How do you generate business and expand your reach?

Image management requires a personal touch with the knowledge of a professional. Hence business really depends upon satisfied clients. Word of mouth plays a big part. Positive experiences of clients help in getting more business.

Networking is also a key. To begin with, I worked with my ex-contacts. I was into senior level hiring earlier, so I reached out to those contacts to get me started.

How much of your publicity and marketing is web based?

Web marketing has helped a lot. Facebook and LinkedIn help me market my services and work in the industry.

Does your work also involve some fashion designing?

No my work does not involve any designing per se. I do evaluate what type of clothes would suit a person based on their face and body shape. I also help them sort their wardrobes, and arrange them in a way, that it becomes more efficient for them.

To overcome any deficiencies, I have tie ups with fashion designers who can tailor make clothes for my clients, as per the identified requirement.

When it comes to redefining a client’s image, what are the factors you focus on?

The focus area of an image is defined and directed by the client itself.

For instance, some clients want to redefine their image to look more powerful and authoritative at work, so I go about analyzing their clothes vis-à-vis face or body shape, and recommend changes as per the international style scales. I suggest the correct postures and communication protocols, groom them on meeting, travelling and dining etiquettes. If it’s a female, I teach them the correct make up techniques.

Overall, my recommendation factors are client’s requirement; lifestyle; face or body shape; colour, current wardrobe; body language; communication; etiquettes and shopping sense.

When you work with corporates and educational institutes, what is the prime objective they like to target?

For corporate clients, the objective always is to ensure that their employees depict the image that the organization stands for. It is achieved via getting the larger pool of entry to middle level personnel trained on aspects of dressing, body language, communication and etiquettes. There is a second niche and focused requirement of senior level executives to be made aware of international dressing, international dining etiquettes, etc.

For educational institutions, this falls under the larger finishing school curriculum. The objective is to make their cadre job-ready for the professional world. This is done via coaching the students on appropriate corporate dressing, formal communication, meeting and formal etiquettes, making the right CV, etc.

What training did you have to go through to get into this field?

I am a professionally Certified Image Consultant from Image Consulting Business Institute, a pioneer in India (and the largest global institute) in the field with decades of experience in training and grooming.

I have learned the syllabus linked to the internationally renowned expert,  Judith Rasband (CEO and Director of Conselle Institute of Image Management, USA).

What advice would you give interested women who would like to get into image consultancy as a business?

Any business that you want to pursue requires passion and patience. To be an image consultant you should feel passionate about being perceived as someone smartly dressed, well groomed and impeccably presented, for if you do not believe in the power of these, you will not be able to serve others in that need.

From the team of Indusladies, Jainee we wish you the very best.