Those Christians.  Don't They Know Fashion is an Exclusive Club?

I was recently reading about the arrival of Tim Tebow in New York City and I must say that I was appalled at some of the comments concerning his faith and how he will or will not be accepted by the fashion industry because of what he believes.

A quote from an article in the New York Times: After all, Mr. Tebow is "very, very to the right.”  He doesn’t believe in abortion or a woman’s right to choose." That’s problematic, she explained, particularly in a city rife with empowered women who make their own money (not "Bible Belt beauty queens"), gay men and people who support gay and lesbian rights.  The very people who run the fashion industry.

I happen to be a woman, I happen to work within the fashion industry, and I happen to support the right to life.  As for the Bible belt beauty queen comment…Isn’t that an example of the very bigotry we talk about? 

Has the fashion industry become the bigot?  The prejudiced exclusive club that says: “If you are not like us you can't join this club?”  Surely we are not so limited in our understanding that we now exclude anyone who does not agree with what is perceived as ‘normal.’ Is there really no room for diversity?  I was responsible for the purchase of over 1 million dollars in clothing last year alone, and I must say that no one, not one single client ever asked me if the designer was a Christian, had White, Black or Yellow skin, a Muslim, a Jew, if they were rich or poor, if they were gay or straight or if they were tall or short.  My clients simply wanted great clothing that reflected the fashion and image that they want to portray.  Quotes by industry insiders that belittle a man and his faith and suggest that he would not be welcomed by the fashion ELITE in New York only create the same stereotypical view of people that they are arguing against. I happen to be a Christian, and I hope that my faith would not kick me out of "The Party."  Perhaps those who claim to be attacked should look and see whom it is they are attacking.  Does the fashion industry also attack other religions that claim similar values concerning abortion or gay rights?  Or is the Christian the only target?

I can assure you that Christians are buying the clothes just as are other people who have different values.  Perhaps it is time the industry stops setting itself apart from the crowd based on their values and begins to set itself apart from one another based on some amazing designs and quality creations. 

As for Tim Tebow…I applaud his strong faith.  I have yet to see him attack anyone or push his faith onto other people…but I have heard him give Glory to God and to say that he hopes to share the love of Jesus Christ in all that he does.  I am not so certain what is wrong with that, and I hope that I can do the same. When it comes to starting for the JETS and taking them to new heights - I say may the best quarterback start and play the game!

Photo courtesy of Google

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Today's retail environment is getting tougher and tougher as discount chains enter into the market place.  High end stores continue to chase after a shrinking middle class and restricting high income clientele. One of the most important secrets for any retail manager is to learn the skill of spotting the centers of influence - or what I call COI's.  COI's are the individuals, organizations, charities and businesses that will create new and repeat sales for you within your store.  The best sale is a sale that has the lowest operational cost to generate.

For instance: should you find a person who is always shopping in your stores with friends, then you know that one person is a COI (center of influence). They bring customers to your store and you do not spend additional advertising dollars to attract them.  Centers of influence are the people that want to know the managers personally, they look to build working relationships with the sales managers and personnel and they practically sell your products for you.  I have noticed that many stores do not know how to develop or manage their CENTERS OF INFLUENCE. Some sales people are actually irritated when a COI comes into their store.  These managers and sales people should be doing all they can to make certain their COI is happy, but often the sales person does not like the additional attention they require or the additional work.

Allow me to share a personal experience.  My company has had the privilege of serving my clients nationally and I have a few select stores that I tend to favor over others.  My clients and my company bought and generated in excess of 1 million dollars in clothing last year; however, even I had an experience with a new sales associate.  The sales person was actually frustrated that they had to bring out 6 -8 different pairs of shoes and prepare a special area for my clients to shop.  This client ended up spending in excess of $6,000 in that one store alone – working with another associate.  A typical client of mine spends thousands in a single shopping experience; forget the return business and the referrals the client may generate for the store.  COI's should be met with a smile and an eagerness to serve, not a sigh and a lack of gratitude.  Sales are hard to find, spot the people that shop regularly in your stores, spot the people who are bringing in friends and shopping with them.  They may not buy anything themselves, but their friends do.  Take the time and develop a relationship with your repeat buyers, and be on the lookout for the COI's in your business. Sometimes it is the COI who brings you your best clientele and not the fancy million dollar ads the company may create to attract customers.

I have found that the best rule is to train your sales people to treat every customer as a COI and this way you will never miss the opportunity to make the best impression on a customer who may generate millions of dollars for your store and you never really know it!

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Happy Easter...

Here we are during that special time of the year that seems to burst onto the fashion calender.  Color is everywhere. Flowers are blooming and yards and trees start to reflect the new season. I can't think of a more colorful time of year than the Easter season.

Make sure not to let your fashion fall behind!  Be bold in declaring that you are excited about life and the season.  Find your best Easter hats and colorful dresses.  Below are a few of my favorites for this season and beyond.  Don't be afraid to paint a picture of your own.

Let's not forget the reason for Easter.  In the days of old, the rugged cross was a symbol of death and despair, but today it is a symbol of hope and life!

Happy Easter and may God bless you!
Mila

With spring fashion in full force, it is the perfect time to book your complimentary consultation!  Call or e-mail today for more information...

 
 
 
 
 


The beauty of the hat!  All of these incredible hats can be found at Stacey Rhodes Boutique.  If you are not in the Nashville are, please visit www.Staceyrhodesboutique.com to view them there. 

Hats are the perfect answer for Steeplechase, Easter, the Derby and other special events!

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I happen to be a lover of art and value a truly incredible artist.  It seems that the best art never goes away; it just tends to fade away.  This is one of the reasons why I love what I do for men and women.  I can't even imagine the commitment of Michelangelo as he painted well over 5,000 square feet of frescoes in the Sistine Chapel or the vision he had as he sculpted King David.  I can't begin to comprehend the artistry of Leonardo da Vinci as he painted the Mona Lisa.  Regardless of their greatness, these incredible works of art do dull over time.   

As we all know, the Sistine Chapel had to be carefully restored amidst great controversy.  You can read about some of the great restorations of the finest paintings of the world – whether sun, elements, damage or simply age – restoration must take place as time goes on.  All amazing art needs to be touched up from time to time so that the original beauty can be restored.  The strokes of artists long gone are brought back to life.  After restoration, one can look at the work of art with a new excitement and a new desire which captures us in a way that has not been felt in years; perhaps decades.

This is what I have the privilege of doing each day.  I get to take the most beautiful art form in the entire universe and touch it up.  Imagine, having the opportunity to bring something worthy to the artwork of God.  He created something that is beyond any other creation – women and men!  Each of us are perfect, beautiful and unique.  Like a great work of art, there is no duplicate, no copy.  Each woman created is different from every other woman, yet all are something to behold.  I have the pleasure of working with women, some who have forgotten their beauty, some who have been convinced that their beauty is long gone and some who feel that the sun and time have somehow taken away their need to be exciting - and I get to restore them.  

I can promise you that every woman can be brought back to a level of excitement!  Some women want to light the fire of a new desire for romance, others want to ignite a stagnant career, or be an example for their family: all of which I can help them do.  This is what MODA Image Consulting does - I am the person that touches up the beauty, brightens the canvas and energizes the sculpture.   MODA Image Consulting is the one that helps you get back in touch with your creator, and take what the world says has become dull and make it gorgeous again.  It may be a new fashion style, a new emotional attitude about life, or a better understanding of who you are and what you are capable of, but no matter what; I love helping a woman go from dull to gorgeous.  Each woman is a beautiful desirable work of art that is worthy of being noticed and ready to spark imagination and creativity all over again.  

There is only ONE MODA and there is only one person who understands that YOU ARE A WORK OF ART CREATED BY THE MOST HIGH and you are worthy of reflecting the Glory for which you were made.  Call us to set up a complimentary consultation...Let’s restore some art and turn dull into gorgeous again.

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Consultations are always complimentary!

IN THE SPIRIT OF SERVING OTHERS ~ This morning I had the opportunity to share what MODA Image Consulting does with some incredible entrepreneurial women.  I am always excited to share how I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve others while at the same time loving my business.  Success in business is never easy and requires unmatched perseverance.  Success in life requires a commitment to what you believe is true and success in relationships requires the ability to sacrifice self for the one that you love.  That said we should never forget that there can only be one BEST. When it comes to fashion, image and brand, there is only one leader in the industry, and it is MODA Image Consulting.  

I am grateful to have a website that has had more visits than I can fathom over the past year, to have hosted Fashion Events for retailers and charities across the country, worked with some of the most incredible corporations in the United States and I appreciate every customer who has hired me to help them do more than put on a nice outfit, but rather share my life experiences in a way that helps them improve the quality of their life – personally and professionally.

Someone called me recently and said, “I see someone is hosting a “MODA Event” without MODA.” They continued to say that I should be flattered as imitation is always the sincerest form of flattery. While I hope that everyone can get great advice about improving their lives; I must say there is only one BEST.  There are imitations and people who try to copy the best, but there is truly only one MODA event.  There is a significant difference in being a partner with a company in an event, and merely using a space for a private event.  An event without MODA is like hot chocolate without chocolate, a basketball game without nets, a car without wheels or a plane without an engine. You can drink hot water and get warm, but you are not really satisfied, you can go to a basketball game and see all the superstar players but it is wasted talent without nets, you can have a million dollar car but it is worthless if it has no wheels and you can all get on the latest and most impressive plane, but it’s just another chair without an engine to take you somewhere.  The same is true for MODA and an event hosted by MODA.  You can have all the clothes, all the food, all the stores in the world and have a good event, but it will not be the best. You see, there is only one BEST in business and in each industry.  Only one real leader.

MODA Image Consulting is here to serve our clients and help them turn their fashion into a statement. We take clothes and create an action or reaction. We take a Brand and give it a face and a meaning.  MODA Image Consulting is the chocolate in hot chocolate, the nets in the game, the wheels on the car and the engine for the plane.  MODA Image Consulting is the best and we serve our clients in a manner that does more than change their attitude for a season.  Our focus is to change lives for a lifetime and to improve company success for the long-term. There is only one BEST, and everyone else is trying to be the best. Change your life, improve your company, turn your today into an action that creates a better tomorrow for you and the world around you.

Contact MODA, and together, we can share the BEST with everyone we know.

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Consultations are always complimentary!

Within the past month, I have had the opportunity to witness the real cost of not training your company employees on the importance of representing the Brand of the company with their own Professional and Personal Brand.  I am blessed to have the privilege of serving some of the country's most financially secure individuals, and while meeting with such a client, I was privileged to see and hear a conversation that had drastic implications for one financial institution and great benefit for another.  I asked my client if I could share the story without names and here it is!

This particular client was not happy with his current financial advisor and was in the process of looking for another company to assist him with the management of his wealth.  He told me he had a quick phone call to make before we started our work together that day – it happened to be with his lawyer and his accountant.  He asked them for their recommendations on the final two firms he had chosen to start a professional relationship with.  Quite honestly, both firms are well known and came with a slew of recommendations, write-ups and referrals.  My client's accountant recommended firm "A" because they had a long history of performance, were well represented around the world and offered all of the services that my client wanted.  The lawyer had an ongoing relationship with firm "B," and he could personally provide an introduction to the top money representative at the firm which he seemed to trust.  

About a week later I returned to continue my client’s goals to create the best Professional and Personal Image that we could for him through fashion, etiquette and Internet Branding.  As we began, he asked me if I recalled the conversations he had with his advisors at our last meeting.  He commented that he met with several individuals over lunch with both firms and that he had chosen Firm "A.”  He said that the comments he and I had shared about the value of one’s Professional Brand and the company they represented played a significant role in that choice.  

He explained that the firm he had not chosen had attended the luncheon with representatives who were sloppy in their dress habits. Unfortunately, he listed a multitude of details that he was paying attention to per our conversation.  Shirts that did not fit, shoes that were dirty, hair that was not neat and dresses that were less than professional. He also noticed the way they greeted their servers and the hostess, along with their manners at the table.  Finally, he said the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back was their rudeness toward one another as he did not feel that they had respect for each other as they interrupted one another throughout the meeting.  He shared with me that he was not only looking for a company that had the current winners representing them, but said he was looking for stability, respect, integrity and any firm that allowed their brand to be tarnished by ill prepared and improperly trained representatives was not the company he wanted taking care of the details associated with his family and his business future.  

We have talked about the importance of looking beyond the numbers and allowing the image and behavior of the people being interviewed to be the guide as to the type of service they will provide.  We’ve known each other going on at least five years now and I have developed a great friendship with him and his beautiful family.  I knew I would want to share this perfect example with other businesses and clients so I asked him how large the account was that he was transferring to the new financial advisor.  In his own wonderfully sarcastic and very straight forward way, he said that shoes, clothes, fashion and manners just cost the other firm $10,000,000. 

Brand is not ‘something;’ it is everything to a company’s success.  After I left his office, I was thankful that I could help a client in a manner that had nothing to do with fashion and style alone, but rather with his view on life and the pursuit of excellence in all he does and all who will help him reach his goals. 

MODA is in the business of helping individuals define their Professional, Personal and Internet Brands.  We guide companies to create an atmosphere of Excellence and ensure that money spent in creating a brand is properly communicated to the company employee as well as the customer.  Call MODA if we can help you or your business create the best Brand for success. 

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"Old, Proven, and True: Brand Value for Sales"

Great salespeople and professionals in management do not happen overnight.  It takes practice, support and a mentor or two to create a career that will bring financial and family rewards. Today's young professional sales person can find that support and mentoring in some of the world’s largest companies.  I know that I often have younger and older clients who call me and want me to help them create an image that reflects experience.  We get experience from practice and action in the field, and when you are starting out in a profession, we all need TIME.  So with this in mind, I suggest that the inexperienced professional practice some patience and look to align their personal professional brand with the brand of a company that has a proven track record.  There are some terrific companies in America that have been providing products and services for 75 to 150 years and they have stellar Brands that reflect the company’s values, training, and commitment to success.  When a person can tie their own Personal Professional Brand to a proven brand in their industry of choice, they gain on the imputed talent and values of the company they are serving and in turn create a stronger Personal Brand with their individual clients and customers.

If you have a talent for selling products and services, but need some experience, you can create a ladder to wealth and success by joining with any of the great companies that have a rich history and solid brand that has been around for decades.  When you can tie your personal and professional brand to the proven brand in an industry, then your brand gains economic value and clout amongst your clientele.

We have all heard the line, “Fake it till you make it."  This thinking will bury you in today’s Internet information age.  People can look up your professional and educational history and expose your lack of expertise in any given field.  My business is about helping companies and people create a brand that identifies with their customers as well as their peers and employees.  No high dollar suit, amazing smile or incredible fashion will get you further than your actual knowledge or talent; however, a great individual brand will open doors. You can always look professional no matter how long you have been in your chosen profession.

I advise my clients who work for a strong company with a strong history to do all they can to identify their personal professional brand with the Professional Brand of their company.  In some companies this is called the uniform, and for people in sales and or professional jobs, this is called your style and fashion.  Let me share a few ideas that can help you associate your brand with the valuable brand of a strong company.

1). The business card: The company name and logo should be the lead of the card, your name is secondary.  A card that is represented by a well-known and strong brand says that you are a team player, that you have resources behind you and that if you do not know the answer to a question you can get the answer from someone else in the company.  Your name should be in different font - this says you’re unique, an individual and not just another worker in the machine.  If possible, put a favorite quote on the back of the card.  In the business of creating your brand, a one card fits all mentality is not the answer.  Learn to make your calling card a reflection of the solid Brand you work for and your unique ability and individualism.  People love the big companies; they hate being seen as a customer and not an individual.

2).  Your professional tools such as leather portfolios, briefcases, business card holders and pens are tools to associate yourself with the larger stronger brand that you are representing.  Include the name of the company you represent.  A properly placed logo on the exterior of your professional portfolio brief with your name underneath it will show that you are a part of something bigger than JUST YOU.  Give clients quality pens with your name and the company logo or name.  These leave behind items are a great reminder for your prospects and clients.  Do NOT leave behind cheap writing instruments or marketing items.  Your peers may do that, but you want to represent quality and integrity and not be seen as the person with all the gimmicks and cheap reminders.  Let people who use your pads, pencils, calendars and other items have something that will last and reflect your strong character and long-term commitment.  Remember that today’s customer is looking for someone they can trust - and someone who will be around to take care of them for more than six months.  Invest in the sales tools you use and leave behind.  Associate your company brand with your name and services!

3). Use unique fashion ideas that can make a statement about you and the company you are representing.  For men, this can mean something like cuff links, or a monogram on the sleeve of a shirt.  I work with an insurance and financial products salesman that has cuff links made to represent his company.  They are beautiful, make a statement and I always notice them.  When I see them I think of the strength of the company that he works for, and I feel more secure with his product offering.  Ties and pens or pendants can do the same thing.  Professional looking jewelry that is appropriate for every occasion can associate the company name, reputation and brand with your brand.

We all grow and mature and our business and professional skills will improve.  These are a few of the steps that are a foundation for building your own individual professional brand.  Then you can take your fashion and style and utilize it to reflect your unique qualities and attributes.  This is what it means to create a Personal or Professional Brand that is unique to just you.  Never walk away from the power partner - the company that has an established history of success and value.  It is like money in the bank when your individual Personal and Professional Brand can be linked to historic companies and brands that have a track record.  Take time to reflect the power of the company you represent and do not hide from being part of a larger brand that has strength in its history.  

Success does not happen overnight.  A track record and few generations of success can help any professional succeed, especially while you are in the process of creating your own unique brand and history.

MODA Image Consulting is here to help the company and the individual to communicate, develop and utilize their brand in a way that brings them greater success.  Let us help you create your personal brand through your fashion, style and overall image.

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Consultations are always complimentary!

Hi Friends,

The cold winter days can get you down.  I have always felt that how we feel on the inside is reflected on the outside, but sometimes, we can wear something on the outside that will truly help us FEEL better on the inside.  Every day, we should put something on that helps us to FEEL great - even when we are most casual. 

A huge spring 2012 fashion trend will be to add pops of color everywhere...So to get us out of this winter funk, we can start now!  Add a bright color to your winter wardrobe for a quick pick-me-up!

Here are some examples from one of my absolute favorite online sites; www.net-a-porter.com. 

If you are in a fashion rut, need to start over, are wondering what works best for your body type or are in need of an image boost - please call us to set up a complimentary consultation.

Warmest,
Mila
President
MODA Image Consulting

                                                                  
     

   
All image above are from www.net-a-porter.com.  Please visit the site to find these incredible pieces.

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Consultations are always complimentary!

I must admit that I am enjoying watching #15 from the Denver Bronco's play football this year and it appears that the rest of America is just as excited.  The TV ratings for the Bronco games are through the roof as America tunes in to see if the young quarterback is for "real." Now for me, a person who loves to help other people excel, I am enthralled with how Mr. Tebow is a representation of what happens to someone when what they say is truly what they believe.  He talks the talk and walks the walk – How many people or businesses do you know that do that?  Please take a minute to read along as I share with you the steps that every person and company can take in order to rise to the top of the ladder. 

I like to call this the development of THE ULTIMATE BRAND.

STEP ONE
Know what you truly believe in.  For individuals, it is defined as your character.  It is always based on some absolute truth.  If you are unsure of what you stand for, then your positions on important and secondary issues in life will always change and shift.  

If you are a company, it is the BRAND of the business.  It is that one unifying ingredient that everyone understands to be constant and never changing about the company.  I help companies and individuals determine their brand and then show them how to display that brand through image.

STEP TWO
Prepare for those who will challenge what you believe or what your business stands for.  There are always the naysayers who will whisper in your ear: That can't be true, you can’t change, or no one is that absolute about anything.  There is always a demon in the mix to bring down what you seek!  For companies, it will be those who do not excel for excellence but rather want to excel at mediocrity.  These are the doubters who will say that NO company can do that and survive, or they will tell you how unpopular you will be and that everyone else is doing it a certain way.

STEP THREE
Exaltation and elevation.  This occurs as those who opposed you begin to see that you are legitimate.  As an individual, they see that when you are tested, you still stand for the same principles.  For a business, your company will be recognized as one that actually believes what it is putting out into the media and at company training seminars.  This happens when you or the business have been tested by the fires of life and do not change under pressure.  People will begin to realize that you stood for what you said you stood for, even when under fire.

I break these three steps down as follows:

The Ultimate Personal or Professional Brand occurs when the reality of your words and slogans meets the truth of your actions in life or business.  THERE IS NO FAKING.  Remember that you will always have those whose disbelief is spoken to you – this is followed by accusations that your brand is not genuine - and finally, as people see, read and hear that you or your business is exactly what it says it is, they will believe in and have a desire to emulate you or your company.

There are companies today that have great slogans, but their employees do not even understand what they mean much less follow them.  There are authors writing books and hosting seminars whose real life and how they are when no one is looking does not reflect what they write or preach.  

The Ultimate Brand never accepts mediocrity, it always wants to excel, it is always based on some absolute truth and it takes time and action to create it.  

Everyone can change, and companies can evolve for the better…Basically, all can repent and go back to how things SHOULD BE RUN if they are running them incorrectly.  Your IMAGE, YOUR BRAND can be TRUE.

The exciting quarterback for the Denver Bronco's is such a man.  He has proclaimed what he believes, he shouts it from the rooftops and he lives it even as he goes through the challenging fires of life and the moments of celebration.  The world waits for him to fall down so they can say I TOLD YOU SO, but as for me, I pray that he continues to surround himself by people that build up and support his true character and that he continues to be led by his faith.  He needs good Image Consultants and Brand Managers that understand what he really stands for, WHO it is he really exalts and help steer him through the challenges in life.

MODA Image Consulting is all about HOPE, Helping Other People Excel.  I help people and businesses understand what their BRAND is and then provide the image management and training to turn that Brand into action and reality in life.  Once that is accomplished, the naysayers will come along and seek to buy your products and emulate your lifestyle.  Everyone loves a leader.  In Mr. Tebow's case, he is led by something far greater than any man can be led by.  He is led by the Living Word and His Truths are absolute - Win or lose, he is who he is.  Can you say that about you or your company?

If not, then give me a call, and together we can create the Ultimate Brand for you or your business, help your employees to understand the message and give them the tools to represent it the way you intended it to be repressented.

Photo courtesy of Reuters

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Consultations are always complimentary!

IS YOUR BUSINESS GOING TO BE A WINNER THIS YEAR?
OR A LOSER?

How the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement can help your business…

Disclaimer:  The following comments speak in generalities when one says political process, politicians, business and media. There are exceptional businesses, true reporters and a few politicians whom are interested in doing the right thing verses whatever will get them back in office.

I am excited about 2012 and all of the opportunity that exists for the companies that learn to look at the "Occupy Wall Street" movement with the right eyes.  First, let us be honest.  We need a strong banking community and the last thing we need is more government intervention in our capitalist economic model.  Governments cannot legislate morality and values when politicians can't define "Absolute Truth," and everything is determined by the latest popularity polls verses being statesmen and women. “Occupy Wall Street” is the public's way of expressing frustrations toward any business or person that can be demonized over the rapid changes that have taken place in our world of ‘Instant Gratification.’  Company shareholders want immediate results, the government is broke so it wants taxes and fees, and educational systems have fallen away from educating young people on some absolute values that give life a value beyond dollars and cents.  Corporate leadership is trying to make as much as they can while they have a job because long term employment is an dead concept when immediate results are required regardless of the cost to society.  Customers are seen as human capital verses individuals with lives, dreams and hopes for a brighter tomorrow.  We have taught the people who are in need to depend on the "free lunch" and our charitable organizations and religious groups look to build bigger buildings verses feed and house the needy.

Then of course there is the "MEDIA" which is now based on which side of the political table you sit or what story creates the best result for advertisers.  Some reporters no longer investigate but simply regurgitate whatever is HOT RIGHT NOW.  Occupy Wall Street is a sign of times to come for a frustrated humanity that has been told for years that success is a right and that someone is always to blame for how you feel.

Now here is the silver lining to the demonstrations and growing frustrations.  Companies can create changes in their policies which will catapult their businesses to the top over the next 5 years.  I call this short-term planning, but in today's world that would be called strategic long term initiatives.  No matter what you may call it, companies must change the way they are doing business from technologically driven planning that replaces human contact with technical efficiency to one that utilizes technology to create a greater understanding of peoples time and as a means to improve personal and professional relationships that understand human emotions. Computers, social websites, automated voice mails and virtual technology seems like the answer to corporate efficiency, but it will end up being the death nail for retailers and large companies. Today's retail winner and corporate success are companies that have taken technology and made it personal but not at the expense of real human relationships.  Companies like Apple and Google have work environments the spur creativity, balance and wealth based on long term success. When companies no longer see the customer as their boss, they will fail, or at best, they become the giant behemoth that the public uses out of necessity but does not like.  Today's larger banks and cell phone companies have fallen prey to this problem.  Customers are no longer hearing pleasant voices that represent long standing relationships, but rather we get automated voice mail attendants that send you on a proverbial wild goose chase and you, the customer, have become a 9 digit number that is but one customer in a sea of millions.  Human contact is eliminated and companies have begun to see the customer as a web address verses a living breathing person that has real emotions, dreams, hopes and desires.  Let’s face it, the social website craze is all about creating contacts and relationships based on data and limited time for real human contact.  You can go from office to office in most cities today without having to go out on the street and we can drop out of society by hiding in big homes or secure buildings that insulate us from the rest of the human race.  We as a people now look at the challenges of society as "that is their problem, so why should I care."  

I can tell you that the company that starts to say 'I care’ is the company that will win customers and increase its long term revenue and values.

No matter how much we want to imagine that people are digital beings without personality and emotional needs, we are humans and we love human touch, the smile of another person, the handshake of a commitment and laughter of people who are enjoying themselves.  We want to be appreciated and loved for who we are, not who someone else makes us out to be.  The winner is the company that says my greatest asset is my people and our customers, and not the latest building or computer program.  So retailers listen, your brand is everything and it needs to say a few very direct things.

First: The customer is KING.

Second: We appreciate your business.

Third: Problems are met with: How can I correct any problems you may have and as an employee I am empowered to serve you until you are happy.

Fourth: Technology is amazing and we use it in a manner that allows you to be efficient with your time but not lose the ability to be a person verses an email address or data collection vehicle.

Fourth:  Customers will pay for quality and they will be loyal to companies that invest back into THEIR COMMUNITY.

Now who is going to be the winner?  The winner in the changing business environment will be the companies and institutions that decide that efficiency is not preferred over human needs of touch and communication.  The winner will be the retailers, the businesses and the institutions who understand that the customer is a person, a living breathing emotional human being who wants to be respected and appreciated for spending their money with you.  We have spent 10 years breaking down the customer into a buyer or consumer and not a person, so we now read about the great customer relationship companies as though they were part of some archaic business model.  The winner will be the companies that take technology and improve the input of the customer and train their employees to appreciate each customer as someone who helped create their jobs and are a means to long term security for their own lives.  These companies can be comfortable with investing for the long term because their customer base will be loyal and appreciates feeling good when they spend their hard earned money at the retailer, educational facility and even their government.  

I am excited about 2012 as I express HOPE for the businesses and people whom I serve.  Helping Other People Excel.  Thank you for 2011 and let’s make 2012 the year of the PERSON.

A VERY SPECIAL GIFT

There are but few gifts under $500 that you can give someone that will last them more than a year or two, and even fewer are those that last a lifetime. What about a gifts that makes someone feel special, confident and fun every time they are used. You can give anyone on your gift list the special gift of fashion, style, organization and confidence. What a great gift to be able to begin 2012 with a "New You" or a "New Closet." The MODA gift certificate can be used anytime over the next 6 months, and I will help your special someone organize their closets and update their fashion and image. You will be giving them a gift that will remind them how important they are to you for years to come. Once the gift card is purchased, I will send you or your special someone a beautiful gift bag which includes a gift card, a fashionable gift to get the excitement going and a questionnaire that will help them to start thinking all things fashion and image. SO, let’s spruce up your husband or wife, surprise your college kids, or brighten your favorite girl’s closet and make this holiday gift one they will put on for years to come.



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Please email or call me with any questions. I would love to help you either find the perfect gifts for those special people in your lives OR give you a MODA gift card. Let MODA do the shopping for you and give you the confidence that you are giving the perfect gifts!

From our family to yours; We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Warmest,

Mila and the entire MODA family

“RETAIL IN 2012: FROM CHRISTMAS WINDOWS ON MAIN STREET TO WINDOWS ON YOUR COMPUTER”

MODA Image Consulting is working with national and regional retailers in America – and our ideas are going to bring results for our clients; however, I want to help as many companies and individuals as I can.  So here we are – I want to give you a ‘MODA perception” which can benefit you as consumers and will be a warning to retailers and stores.  The spring of 2012 will be a season of the ‘Internet Store.’  The changing global and national economy will have a staggering effect on all retail sales but especially the stores who have weak web sites, poorly trained staff and lack the technological tools in their stores.  Consumers will be pinched from every angle as gas prices will reach new highs heading into the summer and the cost of clothing will rise right along with it.  Consumers will be pinching their dollars and trying to cut costs associated with travel; however, they will shop – but in a different way.  They will shop from their homes and offices, and better yet, from their laptops, desktops and tablets.

So who will be the winner in the 2^nd quarter of 2012?  It will be the stores which understand that the ‘new store window’ is the customer’s computer screen - not the windows on Main Street or the entrance to the malls.  We will all be excited about the window displays and Christmas décor this winter, but retailers need to understand that a stale and boring web site is like having a bad store window display.  2012 will be the year noted for the greatest shift in web based sales.  RETAILERS: IF YOU WANT TO SELL PRODUCTS IN 2012, YOU BETTER HAVE A GREAT WEB SITE THAT CHANGES, IS INVITING, COMMUNICATES YOUR STORE BRAND, AND BRINGS CUSTOMERS BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN.  

You better have the best delivery programs, changing and evolving inventory and understand your market is no longer the ten miles around your store, but the entire world.  Your brand and marketing better be prepared or your business will start a steady and slow decline that will eventually result in your elimination as a viable competitor in the challenging retail business.  Your staff better be able to use technology in the store to find products, compare prices and create sales opportunities both inside and outside the store.

Now shoppers, here is some good news for you!  The Internet sales will be booming next spring and summer.  You will find some amazing deals!  So budget wisely, prepare your list early and plan your spring wardrobe and needs in advance.  Then, instead of driving up and down the famed Park Avenue or Michigan Mile, take a tour of the store windows on the web and you can come out ahead. 

I predicted the trends for the fall and winter season in my blog last year titled, ‘Fashionomics,’ and I was blessed to have been right on target.  Now I want to share what we can expect in 2012.  Success will come to the savvy shopper and to the retailers who have the BEST WEB SITE STORE WINDOW!

MODA Image Consulting works with individuals by helping them create and display their personal and professional brands and we serve retailers around the United States, helping them integrate their brands into their stores and prepare their web based sales to maximize store growth and profits.

Contact Mila Grigg at mila@modaimageconsulting.com.

Bricks and Mortar and a CBO...

I started telling my retail clients long ago that their future existence depends on two things - A unique Brand that stands out in a crowded marketplace and a special online store experience that is exhibited in the stores and over the net. The changing world around us means that retailers need to take advantage of a GLOBAL CUSTOMER. Tomorrow’s sales will be created in marketing rooms, effective staff in-store training, a new way of thinking within the upper management staff and the creation of a new management position called the Chief Brand Officer or as we shall soon see the acronym, CBO. Just as the horse and buggy gave way to automobiles, the brick and mortar stores will give way to on-line sales. The in-store experience needs to be more than a sales associate and a pretty display. It will need to be an experience that creates sales in the store and on-line. Management and staff will need to understand the TRUE VALUE of their brand, or they will need to start closing stores and prepare for their products to be sold through wholesale websites like EBay and Amazon.com.

Technology has created a savvy shopper and if your Brand and your product are not exceptional, then all purchases are based on price and price alone. Everything will flow through the new position, the CBO for the retailer of the future. Brick and mortar locations can be the coffin or they can be the launching pad to new opportunities. MODA Image Consulting is the professional source for all Branding Challenges when when it comes to clothing, fashion, style and success: MODA Image Consulting corporate clientele is prepared for on-line sales growth and the domination of the Brick and Mortar retail world of tomorrow.

A recent article I read had a great quote from James F. Nordstrom, President of Nordstrom Direct, clearly stated what I’ve been talking about.

"We launched free shipping and free returns, because we have big ambitions for the growth of our online business," says James F. Nordstrom, president of Nordstrom Direct. "We believe that the majority of the growth of our categories over the next 10 years will be online as opposed to in-store.  And so we feel we need to be investing in the customer experience and be more competitive and be more relevant to customers online."

We all love to save money, right?  There is a difference between just going out and looking for something to buy, and going out with a purpose to buy something you need. The best advice I can give you - MAKE A LIST before you head out the door.  I enjoy visiting stores, seeing the new trends and exploring the shelves of stores as they change the decor or bring in the new seasons clothes, gadgets and supplies…but when it comes to shopping, I head out with a purpose.  That purpose is to acquire something that I, my clients or my family needs.  I want to make my purchase in a manner that creates the greatest savings and the best value.  Notice I did not say the lowest price, but rather the best value.  Sometimes cheaper means just that, it means it is cheap, or without quality.  I look for quality products with quality brands that can provide real lasting benefit to me or my family.  When one takes time to look around for the best OPPORTUNITIES, one can find a tremendous savings - the key is to know where to look.

For instance, did you know that many of today’s discount stores are providing some products that are close to expiration or are over stocked items from the larger department stores and chains?  These products can mean a big savings to you, so if you know that you have an immediate need which will result in immediate use, then you can save up to 50% off the regular price for items that will be expiring soon or products that were in abundance and greater than the demand at the time of production.  A twenty minute drive and 1 gallon of gas can mean ten, twenty or even thirty dollars in savings for each trip! 

Here in Nashville we have our local Dollar General stores.  You have to love a Tennessee grown company with national locations that can provide you with big savings and allow you to get in and out of the store without you having to walk into a warehouse to save some money.  You do not need to purchase fifty pounds of soap or 100 pounds of dog food in order to save some money.  So if you know exactly what you want, you can take a trip to the closest Dollar General Store and find savings on items that we use every day.  My last adventure there was an eye opener to the plethora of name brand products and the substantial savings these stores provide to the savvy shopper.  I bought $14 dollars of brand name beauty, health and cleaning products which would have cost me 3 to 4 times as much at the local grocery store or larger retail chains and I was in an out in less than ten minutes.

 I have waited in check-out lines longer than that in order to save some money at the super stores!  I found name brand products you can trust at prices that made my trip well worth making.  So if you are SHOPPING, you need to make a plan, look for the deals, visit the Dollar General Stores, the Discount Stores, the Warehouse stores and even the Department stores and get the best deals.  Do your homework before you go - check on-line prices before heading to the store to make sure that they don’t have any on-line only deals, check the papers, make the calls to the stores and ask them about upcoming sales.  This Christmas Season will provide you with more gifts and perhaps a better gift savings that keeps some money in your bank account this year.

If you would like help with your shopping this season, please give me a call and I will be happy to help!

"Seen, Heard, Understood, SOLD'

Entrepreneurs are the foundation of American enterprise and the promise of growth for our economy going forward.  The dictionary says that an Entrepreneur is someone who "organizes, operates and assumes the risk for a business venture."  I agree, except they forgot to add in one more sentence.  They are also the person responsible for selling their ideas and products.  The success is not complete until the sale is made.  You can have great ideas, amazing diagrams and patents and a superior business plan, but all of those things mean absolutely nothing when you can't sell your products or your ideas.  Without "The Sale," there is no success.

In order to sell your ideas and raise capital, sell your products and produce revenue and communicate your brand to your employees, then you better understand the value of a visual aid.  Our sales communication is full of visual words.  We all have heard someone say, “Don’t tell me, show me” or "Seeing is believing" and "Now I have seen it all."  Of course, the verbal plea for understanding occurs when we hear, "Do you see what I mean?"

Yes my entrepreneurial friends, this is a visual world and the greatest representation of your dreams, your company and your products is YOU. You are a walking billboard, your best advertisement and the first contact point that either creates doubt in you or your product or says, Quality, Value, Trustworthy and BUY ME.

• So tell me, how you are representing your brand when you are at meetings, traveling, sharing your product and selling it to the world at large?  
• Does your personal brand complement your business brand?
• How does your professional image complement your company vision?

In the world of business, you better dress the part.  Your clothes are always talking – what are they telling your clients?  I spend hours upon hours with executives, business owner and companies advising them on image and brand.  Helping them to understand that if they are not representing their corporate brand by their image alone, then they have already lost and damaged the business.  If your brand says trustworthy – do your clothes ruin that brand?

If you are not looking your best, then your ideas are not being communicated with the clarity and precision that your success will demand from you.  If I have to look past your attire and hope that your ideas and company are better represented than you represent yourself, then you are already working harder than you need to work. 

I believe we must learn to WORK SMARTER, not harder.  I can show you many people who have put in endless hours, poured in millions of dollars and then failed to present the right package when the CLOSE was so important.  The right package for any entrepreneurial company is the entrepreneur.

So while your building the best business plans, getting the patents and creating the products that will fill the needs of your customers; spend some time making certain that your image is the best image you can present.  No one pays full price for a car with a dirty outside, and no one buys top dollar for the house with peeling paint and an unkempt yard. You have your ideas and someone else has theirs, and there are so many dollars to be spent, so you better put your best image in front of the bankers, buyers and employees.  You are your greatest asset and nothing is truly done until a sale is made. So dress up your image, utilize someone who can help you look your best and make your image a part of the total presentation.  Make certain that when you are seen, people want to hear what you have to say.  Fashion is not the answer to your success, but not understanding how important it can be to your success adds to the chances of failure.

Call me so I can help you to "Be seen, be heard, be understood and complete the sale."

USA TODAY article: Middle class' share of the nation's income is shrinking
By Marisol Bello and Paul Overberg, USA TODAY

Analysts often use the middle three-fifths of households -- when they are sorted by income -- to define the "middle class." Middle-class share of total income in 2010 and 2006 and the percentage-point difference (* indicates that the difference is statistically significant):  For Reno car salesman Tim Ticknor, the squeeze on his middle-class existence gradually has turned into a chokehold.  In 2005, he was making more than $90,000 a year selling used cars to people who had moved to the Southwest for its booming economy. It was an income that allowed him to rent a townhouse with his wife and daughter in a gated community.  Over the next six years, as the economy slowed, so did his income. First, it dropped to $70,000, then after a time it fell to $30,000.

By Scott Sady, for USA TODAY

The car dealership where Ticknor last worked, making $90,000 a year, is bankrupt, and he is hustling as a day laborer for a temp agency. Today, the car dealership where Ticknor last worked is bankrupt, and he is hustling as a day laborer for a temp agency. He and his family had to move into his mother-in-law's mobile home because they couldn't afford to pay rent.

Ticknor's story reflects how, across the nation, the middle class' share of the nation's income is shrinking. Reno, which has among the highest rates of unemployment and foreclosures in the United States, is a stark example: The share of income in the metro area that was collected by the middle class fell from 49.8% in 2006 to 45.8% in 2010, the year after the 18-month recession ended.

A USA TODAY analysis of Census data found the Reno area was among 150 nationwide where the share of income going to the middle class — generally made up of households that make $20,700 to $99,900 a year — shrank from 2006 to 2010. Metro areas where the middle class' share of income dropped outnumbered those where it grew by more than 2-to-1.

"The lower share of income is a way of saying income inequality is growing in the middle," says Paul Taylor, executive vice president of the Pew Research Center, who has studied the shift. "The vast middle has less of the pie than it had before."  Income is shifting to the top tier of households, especially those in the top 5%, Taylor says. The top 5% earn more than $181,000 annually.  In 2010, the top one-fifth of U.S. households collected 50.3% of all the nation's income, up from 49.9% in 2006. The lowest-earning one-fifth of households collected just 3.3% of the nation's income, down from 3.4% in 2006.  That leaves the three-fifths of households in between — a common definition of a broad middle class. It collected 46.3% of the income last year, down from 46.7% in 2006.

Analysts call it the middle-class squeeze.

Contributing: Barbara Hansen in McLean, Va., and Jeff DeLong at the Reno Gazette Journal

Thoughts behind Groupon and more…

Improper use of the new INTERENT CRAZE called "Flash Sales" can destroy a company and turn your Corporate Brand into unidentifiable MUSH. The idea of a sale is nothing new; companies have placed items on sale since the beginning of retail.  It is one of the best tools for thinning out inventory, for bringing customers into your business, and for highlighting your exceptional service and products to a new buying demographic. Unfortunately, improper use of the WEB BASED COUPON FRENZY will lead to a slow death: as cash flow in depleted, inventories are reduced and people no longer believe that your products or services are worth what you say they are worth.  You can only CRY SALE so many times until people start to say, "It’s always on sale, and so whatever is on the sticker is not what it is worth."  You must protect your brand and understand the value of a sale and the proper way to help your clients benefit from discount opportunities - while at the same time maintaining your business brand.  One small mistake in the value of your product or service means your brand is diluted; or in the worst of cases: your company completely shuts down!  I am not saying that there isn't a time and place for these flash sale sites, but a business must know its brand before engaging with them or it could harm the long term business goals.

Use your sales properly, utilize the flash sales and coupon programs to create new opportunities for your business, to reduce inventory and as a way to share the superior value of your company and service.  Sadly, many of today's retailers and businesses are so desperate for business and lack any true understanding of their brand that they will use short term sales in the HOPE OF CREATING long term customers.  If only they had really taken the time to assure that their products and services were the best in the business, they would have grown the old fashioned and tested way - they will have earned their business through hard work, superior service and the best advertizing means known to man: Word of Mouth!!!  Nothing sells more than a satisfied customer bragging about your company.  

The best way to generate cash and company growth is to sell a great product or service and create exceptional value for your clients.

"Sweet 16 and Never Been Kissed: Thank God"

My disclaimer is that I am not a prude or some Victorian princess that says no dancing and no hand holding and by all means everyone needs to go to boarding school.  I am a California girl who grew up on the beach and enjoyed every bit of the fun that High School and College had to offer.  I admit I have spent my time in front of the mirror - and like all young girls and women today, I was always worried about how I looked and wanted to make certain that I "fit in."  Looking back, all I can say is thanks mom for the tight reins you put me under as a teenager, and for saying I love you by sometimes saying NO. 


Advertisements bombard our young girls and boys with clothing images that say the best look is a sexual look. Especially for our young daughters!  Why is it that fashion trends are so provocative and who in their right mind dresses a 12 year old like they are 16, or a 16 year old like they are 22?  You know when we sow the seeds of invitation and excitement; we should be prepared for the seeds to become the plants of disaster and enticement.  Parents, wake up!!!

Wall Street Ad Agencies and todays so called fashion professionals are wrong.  We do not need to let our girls dress beyond their age and more than that, beyond their maturity.  Fashion for our young girls is supposed to express confidence, style and beauty - not invitation.  Young women have enough challenges in today's world, and we do not need to send our daughters into the world in outfits that "fit in" and then become concerned because the 18 year old wants to date our 15 year old, nor should we be surprised when our 12 year olds can flirt like 20 year olds.  The wrong fashion makes a statement for our girls’ long before they are ready or can really understand the consequences of looking and acting like they are adults.  The results can be disastrous.

When I came along, we all giggled at the first kiss behind the door, or when our friends mentioned the infamous "Spin the Bottle Game” in middle school or beyond.  Today, "A kiss is not but a kiss."  I have attached an alarming article that every parent needs to read and every daughter or son should learn about.  Cancer and your child, something from the casual and seemingly innocent kiss, is not longer just a kiss!  I am not an alarmist and I understand the fun of first dates and even the first kiss…BUT to my fellow parents - we need to be informed.   Let's not put our daughters at a disadvantage by dressing them to "fit in" or to match the latest ads by Abercrombie and Fitch.  We have a responsibility to young people today, and that is to say, ‘how you dress is important to your reputation and your health.’  Our girls do not need to head out to the door each day dressed like an invitation card that says "Get to know me physically."  MTV, VH1 and the world are wrong.  Our daughters and our sons are worthy of our protection, so let’s start with how we dress them.  As the article shows, we need to talk with our kids and tell them that safe sex is not possible and the best bet is no sex until marriage. The best way to say I love you is not with your body.  As you will read, a KISS is NOT BUT A KISS.  I love fashion, I love great clothes and I love our children.  Dress yours appropriately and talk to them about the world’s false messages.  Let’s mold our daughters and sons to respect one another in every way.

Here is an excerpt from an article in Men's Health (August 2011), "The New Sex Cancer"
"However, simply kissing someone who has oral HPV can also lead to infection, according to many researchers who believe that it's possible for HPV to be transmitted through saliva."

Click here to read the rest of this article online