musings and memories of a client advisor.

many many days ago, a client stepped out of the fitting room & exclaimed with great delight, "oh this is perfect, it looks like something straight out of my dreams." she had just tried on an ivory two-piece suit with white daisies from our summer collection. my heart smiled and the interaction reminded me why i have grown to love what i currently do.

a year ago, i detoured from my journey as a creator and brand owner, venturing into fashion retail. i did so out of curiosity, a desire to understand the psychology behind women's shopping habits and it's by far one of the best career related decisions i have made. here are some key findings (in no particular order) based on my time at Farm Rio and Paul and Joe (completely different brands but equally enriching experiences).

1. it's important to reframe your perspective around the sales experience. instead of "my goal today is to make x amount in sales," tell yourself that "my aim today is to walk the styling process in line with my clients' needs and desires keeping in my our current collection". both can lead help you achieve your overall targets but the latter also allows you to create long term relationships whose benefits far outweigh the former. this leads me to my second takeaway;

2. most women don't actually know what they want so it's important to draw that out and the best way to do is in asking the right questions. listen to cues beyond just line of work or budget such as how they want to feel, what they want to communicate when they step into a room or their overall outlook on life etc( sustainability is a part of this and i'll expand later). avoid falling into the sometimes disingenuous sales mode of telling the client that everything looks nice on them.

in order to build trust, be honest when the shade of blue isn't quite right or when the silhouette doesn't fully compliment their body type. avoid empty flattery. HOWEVER, be careful how you communicate this lest you come across as insensitive. i'll be honest, it's a slippery slope. it's always ideal to come up with a solution or better alternative to remind the client that she is seen, understood and valued.

3. sustainable fashion-show conscious shoppers that you value their values during the sales process. practically, this looks like pointing out as much as you know regarding the production process, highlighting the fabric's properties or perhaps the benefits of investing in that harris tweed over an ordinary coat.

4. a common question i get is "Ça se lave comment ?" - "what are the cleaning instructions?".it goes without saying but you need to know your product beyond the obvious. my academic background in fashion design has certainly come in handy regarding textiles particularly with the french clientele. of course they know garments come with a care label but your advice feels more credible, assuring & is easier to retain.

i'm curious to know what your expectations are as a client in the luxury space. what does a wholesome experience look like. comment below or write to me, will you?

bye now,

yours in light- tiyamike