As I pack up the Christmas decorations and make new lists and goals for 2024, I like to take a moment to reflect on the year of 2023 in the first few days of the new year.

2023 overall was a very busy year filled with new adventures, many successes and several failures. I made LOTS of clothing including dresses, blouses, skirts, jackets, tops, pants, coats, menswear, accessories, pajamas and a few home decor and gift items. I made things for clients, myself and for family & friends. Lots of alterations came my way from beautiful bridal gowns, tailored suits, dresses, separates, added embellishments and more! Some big successes, some major disappointments and most somewhere in between.

If I look at strictly business results, I would consider the year to have been the best yet for Love, Stephanie. I met many new clients, had several returning clients, and lots of clients come to me through referrals and word of mouth. I also was able to have a couple of small advertisements with links to my website in a local publication which definitely gave a boost in interest in what I was up to and several inquiries for custom sewing and alterations. Many of the clients heard about me through social media, a Google search and even via Yelp which all ultimately directed them to my website lovestephanieappparel.com.

Speaking of my website, I was able to make updates and improvements by myself or with the help of a paid webmaster. One of the biggest improvements came from using images from a photo shoot I had in April. For months I planned this photo shoot complete with a gorgeous gown that I made, a lovely model (my friend’s daughter), a pro photographer (also a good friend), a team of assistants and makeup artists (more friends) at an amazing location out in Central Oregon. It was an entire planned process from the mood board, meetings, sewing, fittings and travel, and was an amazing and fun job to accomplish that I want to do on an annual basis!

Maintaining the website took work and attention. I added new photos of my work, maintained (and raised!) my prices, updated contacts, and created links to this blog (trying to keep up with the blogging isn’t easy!) and my other social media profiles, as well as keep my audience engaged with my newsletter and blog posts. In 2023 I had record traffic on my site. See below for some interesting analysis!

I keep track of all of my income and numbers as they happen on my computer so that I can keep on eye on progress and be prepared for filing taxes. Although I don’t consider myself a “numbers” person or have the ability to make big bucks or manage to keep myself on budget, I do like to analyze the numbers and try to figure out what the numbers are telling me, thanks to my employment history in retail, buying and sales analytics. So getting into some statistics, here are some of the results of my year in business and web analytics:

2023 Love, Stephanie Analytical Breakdown

# of Individual Clients:

2023: 65

2022: 52

Variance: up +25%

Income by Client Type:

Client type consists of the type of sewing I was commissioned to do for clients, including alterations (bridal and otherwise), custom sewing creations and the bridal alteration fee I charge for a bridal fitting appointment.

Now, for some website stats to share looking at the entire year of 2023 (Source: Wix):

Site Sessions year over year: 1,023, up +67%

Unique visitors: 801, up +57%

Looking at the chart you can see the big spikes occurring in website traffic over the year. My reasonings for the spikes is when I posted new photos and content, sent out a newsletter, made an announcement, attended an event, handed out business cards, posted advertisements in the local publication, and search inquiries before and during prom and bridal season when people are most likely looking for a seamstress to hire for alterations and custom sewing. That big spike in November is when I announced the opening of my new studio location. This coming Saturday 1/6/24 is the grand opening of the location, so exciting things are coming my way, I can just feel it!

More Web Analytics (source: Wix)

Looking at the top traffic sources to my website, Google takes the lead with the most referrals, up a whopping +137% over LY and 40% of the total leads! I have a Google page for my business Love, Stephanie. Click on the link to see my page where I post about what services I provide, the area that I serve, photos of my work and reviews from my clients.

Clearly that is working and people are able to find out about me by a Google search. The other sources seem to be working as well, including people directly typing in my web address to find me which is quite nice!

Teaching sewing classes has also boosted awareness for my skills and abilities. Although most of my students aren’t looking for a seamstress to create things for them to wear or alter their clothing, they are curious to learn how to sew, know more about me, they check out my credentials, look into my educational and work background and follow me on social media. All of which can turn into leads, recommendations and future business, or even potential future employees or interns when the need arises, so I encourage them to go check me out and keep in touch.

Some students have left me great reviews and seek out assistance after class has ended if they are stuck with a sewing question, and sometimes even share their sewing successes and progress which is absolutely delightful!

I also find that wearing my makes out to events, parties, classes, meetings or just around running errands helps to spread the word. I often get stopped by someone who admires my outfit, wondering where I got it which is an amazing and flattering feeling! I carry business cards with me wherever I go, and hand them out to anyone who asks.

So all of the time I spend making my own outfits has definitely helped build my skills and confidence, allowed me to make mistakes and learn from them on myself, as well as boost self-advertising. Plus I have built (and will continue to create) a wardrobe of clothing that I enjoy wearing and is uniquely mine!

Goals for 2024

As I look ahead for the next year and beyond, I have made some goals to grow and build business based on successes, as well as learning from failures:

-Beat LY’s numbers!

-Create dynamic marketing strategies using social media

-Develop compelling marketing and advertising campaigns

-Take better photos, create interesting video content

-Plan an on-location photo shoot with my apparel, a model, a pro photographer

-Maintain website with fresh ideas, set up online e-commerce shop, SEO

-Reach new clients and retain past ones

-Maintain detailed client list and build client database

-Build client analysis data for more charts and graphs

-Network, attend events, make connections

-Utilize new store front space to meet clients, display merchandise, host events, grow client base

-Create a business plan including plans to grow and build a line with steady inventory

-Organize schedule and client meeting calendar, time management

-Organize and maintain a clean work space-

-Use materials and supplies I already own, reduce and avoid spending on new ones

-Continue and grow contributions and efforts to ASDP board member responsibilities as VP of Communications

-Complete MSDP Sewing and Design Professional Certification

-Research and develop sewing skills namely tailoring, couture sewing, intricate details, pattern making and embroidery

-Keep up with fashion trends as well as continue to study fashion history

-Create beautiful, high quality garments that I have designed and sewn

-Complete garments that I have started

-Enter sewing and design challenges and fashion shows

-Offer excellence customer service and do my best possible work with each client

-Continue to teach others sewing and making clothes

-Continue to draw and create fashion illustrations

-Manage stress through healthy eating, exercise and work/life balance

-Smile, be kind to others, love one another, and be grateful for the life and opportunities that I have!