Stephanie Taylor of Green Bay believes that making a good first impression is vital to the success of a business. And now she’s making it her business with her startup, Styled by Stephanie.
Taylor, who has started several other businesses, has known both success and failure. In the process, she became convinced that a business should be something you love.
“I started two other businesses and they failed because of problems I had with my partners,” she said. “When they fell apart, even though we had lined up so many jobs, I could have started a similar business alone, but realized I never had a passion for those businesses.”
As she contemplated a new venture, Taylor reviewed her career and the jobs she loved. She had years of experience in retail and brand management. She had designed stores and styled customers – roles that included everything from folding clothes to being in charge.
Taylor said, “I had learned the fundamentals of business, and business is business regardless of the type. Those first businesses had given me a taste of entrepreneurship and that’s when I decided to pursue styling.”
The business started in April, and Taylor is working to gain brand awareness.
“I’m new, and it is a little challenging to get people to understand what I do,” she said. “I solve the problems of low self-esteem, anxiety, and disorganization. I bring ease to people’s life and encourage people to be the best person they can be by getting to know that person and making the best choices for them.”
She is a personal stylist and her business provides styling and organization. She organizes closets, reorganizes clothing, and pulls fashions to bring to a client’s home to try on. She is a wardrobe assistant and can lay out a week’s worth of clothes to ease the stress of dressing.
Taylor has a vision that goes beyond Green Bay. The name, Styled by Stephanie, could be a brand that is featured throughout the country with other stylists under the umbrella.
“This goal is attainable and it would be amazing,” she added.
To reach that, she has committed to intensive training. Of 60,000 entrepreneurs who applied to be on “The Blox,” a reality show where contestants face off in “startup games,” she was one of 20 selected.
“I spent two weeks competing this summer in Kansas City,” she said. “We would go a to a location and be assigned with a challenge and then sit in a class for three hours and learn about it. It gave me such a sold foundation. After the class, we were separated into pods and had a short amount of time to say how we would implement what we learned into our business.”
Although she can’t divulge how she finished because the new season hasn’t aired yet. Taylor gushes about how incredible it was. A major insight that she will carry forward is to look at her business from a customer’s point of view versus hers.
Writing a business plan was not part of The Blox, and Taylor is hesitant to start one since she isn’t looking for investors. She is, however, creating a marketing plan and has done a competitive analysis.
“In looking for businesses in the area that do the same thing, there wasn’t a similar business,” she noted. “When it comes to stylists, there might be some, but they work for a specific boutique or store. I offer personal experiences catered to your needs. I find a solution to your struggles and pull looks and bring them to your home.”
The service is so intense that Taylor says a good stylist can handle only five to 10 clients a month. With an estimated 15,000 small businesses in the area, she says her target market, these businessmen and -women, is huge. Knowing how to dress can mean the difference between success and failure.
“Every body shape is different and some people have things they want to cover,” she said. “I can use colors and materials and shapes to make people feel good. Having confidence reduces anxiety and creates success.”
In addition to maximizing confidence through clothes, Taylor also emphasizes the importance of organization. With the new year upon us, she says that a fresh, clean space will provide a renewed perspective on the year.
“I love the aha moment when people walk into their house and see their closet organized. I have had clients cry. Those are the moments that I love,” she said.
But she knows that she has a way to go to get to the point where the business will support her financially. Bob Jahnke, a Green Bay SCORE mentor, is working with her and has provided marketing information and ideas.
“Bob is feeding me so much information,” she said. “He sees me loving it and absorbing it and has been my mentor. If I have questions, he helps me.”
She also plans on sharing her knowledge and has joined SCORE to help other entrepreneurs. One of the first activities will be presenting on a “Let’s Talk Marketing” SCORE call later this month.
From what she has learned from her appearance on The Blox and with help from Jahnke, her business is moving forward. The website and social media pages are almost complete and networking is a priority. Plans include presentations to business groups, contracts with boutiques for clothing, and eventually, she plans to write a book on the barriers that women face as entrepreneurs.
“I won’t stop until this works,” she said. “Nothing will stop me. For me, it’s just a mindset. I believe in the power of your thoughts; it isn’t even an option not to continue. When there are obstacles, I will assess why it didn’t work and find out what I can do better.”
Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.
