There are several simple and inexpensive ways to successfully market your home-based sewing business. To be successful, you must become your own marketing manager and spread the word. People won't know you are providing seamstress services unless you tell them. These marketing strategies will help get the word out:
Word-of-Mouth
Tell anyone you know that you have started your own seamstress business -- don't be bashful. Word-of-mouth is your best marketing strategy. Be assertive and professional. You are providing a service -- a service that is becoming scarce. You have skills and expertise that other people need.
A good seamstress is hard to find. People will be thankful to know you are providing these services. And if you are a good seamstress, you will quickly have lots of clients and repeat business.
Business Cards
Zazzle.com is an economical source for high-quality business cards, and several seamstress templates are available. Include your phone number, email address and website information on your card. Do not include your home address, because you don't want people showing up at your house unannounced. Instead, include the phrase "by appointment only." Give business cards to family, friends and neighbors.
Also, local fabric stores often have bulletin boards where you can post your business cards -- take along pins to attach your cards to the board. Keep a stash of business cards in your car or purse as you will discover bulletin boards at other local stores where you can post your cards, or meet people who need your services.
Craig's List
Craig's List, ww.craigslist.com is an on-line, classified ad website. There is no charge to place ads on Craig's List and it has become a go-to source for expert service providers. In your ad, list the services you provide, what areas you serve, and the contact information you are comfortable sharing. Your ad will expire every 30 days, so set reminders for yourself to renew your ads.
Also, periodically check the Craig’s List web site for people who are looking for seamstresses. Designers, entrepreneurs and others place help-wanted ads for seamstresses, so be sure to check often!
Create a Website
People search the internet for seamstresses, so you need to have a basic website in place. Make it short and sweet. Create your list of services and a brief price list that will give people a feel for the costs involved. Offer to work through the mail. People from all over the country search the web. Seamstresses are less and less common, and good ones are rare.
Clients are willing to send their garments or special projects to you to get the work done. It is best not to quote a price on the project until you have it in hand and actually see what is involved. Most clients are happy to send you a check in advance to cover both your fee and the return postage.
These first four ideas should prove very successful for your home-base seamstress business, and they may be all that you need. The following ideas are suggestions to grow your business on a large scale, or as food for thought should you need additional marketing strategies to reach niche markets.
Brochures
If you plan to do mailings or participating in networking groups, a brochure may be helpful. Word processing technology makes creating brochures pretty simple. Purchase professional-looking paper stock, and print only a few at a time on your home printer. If you do mailings to specific groups (see below), you can easily customize your brochure for those potential customers. You should include some seamstress-related clip art, a list of the services you are providing (depending on who you intend to give this brochure), and a brief price list.
Encourage people to contact you for price quotes and to set up an appointment. Include your phone number, but not your address -- you are working from home and you don't want people just showing up on your door step unexpectedly.
Mailings
If there are upscale neighborhoods in your area, you can find out the addresses and mail them a brochure and a business card. Or, you can drive through the neighborhoods and attach your brochure to their doorknobs or mailboxes (but you cannot put your brochure INSIDE the mailboxes). Also, if you want to do work for a specific market (dance schools, dry cleaners, bridal shops, boutiques, etc.) create a brochure specifically for the needs of that group and mail or hand deliver your brochures to them.
Networking Groups
Here you will meet other professionals and help each other succeed via word-of-mouth. You will refer people to them, and they will refer people to you. There are different types of network groups -- casual, strong contact, professional, and women's business organizations to name a few.
Some people choose to belong to more than one group. You'll need to do research in your area -- ask other women business owners if they belong to any groups. Networking will require a time commitment, but if it produces a steady stream of clients than it's well-worth the time and effort. Wear garments that you've made to the meetings -- people always ask seamstresses if they made what they are wearing, so you will be your own advertising. Take business cards to the meetings -- and brochures if you have them. If after six months you receive no clients from this source – drop it. Don’t waste your precious time and money.
These techniques will help you spread the word about your seamstress business. You may soon find that you have more business than you ever dreamed!
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