Mooloo's "Making my future, one stitch at a time"?

trix-a-belle

Mooloo wrote: »

But the main prices went up in January and I'm reluctant to put them up againl.

It's not unusual to have 2 price rises a year mooloo, a number of my suppliers do it & as you're just starting out I'd feel its totally acceptable especially as you are costing each job as it comes in to an extent

Savvy_sewing

Thankyou.
I have printed off two of the price lists. My prices are on a par to most of them or not far from them. Although one is much cheaper then me. ( about the prices I started with last year).
I have, as suggested, started to ask people to come in and book fittings. But it's not easy to follow when some people come in.
But we will try and change it.
The three of us sewing yesterday got us through a good few jobs, and then my other Lady called them so today even though it was only a half day, we took £180 in cash and £47.50 on cards.
So with yesterday's £120 banked, and £114 on the card machine, it is finally coming in. I was relieved to see the bank balance cover the rent, and I know that the card transactions are still to get to the account.
There are still about 30 jobs in the system so I think we will get through the month now.
Today I had time with my son, grandson, and DGD. We BBQd some sausages and chicken and salad. It was a nice afternoon.

Savvy_sewing

Morning. I've a busy day ahead as usual. I have a textiles student between 9.30 and 11am. Then I have to make a pair of trousers from scratch for a customer. The sewing staff are not in today, and the receptionist finishes at 1.30. So I will have to work on the shop floor this afternoon. ( best allow for interruptions then).
In the evening I'm back for week 4 of the sewing course.
So I need to tidy up my workshop, put away the machines we are using, and set up before I go home too.
DGD is banned from the kindle as she was becoming obsessed with Minecraft and you tube.
School said she was also not very alert at times. Mmm I have had a fight on my hands every morning to get her to go to school. It's exhausting every morning trying to get her ready for school.

Savvy_sewing

Saturday already!
Time is flying by. I am pleased that this weeks early drive to attack the work load with everyone in the shop on Monday and Tuesday, and my working Wednesday meant we were ontop of the jobs, and money was coming in well all through the week. The card machine is taking more and more, ( which means a delay to funds actually reaching my account on adverage by 5 days.) but on the plus side we have the rent covered, and with the banking from yesterday, the wages for the staff will be covered.
I am concerned at the responsibility I now have for staff wages, tax, NI, and now I also have to offer work place pensions I am told.
Considering I have non of the above as there isn't quite enough money means that I am a bit of a victim to my own success, and can't see me paying me for a while longer!
Just when I thought we were getting on top of jobs we had another flurry if things in, and I'm flat out. I am relieved that today's morning course didn't actually take any bookings, so I can do alterations!.
Making any fresh stock will have to wait until the winter I think!

Twin1 is talking to DGD on Skype a lot since she moved, but it's going to be another 2 weeks before she sees her.
twin2 is planning on coming up for a visit in 3 weeks for my birthday. So she will have to save her train fare then as I can't afford it.
DS needed to take baby for his jabs on Wednesday, so we got to have a BBQ in my garden, and I got cuddles. My son is far too thin, he needs to eat better. He demolished about 6 sausages and 4 chicken drumsticks!
biggest of Mooloo's, is about 6 weeks to go before her baby is due. But she is now on crutches due to trouble with her hips etc. Her cousin who is due in a few weeks is also on crutches. They think the problem is linked to them both being dancers in their youth.
Dgd2, has got her new school uniform and starts school proper in September.
We still have not heard anything for Letterbox contact from the Boys. The only news we get is third hand from the foster family who used to have them, but she can only tell me they are well, the last time she messaged me they were going on holiday abroad.
DGD's babysitter has a new job so today is the last time she can have her for me on a Saturday. Luckily the old babysitter has now finished her exams and can sit next week.

So that's life up to date at the moment.
Oh and I'm still itching, and will be back at the doctors Monday Afternoon. ( so will be closing the shop early.
On Wednesday I have to sign some legal documents for my Mum, and I'm hoping with my brother here, I will be able to collect that big embroidery machine from Mums friend. Hoping that I will be able to learn how to use it, so eventually we can offer an embroidery service.

Bobarella

It is a responsibility having staff. And all the things you legally have to offer. It's one of the elements I wish I'd had more info on before becoming an employer. At the moment I am managing without any but repaying PAYE until January that was outstanding from last year. That's how all my bill got behind too at the time because I couldn't not pay the staff so I'd go a month without paying the electric instead, or another bill, & still end up borrowing to pay them and me sometimes. Plus all the holiday you have to cover when they are off. Think I did about 6 weeks of 6 day weeks last year just to cover leave.
not sure what the answer is but at the moment I've had to scale back my activities so I don't need staff. Good luck figuring it all out.

pinkandblueshoe

Im sure the inland revenue run courses for new employers on stuff like keeping books and I would assume NI, pensions etc. To be honest with you, if you are stuck in a position of having several staff you can pay and have to pay pensions, tax, NI and wages but cant draw a wage yourself, Id be asking myself if I had too many staff on board. Im not suggesting you lay anyone off and I appreciate the work you are doing is very hands on, but it's not the best situation to be in where you are making a profit and all that profit is going on paying other people and you are still living off other sources of income.

Ive worked for employers who didn't offer me a pension, but I only worked 13 hours a week. If I had worked above 16 I believe I would have qualified for a pension credit from the goverment, but that employer didnt offer me a pension and that was only 3 years ago so Im not sure its a legal requirement for every industry. Will need to google and find out.

pinkandblueshoe

Googled, its new legislation, workers need to be aged between 22 and the state pension age and need to be earning over £10000 per year and work in the UK. If you dont need to enrol them by law they can join and you cant refuse, but if someone earns less than

£486 per month
£112 per week
£448 per 4 weeks

The employer doesn't have to contribute to the pension

https://www.gov.uk/employers-workplace-pensions-rules

Savvy_sewing

Thanks for that.
I will go and have a read with my cup of tea.

Re my not paying me, it's not ideal, but I have deadlines or people would not return again and again. However it will be the next thing I sort out, as we now have all the machines, materials, etc that we need for now.
So it's going to be less big purchases etc.
I am also well aware that the electric items all need patt testing before September. ( and there are a lot of machines).
Then the annual insurance is also going to be due. So I will spend time in July looking for competitive rates etc.
Also the landlords insurance has to be paid. I am hoping to persuade him that we can find a more competitive one as I have to foot the bill!

Bobarella

Insurance is such a pain. £400 I pay to my landlord for his buildings insurance policy and then £1600 a year to my insurer to cover EL, PL & business interruption. They won't let me pay it over 12 months either so it's a huge cost over 10...

Savvy_sewing

Think mine was around £600 for mine and £371 for his. All paid in one lump sum. What annoyed me last year was he demanded the full money up front, but the insurance agent said he paid it over 10 months.
My hope is July stays busy to help cover for closing in August for two weeks.
I think reading your link that I won't have to do work pensions as two of my staff are already pensioners, and the other 23yr old is only doing 10 hours a week on adverage. So under the £112
But I will have to double check.
I will make sure that I reduce any overtime for them as soon as we are on top of jobs.
Tomorrow I am going to reclaim my bedroom and work room here at home, and try and get back into making things at home in the evenings. So I can sell them. I don't have time to do them in work hours.
Also if I reclaim my room then I could bring back easy jobs to do in the evenings if necessary. So I don't have to pay extra hours to staff.
Next week I have a work experience girl all week. So I will be interrupted a bit, but hope I can get her doing some really basic perpetration. shop layout etc.
Monday we are going to change the window to the Sewing Machines. fabrics and notions. See how that helps us.
We sold some fabric today, from the new stock. Also patterns, and sold a skirt I had made. Happy to do more then when I am at home.