Ask SREBrad and Friends

Sit down, grab a beverage of your choice, and relax as
SRE Brad and friends entertain and educate you
with their expertise.

An occasional feature, Ask SREBrad and Friends will
focus on a product or technique that you may not
be familiar with.

Past Interviews

Victoria Adams Brown
and A Historical Perspective
of Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Helen Gibb and Half Dolls

Everything You Wanted To Know
About The Business of Needlework,
But Afraid to Ask

You love everything about needlework; the people, the artistry, the materials,
and you feel like you could do this forever. You are not really a designer
so you think of other ways to fulfill your dream. An idea hits you, a store!
Yes, you will open up your own business, sell the products you love to the world.

Sound familiar?

With this in mind, SREBrad sat down with Victorian Threads owner, Ann Kather
to discuss just how one goes from dream to reality and all the pitfalls in between.
Many of you have dreamed of owning your own store; Ann Kather is one of the
brave who did just that. Here is her story.

SREBRAD:
Thank you for agreeing to talk with us today, Ann. Many of our readers are familiar with your Online Store, and some lucky individuals are familiar with your brick and mortar store as well. Which came first?

Ann Kather:
Actually Brad, a newsletter came first. I was on the Crazy Quilt List
and found that there was no magazine or periodical specifically related to
Crazy Quilting (CQ) and wanted to begin to fill the void. I published a
newsletter for CQ called Crazy Ladies Gazette and had a mailing list of
around 150 subscribers. I had space for vendor advertising and realized that
I could also be a vendor and that would bring in some revenue for the
newsletter which put me in the red by around $200 each time I published it.
At that point I began Crazy Ladies Gazette Emporium and offered via mail
order some of the items being used by these ladies doing CQ. After a year of
that the urge to open a retail store was so strong I just had to make the
move, as it turned out, the company I was working for went on strike and I
used that opportunity to get my store open.

SREBRAD:
On Saturday, May 12, you announced that you are taking a personal leave of absence and closing your store. This history of the store is very interesting, could you tell us a little bit about it.

  Ann Kather::
I opened the store on Feb 5, 2000 in what was a "mall" type atmosphere,
in a renovated building a rocks throw from where I am today. It was a small
space without too many amenities, and it was in the back of this building.
After 6 months I decided I needed more exposure and began looking for
storefront. I was blessed to find a place just across the street and ½ a
block away. Now I get a lot more exposure and have a separate office,
bathroom etc. and I don't have the negative impact of being in a shared
space

SREBRAD:
So go back a few years, what prompted you to start thinking of
opening a shop.

Ann Kather:
I have wanted my own business since I can remember. It evolved through
the years but was always related to needlework of some kind. I couldn't make
a move towards a real store until my children were grown so I filled those
years making prom gowns, BMX uniforms, alterations and clothing construction
and of course I worked 40 hours a week or more for someone else all that
time too.

SREBRAD:
Mmmm, "40 hours a week or more for someone else"? What did you do in your "previous life"

Ann Kather:
In the corporate world I went from Full Charge Bookkeeper and office Manager
to working for the Boeing Company as a Cost Accountant. Before my 12 years
with Boeing was up I also worked as a Facilities Budget Analyst and also as an Industrial Engineer which was really translated into "chart maker".

SREBRAD:
Besides sewing, did you do needlework yourself and if so, what type? Do you still do needlework?

Ann Kather:
I have a passion for all things needlework. I began embroidering at age
5, sewing in a 4-H club from 3-11th grade and made all my own clothes as
well as items like dolls for a mission in Arizona. I have to say my favorite
medium today is Silk Ribbon. And NO, I don't say that because of the SRE
List. I just love the way ribbon looks, it covers so quickly and allows me
to actually FINISH a project in the little time that I can spend.
Silk Ribbon is so versatile that I have it on my clothes, on pillows,
pictures, jewelry -anything I can think of and it is my favorite class to
teach because the students then feel as great about it as I do. I also do
counted cross stitch, heirloom embroidery, and a lot of real machine sewing.
I would love to learn more about Stumpwork (I have the basics), Hardanger (not even the basics!) And bobbin lace (the very basics) but my schedule doesn't allow for any more right now (maybe when I retire).

SREBRAD: Do you recall any business mistakes you made early on?

Ann Kather: Yes, I spent too much money too fast and really ticked my husband off
when I had to borrow more from him.

SREBRAD: How about some business triumphs?

  Ann Kather: Having sales increase 25% each month in the first year.

SREBRAD: What would be the hardest thing you faced at the beginning?

Ann Kather:
Working alone, after being in the corporate world for 20 + years, I had
no constant companion to lean on.

SREBRAD:
Did you ever feel like giving up? What made you decide to stay in
business?

  Ann Kather:
I did feel like giving up when my husband was very unhappy about the
store. I decided to stay in business because my customers need me, they tell
me so and they try to support me when they can with their own purchases and
word of mouth recommendations. I don't feel I have even begun to make a
"presence" here in my area because it takes so long for people to know you
are here, even with great advertising.

SREBRAD:
When did you decide that you needed an online presence?

  Ann Kather:
I've had one since the beginning, and knew it would be a good idea to
keep it going if I could.

SREBRAD:
Do you see a lot of business from the online store? Do you think
its brought more people into your brick and mortar store?

Ann Kather:
I see about 2% of my business from the online store, I think it would
bring in considerably more business if I could get the website redone, which
is what I am working on now, The people who come into the store want the
experience of touching and seeing their fibers and fabrics, and they like
the social atmosphere of free tea and free space to come and stitch as well.

  SREBRAD:
With your brick and mortar store, what other stores are around
you? Are you in a strip mall or shopping center type area? Do you think your location
influences how your business does?

Ann Kather:
I have antique vendors and a couple of gift/home decor stores around
me. I think it doesn't make too much difference because I am pretty much a
"destination" store, a few people who are antique shopping drop in, but
mostly people PLAN on being here. I am on the main street of downtown
Puyallup.

  SREBRAD:
Do you have any advice for anybody out there who might be thinking
of jumping into something like this?

Ann Kather:

Yes, I would say to make sure your marriage is secure and that you have
twice as much money as you THINK you might need before getting started. Don't pick a location that already has a shop like yours (I didn't) and be
prepared for anything!

Thank You Brad for the opportunity to be in your interview!

Ann Kather:

Ann, I want to thank you again, for sitting down with us and to let you know we all will be missing you on your leave of absence. I'm sure you will continue to be a presence in the embroidery world, no matter where your life will leads you.

In continuing her support of the silk ribbon community, Ann has graciously donated a Sampler Pak from her shop for an auction to benefit silk-ribbon-embroidery.com. This auction will be a silkribbon@yahoogroups.com list member exclusive and details and information for the auction will be announced on the mailing list.

For more information on Ann Kather's store, please visit www.victorianthreads.com

You love everything about needlework; the people, the artistry, the materials, and you feel like you could do this forever. You are not really a designer so you think of other ways to fulfill your dream. An idea hits you, a store! Yes, you will open up your own business, sell the products you love to the world. Sound familiar? With this in mind, SREBrad sat down with Victorian Threads owner, Ann Kather to discuss just how one goes from dream to reality and all the pitfalls in between. Many of you have dreamed of owning your own store; Ann Kather is one of the brave who did just that. Here is her story.

SREBRAD:	Thank you for agreeing to talk with us today, Ann. Many of our readers are familiar with your Online Store, and some lucky individuals are familiar with your brick and mortar store as well. Which came first?
Ann Kather:	Actually Brad, a newsletter came first. I was on the Crazy Quilt List and found that there was no magazine or periodical specifically related to Crazy Quilting (CQ) and wanted to begin to fill the void. I published a newsletter for CQ called Crazy Ladies Gazette and had a mailing list of around 150 subscribers. I had space for vendor advertising and realized that I could also be a vendor and that would bring in some revenue for the newsletter which put me in the red by around $200 each time I published it. At that point I began Crazy Ladies Gazette Emporium and offered via mail order some of the items being used by these ladies doing CQ. After a year of that the urge to open a retail store was so strong I just had to make the move, as it turned out, the company I was working for went on strike and I used that opportunity to get my store open.
SREBRAD:	On Saturday, May 12, you announced that you are taking a personal leave of absence and closing your store. This history of the store is very interesting, could you tell us a little bit about it.
Ann Kather::	I opened the store on Feb 5, 2000 in what was a "mall" type atmosphere, in a renovated building a rocks throw from where I am today. It was a small space without too many amenities, and it was in the back of this building. After 6 months I decided I needed more exposure and began looking for storefront. I was blessed to find a place just across the street and ½ a block away. Now I get a lot more exposure and have a separate office, bathroom etc. and I don't have the negative impact of being in a shared space

SREBRAD:	So go back a few years, what prompted you to start thinking of opening a shop.
Ann Kather:	I have wanted my own business since I can remember. It evolved through the years but was always related to needlework of some kind. I couldn't make a move towards a real store until my children were grown so I filled those years making prom gowns, BMX uniforms, alterations and clothing construction and of course I worked 40 hours a week or more for someone else all that time too.
SREBRAD:	Mmmm, "40 hours a week or more for someone else"? What did you do in your "previous life"
Ann Kather:	In the corporate world I went from Full Charge Bookkeeper and office Manager to working for the Boeing Company as a Cost Accountant. Before my 12 years with Boeing was up I also worked as a Facilities Budget Analyst and also as an Industrial Engineer which was really translated into "chart maker".
SREBRAD:	Besides sewing, did you do needlework yourself and if so, what type? Do you still do needlework?
Ann Kather:	I have a passion for all things needlework. I began embroidering at age 5, sewing in a 4-H club from 3-11th grade and made all my own clothes as well as items like dolls for a mission in Arizona. I have to say my favorite medium today is Silk Ribbon. And NO, I don't say that because of the SRE List. I just love the way ribbon looks, it covers so quickly and allows me to actually FINISH a project in the little time that I can spend. Silk Ribbon is so versatile that I have it on my clothes, on pillows, pictures, jewelry -anything I can think of and it is my favorite class to teach because the students then feel as great about it as I do. I also do counted cross stitch, heirloom embroidery, and a lot of real machine sewing. I would love to learn more about Stumpwork (I have the basics), Hardanger (not even the basics!) And bobbin lace (the very basics) but my schedule doesn't allow for any more right now (maybe when I retire).
SREBRAD:	Do you recall any business mistakes you made early on?
Ann Kather:	Yes, I spent too much money too fast and really ticked my husband off when I had to borrow more from him.
SREBRAD:	How about some business triumphs?
Ann Kather:	Having sales increase 25% each month in the first year.
SREBRAD:	What would be the hardest thing you faced at the beginning?
Ann Kather:	Working alone, after being in the corporate world for 20 + years, I had no constant companion to lean on.
SREBRAD:	Did you ever feel like giving up? What made you decide to stay in business?
Ann Kather:	I did feel like giving up when my husband was very unhappy about the store. I decided to stay in business because my customers need me, they tell me so and they try to support me when they can with their own purchases and word of mouth recommendations. I don't feel I have even begun to make a "presence" here in my area because it takes so long for people to know you are here, even with great advertising.
SREBRAD:	When did you decide that you needed an online presence?
Ann Kather:	I've had one since the beginning, and knew it would be a good idea to keep it going if I could.
SREBRAD:	Do you see a lot of business from the online store? Do you think its brought more people into your brick and mortar store?
Ann Kather:	I see about 2% of my business from the online store, I think it would bring in considerably more business if I could get the website redone, which is what I am working on now, The people who come into the store want the experience of touching and seeing their fibers and fabrics, and they like the social atmosphere of free tea and free space to come and stitch as well.
SREBRAD:	With your brick and mortar store, what other stores are around you? Are you in a strip mall or shopping center type area? Do you think your location influences how your business does?
Ann Kather:	I have antique vendors and a couple of gift/home decor stores around me. I think it doesn't make too much difference because I am pretty much a "destination" store, a few people who are antique shopping drop in, but mostly people PLAN on being here. I am on the main street of downtown Puyallup.

SREBRAD:	Do you have any advice for anybody out there who might be thinking of jumping into something like this?
Ann Kather:	Yes, I would say to make sure your marriage is secure and that you have twice as much money as you THINK you might need before getting started. Don't pick a location that already has a shop like yours (I didn't) and be prepared for anything! Thank You Brad for the opportunity to be in your interview!
Ann Kather:	Ann, I want to thank you again, for sitting down with us and to let you know we all will be missing you on your leave of absence. I'm sure you will continue to be a presence in the embroidery world, no matter where your life will leads you. In continuing her support of the silk ribbon community, Ann has graciously donated a Sampler Pak from her shop for an auction to benefit silk-ribbon-embroidery.com. This auction will be a silkribbon@yahoogroups.com list member exclusive and details and information for the auction will be announced on the mailing list. For more information on Ann Kather's store, please visit www.victorianthreads.com

Sit down, grab a beverage of your choice, and relax as SRE Brad and friends entertain and educate you with their expertise.

An occasional feature, Ask SREBrad and Friends will focus on a product or technique that you may not be familiar with.

Past Interviews

Victoria Adams Brown and A Historical Perspective of Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Helen Gibb and Half Dolls

Everything You Wanted To Know About The Business of Needlework, But Afraid to Ask

Sit down, grab a beverage of your choice, and relax as
SRE Brad and friends entertain and educate you
with their expertise.

An occasional feature, Ask SREBrad and Friends will
focus on a product or technique that you may not
be familiar with.

Victoria Adams Brown
and A Historical Perspective
of Silk Ribbon Embroidery

Everything You Wanted To Know
About The Business of Needlework,
But Afraid to Ask