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Business & Tech

Shop Local: Your Tailor

Business is a dream come true for owner

When Tatiana Yakusheva emigrated from Russia 16 years ago, she tucked a dream into her suitcase of clothing. Someday she hoped to have her “own little place” of business – a tailoring and alteration shop, to be specific.

After 10 years of working for others in such businesses, she’d saved enough to make her dream came true. She opened her shop, Your Tailor, at 6118 Mayfield Road, Mayfield Heights.

As it happened, the shop’s name gave her a little trouble, but nothing that time hasn’t healed. “I do women’s alterations, too,” she said. “Years ago I didn’t know that the word tailor was for men’s clothing.”

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In fact, she hastened to say, “Just show me what you need done, and I’ll tell you if I
can do it. Seldom can’t I fix it.”

Business comes mostly from word of mouth advertising. “In the beginning I couldn’t
afford advertising. Then when people start to come and see what I do, they start sending their friends, brothers and sisters, everybody. It keeps me busy,” Yakusheva said.

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Since the economic downturn in 2008, she said that more people seem to be making
do with their older clothing. “I’m doing more repairs – replacing linings and zippers,” she said.

One thing she can’t do is take a large garment down to a much smaller size. “People buy things too big. They need to exchange for a smaller size, and it will cost less to alter. Things that are too big have to be totally recut,” she said.

Most of her clients are loyal regulars. “I appreciate their business very much, but I
would welcome new clients,” she said.

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