Sew What? Featured in Australia

As you may know from reading this blog, Megan (founder & President of Sew What? Inc.) was born and raised in Australia.  Though she has lived in the United States for many years (and is now a US citizen), it is still a kick to find her and Sew What? Inc. recognized in her home country.

The Sydney (Australia) Morning Herald recently published an article about Megan and Sew What?, and I really enjoyed reading it – it gives a true portrayal of Megan, the company, and the many roles that custom stage curtains play.  

The staff photo used in the article is especially fun to see – all of us had a fun time posing for Megan.  She gathered us all together with a bunch of fabric and said, “Have fun,” and we sure did!  Here is another one taken during the same shoot:

I think these photos really show the spirit of Sew What?  We take our work seriously, but we still have fun while doing it!

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DWEN uses social media to connect the world

Yesterday, I posted about Megan’s visit to Shanghai as part of the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) conference.  On the same topic – I am really inspired with the way that social media has been used for this event, both as a way to connect the participants and as a way to connect the conference to the world at large.

Here are just a few examples:

LinkedIn

DWEN utilized this resource to connect conference participants before, during, and after the event, to discuss events and share information. 

Facebook

With its Dell for Business page on Facebook, DWEN is able to provide conference information and updates to Facebook users everywhere.

Twitter

If you are a lover of Twitter, then the DWEN page is the place to go for information on the conference.

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Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network

Exciting week – Megan is in Shanghai as part of the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, taking place along with Expo 2010 Shanghai (aka the World’s Fair).  What a terrific opportunity for Megan to have the chance not only to attend the DWEN conference, but also to be invited to speak.

Of course, with the power of technology, Megan is almost as connected to the office as she would be if she were here!  She took a laptop with her, so she is able to login to her computer here at Sew What? via Wifi from her hotel or the conference.   Isn’t technology amazing, that she can be halfway across the world and still able to access her computer here?

I got an e-mail from her last night, and she said that the conference is excellent.  I can’t wait to hear more about it when she returns.

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The Sew What? Family

Clever and creative. We have a lot of hidden talents amongst our crew, both at work in the sewing room and in the office. A small business that embraces technology and lean manufacturing practices, we achieve much with few……….. And this has brought out the very best in so many. Building a 1200 pound drape in 2 days with just 6 people deserves a place in the Guinness Book of Records, don’t you think?

If you follow this blog, you will have met several of our staff already, as we have been presenting them each month while celebrating them at our Fourth Friday gathering. We get together every month – without fail – to celebrate birthdays, reward for work well done and knock ourselves out with cake and ice cream. Occasionally we even throw in a little Karaoke competition to keep things interesting. (We celebrated Johnny Cash’s birthday with some “Burning Ring of Fire” en Espanol . I don’t think I’ve laughed that hard since!)

Most amazing are the anniversaries that we acknowledge each month. Many of our staff have been with us a long time, some for 10 years or more now. We have been blessed with the opportunity to employ some very dedicated and talented staff.   Births (Carley is pregnant), deaths (Tammy just lost a grandparent), good times (Papa Bill is coming!) and bad (it can’t all be good, sadly), we are one big family.

With both Adam’s and my family living internationally in New Zealand and Australia respectively, we rely on our Sew What? family for fun, friends and support. When there is no beer money, they bring their own beer and some for us, too – hey! Who could ask for more?

Megan

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World’s Fairs and Classic Chairs

Adam and I purchased two vintage Barcelona chairs back in 1996 right after we got married. A classic design, these chairs had previously been in the lobby at the Heinz Ketchup factory. The salesman’s big pitch included the fact that the design had first been presented in the German Pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona Exposition. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the Barcelona Chair design was timeless, and we were certain that they would not only suit us, but serve us long and well.

With our 14th wedding anniversary upon us this week I can say that we have never once regretted the investment, nor tired of their streamlined design. They hold pride of place for us now – one in our entry at home and one in our entry at the office. They remind us every day, be it arriving to work or arriving home, that premium quality and bold design are priceless. That in every product decision we make, we must ask ourselves, how will what I build today represent me tomorrow? Will this decision be lasting and for the long term? How will others perceive the piece in years to come? Am I creating tomorrow’s trash, or tomorrow’s treasure?

On this note I am excited to be traveling this June to Shanghai to attend the 2010 Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, where I will have the opportunity to surround myself with thinkers and doers and dreamers alike. The opportunity to meet some of the very brightest women in business and discuss technology and business with them is certainly a privilege that I will cherish. And in fulfilling a lifelong dream, the Dell conference is perfectly timed with the World’s Fair 2010 being hosted in Shanghai. I’ll have my eyes and ears open to all that these amazing women, and the World’s Fair, have to offer. You never know, perhaps I’ll come home with a fresh new outlook on small business and a couple of new chairs too……

Megan

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Photos from “Take Your Own Path”

Back in September, I posted on Dell Computer’s “Take Your Own Path” campaign, which featured inspiring entrepreneurs from small and medium sized businesses around the world, including our own Megan Duckett.

Well, recently we came upon a photostream from the campaign press conference in New York City, and I thought I’d pass it on.  Here’s a preview of one of the photos in the photostream (Megan is on the far right):

 Want to see more?  Go to the flickr photostream, or check out Dell’s “Take Your Own Path” webpage.  The entrepreneur stories are really inspiring! 

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Window drapes??

You sew, don’t you?  So why can’t you fill my order for some window drapes?

If I had a dollar for every explanation that I have offered new callers who were in the market for economical house drapes, I’d be cruising the Med right now.  It seems logical enough.  Indeed, we do know how to sew, we sell fabrics, and we make curtains and draperies.  But there are so many differences between residential-style draperies and those which we produce for the concert stage and theatre.  Here are just a few of those differences:

Types of Fabrics:  We are very limited in our fabric range compared to that of a retail fabric store.  Our materials must all be of very durable fibers, must come at least 54″ wide, must be available in large runs and have little or no dye lot inconsistency.  Many of the materials milled for our purposes are made in very commercial and utilitarian color lines.  There aren’t a lot of choices in cotton velour colors, for example – just three blues in total, 4 red tones, and one very ugly god.  Good luck finding carpet to match.

Flame Retardancy:  We typically deal in materials which are flame retardant – or treated to be such.  The laws in the United States require that we put only positively tested FR materials into public spaces such as theatres and concert halls.  In fact, the same requirements apply to all public spaces with drapery style textiles!  Many of our materials have lots of chemical flame retardancy applied to them.  Don’t know about you – but I would not want those chemicals hanging at my windows or on my bedspread or upholstered onto my sofa.

Cutting and Finishing Tolerances:  Our drapes are all hand cut and typically very big.  We once made a 1200 lb drape – it took a forklift to get it out of the building.  As you would imagine, the sizing tolerances are loose in pieces that big!  Even in a standard theatrical drape, acceptable industry tolerance would be within an inch to an inch and a half.  Of course, that would never work in a home kitchen window.  In comparison, residential tolerances would be within 1/4 to a half inch.

Sewing Machines: We use walking foot upholstery machines to create our durable and economical stage draperies and backdrops.  No blind hems, no invisible seams.  When it comes to thread, we use heavy spun nylon that is as thick as fishing line, and we stitch right through the face of the fabric!  No – just because it seems less expensive does not make it look any better in your dining room.  Trust me.

Pleating Styles:  We box pleat.  And knife pleat.  We even shirr occasionally.  But no – French pleating, triple pinch pleating, and other such fancy top finishes aren’t our forte.

So – where should you go for home drapes?  For off the shelf drapes in a variey of very nice materials and fashion colors, I personally think Restoration Hardware has the best selection.  The prices are fair for the very elegant textiles that they offer.  The sewing quality of their pre-made panels is also very good.  If you want something custom – try a local residential drapery and upholstery provider.  Ask for references first and be prepared to pay a 50% deposit (at minimum).  Let them measure and, if at all possible, let them install, too – it will be worth it to have the pieces hung and installed “just so.”  Hey – it is your HOME.

Happy house hunting!

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What would Emily Post do?

In referencing some classic Emily Post etiquette books published in the mid 60’s, I read that one should never make a call during the week before 9 am.  Or after 8 pm.  Nor should we call someone on a weekend before 10 am.  And never on a Sunday without invitation.  All communications should start with “Dear” or “To Whom It May Concern,” and be in one’s very best cursive script.  Remember – never abbreviate, never exclamate. (!)

So……

How about this iPhone that I have then, Emily?  If I get an e-mail at 11 pm on a Friday, mid-martini, should I jump to call, text, e-mail, and resolve the query?  Or does one wait till Saturday after 10 am?  Alas – Saturday is not a typical work day – so would I therefore further delay my response to the next business day after 9 am?

Oh my!

Being an anxious Capricorn, there is a very good chance that my clients will get that immediate knee jerk reaction, while my friends continue the conversation without me.  When my phone bleeps, my 6 year old comments – “Mum – you’ve got e-mail” (who needs AOL?).

Do we respond as honestly – and with as much thought – when we fly at an answer instantly?  Do we give our clients (big spenders and small alike) a warm fuzzy feeling when there is no “by the way” or “thank you”?  And what of the lack of capitalization and punctuation?  Does one assume the user is uneducated?  Or just too busy to backspace and correct it?

My challenge for the week is to locate the most current etiquette opinions on the matter from the SMB world.  I will let you know what I find.  Stand by – this should be pretty funny.

Yours, remotely, wirelessly, and conveniently connected in the palm of my hand.

Megan

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Travelling for Work

I was surfing the Internet recently – a late night habit I have developed – and struck upon some travel commentary.  It reminded me just how much I love to travel – and in turn got me thinking about all the amazing travel opportunities I have had which have been work related.  International and domestic – I admit to having had a pretty good run of it.

GREECE – yes- you heard correctly – 14 days in fact on board a luxury cruise liner visiting Mediterranean locations as exotic as Santorini and Venice, even stopping in Corfu just in time for the breaking of the pottery urns at Easter time.  I was not sewing stage draperies at the time – rather was a project coordinator for a privately chartered sales incentive program – back in 1993 or so when there were budgets for such extravaganzas.  These days they don’t go to Greece – they just serve Feta on the salad in an attempt to give some international flair.

NEW YORK CITY – the Big Apple – a product launch.  As a selected speaker for the launch of the Dell Computer Vostro computer lineup, I had the pleasure of visiting the top floor of the Reuters building and seeing our company posted on the LED billboard in Times Square.  Amazing!

BARCELONA – the Olympic Stadium was new, just post-Olympics, and then there was the trip to the convent on a Sunday to take fresh eggs to the nuns – a village tradition.  This time in charge of a large drapery installation amongst other elements for a privately sponsored event, this work trip left me with memories of La Segrada Familia and a fond appreciation for all things Gaudi.

CANCUN – Oh my – building a tent on the beach in the middle of college spring break.  Is it OK if I try to forget this “gig” memory?  Thanks.  I think we should let it go quietly.

TURKEY – I departed a cruise ship in Kusadasi after 5 days on board.  This time doing  a large upholstery project singlehandedly – it was a work-all-night-and-sleep-all-day kind of scenario.  No matter, however – with the time difference between there and America, it was easy to work the schedule.  I covered several hundred running feet of ducting with flame retardant Sunbrella® brand fabric – hard work but rewarding.

NEW ORLEANS – there were hurricanes – lots of them.  And I am not  talking about wind and rain.  WOW – New Orleans is a really hard city to stay focused in when it comes to deciding whether to work…or eat crocodile.

BRUSSELS – Not sewing concert curtains – but SPEAKING!  Yes – I was invited to speak in Brussels at an IFAI conference, on the subject of wide format digital printing.  This was a terrific experience where I met some very educated people on the subjects of “smart” and “intelligent” textiles.

So – my point here, I think, is that I have been fortunate indeed – to have been invited to work on high profile projects, in interesting places.  My grandparents and parents alike loved to travel – Adam and I have the bug too – so I picked the right profession, you might say.

Next……the stars?  Oh no – I am already reaching for them.

Megan

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Small Business Madness

Lately I have been feeling both humbled and thankful.   We have been busy selling.  Very busy.  While witnessing personal family friends relocate to Nebraska having lost both job and home, our team has worked extra hours on nights and weekends to keep up with client needs.  We are fortunate indeed.  Dedicated too – but I recognize that dedication is not enough.

It has prompted me to ask myself – what is the differentiator in a floundering economy that causes one business to fail while another finds growth?  Is there one single factor that assures measurable success?

What is it that keeps the phone ringing, and how do you keep vendor / client relations fresh? – is it just service?  Does knowing what you’re selling make any difference – or does price point seal all deals?  All clients needs are different.  So it is a function of understanding what is best for each and every project on a case by case basis.  There is no “one size fits all.”  And no one catalog or fabric swatch card to suit all needs.  While we are small, we are mighty in our ability to personalize our services…and turn on a dime.  I no longer think that “bigger is better” – rather, that “better is best.”

Like my parents told me, you can’t have your cake and eat it too – so invariably premium quality and low price don’t usually meet on a single contract.  But that seems to suit our clientele – we are not the low price leader – rather a supplier of premium products for clients wanting professionalism, quality, timeliness and value.

I am very thankful for the loyal clientele, many of whom we consider to be dear friends, who have brought their business to us over the years.  I along with all Americans hope that the economic climate continues to improve so that our family, friends, clients and vendors may all find growth and success in their chosen fields.

Megan

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