The Programme this week features Teresa Keogh from Tullow, Co.Carlow and her enterprise ‘Smart Sewing’. Her business idea seemed to belong to years gone by. But sewing is really back in fashion, with many people choosing to restyle or repair their own clothes instead of heading for the high street. Alteration shops are booming with recession and there is a shortage of sewing skills. A native of the Liberties in inner city Dublin, Teresa had worked at her passion for years, giving small classes to enthusiasts but never made any money. She was on a back to work scheme but her big vision of making sewing accessible to everyone caught our attention.
So what was the challenge for the Mentors. Well Teresa herself would admit that she knew very little about business. Obviously, this was a small problem. Their first job was to persuade her not to commit to a renting a permanent building where she could teach classes. They got her to focus on the business plan and a new website. They also flew in a very successful female entrepreneur, Gill Thomas, from the UK to offer advice on bringing Smart Sewing towards the franchise route as she did with her business called Jo-Jingles. We wish Teresa the very best of luck in the Future !
