Business venture sewn up

Angie Harvey is building her own business, one stitch at a time. Photo / Ben Fraser

For decades Angie Harvey resisted the urging of others to open a business of her own.

But when a fire destroyed her workplace, it took the decision out of her hands and rising from the ashes of her former workplace has come Strawberry Stitches - the business she never expected to own.

In the end the decision took her all of about 10 minutes, and a few weeks on she's been too busy to think too much about it.

Ms Harvey worked for the Bernina Sewing Centre for many years doing sewing repairs and alterations. After the Easter weekend fire destroyed the shop, the owner decided to shut up for good.

But Ms Harvey admits that unemployment is not a word in her vocabulary, and with the urging of others - including her former boss - she set herself up in an empty shop a few doors down.

"I had hundreds of clients I'd been doing dress making and alterations for. If I walked away from that I would have been a fool."

During her 35 years in the sewing and dress making industry, Ms Harvey had always enjoyed working for others.

"I'm in my 50s, I'd stayed away from owning my own business for a long time. [After the fire] I didn't really have an option so thought let's just do it."

She said the support from friends and family had been incredible in helping her hit the ground running.

"I walked into the shop where I am now and just carried out. I've had artists work their magic and it looks like an art gallery."

Ms Harvey admitted she had not had time to put too much thought into the business side of what she was doing - with the biggest problem managing the ever-increasing workload.

From taking up jeans to altering overalls and suits, Ms Harvey said business was booming.

"Everyone is buying online so its a guessing game. Everything is long when it comes or needs to be let out. During ball gown season we get absolutely hammered. it's an amazing industry to be in."

Ms Harvey said the time was right to make the venture - and the help of former bosses, including those at Nzone and the Bernina Sewing Centre, had helped give her the confidence in what she was doing.

"I don't do unemployment so I just did it. I closed one door and the other opened."

Ms Harvey said an important part of the job was getting customers trust as she needed to get into their personal space to measure them up.

"It's very much a trust thing. I like people to feel comfortable and laughter is the best thing."

Ms Harvey said in retrospect she wished she'd had the confidence to venture out on her own earlier.

"I'm at an age where I feel 10 foot tall and bulletproof. It's taken all these years to get to that point."