You need to have something altered, whether it's a pair of jeans that need to be hemmed, or a formal gown that needs a little bit here, a little bit there, or "just a hem".
Service - I provide a service, and it is specialized for each client. Much like a hairdresser, nail salon, spa services. I ask you, how much do you pay for those services? Were you satisfied? What did you do if you were dis-satisfied?
Time - A service provider, provides a service, but also his/her time. Now, for the hairdresser, nail salon and masseuse, the time is generally an hour or less. But for what I do - taking garments apart and putting them back together with the same seams/hems as they had when they came through my door, sometimes reinforced even better because I think they need it - wouldn't you think that would take more than an hour? In most cases, especially in the case of formal dresses - it can take several hours, it does.
Quality - As I mentioned above, in many cases, mass produced garments may not be very well sewn/reinforced. So when I am doing the alterations, I take extra care to reinforce places that may need it. And sometimes I get a dress that looks like it was stored in a bag or the floor of a closet, wrinkled all over. I do not give it back looking like that. I steam it, so it is beautiful and ready to wear when it is picked up!
Cost - Before my business started to grow, I was charging very little and people (most of the time) would "tip" me - $10-20 more sometimes! I thought that was great! Until I thought, well, maybe I should look around and see what other people are charging for the same service. I thought, maybe I'm not getting a lot of business because I charge so little, and people may not think I do quality work.
Growth - So then, when I drew up my website I decided to include a general price list that was competitive. With the addition of my website, my business had more visibility, and people were able to see my prices before contacting me. I encourage people to meet with me to discuss what exactly they need. The price on my list is a guideline and is variable, based on each customer's needs.
Availability - I work from my home and am available when other Seamstresses/Tailors are not (nights and weekends) which gives me my own niche in this field. I have also been told by many, that they like coming to my house, rather than a storefront tailor, where people can look in and see them getting fitted!
Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed! (this is the big one!) - I pride myself in my work and want to make sure my customer gets what they pay for. I always like to see it tried on after the final fitting to make sure it's just right. But some customers are so busy they don't have the time to try it on when they pick up the garment. In those cases I tell them to let me know how it fit, and if it needs anything else, to bring it back and I'll make sure it's to their satisfaction - at no additional cost.
So - what is my service worth to you?
Price list
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