Stepping into 2014- walking in My Shoes with Mooloo

Savvy_sewing

I have had a few requests to do Work Experience next summer. That could be interesting and challenging.
We sold all but one Santa hat, and all the Elf hats so my friend came in again yesterday and helped make some more. We could only do another 4 of each with the fabric that we had. But we are only open for another week really, so that's fine.
The shop was slow yesterday, possibly everyone's been to the big towns Christmas shopping! Still a few jobs in though. Annoyingly several people who had wanted their clothes for Saturday didn't collect, so takings are lower in the end. But they will collect eventually.
The only Christmas shopping I did today was two rolls of wrapping paper! I had hoped to get my wallpaper for the workshop but it appears to have gone up by £4 a roll! So I didn't get it.
It can wait.
I finally had some time to clear out my wardrobe and put the summer clothes away in one of those vacuum bags. So there is space to hang up my winter things now. I even did two or so hours worth of ironing. To those who know me, that's amazing! I rarely iron if I can avoid it, and usually have a mountain to iron waiting.
There is still an ironing basket full to do, but at least I cleared all the ironing that was lurking in the front room.
I also filled two bags of fabric or bedding etc that is ear marked for sewing, and gained about 2 ft of bedroom in the bargain.
I still have a long way to go though, but it was made possible as my friend who works in the shop took DGD with her children to Messy Church.
Then this evening another Zmum has asked if DGD can go with them to see Santa at Millets Farm next Sunday. So another few hours to work on tge clutter. I will get my head above water with all this backlog of work at home.
Time for a good nights sleep, I have a lot of alterations to do before Tuesday for our gypsy/travellers young ladies! Interesting is all that I can say.
Night

Brighton_belle

Mooloo wrote: »

I have had a few requests to do Work Experience next summer. That could be interesting and challenging.

Say no Mooloo - we took a work experience student a few years ago, sweet girl. BUT it was an utterly exhausting experience with absolutely nothing in it for us and we will never do it again: all teaching and explaining and scrabbling around finding jobs that she could do, explain them at great length and then still try and fit in our own work.
You will get zero benefit and have to put your precious time and energy into yet another young person that you need to spend on your own business/self/family.
Yes it's great to help a young person etc etc but you do enough of that already. Let the bigger companies 'give something back'.


Much better to look into the whole 'apprentice thing' one day, some one mentioned earlier I think: no that much more likely be of mutual benefit.

Savvy_sewing

I had already agreed with one school for one girl in June. She is related to the girls who have attended a lot of my courses. But I will probably say no to any others then.
I will research Apprenticeships during the holidays when I have a bit more time.
I need to get more cost effective with those working with me as it is. Somehow I need to get the shop side of things generating more money, to help with the wages bill, and my work to pay me as well.
I am at capacity for alterations, and I can only up my prices a little bit. So I reckon I will need to give them targets, things to push, and tasks to get the internet in our direction.
I need to learn more about marketing.

January20

When my daughter was looking for work experience a few years back, some of the small places she went to turned her down because of the amount of hoops (ie paperwork, CRB checks, evaluation, etc) they would have to jump through in order for her to spend a week with them.

Savvy_Sue

January20 wrote: »

When my daughter was looking for work experience a few years back, some of the small places she went to turned her down because of the amount of hoops (ie paperwork, CRB checks, evaluation, etc) they would have to jump through in order for her to spend a week with them.

Yup, it is indeed a bit of a nightmare for small businesses. Although I think my sons' school in the end was insisting you didn't go to a 'one man band' like Mooloo's anyway, I think they wanted at least five members of staff.

Brighton_belle

Mooloo wrote: »

I had already agreed with one school for one girl in June. She is related to the girls who have attended a lot of my courses.

So if you tell her this week, with great regret etc etc , she has a whole 6 months to find somewhere else. Imagine if you or DGD is sick that week - honestly, you'll be doing her a favourite getting her to go to a bigger set up somewhere else.
You will not be ruining her life by saying no now.

Savvy_sewing

I have a crb check due to fostering. I'm insured, as I teach the children etc
But we will see.
I'm logging on at work as I just needed a five minute breather before I lock up etc and go home.
The hats we started to make this weekend are selling well.
The day has had a steady flow of people, enquiries and small sales.

Savvy_sewing

Twin1 is back up here. Asking to have DGD this weekend. I have agreed 1 night but not two as she has a friends family taking her to see Santa on Sunday. Asked for new year too, but she's going to her grandad now. Seems to be ok about it now. So said maybe for the day when she gets back.
I'm still a little unnerved about her going, but feel a bit mean saying no out right. But if he says anything to DGD again it will be the last time.
They are not going to tell her about the baby yet. At least I hope not! They said they wouldn't.
I did a revised price list this evening. I shall take it in to wirk tomorrow and put it in the window etc
Fingers crossed that people will still find me reasonable and still come in the new year. Time will tell of course.
Lady came in with a jacket requiring a zip and I said £25 and she was fine, didn't bat an eyelid. So that's ok. ( was £16 in September till I realised they took me 45 minutes just to unpick the old zip!)
Also will do a 48 hour job ( materials available etc at 1/2 again, and a 24 hour job at double! See what happens! Seems a bit scarey, but nothing ventured I will still be without a wage long passed April otherwise.

Savvy_sewing

One chap queried my prices, said he'd only paid £6 last time. I said I was never that low, but I would do them for £8 this time, but future prices will be £10 as I need to cover my overheads etc etc but the prices were not queried by anyone else coming in.
sold out of Santa hats and only have two elf hats left.
Had done a whole load of jobs that were urgent for 4pm today and you guessed it, they never turned up to collect!
Several people were surprised I said it would be next Monday before their jobs were done, and I had to explain there were 30 jobs ahead of them! They said was that because it's Christmas, and I truthfully said, no it's always like that!
Tonight my other granddaughter is coming to stay as I have her tomorrow.
So had a friend come and tidy up/ clean for me. She used to come every week but hadn't been for over a month. So it's looking all lovely when I got home. Yeah!
Time to cook dinner and relax a bit.

Savvy_sewing

Sitting up in bed with both my DGDs cuddled up beside me!
While I drank my morning cuppa they played hide and seek under the covers!
But a 5.30 wake up will mean I am going to be tired tonight when I am teaching. It's the last one of the 6 week course so I hope my ladies will finish their tops today.
DS is supposed to be coming over to help with DGD2, while I go to the shop. I finish at 12 but there are so many jobs that need doing I will need to bring stuff home this afternoon.