What should I call my sewing business?

[Alamindah]

Since lockdown, I have been doing quite a bit of sewing, using free motion embroidery to make bags of various sizes/functions, cushion covers, cards etc. Much to my surprise, people have been asking me to make things for them and I am now charging (a little bit!) for my makes. I am getting more requests and from people who aren't friends and wondering if I should up my commercial game a bit. I have an Instagram page but I don't love the name (not sure if I am allowed to put it on here, incase it is advertising!). Any suggestions for names?

Definitely have your name in it unless it's specific things you're making that could be in the name instead, if I did start a business (currently craft as a hobby and not keen to sell!) mine would be directly related to another hobby that I make things that are related to it.

Don't go for a "x & y" name, they're so overdone and I never remember them!

'Get Knotted'

Thank you all!

Please don’t undercharge! As someone who does this as a full time career ( sells work on Etsy) it completely undermines us and makes it very difficult to make a living. We can’t compete with people that sell for hobbies.

Do you have a particular style or type of thing you make?

@CliftonGreenYork I'm in Clifton (by the green!) but in Bristol!

@poorlykitten I completely understand your point - I'm not selling things for nothing but my hourly rate isn't very impressive but I think I am charging what I can. I have asked several people for advice who are expereinced in this sort of thing and had a look to see what the ceiing price is!

Threads

@duvetflower - I use free motion embriodery, which dictates the style really - it's more scruffy than to a lot of people's taste I am sure but I like to think it is still stylish! My most popular product to date is a 'shopping/beach/shoulder' sized bag with grasses and flowers embroidered on it, if that helps!

Surely there is no ceiling price with crafts? There’s a sweet spot though and if you don’t value what you make, others will not. I often find charging more makes it more desirable. As a rule of thumb you should work out what you want to get paid by hour, add materials on to that. Market research will help you get an idea what others charge but your craft is unique to you and if you ever want to go in to full time business it pays to get it right.

If your work is unique then you can set your price really - obviously if someone can find ten very similar items on Etsy for less then you won’t achieve a higher price. Sometimes on social media you’ll get people saying I want to buy x, but I’ve seen similar for half the price and when you say “go and buy the cheap one then” they’ll say “but yours is much better” 😬

There are lots of people happy to spend a lot of money on high quality hand made things. The only issue with charging more is that you need higher end photography, packaging, etc. Really need to retake all new photos for my stuff, just waiting for the right level of sun 😬

@SinkGirl and @Poorlykitten - you are both so right. I am feeling my way and would love to make a decent return on my blood, sweat and tears!

I just had a nosey at your insta. I don’t really have better suggestions for a name than what’s already been suggested but FWIW I love love love your storage bags and it’s exactly what I’m looking for for my babies new toy unit. Your flannels are also simple and effective and you could market them as reusable baby wipes.

I wouldn’t be surprised that people like your stuff, it’s good! Maybe check out the Etsy threads on here. People share tips etc about selling.

Aim high! You can always offer special offers, especially sent out to previous customers etc. It’s just about finding your market which is the hard bit!

I agree with those saying to use you're name, it makes your items feel more personal. You could switch it up a bit though & still keep it sounding personal

Maybe something like "Victoria Stitch" or "Victoria Sews"

I love Sewing Vee

Victoria Is Sewing?
Victoria Sews

Hmmm. Naming things is hard. I have my name in two of mine and the joint ones took months to get the right name.

It's Sew Victoria
Victoria's Thread
Victoria makes

Please don’t dimish your effforts by charging “a small amount”

It takes skill and materials to produce these items.

Work out the hourly rate you are awarding yourself and consider if it is high enough.

Hobby sewists underpricing their work make it hard for people to work in this industry if there isn’t an available second income.

A colleague asked me to make a baby quilt.
I outlined fabric costs and an rough estimate of my time. They declined as they could buy one on Etsy for £40…

mollisparkles.com/2015/05/you-charged-what/

Thank you all for the recent suggestions!! I have gone with Victoria's sewing, as it does what it says on the tin, covers a multitude of sins and has my name which seems to be the consistent advice! This is what my Instagram page was already called and whilst o don't love it, it's fine!

@MauveMavis I completely understand your point and I'm trying to navigate the right find line. Thank you for the link too

@MauveMavis I have also said that I will only make quilts for friends (for love) as they take me so long!!

@Alamindah thanks for taking my comments in the spirit in which they were intended.

i find even just outlining how much my materials cost puts people off asking me to make them anything....

Let alone adding in my labour costs (I'm a well paid professional My hourly rate is my hourly rate. It makes anything I make VERY expensive!! I calculated my own hat cost about £2500!! God knows how much the gloves I'm currently knitting very very slowly will work out as....)