Business

Five Things You Need to Start a Sewing Business

Published

5 years ago

June 1, 2020

If sewing has been your passionate hobby for years, and people are constantly telling you that you are so good at it you should start your own business, then maybe it’s time you stop dreaming about it and take the leap into small business ownership!

But once the decision is made, there are some things that you need to do to get started on the right foot—or maybe, you could say, get started on the right presser foot!

The First Step Toward The Big Opening of Your Business

Make a plan. Before you begin, it’s important to map out an entire plan of action. This will give you a step by step plan to follow so that you can check off goals you meet as you go.

First, choose your specialty, and decide on your target market. Do you want to focus on alterations and repairs? Custom sewing jobs? Designing? Creating women’s wear or children’s clothing? Do you want to be a custom bridal shop? Bridal shops are almost always immediately profitable. Brides enjoy being able to collaborate with a great seamstress in order to design their dream dress and have it be one of a kind. Having a single success with your first bridal party can get your business off to a booming start.

Decide how much money you will need upfront in order to get started, and then estimate your ongoing costs. Estimate how long it will be before you should begin breaking even on your expenses and income.

The Second Step Toward Your New Business

Decide how you will make money. The most common way that sewing businesses make money is in alterations. This can be for everyday clothing, but for the most part the big business will be alterations for formal events such as weddings and proms. Money can also be made by custom designing clothing. You will have to decide if you want to focus on one area of sewing, or several areas. Do you want to alter wedding and bridesmaid gowns? Or are you willing to design and make wedding and bridesmaid gowns? Is custom baby and children clothing your passion?

The cost of materials and the amount of time necessary for each project will have to be estimated in order for you to set a price that will cover both and encourage a profit. A small sewing business with a single employee can make anywhere from $20,000 per year to $60,000 or more. If you exceed $60,000, you could consider adding an employee and growing your business enough to make a great deal more.

Profit increasing plans can include such additions to your business as adding a quilting club, or sewing classes.

The Third Step Toward Your Successful Sewing Business

Choose a location. Most startup sewing businesses begin in the owner’s home. Once profits are established, you could consider renting a space. Spaces close to a laundromat or specialty clothing shops such as those for formal wear are ideal.

To start your business in your own home, you will need a dedicated space that can be made to look professional. A spare bedroom, or enclosed porch works well. In rural areas, a climate-controlled shed, barn, or garage may also be suitable. You will need plenty of room for tables, equipment, shelves and racks for fabrics, and possibly a dressing area for clients to try on items or be measured for alterations.

The Fourth Step Toward Super Successful Sewing

Gather your equipment. You will need a very good, dependable sewing machine. If you already have one that works well for you and you are comfortable with, it may be all you need to get going. However, if you are expecting a booming business, or when your small business grows, you should consider a commercial—or industrial—sewing machine. These are very heavy-duty machines that can run for long periods of time and function highly efficiently and rarely need maintenance.

You will require a large supply of needles and pins, and that means in nearly every size and variety. Keeping these on hand will save time-consuming trips to the store to get the ones you need for different projects.

You will need a good serger for cutting and surging seams on tailored pants, dresses, and other items. A serger prevents fraying, which is essential when dealing with clientele.

You will need a great clothing steamer, an iron, and an ironing board. Nothing looks less professional than delivering wrinkled items to a customer.

Your new business will require a wide range of cutting tools, including scissors, cutting wheels, and rotary cutters to allow you to cut multiples of the same items in stacks to save time.

Rulers and measuring devices are also critical. A measuring board can be beneficial for sewing business owners.

Basic business supplies such a paper, pens, business cards, staplers, etc. will all have to be on hand and ready before you begin your business.

The Fifth Step Toward Successful Sewing

Advertise! Putting up flyers in places like laundromats, dry cleaners, and fabric shops is extremely helpful. Further, you should have a logo designed and be sure to mark your flyers and business cards with the same logo. You could consider getting your business off to a booming start by adding a coupon deal to your first flyers.

A website is also critical. Having a website designed and set up, with relevant information on your flyers and business cards, allows people to get all of the information they need about your business quickly and easily.

Place ads in local newspapers and get involved in community projects so people know your name and can start recommending you to friends. This is the best way to spread awareness of your business through word of mouth. Some ideas are helping to alter costumes for local school or church plays and getting involved in costumes for your local community theater.

Once you’ve gotten these five critical steps checked off of your list, your brand-new sewing business should be up and running!\. The sewing machine will be whirring away and your brand new customers will soon be ringing your bell and setting up appointments. And you can finally live your dream! Chances are that you’ve always loved sewing, and nothing thrills a sewing enthusiast more than new projects. With your own sewing business, you no longer have to try to tame your desire to sew because you can indulge in your passion for profit!

Business

Jellyfish Pictures Suspension Reveals Outsourcing Opportunity, Says BruntWork

Published

2 days ago

March 16, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Jellyfish Pictures, a well-known UK visual effects studio, has temporarily shut down due to financial struggles. The company, recognized for its work on major films and streaming projects, is searching for buyers or investors while halting all ongoing work. This situation has raised concerns across the visual effects industry, which is already dealing with economic pressures, labor disputes, and production changes. BruntWork, one of the top outsourcing companies, sees this as an opportunity for companies to reassess how they operate and how outsourcing can help VFX studios lower costs and stay financially stable.

A Leading Studio Brought to a Standstill

Jellyfish Pictures started as a small operation in 2001 and became a respected name in visual effects. With multiple offices in London and a portfolio of high-profile projects, the studio built a strong reputation. However, rising costs and growing competition from lower-cost studios made it harder to stay profitable. Financial pressure mounted, forcing the company to suspend operations.

Clients relying on Jellyfish Pictures are now left searching for alternative vendors to complete their projects. The suspension has also put hundreds of employees in a difficult position, leaving them uncertain about their future. Company leaders have stated they are looking into all possible options, including selling the business or bringing in outside investors.

Why VFX Studios Are Struggling

Visual effects companies have long worked with tight profit margins. The financial setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic made things even tougher. Many VFX studios kept projects moving remotely but struggled with delayed payments and cancellations. In 2023, the global VFX industry was valued at $11.3 billion, but continued production delays and tighter budgets are making it difficult for companies to grow.

The writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023 added more complications. With productions on hold, many VFX studios found themselves with fewer projects in the pipeline. A recent industry survey found that 72% of VFX companies faced financial struggles due to the combined effects of the pandemic and the strikes. Mid-sized studios with high fixed costs, like Jellyfish Pictures, have been hit the hardest.

Winston Ong, CEO of BruntWork, believes this situation exposes weaknesses in traditional business models. “Studios operating in expensive cities like London face overwhelming costs that outsourcing could help reduce,” he says.

The Role of Outsourcing in Keeping VFX Studios Afloat

Some experts believe outsourcing can help visual effects companies manage financial risk. According to Ong, studios that rely entirely on in-house teams in high-cost cities struggle to keep expenses under control, while those that blend in-house work with outsourcing can operate more efficiently.

The shift to remote work during the pandemic showed that collaboration across different locations is possible. Data from outsourcing firms suggests that studios using a mix of in-house creative direction and outsourced production can lower expenses by 40-60% without sacrificing quality. Some companies have already moved in this direction, allowing them to stay competitive without driving up costs.

Beyond production outsourcing, some VFX studios are also exploring ways to streamline marketing efforts. Hiring a digital marketing virtual assistant allows companies to manage campaigns, social media, and client outreach more efficiently. This helps studios maintain a strong industry presence without the overhead costs of full-time marketing teams.

Still, outsourcing comes with potential risks. Some industry veterans warn that relying too much on external teams can lead to quality issues and production delays. Studios must find the right balance between saving money and maintaining the level of quality audiences expect from high-end visual effects.

What Comes Next for Visual Effects?

Jellyfish Pictures’ troubles have sparked discussions about how VFX studios can stay in business. More flexible production models, outsourcing, and smarter budgeting could become the standard technique. Advances in technology continue to make remote collaboration smoother, allowing studios to complete projects without keeping all operations in expensive locations.

“This reflects a larger problem across the industry,” says Ong. Studios that adjust their operations and use outsourcing effectively may be better prepared for economic swings. Companies that maintain strong creative leadership while using global production teams seem to have an advantage.

For many, this also extends to marketing. Some of the most successful VFX firms are those that recognize the benefits of outsourcing digital marketing to specialists who can handle branding, social media, and client engagement without the high costs of in-house teams. This allows studios to maintain visibility and credibility even in uncertain market conditions.

Larger firms may continue to acquire struggling studios, but smaller businesses that improve their financial strategies could stay independent. The challenge is finding a way to keep artistic vision intact while managing expenses.

Moving Toward Stability

Jellyfish Pictures’ shutdown is a warning for the visual effects industry. High operating costs and unpredictable changes in production schedules show why studios need flexible business strategies. Some will turn to outsourcing, while others may merge with larger firms or adopt hybrid models to stay competitive.

For mid-sized studios, financial stability must be a priority without sacrificing creativity. The next few years could bring more studio buyouts, with bigger companies taking over smaller ones. However, independent studios that adjust how they work could still succeed by reducing costs without lowering the quality of their output.

“Adaptability is what matters. Studios that adjust their structures and use global talent wisely will be the ones that remain strong in this industry, ” Ong concludes.