– by Doreen Marion Gee –
This is part of a rotating series of articles on members of Sidney Meet Up, featuring people in business on the Saanich Peninsula.
Two exquisite cushion covers crafted by Nancy McMillan turn my dull old sofa into a thing of beauty. Turquoise and orange seashells jump off my couch. Nancy’s creations are one-of-kind marvels, and she has sage advice for entrepreneurs on how to succeed in business.
In a rural area of Saanich, tucked away behind lush trees and bushes, Nancy McMillan works magic on her sewing machine. The owner of “Nancy’s Sew Creative” saw an untapped market in our indoor/outdoor active and pet-friendly Peninsula lifestyle, so she started sewing slipcovers for indoor furniture: “Slipcovers that are easily removed for washing are the answer to keeping furniture clean and refreshed. They also protect furniture from the damaging rays of the sun.” Later on, “my environmental concerns have prompted me to add refurbishing outdoor furniture to my repertoire.” Nancy reveals that many manufacturers cover furniture in inexpensive fabric that lasts less than one season. “Instead of buying new furniture, why not refurbish the soft-furnishing element? It makes good sense monetarily.” To ensure premium quality, Nancy uses the “best of the best” fabrics on the market. Nancy also refurbishes boat interiors and makes draperies, valances, shades and bedding.
Nancy’s sales are steady and strong: “The outdoor-cushion business was brisk last year.” She offers valuable advice on how to succeed in business: “I enjoy success here on the Peninsula because I consistently offer a quality product at a very reasonable price. I listen to my clients and find the best quality I can in their price range. I depend on word of mouth to survive, so this is the most important thing to me. I want the product people buy from me to serve their needs for a very long time. I want them to find comfort and enjoyment in exchange for trusting me with their hard-earned money and I try to do that with every customer no matter the size of the job.”
Nancy knows how to make a home-based business viable: “There are many benefits to having an at-home business in that you can write off a portion of the cost of maintaining your home against earnings from your business. The down side can be interruptions at home. Setting realistic goals and hours of work, getting support from those around me and sticking with those goals has allowed me to earn income.” It is also a way to be with her precious family.
The business owner acknowledges the role of Sidney Meet Up in her success: “It has provided me with a wealth of marketing information and the moral support any endeavour needs to prosper and thrive.”
Nancy McMillan’s works of art stand alone. I have never seen anything quite like them.
Contact: www.nancysewcreative.com.
