Successful sewing centre in larger premises

Press, 28 March 1979, Page 18

Successful sewing centre in larger premises

The owners of Simpsons Sewing Centre are confident that they have something special to offer their customers. Now that they have shifted from the ground floor of Millers Limited to a central and much larger site around the corner, at 624 Colombo Street, they expect to expand their service to the city’s sewers, knitters and craft people. Their phone number is still the same J— 67-962.

Geoffrey and Billie Simpson have had seven years in their own retail business, and many more years before that of craftrelated experience. Geoffrey Simpson has been swinging and servicing sewingmachines for 20 years, and his wife has been demonstrating knitting-machines for the same length of time. Both the Simpsons have a keen personal interest in several crafts, which gives them an enthusiastic approach that customers appreciate. Billie Simpson is an expert at tatting, crochet and tapestry, while Geoffrey Simpson, who spent five years at Dunedin Art School, paints the very professional pictures on the shop’s tapestry canvas. Simpsons Sewing Centre not only stocks these ready-to-work tapestries, but will design them from photographs or prints provided by customers. The new Simpsons Sewing Centre is five times bigger than the previous one, with a mezzanine floor that is especially suited to the needs of the shop. Classes in stretch sewing will be held there from April onwards. The classes will in-

corporate the popular Bevknit Patterns and will help those taking the course to sew stretch fabrics the quickest and easiest way. The five-week sewing course will consist of a two-hour lesson each week, and will be conducted by Mrs Billie S mpson. To ensure that she was up-to-date, Mrs Simpson recently took part in a one-week Bevknit Instructors’ Course.

As well' as comprehensive ranges Of yarns and materials for sewing, knitting and craft work, Simpsons stock several brands of knitting and sewing machines, both new and second-hand. They specialise in trade-ins and will service any make of machine, whether bought from them or not. Repairs are guaranteed. Mr Simpson emphasises

that new machines, rather than second-hand ones, are always taken out to customers’ homes for demonstrations. Then, if a decision is made to buy, the machine is ready and waiting. Simpsons feel that their kni 11 i n g-machines are among the most sophisticated models available. Lace, patterns, for instance, can be changed from large to fine at the push of a button, and terms can be arranged on both knitting and sewing machines. The three women demonstrators at Simpsons Sewing Centre are all knitting and sewing experts of long standing. One of them, Mrs Noma Law, last year won a prize in the international Brother Knitwear Contest.

Simpsons have always made it a big part of their display policy, to have garments made by their demonstrating staff on show in the shop. The scope of this idea will be broadened, to show customers what is possible with the right machine and materials.

One distinctive garment on show' at the moment is a lacy lurex evening jersey. It has been machineknitted with a yarn that is exclusive to Simpsons in

Christchurch. This is the Japanese “Kanebo’’ range of handcraft yarn, which comes in 25g balls and 15 colours including gold, silver, white, cerise and azure. All the plain colours have an attractive silver thread twisted through them, and are ideal for evening knitwear. There is easy shopping for young mothers at Simpsons Sew’ing Centre. There are no steps to impede prams and pushchairs, and the spacious

layout in the shop allows easy mobility. Beckenham, Sydenham and Cashmere buses stop outside the door.