Hi

My wife works with soft finishings specialising in Curtains (aka Drapes), and to help with the lack of holidays in Canada was looking at becoming Self employed or starting her own Business. Can anyone give me some advice on how you go around doing this?.

I know Drapes aren't greatly sought after in Canada as Blinds are the "in thing" but you do tend to have them more in formal rooms such as dining rooms still so maybe there is a market for this still.

Just as a off chance, we are planning on moving to Barrie, Ontario. Anyone know of any Soft Finishing places in that area?

Thanks

Have a look on yellowpages.ca and try to find curtain shops in the area. They may be prepared to use your wife on a freelance basis, which will help her get started.

May be there are people on this forum going to the same area who would be happy to use your wife for their drapes

It's certainly true that blinds are more common than drapes but they certainly exist. We have them in three rooms but only as decoration (it's not a good idea to close them in mid-Winter, by the way).

Industry Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency website can probably offer information on the best form of business. Self employment probably involves less paperwork, although your wife would likely still have to register for GST. I'm assuming that it would be a home-based business, in which case there is a lot of stuff that can be written off against tax if you're self employed.

As for marketing, I'm thinking that printing up some leaflets and paying kids to do a drop in the wealthier part of town would be the way to go. Word of mouth is probably quite important here.

If the business is home-based, beware of the implications for your house insurance. It could be void if you don't tell the insurers, particularly if clients visit.

Send me a PM. I came over 2 years ago and am still trying to break into the Soft Furnishings Business. It is very different over here and has taken me a long time to find things out but I'm well on my way now. I personally think there is a very high demand for this trade but you have to knock on one hell of a lot of doors to get there.

Cathie (Custom Drapery Fabricator)

How come it's not a good idea?

On the contrary - drapes are supposed tp be making a big come back, apparently they're 'fashionable' again

I should perhaps have been more specific. It's not a good idea when it is seriously, seriously cold outside (like -30). With the drapes closed the windows are somewhat isolated from the houses's heating and moisture in the air freezes on the glass. The first Winter we were in Gatineau we found ice sheets on the inside of double-glazed windows where we had closed the drapes overnight.

It may not be an issue in the mild climes of TO.

It's certainly not an issue for us; we have neither blinds nor curtains.

Note to self not to look too closely around dbds neighbourhood on those dark winter mornings

One of my wifes cousins (or somethong...dont really know them) has a custom drapery business, and does OK. I think setting up any business relies a lot on word of mouth though...the canadian networking thing.

The actual mechanics of setting up a business (in Ontario) are very easy though.

http://www.ontario-canada.com/ontcan/en/start.jsp

It costs about $60 to register a business (I did this in April this year). You have to also register for PST (no cost) and charge it for anything retail you sell. You don't charge it if you are selling to a designer who then sells it on. You only have to register for GST if your turnover is more than $30000 in a year.

PST doesn't work like VAT. You usually have to pay PST and GST on everything you buy for the business. Supplies that you are reselling onwards are usually PST exempt but you have to arrange this with the supplier directly. Not worth the hassle sometimes if you just need some thread or zippers or something. To get large supplies wholesale, companies won't even talk to you unless you are a business and want your PST number. So you can end up in a catch-22 situation if you don't register for PST.

Yes, it is all about networking here I'm afraid. That's why it's taken me so long. I have a Canadian network now and an American network. I spent $3500 on a course in the States earlier this year to get certified and get my network. I currently work freelance for a place in town at $12.50 an hour on a payroll basis and another company in Mississauga that I invoice (and the pay is pitiful) but with these 2 companies on my resume I am currently planning an onslaught of designers in the New Year.

England has higher standards than Canada/US and this can be a good thing in getting into this business and being paid well by targetting high-end designers (which is my plan for the New Year).

Cathie
SEW....SIMPLE ELEGANCE

Just as a off chance, we are planning on moving to Barrie, Ontario. Anyone know of any Soft Finishing places in that area?

Thanks[/QUOTE]


Hi Weener,
We are moving to Barrie just after Christmas, but once we buy our own house(lodging with my cousin for a few months) we may be able to use your talents.
Good luck in what ever you decide.
Cheers
Kelly

Hi Weener,
We are moving to Barrie just after Christmas, but once we buy our own house(lodging with my cousin for a few months) we may be able to use your talents.
Good luck in what ever you decide.
Cheers
Kelly[/QUOTE]

Sorry, not yet. My group consists of ladies from Peterborough, Oakville, Pickering, Ajax, Port Perry, Guelph (me) and St. Catharines and one guy in Ottawa. Also a few from BC and Saskatchewan. However, if the order is worth my while, I'd travel.

Cathie
SEW....SIMPLE ELEGANCE

Sorry, not yet. My group consists of ladies from Peterborough, Oakville, Pickering, Ajax, Port Perry, Guelph (me) and St. Catharines and one guy in Ottawa. Also a few from BC and Saskatchewan. However, if the order is worth my while, I'd travel.

Cathie
SEW....SIMPLE ELEGANCE[/QUOTE]

Do you cover Whitby?

Raine

Do you cover Whitby?

Raine[/QUOTE]

The nearest person I know to Whitby is in Pickering and I'm not quite sure how she does it but she charges 2.5 to 3 times the rest of us (and has only been sewing for 2 years!!!!), BUT then she used to work in the TSE (Toronto Stock Exchange) and knows the moneyed people (ie. Bridle Path area of Toronto). I could cover Whitby.....I'm originally from Scarborough.next door to Whitby..my Dad used to produce and act in shows at Herongate Barn Theatre (frequently advertised on 740 am)...he's a Glaswegian immigrant. On the other hand one of our network is from Port Perry (nearer to Whitby) and more reasonably priced and I would definitely recommend her if you are interested.

Cathie
SEW...SIMPLE ELEGANCE

I know that in the HIPS (Home Improvement something something) department of the Sears I work in one of the ladies that does drapes is not available from mid October to mid Feb as she has flown south for the winter - you maybe able to find something similar back east possibly?