Whether it’s a life-long goal or a means to bounce back from this pandemic, establishing a sewing business in the comfort of your home poses a great potential to put your sewing skills to good use. Many people think that starting a sewing business requires blood, sweat, and tears. But the truth is, it does not have to be that hard! Hobbies such as sewing can help to prevent caregiver burnout.
In this article, we will provide some tips to make your business journey less stressful and more enjoyable.
Must-haves
Let’s start with the necessities. Of course, to get your business up and running, you will need a sewing machine. It does not have to be expensive. It just has to be functioning.
As long as your sewing machine can perform basic straight and zig-zag stitches, you will surely ace all of your sewing projects. You can research the best sewing machine that fits your needs, budget, and preference.
A serger is not an absolute necessity, but it would be great to have once the business is established since customers appreciate seamless seams.
Next is a camera or a high-quality mobile phone. You would need to use a high-quality camera to make your photos look professional. This is most important if you are selling online. If you do not have the budget for a high-quality DSLR, you can play around your phone, its camera apps, and photo-enhancing apps. Additionally, you may also want to invest in lighting setups if natural light does not favor your home office.
Lastly, a mannequin to put your creations on. If you are sewing RTW (ready-to-wear) outfits, then a small-sized mannequin will be great, since smaller-sized samples would require fewer fabric.
The business side of things
Once you have already decided what to sell, you will need a Facebook page, Etsy store, or your own website to market your products.
Having your own website is probably the hardest part of all, since you will need to hire a web developer to get it up and running. But this is, no doubt, a great investment because a website solely for your business establishes a strong image within your niche.
However, if this does not fit the budget yet, you may find a marketplace that already possesses high traffic and take advantage of it. Take Instagram and Facebook as an example—advertising your products only costs little to none. It is either you will pay for ads or you will craft relevant content to get the attention of your target market. Additionally, you will have to work hard to generate your own traffic on your page.
Considerations
Your health
Sewing for long periods of time can be strenuous on your body. You see, when you are sewing, chances are you would not instantly notice that you are not sitting in a good posture. Sewers are notorious for back pains and bad posture, so make sure to squeeze in some yoga sessions or simple stretching sessions to improve your posture.
Efficiency
You will need to sew efficiently, especially when you have a lot of projects on hand. Make use of the technology that can make your sewing faster. Try to sew in batches to maximize your time.
Setting the right price
This may be the most important part of thinking of a business. If you are thinking of starting a sewing business, you must be here for a good reason—you want to earn money to pay for your monthly costs.
So, make sure to charge what you are worth. In order to find the right price for your goods and services, you may follow this guide:
Price = materials + overheads +time + profit + tax
Materials: These refer to thread, fabrics, labels, and other things you use to complete your project. This also includes even the small consumables like zippers, beads, and buttons.
Overheads: When running a business, there are running costs that are taking place. These costs include internet, electricity, sales listing fees, computers, and even the polishing of your sewing machine.
Time: Your time is a valuable asset. You work for long hours just to get everything sewn. You can come up with the cost of your time per hour. Make sure to look for shortcuts and other things that can expedite your sewing processes without compromising quality.
Profit: Sure, you may be already satisfied with your hourly rate, but good, running businesses generate profit too. So, make sure that you are getting ample amounts of profit from your business.
Tax: This is a vital part of any business, so take tax into account when coming up with a list of prices. You can consult an accountant to discuss tax.
Sewing business ideas
If you still don’t have any idea which niche to pursue, you can try exploring these sewing projects:
- Kids’ clothing
- Women’s clothing
- Customization
- Pet accessories
- Handbags
- Religious items
- Toys and dolls
Check out these tips on how to start your own business by Developing a Personal Strategic Plan.