http://www.rockbottomt-shirts.com. This slideshow reveals what we learned from the applique craft business owners, who spoke to us, during last year's Boutique Clothing Craft Series.

2. The 2011 Class of Rock Bottom T-Shirts Boutique
Clothing Craft owners have proven that the
entrepreneurs that run applique and
embroidery shops are dynamic.
This group of business people is nothing if not
resilient, resourceful, savvy and well balanced.
For proof just continue watching!
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

3. The 2011 Class of Rock Bottom T-Shirts Boutique
Clothing Craft owners have proven that the
entrepreneurs that run applique and
embroidery shops are dynamic.
This group of business people is nothing if not
resilient, resourceful, savvy and well balanced.
For proof just continue watching!
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

4. Sometimes they find out what their customers’
want on the designs first and in other instances
they pre-design the items before selling the
finished products to their customers.
What follows are four commonalities that seem
to embody the business people that we’ve
profiled, so far, in the Boutique Clothing Craft
Series.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

5. Sometimes they find out what their customers’
want on the designs first and in other instances
they pre-design the items before selling the
finished products to their customers.
What follows are four commonalities that seem
to embody the business people that we’ve
profiled, so far, in the Boutique Clothing Craft
Series.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

6. While several of the business owners that we’ve
profiled were able to build successful businesses
out of the gate, this wasn’t the case for all of them.
It seemed that the majority of the boutique
clothing craft owners that we spoke with began
with baby steps and then slowly progressed into
full-fledged businesses.
In fact, several of these entrepreneurs mentioned
to us that they got their start when friends or family
members saw the embroidered designs that they
put on their own children’s clothes.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

7. While several of the business owners that we’ve
profiled were able to build successful businesses
out of the gate, this wasn’t the case for all of them.
It seemed that the majority of the boutique
clothing craft owners that we spoke with began
with baby steps and then slowly progressed into
full-fledged businesses.
In fact, several of these entrepreneurs mentioned
to us that they got their start when friends or family
members saw the embroidered designs that they
put on their own children’s clothes.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

8. “I began small, it took a while to get a fan
base started but once I did it just blossomed
from there. I would offer smaller items to
freebie and giveaway sites which would let
my fan base grow and help spread the word
of my site.”
Here’s a really good example from Krissy Helvy
of Not Your Everyday Diaper Cake that
reinforces this statement, almost to a “t”:
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

9. “I began small, it took a while to get a fan
base started but once I did it just blossomed
from there. I would offer smaller items to
freebie and giveaway sites which would let
my fan base grow and help spread the word
of my site.”
Here’s a really good example from Krissy Helvy
of Not Your Everyday Diaper Cake that
reinforces this statement, almost to a “t”:
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

10. Speaking with these entrepreneurs revealed
that resourcefulness is a cornerstone of being a
boutique clothing craft owner.
In fact many of the businesses developed as a
response to unmet needs.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

11. Speaking with these entrepreneurs revealed
that resourcefulness is a cornerstone of being a
boutique clothing craft owner.
In fact many of the businesses developed as a
response to unmet needs.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

12. “What inspired you to start an online
clothing boutique? My son; I had a
difficult time finding cute clothes for
boys.
My niece was born a short time later-
which inspired me even more and the
rest is history.”
A case in point would be Linda Kerr who tells us the
motivation behind starting her applique and
embroidery business:
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

13. “What inspired you to start an online
clothing boutique? My son; I had a
difficult time finding cute clothes for
boys.
My niece was born a short time later-
which inspired me even more and the
rest is history.”
A case in point would be Linda Kerr who tells us the
motivation behind starting her applique and
embroidery business:
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

14. Whether its selecting the right vendors,
promoting their products or finding ways to
make their products stand out from the crowd,
this is a bunch that has proven itself to be more
than capable.
And with so much competition to contend with
this is definitely easier said than done.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

15. Whether its selecting the right
vendors, promoting their products or finding
ways to make their products stand out from the
crowd, this is a bunch that has proven itself to
be more than capable.
And with so much competition to contend with
this is definitely easier said than done.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

16. “Are you the best at customer service? Can you turn
out rush orders really quickly? Do you have this
awesome design that no one else has?
What is your competitive advantage – figure that
out and promote yourself using that advantage.
Online is a must in today’s world. Even if you have a
“brick and mortar” store – go online too.”
Here are a few snippets from Gwen Davenport
of Frills and Frogs that do a great job of
illustrating this business acumen:
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

17. “Are you the best at customer service? Can you turn
out rush orders really quickly? Do you have this
awesome design that no one else has?
What is your competitive advantage – figure that
out and promote yourself using that advantage.
Online is a must in today’s world. Even if you have a
“brick and mortar” store – go online too.”
Here are a few snippets from Gwen Davenport
of Frills and Frogs that do a great job of
illustrating this business acumen:
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

18. To run an applique or embroidery boutique on Etsy
takes both creativity and strong coordination skills. It
appears that the entire group that we spoke to in 2011
seems to possess a healthy dose of creative flair along
with a nice helping of organization skills.
Without these two components it would be difficult to
sustain a boutique clothing craft business-because the
competition is plentiful.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

19. To run an applique or embroidery boutique on Etsy
takes both creativity and strong coordination skills. It
appears that the entire group that we spoke to in 2011
seems to possess a healthy dose of creative flair along
with a nice helping of organization skills.
Without these two components it would be difficult to
sustain a boutique clothing craft business-because the
competition is plentiful.
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

20. “I have always been creatively inclined. I
remember being involved in every type of craft
and art class imaginable as a child.”
A terrific illustration of this would be the interview that we
did with Lydia Wright of Layne James Embroidery. She
touched the topic of organization several times during our
conversation, in addition to referencing her creativity:
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

21. “I have always been creatively inclined. I
remember being involved in every type of craft
and art class imaginable as a child.”
A terrific illustration of this would be the interview that we
did with Lydia Wright of Layne James Embroidery. She
touched the topic of organization several times during our
conversation, in addition to referencing her creativity:
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

22. In closing, running a boutique clothing crafts business
takes several skills. But at the very least you’ve got to
be resilient, resourceful, savvy and well balanced to
excel in this industry.
We’ve been privileged to feature so many individuals
who fit this mold and look forward to continuing this
trend into 2012!
www.rockbottomt-shirts.com

25. Boutique Clothing Craft Series
Lessons Learned in 2011