Course content
- What is included in each course?
- Will I find out which colours/styles suit me personally?
- What do I need to bring with me?
- Do you have practice drapes that attendees can use whilst training?
Course requirements
- Do I need any experience to come on the Colour Analysis course?
- Do I need any experience to come on the Ladies' Style course?
- Do I need any experience to come on the Men's Image course?
- I want to do Colour Analysis and follow that with the Corporate Image
- I've loads of drapes and wallets, but have no idea what to do with them
- Which is the best system? Seasonal or Tonal?
- Can you teach me Colour Analysis in one day from scratch?
- Do I need retail experience to become an image consultant?
- Do I have to be artistic to train as an image consultant?
Course details
- How many trainees will there be on the course?
- When is the next course?
- Where do the courses take place?
- Can you let me have a course schedule?
- Can I just book on the next course?
- How can you personalise the course for me?
- Am I going to be capable enough to carry out a consultation?
- What is the dress code for the training courses?
- Would I be able to train on a Sunday and a Monday due to days off work?
- What time does the course start and end?
Colour supplies
- Colour supplies
- Do I have to buy my wallets, drapes, etc. from you?
- I am interested in purchasing the starter pack of drapes and wallets?
- Do I have to do the training with you before I can buy supplies?
Costs
- How much does a course cost?
- How can I pay?
- I think that image training courses in general are expensive.
- We don't have much money so cannot afford thousands of pounds
Qualifications
- Is there a qualification I need to hold to operate as an image consultant?
- Could you just clarify what qualification I would gain from the course?
Business potential
- Surely there's no room for another image consultant in my area?
- What's the possibility of making image consultancy a full time job?
Miscellaneous
- Do you have a US distributor for your training courses and supplies?
- If I do the training, do I have to use your brand name?
How much experience have you had, Kim?
I have been in this business since 1980 when the whole colour and image industry began in the UK. Read my story and browse my blog. It might also help for you to check me out by reading some customer feedback from ladies who have already trained with me.
Course content
What is included in each course?
Browse through the comprehensive course content information (we don't have a printed brochure to post out to you).
Will I find out which colours & styles suit me personally?
Of course. How on earth do you expect to advise others what suits them if you are looking anything other than absolutely gorgeous?
- Every trainee will discover their own seasonal and tonal colour directions on a Colour Analysis course.
- Every trainee will discover their own body shape, scale and Style personality on a Style course.
What do I need to bring with me?
You don't need to bring anything with you at all. I provide all the drapes, wallets, and fans to practise with. If you already have your own drapes, then bring those along. You can make notes in the manual or bring your own notebook.
Do you have practice drapes that attendees can use whilst training with you, or do we all need to supply / purchase our own for the course?
You don't need to purchase any additional materials before, during or after the training with us. We have complete sets of seasonal drapes, tonal drapes, men's drapes, colour fabric fans, colour wallets all to hand during the training.
If you have already trained with another company and are using their drapes and wallets then bring them along - I am very happy to show you how to use them during the course.
Yes, you can purchase such things from us at any time via the wholesale catalogue, but you don't need to purchase anything extra on top of your training fees unless you decide to do so. It is also important to note that we are not involved with any franchise and operate as an independent company so I will give you sound, impartial advice based on my own experience in the industry.
Course requirements
Do I need any experience to come on the Colour Analysis course?
None whatsoever.
Do I need any experience to come on the Ladies' Style course?
I would expect you to understand Colour Analysis thoroughly. If you advise someone that a certain shape of jacket is 'absolutely you, darling!", the first question they will ask is, "So, what colour should I look for?" And if you can't answer that, you're going to look extremely silly.
Do I need any experience to come on the Men's Image course?
The Corporate & Men's Image course is based on the assumption that you already understand both Colour Analysis and Ladies' Style thoroughly.
I want to do Colour Analysis training and follow that with Corporate Image
There's no way you can do corporate work without understanding style and fit for both ladies and gentlemen.
In the corporate arena, no-one is going to pay you for colour alone; they expect you to give advice on professional dressing, and you have to be very quick and extremely knowledgeable in these situations. Business people (men, in particular) expect you to know your subject inside out and will show their disdain if you don't know your stuff. Companies will be paying you a premium rate so will expect a top-notch service.
Colour Analysis followed by the Ladies' Style course will give you a leg up into the corporate world. Once you are confident working with individuals and know your subject in depth, you could take on women-only business events. You will also need Corporate & Men's Image if you intend to offer a fully-rounded Corporate Image service.
I've trained with another company, have loads of drapes and wallets, but have no idea what to do with them
It is clear from training a number of people like yourself already that too much time on some other companies' training courses is spent on draping (and getting you to sell make-up, scarves and accessories to clients who have only come along to find out which colours suit them.... ) and not enough time is spent on how to run the consultation itself.
We will spend a good deal of our time looking at
- how to start the consultation
- how to finish it
- what information to give your client
- how to get your business up and running
- how to market yourself
- how to create ongoing business with your client
The actual methods of colour analysis are simple enough - it's just that I present several different ways of working out which season a lady is, and we will decide on the best one(s) for you personally on the course.
In my opinion (which is always open for discussion!), draping a client should take no longer than 20 minutes, or confusion and / or boredom begins to set in - for both you and your client - and we will look closely at just how to launch your lady into the big, wide world knowing exactly which colours to wear to make her look and feel fabulous.
Which is the best system? Seasonal or tonal?What I feel at the moment is a little unsure about it all and not that confident. I have been doing tonal but find most people like to know seasonal, too. Do you find the same?
Definitely. Every lady wants to know which Season she is but bear in mind that not everyone is seasonal. My mother has been trying to be a Winter for hundreds of years when really she is a 'Winter going into Spring'; she is so much happier now that she is just Bright and can wear both Winter and Spring colours.
The two systems are complementary; fundamentally they are not different. They offer your lady the best possible combination of information to help her find her best colours. Working together, they allow you to give your client much more personalised colour advice.
Can you teach me Colour Analysis in one day from scratch?
I have tried (very hard) and failed miserably to do this. I just feel that we are both rushing all the time to fit everything in and, until you arrive at my door, I have no real idea how quickly you are able to assimilate the concepts that must be covered.
Be fair to yourself (and to me!). This is a business investment, not a fun day out. Treat it with the required amount of respect and invest your time wisely. Then you'll only have to do it once!
And before you ask, the same goes for Style!
A senior fashion adviser at (one of the big department stores) told me that you need retail experience to work as an image consultant, as you will have to deal with not-so-pleasant customers. Of course she is trying to help, not knowing me...
This woman is talking utter rubbish.
You need absolutely no experience in retail or anything else at all; just a desire to help ladies look and feel wonderful. If this lady is having to deal with not-so-pleasant customers, then she is attracting them to herself. Seems to me that she is not trying to help you at all; perhaps she wants to do what you are doing, and because she can't, she is determined to try and put down what you are doing. Ignore her.
Keep your eye on what YOU want, and surround yourself with positive people who will encourage you to follow your dream.
I wish I was artistic enough to learn colour and style for myself! However, even if I was, I am a single mum with 2 teenagers so can't afford to take the financial risk of getting out of the day job - perhaps once they have flown the nest...?
I am not in the least artistic. I am not visual; I do not 'see' colour and had to teach myself to do this 30 years ago (because there were no 'proper' training courses back then!).
If you want to help people make the most of themselves, to show them how to have confidence in themselves, then you can do anything you want to.
And we offer payment instalment plans now to help spread the cost of training.
Have you been in touch with your local Business Link to find out if they can help with loans or grants to set up a new business? What about searching for funding, venture capital investors or individual entrepreneurs who may be willing to invest in your business - type these keywords in at Google to find companies and individuals local to you.
Just something to think about for the future perhaps? It's never too early to start planning your future...
A reply from the lady who asked the question above: "I was really encouraged to hear you don't consider yourself artistic or visual - perhaps there it would be a possibility for me too. I must admit it has been going through my mind a lot - and as soon as I finish my masters (which on top of the job / family etc is very demanding) - I am going to start looking into grants / loans etc. In a year my son will go to University so I will have more free time and perhaps I could at least start training and trying it out on a part-time basis. Thank you so much for taking the time to come back to me - the more I think about it the more hopeful I get that there may be a way to do something really enjoyable with the rest of my working life!" MR, UK (May 09)
Course details
How many trainees will there be on the course?
There will be no more than 12 ladies on each course and this will give you a chance to practise on each other, encourage and learn from each other, swap business ideas, and straight away you'll have a support network of like-minded independent business ladies like yourself to keep in touch with after the course (including me, of course!).
A small group environment works well because the interaction between professionals in the same, or similar, line of business adds an extra dimension to the training giving you an insight into how other consultants operate, the difficulties they encounter, and how different people overcome such difficulties. Plus, the specifics to be addressed for individuals during the training usually inspires other trainees, even if it just triggers new questions or new ideas that you simply hadn't considered before.
When is the next course?
Telephone for course availability.
Where do the courses take place?
All training takes place in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK - check out location, travel and accommodation ideas, with maps and further web links.
Can you let me have a course schedule?
Each course develops and evolves around the delegates themselves. Sometimes we need to spend longer on one particular aspect of colour than another - how on earth can you plan for the human element in advance? Personally, I find it absolutely impossible as each lady I have trained so far has been uniquely unique (thank goodness).
Can I just book on the next course?
We have instituted 'book online' for all our training courses so the answer is now, "Yes." You need to telephone me first to check availability.
How can you personalise the course for me?
It is incredibly important to me that all our clients get the most from their training and I encourage everyone to write a list of specific questions or points that must be covered during the sessions, and share this information with me in advance.
This gives me the opportunity to write additional material where appropriate in advance of, or after, your training and 'check-list' from time to time during the training itself to make sure everything is being covered.
With only 12 people on any one course, there will be plenty of time to discuss your own requirements, and sharing business ideas with other professionals on the course will open up new possibilities for you, too.
After training am I going to be capable enough to carry out a consultation and charge people at least £xx for something I don't have experience in doing?
If you have the necessary tools (drapes, wallets, etc) to run consultations, and you are fully prepared with the appropriate documentation and your room / studio all set up to receive clients, etc. you will be able to run a consultation the very next day.
We will talk about how much to charge your clients on the course itself, as this is dependent on you, your confidence level, and the type of market you are aiming for.
What is the dress code for the training courses?
For goodness' sake don't spend any time worrying about what to wear on the course. Just wear whatever is going to be comfortable.
The whole session will be informal and lots of fun; kick off your shoes if you want to and relax. You are not on parade; you are here to learn so if you are more comfortable in jeans, then wear jeans; if you need a tiara to relax, then wear a tiara!
- We learn in a smoke-free zone - you'll have to stand outside if you need a nictoine fix.
- I would ask that you do not chew gum (yuk!)
- I will also insist that you turn your mobile phone off - you can phone home to check on the family or the cat's welfare at coffee and lunch breaks, of course, but you are paying for a business training course - let's set the trend now for how you will (hopefully) conduct your own consultations.
- All refreshments and a light lunch (salad, sandwiches, baked potato, etc) are provided so you need to let me know in advance if you have any particular dietary requirements.
Would I be able to train on a Sunday and a Monday due to days off work?
I run a full-time professional image and colour business and already work six days a week. Therefore, I don't work on Sundays - even the Creator rested on one day of the week! I generally offer the training courses Monday to Friday. Telephone for the training dates.
What time does the course start and end?
We aim to start for 10 am (not before because I am not a morning person) but will definitely have started by 10.15 am. We cannot wait any longer than that for late arrivals; there is far too much information to get through.
We aim to finish no later than 5 pm but if you need to get away early to beat the traffic, catch your train or pick your children up - no problem; just let me know sometime during that day.
Colour supplies
You will need colour supplies of some kind
To run your colour consultations, you will need a minimum of a selection of drapes, a cover-up cape plus 4 seasonal wallets and / or the 6 tonal wallets. You are free to source your own drapes and wallets, so these are not included in the course fees. However, I can supply any or all of the following for you at wholesale prices:
- a full set of 62 drapes (or as many as we decide you will need)
- a cover-up cape
- 4 ladies' Seasonal colour swatch wallets
- 4 ladies' Seasonal colour fabric fans
- 6 ladies' Tonal colour swatch wallets
These wallets contain swatches of fabric which exactly match the drapes. They are precision dyed and are a one-off purchase. I have never needed to replace a drape yet; I have the same ones from over 25 years ago. My cover-up cape is still going strong after 20 years of constant washing and I have only had to replace my Seasonal fabric fans once in the same period. I have had my Tonal wallets for 10 years and they still look good enough for presentations.
You can order any or all of these online in the wholesale catalogue (either before or after the training) and be able to supply your clients with a fabulous choice of colour wallets at retail, thus making a profit for yourself.
Do I have to buy my wallets, drapes, etc. from you?
Absolutely not. I have no worries where you obtain your supplies / materials from as I do not run a franchise.
We will have a starter kit ready for you to take away with you - but only if you want it!. This may help save you time, energy and postage if you had to sort this out by yourself and you will pay exactly the same price for these items as if you went directly to the suppliers (but you would then add shipping, of course).
We have found that taking wallets, drapes, etc. away on the day often helps motivate most trainees to start work as soon as they can after the course. Contact me if you want drapes and wallets ready for you on the course to take away with you.
I am really interested in purchasing the starter pack of drapes and wallets that you recommended in your email. How far in advance do I have to book these?
Wait until you've seen them, and let's find out which approach (tonal or seasonal or both) is going to work for you before deciding which drapes and wallets you want / need. If you order them after the course, you can do that online.
Do I have to do the 'colour in a box' training or face-to-face training with you before I am able to order any supplies?
There is absolutely no requirement to buy anything at all from us before you can order supplies! The only requirement to order supplies at wholesale prices is that you register with us first - it's totally free. Just go to the wholesale catalogue page and click on 'apply online'.
Costs
How much does a course cost?
Telephone me for availability, fees, special offers, and finance options.
How can I pay?
Fees are paid by debit / credit card. You can pay in full or we offer payment instalment plans for you to spread the cost over several months.
Payment secures the booking
Payment is the only way to make a firm booking. When people don't do that, I can only assume that they have changed their minds - and there are an amazing number of people who just don't bother to let me know, I'm afraid. I am indundated all the time with ladies wanting to come on this course or that course, and I am always having to deal with people who are not prepared or able to commit to dates, or want me to save a place for them. This is just a waste of everyone's time. Payment settles all that confusion - for everyone:
- You have a date in your diary to aim for
- I know exactly how many people are coming along
- I can then offer any definite remaining places to further enquirers
If I haven't received payment from you, then I do not have a firm booking for you in my diary - and that place will be made available to anyone else who enquires.
I think that image training courses in general are expensive. I only want to run a part-time colour business. What would you say your unique selling point is to justify the cost?
Anyone setting up in business needs to make an investment. Training and supplies are just two elements of that investment.
Over 50% of image / colour consultants run a part-time business, and that's because they either choose to keep it part-time to fit around family or current commitments, or they just don't know how to market themselves properly! An integral part of all my training courses is how to market your business...
You need to look at how quickly you can recoup the investment by putting together a proper business plan. I suggest that you investigate training grants in your local area with Business Link. Just be grateful that you don't have to buy premises or stock as well!
I would guestimate that it will take around 10 - 15 clients paying full price for a personal colour consultation to recoup the outlay; the price you charge is entirely up to you (and what sort of area you are working in) and we will look at how to set your prices on the course itself. If you are using these skills within your existing business (i.e. fashion boutique, hair salon, beauty salon, coaching practice), and are not charging for them separately, you need to calculate how much extra business this extra service will bring in.
Our training courses are customised, personalised services designed to meet your specific business needs, tailored where necessary with additional workbook materials written by me. This is not classroom-style training with loads of trainees in the room; our training products are flexible and built around your requirements to suit your background and existing skills.
All our courses include a comprehensive course manual which includes all the theory for your training needs. For some trainees I may follow this closely and cover everything almost page by page if that is what I think is needed. For others, I may skip over sections and discuss additional subjects in detail, as required. Plus, I may even add additional customised content, writing additional pages of notes after the training has been completed, specifically for you.
In short (as Mr. Micawber was wont to say), I offer personalised training, customised to your specific business needs.
My friend and I wish to start our own business in the town where we live. We don't have much money so cannot afford the thousands of pounds it seems to cost. Please tell us where to start.
Training for any profession is absolutely going to cost money as people who run training courses are passing on to you their own valuable professional skills which probably cost them an awful lot of money to acquire in the first place. You can then set up in competition with them and earn good money yourself.
You should be looking at this as an investment in your future. You might want to check out how to raise the money (or part of it) with your bank manager or with Business Link; both will want to see a proper business plan, of course. Or maybe friends or relations could help? Every business requires a financial investment, especially if you need particular skills to do the job.
Qualifications
Is there a qualification I need to hold to operate as an image consultant?
For the last 7 years, I have been a personal shopper for a major department store. I love my job passionately and feel I am ready to take the next step and work for myself. I want to be able to say my new venture is an image consultancy. Is there a qualification I need to hold? Training programmes seem very expensive and only repeating what I've already done!
There are no laws in the UK that say you have to have any qualification to set up as an image consultant. The Federation of Image Consultants will encourage you to spend money on a City & Guilds qualification but this is absolutely not a legal requirement.
The fees for training with a reputable company may seem expensive initially but trainers are passing on extremely valuable knowledge gained over a long period of time that will then enable you to go out and earn good money for yourself. The fees and time are an investment in your business, and will give you the confidence to know that you are providing the absolute best for your clients.
I go on at least three training courses every year so that I make sure I am giving my clients (and trainees) the most up-to-date service I can.
And you will certainly NOT be repeating what you have already done.
"Many thanks for your (above) email, a refreshing change to the ones I have received from (two other named colour companies)! I totally intend to commit to ongoing training and I will be ordering your 'in a box' package as my staple tool. I have been researching my new venture for some time and I can honestly say that your web site and yourself have been more help than any of the 'recommended' companies I have been in touch with. Thank you again and if I can ever be of assistance to you in anyway, please don't hesitate to contact me." Emma, UK (Mar 07)
Could you just clarify what qualification / certificate I would gain at the end of the course?
The Diploma awarded at the end of each course is our own certificate from Improvability to say that you have successfully completed our course in Colour Analysis or Ladies' Style or whatever that happens to be.
The Improvability course certificate is absolutely nothing to do with GNVQ or City & Guilds or such like. We provide customised training courses, tailored to your personal needs, so there's no way we could meet the restrictions imposed by either of these bodies (or any other, for that matter) and I wouldn't want to anyway.
Business potential
There's an image consultant advertising in my area already. Surely there's no room for another one?
How many hypnotherapists and life coaches are advertising in your area? In my local Yellow Pages there are more than 20 hypnotherapists and 5 separate life coaches; there's clearly plenty of work for these professionals who are, at the end of the day, in the same line of business as image consultants - giving people confidence.
Personally, it wouldn't bother me if there were image consultants living either side of me; there must be 20 million women in the UK alone so there's plenty of work for everyone.
And we all offer a different approach anyway. Like attracts like, and vice versa. Your clients will come to you because of YOU and your personality. There's plenty of room for all of us.
Could let me know the possibilities of making image consultancy a full time job?
The only statistical information I can give you on this is to quote from a 2006 survey of image professionals (mostly in the UK) - "47.5% of consultants surveyed are full time."
Obviously, until I know exactly what kind of business you are going to run, how business oriented you are, what your target market is, etc., it would be very hard to comment for you personally.
Miscellaneous
Do you have a US supplier / distributor for your training courses and consultant supplies?
I have absolutely no suppliers / distributors anywhere in the US or anywhere else in the world, for that matter, so couldn't recommend anyone to you, I'm afraid.
My training courses are unique so there's no-one else running them in the UK! When you come on my training courses, I'm afraid you get me!
If you can't get to a one-to-one training course, take a look at our self-study training package 'Colour Analysis in a Box'. We filmed an actual two-day Colour Analysis training course which you can study at your leisure, and watch each of the ten DVDs over and over again. We ship anywhere in the world.
If I do the training with you do I have to use your brand name?
Good grief! I have never been asked that one before!
This is YOUR business and I just supply the training package to help you with YOUR business.
You are never, ever asked to use the Improvability name. This is not a franchise. The diploma is obviously issued in the Improvability name but you don't have to display one, or even ask for one, if you don't want to!
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