How Deborah Jenkins Built a Longarm Quilting Business in Remote Powell River

Starting a Longarm Quilting Business in a Remote Community

If you’re considering starting a longarm quilting business but worry your small or isolated town can’t support it, Deborah Jenkins’ experience in Powell River, British Columbia, shows it can be done. Powell River is a community of 13,000 people, accessible only by ferry or plane, yet Deborah has built a steady quilting business there over 21 years.1:42 She shares, “We’re an isolated community…and I wouldn’t consider living anywhere else”.1:54 Despite the isolation, she found a creative, supportive customer base and plenty of demand for her services.

Deborah describes Powell River as a place where the creative arts thrive, with a vibrant guild of about 70 members and other fiber arts groups on nearby islands.12:49 “It’s a very creative community,” she says, noting that the local culture and the presence of many quilters and sewers made it possible for her to launch and sustain her business.12:38 Even with limited access to outside resources, she found that her town had enough quilting enthusiasts to keep her busy.

From Quilt Shop Owner to Longarm Quilter

Deborah’s path began with running a quilt shop, but her real passion was quilting itself. After selling her share in the shop, she invested in her first longarm machine in 2003, a Gammill Classic, specifically to start a business: “It was to start a business. I wanted to start a business”.5:38 She even added 20 feet onto her house to make room for the machine, a leap of faith that paid off as her reputation grew locally.6:01

Her background in sewing and quilting goes back decades. “I’ve been sewing since I was nine years old. Quilting, I started in probably 1987,” she recalls.6:21 The transition from running a quilt shop to focusing on longarm quilting was motivated by her desire to move beyond domestic machine quilting, which she found physically demanding and limiting for the volume of work she wanted to do.6:33

Deborah also experimented with teaching and renting out a second longarm machine, setting up a separate studio space for students. “There was a good group, because you teach them first and then they come back…it worked out really well,” she explains.11:21 This approach allowed her to diversify her business and help others try longarm quilting before investing in their own equipment.

Choosing and Upgrading Equipment

Deborah’s equipment journey is a lesson in starting with what you can afford and upgrading as your business grows. She began with a Gammill Classic, later moving to a Vision 2, and most recently to a Statler. Each upgrade was funded by selling the previous machine or using proceeds from other ventures, not by taking on debt: “It has been a progression. I didn’t have to go and buy the Statler on its own”.18:56

Her decision-making was shaped by personal health considerations: “GAML was the only one that was ergonomically correct for that kind of thing,” she says, citing her rheumatoid arthritis and scoliosis.7:30 Deborah stresses the importance of trying different machines and researching thoroughly before buying, especially for those with physical limitations. She also notes the learning curve involved in moving to computerized quilting, but found the transition worthwhile: “Upgrading to a Statler was, you know, you say I should have done this 20 years ago”.28:56

Moving her equipment between houses was a community effort, involving friends and even a crane to move the machine out of her old studio.29:47 Deborah’s story highlights the importance of adaptability and community support in managing the physical aspects of a quilting business.

Finding Customers in a Small Town

Deborah built her customer base almost entirely through word of mouth and repeat business. She does not advertise outside her community or rely on mail-in work: “Most of my customers are word of mouth, and I have a lot of repeat customers. I’ve never marketed to out of here because…it’s expensive to mail and things”.14:58

Her involvement in the local guild and fiber arts community helped establish trust and visibility.12:49 Deborah explains that she listens to the needs of her guild members and friends, and that her reputation for quality and reliability has led to a steady stream of work. “I have a very busy life here…I haven’t felt the need to do that because I do have enough,” she says of not seeking customers beyond Powell River.15:21

Deborah’s experience shows that in a small town, building relationships and providing consistent service can be more effective than advertising. She also points out that her business fits around her other commitments, such as helping with her husband’s automotive shop and caring for grandchildren, making quilting a flexible part of her life.16:21

Pricing and Services: Fitting the Local Market

Pricing in a small town often means charging less than urban competitors. Deborah charges 2.5 cents per square inch for edge-to-edge quilting, with a queen quilt (80x80) costing about $170 Canadian.23:06 She acknowledges, “I’m probably the least expensive around…but that’s what your market is in the market for, then that’s what you give them”.23:38

Custom quilting is rare due to price sensitivity, but she occasionally takes on special projects for customers who want more: “Most of the time I get big quilts and most of them want them done just fast and they want them inexpensive”.22:03 Deborah is candid about the financial realities: “I’m not going to be becoming rich on this…it’s a job and yes. I also have fun with it”.19:41

She has found that her pricing meets the expectations of her market, even if it is lower than in larger cities. Deborah also points out that some customers still perceive her rates as high, despite being among the lowest in her region.24:37 Her approach is to focus on making customers happy and providing value, rather than maximizing profit.

Adding Value: Supplies and Extra Services

To serve her isolated community, Deborah stocks batting, wide backs, flannels, cottons, and notions, making her a one-stop shop for local quilters: “I sell everything that is involved in longarming. When they come they can get their battings here, all different kinds, they can get their wide backs…I bring in notions for them”.25:19

She also helps with binding, piecing backs, and even making t-shirt quilts, often for customers who are new or need extra help. “I do bindings for people. I quite often have to piece people’s backs because they bring them in, they don’t know what to do with them…just making the customers happy, that’s what I’m about,” Deborah explains.26:27

In a remote area where shipping costs are high and selection is limited, these extra services are not just conveniences—they are essential. Deborah’s willingness to go the extra mile for her customers, whether by sourcing hard-to-find supplies or helping with tricky projects, has built loyalty and made her business indispensable to the local quilting community.26:10

Balancing Business, Family, and Personal Quilting

Deborah quilts about 12–15 hours per week, balancing customer work with family responsibilities and her own creative projects.20:56 She says, “I do have other things going on…but I know that you can definitely make a living out of this, and I could do that here if I promoted it even more than I do”.16:33 Her studio is her sanctuary: “When I’m done with people and everybody else, and I shut the door and I lock the door…that’s what I’m doing for me now because I love to do that”.15:42

She often works around her grandchildren’s schedules and her husband’s business, finding time for her own quilting and for customer projects. Deborah also makes quilts for her family, sometimes gifting unfinished “flimsies” at holidays, promising to finish them when business slows down.28:36

Her approach to work-life balance is flexible and realistic. She recognizes that she could grow her business further if she wanted to, but is content with the current pace, which allows her to enjoy quilting as both work and therapy.36:54

Lessons Learned and Advice for New Quilters

Deborah encourages new longarm quilters to research machines thoroughly, take classes early, and not be afraid to start small: “First off, do what I did and research and go and try the other machines and you’ll see the difference”.38:29 She also stresses the importance of community and support, both from family and fellow quilters. Her biggest cheerleader has been her husband, who supported each upgrade and new venture: “He has always been my best cheerleader…Even when I say some days, oh, maybe I shouldn’t do this anymore. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. You’re going to continue to do this”.35:18

Deborah wishes she had taken classes earlier in her career, noting that learning from others can save time and frustration, especially with threads and machine maintenance.37:23 She also points out that while she is not active on social media, there are many resources online and through manufacturers’ websites that can help new business owners troubleshoot and learn new skills.37:58

Her story is a testament to the value of perseverance, adaptability, and community support in building a successful quilting business, even in the most unlikely places.