Name - Lorrayne Edwards Sewing Services

Telephone - 07841 989905

Email - scoobyed@hotmail.com

Who are you? My name is Lorrayne Edwards and I have been working from the converted loftspace at our home in Stoke Prior since July 2008, having previously been in the banking industry for 34 years, most recently as a Premier Manager for high net worth clients.

When did you open and why? I made the decision to become self employed when I became disillusioned with the direction that banking was following; coincidentally a little while after completing treatment for breast cancer back in 2005/2006. I’d had a Critical Illness policy which paid out on diagnosis so our mortgage got cleared and removed the financial imperative for me to work full time. If I’d not had the cancer experience I’m guessing I may still have been there, but it gave me the courage to step out and do something different.

Tell us about your business Initially I thought I’d just find a part time position to keep me occupied 2 or 3 days a week, but it was my husband who suggested I make use of my sewing skills. I decided to simply place an ad in the window of the local general store to see what the immediate response might be. I was amazed. After that I started advertising in the Bromsgrove Advertiser on a weekly basis and soon built up a regular client base. Since then I’ve migrated to online and social media advertising and recommendations, which work really well for me, and have a client portfolio in excess of 2000.

How did you decide on the name? Choosing my business name was easy….it’s simply ‘’Lorrayne Edwards Sewing Services’’….reason being is it tells everyone who I am and exactly what I do.

Who works there? It’s just me…I don’t employ anyone and never will. I have very high standards and all my clients know that any work they bring to me is done by me.

Who are your customers? My clients vary; I see both men and women clients from all walks of life and I undertake things like straightforward shortening of jeans/trousers/dresses and curtains through to Bridal and Prom alterations. I made the decision early on not to make any items from scratch as it’s much more time consuming and would take me away from my bread and butter work.

What’s your most memorable / proudest moment in business? I think the proudest moment was actually having the courage to go it alone in the first place. The thing I’m most proud of is the amount of 5* Reviews I have on Google, Yell.com and Facebook. And regardless of how many there are, that amazing feeling each time another one is added never changes.

Have you had any strange/ quirky suggestions or stories from customers? Well I did have one guy call me several times asking if I could make a sporran type thing to go inside a kilt …. I declined that one !!

What are your ambitions for the future? I guess all I want is to make each of my clients feel special when they visit me which will hopefully ensure they keep writing the wonderful reviews that I see on Google, Yell.com and Facebook. My smile is my logo, my personality is my business. How I leave my clients feeling is my trademark.

Under promise; over deliver. Always.

 

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