We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carly Olds a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Carly , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

It’s mostly just a play on words! I was between a few ideas but honestly it just came to me because I wanted something that would stick and be easy to remember but also relate back to sewing. I loved the idea of it being a catch phrase like “Oh – that’s SO Nashville!” instead – “That’s SEW Nashville”. I also wanted to incorporate the use of “Sew” in my business slogan – which became “Sew Happy. Sew Fun.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I went back and forth on which category to put this under – as my business is such a specific niche. I do provide a creative service, but I also provide a fun “experience” that is also educational! My name is Carly Olds and I am the owner and operator of Sew Nash. The way I describe Sew Nash to any stranger I encounter is simply that – it’s a sewing party experience!

Guests arrive to my sewing studio – equipped with hot pink diva sewing machines – are provided all tools and materials needed, and then receive step by step instruction how to sew together various projects with no experience needed!

Originally, I’m from a small town in Upstate NY and first moved to Nashville in 2013. I went to college for Broadcasting and ended up working in corporate Music and TV licensing for about 8 years. I also spent a short stint living in Los Angeles, and while I was living there I first learned about the concept of Air BnB experiences and I always thought – “hmm that would be fun if I could incorporate sewing into an experience!” but at the time it was just an idea…

I wouldn’t go as far to call myself a “seamstress” as I myself am still learning and mastering new sewing techniques all the time. I was gifted my first sewing machine in 2018 and took a few lessons then became a “youtube researcher” and I quickly realized I loved it and the feeling of making your own clothes!

Over the years sewing has brought me so much joy and it has become my escape from the real world. At times i’ll lock myself away in my space, put on some headphones and just get to work on making something random, usually just for myself to wear…. and that’s all sewing was to me till I decided to start Sew Nash.

So in 2021, I was laid off from my job in Los Angeles and moved back to Nashville. Even though it sucked, I was fortunate enough to get 6 months of severance from my job. I took a breather. I traveled. I got my real estate license. I started to think about what I wanted to do to next, as my last career just wasn’t working out for me. I went back and forth on the idea of starting my own small business – but I thought what? and how? and kept coming back to my idea of a sewing experience…

One thing I noticed from friends over the years is that everyone would always say “Oh I want to learn to sew, but it’s such a hassle to get all the equipment” or “I want to try sewing but I don’t know where to start or even if i’ll like it”. Or there would be people who would ask me for a lesson – but I knew for sure they were not going to make it a full on hobby afterwards. Also- always being compared to Grandmas…UM sewing is COOL and not just for your Grannies! I felt like a lot of people were out of touch with sewing as a skill and it’s honestly a lost art.

I started brainstorming the ways to allow people to have a sewing class – but to make it more of a simple, easy, and stress free hands-on experience that is meant to do as a one off class. Like a “paint and wine” night – but for sewing. No commitment afterwards, no tools needed, and no experience necessary. But also in a fun and inviting setting to bring your friends. I found these hot pink sewing machines online and BAM! I knew I had to do it, and I first ordered 6 machines and went from there…and Sew Nash was born.

So I began planning my concept, researching online and all the supplies i’d need, my branding and vision, and lots of trials. Lots of trial and errors! I did many practice classes with friends to see what worked and what didn’t and how I could make it the most efficient given certain projects.

I still work a full time job, now as an Executive Recruiter, but I am fortunate enough to have a studio space out of the house I live in to also host my experience classes on nights and weekends. It’s been an uphill battle for sure to balance it all, keep the faith that my idea wasn’t crazy, but it’s been such a fulfilling journey!

My slogan is “Sew Happy. Sew Fun” because I want people to see the fun in sewing but also feel the joy of creating a one-of-a-kind item from scratch. So after every group I have that tells me afterwards they genuinely had a great time, or that they love their item and they underestimated how easy it would be to learn – that is what makes me the most proud!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I initially started Sew Nash as a mobile booking concept. Where I hoped to go set up at peoples houses for birthday parties, pop ups, corporate events, and so on. I didn’t have a space initially to host the classes out and couldn’t afford a commercial space, so that is why I tried the mobile route. The first thing I did as part of my launch was I went to some local businesses and first pitched my idea to try and have my first workshop be partnering with someone. I landed a “Wine Down Wednesday” event with a local brewery. They said they would allow me to utilize their space if tickets included one drink. I was so excited. I poured way to much money into advertising and marketing the event and sharing it with everyone I knew. I only had to sell 6 tickets – and at the end of several weeks promoting it – I sold absolutely none. I was crushed and so upset over this. If I couldn’t sell just 6 tickets – to a lunch concept – how would this ever become a thing.

Then I quickly realized the mobile concept was pretty hard given the time needed for set up and take down, as well as needing the right amount of space at peoples houses. I went back to the drawing board a few times after that and had a few more instances where no bookings came…I started to get pretty down and thought my business was a fun idea in theory but not possible and almost gave it up…

I kept telling friends and anyone I met about my new venture and putting it out into the world to find a solution…I lucked out and was able to secure a space to rent out of my friends home, which was an in-between of a brick and mortar commercial space and a mobile option! I decided to just do whatever I could to get people in for the first few classes. So for the better part of the first year most of my classes were all free. I’d do giveaways, ask friends to take classes, reach out to influencers – who ever would come try it out so I could grow it and take photos to market it better and eventually bookings started to come!!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Social media! Honestly most of clients have come from Instagram and TikTok! I had an amazing guest book a class on her own accord when I first started and at the time I didn’t even know she ran a page called @sliceofnashville . She featured one of my videos in her socials as “fun experiences to do in town” and from there I got several bookings and was introduced to other businesses that helped me grow more even more! She was so kind to feature me without even telling me at first!

I always tell other creatives and small business owners to utilize TikTok. Sometimes a video will get 5 views but you never know – one of them could be seen by the right person or happen to go viral over night. If you don’t try – you’ll never know!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sewnash.com/
• Instagram: @sewnash
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sewnashville
• Other: Tik Tok: @sewnash

Image Credits
– Naomi Parton – KT Sura