Our Values, Our Mission and Our Vision
The Stitch It Story
Stitch It was conceived in the early 1980’s when owner, Alain Baird, started questioning why customers were coming to his clothing store and asking if he would do their clothing alterations. Research revealed that the existing clothing alteration shops, mostly Ma & Pa’s, did not offer any consistent deliverance of Service, Pricing, Quality and Turnaround.
A void in the marketplace was immediately identified for a professional clothing alteration service to be conveniently located in Shopping Malls, offering consistency of Service, Pricing, Quality and Turnaround done when the customer requested it, not when it was convenient for the seamstress/tailor.
In those days, the few service businesses allowed in malls were in the back, dark, corner. Stitch It, on the other hand, was determined to be front and centre in a prominent aisle location so that the Seamstress’ skills could be showcased and recognized for the professionals that they are. Perseverance finally produced a location in the Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, Ontario and the first Stitch It store opened on December 9, 1989.
Stitch It differentiated itself by appearing only in regional malls and introduced the remarkable, “Pant Hems Done While You Wait”. Success was immediate and the competition forced Stitch It to form an association with a major retail conglomerate to ensure its growth potential. Together, they grew Stitch It to 86 stores and established another Stitch It in-mall operation branded as Sew Right - We Make it Fit Inc.
In 2003, the association ended as Alain was given the opportunity to regain majority control. As important as this association was to Stitch It’s growth, it paled in comparison to the importance of the Stitch It associates who gave their hearts and souls to this company’s incredible development. Stitch It would not and could not be where it is today without the dedication, hard work and sheer determination of its associates to succeed.
In 2001, Alain Baird was visiting the greater Minneapolis / St. Paul region and discovered that there were no clothing alteration services in any of its many shopping malls. Research revealed that there were over 100 clothing alteration services in the greater Minneapolis / St. Paul region, however like it was discovered in Canada 20 years earlier, they were all independently owned and pretty much offered their service to suit their schedule. Customers often had to wait 10 days or more for their garments to be altered, however, if they were willing to pay a service charge the seamstress / tailor would do them a favor and alter it sooner.
A few phone calls to mall developers revealed a great enthusiasm for Stitch It's professional clothing alteration service and leases were quickly negotiated.
As a result, the first in-mall location opened in the USA on September 1, 2001 operating under the brand name of Can Do Clothing Alterations Inc. The first store opened in the Southdale Shopping Centre and was quickly followed by locations at the Rosedale Shopping Centre, Eden Prairie Shopping Centre and more recently at the Ridgedale Shopping Centre. In early 2006 three more stores were added to the greater Minneapolis area.
In 2006, Stitch It's USA operations expanded to the greater Chicago area with 9 new stores scheduled to open in 2007. These stores will operate as Stitch It USA Inc.
Stitch It’s growth potential is tremendous in the USA and is seen as a great opportunity for continued expansion for Stitch It's parent company but more importantly as a consistent growth opportunity for Stitch It Associates and a convenient professional mall service for customers.
Today, the Stitch It is Canada’s only coast to coast national alteration service and its restructure in 2004 and expansion into the USA has positioned it to be the # 1 clothing alteration service in North America!
