company: Bernina of Naperville
address: 2764 Aurora Ave., Naperville
owners: Gayle Schliemann and Chris Donahue, of Naperville
Years in business? 2 years in November
What does your business do? "We basically promote and aid Bernina stitching machines and the Naperville stitching neighborhood," Schliemann, 47, noted. "We aren't a corporate store. we are in the neighborhood owned and operated, but Bernina corporate is in Aurora. We just raise their product.
"We promote the machines. We service the machines. We do all manufacturers. but we also teach courses on a way to use your computer in case you buy from us and we additionally present generic admission courses for any individual desirous to study to stitch, make garments, do quilting, embroidery."
What makes Bernina stitching machines particular? "They're Swiss made, Swiss designed. they're nonetheless produced in Switzerland. and that they're the closing stitching machines nonetheless produced within the Western world. They're privately owned and operated.
"They're all metal. There are a number of models. they arrive out with special variants. they are the top class sewing computing device company. They produce sewing machines, embroidery machines, quilting machines. ... It's the quality of the machines. they're hand-made."
sewing may seem like a dated hobby however it turned into rebounding earlier than the pandemic and in reality took off throughout the lockdown, says Gayle Schliemann, who co-owns the Bernina of Naperville save with fiance Chris Donahue. (Steve Metsch / Naperville sun)
How much does a Bernina sewing computer can charge? "Our usual sewing laptop is $7,000. a brand new special version, most suitable got here out, and its outselling every other desktop. The Bernina Crystal edition is $16,500. We encompass a 3-day retreat with it, a bunch of goodies and a lifetime of free classes to learn how to use the desktop."
What's customary? "Our most regular structure is your YouTube channel, and we now have followers everywhere the world. It's YouTube.com/BERNINA of Naperville. ... i will be able to inform who's watching throughout what time they remark. There are americans in Switzerland who watch our channel. ... (company co-owner) Chris (Donahue) and i are becoming married on Dec. 31, 2022. I'm making my marriage ceremony costume on our YouTube channel."
How did you get into the enterprise? "i used to be a theater predominant (at Virginia Commonwealth tuition). So turned into Chris. ... the entire performance majors had to study to sew, the way to do costumes and makeup, set development. I've at all times desired to sew. I requested for a stitching computer each year for Christmas and by no means get one.
"i used to be truly first rate at sewing, and wound up teaching my fellow college students the way to sew. ... once I graduated, I had my own gown making enterprise. I did length weddings. Civil warfare, Jane Austen. I honed my advantage. ... I landed within the Burlington, Vermont, enviornment at a quilt store. they had Bernina machines. I purchased one. It changed my existence."
After that quilt keep went out of business, Schliemann ran a Bernina shop for 5 years. She caught the enterprise's attention and changed into hired as a district manager. That ended in her advertising job on the Aurora place. She left that job to open her shop in 2019.
Why do you appreciate sewing? "I'm a made of MTV. staring at MTV and desperate to have the clothes however you couldn't purchase them on the shop. ... I had a monitor right here within the save with an '80s quilt. ... Being a fan of Duran Duran made me consider extra involved with vogue."
How has the virus impacted your enterprise? "surely, it's a horrible factor and that i would certainly not wish to say that it's been a positive aspect for the company, however one advantageous issue that's come out of here is americans essential to do some thing at home when they couldn't work. When there was a scarcity of masks, they made masks. We've made lots of PPE movies. That's how our YouTube channel bought launched. ... We were a drop-off vicinity. ... We have been selling (sewing) machines like loopy."
What's the best part of doing company in Naperville? "The community. Very friendly. It's the Midwest so, of route, americans are exceptional, welcoming. ... If somebody involves consult with from an hour away, there's somewhere to consume."
Is there a busy time of 12 months? "We're moving into it at the moment, the autumn."
What misconceptions do individuals have? "That stitching is a loss of life paintings form. There's been an amazing upward thrust in stitching earlier than COVID-19. It's now not simply quilting. people are making outfits once again."
What challenges do you face? "There's lots of competition from anyone making an attempt to promote creativity. but we don't focal point on that. I center of attention on what we do."
Any plans? "Nothing is off the desk.
What's your assistance for somebody beginning a enterprise? "Don't inflate your numbers to make your dreams come authentic. appear on the lean facet. ... Be very conservative. Don't start off too massive. discover your voice. by way of voice, I mean what's the personality of your keep? what will set you aside? What makes you entertaining?"
Steve Metsch is a contract reporter for the Naperville solar.
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