How to Price Your Alterations Profitably
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- Hello friends! In today's video, I finally answered the highly asked question, "how do you price your alterations?"
Of course, this is not the only model to use for pricing, but it's what works for me! All of the prices listed in this video are in Canadian dollars (CAD), but the general idea of the formula should work with the average prices in your region. Let my know if this would work for you, and if not, why not?
Music:
Bossa Antigua by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.fi...
License: creativecommons...
For business inquiries, please contact downtowncobblerco@gmail.com
“Remember, you should respect yourself when you price your alterations.”
That’ sentence is gold! ⭐️
Yes yes yes! Always! Thank you Anne 😊😊😊
Yes I agree totally with you. To respect our work as it’s not easy sometimes. And your calculations is such a help. I never know how much to charge, so this gives me a idea to do it per hour.....such good advice, thank you...❤️🌹❤️🌹
@@izabeau1953 Thank you so much, I'm really glad to help!!!!!
It's the customer having tea with me that get me everytime when working from home 😜🤣🤣🤣🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️. This was gold. Thank you
My goodness!! Thanks so much, I have NEVER calculated customer service time. That first interview is so important and takes time. Thank you so so much.
Yes, it is important and it does take time!!! Cheers! 🥰🥰
I am in *tears* over this video because I haven't been able to articulate WHY I'm not valuing my time or my skill set. I was a Stay at Home Mom to 4 kiddos for 10 years and I guess I got use to "earning hugs and kisses" instead of cash to pay the bills! Or keeping my prices low to help others, but in turn, devaluing my limited seconds here on earth.
I cannot even express how helpful your videos are and how this one hit me right in the heart ❤
I needed to hear this today so dang much. Thank you for openly sharing your knowledge and supporting other seamstresses. I adore you to pieces ❤ ♥ ❤
Thank you so much for sharing this honest and heartfelt comment, Shannon! It’s so easy to cut costs for people but it it’s also important to be compensated fairly yes. I’m so glad that you find our videos useful, thank you for watching and supporting! 🥰
Something else to consider when you keep your prices too low, really under market value, is you are taking it away from the other sewers, whom the customers will think are overpricing.
Think of it as helping to educate people about they are paying for, part of which is your time and skills.
This is really great. Everyone, no matter profession of whether you own a business or not, should take this woman’s advise. Recognize the value of you labor!
Customer service time is what adds up my main job (Hopefully soon to be former job) as I have one customer who no matter what I do can talk to me for hours at a time. The longest she's managed so far is 6 hours in one day however a few months back she was calling me almost daily and sometimes multiple times a day, and that week alone she clocked up 16 hours of my time and every single call started off work related but then ended up with her gossiping or telling me stories she's told me before. Unfortunately that job is just commission based so I can't charge her extra for taking up so much of my time.
This video has helped me realise what sort of prices I need to be charging for things I'm going to be making in the future (bespoke, upcycled fabric items). Costs for the fabric itself will probably be cheap as I plan on sourcing things for free/from charity shops, but as I would be working from home I'd not considered cost of renting a room to work in within my house, or how much a mark-up I should be making on the items. This has helped me so much and I hope that this future business of mine will be a lot more profitable!
So much customer service time. Time in the ohine making appountment time whwn she comes in for fittings or design or consultations time setti g ip machine with thread time pressing the garment, time doung the the invoice in addition to actual sewing.
True respect yourself, I’ve had done so many times for free, people don’t appreciate the time & your work behind the scene . Now I respectfully say No
Thanks for your time to make all the useful videos 🌷
Awwwww I’m so glad to help! It really is a lot of work and it should be respected! Thank you :)
I tell people that I'll show them how. So far exactly none have taken me up on it. 🤣 I do help my best friend out now and then.
They don't have to appreciate it. They have to pay for it ;) They can appreciate the good work. And its also up to you to project they value of your work, thats branding, branding is not your logo, or your aesthetics, its your reputation and the value of your service. And if they are not seeing it try and figure out what can you do to educate your customer about your product. You know what I mean?
I stopped doing alterations long time ago! Everyone today is so cheap and want the world at Walmart clearance prices!! As a matter of fact I keep the fact that I sew as secretive as possible, just to avoid the cheapskates harrassing me!
I perfectly understand your point!
It’s such a weird space to be in, people act like my skills are magic but they also want t-shirts to cost $5….the cognitive dissonance is real
thank you so much for this! Watched it twice and did the calculation ❤
Damn. I had to Google someone who could alter my wedding dress to add some covering to the bust ( felt like it was showing too much). She asked me what I thought was the best price and panicked and asked for her to decide. $200 later I enjoyed the small patch of fabric she put to cover the front. Idk if it was good or not I just payed because I trusted her skills.
Thank you so much ❤️ I’ve been altering clothes for 3 years now and I wish I saw this earlier because I had no clue how to price. I do base them on what I think how long I would finish a job but most of the time I underestimate how long it takes. But anyway as we go on we learn from our mistakes 😍❤️ good luck to all tailors here ✨❤️ keep going
Excellent video!
So many people that work for themselves have a hard time talking about their prices with the customer for some reason. I've had customers say they can buy it cheaper in the store when I tell them what something will cost them if I do it. I smile and tell them nicely that they should then buy it in the store. I believe that part of my job as a seamstress/tailor is to educate my clients about what they are paying for when they hire me.
I've also used what I learned when I was doing sewing for customers with my tutoring families and have never wanted for work and made good money fairly.
Really enjoy your videos and wishing you much success!
Thanks so much 🥰 I totally agree with you. Sometimes, custumers fail to understand that labor from different regions/countries can't be compared.
@@DowntownTailoring Exactly. I have had a couple of customers over the past couple of years come to me with alterations and are shocked that I charge just over $30 to hem the dress pants and take in the waist... because in the country they immigrated from, a custom suit (jacket and pants and sometimes waistcoat) costs the equivalent of $50CAD so they expect alteration prices to be so much lower, but if I did that I would have been out of business long ago.
So useful, not only for alterations but also general sewing projects. It’s the formula that’s so valuable and you taught me so much. ❤
I'm so glad it was helpful! 😊
Thank you!
A lady at church asked me to do some alterations for her and I gave her a flat fee of $50 and she was mortified at how much I was charging to hem a few things because, “ it will only take five minutes”.
After she walked away, I mumble to myself that she should probably learn how to do it herself if it only took a few minutes. Skill is skill and I’m not selling myself or time short.
You're absolutely right. You deserve to be paid for your expertise and time. 😊
I watched my mom do alterations growing up in Bklyn and she always said it's easier to make a whole new garment 😀. People brought larger sizes on sale and brought it for her to cut it down to size 🤔. Thanks a million for the breakdown.
As a tailor your mother is right. Clients don't realize the amount of work it takes as well as altering menswear vs. womenswear
I prefer to do alterations. It’s faster for me.
A fantastic video; full of good information, well presented, clear, concise, and fun. I'm an old guy, got into sewing because an 'alteration shop' did the most unbelievably bad job of hemming work pants. Now, in a small apartment, I play with four industrial machines. When I do work for people I know I've learned to charge, to enforce that sense of respect. Thanks once again for all your efforts that we may watch, and learn. YVR
Thank you so much for your kind words Lou! I’m sorry about that unfortunate experience. When life gives you lemons right? 😅 It’s very important to instil the respect! :)
Thank you so very much for this information. I love to sew and have done so much alterations for friends who did not pay me, not even for my thread! I now know how to work out a rate for all alterations and will let them know up front my time is not for free.
Wow yeah that’s not fun to realize, I’m sorry about that. I’m happy for you! 🥰
I only do casual alterations for folk who live in my rural area, so this was very helpful to see in terms of working from my home. And I love your hands-on videos too - I was just doing a few pants hems this weekend and came right to your channel to refresh my memory on the original hem on jeans. Thank you for being here!
Awwww that is so kind!!! Thank you so much for your sweet words and for your support! I’m glad to help 😊😊
I love and needed this video. I still do alterations and I find that most customers don't really want to pay the worth of the work one has to put into the work we do. It's a good craft and real work, much like real estate. You get what you pay for.. usually
So true!
Very clear tutorial on paying yourself fairly! I liked the three examples, as well, and how you showed the importance of paying yourself for your time…and not be afraid to do that!
I am so glad I found you. You are so generous with your information, you have truly helped me with this. Big hugs for you
I’m so glad to have helped! Thank you so much! 😊😊😊
I’m so happy that you posted this video as I was recently asked to do some hemming at a boutique. I wanted to limit my services to Jean hems and taking in the waist. Thank you so much! You always provide what I need without asking. I’m so glad you decide to create a RUclips channel.
Thank you so much! It’s always nice to hear from you Myla 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you so much for this video! You have explained pricing for alterations so clearly. I have been doing alterations in my home for almost 30 years. I have learned SO much from you!! I very much appreciate you!
Thank you so much Debe!! I’m really glad to hear that it was clear! ❤️
this is brilliant! I plan to raise my prices in January and you've made some great pints to think about, I am defiantly going to look up the cost of living for my area. I often think I have a job similar to that of a bartender, listening to customers problems all day long and we don't always get paid for this. Thanks for a great video!
Thank you! Yes, it’s very important to consider, even though the conversations can be pleasant like in this video, it is still time! Glad you liked it :)
To expand on what what you’re saying: What you call “mark-up” is the Multiplying Factor. This is the what you multiply the actual cost with, to cover operating and business costs. This includes everything from rent, to employee salaries, to even toilet paper, and should include profit as well. At my company, we use a 3.2x multiplying factor. So $100 actual cost, we bill $320 to the client.
Very useful info. Thanks for sharing! 😊
Very helpful, one more consideration is the price other tailors in my area charge for similar work.
In the Pittsburgh PA area some bridal shops charge outrageously high prices for simple alterations. It’s very easy to compete with people who overcharge unfairly.
In Buffalo, that bridal over charge is where the shop makes money. They only pay the tailor/seamstress minimum wage and the gown is discounted drastically. So a hem is costly and the shop keeps most of it- not the seamstress.
Bridal alterations are never simple. This is the whole point! I’m a fashion designer and I work on bridal and formalwear as well. The skills to take me here it took years to achieve. 😉🇧🇷🇺🇸
Theres also the risk factor , wedding dresses cost thousands of dollars , delicate , light coloured fabrics . Imagine forgetting to put in a new needle before plunging it into a silk satin bustline ...ouch!
Don’t you love when your at a relatives house for an event and at least one (usually 2 or 3) people ask if you can do a hem or bring in the waist band on a pair of pants or skirt! They actually bring the garment with them in case I have enough time! Ugh!!
"That's a several hour job and I have so little free time, sorry."
I want to thank you so much for breaking that down I work from home and my clients come to my house and I have a little space it's my living room that is my sewing space in Illinois the minimum wage is $15 an hour so that's how much I charge is 15 dollars an hour because my rent it will be raised up to 1,100 a month and when I mentioned to my clients the prices of what needs to be done I usually have to lower the prices because I usually get clients that say that it's a little bit too high and I also get clients to say that's too low I do get some tips but not all the time I also teach sewing to my pastor's wife and she pays me what my rate is $15 an hour for about 5 hours or so but it is very hard for me to range the prices for coats to repair them or to put zippers or to make pockets for coats or jackets and also for custom orders how do I arrange prices for those particular items that my clients want done is there any way I could get some help to arrange the prices for those I would appreciate it
OMG. Your alterations times are amazing. I clicked because I wondered how long these jobs take for a pro. I’m not a pro, nor do I want to do alterations for anybody, but it takes me hours for my own stuff. I have to separate the job into smaller sections: today I rip the seams. Tomorrow I look up a video to refresh my memory. (I always forget how to do a blind hem on the machine.) After tomorrow I do one side. Etc…
Thank you so much! That’s nothing to feel ashamed of at all. It took me a very long time to get to this speed with alterations, required me to do them constantly and pick up any time-consuming tips I could, which is why I try to share them on here 😊 although it’s much better not to rush! :)
@@DowntownTailoring I really appreciate all the knowledge you share with us! Before your channel, there were some projects I never considered trying.
I really appreciate your videos on the business side of things. I am currently building my small business for repairing/reviving vintage clothing so that it can live on and be loved. If you are interested in doing more videos on the business side, I would love to hear more about the specific materials you keep on hand. I work with such a wide variety of fabrics from nylon chiffon peignoir sets to silk satin slip dresses to sturdy wool suits and I'm having a hard time figuring out whether I really need 900 different types of interfacing, or if I can invest in a smaller amount of materials that can serve many duties. And don't even get me started on thread...😅
Anyway, thank you for your incredible content and I look forward to whatever you have coming up to share!
Hello Mina, thank you so much for your very kind words and the genius idea! I never thought of that! I wish you the best of luck with your business :)
omg you are the best! Just started watching your channel. Such great presentation and easily understandable processes. You are as asset to You Tube.
Thanks so much for your kind comment 😊
Very good explanation and so much respect for the trade ! I think the worse is that people don't have any idea how much time and skills the simple pants alteration takes therefore it appears to them expensive in reality it is cheap.
I have to liked it before I watched the video. I knew it would be great. Thanks!
Thanks so much 🥰
Both my grandmothers used to work as seamstresses and I picked up a lot of knowledge there. And your video's remind me on their lessons and add more to my sewing knowledge. Your video's are always short yet long enough for a ton of good information. I am not a seamstress by profession, more a hobbyist. So I do not charge for the few alterations I help my family out with. Yet this video is amazingly helpful for the artwork that I make and hope to sell can now have a fair price tag added with your tutorial. TY so much and I hope to see your lovely smile in many more video's in the future.
Thanks so much 🥰 Your comment warmth my heart ❤
What a great visual and through explaination of how to come to the price to charge for the service you provide! You want to be fair but do not under sell yourself.
Yes, exactly! Thanks 😊
This presentation really is amazingly thorough. You are so practical in the way you approach not only your customer service, but also in the way you do your alterations. I really enjoy your helpful videos (and I am not even a tailor but some people do ask me to do things for them. I also do a lot of sewing for my children and their children)!
Thank you 🥰
Where can a person learn to do alterations besides watching you and other RUclips videos? You have so much information; thank you for sharing!
I studied fashion design and tailoring and pattern making. But I grasped the little details for efficiency along the way. Working with others helps a lot too.
LOVEEE Your videos 💖💖🙏🏻🙏🏻 Your voice is so soothing 😊💗 Thanks for all the amazing info
Thank you so much!! 🥰
this is an excellent, well explained tutorial--now you need a new playlist "business of sewing"! I would love to see you include more business tips, such as 'how to start a sewing business at home' and other subjects for viewers who want to create their own business.
Ouuuu! Love that idea! Haha I was struggling finding which playlist yo put this in. I’d love to do that 🥰
@@DowntownTailoring thanks! looking forward to more business tips
Thank you for bringing it up. Thank you so much. What you said is true, I understand what you said, we are in the same boat. High-quality work must take time and energy. Sometimes the price charged cannot cover the time we spend. Especially at this time, small businesses are very difficult. Hope customers understand. Thank you 🤝💪
Thank you 🥰
Thank you for this. I am considering a side hustle using my sewing skills but wondering how to price out my work. This is very helpful.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 🥰
This was fascinating. I don't typically do alterations, but I still have difficulty pricing for my work. This is a great tool for figuring out what I have invested in my work and charging a fair price for it. Thank you so much!
Oh yay I’m so glad that this was helpful! Thank you for watching Dolores
Very valuable information. I live in Bermuda and work from home and struggle with getting the correct price. This helps a lot.
I'm so glad it can help 😊 Cheers!
Thanks for your videos! I work from home in Queens, New York, I charge
$ 12.00 for a regular hem and $ 15.00 for an original hem. 👍🏾
Yes! This is great!
Thank you so much! I started a business out of my home last year and pricing as been my worst problem. I have even been told by customers that I'm not charging enough, but I had no idea how to fairly figure my prices. Now I do! You are an excellent presenter and teacher. I shall subscribe!
Thanks so much 🥰 Welcome to our sewing community!
Great video! I've owned my shop since 2014 (have been working there since 2005) and every week I have customers that expect to pay pennies on a job. One of the most annoying things I hear is "Oh well (item) didn't even cost me that much!" (usually on zipper replacements) and I have the lowest prices in town. But there are always a few that tell me to increase the prices. So recently I made zippers in jackets cost a little more.
Great video, the information is very clear and you are adorable!
Thanks 🥰
Thank you for this. It is such a hot topic. It is always very clear very quickly that no one really knows how to break it down and do the math.
Thanks 🥰
Also, many families used to have a Nana or auntie who took care of all the sewing for special occasions.
Not anymore!
Our skills are very specific and not as common as they used to be. We deserve an hourly rate that matches our skill/experience level.
Yes. That's right ✅
I was that nana or auntie n enjoyed it very much without much pay. Now am doing it still for the same pay or just a little bit more. Ur info is very helpful. Now i see I’ve been doing it for free. God bless u.
Thank you!! The customer service time is really helpful to mention. I do costuming and custom lingerie, and the customer service time is huge but I always feel uncomfortable calculating that in. Thank you for the reminder!
It’s my pleasure to help Raven! It does feel awkward to include it but it’s important to as it’s still your time. We need to think of it like a consultation with a doctor or lawyer! 😊😊😊
Wow! Thankyou so much for this information. One of the few reasons I had to stop doing alterations for other people.... My TIME. I haven't taken that into consideration. THANK YOU! Subscribed ;)
Thanks so much 🥰 Welcome to our community!
Thanks so much for so many great videos! Could you make a video to show how to adjust the length of an accordion pleated skirt and pants?
Hmm, rent is such a fixed cost. Is the mark-up high enough to cover down time between customers and jobs? I can see why a 100% mark-up might be needed to stay in business. The rent doesn’t stop if business is slow for a bit.
Yes. That's right. You can have a lower mark-up just when you are very busy, but then, it's worth contemplating if you are really making business or if you're just working too hard. Thanks for your input.
Thank you so so much for this video 🙏💕🙏 I will soon open my shop at home and I was asking myself how to get the right price. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones 🙏💕🙏
Ohhh congratulations! I wish you the best. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones too! 🥰🥰
You’re adorable! I sew at my house and I have had some customers make an appointment with me before their dress is done just so they can see what their jewelry looks like with the dress. Then they chat for a bit.
Thank you so much Lisa! Ahhhh yes appointments are very smart, and yes it can be quite time consuming! :)
Great video! I appreciate the breakdown.
Thanks so much for your content. I hope someone trying to run a business realizes your content has so much value and you are giving it for free. Ok at the cost of their internet and electricity. But basically free! I mean this makes so much sense! Being a small business ourselves we know that there is cost in the time interacting with a customer! Its someones time, so its an expense that should be added to the price. Customers don't realize or don't care that if you want it faster someone has to work overtime and that costs extra because you need to pay someone double because that is just fair and decent!
Yes! Exactly. The overtime and rush jobs have to be considered as well. Thanks 🥰
What kind of point of sale system do you use? Most seem to be geared toward retail and restaurants. I love your videos!
I love, love, love your video! I really needed this. I too do alterations from home and I needed this reminder to not undercut my rate and also realize this is my profession even as I love it so much it feels like fun all the time. I have been altering clothing for others since I was a college girl and I have been sewing since I was 9 years old. I am so happy to find your video and I am so blessed by this video.
Awwww thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!! Please don’t sell yourself short. I’m glad to help! 🥰
I started in college also!! Sitting in the dining room sewing at the big long dining room tables. People would be like “hey I have this shirt…..” 😊
Wonderful sharing, thanks 😊
Thank you Sara!
I have a question. When ding the example for the mall scenario. Aren't you supposed to add all the tailors salary or is just one time $20? Meaning, if you included all three employees hours worked when adding their salary you only did $20 once. That's the way it should be or should it have been 20x3?
Yes you can! but take in count that, in that case, I would reduce the time by three. If there are three tailors they'll make three hem in the time I make one on my store. That's why I don't multiply it. I hope this helps 🙏 💕
@@DowntownTailoring yes it does, you’re totally right. Thanks!
This was my question too, thanks for asking it And Thank you for the answer! 😊
This information was very helpful and confirmation I am on the right path for my pricing.
Excellent! I love to hear that! :))
Thk you for sharing your video. Love to hear from some one that cares😁!
Thanks so much! I do care. It's nice to hear this 🥰🥰🥰
That was a good lesson. I do that for my charges. ❤
Nice! 🥰
Thank you so much I have my price change set for the next month
It’s my pleasure, wishing you the best! 🥰
I work from home and there is time involved with scheduling appointments with alteration clients. This is through text or voice call, plus I charge a booking deposit…so the coordination involved takes longer than if you have a shop where people come in from the street or can find you very easily.
Excellent point! As I work in a shop and customer walk in, this point slipped from my presentation. I tried to point out that at home the customer service time is greater but this would have been an excellent point. Thanks so much for your comment, it's very appreciated 😊
@@DowntownTailoring no problem! I work from the app Thumbtack. Thank you for what you do! I didn’t know you could rip stitches with a razor blade until I saw your videos and it has changed my alteration life!!! 💕
Terimakasih sister, ini sangat detail dan bermanfaat
Terimakasih! 🥰🥰🥰
Hi, thank you so much for another amazing video. I have an alterations business in Brooklyn where I also teaching sewing classes. I’m trying to choose a professional iron for my business. Can you make a video about irons and professional equipment for business? Thanks
Thank you very much for this information. Best wishes for this Season.
Thanks 🥰 Best wishes to you too!!!
entiendo q anotas todo y eso divides y le aumentase el 30& a lo q sumastes gracias mil
Thank you for sharing this information!!! This is something that I am starting to learn and it is great to learn from others in the same feild.
It’s my pleasure to help!!!!!
Really excellent video. very well presented. Thank you very much!
Thanks 🥰🥰🥰
Excellent video!
Hi, i began to work at home and peoples always ask after their have talk to you lets say 10 or 15 min, what will be the price … but you don’t know that maybe you will run in trouble when you begins to do they alterations, So what do you ou say to the client when they ask for the price before they leave ? Thank 😊
This is very helpful thanks for what are you doing ! I have my own store and this is my first year I get so frustrated some times 😣
Ohh yes I remember my first year, there are so many tough decisions to make. Mainly because you have to decide what you just to out of self respect but also to have a prospering business. I wish you the best of luck and I’m glad to help!
Wow thanks
🥰🥰🥰
Is 1.3
A) 30% of 4.33(number of weeks in month)
or B) 30% of operating cost plus service cost, ie 28.80+9.59
Thank you , very informative, Loved seeing your shop.
Thank you very much! :))
Thank you for another excellent video, nothing but the best advice and for sharing your experience and knowledge.
Thank you so much Allison, you always have such nice comments, I really appreciate it! 🥰
Wow you have helped me so much! I was always very curious about prices. Thank you!
Yay! I’m very glad to help :))
From the consumer side, it's tough to even find a tailor in my area!
Yup! The number of tailors are really dying down I find, it’s unfortunate:(
Hi!! Love your videos ! Did you say $11.50 to hem ?
Now I feel guilty with my pricing
Very helpful. Thank you
Thank you thank you!!!🥰🦋
This video was so helpful!
I’m so glad you found it useful! 😊
Thank you so much for this information
Glad it was helpful!
Good information ,thanks
🥰🥰🥰
thank you so much for this info! i feel lucky to have found you on youtube :)
Awwww that’s so sweet! Thank you!
Thank you so much!
I'm under paid,
The side of town 🤔
Maybe? Love your videos 💖🌹
Oh nooo! Time to reconsider haha, thank you so much Lupita! 🥰
After watching you I know you have a gift from God! Keep up the Good work😀
Wow thank you so much for your kind words!
Muchas gracias por tan importante informacion me encantan tus videos aprendi algo de costura viendo videos y me encanta aser mi trabajo y tus consejos me an ayudado mucho muchas gracias por compartir tus conocimientos
Muchas gracias a ti por tus lindas palabras 🥰
Thank u for the advice ❤
You’re welcome 😊
What a great video! Thank you for your tips, they are much appreciated
Thank you so much! 😊
What accounting software do you use? They all seem similar
Excellent advice
You have the best videos!
Thanks 🥰
Very well presented!
Thank you so much!
Excellent
Thank you! Cheers!
I never ask for payment until the job is finished to the customer’s satisfaction
will you share how you calculate rush fees.
Hi! I basically add 15%
Cheers
Thank you for this idea, hahaha, I realized I was burned out of the price ,I only got paid 1 dollar or 50pesos for a hem 😄 poor pinay here,,now I know how mark prices
Thank you for this video! It was very helpful.
Oh I’m so glad to hear! Thank you Elizabeth!