Banbridge bridal seamstress Donna O’Hare has been following the threads on Down News and has availed of the package on offer of a business support advert.
Donna, is a top class seamstress who specialises in bridal alterations and like so many businesses in the past couple of weeks, her business Sew Handy Design has been heavily impacted by the coronavirus epidemic.
She said: “Basically, I’ve had to shut down business because of coronavirus. My work involves working with brides and their bridal parties up close up and personal such as pinning a dress on a bride or making alterations to various items of clothing for the bridal party. Because of the social distancing rules, this is now just not possible.
“The fitting event is often a lovely social occasion and all the bridal participants and also family are there together as a pre-wedding event. I’ve now had to put everything on hold as brides postpone their weddings on short notice. The lockdown has been catastrophic for many small businesses.
“The main bridal season runs from April to October but people get married all year round. At my peak I am working 16 hours a day six days a week. I love my work. I get business from many of the main bridal boutiques across Northern Ireland and also brides themselves get directly in contact too.
“I was working part-time at bridal alteration for many years but six years ago I decided to take the plunge and became a sole trader. It is ploughing a lonely furrow when you are a lone business person, but I meet so many great people that my work is a pleasure.
“It is great to see brides in their gowns and the bridal party all suited up in well-fitting items. It just brings a smile to their faces, and mine, when they feel comfortable in what they are wearing.”
Donna explained business has been very good since she became self-employed. I was very fortunate to win the 2017/18 Best Dressmaker award for The Getting Married in Northern Ireland Reader Awards.
She added: “My diary for 2020 was filled up in 2018. And in 2019 I was fully booked for 2021. I’m now at the stage of putting postponements into my diary as brides put their weddings on hold until a future date.
“I often work six days a week but when the epidemic is over I expect I’ll be working eight days a week as there will be a surge in weddings I expect.”
And Donna also explained another issue for small business that lies ahead. Christmas demand for many businesses is a lifeline. It will be difficult to plan sales and production and delivery of services if there is no certainty in the business environment in the foreseeable months ahead. If the epidemic last six months it will take us all very close to Christmas and there will not be much cash going around as so many businesses will have failed and many people will be unemployed.This is really a global disaster. But we must look forward and be positive as best we can.”
“Fortunately, I still have a few dresses to work on for some brides. But business is up in the air until we get this virus under control. So, like many business people, I have to isolate myself, adhere to social distancing and just hope business picks up in the near future.
“It I hard to think what I could diversify into in the short to medium term. I run a specialist service and my skill sets revolve around bridal wear. Like so many business people, I am just amazed at the impact of coronavirus on our way of life. But I’m an optimist. We will get through this.”
Contact Donna at:
Tel. no: (mobile) 07557271776.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sewhandydesigns
Instagram : @sewhandydesigns
