How do I find a successor who can hem and fit like I do?
Look first among people already in the trade: your own staff, other tailors and graduates of sewing programs. Test their work on real jobs, then train them alongside you before you step back. Start the search early, because skilled tailors are hard to find and slow to train.
Begin close to home. A trusted seamstress already working for you may be the best candidate, since clients know her. Ask other alterations shops, dry cleaners, bridal shops and tailors who they would recommend. Posting in trade groups and with sewing schools can bring in people you would not otherwise meet.
When you meet candidates, ask to see their work. Have them take in a seam, fix a hem or fit a jacket while you watch. Skill matters, but so do patience, manner with clients and willingness to run a small business. Someone who sews well may still struggle with the books.
If you want to sell, a business broker or an advertised listing can reach buyers who will hire the skill separately. Be ready to describe how the work gets done. Whatever you choose, plan a handover with shared work, introductions to regular clients and written terms. Your lawyer and accountant can help you set them up. Give candidates a trial period before any promise is made, so both sides learn whether it suits. If nobody close to you is ready, consider offering part ownership over time. A successor who sees a route to owning the shop is more likely to commit, and your clients are more likely to accept them.
Key takeaways
- Ask staff and local trade contacts first.
- Test candidates on real fitting jobs.
- Plan a shared handover period with clear terms.
Related reading
12 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Buying
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- Expert answerIs owning a liquor store a good fit for me?
- Expert answerWhat should I check before buying an alterations or tailor shop?
- Expert answerWhat should I do in the first months after buying a tailor or alterations shop?
Succession
- Expert answerHow do I find a successor who can coach my chess club’s top players?
- Expert answerHow can I teach a successor to fire kilns safely before I step back?
- Expert answerHow can a speech-language pathologist train a successor before selling the clinic?
- Expert answerHow do I choose a successor from among my children?
- Expert answerHow do I hand an architecture firm’s signature design style to a successor?
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat is succession planning?
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentAdvice for succession planning - Articles and tools
- 03Canadian Federation of Independent BusinessResearch dataSuccession Tsunami: Preparing for a decade of small business transitions
- 04Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to Find the Right Buyer for Your Business
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