#55 - Leigh Metcalf @ Top Stitch Makers on starting a business with no formal business education and pivoting from sewing studio to online community

In this episode, Saskia and Leigh Metcalf, founder of Top Stitch Makers Social Community, discuss the importance of building a safe and valuable space for garment sewers.

Leigh shares her journey of finding her ideal customer, reaching them through various channels, and how she puts aside the financial treadmill of retail to focus on what really matters to her customers.

They also talk about the importance of having a community of like-minded people, the value of community in newsletters, and the benefits of sharing knowledge and insights with each other instead of competing. Additionally, they touch on the conflict between values about stuff and business, the importance of choosing the things that give you energy, and the benefits of having a team.

If you're a business owner, especially in retail, looking to build a community and prioritize what matters most to your customers, this episode is for you.

MAIN TAKE-AWAYS

• When discussing lease terms for your shop or studio, ask if you can sub-let, so you can get out early if you have to.
• THE MOST BASIC BUSINESS PLAN consist of anwering these three questions 1. What are you going to do? 2. How are you going to do it? 3. How are you going to pay for it to start off with? (because not everyone wants to read a 50 page plan…)
• LIFE LESSON: When you get cold

Get 50% off the Business Circle Program this Summer. No live video, no 1:1 sessions and you have to do 4 hours of work each week to see results. If you are willing to put in the work, you get the BCP and a guest pass to the community for only €600,- instead of €1200,-.
This is a very generous offer if I do say so myself and it's not based on scare tactics but a way for me to find out if an evergreen course would work. An experiment. This might be your last chance! www.patternshift.fm 

If you want to build or grow your business in textile crafts, why don't you join our online community for a small, monthly contribution of only 10 euros, which is $10 ish. You get to hang out, learn from and share your business. And your craft journey with all the lovely people there, support the podcast at the same time and you get everything wrapped into one loving package. I would love to welcome you there.

Go to Patternshift.fm and click