So today I’ve solely been concentrating on my make-up artistry and trying to get new clients interested in working with me and also gaining a top end make-up brand to provide me with products so I can in effect sell it to them. As any make-up artist knows products are expensive and the amount I carry in my kit are very costly to replace.
My first pitch today was with a local boutique that specialises in second hand designer clothes. My pitch was simple. You let me do make-overs in your shop that will give a lady buying your clothes the experience of seeing the finished look. A % will be taken off my fee to go towards a garment she chooses. It’s not a huge money maker but I want to build my client base in my town and this boutique not only has stunning designer outfits but also has the right clientele I want to attract.
The owner was very excited about the idea and said she had often toyed with the idea of getting a make-up artist in to do just what I proposed.
There was also a reason why I chose her above many other boutiques. Over the past 18 months many fashion businesses (in fact any business) has struggled to stay afloat due to the economic climate. Her’s hasn’t and I know why. She has consistently been excelling in her customer service. She spends a lot of time with people (I know because I’ve seen it.) She’s almost like a personal stylist and with the clients she deals with – this is invaluable to them. She doesn’t just hand clothes into the dressing booth to let the client get on with it – she does in fact take great care in dressing the lady and recommends colours and styles to suit the lady. This is another reason why she never gets returns!
I showed her my mock up of the leaflet I designed which she really loved also. Tomorrow I’m going in to do a demo for her so she can see exactly how I work – and we can swap ideas on how to make the make-overs and style days successful.
My next pitch…
I’d been planning to approach this rather well known beauty company for a while and I’d made up a pitch brief for them to look through. Today I got (by surprise) the opportunity to meet up with one of the area managers from this company who was visiting the town. Two things came to my head: A) Oh heck I should have printed that brief and carried it with me and B) why won’t the brief show up on my iPhone. I had to think fast and try and pitch the best I could.
Pitching face to face is always difficult – even for a season gift of the gab gal like me. You want to remember the key points and not ramble on too much. So I just hit her with it. Her eyes were fixed dead on me throughout the whole thing and at the end she said, ‘WOW, that seems like a great idea.’ I added a few more bonuses at the end just to cement in her mind that my idea was going to work for her company too.
‘I’m really interested,’ she said, ‘but print me out a brief to take to head office next week.’
‘Consider it done,’ I replied.
We ended the meeting with smiles and excitement. Of course head office could turn around and say no, which is cool. I’ll just approached another company. In the end it’s all good experience.
I think what I’m trying to convey in this post is that as someone who is creative I understand the importance of doing something I enjoy and getting paid for it – but there is also a point when you have to get out there and network and join forces with others in order to get more work or get things you need for your work to be seen by the majority.
Working this way makes the possibilities of achieving your goals endless!
V x
Update: I’m spending my spare time when not coaching working exclusively with photographer, Rachel Spivey exclusively.
