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Business truly is tailor-made

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Dianna Lund of Dianna’s Tailoring in Janesville repairs a torn pair of dress pants at her downtown shop. Lund credits her loyal customer base with helping her stay in business through tough economic times.

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

Some of the work Dianna Lund does at Dianna's Tailoring must be done by hand with a needle and thread.

Photo

Photo by Dan Lassiter

A wide assortment of thread spools adorn Dianna's Tailoring in Janesville.

JANESVILLE — Much like the downtown that includes her shop, Dianna Lund's business has gone through cycles.

Ups and downs, busy times and slowdowns.

But Dianna's Tailoring is again on the upswing, thanks to what Lund attributes to loyal customers, quality work and great customer service.

"I love being in downtown Janesville; it's the best location I've ever had," Lund said. "My customers like the fact that I'm here because I'm closer to those on the south and west sides, and I like to think my being here has helped bring people downtown."

Lund has been in the business for nearly 20 years. In Janesville, she started in a building near Craig High School and the Italian House. She then moved into the commercial building atop the East Milwaukee Street hill.

"I was next to a beauty shop, so I had an instant clientele," she joked.

That clientele has been faithful, even as she weathered a loss of business when General Motors closed and a bridal business left the city.

"I've had my cycles, but my business has once again taken off," she said, adding she likes having a storefront and regular business hours that appeal to customers hesitant to go to someone's home for tailoring work.

Lund's shop is at 9 N. Academy St., just east of Five Points. She's open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. She's closed Tuesdays but open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

She's also been busy because customers have clothes altered to extend how long they can be worn—partly because of the more difficult economy.

But Lund alters nearly as many new pieces of apparel as old, a comment she made moments after helping a customer who wanted her husband's brand-new jeans tapered at the ankle.

"People are still willing to spend money, whether it's on their old clothes or their new ones," she said.

Lund said she puts customer service first and has been working hard to get her name known beyond the Janesville area.

She tends to be busiest before the start of school and for homecomings and proms. It's traditional work, she said, but she enjoys it.

Her most challenging job? That's easy.

"I had a guy come in who wanted me to make a cover for the front end of his car, a screen-type of deal with Velcro straps," she said. "I told him that he'd have to bring the car in so I could measure it."

He did, and it worked out fine.

"I have great customers," she said. "That's really what it's all about: Offer great customer service and people talk about you.

"People are not afraid to pay for a good seamstress."