Sherrie Mauzy and her husband Mike took a big leap in 2016 when they purchased A & A White Sewing Center. Working as a real estate agent, Sherrie noticed the listing for the business, which had been a staple in the New Port Richey, Tarpon Springs, and Holiday, Florida communities for over 40 years. Having taken early retirement from his job, Mike was open to a new challenge. After talking it over, the Mauzys decided the opportunity was too good to pass up!

“I’ve been sewing since I was 4 years old,” says Sherrie, who learned to hand embroider from her grandmother and how to sew clothing from her mother. As she grew up, she honed her sewing skills in home economics and 4-H, earning ribbons for her projects at local fairs. Today, she is able to share her expertise in sewing, quilting, applique, and custom embroidery with customers at the shop.

Sherrie and Mike were able to bring a tremendous amount of knowledge and business experience to the table, with backgrounds in computer science, management, sales, and marketing. Mike is the certified sewing machine technician and has been working on sewing machines since he was in high school. For customers, this means that all repairs are done on-site. “If it can be fixed, he can fix it—and that includes all makes and models,” Sherrie says.

“We want to be a one-stop-shop for all our customer’s quilting, sewing, fabric, and embroidery needs,” she continues. Their niche, which truly sets them apart from other shops, is providing concierge-type customer service. “We listen to our customers and do our best to meet their needs. We are truly a small business, as Mike, myself, and one part-time employee run the day-to-day operations.” Being so hands-on with the business, owners Sherrie and Mike can truly get to know everyone who comes in the doors and answer their questions. They offer custom quilts, longarm services, project kits, and many classes for beginners and experienced sewists alike.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, A & A White Sewing Center started to box and ship project kits for customers. “The pandemic forced us to rethink our business,” Sherrie says. The shop held online sewing classes via Zoom and used Facebook Live as a tool to reach out to potential customers across the country and actually build their following. “During the pandemic, people were looking for connections and we were there. When other shops shut down, we were able to use Zoom to continue classes.” They have continued this by offering open sewing hours on Zoom several times throughout the year for anyone who’d like to join.

Sherrie has hosted some classes with SIY–Sew It Yourself Projects, which were a great success because she put together fabric kits for students. With a Zoom class, customers know that even if they cannot attend a regularly scheduled class, they will receive a recording later that day. “They can download it and then have it for as long as they like,” Sherrie adds. “Our customers love these classes. I think they like the way I teach, going over the details, giving a demonstration, and encouraging them to think outside the box.”

The shop continues to host Zoom sewing classes for its wide customer base, which means they no longer have to rely solely on local foot traffic. However, their shop has actually become a destination when customers visit the state of Florida! “What I love most about our sewing community is how they have become friends even though most live across the country,” Sherrie says. They continue to use social media to engage customers, both local and distant. “We offer basic sewing classes online as well as new embroidery classes with events and monthly projects,” Sherrie says.

Sherrie likes customers to think of their store as ‘The Happy Place.’ That mindset certainly translates over to their Facebook page, which frequently offers sewing challenges and prize giveaways, as well as cameos from the Mauzys’ beloved “shop dog” named Huggy Bear. A recent Facebook contest showed a hefty pile of sewing notions and asked viewers to count the items in the picture.

“People really love our monthly challenges, like completing their unfinished projects,” Sherrie says. “They love when we have contests and love winning prizes, of course.” The monthly Facebook Live challenges are popular, such as one that encouraged viewers to make a quilt block and mail it in to be part of a collaborative quilt project. Additionally, videos provide a great way for people to see a new project kit. Sherrie frequently demos their shop’s new products on Facebook Live, with supplies immediately available to order on the website (with delivery or in-store pickup).

Of course, there is a lot of camaraderie that comes with hosting in-person classes and charity sewing events, so Sherrie is excited any time they can make that happen. For example, they made backpacks for a local organization serving at-risk youth and were able to present the school with a check for $2,000. “We have also used scraps and made them into dog and cat beds for the SPCA,” she adds. “Most recently, we made placemats at Christmastime for Meals on Wheels.”

A & A White Sewing Center hosts frequent events with Kimberbell Designs and has several upcoming Zoom classes with quilt designer Amelie Scott. “People gravitate toward projects each time we host a new event,” Sherrie says. “They like that we put together fabric kits for all of our classes and they seem to enjoy the selection of fabrics.”

From shoe embroidery workshops to an online quilt-along inspired by recent events in Ukraine, there is no shortage of ways for customers to stay engaged with and inspired by their local quilt shop. Make sure to Like their Facebook page for updates on upcoming Zoom classes and Live events, and visit their shop the next time you are in Holiday, Florida.

A & A White Sewing Center

4038 Louis Ave.

Suite 104 Holiday, FL 34691

(727) 612-1222

www.aawhitesewingcenter.com

Learn more about author, Lindsay here.