| Our history & Mission Statement |
At Sewing Machines Etcetera our mission is to recognize that “your sewing success matters most”. As we have since 1992, we will consistently and joyfully adapt to changes in technology and the marketplace, so we can offer the best in sewing related products and service to our whole community. Our friendly knowledgeable staff will attend all trainings available, so they can be dedicated to motivating creativity, as well as be able to teach effectively for fun and expertise. Our business is to be fuelled by the excitement that happens when our customers of all skill levels discover and play with ideas, colour and tools, in-store and at home, so that they end up making successful projects, and many sewing friends.
Our customers say we fulfill our mission using:
- Inspiration (creative ideas and projects)
- Innovation (newest products on the market)
- Knowledge (professional advice)
- Tools (to make sewing easier and fun)
- Service (in-store – “you can talk to Bert”)
- Techniques (always willing to show and share)
- Quality products (the best the market offers)
- Selection (many name brands, lots of stock)
- Education (classes and willingness to help)
- Value (price, quality, selection, service)
- Customer satisfaction (always here for you, willing to share)
- Dependability & Reliability (in business since 1992 – 15 years!)
- A sense of belonging (part of the family and circle of friends)
- Friendships (“it’s a Feel Good place”, social events, community projects)
- Resources (“you can find answers”)
And a little about us..
We opened in 1992 in Grimsby ON, close to the home our owners, Bert and Elsa Hopman. Our business soon attracted the attention of Husqvarna Viking in Sweden, as we were surpassing all expectations. We were part of the new trend toward education, which continues today. We invested exclusively in the full line of Husqvarna Viking sewing machines and sergers, and showcase a complete line of quality accessories, notions and tools, even sewing room cabinets. As a result of our superior customer service, including an in-store Service and Repair Department, we have received yearly outstanding achievement awards. Our factory-trained staff’s expertise is available to sewers of all skill levels in our area, through personal in-store advise, demos, lectures, seminars, and special events. Our friendly service and success in owners’ trainings has ensured word of mouth referrals.
In 1996, we opened at Burlington and subsequently sold the Grimsby operation to be better able to serve our local Halton/Hamilton customers. The business grew by leaps and bounds, soon growing out of our premises at “unit 12”, so in 2005 we moved to the much larger unit 3 at Fairview Gardens, 4155 Fairview Street, Burlington. Our bright spacious display and classroom areas please staff and customer alike. |
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| Our Staff |
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| Employee's Name: |
Nick Kottelenberg |
| About this Employee: |
Enjoying the wonderful creations my wife, Erika, created each week I finally took my personal talents and mixed it with her love to help out at Sewing Machines Etcetera. You'll find me hiding in the office, scanning the walls for inventory, or simply learning the machines...I have a lot to catch up on! The picture I have attached would probably summarize most of my loves best. My sports (Leafs), pets (cats), and my daughter (Annelise)..and not picture ..Erika and Asher! If you see me around in the store, feel free to stop and talk ..warning though! I love to talk ..and tell stories ;) |
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| Employee's Name: |
Erika Kottelenberg |
| About this Employee: |
I learned to sew a my mother's knee at age 8, since she taught kid's sewing lessons out of our home. When Sewing Machines Etcetera was first opened in 1992, my sister and I would get off the bus there and help around the store. I have always been involved at the store in one way or another, even just as a sounding board while I went to university.
I attended the University of Waterloo and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts, with a minor in English. Both areas of study have helped me, especially in designing and writing classes for the store.
The picture is of myself and my daughter Annelise at her great-grandma's house. |
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| Employee's Name: |
Elaine Smith |
| About this Employee: |
Elaine first remembers sewing with her mother as she sewed for she and her sister. She attended Ryerson Univesity and earned a degree in Food, Nutrition, Consumer and Family Studies.
After teaching Family Studies for 32 years in Hamilton she accepted Elsa's invitation to be an Education Consultant for Sewing Machines Etcetera. She co-ordinates the classes, communicates with the customers and creates supply lists for the classes.
When she is not at the store she enjoys sewing for friends and family and traveling with her husband, Ray, who is also retired. She also has two daughters who are the main focus of her life (when she is not traveling or sewing!)
Their next adventure will take them to New Zealand, where she will continue to look for inspiration for her sewing projects! |
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| Employee's Name: |
Thalia Makris |
| About this Employee: |
I married fresh out of school and started a family shortly thereafter. Being a stay home mom, I did not have much money but did have lots of time on my hands. So, out of my want to have, I learned to do. I purchased my first sewing machine in 1979 and used it to sew clothes and things for my two daughters and my son. I decorated our home, and made gifts for family and friends. Since I never took art classes in school, I didn’t think of myself as a creative person, but I successfully started tackling my home decorating and fashion needs with my sewing and eventually with macramé, ceramics, papertole, knitting/crocheting and whatever I could.
Years later, after taking some business and computer courses, I got my first real job at Foran’s Marine where I met Bert. And then, I met Elsa when I purchased my first serger from her at her Grimsby store. I was impressed with the way she helped me learn and bond with my new serger, a machine I never realized even existed before.
In November of 2001, I began working for Bert & Elsa helping out with office stuff one day a week ….who would have thought that this part time job would eventually lead me to Husqvarna trainings and the purchase of my lovely Designer SE and Huskylock 936 serger.
My life was changed forever. Having made everything in the past the hard way, I soon learned how simply things could be accomplished with the right tools. I could not believe the advances in sewing technology!!!
Now I sew/create for the passion….not for the need. I am very happy to be a part of the Sewing Machines Etcetera team and the family that all our sewing friends are a part of. I am here to share with you all the knowledge I have collected over the years and look forward to discovering new things with you.
I'm pictured here with my bundle of joy, my grandson!
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| Employee's Name: |
Lynda West |
| About this Employee: |
learned to sew in high school and from my grandma, who was a seamstress. I was a customer of Elsa's and took so many classes and spent so much time at the store that she hired me to look after the inventory. It is a pleasure going to work, meeting all our customers and keeping up to date with all the new technology in sewing. You can see me here with my two sons, Chris and Brad.
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| Employee's Name: |
Jane Price |
| About this Employee: |
Jane Price learned to sew on her Mom’s treadle sewing machine making doll clothes and fell in love with quilting. Her work as an art teacher and later in marketing gave her a strong design background, which she has applied to her quilts for over 30 years.
She’s done it all – from piecing intricate feathered stars, to Baltimore Album appliqué, never thinking she’d give up hand quilting for machine. A workshop with Harriet Hargrave introduced Jane to machine quilting and opened a new world where production almost keeps up with imagination.
The purchase of her Husqvarna embroidery machine added another dimension to her quilting, with embroidery playing a major role in the blocks, rather than traditional pieced patterns. Machine free motion and embroidery designs like Husqvarna’s Blocks and Borders are signature looks on her quilts. Since retiring in 2002, she has enjoyed working at Sewing Machines Etcetera, sharing her enthusiasm for sewing and quilting.
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| Employee's Name: |
Bert & Elsa Hopman |
| About this Employee: |
Bert & Elsa are the owners of Sewing Machines Etcetera.They just celebrated their 15th year in business this past September and continue to strive to provide the best possible service in their industry.
Elsa taught herself to sew when very young by making doll clothes for her siblings' toys. She continued to create as she grew older, mainly to have beautiful, unique outfits for herself. As her children grew up, Elsa ran a dressmaking business out of her home, and also taught children to sew. Her desire to share her extensive knowledge and passion is what birthed Sewing Machines Etcetera. Here she is able to fulfil her dream by providing the best in product and a comprehensive series of classes.
Bert can be found in the Service Room throughout the week repairing and rejuvenating machines and sergers. A sometimes frustrating job, he is rewarded with customer's pleasure with quick, quality service. Bert has been repairing sewing machines for over 25 years and figures he has given new life to over 8000 machines. This experience combined with Husqvarna Viking factory training assures you of a job well done.
When they are not working hard keeping the business running, they have been very busy spending time visiting family, especially their new grandchildren. Here you can see them with Asher (from Nick and Erika) on the day he was born. Now with 4 grandchildren they will have their hands full spoiling them all rotten.
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