Starting a kiltmaking business

[ForresterModern]

There is more allergen categories to think of than just smoke and cats---dogs or other animals (I know someone who lets ferrets run loose in the house) that shed either hair/fur or significant dander (skin cells), flowers and certain plants, and other fabric materials (wool can be bad enough, but cashmere, angora, etc... can be even worse), even eating a peanut butter sandwich while you are working on a kilt for someone who might be peanut sensitive could cause allergic consequences to the subsequent kiltwearer. You might want to ask if your customer has any specific allergies that your environment might expose them to, so you can know to modify your workshop to accommodate, if possible.

I would also suggest offering your "whole build" prices, where you order and obtain the tartan, build the kilt, and ship it to the buyer, along with maybe a "contact me" number or email if the consumer might wish to provide their own tartan material, where you could in direct communication with them offer a "labor only plus shop materials (buckles, etc...)" charge on a one by one basis, and even discuss with them whether it is worth the consumer's effort to obtain the tartan themselves, considering a kiltmaker's "corporate" discount with the tartan vendors. There will always be a small percentage of the population that wants something modified or different in some way, so be prepared to be accommodating as possible.

One other thing I would suggest is to keep in contact with your customers before and after the sale, before by keeping them aware of their position in your waiting queue, photos of hteir kilt in progress sent by email, notification of completion and tracking info for shipment with expected dates of arrival, following up on reciept of the goods, their level of satisfaction with the goods, and possible need for alterations either in this particular sale to achieve optimum satisfaction, or future possible sales for this particular customer to be kept on file, ask for written feedback and/or reviews on the various kilt forums, maybe even for pictures of the customer wearing the kilt in action that you could include on your website with their permission (a rogue's gallery of satisfied customers), you could even link their comments to their pictures so it puts a more personal touch to the relationship. Also keep a list of all customers, regardless of their degree of satisfaction, and offer up the last ten as references if asked for them, and if those ten customers agree to act as referecnes for you. Anybody can find a couple satisfied customers, even if your work is not that great, but you take out the bias of selecting only satisfied customers and instead use the last ten to give a more accurate assessment of the current level of your most recent work.

just a few thoughts.

jeff

[Frank McGrath]

My ex-wife believed that everything one wrote on Legal pads was just that. Legal. So , stock up on legal pads.




No. really. She even said this in court. It's been 28 years. Thanks be to God.

[Downix]

Speaking of fabric reminds me, when I began the research I also researched what it would take to weave my own fabric. Sadly for the volume I anticipate, it would not be worth it. But if anyone wants my research,let me know.

Altho I've found that it is quite relaxing to operate a loom.

[Barb T]

What Alan says is all true, but you don't have to intend to make a living at it to want to start to make kilts professionally. I don't make a living making kilts. I do it as a side, professional business; so does Wally, and so does Matt. There's nothing wrong with this.

But, even if you're not going to try to make a living at it, you should be professional. The post that started this thread is as true if you are making ten kilts a year or 100. You should charge a professional fee, do professional work, meet your legal and tax obligations, and run an honest and professional enterprise, even if it is part time.

For many people, starting small is really critical. Do you really like making kilts enough that you want to make a lot of them, or do you really only want to make a few a year for people you know? It's commonly hard to know the answer to this until you've made a bunch of kilts. It's also really easy to get over your head in all kinds of ways ranging from time to money. Starting small and local is one way to avoid having this happen to you at the outset. And Alan is absolutely correct - it's really really hard to make a good living as a full time kiltmaker. Starting small while keeping your "day" job lets you enjoy the kiltmaking part without having the stress of drumming up enough business to support yourself and your family. But it should still be a professional enterprise.

[Downix]

I suppose in my case it's easy, I'm a stay-at-home dad in a three income household. (two families sharing a household, to reduce our costs) So for me, it's supplimental/retirement money. I love making the kilts, made them for my former co-workers if they brought me fabric. (I should post pictures of some of the things I made somtime)

[Barb T]

I should post pictures of some of the things I made somtime

Yes, you should!

[longhuntr74]

I know that you got into kilt-making because your daughter started highland dancing. How many kilts did you make for her or other dancers (or the pipeband for that matter) in the group before you made it a business? No reason for asking, other than curiousity...and your comment about typically needing to make several kilts before you decide that you like it enough to make it a business.

[Barb T]

I know that you got into kilt-making because your daughter started highland dancing. How many kilts did you make for her or other dancers (or the pipeband for that matter) in the group before you made it a business? No reason for asking, other than curiosity...and your comment about typically needing to make several kilts before you decide that you like it enough to make it a business.

I made kilts almost exclusively for dancers in the Northeast until I wrote The Art of Kiltmaking, which is one of the reasons that the original book contains so many photos of kilts in dress tartans. I was tied in to two fairly good sized Highland dance groups, both taught by the same person in two different areas. It was all "word-of-mouth" - I never advertised. I honestly can't even estimate how many kilts I made for dancers in those early years, but I certainly remember going to competitions with Carolyn where I recognized lots of kilts....

I remember the very first kilt I made as a custom order. It was for another dancer from Carolyn's dance class. The teacher asked how much I was going to charge, and I told her that I would charge what Elsie (who taught me how to make kilts and who is my co-author for The Art of Kiltmaking) charged, which, at that time, was about $200 in labor plus tartan. The teacher challenged me and told me that I didn't deserve to charge as much as Elsie because she had been making kilts for decades and I had only just started making kilts. I didn't back down - I simply said that I would make a kilt that was every bit as good as Elsie's and that if there were any problems I would guarantee that I would fix them. She never challenged me again, and I have used what Elsie charges as a benchmark for my own labor charges since then.

If anyone wants advice on making kilts for dancers (stuff that's not in The Art of Kiltmaking, including dealing with "dance mothers"), just send me a PM.

I made a couple of kilts for Dave and I think seven or eight for Carolyn, including her band kilt, in those early years. At that time, you could buy enough tartan for a dancer's kilt for about $110, and, aside from the fact that you need to order a new set of custom kilt hose with each new dance kilt, it doesn't cost much in real $$ for a kiltmaker's daughter to have a new kilt every year or two. I would probably have made her other ones except that, once I made her Antarctica kilt, she didn't want to give it up!

Although Carolyn started playing pipes with the Mohawk Valley Frasers while I was making a lot of dance kilts, I made a decision early on that I didn't want to make kilts for the band. It would have been a very steady set of orders, but I really didn't want to keep working with the same tartan over and over again. I also truly didn't have time to make as many kilts as the band needed. And, to be honest, I've spent enough time around the band that I know how badly many band members treat their kilts, and it would have driven me crazy...!

After I started selling TAoK, people (mostly guys) started to contact me to ask if I'd make them kilts. But the biggest change happened as a result of joining Xmarks. Right now, the vast majority of kilts I make are for XMarkers who see my posts about how to make kilts and contact me to see if I'm still taking orders. Several XMarkers have liked the kilts I made for them enough that they've ordered a second or third one over the years.

I rarely make kilts for dancers any more, which is actually just fine with me. Most dancers see a kilt as part of a costume that they have to have to compete in Highland dance. I much prefer to make kilts for you guys - you care deeply about kilts and many of you save for a good long time before (as many of you say) "pulling the trigger". A kilt means a lot more to the guys I make a kilt for than it typically does for a dancer.

[Downix]

Ok, apparently I have been given a sign from the gods. Late last night at random I thought to search for a weaving loom. You know, ebay pining for things I can't get. I asked my wife, who joked that if I could find one for $50 incl shipping, I could get it.

One showed up, at $42, local to me. So, I put in a bid, $50, as I can pick it up in person.

This morning I got the "congradulations, you won!"

*sigh* I was joking about weaving, seriously!

And can someone tell me how to break it to my wife?

[bonnie heather]

In reply to xman's questions, here are my thoughts:
1. What are the best first steps in setting up kiltmaking services?
Barb answered this so well and I agree with her. I think you need to decide how much time you can afford to spend on it, and what direction you want to go. Some want to make kilts as a one person business. Some train others to help them when they get more kilt orders than they have time to make themselves. Some make kilts for other kiltmakers or vendors. Some have decided to make kilts by machine instead of all by hand. Some people also sell accessories and do vending. When you've decided on your direction and how big or small your intention is, it's easier to go forward with making a business plan and setting up a website. I learned to make kilts as an apprentice to a popular kiltmaker and then started making kilts for her and other kiltmakers and vendors. From the start, I've been paying taxes on the amount I earn from kilt work. When I started getting my own customers, I registered as a business and got a sales tax number. I'm still in the process of getting my website developed. Keeping good records and taking photos of your work is important. I set up a sewing room at home with good lighting and where the tartan fabric and kilts are safely protected.
2. What is needed to get wholesale prices from mills?
In addition to what Barb said, you can ask a kiltmaker who knows you, for permission to use their name as a referral. You can give the mill your sales tax ID number. You can tell them you'll pay with your credit card and not ask the mills for a credit account with them. I was lucky to meet representatives from Lochcarron and House of Edgar in person at a trade show. They helped me open accounts with them. Lochcarron has an office in New Hamphire. You could call and ask them.
Question 3 : Where and how did you first reach your local customers?
Some of my friends in the Scottish Country dance community knew I was learning to make kilts. Several of them had me make kilts or repair kilts for them. I met some people in a local pipe band and did some alterations for their band kilts as well as their personal kilts. I did a number of kiltmaking presentations at some Burns night suppers and at some Celtic festivals and Games. I got a few orders from people in the New York Caledonia Club. When my starter website first was up, I got several kilt orders from that. Also I was introduced to owners of some Scottish businesses and have made quite a lot of kilts for their customers. Little by little, I'm getting orders through word of mouth.
It's tempting to go into all the pros and cons of trying to do kilt making as a business. I like it very much and it gives me a feeling of accomplishment to work carefully and get good results. I love having a package of tartan arrive and the pleasure of making it into a beautiful kilt. I get frustrated that with all the specialized skill, years of experience and work time involved, it's hard to survive financially. I sew kilts almost every day from 5am to 9pm. It would make more practical sense to do some other kind of work, but I don't want to give up on it. It's probably good advice that Barb gave to do kiltmaking as a professional side job and have a day job that allows you to earn a living.
The photos of xman's kilts look very good and it's great that he enjoys making kilts and wants to do it professionally. The world needs more kiltmakers. I hear that in this day and age, not many young people in Scotland want to become kiltmakers. It would be sad if making handsewn kilts becomes a dying craft. We need to keep the art alive.
...bonnie heather