What kind of benefits would your clients reap from using your services?
By shopping at Boutique Noelle you will have the one-on-one attention of a professional wardrobe consultant in the comfort of an in-home setting. Appointments are made on an individual basis in order to accommodate the clients schedule with the luxury and privacy of having the boutique all to themselves.
I also maintain records on my clients' sizes, style preferences, previous purchases and other pertinent information so the client can just relax and enjoying the shopping experience.
Have you or your business won any awards or received special recognition?
In October of 2005 I produced a fashion show (FALL INTO FASHION) at the Hopkinton Country Club, Hopkinton, MA to benefit a local charity called Project Just Because. The sold-out event was a huge success and raised over $5200.00 for the charity. The event was covered by local media venues and received high praise for a “spectacular” evening. My business, Boutique Noelle, was also featured on the front page of the business section in the Metro west Daily newspaper on September 11, 2005.
Did you have to go through any licensing requirements to start your business?
In Massachusetts, in order to start any home business you must register with the state by obtaining a tax id# and open a business account at a local bank.When you first started your business, did you have a business plan? Do you have one now?
No, as with any small business, I have adjusted my business objectives to the ever-changing needs of my clients. I modify and tailor my services on an individual basis for each client.
How do you market your services?
I advertise in local newspapers, conduct email campaigns and direct mail invitations to my customers. However, most of my business comes from word-of-mouth of prior clients who have done business with me.
What is a "trunk show"? How do they work, and how often do you have them?
My trunk shows are events that showcase the ETCETERA collection's entire clothing line for that season. I host these shows four times per year in the comfort of my home in Hopkinton, MA.
Tell me about your next trunk show. Where and when will it be held? What are you featuring in this show? Who would be interested in attending and how would they go about making arrangements to come to your trunk show?
The current collection is Fall & Holiday 2006 and will be available for viewing for one week only at Boutique Noelle November 9th through November 15th, 2006. Daily business hours are 9am to 9pm, by appointment only.
Those who are interested in attending a trunk show, please contact by email at boutiquenoelle@comcast.net or call me to schedule an appointment at 508-625-1056.
Do you have to travel a lot for your business? Do your home based business activities allow you to be flexible enough to promote a satisfying balance between work and family?
The only travel involved is to preview the upcoming season's clothing line prior to the trunk show. The preview is always held in the northeast region.
Running a business at home allows me the flexibility to run both a family and business at the same time.
Do you have any tips or suggestions you can offer for balancing work and family life?
I have four beautiful daughters, ages 8,9,13,and 15, whom I've been fortunate enough to stay home with. I try to maintain balance between work and family by scheduling my work time while the girls are in school - during the morning - so I can be available when they get home for their activities and homework.
I also feel the girls benefit from seeing that their mother is capable of running a business and managing a family.
How do you become affiliated with your suppliers? Are there special things you look for in a clothing or jewelry supplier?
I came across the ETCETERA collection through an old friend in Connecticut who showed me several pieces of the line and I fell in love with the clothing. I choose to represent this clothing line because the quality, construction and attention to detail is second to none at this price point. It is referred to as a “bridge designer” line, which provides high quality without the high price. The company finds it comparable to brands such as Tahari, Ellen Tracy or Dana Bachmann, that you would find in a higher-end department store.
What do you find most rewarding about being an image consultant? Most challenging?
I find that helping people become the best they can be through sharing my knowledge of fashion and image related information very rewarding. I've also had the opportunity to meet some terrific people and learn from their experiences.
The biggest challenge is knowing when to shut the office door. I find myself wanting to work and be available all the time. Time management is an ongoing challenge when it comes to balancing home and family.
Does being an image consultant require keeping any stock or product inventory on hand?
In my case, no. As a result, I have no overhead.
If someone wants to become an image consultant, where should they start?
Research the fashion industry and determine what level of commitment they are willing to make.
If someone wanted to avail themselves of your services, how would they contact you?
I can be reached by email at Boutiquenoelle@comcast.net or by telephone at 508-625-1056.
For More Information on Becoming an Image Consultant
In the event that you decide that you'd like to explore the possibility of becoming certified as a professional image consultant, consider visiting the Association of Image Consultants' website. They offer a great deal of information on training and other topics that will start you off on the right foot.
