THE MENDING SHOP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18708, 14 May 1924, Page 16

THE MENDING SHOP.

For the woman who Is clever with her needle in a general sort of way but does not care for dressmaking, or perhaps has not had the necessary and very exacting training, there is always a good opening for running a t mending shop. There are so many people who cannot do, or have not the time to do, their own mending, and this.applies to business women as well as men, who would be glad to find a place where it could be done promptly and at moderate prices. The most ' important point of this kind of ."work is neatness and the art of taking infinite pains. One room would be sufficient in which to start such a little "shop,"' and the .equipment, is simple : A sewing machine, even for repairing this is necessary, a good-sized table and a few chairs, with a well-filled sewing basket, 13 all - that is necessary for a start, some spacious shelves will also be wanted for parcels of finished and unfinished work. Such a "shop" must be in a central position, do that business people can leave and fetch their parcels with a minimum of trouble and time. It would not pay for the worker to fetch and deliver work, because if she is wisely starting m a small way she will not have the time to run about. From such a small beginning tly;re is no saying into what the venture may grow in the hands ol a capable, energetic woman. Starting with neatness, promptness, moderate charges and a determination to succeed she will go far. . : Another way of working the mending business is to arrange to do it in the homes of the women needing help, and' often a couple of hours in the evening would be found the most convenient time. Bat this would not be catering for business people who really need something of this kind, it is purely a matter of choice, which class of work you go in for. If one should select the work done at the homes, then you should arrange with six housewives to go to their homes on one particular night each week. The list of mending in a family is very varied and the worker must be prepared to do anything that happens along. _ In many lSomes where the husband is on night work the wife would be pleased to have a companion to chat and work with for; a couple of hours. This has the advantage of leaving you free _to do something else during the day if you wish, and brings in a small certain' sum each week, better far Mian being idle.