Has scored multiple combo goodness....
Girl who works at Jo Anne Fabrics is not paid well (redundant to say retail worker is not paid well, I know). She can sew, rather well indeed. Our little seamstress is about .... 19ish? I met her through her ex boyfriend who is no good (he ran across me didn't he?) and is thankfully an ex. I take a liking to her, because despite being in quite a bit of poverty, she's incredibly well mannered and she's kind of cute in her own way I guess. Though I'm again as gay as they come.
So, seeing this, I help her start a little side business doing some seam...stressing to monetize her talents. Girl's got an employee discount in a cloth store full of people who like the idea of sewing. A la customer base starter/supplier. She can make or mend clothes for rather cheap overall, and they aren't bad quality either. We're talking tailor made too. Plus, she's got an eye for design and her stuff is actually quite cute! She can do alterations as well. I helped her set up a semi assembly line for her to focus her efforts on cutting out pattern multiples to increase productivity with minimal strain on her. Sweatshops aren't the best shops. She'd either be doing this or watching TV and she prefers doing this/this is fun for her.
She's been in business for three whole months now and I've been doing her books for her. You never make anything the first month (your monthly billing goes on that cycle) or usually the first few really. She made $314 profit the second month and $721 profit the third! Especially given them cutting her hours, this is close to what she makes at work. (She needs to keep that job though, for the discount and customer base; I've made that clear). Being about as cheap/cheaper than Wal-Mart for tailor made products can only mean her business will grow! She's out Wal-Marting them without the child slave labor!
I've actually put in an order for a suit to her, which she can make cheaper than the other guys. Don't want anything flashy, simple elegant, minimalist, black, looks decent in court. Course it's got to have some lining etc but whatever. If it's good, then she'll get more orders.
I've also seen some of the dresses she's made. They are actually rather pretty and I want one! This is the majority of her business anyhow. Plus, buying cute clothes is a major pain for me because chain stores do not like GLBT people and are often mean to them. Here, we're talking tailor made! Plus, I think I can trust her to not say anything to anyone!
Review:
A.) I'm an actual (instead of imaginary) local job creator/help people start their own business...er, where's a my tax break? (j/k)
B.) Helped nice local person and it didn't blow up in my face.
C.) Taking away small market share from Wal-Mart for local business = WIN!
D.) Doing "C" above counts twice!
E.) The cheap suit that looks awesome is the best suit!
F.) May have created an understanding source where I can get cute clothes from without getting funny looks, tailor made! Pretty dresses, skirts, tops, et al and all for Truean at prices that are both affordable and help a deserving local person, without the dirty looks! YAY
G.) Did I mention I'm doing her books? I think I may have god damn created a bookkeeping client out of thin air, and at some point a legal services one if that comes up .
H.) Why yes she could refer the customers she gets to me as an attorney/book keeper, so I get more business! Mwuha muhahahahaha. [cough... coughcoughcough.... wheezecough...cough] Ahem, we're gonna edit that part out right? Right?
That is pretty sweet all around. It's not many people who can claim they have a personal tailor on retainer.
Good for her too if she can turn it into a self-sustaining business.
New friend! New income for new friend! Source of pretty clothes! Cute Dresses for me without dirty looks!
Maybe her circle of clients will one day become my circle of clients and vice versa.
I'm also screwing over Wal-Mart by showing her how to be cheaper/more profitable than they are. Hehehehe.
$924 profit the fourth month!
The suit is coming along nicely so far, though it is far from a priority order. I've also heard both her AND HER MOM say things that are GLBT friendly in passing conversation! YES! Yes.... Pretty please make this work. I've seen some of her outfits and they are pretty as hell/elegant/I want one soooo bad. This is an awesome portion of my plan, and it just might work too. Please let her make me a dress/cute clothes.... This could be soooo awesome with a new business for a new friend and understanding source of cute clothes.
Its even bringing her closer to her mom, who is clearly the person she learned to sew from/a woman with a great sense of design. I really hope this works out sooo badly and in the worst way. Please let this work and have me be awesome friends with her and her mom. Please, I've proven I can be trusted; I'm managing her business funds and referring clients for a measly 10% and basically am creating a business/job for her out of thin air. Please be someone I can trust with who I really am. Please, I've earned it and really I'm just providing you with another customer sort of....