Times are changing....

....and like it or not, we all have to change too sometime. It's my time....

What do you think you want to do next? Do you want to increase your business? Make it your full time job? Can you? I could...Will you hire people? Advertise? Move to a larger space outside of your home? All valid questions others have asked me and that I've considered myself over the past 2 years.

Monday March 12, 2018, I found myself at City Hall in Melrose, MA applying for a business certificate. It was time. I've had my home-based business in my town for a very long time (over 20 years!) and my name gets mentioned in several social and online forums as: "Tamara's my go-to", "I highly recommend Tamara", so I wanted to do the right thing by making my business "official".
I went to the bank that same day to open a business bank account. I needed the business certificate for that. You know you're doing well when someone says "you better make an appointment with her before she gets booked up!" and when repeat customers refer their friends, etc...

What do I do? I help people look and feel good in what they are wearing. I specialize in Bridal and formal wear alterations. I am creative. I design and redesign. I am a Seamstress!


When I was going to networking events a few years ago, I'd say "I'm an accountant", but not really embracing that role and not even wanting to delve into what I did at work. I'd often segway into my seamstress title during a conversation. It's my passion. Accounting is what I went to school for, trained many years and put in lots of tax seasons - almost 3 decades! So it has served me well for many years. But as I have grown in life, I realize it's not where my true passion is. Sure, it's where the steady paycheck is, but is that all I want out of life? I like making people feel good in what they're wearing to a special event, or on their wedding day. I like creating a one of a kind christening gown from the mom/grandmother's wedding gown. When a bride gives me a hug and says "it's exactly the way I want it", "it's perfect!", that to me, is pure joy, and I thrive on that! I have had some time to build my sewing "business" from my home and have focused on things I LIKE to do, and am passing up work I would rather not do (like fixing a rip or hemming curtains, replacing a zipper - no more!). I LOVE working on bridal and formal-wear, and absolutely can't get enough of making a christening gown or first communion dress from the mom's wedding gown. That's my passion! I absolutely love the creative process. I noticed in certain work situations, some people hum and tap their pencil when they're focused on their work or reviewing other people's work, and I thought, wow, that person REALLY loves what he/she does. I think staying in the same field I've been in for so long, is not only getting stale to me, but as I am learning, I have to do something in my next job, that I REALLY enjoy. Why be stuck at a job, for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for only a paycheck. Done with that! I was so unhappy at my last job, towards the end of that job I found myself climbing the stairs (51 of them!) in the morning repeating to myself "I hate my job", and knowing that change was evident. Either I would make the change, or I'd be helped along that path. So, my next job search will be a little different from past ones, that's if I actually engage in a search. I want a job where I can be creative, or at least have a lot of moving parts to it.

I have been actively looking for a new "space" for my sewing work for about three years. I started writing this blog more than a year ago. Since then, I now have a local bridal shop referring customers to me, and if you do a Google search for wedding gown alterations in Melrose, I am at the top of the page! So that in itself, has driven the bridal traffic to me. Not only brides, but bridesmaids, Mothers of the Bride and the Groom and Flower girls. Since I now have such a large volume, it makes sense to move it out of the house and lessen the family (and dog) interruptions. It's time. It's MY time!

Update: July 8, 2019 - I have FOUND my space! And it's right down the street! A "studio". It's a good size room on the 3rd floor of a Victorian home, RIGHT DOWNTOWN, and walking distance from my house! They are only leasing to artists, and welcomed me right away! I am so excited to finally have my own space to work in. There are opening and closing hours, so I won't be tempted to stay up until midnight anymore working on a prom dress!!! (thank goodness!) I have no doubt that this move will increase my productivity as well as visibility in my community, and I'm absolutely thrilled about embarking on this new journey in my business expansion!

"Do what you love, and never work a day in your life"....Mark Twain - words to live by

What would you consider reasonable to pay for your alterations?

Good question!
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