Business not personal

One of the biggest lessons that I am learning whilst setting up my business is that some people ask things but then never get back to you. This is down to business and not meant personally towards you.
I have had a few email queries asking about my clothing alterations and how much I charge for certain jobs, once I have given them a rough price (I always tell the customer it is a rough price as until I have seen the item I cannot say the exact price or even if it is possible for the alteration to be done)
I do offer a free consultation for all customers to assess the work required and give a definite price but after the email some customers don't even want to take me up on this offer.
I know that I am not charging too much as other people charge more than me but I think I charge a fair price for my skills.
I have also had people ask if I could do an alteration but then tell me what needs doing or how long they think it will take me - I just think that if they know this information why do they not do the alteration themselves?
However I think that all this is down to business decisions and money decisions not personal feelings towards myself. If I took all these no replies personally then I would have given up by now.
I am however getting quite a few jobs through google and my website so people obviously think my prices are OK.
I am getting bigger jobs as well so am going to have to look at getting some sort of warehouse/workshop to work from as my current workshop is not big enough (if you know of anywhere in the Bristol area please let me know)

Design Ideas

I have been having a play around with some different dress bodice designs this evening.
A couple of months ago I made myself a mini mannequin so I have used that and some scraps of fabric that I have to drape some ideas that I have had in my mind for a while.
I am happy with the one idea and am now going to buy some satin as it will need lining due to being made from chiffon.It will be made from a plain red chiffon as an evening/bridesmaid dress. I am also on the lookout for some gems/stones as I am going to make the shoulder a big feature. (pictures are below)
The back of the dress will be straight across with either a zip fastening or buttons (haven't decided which yet). There will also be the option of having an inner corset to give shaping to the body. The skirt of the dress will be available in either knee length or floor length and will be A line in shape so will skim the body.
The second idea wasn't quite what I had imagined so I am going to see if I can tweak it slightly before I purchase any fabric.

Please let me know what you think of the designs.

Close up of shoulder detail. Across the ruching will
be stones/gems to make a feature of shoulder.



Another view of shoulder detail



Basic shape idea of dress



shoulder design idea - not sure about this as wanted lower fabric to lay flat



A different option for shoulder detail



close up of shoulder detail