Business Spotlight: Alterations by Jo Ann a perfect fit for seamstress

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It's a rainy April afternoon, and Jo Ann Kramer, owner of Alterations by Jo Ann, is busy helping a young woman who has come in to have her wedding dress altered. Minutes later, a high school student enters. She needs to have her prom dress taken in. Then an Army Reservist arrives. He's there to pick up the camouflage jacket she has repaired. |ret||ret||tab|

"I do a little bit of everything," she said. "The only thing I don't do is custom sew outfits from patterns because it's too time-consuming."|ret||ret||tab|

An accomplished seamstress, Kramer worked at several area businesses before she and her husband Samuel "Pat" Kramer opened Alterations by Jo Ann in 1999. |ret||ret||tab|

"We didn't need a lot of money to start this business, and we were able to open quickly," she said. "I looked through several trade magazines to find the equipment that I needed, my husband built several extra-large dressing rooms and counters inside the shop, and within a few weeks, we were ready to open."|ret||ret||tab|

According to the Kramers, finding a skilled seamstress who will do alterations is tough these days. Demand, however, is high. |ret||ret||tab|

During the two years Alterations by Jo Ann has been open, the Kramers haven't placed a single ad to attract customers. In fact, as soon as the couple put up their business sign, customers began knocking on the door inquiring when the shop would open. |ret||ret||tab|

The shop's location near the corner of South Campbell and Walnut Lawn has attracted many drive-by customers. |ret||ret||tab|

Local dry cleaning shops and retail clothing stores refer customers to Alterations by Jo Ann, while other customers come from small towns located in the surrounding area.|ret||ret||tab|

"This really is a dying art," Kramer said. "Many of the small towns around here don't have a shop that does alterations and repair work. I've had customers come in here from as far south as Branson and northern Arkansas to as far north as the Lake of the Ozarks."|ret||ret||tab|

Although the pricing on individual jobs varies, the shop has a $4 minimum. Most garments brought in for repairs or alterations are turned around within a week's time. Those who need last-minute alterations or repair work, however, are charged a rush fee.|ret||ret||tab|

Since opening Alterations by Jo Ann, Kramer has worked hard to keep up with the demand for her services. |ret||ret||tab|

When the Kramers founded their business two years ago, the shop was open Monday through Saturday. |ret||ret||tab|

Within a year, however, Jo Ann Kramer decided to cut back the shop's hours so she could keep up with the volume of work, and Alterations by Jo Ann now is open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.|ret||ret||tab|

"I need to hire another person, but it's hard to find someone," she said. "Most of the really good seamstresses already work someplace else. I also have to be careful about who I hire, because I'm responsible for every garment that comes in here."|ret||ret||tab|

Despite working long hours to meet the demands of a high-volume business, Kramer said she enjoys her work immensely, and she finds it relaxing. She also enjoys the variety of projects she works on. |ret||ret||tab|

"I've done everything from wedding dresses, to leather and suede garments, to modifying the outfits of several entertainers down in Branson," she said. "You just never know what someone will bring in for alterations."|ret||ret||tab|

When the Kramers aren't busy running their business they enjoy spending time with their family. The couple has four children and one grandson.|ret||ret||tab|

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