Let's discover... Virginie from PatternsForYou

Today, I'm introducing Virginie, who created the website PatternsForYou a year and a half ago. It's a company that offers paper printing of PDF sewing patterns... including Lou and Me Couture patterns. It was an idea that quickly met with great success.

As you know, for several years now, my patterns have only been available in PDF format. I made this choice to more easily manage my life as an entrepreneur and my family life. Printing patterns, preparing orders, and sending them takes a lot of time...

When you order a pattern on my site, you receive it by email in A4 format. You assemble the sheets (children's patterns have few sheets to assemble, it's neither complicated nor time-consuming). But some of you prefer to receive patterns at home in paper format.

I am very happy to now be able to offer it to you thanks to Virginie, as my patterns are available on her site in A0 paper format at PatternsForYou.

Let's get started with the introduction!

Hello Virginie, could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your background?

Hello, I'm Virginie, I live in Montpellier with my husband and our two children.

I've always been immersed in printing because my grandfather already worked in this field.

My parents then opened 13 photocopy shops mainly targeting students, and we had a monopoly in Montpellier.

I always wanted to work with my parents and take over the family business because I loved this sector of activity.

Then, I met my husband who joined us and we developed the business towards companies, large accounts. We then invested in new equipment to develop our products and our activity.

My parents retired and we found ourselves at the head of our company. (CS PRINT

Tell us about Patterns For You: how did this idea come about? What is currently offered on the site? And what are your plans?

We had developed a site dedicated to architects for plan printing.

One day, a designer discovered our site, tested us, and talked about us, without our knowledge. From that day on, we started printing patterns for individuals, and customers were delighted to find us. We were already open, and what's more, they received their patterns printed in A0 on paper at home! No more spending a crazy amount of time taping A4 pages of patterns together :))

During the first lockdown in March 2020, we worked tremendously on pattern printing.

The idea came to us to create a website dedicated to the world of sewing.

We opened our PatternsForYou site at the end of August 2020 and we now have almost 13K followers on Instagram!

On our site, you'll find our core business: printing patterns from your PDF files in A0 and delivered folded, as well as instructional booklets.

Also, if the pattern you want doesn't exist in A0 format, we print it in A4, and the customer has to assemble and tape the pattern, the step everyone hates :))

We also offer pocket patterns from designers who trust us, personalized notebooks with a name or phrase, illustrated planners on the theme of sewing, personalized mugs, sewing kits, and gift vouchers.

There's also a "Haberdashery" section where we offer the essentials for sewing, and very soon, you'll be able to buy fabrics!

Projects? Yes, we have them every day!

We just need to find the time to develop them. New products will be arriving very soon, always in the field of sewing, of course :))

We released our first pattern, the Miss Patterns dress, in collaboration with designer Anais from Share My Creat and Maureen, who greatly helped us on this beautiful project.

Other patterns will be created; that's part of our 2022 plans.

Do you sew or practice other DIY activities? If so, what do you particularly enjoy? What would you like to learn?

I do sew, yes, but I'm a complete beginner! I've never taken any classes and I'd love to learn because sometimes I get stuck on certain steps. I've always been hands-on since I was little; I even created jewelry that I sold :))

I've done cross-stitch, object decorating, in short, I really like DIY.

I think you shouldn't rush things and you should adapt your level to the pattern you're sewing. That way, you gain confidence and want to progress.

Any tips for organizing patterns?

I keep my patterns in our transparent gusseted pouches to store them in a binder. I find it well organized and easy to find.

After all, everyone has their own organization, I think.

Can you describe a typical day/week for an entrepreneur who creates a pattern printing website? Any advice for women who would like to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure?

My typical day as an entrepreneur...

I drop my daughter off at middle school, then I head to our business. We are a team of 9, and at another site, there are 4 people managing the shop.

I greet each of my colleagues; it's important to me, it's an image.

Then, I handle customer inquiries for PatternsForYou as well as for our print shop. I prepare quotes for our clients, answer emails, and manage partnerships/collaborations.

Then I manage social networks/websites. Visuals to prepare, publications, stories, contests, etc... it takes a lot of time! Not to mention that I'm often on the phone or on a break having coffee with Patterns customers who come to pick up their orders on-site: I love it! These are great moments of sharing and ideal for getting to know each other.

My days are busy, but I love my job. I love meeting people, exchanging ideas, and the sewing industry is a really good one with a very good mentality. It's a pleasure to work for these clients, whether they are individuals or creators, there's a lot of recognition.

When I get home, I never switch off. I can answer messages, chats – that's the life of an entrepreneur, and I love it!

My husband handles the workshop/technical machine side, so we work together, but we don't have the same roles; each of us has our own part within the company, and that's for the best :))

 

Thank you, Virginie!

Find Virginie on the PatternsForYou website and on Instagram.

See you soon!

Lydie