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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

how would you like a personal stylist to approach you?

stylist91

Member

Hi All,

I would really love some advice from you all.

I have recently began a new job as a personal stylist/ personal shopper for a brand at a successful department store.

they have just recently created this service and I am one of the first to be involved.
my contract is temporary as they want to see how well the service does.
However there has been no promotion towards the new service and it is up to me to let the shoppers know that we are now offering this new service.
Does anyone have any recomendation of what I could do or say that would interest customers.
What would persuade you to get involved?
btw the service is free.

I would really appreciate any advice given.

thanks
xx

Shopping

20 replies

Latest reply was from

unfrumped

Veteran

Hmm--hi and good luck, first!
Is this for in-store shoppers or would you be developing a clientele whom you notify of new arrivals or do repeated visits?

I've got no experience working with anyone as a personal stylist. More's the pity!

Based on how I feel about SA's, I think I would prefer low-key and not gushing, oh, this is wonderful. I also am sensitive to whether someone seems like they "got skills!" and seems to understand body type and fit issues, and am turned off when someone pulls out giant V-neck/scoop neck tops to show me or super-skinny pants, but yet am fine if they recognize some things don't look great on rack but work, and can say, this has worked on lots of people, try it and see. Or if I observe them telling someone something looks great when it's too short, too tight, too whatever. SA's job is hard!

So, I'm wondering, how might you demonstrate the value you'd provide?
Capsules are the rage so maybe the idea of getting pieces that work together, one-stop shopping? Would you mock up some capsules based on figure type or occasion or both? Or go farther and show how your brand's pieces work with common existing wardrobe pieces?
Wouldn't it be great if you could have a "demo customer" who let you work the items on her while other potential clients had wine and cheese?

rachylou

Veteran

Start with it's free (!!)

Anonymous

"Free" would get my attention, too! Also, I would like to know that it would be a low-pressure, fun experience.

abc

Veteran

For me, I would be interested to know if the stylist can only recommend the brand they're working for or are free to style me across anything the store carries.

Anonymous

I have thought about using a personal shopper but hardly ever agree with SAs (who tell me they are personal shoppers) about pant/jeans fit and other issues. The worst is for them to bring a bunch of Juniorish things for someone pushing 70 to try on, then gush over how "cute" you look when you know you'd never go out the door in any outfit like that. A personal shopper should take time to listen and learn your needs and general style. I would also prefer one not connected to only one store. If I saw an SA whose style I loved I would be more likely to try her as a personal shopper.

stylist91

Member

Hi Guys,
thank you very much for all of your input.

I am quite confident in what i would be able to offer each of my clients because although i love fashion, and trends, i am all about a timeless wardrobe and wearing what suits you.

I want my client to feel as though they are being looked after by someone who truly wants them to feel amazing and not pushing them towards an uncomfortable ensemble. If you feel uncomfortable you probably will look uncomfortable to.
I am slightly limited as I can only create a look within the brand I am working for, but i truly believe that if i was able to get just one person on board it would be really worth it.
i want it to be a comfortable, fun experience, and i want there to be honesty on both parts so we can both feel comfortable to share our thoughts.
My issue is the approach. I feel that people tend to get scared when someone approaches them when it comes to fashion .
Another issue is that by promoting to customers on the day it is unlikely that they will have the time or have allready made plans, and there is still no booking for this service.
i feel as though I am slightly thrown in to the deep end and as much as i appreciate this opportunity i feel it is a difficult task to promote on my own.
Im a stylist not an advertiser so this is really a difficult task.

thank you so much for all your advice.

and dont worry I always start with its free

xx

Anonymous

If the store you're working at has a "preferred customer" list as many do now, perhaps they could do a mailing to let them know of your service. You could introduce yourself and perhaps give them an idea of what the process is like.

stylist91

Member

Hi Joy,

I totally understand where you are coming from. I suppose I would not consider this position to be a personal shopper but more a personal stylist or probably a bit of both. I want to cater to both types of clients the ones that know what they want and like and select pieces towards that, and the ones who are looking for some style advice and want to change up there look.
Although through my studies and experience i have learnt about color, body shape, and age appropriation, however i take these learnings as only a base because you really cant generalise body shape everyone is different even if you are the same dress size, and I have found so many prints and colors that have suited so many people that apparently do not match there color analysis so I do take all of those criterias with a pinch of salt.

It is also quite difficult for me to portray my own personal style as I have to wear the brands clothes.
However my future clients would be big fans of the brand otherwise they would not take a styling appointment with us.

Thank you for your advice

unfrumped

Veteran

I'm thinking you'd need to have some room to display some extra ensembles--these wouldn't necessarily be "the ones" for a given client, but would "advertise" that there's stylin' goin' on in your department.
Surely the brand would also have some attractive posters and cards made up, yes?
Second is, advertising is different from booking--does the brand have an e-mail listing?

stylist91

Member

Hi xtabay.
I totally agree and i really would have loved for something like that to have been introduced. I am not to sure why they havent but because the brand is so big there is no direct contact for me. The position is new so everyone im working with in the store seems to be as much as in the dark as i am atm.
For now I have to just try the word of mouth technique but ir eally hate pushing people and want to come across as light and friendly as possible.

xx

stylist91

Member

atm people are just assuming I am a customer assistant as there is no real demonstration that there is any styling going on unless i tell them.

Anonymous

This is a tough one . I don't want to be approached , I want to do the approaching . If I were to work with a stylist I would have taken some time to get to know her and how she works before I'd be interested . I would also want to know that she was familiar with me too and not just seeing me for the first time . The stylist's own look , right down to how she does her makeup , is important to me - and that's when it is essential to know her first. If our styles are a mile apart , at least we've established some other point of commonality . I hate to be a downer here , but working for just one brand would be hard , unless you're working at the high end designer level where that kind of service is essential. Otherwise , I'm not sure how many of us want to be styled head to toe in one label. Can you tell us more about where it is you are working - and who your target customer is?

rachylou

Veteran

I would pass out cards like mad, everywhere I go... Coffee shop , bus stop, etc.

Ginger

Veteran

Do you have a badge that has "personal stylist" on it? I'm wary of people who approach me out of the blue, but the badge demonstrates that you have a legitimate role in the store, AND that you're not a SA.

Author Linda

Veteran

I agree with the badge idea. Would it be possible for you to have your own desk on the floor, perhaps with a flower arrangement or other simple, elegant way of setting yourself apart?

I've worked with stylists and for years had one I loved to pieces. When she retired I felt like I'd lost a friend. She really knew how to dress me. The way we connected was she approached me with the perfect jacket. I was in the store (a boutique) and probably looking unhappy while going through some blouses, and she asked if she could help me find something. I told her, and when she came back with some things from the back room, she also brought out this amazing jacket and said she thought it would be great for me. I would never have picked it out on my own, but she'd brought out the nicest blouses (shipment just in) so I figured I would humor her by trying on the jacket... and it was every bit as amazing on me as she'd said it would be. So I bought it and I went back to her for years.

She never said she was a stylist, but I later learned that was her position. She just did her thing.

I prefer to be approached obliquely. The approach is not the time to be aggressive. A suggestion that works is probably your best sales tool. When customers see you helping others, and if it looks like fun or they like what they see, they may be inclined to ask what you might suggest for them.

unfrumped

Veteran

I like what Ginger said, too. As in , " Ask me about my in-store personal styling services"

I think there has to be some kind of "signage" going on. That lets people warm up to the idea and see some legitimacy (sure, you could have walked in off the bread truck and be impersonating a stylist, but that's less likely!) .

This may be my unfiltered self talking, but I hope there are some kinds of plans for this sort of in-store brand-supported "advertising" to help you-even if you're the one to think some of it up and propose options. If not, I'd have to wonder, what were they thinking? That you'd just constantly be adding, "I'm a personal stylist, you know" all day long?

Because with some signage, you get some walk-by glances. You know, big dept store "boutiques" (meaning the separate brand areas) often have some kind of little promotion or thing going on and it's put on the overhead announcements and cards are handed out and so forth.

Sometimes I feel bombarded by cards being handed out, perfume samples, and I feel free to just shake my head and walk by, but the good thing about it is, it's not personal and carries no commitment but it's a reference. So as you say, someone rushing through to get the wedding present may not be able to stop but would have a card, if they frequent that store.

Also, maybe clarify--will you also be a SA, or you there in only the stylist role and the SA's are there also?

catgirl

Veteran

I love my SA and she's become a meet for coffee friend as well... To me the biggest factor is NO PRESSURE TO BUY. She knows how I shop and what I like, and doesn't pester me as her manager would like her to do. The more pressure, the less I give in.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if someone else in the department could approach people for you. Something like, "today we have a professional stylist in our department would you like a complimentary session?"

As for technique, my favorite approach is when I take something to try on, an SA brings things to me from the department that they know will work well on me. I can't know the inventory as well as the stylist or SA.

DonnaF

Veteran

Usually when I'm in a bricks'n'mortar store, it is to make a return and I'm in a rush. . . .so in all likelihood I wouldn't be too receptive. I think what I would like to see are sample client selections on an iPad:

Client #1: Age 40, IT figure, medium coloring, classic style with a touch of BoHo, wants a capsule for a special getaway with her sweetie:

Client #2: Age 55, apple figure, dramatic coloring and style, wants a capsule for holiday parties

Client #3: Well, you get the picture.

I'd like to see that you can choose items for a variety of ages, body types, coloring, and style preferences within your brand. That would show me that you can choose things appropriate to me and not just more of only one look.

Anonymous

I just remembered that a mall nearby once held a styling event in which stylists had cabanas set up with manakins set up with sample outfits. They also had racks of clothes available to try on. Maybe you could set something like this up in-store. These ladies were swamped and it was free.