Alterations: fitting, work time and a collection slot
Pinning, sewing, handing back: how tailors can turn alterations into three clear appointments, leave enough work time between them and book the collection.
6 min read
Let clients book a fitting online, pin the garment during that slot, then book the collection with them before they leave, far enough ahead to fit the work into your week. A fitting at a set time means you're not interrupted mid-seam by someone who walked in with a pair of trousers, and a collection slot means the client tries the finished garment on while you're there to check it. Say in the description what to bring, so the pinning is right the first time.
Three moments, two bookings
| Moment | What happens | How it's booked |
|---|---|---|
| Fitting | Client tries the garment on, you pin and note the work | Online, by the client |
| Work | You alter the garment | Nothing to book: your own time |
| Collection and try-on | Client tries the finished garment, you check the fit | By you, at the fitting |
On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page, and each slot belongs to one service with its own start and end. A fitting service and a collection service keep those two moments apart, with the right slot length for each.
| Service | Example slot | Example price | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration fitting | 20 min | €10 | Pinning and quote; deducted from the alteration if you go ahead |
| Suit or dress fitting | 30 min | €15 | For several alterations on one outfit |
| Collection and try-on | 10 min | €5 | Check the finished work |
| Second fitting | 20 min | €10 | For complex work before finishing |
Lengths and prices are examples: set your own. If collection is included in the alteration price, leave its price empty: an empty price isn't shown on your page, while a price of zero is displayed as €0.00.
What to bring to the fitting
- the garment, clean;
- the shoes you'll wear with trousers or a dress, since hem length depends on them;
- the underwear or shirt you'll wear under a fitted jacket or dress;
- for an event, its date.
Put this in the fitting description. The public booking form asks for first name, last name, email and phone, and has an optional note: ask for the garment and the work wanted in a line, such as "navy suit, shorten trousers and sleeves".
Booking the collection at the fitting
Once the garment is pinned, you know how long the work takes and where it fits in your week. Book the collection with the client from your calendar: first and last name are required, email and phone optional, and you can add a note such as "navy suit, trousers and sleeves". If you enter their email, they get a confirmation and a calendar file. A booked slot with one place is full and disappears from your public page.
Group collection slots together, for example late afternoon, so short try-ons don't break up your sewing time.
Urgent work before an event
A wedding next Saturday, a job interview on Monday: some clients need a quick turnaround. Decide whether you take urgent work and at what price, and make it a separate service with a clear description of the delay. Ask for the event date in the note at the fitting, so you can refuse politely if it's too tight.
Walk-ins and changes
Clients who walk in can still be seen if you have a free fitting slot; book it yourself on the spot so it doesn't also show online. Clients can't move bookings online: they contact you, and you move them from your bookings list. Book doesn't email clients about changes, so confirm the new time yourself. Book doesn't take payments, so say how you're paid, for example at collection. Book costs €5/month, everything included: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no contract.