Monday, December 1, 2008

What to Look for in Image Consultants?

You should know, what to look for in Image Consultants?

Image consultants are important in people whose jobs are in the limelight. In the most extreme cases, these are the people who run for public office and those who are constantly in the public eye like celebrities and movie stars.

But there are other people who also need image consultants. High-powered executives, company spokespersons, marketing personnel and publicists also need image consultants to make them more personable and amiable to the public especially if the company they are working for is undergoing a controversy or is in need of crisis pr.

Despite the importance of these job in some fields, there is really no educational course or degree that teaches the basics of image consultancy. The most that these professionals can bring to the table is their experience in the business and their know-how on how people think and perceive others. This is why most people who are into the field either get a communications subject or a psychology education, which is a bit closer to what their jobs require.

Although image consultants do not necessarily have degrees to speak of, there are criteria that will help you choose a good image consultant. Here are some of the things that you should look for in an image consultant.

Experience

Image consultants are basically molded by their experience in the job. Because there is really no degree or school that will teach them the basics, what they know will depend on the things that they have experienced while on the job. This is why the number of years of experience and the exposure in the job is important when choosing an image consultant. The more experience they have, the better they will be on the job.

Field of specialty

Some image consultants are well versed in the field of politics while others are great in maneuvering people in the corporate world. When you look for an image consultant, it is best that you look into their background and see where they are more used to. Remember that experience in the field is not just the consideration but also the contacts that they have built through the years. This contact will help their clients in changing their images and in getting good press.

Track record

Look into their list of clients and check if they were successful in their job. You can even study the problems of their clients in the past and see if there are clients who have similar problems as you do. If they have, you are in luck because you will be able to compare what they did with the client with your situation. Having a string of success in the past will mean that they are good and effective in their jobs. Unfortunately, the better looking their track record is, the more expensive their professional fees will be. So budget should also be your consideration.

Methods

You should also check their methods and the process by which they accomplish their goals. Are they people that you want to associate with? Do you agree with the processes that these image consultant employ in order to bring about the change? Some image consultants focus on changing the appearance of the person while others go for the reputation more through good publicity.

See which method you like more and hire the image consultants that do those things.


"Things may come to those who wait, but only the
things left by those who hustle "

– Abraham Lincoln

Sunday, November 30, 2008

How to Become an Image Consultant?

Do you know How to Become an Image Consultant?

Anyone can become an image consultant. You just need a few things that will make you excel if you decide to turn this into a part of your full time business in your life.

For one, you must have a background in something so can use your experience and offer this as advice to the client. If you worked before as a hairstylist or even sales promoter, you know what colors or hairstyles work for a certain person.

You should also be interested in whatever you are offering otherwise you won’t be able to give your all when you are trying to help someone with their problem.

It will also be good to have formal training and get certification similar to a doctor has to get in order to practice medicine.

You should know that there are no set programs offered in colleges or universities that teach students how to become an image consultant however a bachelor’s degree in psychology, business, home economics or sociology may prove to be useful when you are managing your business or communicating with a client.

The certification you get to be an image consultant comes from organizations that train people to work in this kind of profession. This will make you confident and knowledgeable about the fashion industry should you decide to specialize in helping people choose what clothes to wear. If your client does not have time to buy the right clothes, you will be the one to out and buy for them thus you become an image consultant/personal shopper.

In order for you to become an image consultant, you need to gain some experience. Naturally you can’t charge the same rate as other people who have been doing this are charging so offer your services first for free.


After successfully helping a few people, create your own portfolio or a website so people will know who you are.

To expand your business as an image consultant, you have to advertise just like any other business. Put an ad in the local paper, forward emails and send direct mail invitations to clients even if your business may also spread by word of mouth.

If you are still not sure how things will work out, it is best to do this part time and then see how things go. That is what a lot of people have done before committing to this full time especially when they are helping more than just one client.

You will realize when you are successful as an image consultant when a company has hired you to help their employees make some improvements. You are there to hold seminars or workshops and what the employees do afterwards is entirely up to them. Some will listen while others won’t which is already beyond your control.

So now that you know how to become an image consultant, the question you have to ask yourself is if you want to shift to this as a career. Some people will succeed while others won’t. Just like any other profession, you have to commit yourself so you will be able to overcome any obstacle.

Given that almost everybody needs an image consultant, it is not wonder that a lot of people are getting in the game. What you do could help someone land a job, find their true love, get a promotion at work or just make them feel better about themselves.


-**-

"Do not wish to be anything but what you are,
and try to be that perfectly "

– St Francis of De Sales

Saturday, November 29, 2008

What sets color image consultants apart?

Do you know, what sets color image consultants apart?

How would you like to be a person that can change the life of another person and are paid to do it? Sounds great right? Well, believe it or not, there are people who are doing it and getting a lot of money for it—they are called the "image consultants."

These people are the same people we see in shows like "What Not to Wear," "Extreme Makeover," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and so many more. If you are a regular person wishing to gains some confidence by looking good, isn't it great to be under their meticulous eye for fashion?

Moneymaking business

Sometimes beauty isn’t just in the eye of the beholder; there are times when it's also in the hands of people who do magic. These people spend all their time helping people look and feel they’re very best above everything, these people are called image consultants. They vary in the specialization that they have some are color image consultants that specialize in matching the right colors for you. Some are wardrobe and fashion consultants who focus on dressing people for the part.


Image consultants create style and clothing suggestions to alter a person’s external facade. They're experts at bringing out the finest in people, no matter what every person’s occupation or way of life. A successful image consultant needs to be proficient to pay attention to people and get a feel for them just like being a chameleon. Knowing how to interpret and comprehend people is crucial to an image consultant’s achievement. Both men and women profit from an image consultant's expertise, but most of the time image consultant's customers are women.

The process of change usually begins by meeting with the potential customers to talk about the nature of look that they look forward to accomplish. Every now and then, clients aren’t certain what they fancy. The expert in image consultation helps them to think about their personality, career, lifestyle, and the amount of time and effort that they want to use up on their look. And then image consultants conduct a color examination for every one client. They most often use a cyclic color analysis system based on hair color, skin tone, and eye color.

One of the major setbacks of being an image consultant is that most of them are self-employed; a lot of their times when they are not with clients are spent on tasks like business-related tasks, for example: running finances and billing clients. They also must contribute major resources to promotion. These managerial tasks are the part of any image consultant's job that our image consultant friends sometimes disagree with. A handful of image consultants complain that sitting down once a month or twice a month inside the office making calls, taking calls, answering questions and networking is important yet tasking for image consultants.

Because most image consultants like working with people once in a while when they get stuck with taking care of the daily to monthly operational costs and rentals can prove to be too much for people who are themselves people persons. Being a people person means that image consultants have empathy and patience when dealing with clients.

Many people first visit an image consultant after they have experienced a life-changing event—a marriage, perhaps, or the loss of a job.


-$$$-

"To love what you do and feel that it matter,
how on earth could anything be more fund! "
- Katherine Graham

Friday, November 28, 2008

What makes a good image consultant?

Many people have seen it on TV. Others might have read or seen in on print in various newspapers. By now, you've probably heard it on the radio. And those who are online savvy, they might have read or seen about it in the Internet. People are becoming more and more aware of they are perceived by other people and image is a very big concern for people who want to move up in their careers, meet the one that they love or plainly be respected. Image consultants are all over the place and they are making waves here and there. But there are a few misconceptions about the industry and the career.

Some people think that you have to be a celebrity yourself to be an image consultant, on the other hand most celebrity image consultant started out as regular people trying to make it big in the industry. Nowadays, there are image consultant courses available to any one aspiring to be that makeover mogul that they want to be.

The motto of an image consultant is that each person they work with to ultimately feel truly confident, be their own individuals and succeed in the things that they want in life. To achieve this they have to know the total image consultation method. This method scientifically analyses the needs and look that suits a person. For an image consultant to make a total makeover for their clients, they need to master their skills when it comes to:

1. Color analysis.

This method focuses on the colors and the hues that would look good on a person's skin tone, hair color and even eye color. Defining the colors and hues that will make you natural colorings that will come alive in different circumstances is one of the most important things in a makeover. Because of this you would not have to experiment on colors that would not look god on you.

Setting the right tone at the right circumstances is important to make you feel confident about the dress you are wearing one of the hardest things to do is to wear dark colors when light colors would be more comfortable on the color of your skin. Courses that include this in their curriculum would be very beneficial to any aspiring image consultant.

2. Body line and style analysis.

This method talks about the kinds of cut and designs that would make the natural assets of a person and flatter the body. It also involves the choosing the right wardrobe for the client that they have. They say that that best piece of wardrobe that you could own is the one specifically made for your body. Image consultant courses that include this in their program are the ones that aspiring makeover geniuses should consider. Because no matter what you do you can't change your bone structure and you can't cheat you curves and lines.

3. Personal branding.

For some people, this might sound weird but it completes the cycle of method in that image consultants need to master. By definition, personal branding is how to make the person's personal style and look come out and get noticed. For image consultants to become effective, personal branding is important because if this makes their potential clients look good and bring out the individuality and personality of different types of people.

A good image consultant must know that every single person has their own style that they can call as their own, even is sometimes the style that we sport makes us look trying to hard. The combination of color matching, analyzing style and physical attributes, along with personal branding is what makes image consultants effective in bringing out the best in people.

--$$--
"Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance "
– Samuel Johnson

Thursday, November 27, 2008

How to Be a Good Image Consultant?

You have probably heard that image consultants are doing very well these days, which is why you thought of getting into the business. But is it really for everyone? The answer is no and it will take a lot of things to make it work.

First, you must have prior experience in the chosen field you want to become an image consultant in so people will listen to you. If you want to be an image consultant/fashion consultant, it is good if you worked in the fashion industry for some time before deciding to get out.

Second, you should also have formal training and certification because this will increase your value as a professional. You may have worked for a fashion company in the past but further training increases your chances of being hired after choosing from other possible candidates.

With those two, you make or break your business as an image consultant with three important factors.

When you are hired to be an image consultant for a client, you have to do your best for that person. You must offer good quality so can be proud of what you have done since you have accomplished even beyond the client’s expectations.

If you have offer good quality, then no one will question how much you are charging. Most image consultants charge by the hour and on average that is about $50. If you work for a celebrity or a major corporation this is much bigger and you can only charge more if you have had previous clients in the past that are satisfied with your accomplishments.

Lastly, you must offer service. No one will an image consultant for one day and expect things to change. You have to talk with this person often, conduct follow ups to see how things are doing and be ready to make the necessary changes if the approaches used in the past do not produce any positive results.

Quality, price and service are the three most important factors you must always possess if you want to succeed as an image consultant.

If business is doing well, you will not only help individuals but also companies as well. The difference between the two is the fact that with a company, you will assess not one but a group of individuals. Talking to them is very tedious so you have to be able to conduct a seminar or workshop and still produce positive results.

You may not have time to manage a lot of clients and this is when you have to hire or train people who want to become image consultants so your reputation is not jeopardized just because you are not the one handling the case.

Another option will be to network with other image consultants especially when they specialize in something you are not so familiar with.

There is room for everyone who decides to become an image consultant. Those who do well will be in business for years while those who don’t will fold.

Surely, you want your business as an image consultant to succeed so keep the three factors in mind and get all the training you need. You will find these useful when you face a client so you are able to deliver results.

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"Character cannot be developed in ease and quite. Only through experience of trail and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired and success achieved "
Helen Keller

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The next big thing called virtual image consultants

What is virtual image consultants?

It cannot be denied that for the past years, the need for image consultants has been increasing steadily. This is because more and more image consultants are making waves and making people's lives more stylish and fabulous. Thanks to the reality shows like, Extreme Makeover, Ambush Makeover and Queer Eye for the straight guy, more and more people are becoming aware of the need to look good and to make a god impression.

The main goal of image consultants and makeovers are to help the clients express yourself, live with self-confidence, and be contented with who you are. Image consultants work hand in hand with their clients to make sure that they bring out the best in the client. But makeovers not only consist of the physical appearance it also involves other aspects that other people use to make an impression of a person.

Some of those other aspects are "verbal communication" wherein a person carries a conversation with other people and involving the way they speak and how they pronounce the words; the "body language" which focuses on how the person moves, eye contact, context clues and other non-verbal forms of communication; and lastly, the "etiquette" or "social manners" which revolves around how people carry themselves around others.

But because of the fast paced way of life there is a little time for regular people to waive of their schedules and make way for an appointment with an image consultant. Because of the need to look good and feel good people are looking for different ways to make the appointment happen. They say that necessity is the mother of all inventions and one of the breakthroughs related to image consultation is virtual image consulting through the Internet. The Internet has made it possible for all the people looking to be under the observant eye of an image consultant push through.

Introducing, virtual image consultants

It is a very convenient way to look good and understand your style. A virtual image consultant makes it possible for people to go through the changes that they want without the hassle of leaving their homes or the office. Another good thing about is that it allows the person to undergo the changes at their own pace because it is hard for some people to accept change. Some people feel very uncomfortable mobbing out of their comfort zones that they have been sitting in for the rest of their lives.

There's no underestimating the importance of dressing in a way that makes you feel good about yourself. While we all are on familiar terms with that living a healthy lifestyle are a big march in the right course, paying special notice to your requirements is the other part of the equation.

Just like a regular image consultant that has an office and a network, a virtual image consultant offers you the following personal services:

- Color analysis wherein there is a deep understanding the colors and the hues that would make the natural skin colors come out and be accentuated;

- Closet audit and wardrobe evaluation wherein picking out the right clothes that would flatter the person's lines and curves are highlighted;

- Discovering the client's personal style wherein there are personality matches that are being conducted by the image consultant him or herself;

- Personal shopping wherein the client and the image consultant go through the wardrobe that is in season and finding the suitable ones while eliminating the need to go to the mall and rummage trough different racks and the hours that is spent trying on different styles.


*-*

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? Yet if I am for myself alone, of what good am I?

- Hille

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Is it really worth hiring an image consultant?

People have always been conscious of the way they look. Even in the past, it was common for men and women to be very critical about their physical appearance. This is because they believe that what they look like will give people a good impression. Nowadays, this consciousness in appearance is still prominent especially to public figures such as celebrities, businessmen and even politicians because this will serve as their selling factor—thus, the emergence of image consultants.


Gender and status options

Contrary to popular belief, an image consultant does not only cater to women but to women as well. Because of the need to look good and have good reputation, some people who are appearing publicly have gone as far as hiring image consultants to make the look that they want a reality. But is it worth hiring an image consultant to make you look better?

Aside from the regular person, more and more students, homemakers, professionals and even senior citizens are more concerned about the image they project in public. These people often times seek the help of professionals that can give a better perspective to their image.

The question is no longer who to go to but is it worth it? People are concerned about their looks but they should also look into the reputation of the person. There are tons and tons of Image consultants, stylist mushrooming all around, and everyone claims that they have the best clients and the widest networks of professionals to help them make you look the best that you can.

What we need to know about hiring an image consultant to find out if hiring one is worth one's time and money. First of all, we need to know if they teach people proper etiquette and the social and professional rules. This is because we need to find out if they could change not only the way one dresses up, but we also need to know if they can teach people how to act better.

All of these seem to require time, effort and money. Just as business, life today demands people with extraordinary information and an understanding of today's broad business milieu, so too is the image consultant an authority. They have by now invested their skills, their know-how and their time in studying the world of fashion, manners and presentation. And all of that knowledge is available to you.

An image consultant will take care of your image needs. They will assess the situations that you encounter that have specific requirements related to appropriate wardrobe and behavior. By appealing to an image consultant, you are investing for yourself. The return on this investment can be quite extraordinary.

With the help of an image consultant, you can be more self-assured, you—at all times—can present your true image for yourself in any event, and there will be no further fashion disasters lynching at the back of your closet. Aside from this, hiring an image consultant can help you save a lot of valuable time in selecting, in coordinating and in buying your wardrobe.

If you have the money to spend in hiring an image consultant, then you can ensure that your life can be less hectic and the challenges can not only be met but you can turn them into opportunities by meeting them with confidence.

***

"Faith can move mountains"

– Origin Unknown

Monday, November 24, 2008

How can image consultants change lives?

How can image consultants change lives? And Do you know the answer?

As we know it's all over the networks, people preying on other people who look like they have been stuck in an era of no return. These people are the heroes of modern fashion nightmares and image monsters. These people are known as image consultants. But who is the real target market of image consultants?

And the reason why this issue is raised is because most of the time people who really need the help of fashion experts and image consultants have very little to spare when it comes to their financial situation. Most of the people who are in need of help from image consultants are the ones who have just enough to get by.

We though it's really hard to accept the society that we have right now is heavily anchored on the physical attributes of people. So many people get left behind because they have little or no idea of what they should wear. And when they continually struggle to dress right, they give up and don’t care anymore, resulting in knock backs and damaged self-confidence.

So, that’s why they need help from lucky people like image consultants who have a natural flair for colors, shape, and most importantly fashion, people who have an eye for good things. And people who can help other people look their best.

The demand is real.

There are many different reasons why people need fashion advice and these reasons are also personal reasons, because of this people often fall prey to image consultants that have little knowledge or have little experience. You might already recognize how to dress well, but this does not automatically mean you know how to sway people to modify their ways. There are so many diverse reasons why possible customers may require an image consultant and some of which include:

- A more qualified image for the reason that they have a new career.


- An on-going for a dialogue and need some fashion advice to help them step forward in their profession;


- Finding a partner but don’t have sufficient self-confidence in their appearance to move toward the person of their dreams;

- Friends that are constantly telling them to make more effort, but they just don’t know what suits them; and

- Being stuck in the past and unable to dress their age.

You may know what colors suit weight, height, mane shade and skin tone etc, but you require having a expansive variety of styles in your mind to be able to convene the image needs of each of your customers. They are all individuals with dissimilar needs, requirements and problems.

Additionally, you will want to know how to make a plan for the client’s incorporation of their new look. They will need slackening in so that they get accustomed to their new lifestyle and know how to go out and pay money for the right things. An image consultant's job is not total until they can safely say they've put the client back on track to leading a happier existence.

The truth is, the target market of image consultants is everyone. This is because everyone that needs help about the way they look, the way they carry themselves, the way they approach people and the way the project themselves to other people. In these people, image consultants do not only help them build self-confidence and look good but also helps them by changing their lives forever.

-**-
You are never given a wish without also being given the power make itu true. You may have to work for it however.
– Richard Bach

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Achieving that professional look with the help of an image consultant

How many of us have fallen victim to the fashion nightmare we call "casual Fridays"? A lot of people just want to make a good impression on our boss, some of us want to look good for their peers, and some want to look good in front of their special someone. For most people they say it's too vain to be over conscious of our outward appearance, but in reality it really does count to make a good impression on people. That's why there are specialists who take care of this for other people—they are called image consultants.

Today, there are image consultants for working professionals, for students, for homemakers and other people. It is a little sad that people are more concerned of the physical attributes of others than their character. But the truth is we are frequently judged by our appearances, our image is the one thing that people have to make them form their opinion of other people.

In the earlier days, people always looked for help in the pages of magazines and catalogs for the look that they wanted. One of the things that made it hard for people to really carry the look well is that the cuts and the style that it was fitted for the person in the picture and not for the person reading the magazine.

More than anyone else the working professional suffers this dilemma most often because of the different kinds of trends and fads that is served to them. The three piece business suit has been a staple for men and sometimes even for women. But because the look has been around for a long time there are people who experiment and try out different combinations. It alright and some even succeed in the results that they came up with but for majority of the people the look they created became very disastrous and it causes trauma that hinders these people from ever doing it again.

A good suggestion that these people could look into is to seek the help of a fashion professional. These people are called image consultants, they make enrich our personal style and at the same time make us confident and making bold decisions about our wardrobe experiments.

Usually an image consultant for working professional looks beyond the closet and looks in to the possibilities that their clients can have. As an image consultant for professionals, one must remember what they are dressing their clients for. Image consultants should consider the industry that their clients are working for, they should also take into consideration the position of their client in the company, another factor to consider is age and another is the occasion or the event they will use it for.

Because of these things they have to consider it would be wise for the image consultant to have a total makeover of the person's lifestyle and wardrobe. The makeover usually starts with the person's confidence. The person should be able to be at ease with their body no matter how it looks like. Image is more than what you look like, it's also how you feel about yourself.

An image consultant for working professionals should take time to understand the personal style that their client wants and the image they want to project. In return, the client should try their very best to cooperate and do what needs to be done to make the makeover a success.


-- **--

"You must look into people as well as at them."

-
Lord Chesterfield

Saturday, November 22, 2008

It's time now to choos your image consultant training

Choosing your image consultant training

It is a certified hot topic all over the world—people from all walks of life are trying to get to the nearest image consultant to change the way they look and feel. More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of perception management; people are also becoming more aware of the importance of looking good. And because of this more and more image consultant-training centers, schools and curriculum's have mushroomed over the years.

Because of this rapid growth in the industry of image consultancy and perception management people, who happen to have an interest in the craft, are having a hard time looking for the best place to learn the craft from. For people who want to be part of this rapidly growing industry but have a hard time looking for the right place to go, here are a few helpful tips that you could consider to make that choice.

1. Quality over time frame.

You will find each lesson curriculum and the inclusive how-to training easy to comprehend. Every project you complete is a sure fire and potent confidence-builder that you are well-qualified to advice others; every guarantee in a special image consulting part gives a potent addition to your professional skills; every PowerPoint presentation is a persuasive tool that will facilitate you to train your clients.
2. Value over monetary amount.
In a nutshell you can sum up value by saying, "you get what you pay for." This is true for both you and our client; the kind of service that your client will get is the kind of service that you trained to give. If you received training from a not so reputable institution then the output that you and your client will get is the kind of output that may not really meet good standards. When looking for a place to be trained for image consultancy, you need to consider the reputation of the company and the people training you. You should also do a little background check on the clients that they have. And the kind of network that have.
3. Convenience over complicated routines.
Of course everyone wants convenience in the things that they do and convenience is important to you as a learner. If the company offers online modules and instructions materials then it is a huge plus for you.
4. Personal mentoring from experts over hearsay.
While it is really exciting to have a real professional do it in front of you there are of course a few things that can be of hindrance to this happening. Personal mentoring can be in the form of modules and other materials personally made by people who practice the trade and can even come in other forms depending on the training firm. Others opt for instructional CDs and how to guides can be the best option for you when it comes to this part, remember that the experiences and expertise that these people can impart are a gem in this kind of career.
5. Network and reach over popularity.
To achieve effective image consultant training, look into the network of colleagues and other people that your training school can help you with, having brand loyalty is one thing but having a good network of beauty professionals that could help is much better.

Now that you’re all set in to choose the right image consultant training center for you all you need to do is go out there and change lives

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Keep away from people who try to be little your ambitions, small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too, become great.
- Marks Twain

Friday, November 21, 2008

Qualities of a good image consultant

You should know these of what Qualities of a good image consultant is?


There is no diploma for an image consultant. That most credential that these people will be able to give you is their experience in the field and the track record that they have built with their past clients. This is perhaps why it is harder for new people in the industry to break into the market. After all, without a track record, who will hire you but without any clients, how can you build a track record.

To answer this problem, some people work for image consultancy offices to gain experience and also contacts. That way, they can establish a name in the industry without really venturing out alone. When they have gained enough experience in the market and have become a recognizable name in the industry, that is the time that they can leave the company and set up their own shop.

But even with the experience and the contacts behind them, they will not be effective image consultants if they don't have the following qualities. Read on and see if you have some of them. Remember that some of them are basically innate while others can be developed through time. Look into each and see the difference.

1. Eye for tailoring and appearance.

Some people just know what is beautiful when they see one and image consultants must have the eye for the pretty things if they want to succeed in changing the appearance and image of their clients. This is especially true if you are working on celebrities who want help with their wardrobe. Although stylists can also help with this, the decision will ultimate is yours.

2. Organization

People who are into image consulting must be able to handle their schedules well. This is especially true if you have multiple clients that you are servicing at the same time. One late move or the wrong press release sent to the wrong news agency can spell disaster to you client. You've got to be prompt and organized. Sometimes, if your client is the rebel type, you need to be there 24/7 to look into their every action.

3. Sociable

A good image consultant must be sociable and in a sense good in public relations. After all, how can you hope to help your client fix their reputation outside if you cannot even fix yours? Image consultants must be good pr persons. They must have great personalities, great conversationalists and great convincers.

4. Educated

Image consultancy as mentioned above do not have any course but this does not mean that you don't need to get a diploma for the job. You need to also be educated if you want to be able to talk to people and convince them of your client's good qualities. An image consultant must come across as a professional and must foremost be educated and intelligent

5. Creative

In all kinds of work, you need to be creative in order to ensure your client's change in image. You may not realize it but this requires master planning and cunning. Not only should you mobilize your contacts to help you. You should also be able to think of ways that will help your client change his or her image without appearing to make it so hard.

After all, change in image should be subtle, fluid and effortlessly done. That’s the mark of good image consultants.


I love the quotes said;

" People don't care how much you know
until they know how much they care

- John C. Maxwell

Thursday, November 20, 2008

What Qualities to Look for in an Image Consultant?

Yeah, before you begin to start hire an image consultant you should know what Qualities to look for in an Image Consultant?

You should never feel ashamed if you know you need help. It just proves you are human. If you need to hire an image consultant, here are some qualities you should be looking for.

The image consultant should be someone who has experience in the particular field of expertise that you require. If you want someone to help you dress better, this individual must be knowledgeable about the fashion industry. What are the in’s and outs of the fashion world? What is hip and what isn’t?

When you interview this person, you can ask how long he or she has been in the business. Who did they work for in the past? They should be able to give a few references you can check out.

The image consultant should also have some form of formal training or certification so you know they are well qualified to take on the task. Most of the time, they will tell you that they were trained by a private company and not a college or university for the simple reason that none of these institutions offer this in their curriculum.

What you can with the name of the company is to check how long this company has been in business and if this person did finish the program.

If you are hiring an image consultant to advise you on your wardrobe but you don’t have the time to go shopping for these clothes yourself, this person can do it for you so not only do you get advice but this person becomes your personal shopper.

But where can you find an image consultant? Since there are a lot of people going into this business, you won’t have a hard time finding them in the newspaper, on billboards, on flyers and even online. The nice thing about finding one online is that you get to see their existing portfolio so you already have an idea who have they worked for in the past.

The only thing you have to do now is set an appointment with them since they don’t accept walk in clients.

When you talk with an image consultant, try to get a feel of the person. Will you be comfortable listening to this person for advice? If the answer is yes, then what you need to improve on may begin. If the answer is no, then you have to go on searching.

Most of the image consultants you find will tell you that they started out giving advice to their friends before deciding to devote more time and energy into this endeavor. One last thing you have to remember is that when you hire someone or he or she has accepted you as a client, this person does not have to be there everyday to give you advice.

After giving you some pointers, the rest is up to you and don’t worry, they will still be around to see how things are going.

After helping one client the image consultant moves on and helps someone else in a similar situation. They make some times be hired to work not just on an individual basis that is the all in a day's work for this professional. It is never too late to consult with someone because of all have areas where we can improve on.


Read this quotes and think about it:

"The great pleasure in life is doing
what people say you cannot do"

– Walter Bagehot

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

What Type of Image Consultant Do You Want to be?

This is good reason why you need to ask to yourself, what type of Image Consultant do you want to be?

When people decide to retire, who and what they are does not end. People should look at it as a new beginning because their vast knowledge and expertise can be put to good use when they decide to become an image consultant for a client.

But what is an image consultant? This person is someone helps improves the company’s image in the eyes of the customer. It is very similar to what a PR or public relations person would do but more since you don’t just release press kits.

Your professional background determines what type of image consultant you can be. For instance, if you have worked in marketing for most of your career, you can help a company increases their sales volume by coming up with campaigns to make that happen.

If your client is in the service industry and you worked in human resources particular training, you can conduct seminars and workshops so the people who come in to contact with the customers will be able to satisfy their needs especially when problems happen.

But work experience is not enough to land a client. If that were the case, anyone who worked for a company for 10 years or more would have their own practice already. What you need is formal training or certification so people will take you seriously.

It is also important to get formal training and certification so you will be able to learn the other aspects of being an image consultant like how to assess the problem, what steps need to be taken and how this message is delivered to the client.

This opportunity will also teach you about the financial requirements needed to start your own consultancy business. A lot of professionals who now work as image consultants first work at home before deciding to rent office space.

Along the way, you can choose what type of business you like to help and what size? Do you want to offer your services to a multinational company or a small business?

An image consultant does a lot of stuff and they can work in just about any business. You can work as a fashion consultant, color consultant, foreclosure consultant, home party consultant, import specialist, sports nutrition consultant, international business specialist, retirement planning specialist and senior training specialist.

But whatever it is called, the objective is the same and that is to uplift or change the image of the person or the client.

The only thing to do now once you have decided to get into this business is to let people know you exist. A lot of image consultants advertise in the newspaper while the rest hand out flyers and calling cards. You can also make a website and if you have a lot of money, why not invest and put up a billboard or poster?

The success of your business begins with one client. If you do well, he or she will most likely recommend you to others so potential clients will also learn about you via word of mouth.

When you decide to become an image consultant, you also become a role model because people look up to you for advice. If you can turn things around for a client, then you know job is done.


Free stuff to read it:

"There is no limit to what man can do or
where he can go if he doesn't mind who get the credit

- by Robert Woodruff

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

You Can Be an Image Consultant That Specializes in Fashion

Yes, you can be Image Consultant, which specialize in fashion.. and Why? Well just continued reading..

Ever heard the line, dress to impress? Well, you probably do that when you are going out shopping or to a party. But did you know that people who work have to do everyday to maintain a professional atmosphere among their co-employees? If they are not able to, it is best to hire an image consultant that specializes in fashion.

An image consultant who specializes in fashion is hired to improve how someone looks as this also affects how he or she feels about themselves and their relationship with others. You won’t be only giving advice on what clothes to wear but also what kind of hairstyle, makeup and accessories should go with it so you there are consistency from top to bottom.

To work well in this profession, you have to be up to date that with the trends in the fashion industry. This will allow you to figure out what a person can wear based on their budget.

Some of the people you will be dealing include business executives, celebrities, company employees and in some cases, teenagers.

While some have decided to make this a private practice, many of these individuals work in department stores and retail chains who give advice to people who drop by and ask if the shirt or dress they are trying out looks good on them or not.

As an image consultant, not everyone you work with will have a perfect figure. Some are thin while others are big and fat and since everyone needs to have a unique image to provide positive self-esteem, you have to work with what you have to make it happen.

If the image consultant decides to help the client, he or she will first discuss their current wardrobe. From there, you can already show samples of possible alternatives for accessories, clothing and styles. Once the client buys everything, all you need to know is follow up how things are going by visiting them once or twice a year.

When you give advice, you must be sensitive to their needs, respect their individual taste and lifestyle. You can even go with the client to the mall so you can see what they are trying out to prevent them from buying something that isn’t right for them.

Just to remember ; Being an image consultant for one client is different with another. You just have to things on a case-to-case basis then work from there.

But the first step to become an image consultant that specializes in fashion is to get formal training and certification. You may get that by enrolling in a diploma program in fashion merchandising or participate in other courses offered by private firms that want to promote this as a noble profession.

Some of these individuals first start out by working for a private company and then decide to open their own business. This means you will be the one to manage the business and a host of other things aside from making client calls.

You have to spend a bit to advertise your services as an image consultant. Put an ad in the newspaper, print out some flyers, create a website, pay for a poster or billboard. When the phone rings, set an appointment date and then meet up with the client.

-*-

Here some Quotes:

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, Begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it, Begin it now."

Who said that; (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe )

Monday, November 17, 2008

What makes a good image consultant

What makes a good image consultant? Have you got an idea..?

Many people have seen it on TV. Others might have read or seen in on print in various newspapers. By now, you've probably heard it on the radio. And those who are online savvy, they might have read or seen about it in the Internet. People are becoming more and more aware of they are perceived by other people and image is a very big concern for people who want to move up in their careers, meet the one that they love or plainly be respected. Image consultants are all over the place and they are making waves here and there. But there are a few misconceptions about the industry and the career.

Some people think that you have to be a celebrity yourself to be an image consultant, on the other hand most celebrity image consultant started out as regular people trying to make it big in the industry. Nowadays, there are image consultant courses available to any one aspiring to be that makeover mogul that they want to be.

The motto of an image consultant is that each person they work with to ultimately feel truly confident, be their own individuals and succeed in the things that they want in life. To achieve this they have to know the total image consultation method. This method scientifically analyses the needs and look that suits a person. For an image consultant to make a total makeover for their clients, they need to master their skills when it comes to:

1. Color analysis.

This method focuses on the colors and the hues that would look good on a person's skin tone, hair color and even eye color. Defining the colors and hues that will make you natural colorings that will come alive in different circumstances is one of the most important things in a makeover. Because of this you would not have to experiment on colors that would not look god on you.

Setting the right tone at the right circumstances is important to make you feel confident about the dress you are wearing one of the hardest things to do is to wear dark colors when light colors would be more comfortable on the color of your skin. Courses that include this in their curriculum would be very beneficial to any aspiring image consultant.

2. Bodyline and style analysis.

This method talks about the kinds of cut and designs that would make the natural assets of a person and flatter the body. It also involves the choosing the right wardrobe for the client that they have. They say that that best piece of wardrobe that you could own is the one specifically made for your body. Image consultant courses that include this in their program are the ones that aspiring makeover geniuses should consider. Because no matter what you do you can't change your bone structure and you can't cheat you curves and lines.

3. Personal branding.

For some people, this might sound weird but it completes the cycle of method in that image consultants need to master. By definition, personal branding is how to make the person's personal style and look come out and get noticed. For image consultants to become effective, personal branding is important because if this makes their potential clients look good and bring out the individuality and personality of different types of people.

A good image consultant must know that every single person has their own style that they can call as their own, even is sometimes the style that we sport makes us look trying to hard. The combination of color matching, analyzing style and physical attributes, along with personal branding is what makes image consultants effective in bringing out the best in people.

--***--

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start,

anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending"

by Carl Bard

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Women branding with the help of an image consultant

Before we go through these article here what John F. Kennedy said as a quote inspiration;

“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or

the present ate certain to miss the future”

Lets continue..

Makeovers are one of the most "in" thing nowadays. From women homemakers, to bachelor yuppies, to kids that have no sense of style and aging men who are awkwardly dressed for their ages—makeovers seem to define how a person is. Because of this rampant need to consult experts on the way that people look even image consultants have different specialization.

But, the biggest chuck of the society that image consultants cater to, are the women. Maybe because it is innate for women to be conscious about the way they look especially when they appear in public. Image consultants—especially for working women that are professional—are very important because these people do not only monitor the overall lifestyle and also their lives.

Among the kinds of people that are in need of help through makeovers usually those women who don’t have the time to take care of their appearance due to lack of time such as working moms and stay home mothers. The reason for this that these people are some of the hardest working people on the planet and the people with the least time on their hands to worry about the way they look.

But why is it important for these people to look good? For women homemakers, sometimes it's a little too much if they put on makeup and dress fabulous. But the truth is that not because they are stay home moms they should forget about looking good. Image consultants that focus on stay home moms' image have a few things to consider which include the age of the person and the type of lifestyle that they have.

For stay home moms, the major components that an image consultant should pay attention to include clothing, including color and "line" or style of garments; accessories from head to toe; hair; and makeup.

When an image consultant audits a woman's closet they should look in to these things so that they could build the woman that they want to build. In fact they don't need to build from the ground up. They could start from finding the right clothes that they could still use and make sure that they look good with the style and the brand that they would want to see.

Women branding

Going back to branding yourself, branding means having a personal style that's distinctly your own and that could stand out among other styles. It is important to have a personal brand because it is what makes us different from another person.

Branding is like having a name that would stick and people would remember. How many times has this situation happened to you? You are in a party and you keep mingling among the guests and you are meeting a lot of people. After the party, you accidentally bump into one of the people you happened to meet there. You say hi and the person acknowledges you but they can't remember your name or it's the other way around. Branding is important because it makes people remember who you are. It's like when you say Marilyn Monroe, you will immediately remember the mole and the white dress or when you say Elvis Presley, the sideburns and the tassels come in to mind. Now that 's branding.

When you brand yourself, you put your signature on the things that you wear and tell other people that this is you. Branding doesn't have to be expensive clothes and designer products. When you brand yourself, you need to take into consideration the image that you want to portray.

Women's image consultants have their hands full all the time with the different types of women they have to work with. But one thing is for sure when it comes to them—nothing is impossible.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

What calls for an image consultant?

Ever wondered if you looked good enough for a party or for work? Ever wondered if there was a better look that could work for you? Is there anyone out there that could help you out? Look no further and be thankful because there are people out there doing just this for people who have no idea how to look good, these people are called "image consultants."

You might have spotted these people on TV in shows like Extreme Makeover, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or Ambush makeover. Or you might have heard of Tim Gunn and his ultimate style guide and how he changes a person's life in one week. This is what image consultants do for a living and by doing what they do they make the world a better place to look at.

They are known by many names and aliases—some of these titles are fashion consultant, wardrobe stylist, or lifestyle consultant. What ever you call them they do one thing in general and people pay them to show people how to make a fabulous impression. They do this by making people experiment and mix and match styles that would look good on them.

On the other hand, when we talk about image, we are talking more about the physical appearance. Aside from the physical side and outlook of a person image consultancy also develops a person's character. Some image consultants also talk to their clients about how they communicate to people and how they deliver their words. Aside form verbal communication they also talk to people about gestures, facial expressions and etiquette. All of these are done so that the client will be able to feel good about himself or she who is the primary goal of image consultancy.

Most image consultants also build up an association of strategic partners they can pass on clients to, such as, makeup artists, nutritionists, dentists, plastic surgeons, voice coaches, hair stylists, and personal trainers.

Image consultants present the type of advice that can assist people land a career, get a promotion, and find an important person to be in love with, or just feel good about themselves.

It’s no question they are so well satisfied, normally bringing in no less than $90 per hour advising folks how to present a superior image. A predominantly well-paid avenue is presenting schooling programs for corporations. Image consultants can receive thousands of dollars a day educating on seminars on dressing professionally (including dos and don’ts for casual Fridays), telephone manners for customer service personnel, communication skills for new supervisors, and other topics.

If you are one of the exceptional few that believe image doesn’t matter, try shopping at a superior store fully clad in what you would generally wear to clean your basement or move furniture. Then stopover the same stores looking well groomed and wearing your finest suit.

The most important thing about being an image consultant is to decide on what kind of services you would like to offer. Think of which field you would like to specialize, it could be in wardrobe or fashion consulting, you could also go into the line of offering advises on communication skills and etiquette, or be a makeover consultant who provides feedback on “the whole package.”

Lastly, lets listen to these quotes by Robert H. Goddard

"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday

is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow"

May I help You!

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