Personal Shopper Business
You love shopping and your friends have told you how great your outfits looked. Why not capitalise on your natural talent and give it a go as a personal shopper? Nowadays, many large department stores support and hire personal shoppers as an added service to their customers.
However, there are normally not many vacancies available at a time. Besides, you would be at the beck and call of your employer – the department store concerned. Instead of that, why not open your own personal shopper business. Combine fun and passion with a general need to help people look and feel good. After all, you are your own boss and you will be able to call the shots. Having a personal shopper business would be a good way for you to learn more about fashion while helping you generate some income at the same time.
How to get started
Well, opening a personal shopper business is just like opening any other businesses. You need a good plan, a good idea of the direction that you are heading towards and discipline as well. Having said that, it practically involves not much start up costs as compared to other businesses and you get to work at your own pace as well.
It would be a good idea to come up with a portfolio of outfits that you have put together so that you at least have something to show to prospective clients. They will also be impressed by your professionalism. Then you need to get started on the promotional aspect of your personal shopper business.
Marketing and promotions
Like all other businesses, you need to market yourself as a personal shopper. After all, you can hardly expect people to hear about how great a stylist you are if you just sit at home the whole day.
The simple things that you can do would be to build a website which gives others the opportunity to check you out 24/7. Upload some photos of general styles and looks and be sure to post your proper contact details so that your customers can locate you easily. In this day and age, the Internet is a very useful tool that can help you with the promotion of your business. Just remember to use it wisely and safely.
Once you have started
Now that you have a few clients coming in, always remember that you are in a business. As a personal shopper, you represent yourself. So if you act in an unbecoming way to your customers i.e. not punctual at appointments, terrible manners, etc. you can be sure that you will be out of business very quickly. Instead, remember that you are the personal shopper business and that your attitude might work against you. Once you have that in your head, then you will definitely start having fun.
One of the main things you need to remember is that a personal shopper business needs to be thought of as any other income generating business. Sure, the hours are more flexible AND you get paid to do some shopping. However, that is no reason to be lax in the way you run the business. Always remember that there are many competitors out there and one bad complaint could quickly turn your business prospects sour.
