A Life Altering Decision To Begin A Business

I have decided to tell you a bit about how I began my own business to became independent. I have always wanted to own my own business since I was in the third grade.  I never really knew what it would be, however I knew it would happen someday.  I was working as an Advertising Rep for a small newspaper back in 2007-2010. I went from business to business soliciting print ads from them.  Most places I visited were small businesses.  I had an area that covered about 350 miles so there was a lot of selling to be done.  One thing that I discovered through all of the business owners that I met, was that they were all happy with what they were doing.  

For me I always loved designing clothing and sewing.  Seeing all of these business owners so happy even though some of them may be struggling, was enough for me to think about really pursuing an alteration business.  Their happiness was what shown through. I wanted happiness too.

When my son had a Grand Mal seizure in 7th grade and then another one again 6 months later it was the beginning of me taking the steps needed to strike out on my own.  A large part of it was because I wanted to be available to my son at any time for his medical needs.  The other clincher was, at the time I was working my advertising job as a flex time job and when testing was required for my son, my boss asked me if I was going to make the time up.  My son’s health was more important to me than making up time.  For me that put the nail in the coffin for that job.

In 2009 I started an alteration business out of the basement of my house while continuing to work my regular job.  I named my business Altered Sewing. I was a collector of sewing machines, hoarder of fabric and notions, I had a mannequin  and a little know how.  I also had a good knowledge of marketing due to my current job that would allow me to get the word out about my new business.  I was able to get people right a way due to the fact being a seamstress was and is practically a dying art.  I was also fortunate enough to also be able to make costumes for a couple of local theatres that gave me credibility a sewer.  To be honest that was one of my ultimate highlights of beginning this journey.

Then a friend/ client of mine I knew thru advertising, offered me some space in the back of her curtain shop.  At this time I was still working my advertising job and able to make my own hours on the weekends at my new space.  I was able to build a great base of clients because I was now located on a main street and was could cull more jobs by being associated with the curtain shop.  I got good at making and altering curtains and small upholstery items as well.   Soon I was out growing my space.  Then another friend/client of mine offered me a space 3 x the size of the one I was in.  I could run a full fledged store! This space was located in the same building as a hair salon and the customers were very excited that I was going to be there.  Hair and clothing of course go together very well.  I could not pass this opportunity up. I then repainted the space ,decorated, created my own signs and moved in.  I opened this space as a Consignment shop combined with alterations and custom made clothing.  With all of the friends I had made thru advertising and networking I had people coming in at a good pace.  The location didn’t hurt either. I was in an area that was super busy with summer tourists and seasonal residents, I couldn’t be happier.  I was soon so busy I actually was able to hire someone to help me with alterations.  

When I moved from the curtain shop to my new space, this was the time I made the hard decision and to take that leap of faith to quit my job and pursue this dream of mine to run my own business.  I did it, and have never looked back and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I did this all on my own.  I was single at the time with 3 young boys and I was not funded by anyone, no loans, no credit cards.  It was all done through the generosity and kindness of others, hard work, the determination to always be available to my kids, never have to explain myself to any one again, and make all the money for myself to grow my business and not someone else’s.  

This is only the beginning of my story.  I will be blogging later on how this business morphed and changed into the current ones I own with my husband and how they have been integrated into the medieval world.