Holly's story may be all too typical of today's corporate downsizing and one person's dream to own their own business.  Holly turned her dream into reality after she was laid off from Contel/GTE Telephone Company after 17 years of service.  She said she did seamstress work from 1994 to 1999 “at the home place in Potosi in order to live next door to my parents.” After her parents passed away, she moved to Kansas to work for Sprint Telephone for two and a half years and was laid off a month after 9/11, so she moved back to Potosi. She worked at the Potosi Correctional Center for a year as an activity therapist until she re-opened her alteration and custom sewing business in Feb. 2003. 

“My strategy was to solicit local clients for alterations and custom sewing, and to reconnect with former clients for historic costuming jobs,” she said. “I attended the classes both as a requirement to apply for the Project Bootstrap grant and also to gain the necessary information on writing a business proposal should I choose to apply for outside financial assistance.” 

Holly found the Operation Bootstrap classes to be highly beneficial.  She said that the best advice she would give to others would be to certainly do research for viability of the “business dream” first. 

“Attend classes….and obtain other training as needed for the particular business, “ she said.  “It might include things as varied as computer enhancement skills or taking a college course in public speaking,” she added.   “Also, use resources! Learn how to seek out information at libraries; utilize the amazing data available via the Internet; network with other business professionals; find and cultivate a “mentor” willing to listen and give advice,” she added.  In fact, she said she couldn’t have done it all without her personal mentor, a fiber artisan in Caledonia, Mo. 

With the Operation Bootstrap grant money, Holly was able to remodel her garage to expand the work space to increase productivity for sewing, to provide an office area, and to provide a client consultation area.  The former workroom transitioned to storage, display, changing/fitting, and a resource (books, fashion prints) room, she said.

With the $500 office supply grant money, Holly was able to purchase name labels (“Holly J. Turner” embroidered on ribbon to sew in garments), garment bags, printer ink and paper supplies, and a Franklin Covey organizational calendar.

Holly says one of her greatest achievements in her business is the fact that History Channel contacted her to make costumes. “Oh, that was fun!” she said. 

Holly performs living history demonstrations, 18^th and 19^th century hand sewing, spinning wool into yarn, and other needle arts, at various sites including historic Main Street in St. Charles, Mo. for a program called “Living History on Main Street.”  One of the other demonstrators at St. Charles is a community college teacher in “real” life, and also consults for costuming and historic needs for a company that makes History Channel movies. Holly said she met him during the Lewis & Clark historic events in 2004. 

“He called me for a rush job last summer for a movie on Knights Templar needing medieval era tunics with red crosses, cloaks, hats and such,” she said, “and again the day after Christmas for a second movie on how the Ten Commandments have influenced society.” 

For the Ten Commandments, she was asked to make Puritan clothes.  The Knights Templar movie featuring Holly’s creations first aired last year on the History Channel.

“I haven’t heard when the next movie is out.  I gotta get satellite and a TV before then,” she added.

Holly said, “I’m most proud of taking that “leap of faith” and becoming self-employed. I wake up with an attitude of gratitude every day! I love my job, especially knowing I don’t have to travel in snowy weather to get to an “outside job” or be concerned about a job layoff due to corporate whim.  I just walk a few steps to work.  My main challenges are time management and reaffirming with friends and family that I really am working.”

Holly is in her fourth year back in business, and each year improves by establishment of new customers and repeat customers.  She plans to expand her business, she said, and include further promotion of individual and small group classes on sewing, quilting and needle arts.

Holly’s Alterations does not have a Web site yet, but she hopes to by the end of the year.  To contact Holly please call her at:

Holly J. Turner
10464 Cannon Holler Road
Potosi, MO 63664
(573) 438-4596
hollyt@centurytel.net

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