The Good Stitch
Unwrapped
In this week's instalment of our Independent Worthing: Unwrapped series, we meet the people behind The Good Stitch, a new independent business here in our very own Worthing.
Founded by Vicki Halliday and Roger Gellman, The Good Stitch is a new shop for sustainable textiles crafts. Selling quality deadstock fabrics & yarns, handmade goods by talented artisans & teaching sewing skills & more.
Here at Independent Worthing, we are very excited about this wonderful, creative and ethical new venture... and we wish Vicki and Roger every success.
IW: What inspired you to start your own business?
VH: The pandemic gave us time to think about how we could combine our skills & experience, team up & build something new. Roger & I are passionate about sustainability & positive change on many levels - from personal self-empowerment to global climate change. The Good Stitch is the place where I can use all my skills in sewing, teaching & creative problem solving at the same time as engaging with people with similar interests. For Roger, the business is a new challenge to apply his business & management experience to.
IW: What is the best thing about what you do?
VH: I don’t think we know yet! In planning this business & doing all the work to make it a reality, the best thing has been that we get to decide what we want to do. We’re excited about serving our community & developing The Good Stitch into whatever it’s going to do best.
IW: What pearl of wisdom would you impart to anyone wanting to set up their own business?
VH: Write that plan & talk it through with someone who will challenge your ideas so you can be really sure of your plan. You don’t have to know how everything is going to work from the beginning, you’ll work it out as your idea develops.
IW: What are your ‘go to’ local businesses?
VH: Whilst we’ve been renovating our shop, we’ve visited hardware stores - Goring Hardware & Strandways Hardware. Abacus for the van we hired & local take aways Shafiques & Worthing Fisheries for deliciously sustaining us through the hard work.
We look up to & stand on the shoulders of other local independent businesses who have carved out their own paths - Found Shop & Studio, Heavy Gretel & Inspired Worthing.
IW: What do you get up to in your spare time?
VH: Oh yes, we remember that. I love to sew & knit my own clothes. Roger enjoys walking & playing guitar. We are both avid readers & enjoy watching tv series’ & films. Recent favourites have been Schitt’s Creek & For All Mankind. And together we love travel & live music.
IW: What’s your guilty pleasure?
VH: Talking about eating donuts. Sometimes we eat donuts.
IW: What’s your favourite way to start the day?
VH: With no alarm & no plans.
IW: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things could you not do without?
Vicki says tea, music & L-Space (all the books. Ever.) Roger says a boat to get off the island.
IW: What plans do you have for the future?
VH: To grow The Good Stitch into a beautiful community for crafters who care about making a difference. We want to share the joy & empowerment of craft & to collaborate with other groups & incentives that bring people together in the joy of craft.
IW: Anything else you would like to add?
VH: Thank you to Independent Worthing for inviting us to join the other awesome businesses that are weaving a rich & diverse fabric for Worthing, we’re proud to be here.
Photos: Vicki Halliday & Beth Maiden (IW inspired collaboration :-))
