more I want to be paid. I have gotten more than enough work from them giving out my business card, and they are very pleased with my work. I am not working for them. I am self employed. What do you think about this policy?

I would not agree to do anything they ask for free. But their argument about advertising for you has it's merits. The bridal store that I get most of my clients from has a system for the names they give out. I pay them $300 a year and am put on a list. This list is ordered by the area the seamstress service. My area used to be "Anderson" so I am first on the list. I get a lot of work from this list and figure it a fair deal.

~Lea
Working with Stores
added May 2001

What a great web page!! So much information. Thank you. I am trying to start a home sewing business with 2 parts actually. It would be bridal/evening wear with a focus on the bridal party but a split withlittle girl's wedding/party dresses. I would like to start with the girl's wear since I have several designs. My question though is - I would actually like to market my girl's dresses to a retail/specialty store so that I could keep control of the flow of clothing. Is this possible? I would like to take 5 samples for instance. But what if (hopefully) I am called from 2 stores asking for 4 dresses. Is there a way (a plan) in which I couldmake sure I am always ahead of the game with just myself working and maybe 2 helpers? Does this sound like a feasible business idea? Any thoughts? Thank you for any help you can give.

Your plan sounds great! As with any business endeavor, there is risk and it's usually all yours. The risk can bethat you won't get any orders and it can also be that you will get more than you can handle. It's hard to make plans for either possibility. Your idea to have 2 helpers ready is good, but you will be responsible for their quality of work. Having employees is a whole other problem.

In short the only way you can control the flow of orders is to advertise in as many stores as you can to hopefully create the situation where you have too many orders. Then set a limit of how many orders in a given period you will take and say "NO" to all others. I limit the number of bridal customers I take per month. Saying no is hard but it keeps me from going bonkers with too much work.

Hope this helps
~Lea
Marketing Idea
I have been sewing from my home for over 5 years now and have decided to rent space. I really can't wait to move in and get sewing. I have decided that since my rates will go up some, that I will offer a punch card for pant hems. 10 hems, 1 free. Have you heard of other people doing anything like this? Pant hems go so fast for me that I figured that it would be a good gimmick for me to use. I also noticed that you have a blind hemmer in your shop. I don't have one, and I wondered if they are worth the investment? I sew with Berninas and I love their blind hem stitch and have been using that with no complaints.

I love your punch card idea. And yes, doing it for pant hems is the ticket! Hems in general are one of those things you can charge more per hour for then the other more time consuming items. This way your cash flow evens out because people just don't realize the time anything takes to do. A simple pant hem taking 10 minutes can go for $10, that's $60 per hour. Where something taking 3 hours to do will be difficult to charge more than $60 for.

A blindstitching machine is well worth the investment. It does a much nicer job of stitching invisibly on finer fabrics and it's very fast, saving you time. I'm actually trying to sell mine because I have moved and my sewing room is much smaller than the one pictured on the site. I'll be replacing it with a portable machine that I can sit on a shelf when not in use. If you happen to see any good deals on one while you are searching for a tabletop model for yourself, please let me know.

This kind of machine is very sturdy and durable, so buying a used one is a very good idea. Besides, the new ones are very expensive. I bought mine used for $400 in South Carolina. The same machine new is about $1200.

Good luck with your new venture!
~Lea
Drumming up Business
Also, this will be my first time at starting a business, do you have any advice as to how to 'drum up' business?

As for drummin' up business - word of mouth is your best advertising. Just do a good, quality job for each customer and you will be amazed how they will be beating a path to you. I've tried all kinds of advertising: radio, newspaper, magazines, etc. and none can beat a satisfied customer. Yellow pages is a good idea, but I don't do that anymore because I just don't need it.

~Lea