Yulia Levkovich began her career as a clothing designer, creating her own collections, successfully presenting and selling them. But over time she realized that this was not for her. At the same time, I didn’t want to leave the design. Having once made an embroidered pillow for herself and shown a photo of it on the Internet, Yulia received several orders at once. This is how the idea of making money from personalized textiles came about. The business became a family business - the husband left his business and joined. The creator of the WellDONE project told “About Business” how her passion for design grew into a pillow business.
Where it all started
As for design, art, sewing technology - this has always been a part of me, my life. As a child, I studied in an art studio, then in an art school and an art gymnasium, and then received a higher education with a degree in garment designer.
My mother, a sewing production technologist, played a big role in my life. I mastered all the subtleties of tailoring art from childhood, looking at her. When I was studying at the institute, I took part in competitions for young designers, such as the Fashion Mill. In the project of Ivan Ayplatov, Fashion night out 2011 received the Grand Prix for the best dress. Even then I started selling my competition works - this was the beginning of my business.
Photo from the personal archive of Yulia Levkovich
Therefore, after finishing my studies, I never even thought about going to work in production as an artist or clothing designer. I was designing under my own name for three years: I created collections, poured my soul and, of course, a decent amount of money, taking into account the fact that I sewed everything myself.
But in order to continue and develop our business, we needed decent investments. And finding a sponsor in Belarus is quite difficult. In addition, despite all the successes (awards at competitions, publications of my collections in glossy magazines - for example, Fashion Collection), I was somewhat disappointed and tired of the Belarusian fashion industry. I took time out for a year.
During this time, I managed to work as an administrator in a leather and fur salon. It was a valuable experience because during this time I learned:
- Communication with clients
- Organizational issues
- HR management
Photo from the personal archive of Yulia Levkovich
Basic moments
Of course, you can start your own business in the production of products filled with down, but at the moment there are alternatives such as padding polyester and holofiber. These are very simple and fairly cheap bedding fillers. The production of pillows and blankets using these fillings can be very profitable. Gradually you will be able to receive tangible income.
So, if you decide to start producing pillows and blankets, then you should first formalize the legal side of the issue. Only after receiving permission to organize a business activity can you count on peace of mind. After this, you can open and equip your workshop without fear of receiving any fines.
How the idea came about
Having fairly good equipment - three sewing machines for various purposes - I periodically did something for myself. I once made a decorative pillow with embroidery. Of course, at that moment I didn’t even think that I would build a business on personalized pillows. I posted a photo of the product on social networks (Instagram, VKontakte) - and almost immediately received the first orders from friends. At this stage, word of mouth worked. And so actively that I realized that this was “my” idea. This was the combination I was looking for: the realization of my creative ideas and financial stability.
Photo from the personal archive of Yulia Levkovich
Business on decorative pillows
This business is perfect for creative people and women, as here you can show your most daring and creative ideas. Next, I will tell you about the features and nuances of this business idea.
In recent years, products in the “Hand Made” category have become increasingly popular and in demand. Especially decorative and fun pillows.
Why decorative pillows?
- Firstly, they add coziness and comfort to the interior.
- Secondly, they are always associated with home (for example, if the pillows are made for a hotel, salon or restaurant).
- Thirdly, they are incredibly easy to create.
- Fourthly, they are created to suit absolutely any interior and add their own unique touch.
- Fifthly, they easily and quickly “adjust” to the interior and sometimes it’s enough just to change the pillowcase.
Business Features
This business idea is not limited in any way, and you can create both classic pillows for the home and decorative ones for shops, studios, restaurants, cars, etc. The main thing is to introduce yourself to the maximum number of people.
Social networks do an excellent job of this, and all you have to do is create a group, invite people and regularly repost your products. For example, you can create a group in VKontakte and start inviting your friends to it first, then your friends’ acquaintances, and if the group is interesting, subscribers will come to you themselves.
At first, it is absolutely not necessary to rent a room for a warehouse or office, let this remain in the future. First, you need to receive the first orders and show your customers that you accommodate absolutely any whim and take into account all wishes.
Business ideas
Pillows for furniture. By collaborating with upholstered furniture stores, you can sew special custom pillows. Miniature square, round, rectangular and elongated pillows with ruffles, tassels, frills, and flowers will certainly appeal to the new owners of this stylish and cozy set.
Quality. By sewing a pillow from natural fabric and natural filling (for example, from husks or herbs), you can easily find clients, focusing on health and naturalness. Especially if the pillows are made for children, for example, with soothing herbs (lavender, mint, etc.).
For the holiday. Personalized pillows for birthdays, holiday souvenirs for the New Year or with a funny exclusive design for the spring holidays (March 8, February 23, May holidays, etc.) are in incredible demand. After all, unlike classic souvenirs, decorative pillows have practical benefits - they are comfortable to lie on, lean on, sit or sleep, after all.
Hotels, restaurants and holiday homes. The choice here is simply huge; you can offer pillows to match the main interior or offer to develop a unique design according to the company logo.
Inscriptions. Pillows with wise and interesting phrases, such as “Everything is for the best!”, “Cuddle me,” “With love,” etc. in addition to comfort, they encourage and give a good mood. By adding a name, you make your gift special and unique, and the person to whom the pillow was given will always remember you as the most attentive and sensitive friend.
Pillow letters. Letter-shaped pillows are usually given as gifts to children, birthday parties or company and provide both decor and soft support.
As you can see, the pillow business has no restrictions, and you can embody and offer the most unusual and daring fantasies!
Business ideas
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Our costs
If I had to buy new equipment, it would cost me about $4,500. But I already had everything I needed: a universal production machine, an overlocker and the sewing and embroidery machine itself.
Therefore, there were no global financial investments at the first stage. Only consumables: fabrics, threads, etc. I worked alone - every month more and more, “for wear and tear.” I did everything on my own: from the idea and implementation to sales, which were actively carried out through social networks. During this period, clients helped me formulate an assortment, made it clear what I liked and in which direction to go. I try to work according to the principle of the “golden mean”: to create products with my own “creative signature”, but at the same time listen to and understand the customer. Over time, additional equipment was needed. We bought it gradually: first, another sewing machine and a steam system, then (six months ago) we bought another embroidery machine. So another $7,000 was invested. The equipment paid for itself in about 11 months.
Choosing a way to solve the problem
If there are any serious sleep disorders, then you need to contact a professional. And when the problem lies on the surface, you can try to solve it yourself. Many people succeed in this. First, you need to analyze the state in which you go to bed every day.
If you get just a little nervous, you can become a hostage to your fears and worries, which will definitely disturb your sleep. The next morning you will have a terrible headache, which can also affect your appearance. Relatives and colleagues may raise questions related to your circles under the eyes.
Your bed plays an important role in creating good deep sleep. Everything should be so that you can feel like a master in your bedroom, and not a slave acting in favor of fashion trends. Everyone knows that there is nothing more pleasant and comfortable than a down pillow and blanket.
They retain heat excellently, which is good in winter when it’s cold around and warm in the bed. In addition, they are so comfortable and pleasant that it would be a crime to part with them. The production of pillows and duvets from down is still a fairly popular business today.
There are different types of blankets, you need to choose a specific one to start producing it. The main difference between these products is the filler, which determines ease of use and the heat generated. Each consumer chooses the type of blanket that suits him best, and you, as a manufacturer, need to navigate the modern needs of customers in order to start manufacturing the product.
Team
It so happened that I injured my hand. In this regard, I could not finish the orders that were already in progress on my own. At that moment, when the pace of work was very fast, there was only one way out: ask my husband Anton to replace me, do the embroidery and sew a couple of pillows under my supervision.
Yulia Levkovich with her husband Anton. Photo from personal archive
To my surprise, he did well. Even more. So he became my right hand. And we decided to leave Anton’s cargo transportation business, which was not as active as mine.
It was easy to teach him; he grasped everything instantly. Responsibilities were distributed as follows:
- I am responsible for communication with customers, product design, tailoring, photography and promotion
- The husband is responsible for embroidery, cutting, purchasing and delivery of materials
Currently there are three people in our team. When the volume became more difficult to cope with, we hired a tailor.
I admit that finding and entrusting sewing to someone else, without worrying about the quality of the products, was the most difficult thing for me. For me, every product is my child, and I, of course, took the selection of a “nanny” very seriously. But I found the right person.
our clients
My clients include private companies, artisans, and ordinary buyers.
We produce designer textiles for home and business with machine embroidery. We sew: personalized and decorative pillows, gift and corporate aprons, mannequins for hats, table and wedding textiles.
Photo from the personal archive of Yulia Levkovich
Mostly people order from us:
- Bakeries, pastry shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, beauty salons, flower shops and many others - embroidery and corporate aprons
- Craftsmen - headwear mannequins for displaying knitwear and wedding jewelry
- Private individuals – personalized and decorative pillows, gift aprons, embroidered tablecloths and napkins. In the summer, during the wedding season, people mainly order themed pillows, personalized table textiles, and bonbonnieres (candy bags)
Orders arrive regularly - 5-7 per week. One order can contain 1 pillow and 15 aprons, for example. The average cost of one product is 750 thousand rubles. About 10% of clients are regulars. I think we are appreciated because our design is unlike any other, we have our own individual style. And they trust me because I have specialized education and experience in technology and design.
Photo from the personal archive of Yulia Levkovich
Business on decorative pillows
Good day, friends. Today I was reminded that I haven’t posted on the topic of unusual business ideas for a very long time. To be honest, lately I haven’t seen any particularly interesting options among unusual business projects, although if you have something “tasty” in mind, friends, write in the comments or by email, we’ll try to analyze it. Now I would like to talk about the decorative pillow business. In general, before moving on to the main analysis, we need to remember what market conditions we live in. Nowadays, the concept of a consumer society dominates and, as I already wrote in one of the publications, in order to maintain demand for goods and services, manufacturers every time have to add something unusual, “originally creative” to their product in order to arouse at least minimal interest among the consumer . And everything is about the fact that people are simply “full” of ordinary consumer goods and, like drug addicts, each time they need to increase their dose.
It is this “instinct” that you should rely on when starting a business related to decorative pillows. The market for ordinary pillows has been occupied for a long time, but the “originally creative” market for pillows with decorative and design elements is always open to new ideas and proposals. In the same way, for example, covering stoves with ceramic tiles is essentially not something very original, because tiles are tiles in Africa, but different designs are another matter. The winner in this market is the one who can offer the optimal combination of style, decor and originality.
In general, it was decided that we would develop a business in decorative pillows. Why pillows? This is not so important, friends, because with such a marketing tool as “originality” you can sell anything, from pillows to rolls of toilet paper. But it is worth noting that pillows are a product of a wide target group, they are always in demand and cause people not only to feel the need to buy, but also to create comfort. And comfort these days is the right hand of consumption.
First, you need to decide exactly whether you are making pillows or pillowcases. Here the answer is obvious - pillows, since they are hundreds of times easier to sell. This is a finished product and there is good demand for it. In principle, you can sell pillowcases, but only as an addition to your pillows, allowing you, if desired, to change the appearance of an existing decorative pillow.
As for sewing technology, there is nothing particularly complicated here, since patterns for pillows and pillowcases are essentially quite primitive. The only thing worth noting is that pillowcase patterns are made 1 cm larger than the width and length of the pillow itself. Well, you can also use anything to create decor, for example, flowers, ribbons, lace, embroidery, etc. You can also apply a design using printing, but such pillows, unfortunately, are not very popular. As a rule, pillows are filled with padding polyester or paralon, so you can set any shape and size, from stars to hearts.
As for marketing, namely promoting such a business, first you should create an online party on the topic of decor, home comfort, etc. As an option, a public page in contact is suitable. After you manage to achieve subscriber activity and a large number of participants, you can start promoting the selling group in contact and use reposting tools to popularize your products.
At first, there is no point in renting an office, investing in expanding production, etc. First, you need to get people hooked on your product, get the first orders, give people the opportunity to make individual orders based on their ideas, and also offer the product to themed stores. That is, in theory, everything is very simple and the decorative pillow business, like many other unusual business ideas, is based on the main request of the consumer society - the request for originality. The only thing I certainly didn’t cover was the specific sewing technology. I admit, I practically don’t know how to sew, and I was assured that making a pillow is not very difficult.
In general, that’s all for today, subscribe to the blog using the form below the article, and I’ll go and rest, since today turned out to be a very difficult day. See you later, friends.
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Promotion
We work remotely and accept orders via the Internet, WhatsApp and Viber. Everyone is short on time, the pace of life is very fast, and we are forced to save time. But if the customer wants to see the products in person, I personally meet with him and advise.
How do we advertise ourselves? I am sure that now there is no need to do expensive advertising - it is enough to actively promote yourself on a social network. Most often we are found and recognized through Instagram. More than 4.5 thousand people have subscribed to our account. Therefore, we spend practically no money on advertising – the product essentially promotes itself. Word of mouth also works well.
Screenshot from WellDONE Instagram account
In addition, we constantly participate in design exhibitions and markets. In July we will launch a website where all our works will be presented - orders can be made from there.
We have no direct competitors. At least I don't know about them. Although, to be honest, I’m not interested...
Plans
Now we work in a specially rented apartment in the city center, equipped as a studio. But in the near future we are planning to rent a space where there will be a studio and a showroom at the same time. We are actively considering offers on the real estate market, but have not yet found a suitable option for ourselves.
Over time, I would like to perform only the functions of a designer, because I am an artist and creator by nature - everything else weighs me down and brings me down. Therefore, I want to hire at least a marketer in the near future.
Most of our customers are from Russia and Belarus, less often from Europe and America. But we would not like to scale and we cannot talk about mass production in the future, since then the project will lose its value. This is a family business, which we treat with all our hearts - we strive to make our dreams and the dreams of those who turn to us come true.
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