How to Become an Alteration Shop Owner, Start an Alteration Business, Be a Sewer, Be a Seamstress



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Alteration Shop Owner

Breaking Into and Succeeding as an Alteration Shop Owner
Starting an Alteration Shop
Starting a Sewing Business
Becoming a Sewer
Becoming a Seamstress

Pursue your dream as an alteration shop owner or start one at home. Be known as a skillful seamstress who can fix and mend any clothing problems. Be appreciated as a skillful craftsperson who knows how to makeover a piece of old garment and make it wearable again. Enjoy the freedom of having your own business with only minimal setup expenses.

This business is easy to start and can be very inexpensive to operate working either full or part time. If you can afford a needle and a piece of thread, then this is the business for you. Ideally, you own a reliable sewing machine, which does not cost much compared with starting other businesses.

Even though it is known as a "poor person's business," the earning potential is enormous, especially if you accept high-end and formalwear clothes and from upscale customers. The key is choosing your target market.

It is not impossible for a successful alteration business to earn up to $80,000 annually. Some even earn more. On average, one can expect to earn $20,000 to $40,000 annually, if you work from home or own a small neighborhood alteration business.

Success can easily be yours by pursuing your love of sewing. An alteration shop provides an opportunity to earn money while doing what you love. You can choose to specialize in couture sewing, tailoring or just hemming and replacing zippers. As a professional craftsperson, you have the freedom of setting your own hours and your own prices.

If you think an alteration shop is restricted to the number of people in your town, think again. Even if you reside in a small town, you can both serve local customers as well as customers from around the world, by offering services online. With today's reliable and affordable Internet and postal services, your services can easily be enjoyed by customers worldwide.

Satisfy your need to feel good by helping your customers looking good. Improve their self esteem by giving them the opportunity to have clothing that fits perfectly. You'd surprised to find how many people there are who have not worn a perfectly-fit clothing for a long time.
Whenever you're ready, you can take part in making a bride’s dreams of looking beautiful on her special day. If making and sewing a bridal gown is not your specialty, don't despair. There are still many ways to earn as a seamstress and alteration expert:

Sewing and fixing costumes
Sewing and fixing evening and formal wear
Sewing and fixing men's suits and pants
Sewing and fixing casual wear

Another beauty of this business is it can be entered without any education. Of course, a formal education in fashion design and construction would be nice, but it is not required. Customers come with a wide range of wants and needs, oftentimes don't require sophisticated designing skills. Showcase your talents and start your own business by providing services at your own level of sewing expertise.

What is a "alteration business" exactly? Do you need to start a neighborhood shop nearby a dry cleaner?

Of course not. You can start one right away at home. If you want to jump in with both feet, you can open a seamstress business offering sewing services that includes alteration services. The combination of services offered is not limited. You can specialize or take all, the choice is completely yours.

There are all sorts of alteration businesses (in large and small scales):

Hemming
Making button holes
Fixing zippers
Mending fabrics
Altering sizes
Sewing services (costumes, evening/formal wear)
Rejuvenating old garments
Rejuvenating denims
Tailoring
Couture sewing

In addition, you can choose one or more of the following target markets:

Local non-competing shops (collaborations with dry cleaners, apparel stores, formal wear rentals, etc.)
School events
Corporation events
Weddings
Executives
Fashionistas
Celebrities
Sewing enthusiasts

If budget is limited, you don't even need to lease an expensive space at the neighborhood strip mall. Here are some ideas of an alteration business on a shoestring budget:

Work at home
Promote at schools and community events
Offer expertise at local non-competing shops
Start a Web site with mail order services

You can be an alteration business owner wherever you live regardless of your past experiences and educational background, which is the beauty of this business. If you want to live and work in a small town, simply start at home or open a neighborhood mom-and-pop store. If you want to live and work in a big city like Los Angeles and New York, this lucrative business can be yours too.

For those with entrepreneurial spirit and sewing skills, becoming an alteration business owner is most likely a great fit. Oftentimes you can start it with only very little investment, even if you don't have any prior business experience.

Whenever you're ready, income can be increased exponentially by offering an unlimited array of new services as follows:

Couture sewing and tailoring services
Selling new clothes (a small boutique)

This eGuide provides insightful formation, advices and tips for anyone who is contemplating to open an alteration shop. Numerous hard-to-find resources are included to help you locate pertinent information, businesses and consultants that will help you achieve your success in this highly lucrative and competitive business.

One of the myths in starting a boutique is "opening an alteration business requires expertise in sewing." Well, in many cases, this is simply not true.

There are many types of alterations, so you can simply choose one(s) that you're comfortable with. For instance, if your expertise is making button holes, offer this. If you're comfortable with French weaving, offer this as well. There are all sorts of services that you can specialize. The key is knowing which one(s).

Editor-in-Chief Jennie S. Bev and co-author Debbie Cook have talked to many professionals, including successful seamstresses, custom clothiers, alteration experts and educators to provide you with the best and the most comprehensive self-study guidebook filled with insider information, tips and advice for breaking into and succeeding as an alteration business owner.

Among them are:

Successful alteration shop owners
A professor of fashion construction
A creator of pattern-making software
An online educator
Several successful seamstresses who offer services locally and online
An successful online businessperson who started an executive tailoring services worldwide
An expert of the rare art of weaving and knitting
A custom clothier and alteration expert of bridal gowns

About the Authors

Jennie S. Bev is THE fashion, image and fun careers expert, whose reputation has been acknowledged by prestigious media internationally. She has been profiled and mentioned in Entrepreneur, Teen People, Canadian Business, Home Business, Dong (France), San Francisco Chronicle, The Independent, Daily Southtown, The Arizona Republic, Femina (Asia) and Dewi (Asia).

Editor-in-Chief Jennie S. Bev was named 2003 EPPIE Award finalist in Non-Fiction How To category for excellence in electronic publishing. She has published over 40 books and 900 articles in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany and Southeast Asia. She is also a college professor based in San Francisco Bay Area.

Co-author Debbie Cook wears many hats in both her professional and personal life. Due to a restless drive and her entrepreneurial spirit she constantly delves into projects that range from organizing herself and others through her business DSC Enterprises; to working alongside her husband in the daily operation of their family business.
She has traveled far and wide to speak to groups about living an organized life including a memorable trip to Egypt where she spoke while floating on the Nile.

This 70-page instantly downloadable StyleCareer.com eGuide Breaking Into and Succeeding as an Alteration Shop Owner brings you valuable insider tips, advice and suggestions not available elsewhere to help you embark on this highly lucrative career path.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Myths, the Realities, and the Basics
Myth: You Need a Lot of Money to Open an Alteration Shop
Myth: Alteration Shop Business is Boring
Basic: Startup Costs
Myth: It Needs Many Expensive Equipments
Reality: Options in Alteration Business
Myth: I Have to Know How to Alter Everything
Reality: Specialize in What You’re Good atMyth: I Have Never Run My Own Business
Reality: Startup Information is Not Hard to Find

Getting Ready for the Big Break
Profile of Service Business
Choosing a Business Location
Home
Commercial Retail Space at the Mall
Mobile Service
Sourcing Supplies and Information
Sewing Notions
Patterns, Fabrics and Computer Programs
Online Store Directories and Product Reviews

Services Offered
Alterations
Customer Fittings
Resizing
Making Over an Old Garment
Tailoring
Repairing
Mending
Leather
Shoes
Custom Clothier

Personality Traits of a Successful Alteration Shop Owner
Confidence
Creativity
Good Listening Skills
Patience
Marketing
Referral Networking

Tools and Equipments
Sewing Machines
Light and Medium Weight
Heavy Duty
Computerized
Dress Forms
Standard or Basic Dress Forms
Adjustable Dress Forms
Sewing Kit
Stitching
Measuring
Cutting
Environment
Lighting
Work Surface
Storage
Policies
Estimates
Time
Mistakes

Career Game Plan
Education
Formal versus Informal
Community College Courses and Online Instructions
How Much Can You Expert to Earn
High End Market
Formal Wear
Casual Market
Everyday Wear Specialization
Expertise
Financing Your Business

Developing a Business Plan
Personal Savings
Paying as You Go
Approaching Lenders
Your Business Financial Health
Planning for Financial Obligations
Planning for Growth

Success Stories

This eGuide literally saves you hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent on professional workshops and training and hundreds of hours of research. It will help you break into the career of your dream faster without having to repeat the same mistakes that most newcomers do.

We have also included online resources on where you can purchase the products to buy on wholesale price. This information alone would cost you hundreds of dollars elsewhere.

Breaking Into and Succeeding
as a Boutique Owner eGuide
70 Pages
Regular Price: $26.95
Sale Price: $18.95

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