Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carla Daniela. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Carla, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?
I believe it is important to first define what success is to yourself. I accomplished my goal of successfully opening my shop twelve years ago, as well as helping myself and others succeed. I truly love sharing ideas with my customers, learning, and working with other tailors and seamstresses in the United States and Portugal.
During the Pandemic I had to make quick business changes and take responsibility of marketing and focus on the wedding industry to reach my business goals. I made a commitment by investing in my website, social media and YouTube videos targeting brides. I maintained financial management, a positive attitude even during pressure and I have been able to continue growing my business.
I believe to succeed you need passion, commitment, creativity, customer service, financial literacy, discipline, attitude, work hard as needed and willingness to make changes and adjustments.
Carla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello, I am Carla Daniela the owner of Tailor Love in Hillcrest. I was born and raised in Azores, Portugal. I believe that if you can imagine it, we can make it. We have over 20 years of experience at Tailor Love and we offer professional tailoring, sewing, and clothing redesign. We listen to our clients’ visions to alter their existing gowns and garments to make them look and feel great.
As a child I had the dream of opening my own atelier where I could create and help clients’ visions come to life and create unique and customized gowns and garments. Very early in life I started trading toys for the fabrics that would be left from my Grandma Albertina’s sewing and I would transform them into specialty gowns, evening gowns and two-piece dresses. I guess at an early age I was lucky to have my grandmother Albertina show me the importance of tailoring, sewing, trading, negotiating and people’s interest to look good and feel their best.
After studying in high school in the arts field I worked with many different seamstresses and later enrolled in college and graduated with a degree in Fashion and Textile Design. I arrived in the United States in 2009 and worked with a renowned tailor and I decided one year after to take my own road and open “Tailor Love.” I am very proud to say that we are now celebrating 12 years in business and going strong. Recently we received the proclamation that November 1st will officially be Tailor Love day ❤ from the City of San Diego and the Mayor Tod Gloria.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I started the business during the worst times of the financial recession. People would make sure to stop at the shop and ask me WHY. Why was I starting a business during such economic crises in the United States? They would not bring any clothes at all, but they made sure to give me their opinion. The second crisis was the Pandemic in 2020. In San Diego it was hard seeing clients disappear, all events canceled and having to close the business temporarily. I quickly had to adjust my business model. I started offering home delivery, curbside pickup, shipping and Zoom consultations with clients.
I was willing to face setbacks, keep moving forward and make constant changes and adjustments. I kept shifting and learning as I went and was willing to work as hard as I needed to realize my goals and vision. At times I had no idea what was going on, but I stayed positive and committed to make it happen.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
We are in the people business to make our clients look and feel great. I believe customers decide to trust and engage with Tailor Love based on our client’s positive reviews. Tailor Love’s reputation within the market is built based on our quality work, creativity and experience, customer service, accountability, professionalism, honesty, and other company key values. Other examples of building our reputation are:
Defining Tailor Love key company values and our message to make our clients look and feel great it has helped us build our reputation.
Positioning Tailor Love as an authority by getting involved in our community by supporting local businesses, other tailors and nonprofits organizations.
Nurturing a culture that inspires respect from customers and competitors alike.
Developing a series of how-to YouTube videos and answering consumers and clients’ questions. Each time we engage with people online, we leave a footprint that adds to our overall business reputation.
I am very proud to say that currently 85% – 90% of our business is referrals and word of mouth.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tailorlove.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tailor_love/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tailorloves
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tailor-love
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Tailor_love_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZEjlZ3EcU_RTqt0_lmlWSA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tailor-love-san-diego
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tailor.love