Meet Wendy Bedrosian of Chic Boutique Creations

Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Bedrosian.

Wendy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My business began with my kids. Before they were even born, I was making things for them: stuffed animals, blankets, knitted sweaters. I learned to knit while I was pregnant just because I wanted my daughter to have a hand-knit hat and sweater and I didn’t know any knitters. So either I had to do it or she wouldn’t get them. I lived in Belmont at the time and there was a yarn store close by with a very patient woman who taught me. I once spent months designing and knitting a Red Sox sweater for my son (because I love the Red Sox). And once, I knitted him a sweater in the dark on a car trip (just because my husband told me I couldn’t do it). They loved what I made for them, so it became a lot of fun. And, as they got a little bigger I was making things for their friends for birthdays and holidays. I had a fancy sewing machine with an embroidery attachment that I had never used. One day, I was curious, so I pulled out the manual and decided to embroider the kid’s names on beach towels for summer camp. I couldn’t believe it worked! I loved it so much, I started to do other things. And, then I learned to appliqué and use editing software and I was hooked. I could make the cutest things and personalize ordinary items and make them special. Friends and family loved what I was doing, so I decided to start a little cottage-industry website. I know nothing about web design, but I got a referral from someone who helped get me up and running. It was a lot of detail work up front. I had to figure out what shipping for each item would cost and how I was going to handle payments. It was all new to me. When I began the website and the first holiday rolled around, I was so busy, I was not sure I was going to be able to get everything done in time! It was taking a lot of time to complete each order. While my little embroidery machine was very fun, it was not equipped for what I was doing. I am a one-person shop, so efficiency is important.

If I was going to do this, I needed better equipment. So, I upgraded to a great computerized machine allows me to work much faster. The designs are uploaded to a software program, where I can edit them and then they are transferred to my machine. I am still using that machine today.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say that mostly, it has been smooth. There is the occasional equipment breakdown and stuff like that, but nothing too tragic. My busiest time is September-December and that time period can get tricky. Like anyone who works at home, you have to learn how to balance work with your personal life and that is still the biggest challenge. I don’t want to disappear to my studio from Thanksgiving to Christmas and miss out on the holiday time with my family. And I used to do a few craft shows during that time, but now I normally only do one because I always see a ton of people I know and I enjoy the social aspect of it. My husband has always been a big help and can hold the house down in the evenings if I have to get orders done and out the door.

Chic Boutique Creations – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I have a small online business. My little company offers embroidery/appliqué clothing and accessories for kids. They especially enjoy the beach towels and tee shirts for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. I have been in business for about 10 years now. It is not a super slick web site by any means. I am a small, one-person, business and my web site reflects that.

I don’t know of any brick and mortar shops in the area that do what I do. Rents have gotten too high to sustain this type of business at a physical storefront, so really, web sites like mine are the only place to find these types of items. I think my products are of a very high quality. I use the best materials I can find (the kind I would want for my own family) and am very fussy about what goes out the door.

Creating things makes me happy and I love that my business allows me to go in any direction I want. If I enjoy making something new, I am free to try it out on my web site. Not many people have that kind of flexibility in their jobs, so I am very lucky.

I am very proud of all the technology I have learned to make this happen.

Everything I do is computerized in one way or another, from the machines that I use to the specialized software. I have digitizers from whom I buy my designs, but I am in the process of teaching myself to digitize so that I can offer my own original designs, as well.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
At some point, my business was busting out all over the place. Stacks of fabric were stashed anywhere I could fit them, dozens of large thread spools were stacked several high and deep on my desk. I have way more pairs of scissors that anyone should own. I shared space with a treadmill and an elliptical machine in my basement. My proudest moment was when I got to move my bursting little business into my own home studio. I felt like a legitimate business with a dedicated space and doors to close it up when I am finished working. We did some construction on our home and I was able to take a big space and customize it for my needs. It is still a mess, but that is creative genius at work, not a space problem!

Pricing:

• Reasonable pricing $20-$50

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chicboutiquecreations.com
• Phone: 508-397-5215
• Email: wbedrosian@gmail.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chic-Boutique-121887417843588/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChicBoutiqueGoods?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Image Credit:
Digital Designs By:
Christmas Forklift Tee
Scuba Fin Towel
Soccer Jacket
Christmas Ornament Tee – Planet Applique
Seven Tee
Kapok Tee
Anchor Towel — Hang To Dry Applique

Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.