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| Beauty |
 You
Are Your Business
- Fashion Sense in Every Sense of BusinessBy Jill Crossland of TimeFinders Coaching I was recently in a shoe store looking for loafers. Among the usual array of browns and blacks, I noticed a pair in a shade of soft green. They were of good quality and suitably dressy so I decided to forego the usual conservative colours and buy them. Even to this day, they never fail to uplift both me and my dress pants when I put them on...but I started to wonder why I have a tendency towards a conservative approach to my wardrobe. There is no doubt that we are our business’s representative; but I don’t think that the addition of colourful touches is going to affect our credibility. Maybe now is the time to give some thought to all the aspects of your business image. Review Your Business Wardrobe: Is your look up-to-date? If your clothes look out of style, your business will appear outdated. You research other areas of your business, why not this one? Go through a fashion magazine; at least at the start of each season. Look for things that you like and will suit you, pick up some makeup and hair ideas that you can make your own. Do you look too soft and motherly? Save the cute jewellery and pins for your private time. Unless it is an updated sweater set, avoid layers of sweaters. Try to make sure that there is some element of crispness about your look. Or in contrast... Do you need to soften your old corporate image? The boardroom look may not reflect your personality or the nature of your business. Break down your requirements: a) Interacting with clients/customers b) Business meetings and networking c) Business social events Within all these environments, don’t blend in, even if you are doing business with your peers. Look approachable but also look like the one in charge, which is what customers expect. For Home-based business women, choose: - A casual but polished look that allows you to feel comfortable in your home office. - A look that also takes you out to run errands during business hours. - Even as a company of one, your clothes choices indicate that you respect yourself and take your business seriously. Once you have decided on your basic wardrobe it gets easier, update and adjust to suit the occasion and season. Experiment, have some fun and don’t shy away from colour. Fashion Where You Do Business: Check out “the big guys” in your field. Visit and study their websites, offices and stores. After all they pay designers a lot of money to make sure that their image, whether in the real or virtual world meets their customer needs and makes their experience such that they want to come back. Office or Store Front - Take time to stand back and see your office or store through the eyes of your clients or customers. As with your appearance, a drab out of date place of business doesn’t represent you as a competent and successful company. Check List: 1) Pay particular attention to the entrance; remember the importance of first impressions. Clean windows, fresh paint, well kept flowers or plants... 2) This seems like common sense but is your shop or office really clean. Does it smell fresh? 3) If you have a waiting room, a water cooler/disposable cups or a pot of fresh coffee are welcoming. Make sure that magazines are up to date, five year old Chatelaines don’t say much for how you care about your clients comfort. 4) When was the last time that you painted your walls? If paint colours aren’t your area of expertise, hire a decorator for a consultation. You will be amazed at how helpful this fresh, trained perspective on your place of business will be. 5) Put some “life” in your office in the form of real plants, a cared for fish tank or background music. 6) If you have a children’s area, clearly define it and don’t allow toys to spill into the other parts of your office/store. Website: Truly the key virtual place that embodies your image 24/7. 1) Every business should have at least a two page website. Unless you have the extra time and are really good at it; hire a web designer. They will also help you through the complexities of keywords and search engines. 2) Make sure that your photograph is on your website. How photogenic you are isn’t important; clients just like to know that you exist. Have your photograph taken wearing something simple but professional. 3) The first thing site visitors ask themselves is “what is in this for me?” Make sure that your home page answers that. Keep copy current and interesting. 4) Provide contact information. Your email address shouldn’t be your personal one; create an address that uses your business name. Remember that for an entrepreneur, no detail is too small. From your voice mail message, to how you look when you “run out to do some quick banking”, to how long it takes you respond to an email inquiry. Be the woman and the company that you would want to do business with! Jill Crossland, owner of TimeFinders Coaching, is a Life & Small Business Coach for woman over 40. TimeFinders Coaching offers consultations by phone. Call 403.901.6147 or email jill@timefinderscoaching.net Visit Jill’s website at www.timefinderscoaching.net |