Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Peterson.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I began sewing when I was young (around 10-11y) and was interested in fabrics. My dad and I used to frequent thrift stores together, where I would find things I wanted to use as fabric for my latest creation. My mom (a quilter) taught me how to use her sewing machine! I did thrift flips for quite some time and, in high school, moved on to making my prom dresses. My parents and teachers encouraged me to attend college even though I hated continuing education. I knew that if I could make a career in sewing, I would choose to do that. I wasn’t curious if that was a valid career option, and I didn’t want to stick around in my hometown in Central California, so I moved out to Utah for college.
In my second semester, I started working as a seamstress at a local bridal shop and fell in love with the work. I went on to work at bridal shops in Utah and Maryland. I returned to Utah and started working for an international bridal brand in SLC. I worked there for less than a month before deciding that it wouldn’t be my forever job. I took a sick day and visited every shop in Salt Lake County and told them who I was and what my experience was in bridal alterations. I went to thirteen shops that day. One shop gave me a shot and showed me a “sewing test.” They began to send brides to me soon after. I knew that an online presence would be helpful to my business, so I started posting before and after photos and reels for potential clients to look at. I was one of the first wedding dress alteration shops to start a presence on social media, and it has been a very clear propellor for our growth. Nearly 2 years after I quit my corporate job- I had each of those shops coming back to me and asking if they could refer brides to me! It was such a full-circle moment.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been relatively smooth so far?
We have been so lucky and blessed to see such steady growth. We continue to have new shops referring to us, brides coming to us from other states, and a community growing online. Some brides (and their mothers) pose challenges as to some dresses, but I have such an incredible team beside me, and we have the most remarkable clients, which makes it a much smoother road.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Heming & Fitz, we pride ourselves on our ability to cater to brides with tight timelines. Our goal is to guide our clients through the alteration process in about 6 weeks, a remarkably quick turnaround. We even offer same-week alterations for brides whose dresses have arrived late or for those visiting from out of town. One aspect of our business that sets us apart is our custom sleeves. We excel at understanding a bride’s vision and bringing it to life, making her dress dreams a reality.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
Many of my peers have the desire to start a business. Most of them feel as though they have to have a perfect product, a perfect service, or a perfect marketing plan to start. My most significant piece of advice is to try it out. If you or your product is good- it will sell itself. You will have to market and try to grow your business, but you can take 10 steps to build your business before you have all your ducks in a row.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hemingandfitz/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJKVhZD6qgrDv3xT8jg4hEA
