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How to start a curtain making business

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How to Start a Curtain-Making Business

 

Starting a curtain-making business can be a fulfilling and profitable venture if you plan it out carefully and invest in the right tools and skills. Below is a step-by-step guide to get you started:



sanderon fabric double pleat interlined curtains on dove grey pole
Double Pleat Curtains in Sanderson Fabric


1. Learn the Craft

 

To create professional-quality curtains or blinds, it’s essential to build a strong foundation:


Start by signing up for a course in professional soft furnishings and curtain making like this one run by The National Design Academy

You will learn how to make up to a professional standard and learn tricks and techniques to perfect the craft.  Focus on one area (curtains or blinds) at first and really get to grips with the various challenges before moving on to the next item. 


Weirdly I found curtains easier to make than cushions when I first started.


Dedicate time to hone your skills on different fabrics and styles to build confidence and consistency. It’s good to try out lots of different fabric compositions to gain a greater understanding of how they behave. You will quickly learn that different fabrics behave in different ways and you will learn which fabrics stretch or shrink up,  which ones iron well and which ones crease.

 

2. Set Up Your Workspace

 

Whether you’re working from home or renting a studio, having the right setup is key:

Investing in a good-quality semi-industrial sewing machine is a must.  We recommend the Janome HD9 which is a robust but portable machine that is more than capable of sewing through thick fabrics,  or a more budget friendly Pfaff select 3.2 will also do the job well.



Double pleat curtains clamped hand sewn
Curtain pleats measured out and sewn into place


If space is limited, consider covering a sheet of MDF in interlining and lining fabric to create a makeshift table that can sit atop your dining table.


Essential Tools:

John James long darning needles

Quilting ruler

1.5m steel ruler

8m metal tape measure

3m fabric tape measure

High-quality large shears and small scissors for thread snipping -

Good-quality iron – Your iron will be on ‘all the time’!  Be sure to cover your fabric in lining when you iron so as not to mark your fabric if your iron decides to spit out limescale onto it – believe me it does not end well when that happens!

Fabric pencils/pens- nb. always do a trial run on an offcut before using on your work) – again another lesson I learnt the hard way!

Table clamps – essential for keeping your fabric straight ready to measure up.



chatting about curtain making details
Chatting through all the finer details.


3. Set Up the Business

Once you are confident in your new found skills and have your workspace ready, you can start to focus on establishing the business:


Choose a unique and memorable business name that reflects your style and professionalism. A lot of people use their own names or their childrens names. Applemoon came from a random google search when trying to buy a domain name – no interesting back story unfortunately! It made sense at the time to have a business name starting with the letter ‘A’ as it would be higher up in a search (back when we used yellow pages!!)


Create an Online Presence. Start small with a basic website or landing page listing your services and contact details. Set up social media pages (Instagram and Facebook) to showcase your work and engage with potential customers.


Register your business with Companies House and educate yourself on basic bookkeeping. Keep track of all expenses and income. If numbers aren’t your strength then don’t worry, hire a local bookkeeper to keep your finances organised.


Create clear terms and conditions to protect yourself from costly misunderstandings or disputes with clients.  This is an important one!.  We have T&C’s that we can send you if you would like a copy.  For further helo and support we recommend that you become a member of the FSB – Federation of Small Businesses for a small yearly fee and this will give you access to lots of business help, including help with HMRC issues,  employing staff,  all the legal stuff. 



4. Plan for Fittings


DIY Fittings: If clients plan to install their curtains, provide them with clear and detailed instructions to avoid mistakes.


If you are offering a fitting service then partner with a professional curtain and blind fitter if you don’t want to do this yourself. The installation part of the service really is incredibly important and a competent experienced fitter is an absolute must in my opinion.


5. Build a Portfolio and Attract Customers

Getting your first clients is key to building momentum.  Start with Family and Friends. Offer to make curtains at a reduced cost for family and friends. This gives you valuable experience and content to promote your work online.

Spread the Word and share your work through word-of-mouth and social media. Post before-and-after photos to highlight your expertise.


6. Organise Systems and Processes

A smooth workflow will save you time and help you deliver excellent service.


Create a detailed measuring form to record key details during client consultations.  Take lots of photos and videos of the space.  It can be tricky to measure whilst in mid-conversation so I often have a good chat with the client and explain that I will make my way around the home after our conversation to take measurements. This way I can concentrate and pay attention to the measurements I am writing down.


Consider using apps like OneNote to create digital files for each job, storing measurements, photos, and notes in one place.  These are then accessible on all your devices meaning you can check back whether you are at your desk or out and about.


Track how long each project takes to help you to estimate realistic timelines for future clients and work out your pricing/hourly rate.


7. Source Fabrics and Materials

To offer clients quality and variety, start sourcing materials.  Open Trade Accounts and  Partner with fabric suppliers to purchase your materials at trade prices and earn a profit when selling to clients. Many suppliers allow you to work from fabric swatches until you’re ready to invest in full sample collections.


Suggested Suppliers: Merrick and Day (lining, interlining, buckram, and heading tapes) or bulk suppliers like Evans Textiles and Hallis Hudson (curtain poles and other accessories).


Basic Fabric Selection. Stock high-quality plain fabrics to start with and gradually expand your collection. Try suppliers such as Prestigious Textiles, Ashley Wilde or Warwick Fabrics as these companies have a really good selection of patterns and plains to get you started.


8. Be Ready for Challenges

Curtain-making is a detailed and precise business, and there are potential pitfalls.  It’s important to understand the costs and be prepared for hidden expenses, such as wasted fabric due to measurement errors.


Clear Communication is key! Discuss and confirm all details with clients to prevent misunderstandings and ideally ask them to sign off each order.


Starting a curtain-making business requires creativity, skill, attention to detail and a high level or organisational skills in addition to the all important needlework skills! . By investing in quality tools, building strong systems and processes, and focusing on excellent customer service, you can create a business that not only grows but thrives. - Good luck - xx Kim



cutting fabric for curtain making
Measure twice - Cut Once!

 

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