Strike-offs, sewing contractor search, India

So, the strike-offs are shipping out from the digital printer today! The woman I spoke to on the phone said they look really good - but, hey, I'll be the judge of that, eh? Man, I hope they look really good. It would make my life easier if there is no color jiggling to be done. It is my hope, as well, that I won't need to go looking for bleached cotton canvas, should the design look too yellow on natural canvas. If that's the case, I'd rather compensate in the design file than go for bleached fabric. Yep.

Today I've gone through my list of contacted companies in India - both fabric printers and sewing contractors - and re-contacted them. Are they not getting my email? Are they not interested in potential work? Or do they think I'm too small a company or something? I never understand when companies don't respond to inquiries from potential clients.

However, then there's Mr. Anand in Mumbai. He got back to me within a week and then we talked on the phone. Hopefully, he'll be in touch again soon with an estimate and information on the samples I've requested.

I have a contact in New Bedford, MA - where a good deal of sewing of leather and fabric goes on - and, whenever I ask him about finding a sewing contractor in the area, he becomes really cagey. He says, "well, I don't know any". And, well, how can he not? He owns a company that makes products from leather and they are sewn right there in his facility. What's he afraid of? Anyway, this time, I asked if he would at least give me a clue as to who to approach for this potential information. He barked off a couple government agency titles and then had to go to a meeting. Crikey.

The strike-offs are coming! The strike-offs are coming! I can't wait to see them! [must.not.get.too.excited. must.suppress.all.glee.]

Fabric production, sewing contractors, stress

Things are moving along pretty well. They could always be better, though, I think. Since I last posted, I've met with a total of 3 seamstresses, 2 of which seemed to me to be a good fit. The first one I wrote about was great - definitely talented, capable, etc, but just didn't seem like she was as interested the work as much as the other two. Now, that may not have been a good reason to rule her out, but I did.

Yesterday, I met with one of the seamstresses and she had a prototype for me to look at based on my design idea and measurements. It was a good meeting - confirmed things like the strap length I had chosen was a good one and that the shape of the bag wasn't as good as I had thought. So, we changed the shape a little - eliminating the side panels altogether - and she made some notes on things she had done incorrectly (the bottom panel and the opening with the zipper). She is going to produce a second prototype for me - this time out of 10 oz. canvas, so I can better see the structure and shape - and get back to me within 10 days.

The other seamstress had emailed me about a week and a half ago saying that she would soon have 2 prototypes done for me - one with a stiff interfacing and the other with soft. I'm not sure I want interfacing, but I don't mind seeing how it works out.

Now, I called both these ladies last Monday, leaving them both messages asking what's up, can we meet soon and please call me back. Obviously, the woman I met with yesterday called me back quickly. The other woman didn't call at all. I called her again this morning and just received a call back and a message that she's all stressed out and very busy with work and her son's baseball practice and that, while she can have 2 samples to me in the next week or so, she won't be able to do any more work for me until May.

This is no good and now I'm stressing out! It's not like I have any orders to meet, but I'd really like to get this off the ground, you know? Once I have fabric printed (I'll get to that soon) I'll need someone to produce a few good shoulder bag samples for me and the sooner the better. Damn it.

Ok - the fabric. Well, I sent a file to the digital printer and they will have 3 strike-offs (proofs) to me around the middle of this week. I decided to have strike-offs produced on three fabrics for comparison purposes, though I'm pretty much set on what base fabric I am going to use - cotton canvas. Perhaps I shouldn't have spent the extra $30 on the other 2 fabric samples, but there you have it.

Next, I have to order a large roll of the fabric and have it shipped to the printer. This saves me a LOT of money. Hopefully, it won't take too long for the fabric to get there. I'll be placing the order on Monday, Tuesday at the latest.

I've also been emailing companies in India - both in fabric production and sewing contractors. Thus far, I have received a reply from one fabric company representative, who included his phone number. I called him yesterday morning and we chatted for a bit. The company can accommodate fabric up to 58" and they do screen printing primarily, though he mentioned other methods and, truthfully, I couldn't understand him! He spoke quickly and with that lovely Indian accent, so there was a lot of "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" on my end.

The minimum run is 1500 meters (about 1640 yards) and each screen (= color) costs a mere $25. Compare that to a company I recently spoke to here in the US with a yardage minimum of 2500 at about $3 a yard plus screen costs of $250 for each color! I am waiting on an actual quote from the company in India, but first had to email the rep again with more info. I also asked him if he could recommend a sewing contractor over there so that I could keep costs down by having everything done in one general area. I have emailed some sewing contractors myself, but thus far have received no reply despite several attempts.

So, I really hope I can get things going with either this particular company or some other one in India, because I'm never going to be able to make money on these bags if I have to produce them here in the US - very sad to say. It was my strong desire to keep the fabric and accessories production here in this country, but I just don't think that's going to be possible.

Woo hoo!

Well, I just got off the phone with the potential sewing contractor. A woman who, it turns out, lives one town over and who does alteration work for a small bridal shop just one house away from where I live! Talk about a small world.

I am quite pleased with her professionalism, her years of experience (over 20), the fact that she also has experience drafting patterns and her willingness to work with me and my steep learning curve! We are going to meet next week, when I'll be able to see samples of her work, read through her resume and just see how we interact one on one.

This is great! I know I shouldn't get too excited yet, but I was so dreading this process (see earlier post) - phew!

Onward and upward, yes?

Looking for a sewing contractor and computer problems

My laptop took a tumble a week or so ago and is still in the process of being repaired. It not being enough that I'm annoyed at myself for the mishap itself, I'm also dealing with a repair shop not calling me when the computer came back from Apple (last Thursday!), but also with the damn thing not actually having been fixed! Ah yes. Apple says it was working when it left their facility. And the customer rep apologized several times for the inconvenience. But, what can I do now other than wait for my precious laptop to be returned to me as soon as possible?

In the meantime, I am using a friend's laptop, so at least I have internet access and can do research and send email. I am in the process of learning about the sewing industry, while also trying to find a sewing contractor. Admittedly, I am not up to speed in all that I need to know vis a vis patterns, samples, sewing techniques, cost per sample and materials. It's a long list, yes, but I'm working on it daily.

Currently, I have one person whom I found on craigslist who sounds like she has the right experience. I will call her today and see how things go. I've been reading posts and comments on the Fashion Incubator website - which is such a boon, I can't tell you. If you are thinking of doing anything fashion/sewing/textiles related - this is the site to bookmark and read daily.

Anyway, many business people have posted about and commented on articles concerning finding and working with sewing contractors. Sadly, it appears this is quite the daunting task. However, as one commenter pointed out, if you act business-like, do your homework, know what you need and know what you are talking about, then you should be all right. Granted, it may seem that you have found a good, reliable contractor only to have samples that are poorly done or that may not materialize at all, ever.

So, I am preparing myself for what may be a long, frustrating process. We'll see.

the business plan and whatnot

I've always hated writing anything that resembles a report. Despite the fact that, in the end, I usually do well. It's that confidence thing poking at me, again.

I'm trying not to view the business plan as something unpleasant and painful - though I suspect I am not alone. It was so much easier to get the ideas and concepts out of my head when sitting and chatting with the business counselor. Still, I have managed to get a good deal down and it's a relief. I think I have enough to warrant some feedback, in which case I'll email this first rough draft tomorrow. I know how important it is to have a business plan and that such documents tend to evolve over time, so I shouldn't fret about it at this stage, really.

Oh, yes - and I registered my business name - ninapatina - on Friday! Very exciting. Though I keep wondering if I should feel any different. You know - more serious? Less humorous and optimistic? Hmpf. Anyway, I plan to ask the business guy a lot about taxes and what I need to do to stay out of trouble. I'll be working with an accountant, as well, which will take a weight off my mind. I don't want to wake in the middle of the night with a large question mark burned on my retinas. My dreams are strange enough as it is, thank you very much!

Small Business Counseling Pt.I

Today I met with a small business counselor at the Chamber of Commerce. It was really good! I've gained confidence in myself and my ideas for my business. Before meeting with the counselor, I would have said that I don't have much of a mind for business and that I had no idea what to put in a business plan.

However, just talking with this man and answering his questions helped me to verbalize and sort out my ideas. They made sense! Not only to me, but to the counselor, too. He said that I know more than I think I know - and, I know that part of my problem is a lack of confidence. I often don't give myself credit and tend to second guess myself.

And this has got to stop.

In order to start a small business and get out there and sell myself as well as my wares, I have got to believe in my talents and ideas unfailingly. Not blindly, mind you. But certainly unfailingly.

That said, tomorrow I will begin writing my business plan. Also on my list is to begin looking for a seamstress contractor. And I need to price out the services of a pattern drafter. Thank goodness I already have leads in both these areas, so I have a point at which to begin.

I'll meet with Mr. Business Counselor in two or three weeks. Perhaps sooner, if I manage to get ahead of myself.

Another good note in the very New Year

So, this year has started out well [*knocks on wood*] in many ways, mostly pertaining to my efforts toward starting a business. I made a really great contact while perusing hits on Google when researching digital textile printing, custom fabric, etc. She is the woman behind Daisy Janie and Seam Allowances.

After perusing both Jan's website and her blog, I left a comment and asked if she'd be willing to chat with me about the textile business. She was kind enough to not only answer, but to take a look at my online portfolio first, where she saw that I am serious about this textile design thing. Jan's work is very nice and I am thrilled to have had the good fortune to hook up with her. I think we are going to have a lot to email about - including possibly attending a Print Source show together!

I've already sent Jan an email filled with questions and am looking forward to hearing what she has to say.