Many sewing and craft stores are reporting a surge in the number of students looking to take up sewing as a new hobby. The economy has been the most reported influence on choosing sewing as a hobby and classes are filling up with people interested in learning to repair their old clothes, or wanting to save money by making their own clothes.
Laura Jordan, the owner of Laura’s Sewing & Vacuum in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida says that she has had to lease a larger space to accommodate the influx of sewing students. She says business is doing very well with students paying $10 an hour for classes on learning to sew. She teaches up to 50 students at least twice as month and says that students are taking more and more classes and they’re buying more machines.
Clay Williams, a manager at Hancock Fabrics, says that his store has seen double digit increases “in the 30 percent realm” in fabric sales.
Williams also reports a spike in sales of upholstery fabrics, as more people are making their own home decor items like cushions and drapes, as well as re-upholstering aging furniture pieces to give them new life.
Take advantage of this current trend by providing classes to your customers or offer your services as an instructor to your local community center or other local organizations such as the YMCA.
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