Regarding Marine, Auto, and Furniture work - Best small profitable work?

[baileyuph]

I ask this because some small jobs are relatively quick but, the sales/delivery time is about as long as the work time.  The pay would be more attractive if the volume was greater.  Need this because like I said set up time and other nuances sometimes exceeds work time.  Not like a barber where it is next, collect the money and cut the next hair.

Just finished a large job for a corporation of 151 items, after the first few it was very profitable.  When done for all those items the time to collect and get them out the door didn't eat into the profits like "I need this sewn, we are heading to lake in an hour or two" type projects.

Guess I should have been a barber, the one I go to was doing head cuts at the rate of about $60 bucks an hour.

Doyle

[bobbin]

I LOVE repair work!  I have a depth of experience that has positioned me to address "alterations/repairs" in a timely manner.  I have the machinery and the experience to do repair work in a variety of fields (clothing, drapery, marine canvas) and I'm "all over" that sort of work.  I charge accordingly... and schedule it to nestle accordingly!  My goal is to blow repair work out my shop in 7-10 days.  It's an important part of my service.  And it brings a lot of repeat business over my threshold, too. 

[baileyuph]

It is repair work, but the type where the thread has separated/rotted/or? in a seam for a couple of inches sometimes is hard to sell to a customer.  These are the cases where you spend way more time getting to the seam, to sew, than actual sewing.  Boat cushions can be that way as well as suto seat work.  Especially where there are electronics, airbags in place, or other type of hardware that has to be removed.  Sometimes the entire seat has to be removed, then the upholstery before sewing.  Some customers hear the cost then, reading their minds, "duct tape time".

I it can be curved needle, that is the easiest to sell and still make a decent buck.

So many customers who haven't sewn much or at all seem to have the idea that all you do is "just sew".  Especially true for some if they see there is no keyboard invovlved.

Doyle

[sofadoc]

So many customers who haven't sewn much or at all seem to have the idea that all you do is "just sew".

SO-O-O-O true! And they think that there's only ONE sewing machine for everything from a lacy doily to a canvas tarp.

Leather belt.......work boot........golf bag........"just sew".

[bobbin]

A big part of what I do well is diagnose what must be done to achieve a proper repair.  When asked if I can fix things, I always reply, "depends... I have to see what's wrong before I give you your options". 

As we all know, repairs can be quick and easy or they can be real dawgs and require considerable time to fix them properly.  I generally offer options if the repair threatens to be more time consuming than a customer suspects (pretty common since making things is becoming a lost art).  And I'm fine saying, "sorry, I don't want to tackle that".  I like to present a customer with options... let them decide.  And doing so often gets me nice, new, "clean" work. 

I've fixed zippers on sailcovers by simply changing the slider, and fixed zipper issues on curtains by simply cleaning the zippers, lubing them up, and changing out a slider.  I've rehabbed dodgers that you'd think were ready for a permanent "flush", and bought the customer a year/two to decide on replacement.  I refuse all repair work on life jackets and sails.  I dislike reconstructing drapery panels but I will do it, hourly labor rate only.  Again, it often scores some nice, new, clean work. 

Love repairs!

[Mike]

id say it all depends on your location.   like bobbin I like repairs it generally fast easy cash in my pocket for the week.   I don't really see I need this sewn where heading to the lake ect...
and I like small boat cover better then large yacht enclosure there normally are quick 2 day jobs with ease like I patterned a cover a few day ago in about an hour I should sew it and install it tomorrow by noon done paid on to the next