Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Newbold.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sewtopia was inspired by the online sewing community. With today’s technology, we are more connected to each other than ever before. Blogs, online swaps, and social media have given us the opportunity to make friends around the country and even the world. Through Sewtopia, these online relationships can have real-world meeting place. In 2014 we held our first event in Salt Lake City, Utah. We’ve traveled to over a dozen locations through the United States.
In 2018, we opened our online shop to carry modern fabrics, patterns, kits, and snarky, fun merchandise. As our online inventory grew and our lease to our place was going to expire, we ventured out in the summer of 2020 and found a small retail place in the Holladay/Murray area of Utah. A brick and mortar was not what we had in mind when we originally began, but with our customers support has helped us grow and brick by brick and now we’re here because of you. We love working with companies, designers, and customers to cultivate creativity and share our passion for sewing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In 2017, our sewing machine sponsor informed us they would no longer be providing 60 machines for our events. It was a major turning point. I had to decide whether to shut down or fully invest in the business. With the support of my now-business partner, I chose to move forward. I withdrew a large portion of my 401(k) to purchase our own sewing machines. This decision gave our events side of the business the foundation that it needed to grow without obiligations, more free will.
At the time, I was still working full-time as the Operations Director at a small technology company, where I had been for over thirteen years. I was torn. I was driven to grow my own small business but still dedicating most of my energy to someone else’s. In hindsight, I’m grateful that their new sales manager let me go. Combined that with the support of my husband, It was the push I needed to commit fully to my business.
By 2020, we were operating out of a small office space and fulfilling only online orders when I decided it was time to find a retail location. We discovered the perfect spot in Holladay, and as part of the lease agreement, we were required to open to the public. Since this was during the height of the pandemic, the landlord gave us a six-month grace period. We officially opened our doors to the community in December 2020.
We’ve been impressed with Sewtopia, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sewtopia is a small, woman- and minority-owned business built by strong women from diverse backgrounds who share a common set of values. Since 2014, we’ve worked to create a welcoming, inclusive community for all who sew. Just as women drive progress across the country, they’re at the heart of everything we do. Our focus is modern quilting and bag making. Our merchandise embraces bold design, creative innovation, and a fresh take on traditional quilting techniques.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
We love Tiktok and Instagram. We know Instagram the best but Tiktok is a guilty pleasure.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sewtopia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sewtopia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gosewtopia
- Twitter: https://x.com/sewtopia/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SewtopiaChannel
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sewtopia-holladay-2
