Q&A How many employees do I have?
Hello everyone, welcome back.
Today's question is all about the inner working of the SewnbySabrina workshop, how may employees do I have?
I am a one woman team running SewnbySabrina, I try to do it all. Creating and researching new products, the sewing, the assembly, packing orders, social media and handling customer service.
However, that doesn't mean I'm always alone though.
When I used to do markets in Windsor-Essex I had some of my friends come help me at my tent/tables. Sometimes they would help with making sales with clients, there were some very busy events that I was very thankful that they came out and helped me keep the fort down.
Other times it was awesome just having someone come sit with me behind the tables and keep me company at slower events. I usually used these down moments to work on more scrunchies, lanyards or whatever I had brought with me just in case. Other times I would film content for social media and have my friend help me film TikToks. It was pretty silly but it was fun and made my day go by faster.
Jump to now and I'm in Chicoutimi Québec and what feels like a world away from those friends who came to help me at the markets. However, I have an amazing partner who cheers me on and helps me where he can.
I remember one of the first times he came into my studio he cut an entire roll of elastic for me, his wrist was super sore afterwards cause the roll was pretty huge. I am still so thankful for what he did for me. It allowed me to sit at my machine and sew, he also cut all of my holiday fabrics before the big end of the year rush. He piled them all in one big stack that I was just able to grab and sew, grab and sew.
That helped me so much, however when I offered to pay him he declined taking any money, for him it was something fun. A simple repetitive task he could do listening to a podcast or YouTube video while sitting at my folding table set up.
I've also had help from my Grandma, who when I had a big vendor to prep for Art by the River she helped me by ironing pencil case bags, lanyards and uncut pieces of fabric that had gotten a little too tossed around for me to cut properly. She was a huge help. However, she also refused to take any money from me, however I did make sure to spoil her before she went back home. Which I know she apricated more than money.
So apart from the occasional help I work alone, and it's worked out pretty well for me up till now. I try to have a ready made amount of inventory available.
With the Shopify store, I only list the amount of items I actually have on hand, that way I'm not scrambling to cut, sew and make an item from scratch when an order is placed. This also helps me get the orders out faster, which has been a blessing when things get busy.
Until next time,
Sabrina
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