Today we’re going to be diving in to the pros and cons of doing production with a seamstress. This is the next logical step for a lot of businesses that start out sewing their product on their own at home. Often they are making product for their Etsy store or local markets.
In my last post, I covered the pros and cons of making your product at home and whether or not keeping your production at home was impacting your ability to scale your business. Check it out if that’s the stage you’re at.
The Pros and Cons of Doing Production With A Seamstress
There are many different types of seamstresses out there. Some of them have worked in manufacturing and some were professional sample sewers. Others still, are hobbiests that are looking to make some extra income. So let’s look at the general pros and cons.
Pros
Very low if any production minimums!
A single person cannot handle a ton of volume on their own so a seamstress is going to have very low if any minimums. Yay for small orders!
Ability to customize and personalize product
Since you will be talking directly to the person sewing your product, you may have the option to give specific custom requirements. This will depend on your relationship and also, may impact the price you are paying.
Frees up some of your VALUABLE time!
By getting some support with your production, you will be free to take on other important tasks. You will have more time to engage with your customers and understand what they really need from you.
Cons
High labour costs
Using a seamstress is still an inefficient way to produce product. Although she might be more experienced than you, she still isn’t as efficient as people sewing in a factory line. A seamstress will take longer to make each piece and cost you more money than a traditional manufacturer.
Limited control over quality
You are unlikely to find a seamstress that has a strict quality control process. There is also a good chance that as she produces higher volumes for you, the quality will go down. This is nothing personal against your seamstress. This is the reality of trying to manage a large volume of complex styles.
For something extremely simple, like a blanket, it is possible to keep the quality level high. The number of operations is low so you can get into a pretty good flow. For something more complex, with more sewing operations, this will be a challenge.
I recommend doing quality inspections of your product. You can do this yourself or get help from someone that knows your requirements. I’ll talk more about this in a future post.
Limited Machinery
This is pretty much the same as home sewing. It is unlikely that a seamstress will have the machines you need to make complex product. If you are making outerwear or swim, for example, you will need a manufacturer with the right machines.
Reduced Efficiency and Consistency
Again, this is the same as home sewing. Hiring a seamstress will not improve your production efficiency. Large manufacturers run production through a “line” of workers. This allows each sewer to focus on the same operation over and over. And they get good at that operations. This provides consistency and efficiency that can’t be duplicated with a single person doing all the operations.
Challenging to manage material inventory
Remember all the materials that you had to store when you were doing your own sewing? Well, now that you have someone helping, you have to get materials to them too. It can be tricky and time consuming to keep track of where all your materials are. Again, the more complex your product, the more difficult this will be. Anything using multiple fabrics and trims starts to become a complex puzzle. Did you give her enough lining? Did she lose some of the buttons? Do you want to spend you time counting labels?
As your sales increase, support from a seamstress can help to relieve the pressure and free up some of your time. But, in my opinion, it is not a long term solution for someone that wants to build a business past a hobby.
To get the most out of working with a seamstress:
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consider her expertise (fabric types and construction methods)
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give her simple styles with a limited number of operations (if you want her to do a large volume)
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ensure she has access to the appropriate machinery
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get on the same page about quality expectations BEFORE she starts your production
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be clear on your production timelines and check in to see how she is tracking
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MOST IMPORTANTLY – build a strong relationship so you can communicate openly. You want her to love your product as much you do so take the time to nurture this relationship.
Hiring a seamstress could be the next step to grow your etsy shop or build up supply for upcoming markets. The extra set up hands can be a huge help. But, if you want to grow your business past a hobby, you will need to start working with more traditional manufacturers.
So, did you find anything unexpected in here? Something new to consider as you are looking at expanding your source base? I’d love to hear about your experience working with a seamstress. What successes and challenges you have had?
Drop me a note below. I love to hear about your individual experiences.
Next up I’ll be diving into working with a sample room. Chat soon!