Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Cox. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amanda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?
I’ve worked for many people over the years, whether it be for other companies, or as a contracted specialist. Each of my “bosses” have left an impression, and each for different reasons. However, one of the most impactful moments of my entire working life came with my first contracted position.
Up to that point I had been working as an hourly employee, so I didn’t understand how to properly manage my income as a contractor. Before I that job, I was working a commission-based job where I brought home a pretty penny, and like the material girl I was, I quickly spent it. The weekend I moved out on my own for the first time was the weekend I unexcitingly lost my job. In the span of three days I went from bringing home $800 to bringing home nothing, only now bound to a lease I couldn’t get out of, nor afford.
Thankfully, a close friend was able to get me an interview the next day at a live entertainment company who was looking for a costume seamstress. I nailed the interview and went to work the next day. I was thankful, but my paycheck was now less than half of what I once made. I got a 2nd part time job to make it up (sort of). Every penny I went to bills and essentials. (I went without health insurance, a savings account, a retirement account, vacation, and AC for that first year on my own to save a few hundred dollars, which is a miserable way to live in central Florida!)
April came around and I received a letter saying how much money I owed the IRS and was confused, so I went to my boss for an explanation. I thought he had been taking out my taxes, like all my jobs before that had done. I had zero money and was freaking out about how to pay my taxes! Without hesitation, my boss told me not to worry about it. He would pay my taxes, and would give me a raise so I could save money for next tax season. (Then he asked if I wanted an expresso because we had overtime work coming.)
To this day I remember both the hardships and the generosity, and it’s greatly inspired me to be a generous person (and save my money). One of my mottos has become “earn more, give more”, and I work hard to make sure I can be as generous to others as possible, both with my skills and my money.
Amanda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a self-employed professional Sewing Specialist, and while my industry background is diverse, my current focus is on designing and creating wedding veils, capes, and other wedding separates and accessories. I work out of my home and sell my products through Etsy with the hope of one day having a brick-and-mortar workspace with employees.
I consider myself a romantic, growing up on Jane Austin and idolizing Audrey Hepburn. My favorite books and films featured strong women who suffered great heartbreak but always had a happy ending. I wanted to grow up and experience love, growth, marriage, beauty and pain like they did. I also grew up in a large family with a single income. While we didn’t “live on the streets” everything was rationed, handed down, thrifted, DIY’ed, or bartered for. (There was even a thrift store around the corner for loaves of bread, so my Mom didn’t have to pay full price.) Whatever my parents didn’t provide, I worked and paid for myself. I worked for my own money as early as 12, ironing dress shirts for the pastor down the street, or cleaning an elderly neighbor’s house. I don’t remember being a poor child, but I always wanted bigger and better than what I had, and working hard to afford it.
Looking back, it’s not surprising that I’m now making beautiful pieces for brides. I often thrift materials, rebuild “Mom’s wedding dress”, and shop the best deals I can find. I work with manufacturers directly to produce custom materials at the absolute lowest costs so I can provide an affordable product for all brides. Online, I offer standardized made-to-order products, as well as offer bespoke services. About 10% of my online orders are special requests from brides, and these ladies fall into two categories: (1) they can’t find exactly what they envision, and (2) they found what they want, but it’s out of their budget.
After a short, free consultation, I explain the available service I can offer and show them a few of the details that would be included. Sometimes I sketch the item or send them fabric swatches. I’m always upfront about pricing and provide them with a complete breakdown of my services, right down to the cost for the tissue paper that goes in the shipping box. Most importantly, I keep everything within their budget. I have no minimum fee, and they can ask as many questions as they want. I do not charge them for information. I’m sure some business owners would strongly disagree with my methods, but I’m at a place in life/ in work that allows me to do this for my brides. With money issues still being the #1 reason for divorce and wedding planning being one of the most stressful events to coordinate, I want to be a bridal vendor who promotes people before profit. I want to be someone a bride can trust. I want to be a place where the bride can be at peace. I want each bride to feel informed and safe with me. The product they receive is just a bonus.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Originally, my “side hustle” was just a hobby and people happen to want to pay for it. I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur or a designer. I worked for recognizable companies since I was 16, and any sewing work I had on the side came from word of mouth. I was primarily self-taught in the beginning, receiving help along the way from my Grandma, who was an upholsterer. My favorite thing to sew were period costumes, but when my church friends starting getting married I started making wedding dresses. Over the past 16 years, I’ve had seamstress jobs doing apparel alterations, period and performance costumes, uniforms, and bespoke bridal. Even though I have a BA in design, by greatest teacher has been the industry experience. With each new job my skill level and knowledge bank grew.
By 2017 I was working full time as a seamstress for Walt Disney World, and working nearly full time at home making and altering wedding gowns. In May 2018 I learned I was pregnant and my husband suggested I make veils instead (thinking it would be easier). I slowly transitioned out of the gowns, which meant no more fittings at our house, and I could turn a high profit in a much shorter time. I opened an Etsy shop and things started growing- both the workload and my belly. Shortly after my son was born, I received an offer of management within my department at Disney and decided that I would pursue both Disney and my Etsy shop full force until one of them pulled ahead.
In March 2020, I went on vacation, but was told not to come in when I returned. You guessed it. COVID-19 lockdown started taking effect and I was one of the lucky few who kept their job, though I would be returning to Disney in an hourly role, and the opportunity for management had disappeared. It was also during 2020 that my Etsy shop grew by leaps and bounds! With so many wedding cancelled and so many wedding gowns being locked away at the shops until who-knows-when. Couples were still getting married, but their big plans had to dramatically change. Thankfully for me, brides still want to feel and dress like a bride, and a wedding veil is one of the few elements that provide that timeless “bridal” feeling.
My husband and I made a financial plan and in June 2021 I left Walt Disney World to work full time, for the first time, for myself.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
While I do not currently manage a team, I have managed teams in the past. Whether you lead a team, or provide a service to customers/buyers, this advise is gold: Your job is to help your people do their job better, and you have to be okay with not being liked.
My first leadership position at Walt Disney World Creative Costuming was as a team coordinator. My manager told me this, and it has guided many of me in my self-employment journey as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/lavoilerose
- Instagram: @lavoilerose
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaCoxSewingSpecialist
Image Credits
Photographer: Sunsoar Photography Venue: The Balcony Orlando HMA: Sarah McCowan- Beauty, Cosmetics and Personal Care