Questions about home-based tailors

Hi everyone!

I'm new to this lovely and vibrant community. I recently got very interested in what it's like to run a home-based tailoring business and was wondering if you guys could give me any insights, both from the perspectives of tailors and clients (whichever perspective you can offer).

If you're a home-based tailor or you know one:

- How do you go about finding new clients?

- Do you have any safety concerns about having new clients that you haven't met come to your house? If so, what precautions do you take, if any?

- If you are a female, would you be fine with having a male client who is a stranger come to your house?

- Are there any particular concerns or frustrations about the work that are worth mentioning?

If you use the services of tailors:

- When you go to the tailor, what is usually the reason?

- How do you go about finding and choosing tailors?

- Would you say there is anything difficult or frustrating about the process of finding tailors or using their services?

- Do you have any particular concerns about tailors or using their services?

- Do you have any safety concerns about going to the home of a tailor that you haven’t met before? If so, what precautions do you take, if any?

3 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

The tailor I go to was recommended to me by someone on ylf. Her work is usually quite good and she will correct mistakes if she does make any, and her prices are low. She has a shop separate from her home, with a tiny dressing room, because of course things need to be tried on to make alterations. This would be my biggest concern with doing alterations from my home—how to set up a private place for customers to change clothes without having them in the middle of the home?

One other thing I like about the place I go relates to your question on frustrations, because she doesn’t do it. Many shops post a price list. That’s good for things like hemming pants or other very straightforward operations, but when things are more complicated than that, I’m glad the person I go to has her price chart in her head. It always takes her a minute to come up with a price, and then she is firm on it. I assume she is thinking through how much time the job will take, and perhaps if it will be done by her or by one of her helpers.

I’ve noticed a couple of unhappy customers treat her or her daughters who help out quite rudely. As I said above, she’s always been willing to work with me on any issues; I don’t think the rudeness is called for, but, sadly, I think it’s something you need to be prepared for. There was a ylf post a while back where someone was concerned because she hadn’t heard back from an alterations person; make sure you return calls/messages promptly and finish jobs when they are promised, so customers don’t go out of the way needlessly. I hope you have happy customers and both enjoy working together.

ETA forgot to say what I’ve had done: waistbands taken in, an entire jacket taken down one size, pants that were huge on my son remade to be just like another pair we asked her to use as a pattern. I could see having pants hemmed if it was really cheap, but generally feel I should do simple things like that myself. I’m debating about replacing a zipper or having her do it.

Sal

I do use tailors but they are not home based. My favourite moved out of town.

My reasons have included - hemming, adding a new waistband, taking in a top, changing the sleeves.

I mostly go on recommendations and convenience - there are a few within 1-2 km of my home. One is in a mall which has been convenient in the weekend when others are closed.

I can be nervous if it is a special garment - I got a dress shortened that I really love and I was nervous that it could go wrong.

Jenni NZ

I have used a tailor who has a small shop. She bought a previous business that I last used 6 years previously so I am not exactly a frequent customer. Because I was happy 6 years earlier I used the same business. This time it was to make a dress slightly tighter around the armholes where there was excess fabric. This was now over 2 years ago. I would use her again but I do simple hemming myself.
I do see home-based businesses advertising with modest signs on their suburban fences but since I am already happy I feel no need to change.

Bijou

I have not used the services of a home-based tailor. I have garments altered quite frequently and been lucky to find a service at my local shops that deliver quality alterations, they are expensive, but I trust that they will not ruin my clothes.

How I find my tailors:
1. Ask for recommendations; or
2. Get something relatively simple done and as I see the work performed for me and other customers, get a sense of how competent the tailor is.

Many years ago I went to an elderly tailor who did the most superb job at scaling down a jacket that was way too big but was on deep discount and I fell in love with it. His work was amazing and I was gutted when he retired. Once I find a good tailor, much like a hairdresser, I am very loyal to them. It may take time to build up clientele.

rachylou

Yelp. I find services and places on Yelp.

In days past, I wouldn’t think twice about going to someone’s home… but now that you say it, I’d think twice about going to someone’s home or having strangers come to mine.

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